I've always been a conscientious car owner, checking my tire pressures at least once a month since I first started driving. So when TPMS came out, I thought what a waste, another unnecessary expense and complication just to cover people too dumb to monitor tire pressure.

Then Thursday morning I started up my 8 to go visit a friend about an hour away. BEEP-BEEP-BEEP! Stupid TPMS light flashing. So I get out and, sure enough, my right rear tire is completely flat. And I had just adjusted it to a perfect 32psi the week before, the last time I drove it.

So instead of heading out with a flat, I turned off the engine and made other travel arrangements – possibly saving my tire and wheel in the process. Same thing happened to me about 6 years ago.

For me, TPMS is not about reminding lazy owners to check their tires. It's a real useful warning to not move the car!

 

as much as it sucks to have a flat tire, I completely agree that TPMS sensors are a fantastic feature to have that have also saved me a few times.

glad to hear all is well New Yorker.

 

Yea it really is a nice thing to have. I have only seen the light once so far. I drove to a store and didn't have any issues but as I was leaving the light came on and sure enough ALL of my tires were around 24 psi. I'm still not sure what happened because the whole way there the light never flashed. Mine didn't warn me until I had driven across the parking lot but I'm sure if it was lower than that it would have sooner.

I definitely do not check my tire pressure as often as I should but I have never seen it that low again.

 

Hey xexok,
Just wondering, is there a pronunciation for your handle?
In Mayan, I think it would be "ish-ay-shock".

 

For me, TPMS is peace of mind when your driving. You won't even know if your tire(s) is flat and it could have a tire blow up and that is dangerous.

 

TPMS is handy as hell. Even though mine occasionally gets angry when its extremely hot outside. It already saved my butt once and I haven't even owned my car for more than a year. Oh, and of course it's awesome that the "tire repair kit" has an air compressor included.

 

I wonder how many other cars have an optional spare?

 

Every other car that I have owned except for my 06 Mini Cooper S had a spare tire. Most were the crappy small doughnut kind. None of them ever came with an air compressor though. I mean, it isn't an industrial one or anything, but seriously: it's handy.

 

My driver side front TPMS is bad (I think) The light always comes on in the morning and goes away after a couple miles of driving.

Btw, has anyone ever used the Tire "repair" kit that comes with the car? Seems to be a Fix-A-Flat deal. Mine is expired... I wonder if it's still any good if I ever have to use it "knock on wood"

 

amshaw: the TPMS will come on in colder weather as the air in you tires hasn't expanded yet.
have you checked the tire pressures recently?
why do you think it's the driver side front?
is it leaking air?


as for the Tire Repair Kit, be grateful it's expired because that stuff is worthless. It'll gum up your TPMS sensors if you use it.
I threw mine away as soon as I got the car.

 

thats actually what its supposed to do- tell you to put some air in your tire