Frequently Asked Questions

• TPMS abbreviation stands for: Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
  
  
• TPMS is a built-in monitoring system for the tyre pressure in motor vehicles
  
  
• Automatic and direct indication as a warning on the display when a problem occurs in one or more tyres due to a pressure loss

Aim: 

• Increase the driving safety and reduce accidents, since incorrect tyre pressures increase the braking distance, the cornering performance can be affected and the tyres can heat up.
  
  
• Prevention of the increased fuel consumption due to less than optimal tyre pressures.
  
  
• Reduction of tyre wear due to higher rolling resistance as well as of CO₂ emissions.

Advantages:

• Tyre pressure problems will be shown immediately to the driver.
  
  
• The problems can be resolved at an early stage.
  
  
• No more need for manual air pressure checks

Timescale for the equipping with TPMS:

1. Since the 1st November 2012 all types of new motor vehicles and mobile homes sold in the EU must be equipped with a TPMS.
   
   
2. From the 1st November 2014 all motor vehicles and mobile homes in the EU must have a TPMS at initial registration.

Use of existing sensors of the ESP/ABS by identifying the tyre pressure via the tyre speed and send the data to the central control unit (ECU = Electronic Control Unit)

In the event of pressure loss: 

• Determining an increased speed of the tyre by the system
  
  
• Indication on the display as a warning to the driver

Compared with the direct TPMS: 

• imprecise (e.g. no indication of the exact pressure loss and temperature measurement)
  
  
• less convenience (e.g. no measurement of the tyre pressure when the vehicle is at a standstill)
  
  
• no extra effort/cost when changing tyres, since no sensors in the tyres need to be borne in mind

Already in the vehicle manufacture a direct or indirect TPMS must be integrated, a subsequent equipping is considered as not conforming.

Characteristics of the TPMS according to EU law:

• Warning in the event of pressure loss in an individual tyre (within 10 minutes):
  20% lower than operating pressure (Pwarm) at 1.5 bar
  
  
• Warning in the event of pressure loss in all four tyres (sudden and creeping loss):
  20% lower than operating pressure (Pwarm) at 1.5 bar
  
  
• Determination of pressure loss at speeds of 40 km/h to the maximum driving performance of the vehicle
  
  
• Data transfer on 434 MHz

Tyre pressure monitoring system with the help of sensors in each tyre, which measure the pressure and temperature, send the data collected via radio to a central receiver, data processing, indication on the display for the driver

Compared with the indirect TPMS

• very precise data collection
  
  
• additional functions, such as a tyre position detection, the measurement of a pressure loss when stationary and the monitoring of the spare wheel
  
  
• significant additional costs for maintenance and tyre change
  
  
• requires significant changes for workshops, for example in maintenance, installation and programming of TPMS sensors
  
  
• Equipping all tyres (winter tyres, summer tyres, spare tyres) with a functional sensor

In the following situations the vehicle owner or workshop visited come into contact with the direct TPMS:

• Diagnosis when the warning light comes on in the display
• Maintenance, repair or replacement of sensors
• Changing tyres
• Tyre fitting
• Set of complete wheels
• Tyre repairs
• Service check (e.g. main inspection for TÜV (German MOT))

Consequences for the vehicle owner/keeper:

Because of the complex technology of the TPMS it becomes even more difficult for the owner/keeper to carry out a tyre service themselves. On illumination of the warning signal (e.g. defective tyres or faulty sensor) and when changing tyres they need a workshop with the appropriate service.

Consequences for the workshop:

It is therefore absolutely necessary for workshops, to prepare themselves for the new technology and to take early measures to be able to serve customers with a vehicle with TPMS and to position themselves as specialists in this area of the market.

Today there are numerous vehicles on the market with a direct TPMS, which is why workshops already before the 1st November 2014 are confronted with the software and the service demands of the customer.

In the next few years, the concentration of TPMS in vehicles will continue to increase. All of these vehicles have a need for replacement sensors or sensors for the fitting on winter tyres, which result in a huge sales potential of the relevant deliverables for the workshops.

In addition to the necessary know-how workshops will also need the appropriate tools (e.g. to diagnose problems or to program the sensors) and spare parts (e.g. seals, valves or entire sensors).