Like most modern cars our long-term Cadillac SRX has a tire pressure monitoring system. But while that system only raises a stink when one or more of the tires' pressure gets too low, the SRX (like many high-end models) also has a digital readout that lets you check the pressure whenever you want. I happened to check it last Friday, after driving the car about 50 miles. The readings where all in the 30 to 31 psi range. Knowing the tires are supposed to be at 32 psi when cold it was obvious they were low -- but by how much?
My question was answered two days later when the family hopped in for a dinner run on Sunday afternoon (the Caddy was not driven on Saturday). With a "Check Left Rear Tire Pressure" message blaring at me from the driver information center, plus the yellow "low tire pressure" warning light on the dash, I no longer had to suspect a lack of psi. No doubt the extra cold temperatures (for Southern California, anyway) only added to the low pressure at start-up (the ambient temperature was palm-tree-shivering 47 degrees!!).
Scrolling through the information screens confirmed that all the tires were low, with the left rear indeed being the worst offender. With today's fuel prices, not to mention the average size/weght/center-of-gravity on many new vehicles (ahem, SUVs), it makes more sense than ever to keep your tires at the proper inflation. Nice to know the Caddy's system works.
Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief, Edmunds.com @ 6986 miles
desmolicious says:
08:48 AM, 01/16/07
This system is great, unlike the one in my 330i. That one just has a warning light if it detects a low tyre, but it only works for sudden loss of pressure. If the tyre gradually loses air over time, it stays mute. So the mandatory (and wise) weekly "manual" pressure check still applies.
firstwagon says:
01:33 PM, 01/16/07
Now there's a safety feature all cars should have. By far the most common cause of a blown tire at speed is under inflation.
banhugh says:
11:09 PM, 01/16/07
Did you check to see how accurate the readings are?
This would be very helpful.
chevy598 says:
08:44 AM, 01/19/07
I have a 2006 impala that cost $25,000 with the same system. I have compared it with a hand gauge, and the PSI numbers are almost exact. In the summer they will have to let air out of the tire or you will get a "high pressure warning".
banhugh says:
12:43 AM, 01/20/07
Cool, this means that they are accurate. Thanks.