TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System)

A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is an on-board safety system that watches the air pressure in a vehicle's tires and warns the driver when one is significantly under-inflated. Direct systems measure pressure with a sensor in each wheel, while indirect systems estimate it from wheel speed. In a fleet, TPMS data helps prevent blowouts, uneven wear and wasted fuel.

Direct and indirect TPMS

• Direct TPMS: a battery-powered sensor, usually fitted to the valve, measures pressure and often temperature inside each tire and sends readings wirelessly to the vehicle. It is precise and shows which wheel is affected, but sensors need care when tires are changed and their batteries eventually run out.
• Indirect TPMS: the system uses the ABS wheel speed sensors. An under-inflated tire has a slightly smaller rolling radius and turns faster than the others. It needs no extra hardware but is less precise, must be reset after inflation, and can miss a slow loss on all tires at once.

Why tire pressure matters for a fleet

• Safety: under-inflation lengthens braking, reduces grip and increases the risk of a blowout, especially on loaded vans and trucks.
• Costs: a soft tire raises rolling resistance, so the engine burns more fuel, and the tread wears unevenly, bringing replacement forward.
• Availability: a puncture spotted early is a quick fix; a blowout on a round means a towed vehicle and cancelled jobs.
• Driving style: correct pressure supports eco-driving efforts, which lose part of their effect on badly inflated tires.

Making TPMS useful at fleet level

A warning light on the dashboard only helps if the driver reacts. Fleets get more value when tire alerts reach the manager too, are logged per vehicle and lead to a check or a work order. TPMS complements, but does not replace, a visual inspection of tread, sidewalls and load indices at handover. It is one of many signals covered by vehicle health monitoring.

How Dadycar helps

Dadycar is a French fleet management software. Its telematics alerts include pressure and temperature per wheel when the vehicle or the device reports them, with a severity, an adjustable threshold and a recipient, by push to the driver or the manager. Telematics works without a box on compatible connected vehicles, with a device as an option. Inspections and condition reports record tire defects at each handover, and work orders follow the repair. Data is hosted in France, with OVHcloud.

FAQ

Does TPMS replace manual pressure checks?
No. It warns of significant under-inflation; regular checks at the recommended pressure, especially when loaded, remain necessary.

Why does the TPMS light come on in cold weather?
Air contracts as it cools, so pressure drops on cold mornings. Check and adjust the tires rather than ignoring the light.

Which is better for a fleet, direct or indirect?
Direct systems give precise readings per wheel, which suits heavily loaded or high-mileage vehicles; indirect systems are simpler but less exact.