Tires
Tire pressure (TPMS) warning light
How to respond to a TPMS light, separate a real low tire from a sensor or temperature issue, and reset the system correctly.
A steady TPMS light usually means at least one tire is low.
A flashing TPMS light points to a sensor or system fault.
Temperature swings can trigger the light without a leak.
Read the light's behavior
A steady tire-pressure light means the system detected pressure below threshold on one or more tires. A light that flashes for a while at startup and then stays on usually indicates a TPMS system or sensor fault rather than a low tire.
Check all four tires (and the spare where monitored) with an accurate gauge rather than by eye. A tire can be significantly low before it looks flat.
Rule out temperature and slow leaks
Cold weather lowers tire pressure and can turn the light on overnight; pressure may need topping up to the door-placard value. If a single tire keeps going low, look for a nail, a leaking valve stem, a corroded rim bead, or a slow puncture.
Set pressures to the placard value on the door jamb, not the maximum printed on the tire sidewall.
Reset and sensor notes
After correcting pressures, some vehicles clear the light automatically after driving; others need a reset procedure. TPMS sensors also have batteries that eventually fail, and a sensor damaged during tire service can set a fault.
If the light stays on after all pressures are correct, a sensor or relearn issue is likely, and a TPMS tool can identify which sensor is not reporting.
Diagnostic checklist
- Note whether the light is steady or flashing.
- Check all tires with an accurate gauge.
- Set pressures to the door-placard value.
- Inspect a repeatedly low tire for a nail or valve leak.
- Allow for cold-weather pressure drop.
- Use a TPMS tool if a sensor fault is suspected.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my TPMS light come on in cold weather?
Cold air lowers tire pressure, which can drop a tire below the warning threshold. Top up to the placard pressure and the light usually clears after driving.
The light is flashing, not steady. What does that mean?
A flashing TPMS light generally indicates a system or sensor fault, such as a dead sensor battery, rather than a simply low tire.