Cold weather makes the air in your tyres contract, so pressure drops, often by 1–2 PSI for every 5°C fall in temperature. That's why a frosty morning frequently triggers the TPMS warning light even when there's no puncture. The fix is simple: top up to the correct pressure.
The science, briefly
Air pressure rises and falls with temperature. Park overnight in a sharp frost and the same tyre that read correctly in milder weather can read low by morning. It usually recovers a little as the tyre warms with driving, but if it's genuinely low, it needs topping up.
Cold snap or slow puncture?
A small uniform drop across all four tyres after a cold night is usually temperature. One tyre that keeps going down is more likely a slow puncture. If a single tyre repeatedly triggers the warning, get it checked.
How to set pressures in winter
- Check when tyres are cold (before driving, or after only a mile or two).
- Use the recommended figure from the door sill or handbook.
- Don't over-inflate to silence a winter light, that reduces grip on cold roads.
- Recheck after any big temperature swing.
Light won't go off?
If you've set the pressures correctly and the light persists, the tyre or a TPMS sensor may need attention. We can check both at your location across London and Birmingham. Book a check.
