Driving down to Chatsworth Rally show last weekend on the M1 a warning on the maxidot followed by the yellow tyre sensor indicator on the dash came on. The result was a slow puncture in the front tyre. To cut a long story short the tyre could not be repaired so I bought 2 new Bridgestones for the front. Not my first choice of tyre but needs must.

The question is how do I know that the correct valve/sensor on the new tyres works with the car system. I have been to the garage tonight deflated the front tyre with the car running by about 10 PSI and no warning lights came on, did the same with the original rear tyre and the same thing no warning light. How do I check the system to know that it works and that the correct valves were fitted?

There is no sensor. It runs off the ABS, looking at the number of rotations.

After changing your tyres / re-inflating, just hold the button below the climate control dials for a couple of seconds to recalibrate it. It can take it a little while to notice a pressure difference.

Hard luck on the Bridgestones mate :(

Edited 10 June, 201016 yr by wega3k

The alarm does not work by a sensor in the trye or valve. It works by using the ABS sensor on the brakes and comparing how many times each tyre rotates. A flat tyre will rotate more times (smaller circumferance) so will trigger the alarm. If the car was stationary when you deflated the tyres then it would not set it off. You need to drive the car with the tyres deflated for it to go off.

I believe it was the BMW system that had pressure sensors in the actual wheels.

Thanks for the quick response ....concerned about nothing then...hmm apart from the Bridgestones

The tyre pressure warning system should be set when the tyres are cold.

Is the typre pressure warning a standard feature (or even an option) on the Scout? I can find no mention of it in any of the literature I've read or have been given with the car I've ordered in New Zealand.

VAG have confused a lot of owners by calling this type of sensor a "tyre pressure " sensor . It does not monitor tyre pressure . Instead it monitors the difference in wheel speeds ( rolling radius).

On the MK 6 Golf it is called "Flat tyre Indicator" which is a better description .

A full tyre presure sensor system with pressure sensors in each wheel ia available on the top end models of the VAG range. This gives a numeric display of the actual tyre pressure on the dash display. This is a much more expensive option.

Edited 11 June, 201016 yr by vwcabriolet1971