As the weather turns colder more of you will see this light come on on your dash. Fluctation in temperature is one of the leading causes of tire pressure loss. Please remember to check your tire pressures routinely!!
33 Percent Of American Drivers Don't Know What This Symbol Means, Do you?
If you said "low oil pressure," you're among the 33 percent of American drivers that have no clue as to what this federally mandated emergency light is signifying. In actuality, the light alerts drivers to low tire pressure at one or more corner of their vehicle - and the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that actuates the light is required by law in all new vehicles sold in the U.S.
TPMS systems are produced by such companies as Schrader -- the inventor of the 'Schrader' pneumatic valve found in virtually all cars, trucks, and motorcycles today. Schrader realized recently that one-third of American drivers don't know what the low-pressure emergency light signifies or what to do when it is lit. To help inform drivers of a system that the NHTSA says will help prevent 8,500 automobile accidents annually, Schrader has helped to create a Web site that teaches drivers how their TPMS works and what to do in the event of an emergency.
The TPMS light is not only lit when a tire is completely deflated, but also when tire pressure is dangerously low - a condition that could lead to a potential accident. While the system is no substitute for manually checking tire pressure at regular intervals, it can help prevent disaster - or at least inconvenience - in between pressure checks.
