How TPMS Keeps Your Fleet Safe Through Changing Weather Conditions

Weather can change quickly, especially for fleets that travel across regions. One day your drivers are dealing with freezing mornings. The next day they are rolling through desert heat. Many people do not realize how much these temperature swings can affect tire pressure, and therefore, safety, fuel efficiency, and tire life. 

A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) can help. By showing real-time pressure and temperature for each tire, fleets can manage their tires before problems happen. 

Why Temperature Swings Matter for Tire Pressure 

Here is the science: for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in temperature, tire pressure changes by about 1 PSI. A 30-degree overnight temperature drop can lower your tire pressure by 3 PSI. That is enough to affect handling, braking, and tire wear. 

• Cold weather makes the air in your tires contract, which lowers pressure. 

• Hot weather makes the air expand, which increases pressure. 

Even moderate day-to-night swings can cause major changes. These changes put extra stress on both tires and drivers. 

Risks of Under- and Over-Inflation 

Under-inflation usually happens in cold weather when air contracts or when there is a slow leak. Low tire pressure makes the engine work harder, which increases fuel use. It also makes the tire sidewalls flex too much. This creates extra heat and wears out the tread, especially on the shoulders. Over time, this can weaken the tire and raise the risk of a blowout. 

Over-inflation is more common in hot weather or when drivers add too much air to compensate for temperature changes. Over-inflated tires have a smaller contact patch with the road, which reduces traction and gives a rougher ride. The center of the tread wears faster than the edges. This shortens tire life and raises the chance of tire failure on rough roads. 

Pressure swings caused by fast temperature changes can make tires go from under-inflated to over-inflated in a single day. These swings can cause unstable handling, uneven braking, and unplanned downtime. Without real-time monitoring, these problems may go unnoticed until they become serious. 

Real-World Scenarios: When Weather Meets the Road 

Early Spring Mornings: A cold night lowers tire pressures across the fleet. Dispatch sees low-pressure alerts in Pedigree’s OneView platform and advises quick inflation. This prevents sidewall stress and wasted fuel. 

Summer Heat Waves: Tires expand as pavement temperatures rise. Pedigree’s TPMS alerts you before temperatures reach dangerous levels. 

Mountain Routes: A truck moving from cold mountain passes into warmer valleys sees pressure spikes. TPMS alerts maintenance crews before a blowout occurs. 

Best Practices for Managing Tire Pressure Through Weather Changes 

1. Set seasonal pressure thresholds based on expected temperatures. 

2. Monitor temperature along with pressure to get the full picture. 

3. Train drivers to respond quickly to alerts. 

4. Check sensors regularly for battery and connectivity status. 

5. Track trends in OneView to spot recurring tire issues. 

Benefits of Using TPMS Year-Round 

Improved Fleet Safety 

TPMS improves fleet safety by tracking tire pressure and temperature continuously. Alerts help drivers and fleet managers act before small pressure changes become serious risks. This protects vehicles and people on the road. 

Fuel Savings 

Properly inflated tires reduce rolling resistance, which saves fuel. Even a few PSI below the correct pressure can increase fuel use. With TPMS, fleets keep tires properly inflated and save on fuel. 

Extended Tire Life 

Maintaining correct pressure ensures even tread wear. Under- or over-inflation shortens tire life and hurts performance. TPMS helps fleets spot small changes before they become costly, keeping tires lasting longer. 

Reduced Downtime 

Early alerts for leaks, pressure loss, or overheating mean maintenance teams can fix problems before roadside breakdowns happen. This keeps vehicles on schedule and reduces emergency repairs. 

Better ROI 

TPMS helps fleets save money by reducing tire replacements, labor costs, and fuel use. Safer operations, longer tire life, and less downtime make fleets more efficient and cost-effective. 

Check out our ROI calculator to see how much you could save.  

How TPMS Protects Fleets During Weather Changes 

Pedigree Technologies’ TPMS solution gives fleets complete tire visibility. This helps prevent failures before they happen.

Here is how it works: 

1. Real-Time Pressure and Temperature Monitoring 

Our Bluetooth sensors measure both tire pressure and temperature continuously. This gives context. You can tell the difference between a real pressure problem and normal temperature changes. 

Pro Tip: When temperatures rise, pressure can look high. A TPMS that tracks temperature helps you understand the change correctly. 

2. Instant Alerts and Custom Thresholds 

The system sends an immediate alert to the driver or fleet manager when pressure or temperature goes outside your preset range. Alerts include: 

• Low or high pressure 

• Rapid or slow leaks 

• Excessive tire temperature 

• Abnormal trends 

This way, you do not find out about problems too late. Your team can act before a blowout or breakdown. 

3. Seamless Sensor Reconfiguration 

Pedigree’s external Bluetooth sensors make setup simple. After tire rotations or replacements, just re-scan the sensors. No reprogramming or complex calibration is needed. It is fast, reliable, and fleet-friendly. 

4. Data Integration for Predictive Maintenance 

All TPMS data feeds into OneView, letting you: 

• Track historical trends 

• Identify problem tires 

• Schedule maintenance proactively 

• Reduce downtime and emergency service costs 

This changes tire care from reactive to predictive. 

5. Complementing Automatic Tire Inflation Systems (ATIS) 

Some fleets use Automatic Tire Inflation Systems (ATIS) to add air automatically when pressure drops. ATIS helps maintain pressure, but it does not show underlying tire problems like slow leaks, valve issues, or road damage. 

TPMS is important because it monitors both pressure and temperature. Fleets can see problems early and fix them before they become expensive or unsafe. TPMS gives the information needed to understand why a tire is losing pressure. 

In short, ATIS keeps tires inflated, but TPMS explains the reason behind pressure changes. This lets fleets act proactively rather than just treating the symptom. 

Read our free guide to learn more: The Fleet Manager's Guide to Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.

Stay Ahead of the Weather with Smart Tire Monitoring 

Temperature changes are unavoidable, but tire problems do not have to be. With TPMS, fleets can move confidently from summer to winter, day to night, or region to region without unexpected downtime. 

Let Pedigree Technologies’ Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) deliver insights, predictive maintenance capabilities, and measurable ROI, keeping drivers safe and operations running smoothly. 

Learn more about our TPMS solution and calculate your savings today.