AKRON (Feb. 18, 2015) — As snow and frigid arctic cold blanket wide swaths of the Midwest, Northeast and East Coast, vehicles — and specifically tires and related systems — are taking a beating.
Published reports have shed light on a problem some tire dealerships are experiencing as temperatures plunge to single digits or below zero in some areas: Motorists are stopping by to report that their vehicle's tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) dashboard warning light is on.
A recent item in Consumer Reports (CR) magazine — titled “Do Tires Really Go Flat in Cold Weather?” — highlighted the issue of errant TPMS lights in cold weather. “…Colder temperatures mean that the air in your tires becomes more dense while the car is parked on winter nights,” CR said. “Getting a warning light on a chilly morning doesn't necessarily indicate a problem.
“Once you drive a few miles and the tires warm up, the light should turn off. If it doesn't, check the pressure with a gauge and add air, or ask your mechanic to have a look.”
Even with vehicles equipped with TPMS, the magazine advised motorists to “use a gauge to check the pressure in all of your tires at least once per month, no matter what the weather is like.”