I've only seen my TPMS light go on twice and both times it was when the temps dropped into the low 40's, high 30's (that's not that often in Houston). I've checked the tires last time and all the pressures were on point. I'll be checking the pressure tomorrow before driving but just wondered if anyone else experienced warning lights during colder periods of weather.

I would think this would make sense considering as far as I know, hot air expands, cold air contracts but I don't know if that would affect tires. If anyone has any feedback, let me know.

Thanks!

 

lol...i was woundering the samething.my tps hasnt come on ina while..but it came on yesterday...i havent had the time to check the preasure tho..but im pretty sure its cu of the stupid weather we have goin on here rite now.lol

 

my tire pressure was 2-3 lbs under when it started getting colder... you should always readjust in the winter. Yes, the cold temps do affect your tire pressure (that’s why you should always check when the tires are cold, not after driving.)

 

Yes - on my '07, I had a TPMS come on when the temps dropped into the 30s (also in Houston - last year). All tire pressures were good, and the reset procedure didn't work.

It eventually had to be replaced under warranty.

 

yes sir the colder weather will decrease the air pressure in them, unless you are filling them with nitrogen. Mine were perfect around 33 psi each and one night temps dropped down to the mid 20s. I started driving and my light came on and beeped 3 times (3 sensors indicated low pressure) and sure enough i was at or under 25 psi in 3 of the tires. I filled everything up to 33 psi next day when the tires were cold and has been fine since.

 

Pressure * Volume = nR (gas constants) * Temperature

Pressure and Temperature have a direct correlation, so if temperature drops, so does your tire pressure. I've read somewhere that tires will drop 1PSI for every 11 degrees farenheit temperature drop. Just the other day my TPMS light went on for the first time - it was 25 degrees in the morning and my car had been parked outside. Apparently it was a big change from the 60+ degree garaged treatment it gets 99% of the time, so it must have been enough to lower the tire pressure to trip the sensors.

Each tire was around 30 PSI so I filled each up to 35PSI (recommended for the OEM 18" wheels). After about 2 minutes of driving the light went off and I haven't had a problem since.

 

duh... PV=nRT!

 

actually, this should explain it better...

 

WOW Thanks my bad hahaha... my Duke edumacation at work

 

in short, every 10 degree's in ambient temperature will drop your tire PSI by 1...

So if you are at 32PSI when 70F, when it is 40F out you will be at roughly 28PSI which will trigger your light...

You may want to look into nitrogen, which does not react to temperature changes as much as standard air fills

 

fill it up wit nitrogen, and never worry about it again lol

 

Oh, is nitrogen exempt from the Gas Pressure Law?

Does it say PV=nRT (except for nitrogen)?

 

hahaha. nitrogen counts as a gas and it is also subject to the ideal gas law.

 

Thanks for all of the info. But here's a question for you. I checked the air pressure and the tires were indeed a little low. The average was about 28.5 PSI. I filled them all up to 30 PSI (stock 17's) and drove home. That was while I was in Louisianna. Temps were in the high 30's. Now that I'm back in Houston and temps aren't really getting below 45 or so, should I let air back out? I've read driving on overinflated tires isn't any better than driving on underinflated tires. Since temp has gone back up, pressure has increased and so has my headache. Suggestions?

 

I suggest 33psi when bone cold wherever you drive the most and just leave 'em till summer... (or whenever it warms up were you live).