Tpm
01-21-2011, 08:27 AM
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Tpm
So it was -2 degrees this morning. First off I'm really happy with how my car started up, no problems whatsoever. This was the first time I'd started it in such cold weather and I got up early anticipating something might not work, but all went well.
Then I got down the drive and my TPM beeped at me. This has happened before, on another cold day (maybe 10 degrees). I've searched around on here and found this to be a common problem in the cold. I'm wondering, is there something I can adjust to prevent it from going off in the winter when there is no actual danger of a tire going low? Like lower the sensitivity or something?
Then I got down the drive and my TPM beeped at me. This has happened before, on another cold day (maybe 10 degrees). I've searched around on here and found this to be a common problem in the cold. I'm wondering, is there something I can adjust to prevent it from going off in the winter when there is no actual danger of a tire going low? Like lower the sensitivity or something?
01-21-2011, 09:05 AM
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My TPM has never gone off without at least one tire being low when checked with a digital gauge, even in the cold est part of winter (it only gets to the low teens where I live most of the time though).
Remember that even with no air leak at all, your tires will still go down in pressure as the air get colder.
Everytime during the transition from fall to winter this happens to me, when the colder air takes the tire pressure to just below it's warning limit. I will be leaving for work, get the beep just as I'm about to leave the development. I turn around, reinflate to recommended pressure, and take off. Then maybe one more time as the season takes it more serious turn to true winter, I may get it again. Then it pretty much goes away the rest of the winter.
Remember to check your pressures as the temps go back up as you may have to remove a little to keep the tires at optimum pressure.
Remember that even with no air leak at all, your tires will still go down in pressure as the air get colder.
Everytime during the transition from fall to winter this happens to me, when the colder air takes the tire pressure to just below it's warning limit. I will be leaving for work, get the beep just as I'm about to leave the development. I turn around, reinflate to recommended pressure, and take off. Then maybe one more time as the season takes it more serious turn to true winter, I may get it again. Then it pretty much goes away the rest of the winter.
Remember to check your pressures as the temps go back up as you may have to remove a little to keep the tires at optimum pressure.
01-21-2011, 10:08 AM
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Tire dealers will be happy to take your money and get your tires on a lucrative nitrogen fill program.
With the cold weather, did you add air to your tires to bring them up to the proper cold inflation pressure? The amount of air you need does vary by season.
Ken
With the cold weather, did you add air to your tires to bring them up to the proper cold inflation pressure? The amount of air you need does vary by season.
Ken
01-21-2011, 10:11 AM
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I had the tires put on when it was about 10 degrees out, and everything was perfect. If it goes below that (give or take a bit), the tpm goes off. I'm not worried that my tires are low, it's just the cold weather setting it off. If I increase the pressure in response, when it gets warmer over the next few days, I'll be way over and I'll have to lower it again.
I'm just wondering if for the winter, can I adjust the sensitivity so it doesn't go off every morning.
I'm just wondering if for the winter, can I adjust the sensitivity so it doesn't go off every morning.
01-21-2011, 10:18 AM
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I'm just hyper sensitive about the car, just bought it :P. So when that alarm goes off I freak out a bit. Guess i'll just have to deal with it hah.
01-21-2011, 10:27 AM
#9
Tires lose about a pound of pressure for every 10º drop in temperature. So let's say you set your tire pressures at 32 psi at 1:00 pm, when it's 40º. If it then drops to 10º early the next morning, you'll lose 3 pounds psi in every tire, putting you at 29 psi. When the thermometer rises, your tire pressures will rise with it. But since, for safety, you want the recommended tire pressure as a minimum, you must add a few extra pounds of air to accomodate the temperature change. So if you want them to be at 32 psi when you leave in the morning, inflate them to, say, 35 psi. (If you were inflating/checking your tires at the lowest temperature of the night, you could do it without making an adjustment. But most of us aren't checking tires at 3:30 in the morning.)
Also remember that, if possible, you should check tire pressures when the tires are cold, i.e. when the car hasn't been driven more than about a half mile or so. Checking pressures when the tires are warm will give you slightly inflated readings.
Last edited by New Yorker; 01-21-2011 at 10:40 AM.
01-21-2011, 10:37 AM
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Just go get a gauge to measure your tire pressure. If it is lower than what is supposed to be spend 3 minutes at a gas station and adjust the pressure.
01-21-2011, 10:38 AM
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Yes, there is something you can do (and no, you can't change the sensitivity of the TPM).
Tires lose about a pound of pressure for every 10º drop in temperature. So let's say you set your tire pressures at 32 psi at 1:00 pm, when it's 40º. If it then drops to 10º early the next morning, you'll lose 3 pounds psi in every tire, putting you at 29 psi. When the thermometer rises, your tire pressures will rise with it. But since, for safety, you want the recommended tire pressure as a minimum, you must add a few extra pounds of air to accomodate the temperature change. So if you want them to be at 32 psi when you leave in the morning, inflate them to, say, 35 psi. (If you were inflating/checking your tires at the lowest temperature of the night, you could then inflate them to their recommended pressure without making an adjustment. But most of us aren't checking tires at 3:30 in the morning.)
Also remember that, if possible, you should check tire pressures when the tires are cold, i.e. when the car hasn't been driven more than about a half mile or so. Checking pressures when the tires are warm will give you slightly inflated readings.)
Tires lose about a pound of pressure for every 10º drop in temperature. So let's say you set your tire pressures at 32 psi at 1:00 pm, when it's 40º. If it then drops to 10º early the next morning, you'll lose 3 pounds psi in every tire, putting you at 29 psi. When the thermometer rises, your tire pressures will rise with it. But since, for safety, you want the recommended tire pressure as a minimum, you must add a few extra pounds of air to accomodate the temperature change. So if you want them to be at 32 psi when you leave in the morning, inflate them to, say, 35 psi. (If you were inflating/checking your tires at the lowest temperature of the night, you could then inflate them to their recommended pressure without making an adjustment. But most of us aren't checking tires at 3:30 in the morning.)
Also remember that, if possible, you should check tire pressures when the tires are cold, i.e. when the car hasn't been driven more than about a half mile or so. Checking pressures when the tires are warm will give you slightly inflated readings.)
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