Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) was first introduced as an optional feature for luxury passenger cars in the European market during the s. The first passenger car to adopt TPM was the Porsche 959 in , which utilized the hollow spoke wheel system developed by PSK. In , Renault introduced the Michelin PAX system for the Scenic, and in , PSA Peugeot Citroën decided to make TPM a standard feature for the Peugeot 607. The following year, in , Renault launched the Laguna II, the first large-capacity mid-size car to come equipped with TPM as a standard feature. In the United States, General Motors introduced TPM for the Corvette in , along with Goodyear's run-flat tires. This system utilized sensors within the wheels and a driver display screen to indicate tire pressure for each wheel, as well as high and low-pressure warnings. Since then, it has remained a standard feature for Corvettes.
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With the increasing awareness of safety, tire pressure monitoring has gained significant importance. The installation of tire pressure monitoring systems has become an essential part of vehicle safety. This measure has also been included in the legislation of various countries. When discussing the inclusion of tire pressure monitoring in laws, it is essential to mention the birth of the United States "TREAD Act" (Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation Act).
In the s, Firestone introduced a batch of defective SUV tires, which happened to be selected as the standard tires for the Ford Explorer. These tires, originally intended for light off-road use, experienced multiple tire blowouts on regular roads, resulting in approximately 200 fatalities (primarily due to rollovers caused by high-speed tire failures). As a result, Firestone and Ford initiated a recall and replacement of nearly 23 million tires. Firestone's market value was directly halved, leading to the swift closure of their Decatur, Illinois tire manufacturing plant. The incident led to the resignation and dismissal of several high-ranking executives at Firestone and Ford. Additionally, this event directly influenced the United States Congress to pass the "TREAD Act," effectively terminating the nearly century-long partnership between Ford and Firestone.
The "TREAD Act," enacted in the late s, requires the use of appropriate TPMS technology in all light-duty motor vehicles (weighing below 10,000 pounds) to help alert drivers of underinflated tire conditions. Starting from October , TPMS technology has been implemented in 20% of light-duty vehicles in the United States. Since September , all passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the United States are required to be equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems.
The European Union also enacted legislation in this regard. Starting from November 1, , all newly released passenger car models must be equipped with TPMS. Since November 1, , all passenger cars in the European Union are required to be equipped with TPMS.
On July 13, , the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of South Korea announced partial revisions to the Korean Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (KMVSS), stipulating that "TPMS should be installed in passenger cars and vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tons and below. Effective from January 1, , for new models, and from June 30, , for existing models."
Following the European Union, Japan has also enacted legislation regarding TPMS. Other countries that enforce mandatory TPMS include Russia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Israel, Malaysia, and Turkey.
In conclusion, tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) have become a crucial component in ensuring vehicle safety worldwide. The implementation of TPMS has been driven by the increasing awareness of safety concerns and the need to prevent accidents caused by underinflated tires. The United States led the way with the "TREAD Act" in the late s, followed by the European Union's legislation in , making TPMS mandatory for all new passenger car models. Countries such as South Korea, Japan, Russia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Israel, Malaysia, and Turkey have also enforced TPMS requirements in their respective regions. These regulations have significantly contributed to enhancing road safety, reducing accidents, and saving lives. As the automotive industry continues to prioritize safety and technological advancements, TPMS plays a vital role in ensuring optimal tire performance and driver awareness, making it an indispensable feature in modern vehicles.
Feb 21, |
3 min read
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Capital One | Aaron Miller
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Tire-pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), which are now mandatory equipment on U.S. passenger vehicles, are intended to alert drivers to air leaks and flat tires.
Although often neglected, correct tire pressure is important, as an under-inflated tire can reduce fuel efficiency, lead to premature wear, and more seriously, separate from the wheel or cause a tire blowout.
The Beginnings of Tire-Pressure MonitoringTPMS first surfaced in Europe in the mid-80s on the Porsche 959 supercar (which wasnt street legal in the U.S.). It used sensors built into the wheels.
General Motors introduced tire-pressure monitoring to the U.S. as an option on the Chevy Corvette. Called the low-tire-pressure warning system (LTPWS), it relied on a transmitter strapped to the inside of the wheel with a metal band.
TPMS continued to gain popularity as an option and occasionally as standard equipment on various models. The increasing prevalence of run-flat tires played a part in its adoption; thats because a punctured run-flat will continue to support a vehicle, and the driver may not notice a loss of pressurehence the need for TPMS. In fact, in the early s, GMs LTPWS allowed Chevy to offer run-flats on the Corvette for the first time.
The big impetus for change, however, came in the late s, when a spate of Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone rubber crashed due to tire failure. Dozens if not hundreds of people died, Ford and Firestone pointed the finger at each other while recalling millions of tires, and consumers wanted answers. The resulting investigation led Congress to enact the Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act, in .
Among other things, this legislation required the installation of tire-pressure monitoring systems on all four tires of all new passenger vehicles and light trucks sold from September . The thinking was, if vehicles had TPMS, drivers would learn about and address a low-tire-pressure situation before it became a safety issue.
There are two main ways to monitor tire pressure: indirectly and directly. Indirect TPMS is simpler and uses data from wheel-speed sensors to determine the relative pressure of the tire (an underinflated tire will have a smaller diameter, which the vehicles computers can detect). This method does not provide the pressure measurement at each wheel but instead alerts the driver when a particular tire is low.
Direct TPMS uses a sensor installed on the wheel or as part of the valve stem to measure the exact pressure in the tire. It periodically transmits the information wirelessly to a receiver on the vehicle. The driver can usually access these numbers through an interior display. Some vehicles with direct sensors will even provide feedback while someone is filling the tires. Nissans, for instance, will flash the lights to indicate the start of inflation and chirp the horn to tell you when to stop.
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