Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems

TPMS stands for Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. This system is made up of a sensor in each tyre which continuously monitors tyre pressures on your car or van and reports any changes in temperature or pressure to the driver with a warning light or an audible alert.

TPMSs have been fitted to all new vehicles as standard since 2014. Vehicles fitted with a TPMS as standard and first used/registered on or before 1^st January 2012 will have it tested as part of the annual MOT test, and if it’s not performing correctly it will cause your vehicle to fail its MOT.

A car or van fitted with a TPMS is far safer than one without it. Tyre pressure and temperature are monitored every few seconds which greatly reduces the chances of an accident due to incorrect tyre pressures. Correctly inflated tyres also improve fuel efficiency and lengthen the lifespan of your tyres.

TPMS sensors should be serviced regularly to avoid them developing faults, the most common of which is battery failure. A TPMS battery cannot be replaced and therefore replacement sensors and an electronic reset are required (with the ECU). Occasionally other factors can cause the TPMS valves to fail but this is unusual. Servicing the TPMS sensors every time the tyre bead is broken is considered a standard requirement by sensor manufacturers to ensure they live their expected lifespan. The battery life of a sensor is broadly expected to be between three and seven years, or around 100,000-150,000 miles, whichever happens sooner.

If your TPMS warning is showing or sounding, give us a call on 0800 161 5050 and we’ll assess and fix it for you quickly and expertly.