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Tire Pressure Question

17K views 33 replies 18 participants last post by  MikeB39A 
#1 ·
2016 Sorento 6400 miles,had a low tire pressure warning,I aired up the tires to 35 psi, used digital gauge,but the tire psi changes when I drive,I have tried to get all the tires psi the same but not having any luck,Yep it's probably a silly question but getting frustrated
 
#6 ·
the tire psi changes when I drive
when you drive, the flexing of the rubber & friction with the road causes the PSI to go UP. if its going down, then you have a leak.

I have tried to get all the tires psi the same but not having any luck
thats very difficult thing to do. some times face the sun in the morning, and will have a higher starting psi then those that dont face the sun. take more left turns, and guess what = the left side will have a higher psi due to the tires flexing and creating a larger contact patch.

ps: did you check your spare tire? it can lose up to half the psi every year. you dont want to be caught with a flat spare!
 
#7 ·
You should only check/fill tires when cold, like in the morning.
I have been keeping mine at 32, but now that the weather is cooler and has dropped under 50, I am seeing 29 PSI in the morning. So I need to add some air.
They are NEVER all the same.
And of course the PSI goes up as you drive.
 
#9 · (Edited)
My OCD tendencies requires me to keep thenm even. Fill after car has sat or when not sunny and get them close.... then tweak if needed when they are cold in the morning or after driving on a cloudy day... u will get a feel for it and get them almost identical. I watch the pressure increase as I drive sometines..... 3 or even 4 psi is a normal gain. You can set them 3 or 4 psi when hot and they should settle in close to where you want them.

When tweaked they will almost always read the same psi if they are in identical conditions. You can watch the pressute jump up as they warm within a short period of time of each other.
 
#11 ·
actually my Canadian Sportage SX has TPMS

I've found that letting the car sit with one side in the hot sun will have the car showing a couple of PSI higher for the two tires on that side.

You never get all 4 showing the same. some times three but i don;t think i ever managed all four.
 
#13 · (Edited)
For the folks in Canada without TPMS - this is an option i am considering Steelmate TP-74P 4 Sensors Wireless DIY TPMS Tire Pressure Monitor System L4Z3 | eBay you give up a cigarette lighter port but given the number in the Sorento (SX at any rate) that should not be an issue. There is a solar powered version as well http://www.ebay.ca/itm/5V-Solar-Wir...b91a64f&pid=100022&rk=3&rkt=4&sd=391552713325.

Also installation of this model does not need the tyre to be removed from the rim to be installed. WHich allows you to put it on any set of tyres and swap winter to summer when needed The touted advantage is that you dont need to install these inside the tyre just replace the hub cap. So the open question in my mind is how accurate are these (compared to the in-tyre design)?
 
#15 ·
For the folks in Canada without TPMS - this is an option i am considering Steelmate TP-74P 4 Sensors Wireless DIY TPMS Tire Pressure Monitor System L4Z3 | eBay
So the open question in my mind is how accurate are these (compared to the in-tyre design)?
Following up - a user on amazon in Feb 2016 says by his measurement these external sensors are accurate to +/- 1 to 2 psi. i figure that is better than having to undo hub caps in teh dead of winter attempting to use a guage. Cheers and hope this information was useful
 
#16 · (Edited)
Nice find for an application to your newer rides! But accessories like these have been around for some time(probably a lot improved in quality by now). They started showing up around the time the USA started talking about Mandatory tire press. monitoring systems for USA cars. Just may think of getting a few sets for 3 of my "antique" rides that do not have TPMS and driven by my wife and kids!
 
#18 ·
STILL? that's why I did not use them way back, due to being exposed to the"elements" even with shorty valve stems. The one set I tried broke apart on 2 sensors when I needed to change ties for summer, so I never tried them again. Hence the wording of my post.:)
 
#19 ·
Appreciate teh feedback @scosgt and @miakia09. the reviews on amazon for this brand/model dont mention any issues with the sensors causing leaks. there are mentions of the sensors getting stuck to the valve stem along with the caution to use compound that prevents this. At $100 this is a gamble but i balance that against $300 at retail for the internal type sensors that i can install when I purchase winter tyres.
 
#20 ·
So are you saying that you may be a product tester for us here? I did like the concept of these type sensors but at that time I chalked it up to the lack of quality plastics of the times, for the problem I encountered,and yes I used anti sieze on the threads. Also in LONG TERM use even internal sensors can leak air,IF wheels and stems are not maintained. Not trying to bash whole use of any particular system.
 
#21 ·
As an aside, has anyone else become a total TPMS freak ever since cars started being able to display individual pressures on their info screens? I'll admit, I never paid much attention to my tire pressure before. I just got a Hyundai Tucson as a rental for a few days - and the monitor said the tire pressures were 29, 30, 38, and 43. Naturally, the pressure is supposed to be 35, so not a single one was right, and that 43 (on a cold tire on a 45 degree day) seemed downright scary.
 
#22 ·
Experiences such as yours are why I have not taken the plunge and purchased the DIY TPMS (Canadian 2016 SX does not have TPMS, the Sante Fe XL does). Do these TPMS systems cause more confusion (by being inaccurate / provide variable readings) in the quickly changing temperatures? and cause me to become a TPMS freak? :)

I'm in the undecided column on this for now. the advantage with the models i listed in a prior post are that they dont need the tyres to be removed to be installed. so i can have my winter tyres installed and decide later.
 
#24 ·
I ride a bicycle a lot and keep a track pump in the car. When I rotated the tires I had to readjust the pressure as I keep the back two pounds lower than the front. I get them close when cold but fine tune them to match side to side and front to back -2 after I've driven for 20 minutes so it's all evenly heated. So right now with it adjusted for winter temps so I'm at 35 front and 33 rear cold and raising evenly about 3 pounds warmed up according to the in-car sensors.
 
#25 ·
Being an RVer and currently using my TPMS I would not consider ever putting it on an automobile or SUV. First of all you need heavy duty metal valve stems to screw the sensors onto. The TPMS are generally made for large commercial truck tires using 85 to 120 pounds of psi.

Having used this system for several years traveling in all types of temps I have learned a lot. My Motorhome tires, including the duals, each have exactly 105psi. This was set in the morning when all tires were in the shade and the temperature was around 75. I have seen the temp on these tires go from 78 degrees to over 90 using the TPMS, plus watched the psi increase from the 105psi to over 116psi. After camping all night and checking the monitor in the morning my left tires could be back to 105psi and my right side could be higher if for example they are in the sun. Or, if the area I am in is having temps in the 50's, my pressures will probably read below 100psi.

However, after a month of traveling I can have the Motorhome back in storage and if I check the psi on a 75 degree day they will all be right at 105. My point is an exterior TPMS will give you an advance warning of a slow leak, which in a large heavily loaded vehicle could lead to tire separation, overheating, or a blow out. The system will also sound an immediately warning if there is a sudden loss of pressure, which lets you get off the gas just before the tire starts coming apart. This type of application on a passenger style vehicle would be a waste of time IMHO.
 
#26 ·
anyone know why it takes a minute or so for the TPMS display on the dash to show the pressure? it says "drive to display" or something. i could understand it taking 1 or 2 wheel rotations for the sensor in the wheel well to read the TPMS transmitter in the tire, but why do i have to drive a block or 2? my acura displayed the pressure i'd say within 1 wheel rotation, so pretty much instantly. just curious...
 
#28 ·
The Sorento has some amazing tech inside. It needs tire rotation and also inputs from maybe the steering sensor because it determines where each wheel is on the car. If you rotate the tires it will automatically recompute and figure out where each sensor/wheel combo is on the car and adjust accordingly.
 
#27 ·
I keep my front tires matched and rear tires 2 psi less. I ride a bicycle a lot and keep a hand pump in the car. I only tweak my pressures after 20 minutes of highway driving usually after the sun is down. We're talking 1 stroke of a bicycle pump at a time to get them all matched where I want them. It can be done though. Now that it's set I haven't touched it.
 
#31 ·
It's the button on the right side of the steering wheel that looks like pages laid over top one another. Above the knob that lets you rotate through odometer screens. It's also the button that takes you to settings to customize displays and various settings to your liking. If you haven't done that yet, you should.
 
#32 · (Edited)
Thank you. I found it this morning. For my SXL - You use the setting button to the left of the cruise button on the steering wheel (the pages button as tom4416 wrote), go to the Driver Attention setting and then move the lever below down one (I believe).
You need to be driving as noted below from the manual....though if you have driven a little the actual cold temperature would not be shown. It is only good as a guide to see if you are close to the recommended pressure on all tires. It keeps you from having to crouch and check each tire as often !

You can check the tire pressure in
the information mode on the cluster.
• Tire pressure is displayed 1~2 minutes
later after driving.
 
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