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Why is tyre pressure such an important parameter?
At first glance, car tyres seem trivial – after all, they are just a piece of rubber reinforced with wire mesh. However, as it turns out in practice, it is one of the most important car components, responsible for driving comfort, economy and, above all, safety.
However, in order for the car’s tyres to perform as claimed by the manufacturer, it is necessary to ensure that each wheel is inflated to a specific value. In the past this was done by manually checking the amount of air in the tyres with a pressure gauge, but in modern cars a tyre pressure sensor does the job.
What are the benefits of a tyre pressure sensor?
By far the biggest advantage of using a tyre pressure sensor is the significant increase in driving safety. Over-inflated tyres will cause problems with the suspension system of the car, and in extreme cases even a loss of grip.
Another benefit of using tyre pressure sensors is a noticeable reduction in vehicle operating costs. A car with properly inflated tyres will consume less energy, so it will burn less fuel or use less electricity while driving. The tyres themselves also benefit, as they wear evenly and their tread is able to withstand much greater mileage.
In addition, the tyre pressure sensor also increases driving comfortu00a0- tyres inflated to the correct value ideally absorb all bumps, thus relieving the suspension of the vehicle. This is particularly important for cars that run on low profile sports tyres.
What is a tyre pressure sensor?
As a tyre pressure sensor TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) is understood an additional system whose task is to constantly monitor the level of inflation of the tyres fitted on the car.
This task can be carried out in two ways:
- through a direct system
- through an indirect system
Both of these solutions have certain advantages and disadvantages, but in connection with the amendment of the law, all new cars sold in the European Union must be equipped with a tyre pressure sensor. This is to increase the safety of vehicles on the road and at the same time reduce the emission of harmful substances into the earth’s atmosphere. So how do tyre pressure sensors work?
Direct-type tyre pressure sensor
This is the most advanced and at the same time the most accurate way of measuring tyre inflation. The principle of this system is based on placing an autonomous sensor in each wheel of the vehicle, which monitors the pressure value in real time and then sends this data to the vehicle’s on-board computer.
The direct tyre pressure sensor can be fitted either in the wheel valve stem or on the inner side of the rim. The results are read with a high level of accuracy and the measurement error is less than a few percent.
Indirect-type tyre pressure sensor
The way in which indirect tyre pressure sensors work is a slightly more complicated issue. In the case of such systems, the actual inflation status of the tyres is estimated using data taken from the ABS/ESP sensors, which measure the actual rolling circumference of the wheel and its speed.
The tyre pressure sensor then calculates the values with the help of the on-board computer and informs the vehicle driver if any irregularities are detected.
Unfortunately, due to its design, the indirect tyre pressure sensor is subject to a slightly larger measurement error of up to 30%. However, it is still an extremely valuable piece of equipment for the car, as it allows the driver to quickly correct the pressure to the correct level recommended by the tyre manufacturer.
