Have a 2012 Cooper S- 205/45 R /17W run flats. Tire Monitor light came on while I was on Long road trip. Drove about 200 miles with it on. NO visible punctures or nails, drive did not seem any different. Put some air in and reset but light not going out. (I do not have a gauge so cannot determine if pressure is exact. Will get to delaer as soon as I can but question is that since I have driven so far on tire with no ill effects, I am questioning if there really is tire Problem. ANy one with experience like this? Any one know what happens to the tire when driving Long distances ove rthe 50 miles they say if indeed a puncture?

 

Run flat tires have a stiffer sidewall so you're not driving on the wheel should you lose air.
I've never seen one with low air pressure, but maybe you can't see a difference.

If you do drive on it without pressure, the tire is destroyed and will need replaced.

Start by checking the pressure.

 

Without knowing the actual pressure it would be hard to troubleshoot. Buy yourself a quality tire air pressure gauge and keep it in the car.

 

If the tire was hot to the touch and stickey it was most certainly ruined. It is very hard to tell the difference between a little or a lot soft. If you have any doubts replace the tire.

 

We have had some issues resetting the Tire pressure lights. What Ive been told is to Make sure all valve stems are pointed at the 12 o'clock position, THEN re-set the light, and go drive it.

Only after you get a gauge on it and verify all tire pressures are correct.

 

Get a gauge. If your pressure is low, you probably can find the leak with a spray bottle with some soapy water in it: squirt it down, find the bubbles. If it's just a re-set, it may take a mile or two of driving to recognize all of the TPMS sensors. I've never done the 12 o'clock thing. Interesting.

 

If you drove 200 miles and neither felt any difference, nor observed anything visibly wrong with the tires (even RFT would have started falling apart by then), it may well be that you have a defective TPMS sensor. Or the ambient temperature fluctuations have caused the pressure in all tires to drop below whatever minimal level that spooks TPMS.

The easiest way to confirm that is to check the tire pressure and check the pressures across all 4 tires.

Do get a gauge and keep it the car - it's cheaper than paying for the gas of driving to the dealer!

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I know guy who drove over 1000 miles on a zero pressure run flat ... highway miles.

Not being a car guy, he looked at the tire and since it did not LOOK flat he decided the light was wrong and continued his vacation. Once home - 1000 miles later - took the car to the dealer to complain about the light. Dealer found a hole in the tire and no air could be held. The tire - and ding dong driver - survived. Obviously he bought a new tire.

AMAZING I KNOW but 100% true story . . . he did not own a p' gauge either . . .

 

He probably forgot to tell you that you also need to clap your hands four times right after pointing the sensors 12 o'.

 

Buy a gauge that is round and is resettable. Check pressure when tires are cold. All 4 tires must be set at the same pressure or the computer will set off the light. I have experienced the following; 3 tires @ 38psi & 1 tire @ 40psi and light showed position of 40 psi as LOW. Added 2# air to the 3 @38psi and the light went out instantly as all tires were @ 40psi.


ISAMIN












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Cmon, cmon, everyone knows that is only necessary on Tuesdays or days with a 7 in the date.

 

An exception to the above is noted on a TSIB; it can be done on days when one has had beans for lunch.