If you are running into an issue in which your TireMinder is reading a different pressure than your tire gauge, the first thing your are going to want to do is to get an accurate comparison. To get an accurate comparison, please use the steps below. Please note, you will need to be in Monitoring Mode in order to perform these steps.
- Remove the transmitter from the valve stem.
- Once remove, the monitor should read 0 PSI at the corresponding tire position.
- Use a trusted tire pressure gauge on the same tire and record the tire pressure.
- Screw the transmitter back onto the tire.
- Once back on the tire, the monitor should display the current tire pressure.
- Compare the two tire readings.
Why do you need to perform these steps in order to receive an accurate comparison?
To receive an accurate comparison between a tire pressure gauge and a TPMS, or even one gauge to another, the pressure must be retrieved at the same time. If the readings are not taken within the same timeframe, you will not receive an true comparison.
Pressure Changes Over Time
Please note, there are many reasons ranging from heat, atmospheric pressure, altitude and weather that can cause pressure to change, even while standing still. For example, when we arrive at our offices in the morning our tire pressure would generally be around 32 to 33 PSI. Around noon, these pressures could reach as high as 36 to 37 PSI - while stationary! This is because the tire pressure is increased by the day's heat, which is also exacerbated by the parking lot, which slowly heats up your tires throughout the day. When you're driving, these factors will increase, increasing the likelihood that the pressure you registered with your tire gauge yesterday, will not be the same pressure you see on your TireMinder today.
Pressure Variances Between Gauges
Each and every tire gauge or TPMS will have a varying level of accuracy. For instance....
- TireMinder brand tire pressure gauges are among the most accurate on the market at ± 1 to 2 PSI.
- The TireMinder transmitter is accurate to ± 3%*.
So, if you are running 100 psi in your tires, you could have a gauge reading 2 psi high and a TPMS transmitter reading 3 psi low leaving a difference of 5 psi. This is not uncommon and is considered totally acceptable. We have had calls from customers doing their initial installation saying all 8 or 10 TireMinder® transmitters are reading 9 to 11 pounds low!!! Can you guess what the problem is?? What is important to understand is that the TireMinder® TMPMS (and any other brand for that matter) is designed to warn you of changes. For example, it really does not care whether it starts at 97 psi or 108 psi. It is the changes and deviations from the baselines you need to know about.
So, please look at “the big picture”. You may use your trusty pressure gauge as the “standard” or you can use the TPMS as the standard. The important point is that they are all relatively consistent.
*Newer TireMinder models may have increased accuracy. For your systems accuracy, please refer to the included instruction manual.
