The system must be recalibrated each time the tire pressure is adjusted

25 Jun 2026News & Campaigns

Since November 2014, all newly registered cars in the EU must be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). According to the German Tyre Retail and Vulcanisation Trade Association, more than 70 percent of cars in Germany are now fitted with such a system. This requirement was extended to trucks, buses, and heavy trailers in July 2024. Once set, a TPMS automatically checks a vehicle’s tire pressure and triggers a dashboard warning in the event of any deviation from the value.

So does a TPMS make it unnecessary to manually check pressure at regular intervals? It is not quite as simple as that, say DEKRA’s experts. Anyone who thinks it is no longer necessary to check their tires is on the wrong track. “Tire pressure monitoring systems usually function precisely and reliably. However, any warning is delayed by a system-related tolerance,” explains tire expert Christian Koch. According to him, this tolerance makes sense because warnings would otherwise be triggered very frequently as the result of unavoidable, temperature-related variations in tire pressure. The warning threshold is set at 20 percent in relation to the warm tire pressure.

In addition, these indirect systems are unable to directly measure the actual pressure of each tire

That is why the expert recommends that drivers regularly check their tire pressure manually, even if their vehicle is equipped with a TPMS. This should preferably be done at the same time as checking the tires for any penetrating objects like nails or screws, wear and tear, or any other damage.

It should be remembered that the system must be recalibrated each time the tire pressure is adjusted, for example, when the vehicle is being loaded with more items or passengers for a vacation. The pressure should always be measured when the tires are cold – so before starting any journey. In any case, the tires should be checked at least every four weeks.