DEPENDS - Read Below
Yes if a tire is just a few PSI low. No if a tire is visibly flat or losing pressure fast.
TPMS just tells you a tire is more than ~25 percent below spec. Most of the time it is a slow leak or cold-weather pressure drop. A visibly flat tire is different - that is a do-not-drive situation.
Risks If You Keep Driving
TPMS is a low-urgency warning unless the pressure is actively falling.
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LOW
Reduced fuel economy and uneven tire wear
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MEDIUM
Reduced handling and braking grip
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HIGH
Tire blowout if driven flat at speed
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HIGH
Wheel rim damage from running on a flat ($150 to $1,500 per wheel)
The Numbers You Need
Max Safe Distance
A few miles at low speed to a gas station to fill up. Zero if a tire is flat or hissing.
Cost If You Ignore
$150 to $400 per tire if a sidewall is destroyed. $150 to $1,500 for rim damage.
Stop driving immediately if any of these are true:
- A tire is visibly flat or bulging
- Loud thumping from one corner of the car
- Vibration at highway speed
- Car pulling hard to one side
- Smell of burning rubber
If any of the above apply, get off the road, shut off the engine, and call a tow. The tow is always cheaper than the damage.
What To Do, Step by Step
- Check all four tires with a gauge. A $5 gauge or the air station at the gas pump. Compare to the spec on the door jamb (not the sidewall).
- Inflate to spec. Cold pressure, when tires have not been driven on for at least 3 hours. Highway tires take 32 to 36 psi on most cars.
- Look for the leak. A nail, screw, or sidewall damage is visible. Spray soapy water on the tire to spot small leaks bubbling.
- Reset the TPMS if needed. Most cars reset automatically within 5 to 15 miles. Some require a menu reset (see owner manual).
- Plug or patch within a week. A nail in the tread: $20 to $40 at a tire shop. Sidewall damage requires a new tire.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I drive with the TPMS light on?
A few miles at low speed to fill up the tire. If the tire is visibly flat or losing pressure fast, do not drive.
Why is the TPMS light on but tires look fine?
Cold weather drops pressure 1 psi per 10F. Or one tire is a few psi under and you cannot see it. Always check with a gauge.
Can I drive on a flat tire?
Only enough to get off the road. Driving more than a few hundred feet on a flat destroys the sidewall and often damages the rim.
How do I reset the TPMS light?
Most cars reset within 5 to 15 miles after correct pressure is restored. Some need a menu reset; check your owner manual for the exact procedure.
Why does the TPMS light come on every winter?
Cold air drops pressure. A tire properly inflated in summer at 75F drops about 4 psi in winter at 35F, which is enough to trigger TPMS.
Is TPMS required to pass inspection?
In most states, a permanently-on TPMS light fails inspection. Get a fault sensor replaced if the light will not clear after inflation.