Dashboard Warning Lights Illuminated — Lights glowing on your dashboard can be scary, but Bama Buzz is here to help! (Mary Helene Hall / Bama Buzz)

Have you ever woken up on a colder-than-normal day to find your tire pressure light on? Unfortunately, the relief of autumn temps often brings tire-pressure woes, but they are simple to diagnose and fix.

Here’s what to know if your car’s tire pressure light starts glowing.

Why do cooler temps impact my tires?

For each 10-degree drop in temperature, tire pressure can decrease 1-2 pounds per square inch (PSI), according to HowStuffWorks.

For example, think about a tight lid on a jar. A common fix is to hold the lid under hot water so it expands, making it easier to screw off. Similar to this, the heat makes PSI go up, and cold makes PSI go down.

What the tire pressure light means

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has mandated certain symbols be used in all cars, so it’s usually simple to tell what is going on with your car.

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) warning icon looks like a horseshoe with notches on the bottom and an exclamation point in the middle. If this is on, it means your tire pressure is lower than it should be.

Sometimes, this light may flash. A flashing tire pressure light indicates a problem with the TPMS — the sensor could be damaged, missing, have a dead battery or the wrong sensor could be installed in the tire. The blinking light could also mean your car needs a new battery. These may all be issues that require a trip to the auto shop.

How to fix low tire pressure

Of all the car-related issues to happen, this one is pretty simple to fix.

First, manually check your tires’ pressures with a gauge. You can grab these gauges at a store like Walmart, Target or an auto shop. These are usually just a few dollars for a pencil or dial gauge, but you can find digital gauges that are pricier.

Most tires should be around 30 PSI, but you can find the exact measurements for how full your tires should be on a sticker on the driver-side door jamb. If it’s not there, check inside your glove box or in the car’s owner’s manual.

Car Door Labels And Safety Instructions — An example of the sticker you’ll see with your tire’s ideal PSI in your car’s driver-side door jamb. (Mary Helene Hall / Bama Buzz)

If your tire pressure is lower than it should be, you’ll need to get some more air in it. Many gas stations have air pumps, but tire inflators are also available for purchase at most stores for relatively cheap — usually between $20-40.

After filling the tire, check the pressure again to make sure it is at the correct PSI. The light should turn off after driving for a few miles. If it doesn’t, there may be another issue that needs diagnosing.

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