Jessup's Automotive | Directions |

2008 - Page 3

Tire Pressure Monitors Now The Law

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made it official on September 1 this year. All new passenger cars sold in the U.S. must now have tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).

This requirement is part of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act of 2000.

NHTSA examined driving safety data for 1995 through 1998 and found that a large number of crashes are caused by flats and blowouts. And since low tires increase roll resistance, fuel economy is another important factor in monitoring tire pressure.

All of these systems involve sensors inside the tire that radio back pressure information to a central receiver in the dash board. These sensors should be calibrated when tires are rotated every 6,000 miles.

This is a diagnostic and reset tool used to check and re-train the tire pressure monitoring systems for the new cars that have them.

Fuel efficiency is reduced by one percent for every 2.96 psi of under-inflation. We have the training and tools needed to maintain tire pressure monitors. The best time to check them is each time your tires are rotated or every second oil change. We have special tools to avoid damaging the sensors when they are dismounted and to check their calibrate their performance. Since they operate on small internal batteries, it also important to check these little batteries as well as the battery in your engine compartment.

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