The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) was first introduced in the late 1990s. TPMS is an electronic system that monitors the air pressure in a vehicle's tires and sends a warning signal to the driver when the pressure drops below a certain level.
There are two types of TPMS: direct and indirect. Direct TPMS uses sensors mounted on each wheel that send data to a central controller. Indirect TPMS uses the vehicle's anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensors to monitor tire pressure.
Most new vehicles now come equipped with some form of TPMS, and it is required by law on all new cars and light trucks sold in the United States since 2008.