It’s that time of year again. With the cooler temperatures of Fall, we see the return of cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice flavored everything, and the low tire pressure indicator light shining on our dashboard. Now, I’m not blaming the pumpkin spice, but it’s no coincidence that these two events happen at the same time every year. You’ll be relieved to know that the reason is scientific and not magic. Autumn is a great time of year to schedule a tire service and discover if the TPMS light blazing away on your dashboard is due to a slow leak causing low tire pressure or one of the other reasons detailed below.
What Is A Low Tire Pressure Indicator?
Your vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system may contain one (or more) sensors that warn you when your tires have too much or too little air pressure. Older model vehicles usually have just one low tire pressure warning light. In comparison, newer autos may have two (or more) Tire Pressure warning lights on the dashboard. Read your owner’s manual to verify which warning indicator light your vehicle uses to denote low tire pressure.
Tire Pressure Indicator
The standard or OG tire pressure warning light icon looks like a bulging tire from the front with an exclamation point in the middle. This light usually indicates your vehicle has a tire with incorrect air pressure. Some cars will designate which tire has the issue, and some leave the detective work up to you.
TPMS Indicator
The other or ‘new’ warning light comprises the capital letters ‘TPMS’ and may be used alone or combined with the standard icon. Depending on your vehicle’s age and model, the TPMS light can indicate issues with the tire pressure sensors or incorrect air pressure.
Solid TPMS Light
It’s common for the TPMS light to illuminate and then turn off, especially in transitional weather. For example, when it’s chilly in the mornings and at night but warmer during the day.
Flashing TPMS Light
Schedule service if your TPMS light blinks rapidly and does not stay solidly lit or turns off once your tires warm up. A flashing TPMS light indicates that one or more tire sensors are faulty or the tire monitoring system is malfunctioning. A rapidly flashing TPMS light may signal you need a new car battery on some vehicles. Check your owner’s manual for clarification.
What Causes Low Tire Pressure?
There is an infinite list of reasons your vehicle’s tires may be losing air. We will look at some common issues and then address how to spot them. Resolving the problem may be a simple fix (like a patch or valve replacement) or be more involved, like a new tire. It’s always best to identify the issue quickly to help avoid more costly repairs or replacements later.
Standard Permeation
Air molecules seep through the rubber sidewalls of your vehicle’s tires very slowly. This permeation process can create low tire air pressure without any tire damage. Permeation is unavoidable and occurs even when the tire is unused and stored (like a spare).
Slow Leak
If you find yourself refilling a tire frequently, chances are good that there is a slow leak. Foreign debris in the tire tread or sidewall is often the cause of a slow leak. Items like nails, screws, and other sharp objects can penetrate through the tire tread. As the wheel spins on the road, air will slowly escape from around the object. If the debris shakes loose, you may notice your tire deflating more quickly.
Faulty Tire Pressure Valve
The tire pressure valve is the device that allows air to pump into your tire. It can also release air if the tire is overinflated. Small plastic caps screw onto the valve stem preventing air from releasing unintentionally. A missing cap may be releasing air, creating low tire pressure. Driver errors are common causes of valve damage (like fender benders and bumping into the curb while parking). These events can damage the valve stem, creating micro-cracks or a malfunction, allowing air to escape from the tire.
Damaged Wheel or Rim
Damage to the metal part of the wheel can create small gaps between the tire bead and the rim, allowing air to escape. Typical wheel damage includes:
- corrosion
- cracks
- missing chunks
- dents
Old Tires
Most tire manufacturers agree that all tires have a limited shelf life, around 6 to 10 years. Tires that are past their prime offer a bunch of potential safety problems, including low tire pressure. You can identify when your tire was manufactured by looking at the numbers (followed by the letters’ DOT’) on the sidewall. The last 4 digits identify the week and year when that tire was manufactured (i.e., 3018 means the 30th week of 2018). After six years old, it is time to start shopping for new tires, regardless of how much wear the tires have.
Weather Temperature Changes
The air pressure inside your tires automatically changes when the ambient outdoor temperature rises or falls. For example, tires lose about one pound of air pressure per square inch with every 10°F drop in air temperature. It’s common to experience low tire pressure when the warm summer temperatures cool down with the arrival of autumn. (See, it’s science!)
Low Tire Pressure Troubleshooting Tips
Okay, so now that we discussed a few ways tires experience low tire pressure, we can focus on identifying specific issues and how to fix them.
- Visual Tire Inspection: Look for deeply embedded foreign objects (i.e., nails, screws, metal, rocks) along the tire tread – in the grooves and along the tread edges.
- Overall Tire Condition: Look for damaged sidewalls, cracked rubber, separating tread, exposed steel belting, blisters or bulges, etc.
- Soapy Water: Coat each tire with clean water containing dish soap and then look for bubbles that indicate escaping air. Look along the tire tread, the sidewall (including the tire valve), and along the bead where the tire meets the rim.
- Tire Age: Examine the information printed or molded into the tire’s sidewall for the manufacture date. Tires older than 6 years require frequent inspections for safety. Tires 10 years old or older require immediate replacement.
- Wheel Condition: Carefully examine the metal rim for cracks, pits, corrosion, dents, and any other damage where the tire meets the wheel. If you have hubcaps, remove them to see the condition of the wheel under it.
Once you identify the possible cause of your low tire pressure, mark the spot with chalk or marker to find it again easily. Now, determine if it is something you can fix yourself or if you will schedule a tire service appointment with your technician.
- You can quickly address low tire pressure due to changes in the weather and permeation by filling your tires to the recommended air pressure noted on the door jam sticker (NOT on the tire’s sidewall). Use a quality tire pressure gauge to get an accurate reading.
- A qualified auto service center should handle patches, damaged tires or rims, and replacements.
If you cannot locate a cause, don’t worry; just bring your car in for a diagnostic tire service. The vehicle’s chassis may hide the issue from view and require the tire’s removal to identify.
Tire Service & Repairs in Kirkland, WA
Fisher’s Auto Service provides a trustworthy alternative to quick lube, tire shops, and expensive auto dealership service departments. We offer you the additional convenience and personal attention of a locally-owned business in Kirkland, WA. Bring your vehicle in for a comprehensive tire service. Our qualified technicians will discover the cause of your low tire pressure and quickly fix any slow leak or TPMS issue.
Schedule A Low Tire Service Inspection
Visit us at 11926 124 Ave NE, Kirkland, WA, call (425) 655-1549, or visit us online to schedule your tire service, repair, and routine maintenance appointment.