Citation

Accid. Reconstr. J. 2001; 12(6): 16-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Most U.S. motorists do not regularly check the air pressure in their tires. Underinflated tires run hotter, wear faster, and have a greater chance of suffering tread separation and blowouts. Under new rules, issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in May 2001, new motor vehicles must have tire pressure monitors (TPMs). These TPMs come in 2 forms: 1) direct systems, which have individual pressure monitors on each wheel that transmit a radio signal to activate a warning light when any tire differs significantly from a recommended inflation level; and 2) indirect systems, which operate off a vehicle's anti-lock braking system and measure differences in rotational speeds among the tires. This article discusses the results of some actual vehicle tests conducted to compare these 2 TPM methods.