Tyres >Help >Tyres Help > What does TPMS stand for
TPMS stands for Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
The TPMS is the system that monitors your tyre's pressure. If the pressure drops below a certain level, the system will alert the driver.
All new cars and light commercial vehicles - up to 3.5 tonnes - that were registered on or after January 1, 2012, must be fitted with a working TPMS. By law. This was initially introduced off the back of the EU's Regulation 661/2009. A regulation that requires all new cars sold in the EU to come with a functional TPMS.
Despite Brexit and the UK’s exit from the EU, the UK’s government kept this law in place and introduced it as a part of UK domestic legislation. As such, they require all new vehicles be fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system.
TPMS: Road safety
The road safety aspect of a TPMS comes from the ability of the system to help reduce the use of underinflated tyres. Tyres will an inadequate air pressure suffer from poor handling, longer braking distances, and in extreme circumstances, a tyre blowout.
It's essential to remember that TPMS laws and regulations may differ depending on the country. Therefore, check the rules and regulations in your own region to ensure you are compliant with your own country's laws.