Smart Car Tire Warning Works Like Champ

[CMPVEGAS]

Kudos to the Smart car low tire pressure light. My low pressure light went on three times over one week, I thought something might be faulty but I verified I lost 6 pounds in the passenger rear tire twice. I took it to Big O Tire and yes there was a nail. The Smart car is the best city transport car ever sold in the United States Period. If you drive solo to work and back, the Smart car is so perfect it is scary. I love this car, maybe a convertible next time?

[craven3557]

That's what I do, except I have the cab. So much fun!!

[broberts]

I too thought the indicator was faulty until I took it to a tire store for a check. Sure enough, there was a nail in the tire.

When I went to pay I was told "no-charge" ... they enjoyed driving the smart from the parking lot to the bay and thanked me for letting them "work-on-it".

Bill

[karen103a]

Our light came on once last winter when it was 5 degrees. Then it came on last week when it went down into the 50s. We checked the pressures with the lovely air pump, and found both backs at 28. Used the pump to refill them, easy as pie. It's so nice not to have to find a gas station with a working air pump!

[psychobeth]

Had the same problem-with-nail on my left rear tire. TPM worked and told me THERE IS A PROBLEM, WOMAN! and I took it in and got it fixed, though it took three tries in three different bays to find one small enough to fit Tiny Red!

Now the right rear looks a little low though the light hasn't come on yet. I'll check it tomorrow on my one day off this week..

[unicycle]

My "omega"-style light came on a few days ago. Sho 'nuff, one of my tires was well below recommended PSI. This was odd, since I'm sporting nitrogen tires these days. I think it's a nail and will have to keep an eye...

[John_H]

Alloy wheels are known to be a little leaky just by the nature of their construction. It may be a nail, it may be the wheel. If you have steelies, I'd suspect the alloys much less, of course.

[PerryA]

Originally Posted by karen103a

Our light came on once last winter when it was 5 degrees. Then it came on last week when it went down into the 50s. We checked the pressures with the lovely air pump, and found both backs at 28. Used the pump to refill them, easy as pie. It's so nice not to have to find a gas station with a working air pump!

More places are charging for air now. I had bought a small plug in compressor for a previous car so I'd always have access to air and have gotten good use out of it. Got the pressure warning once on the Smart and topped up all around as needed. When it came on again and I knew the pressure was right, I reset the monitor and it hasn't come on again in a year. I expected it with significant temperature change, but nothing.

I wish the other family cars had the monitors. One badly worn tire that needs to be replaced early because it ran too long on low pressure would seem to be ample justification for the monitors. Add a little incremental loss of fuel efficiency over time, and I'd say they pay for themselves.

But best of all, imagine your nail scenario but you didn't notice the slow leak until it was all flat on a dark, deserted road at night in the rain. Preventing that scenario - priceless.