Everything You Should Know About TPMS

What is TPMS, and How Does it Work?

Drivers are responsible for safe driving. But these days, the vehicle also shares the responsibility of safety with essential indications that signify the shortage of something, for instance, a battery or oil or a potential impediment to the vehicle’s motion. One of them is TPMS. Now, what is TPMS, and how does it work? Let’s look at these aspects.

What is a TPMS Sensor?

TPMS means Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. As the name suggests, the system’s fundamental purpose is to alert about the tyre pressure drop or indicate that at least one or more tyres of your vehicle are under-inflated.

The TPMS low tyre pressure is denoted with a symbol that lights up on the dashboard instrument panel in the shape of a cross-tyre section. The indication resembles a horseshoe with an exclamation mark. The sensor ensures that the tyres don’t reach a dangerous level of deflation that can damage the latter and its rim. 

How Does a TPMS Work?

Tyre pressure monitoring systems are of two types – direct and indirect. While their purpose remains the same, their way of working varies. Let’s look at it.

The Working of a Direct TPMS

This is the most commonly used TPMS system. It has sensors mounted onto the tyres inside the rim. It helps measure the inflation levels of each tyre separately. So, when the air pressure drops to below 25 per cent of the recommended inflation level, the sensor notifies the vehicle’s computer system and indicates the low tyre pressure warning.

Direct TPMS Comes in Two Types, Which Include The Following.

• High Line System: Have low-frequency transmitters near the wheels that the vehicle uses to force the transmission between the sensor and the computer.


• Low Line System: This system uses units mounted on the wheels to communicate the tyre’s air pressure levels on fixed or random intervals.

Some Advantages Of The Direct TPMS System Include The Following.

• Actual tyre pressure reading


• Longer-lasting battery/sensor


• Higher reading accuracy


• A reset after inflation or rotation isn’t required

However, direct TPMS sensors can get easily damaged during tyre rotation or maintenance. Besides, it is relatively more expensive than the indirect counterpart.

The Working Of An Indirect TPMS

An indirect TPMS works with the vehicle’s ABS. It monitors the wheel’s pace and supports the indirect TPMS system. When the tyre pressure reduces, it will roll at a different speed than the other tyres. The system identifies this change, and that results in the indication light switching on.

Some Advantages Of Indirect TPMS Include The following.

• Cost-effective compared to direct TPMS


• Requires a reset after tyre inflation, rotation, maintenance, etc.


• Requires lesser system collaboration or maintenance than direct TPMS

Indirect TPMS also has some disadvantages that include lower reading accuracy. Besides, the reading might not be correct if the new tyres are of different sizes.

Procure Efficient and Branded Tyre Pressure Monitoring System Sensor

Are you looking for the leading TPMS sensors? Millennium Semiconductors has got you covered! We are one of India’s leading TPMS sensor distributors. We distribute and deal in TPMS sensors of many leading brands worldwide. Besides, our extensive distribution network and reputed long-running clientele demonstrate our credibility as the top TPMS sensor distributor in India. 

Learn more about TPMS sensors.