A tire-pressure warning can appear after a cold night, during a long drive, or when a tire is losing air. The warning tells you to check the tires, but it does not tell you how much air is missing or whether a tire is damaged. The pressure reading and the tire’s condition determine what to do next.
Is it safe to drive with low tire pressure?
It depends on how low the pressure is and whether the tire is damaged. A tire that is only slightly below the vehicle’s recommended pressure, looks undamaged, and is holding air may be driven cautiously a short distance to a safe place to add air. A significantly underinflated tire, a tire that is losing air quickly, or one with visible damage should not be driven on.
There is no single pressure or distance that is safe for every vehicle and tire. If you cannot measure the pressure, the tire looks low, or the vehicle is pulling, vibrating, or handling differently, stop in a safe place and arrange assistance.
| What you find | What to do |
|---|---|
| The warning is on, but the tire looks normal | Stop somewhere safe and check all tires with a pressure gauge. Add air if needed. |
| Pressure is a little low, with no visible damage or handling change | Drive cautiously only as far as needed to reach a safe place to inflate it. Avoid high speeds and hard cornering. |
| The tire is very low, nearly flat, visibly damaged, or losing air quickly | Do not continue driving on it. Move to a safe location and use the spare if appropriate, or call roadside assistance. |
What to do when the tire-pressure warning comes on
If the warning appears while you are driving, reduce speed smoothly and look for a safe place to stop. Avoid sudden braking or sharp turns. Do not stop in a travel lane unless the vehicle cannot be moved safely.
Once parked, look at each tire for obvious signs of trouble, such as a bulge, cut, embedded object, or a tire that is visibly lower than the others. Do not crawl beneath the vehicle or pull an object out of a tire. If you see damage or the vehicle’s handling has changed, do not drive on the tire.
Use a gauge to check all four tires. Set them to the pressure listed on the vehicle’s tire-information label, usually on the driver’s door jamb, or in the owner’s manual. The number on the tire sidewall is not the vehicle’s recommended pressure. See our guide to finding the correct tire pressure.
For the most accurate reading, check tires when cold, meaning the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours. If you are already on the road and find a tire underinflated, add air at the first safe opportunity rather than continuing to drive on a significantly low tire. Recheck and adjust the pressure when the tires are cold.
If the pressure drops again after you add air, the tire may have a puncture, a leaking valve, or another problem. Have it inspected by a tire professional. Read what to do with a flat or punctured tire if the tire is losing air quickly or has gone flat.
Why driving on a significantly underinflated tire is risky
A tire with too little air flexes more as it rolls. That creates heat and stress inside the tire, which can damage its structure and increase the chance of tire failure. Underinflation can also affect steering, braking, and grip, especially when the vehicle is carrying a heavy load or traveling at highway speed.
Continuing to drive on an underinflated tire can also wear the tread unevenly and increase rolling resistance, which can reduce fuel economy. The longer the tire is driven underinflated, the greater the chance that it will be damaged beyond repair.
Low pressure warning versus a flat or damaged tire
A TPMS warning can come on when one or more tires are significantly underinflated, even if the tire does not look flat. The warning is a prompt to check the pressure, not proof that the tire has a puncture. Tires can also lose air gradually without a puncture.
A visibly collapsed tire, rapid pressure loss, bulge, or change in how the vehicle handles calls for a different response: stop safely and do not drive on that tire. If the light flashes and then stays on, or a system message appears, the TPMS itself may need diagnosis. See what the tire-pressure light means.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive to a gas station with the tire-pressure light on?
First stop safely and check the pressure and tire condition. If the tire is only slightly low, has no visible damage, and the vehicle handles normally, you may be able to drive cautiously a short distance to add air. Do not make that trip if the tire is very low, losing air, damaged, or affecting the vehicle’s handling.
Should I use the pressure on the tire sidewall?
No. Use the recommended pressure on the vehicle’s tire-information label or in the owner’s manual. The sidewall number is not the normal inflation target for your vehicle.
What if the warning turns off after I start driving?
Check the tire pressures anyway. A cold tire can fall below the warning threshold and then warm up as you drive, causing the light to turn off. The pressure may still be low, so confirm it with a gauge and inflate the tires to the vehicle’s recommendation.
Can I drive on a flat tire if I go slowly?
No. Driving on a flat or nearly flat tire can damage the tire and wheel and may affect vehicle control. Stop in a safe place and use the spare if the vehicle’s instructions allow, or call roadside assistance. See how long you can drive on a spare tire.
