So glad the UK doesn't mandate TPMS... what a useless technology. So glad the IMIEV UKDM doesnt have it fitted.
Both my parents-in laws had BMWs, both constantly giving trouble with TPMS... hopeless.
Don wrote:Like most other enthusiasts, I don't think *I* need it, but a walk through a WalMart parking lot looking at tires will make you think it's probably an excellent idea for most people - There are a LOT of seriously underinflated tires running around on cars out there and most folks aren't aware that overheating a tire just once can destroy it's layup - When they finally see it's nearly flat, they fill it up with air and don't give it another thought . . . . until they have a blow-out doing 80 down the freeway a month or two later
We had some work done on our iMiEV at a body shop and when I picked up the car, the TPMS light was on - The thoughtful mechanic had checked the tire pressures and finding all 4 of them too high, he had reset all 4 tires to 30 psi. I might not have noticed it for some time had it not been for the light on the dash. I filled them up to 40 as soon as I got it home. On our Ford, the recommended pressures are 40 front and 42 rear - When the TPMS light comes on at 36 psi, all 4 tires still *look* to be equally inflated, so an average person who just looks at his tires thinking them to be OK will be really misled. You *should* check your tire pressures once a month, but as we know, not 1 in 10 drivers actually does so. How many households even own an air compressor? In the USA, it's pretty rare to find a service station which has an air machine these days, so most folks never think about it
TPMS systems may be a pain for some - I don't see why if it's functioning correctly - but mandating it on every car sold is a really good idea, IMO - No doubt it save lots of lives. I don't want the guy coming at me on a two lane road to blow a tire and take me out due to his ignorance
You may not have it in the UK yet, but it's coming, I guarantee you
Don
phb10186 wrote:2. On the BMW TPMS (which to be fair is all i've had experience with, but must be a fairly widespread system), a slightly deflated tyre gives an orange warning light on the dash, and a 'flat' gives a red (I think they permanently go orange when the battery goes low/ malfunction)... which means, in the UK anyway, that it would fail (or throw an advisory at least) on the UK equivalent of the yearly inspection test... in the same way an ABS warning light does... and that''s just a right pain if it falls at yearly test time, as you could be left with a car that is legally not fit for the road, when the exact same car without TPMS would be fine.... sensors...
Is it still the case in most states, that other than a smog test, it's the drivers liability to ensure the car is roadworthy
Don wrote:We used to have an annual 'inspection' here in Mississippi - It cost just $5 and if your lights, turn signals, wipers and horn worked, you passed. Took all of 5 minutes and checked nothing of importance . . . . tires, brakes, shocks, seatbelts, airbag lights, etc. We've never had any smog checks . . . you could bring in a car that burned a quart of oil every 100 miles and if the lights and wipers functioned, you passed. They did away with all inspections a couple years ago, finally admitting they were useless, but they didn't replace it with anything
I'm very familiar with the strict inspections in Germany when I was stationed there - Your car had to be in VERY good shape or you couldn't license it and they checked EVERYTHING!
Don
Same thing happened to us over the weekend. TPMS light is on my wife's car even though the tire pressures were all at 40 psi or a little higher. First time I've noticed this - Outside temp was around 30 overnight the past couple daysPV1 wrote:My warning light comes on when it gets really cold. I don't think I got a nitrogen fill the last time I had tires put on. The light's never come on before this set of tires, and yes, I've checked the pressure (all above 36 PSI at 50 F).