Tire pressure monitoring systems use sensors to provide real-time information on tire pressure. There are two types: direct systems with sensors on each tire and indirect systems that use the anti-lock braking system. Direct systems are more accurate but have drawbacks, while indirect systems are cheaper but less comprehensive.
Tire pressure monitoring systems are designed to keep track of the amount of air in a vehicle’s tires. These systems often provide real-time information on tire pressure through sensors and warning indicators. There are two different types of tire pressure monitoring systems. Direct systems use radio-equipped air pressure sensors mounted on each individual tire that send warning signals to a dash receiver. Indirect systems make use of a vehicle’s anti-lock braking system to warn the driver of low tire pressure.
Direct tire pressure monitoring systems provide a highly accurate means of keeping track of vehicle tire pressure. This type of system uses a radio transmitter-equipped sensor located at each wheel of the vehicle. Each sensor monitors the air pressure inside the tire and sends a radio signal to a receiver in the dash when there is an unacceptable condition. The sensor can be installed inside the inner tube of the tire or inside a specially designed valve stem located in the wheel itself. Individual sensors used in a direct system allow monitoring of air pressure in multiple tires at the same time.
Direct systems are generally the most comprehensive means of monitoring tire pressure, but they do have certain drawbacks. The sensors used in direct tire pressure monitoring systems are completely dependent on batteries. Although these batteries have a typical lifespan of 7-10 years, they can fail much sooner in extreme temperatures. Batteries will also likely need to be professionally replaced at least once during the average life of a vehicle. Wheel valve stem mounted sensors can sometimes be damaged during tire repair or replacement and will need to be replaced for the system to function properly.
Indirect tire pressure monitoring systems are usually incorporated into the anti-lock braking system. The system’s wheel speed sensors are used to assess the rotational speed of each wheel with that of the others. A tire with low air pressure will generally roll at a different rotational speed than normal pressure. This change in rotational speed alerts the anti-lock brake sensor, and a warning is then sent to the dash display. Indirect systems are often an inexpensive way to incorporate tire pressure monitoring into new vehicle designs and meet government safety requirements.
In addition to being less expensive to install, indirect tire pressure monitoring systems are also less comprehensive. Unlike direct monitoring, indirect systems cannot tell the driver exactly which tire is low on air. This system also does not have a method for indicating if more than one tire has low air pressure. False alarms are sometimes generated when a tire spins on a wet or icy road. This type of system must also be manually reset by the driver and could be accidentally reset when tire pressures are low or uneven.
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