How Reliable Are Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems? Here's What Aaa Says

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The tyre unit monitoring strategy (TPMS) is possibly 1 of nan most underappreciated information features successful modern cars, arsenic it tin prevention you from a gnarly clang aliases support you from getting stranded connected a deserted agelong of road. A 2012 NHTSA study revealed that nan beingness of a TPMS has reduced nan likelihood of under-inflated tires by 55.6 % (via Schrader).

In 2023, AAA tested 11 cars and their TPMS to verify accuracy. Testers parked nan cars successful nan shadiness earlier inflating nan tires to nan manufacturer's recommended pressure. AAA past drove nan vehicles nether different conditions, checking nan tyre unit afterward and comparing it to what nan instrumentality cluster displayed. The tested models came from brands specified arsenic Ford, Tesla, BMW, Cadillac, Toyota, and Hyundai, among others, from exemplary years 2022 to 2024.

The Tesla Model 3 was nan champion performer, showing nary deviation betwixt nan displayed and existent pressure, while astir others deviated by nary much than ±1 PSI. The Cadillac Escalade and Ford F-250 were nan slightest accurate, pinch nan erstwhile showing a deviation of 1.2 PSI successful 1 tyre and nan second deviating by up to 2 PSI.

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In its 2023 test, AAA besides checked nan vehicles' TPMS informing lights, which should show erstwhile a tyre falls beneath 75% of its recommended pressure. Five vehicles connected nan database — 2023 BMW i760x, 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, 2023 Ford Maverick, 2023 Lexus RZ450e, and 2023 Tesla Model 3 (which, on pinch Tesla's Cybertruck, was recalled successful 2024 for TPMS issues) — warned nan driver erstwhile tyre unit fell beneath 75%. The 2022 Ford F-250 was nan only conveyance that didn't show immoderate warning.

In its report, AAA wrote that it was "encouraged" by nan findings, arsenic nan tyre pressures displayed connected surface intimately matched those measured pinch an aerial unit gauge, pinch only a 1.2% to 1.5% deviation. The objection was nan Ford F-250, whose informing ray didn't ray up moreover erstwhile tyre unit fell to 65% of nan manufacturer's standard.

AAA recommends that owners periodically use a handheld gauge to guarantee their TPMS is providing meticulous readings (this tin besides thief you get nan astir miles retired of your tires). The institution besides advised that drivers physically inspect their tires for wear, tread damage, aliases sidewall issues, and that drivers show individual tyre pressures connected nan instrumentality cluster, since nan informing ray only activates erstwhile a tire's unit falls beneath 75% of nan manufacturer's recommendation.