TPMS Irritation

Freezing weather and the TPMS warning system flashed up on the screen - along with an ice warning. Now what was rather interesting was that just before Christmas the Jimny had its annual service and that included checking/setting the tyre pressures. So off I went into the freezing weather and checked the tyre pressures - which were all a consistent 2 psig under the recommended setting - then I had to dig the manual out and faff around resetting the system. I'd happily bin this technology tomorrow - it adds absolutely zero benefits to my ownership experience - I rate this simply as 'Technology looking for a home - an irritant'. 

lt would be a benefit if you got a puncture while on the motorway, the warning of tyre deflation could save your life, particularly in a Jimny where a flat tyre could seriously affect the handling.

 

You can of course check the Pressures from inside the car, through the TPMS menu Press and hold right button etc.

Unfortunately because we live in a society where personal accountability is virtually zero and the vast majority of people see vehicles as a necessary evil instead of something to enthuse over, all these little gimmick things are enshrined in laws and here to stay because the rest of the population cannot be trusted to not need them.

As long as the tyre pressures are set correctly when cold, the system works as intended and sits happily in the background. Obviously when the cold weather come the tyres want topping up to correct the pressure, which is something that should be done with TPMS or not.

My only slight give with the system is if you want to air down your tyrs for some off road driving.

I would also prefere that in 4WD-L the minimum set pressure goes down to 12 or 13psi because especially when driving off road with intentionally low tyre pressure the system would have helped me to avoid damaged tyres.

lightning wrote: lt would be a benefit if you got a puncture while on the motorway, the warning of tyre deflation could save your life, particularly in a Jimny where a flat tyre could seriously affect the handling
 

Yes they could, but this is reliant upon the owner correcting the warning before the journey commences rather than just ignoring the warning. Unfortunatly as these systems tend to be a bit trigger happy, the mayority of owners just ingnore the warning, a case of "cry wolf" too many times.
It would be better if it was much lower pressure trigger and a failure alarm, rather than an ignore me warning. Better for us off road types also that may wish to run lower pressures than standard.
Personally happy not to have this bit of tech.

The problem with the tyre pressure service check is that it could be last on the service schedule so your motor will have been in a warm w/shop for some time so allowing the tyres to warm up and the pressures to be taken at what would appear to be Summer time. Finish the service, take it for a run, the warning lights stay off because the drop in temp. in the tyres is compensated by the warmth generated by driving.

But come next morning. 

I found it best to check my tryes early in the morning before the sun got on them.  With the car facing east, the two left tyres, in the sun, were quite warm to the touch by shopping time and the left tyre pressures were up by 4psi! 

This solar effect could be used to lift the pressusrs over the TPMS minimum, however you would need to rotate the car once one side was warm.