Understanding TPMS sensors to make your beloved vehicle safe

When planning a road trip, be it on your bike or in your car, there is a checklist you have to go through before you hit the road. Just like you would make a list of places you would want to visit, you should also make a list of things you would do to prepare your vehicle for the trip. Along with regular servicing and checks, getting TPMS for the vehicle is important if you don’t have it. 

TPMS importance 

A tyre pressure monitoring system, i.e. TPMS, helps monitor tyre attributes such as pressure, friction and temperature. Most widely, TPMS is used to monitor tyre pressure with a smart sensor that is attached to the tyres. With a smart tyre app, it becomes easy to track air pressure in each tyre. But the importance of TPMS goes much beyond just knowing the tyre pressure. Through multiple researches, it has been identified that TPMS acts more as a safety device than a tyre care app only. 

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The most basic function of TPMS is to monitor tyre pressure. But the implications of it result in multiple areas as follows. 

Reduces wear and tear of the tyre

TPMS keeps a track of air pressure in each tyre. The tyres function efficiently when conditions such as air pressure are optimal. TPMS will help you set an ideal tyre pressure value depending on whether it's the front or rear tyre. It will also track air pressure with a sensor attached to the tyre. This reduces the risk of tyres operating at the wrong tyre pressure and reduces the risks of them bursting or wearing out prematurely. Improper tyre pressure directly affects the friction between the tyre and the road. When this is kept optimal with the help of smart tyre sensors, the wear and tear of the tyre reduce and results in longevity of the tyres. 

Increases fuel efficiency

When tyre pressure is maintained optimally, it does not strain the engine unnecessarily. This means that with optimal tyre pressure monitored by TPMS sensors, the machines of the vehicle also perform optimally. This in turn, results in increased fuel efficiency for the vehicle. With smart tyres, you are able to cover longer distances with the same fuel quantity. 

Improves safety of the vehicle

The tyre care app keeps you updated about the tyre pressure and the temperature of different tyres in your vehicle. An over-inflated tyre may jump out of proportion on bumpy roads. An under-inflated tyre is at risk of bursting because of increased friction. With the ability to monitor vitals such as tyre pressure and temperature, reducing the risk of accidents and improving safety is easy. 

Reduces carbon footprint 

Increased fuel efficiency due to maintaining optimal tyre pressure is important for sustainable energy usage. Along with that, at optimal tyre pressure, the vehicle's carbon footprint is the least. When tyre pressure is imbalanced, the friction between the road and the tyre and the increased use of fuel gives rise to carbon monoxide emissions from the vehicle. Thus by maintaining optimal tyre pressure, you can also reduce the carbon footprint of your road trip. 

Now that we have understood why TPMS is important, let us also look at the types of TPMS. 

Types of TPMS

TPMS sensors are used in two ways: Direct TPMS and Indirect TPMS. 

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Direct TPMS 

Direct TPMS sensors are installed inside the rim or valve of the tyre. They operate on batteries. Constantly being in touch with the tyre, the record information such as air pressure, and temperature entrance first information to the app. The smart tyre app notifies you when these readings need immediate attention. 

Direct TPMS is widely preferred as it passes the accurate and actual tyre pressure and is not an estimate of it. For all the benefits of TPMS, a direct device enhances those. 

Indirect TPMS

Indirect TPMS also work on sensors and gives an estimate of tyre pressure. It depends on the speed sensors installed for anti-lock brake technology. An estimate of tyre pressure is made based on the number of times a tyre revolves. 

The driver is notified of that change when the tyre spins faster or slower than usual. Thus, without measuring the tyre pressure, indirect TPMS alerts the driver when the tyre could be overinflated or underinflated. 

Comparison between Direct TPMS & Indirect TPMS 

When there are two ways to monitor one aspect, they are bound to be comparative. When we compare direct and indirect TPMS, they both have a balanced list of benefits and challenges. Direct TPMS gives an accurate tyre pressure measurement and hence is more reliable. But it is costly and the sensors fitted into tyres are prone to damage very easily. On the other hand, indirect TPMS gives approximate values or sometimes just alerts the driver of the imbalance. But it is cheaper than direct TPMS, so many people go for indirect ones. Depending on the need of the vehicle and driver, a fair choice can be made between the two. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: What are two types of TPMS?

A: There are two types of TPMS sensors: direct and indirect. They both differ in the ways they measure tyre pressure. 

Q: What is direct TPMS?

A: Direct TPMS involves sensors fitted into tyres and reflects readings from those sensors. It gives accurate values of the air pressure and temperature of the tyre.

Q: What is indirect TPMS?

A: Indirect TPMS derives if the tyre is under-inflated or over-inflated based on the revolution of the tyre. It notifies the driver of any imbalance.