How Do I Reset the Tire-Pressure Light in a GMC?
Help keep your GMC truck or SUV safe with these tire-pressure tips.
GMC
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Understanding your vehicle’s tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is essential to help keep your vehicle safe for all types of driving. Having the correct tire pressure can be even more important for truck and SUV owners who put their vehicles to work by hauling heavy cargo or towing boats and campers.
With its lineup of medium- and heavy-duty trucks—not to mention a wide range of SUVs—the GMC brand generally attracts shoppers who value plentiful cabin and cargo space, along with added capability for towing tasks and off-road adventures.
Understanding your GMC’s TPMS, and knowing how to reset it when needed, is a critical safety lesson.
How to Reset a TPMS Light in a GMC Truck
Should your TPMS warning light illuminate, find a place to stop and refill your tires to the manufacturer settings. Many gas stations offer air stations for little or no charge.
Once done, restart your vehicle and wait a few moments to see if the TPMS light goes off. In some cases, driving 10 minutes above 50 mph helps the system recalibrate itself. If the light goes off, you should be fine. But if it stays on or, worse still, the indicated tire pressure drops again, there could be a leak or puncture.
Depending on the GMC you’re driving, you may be able to scroll to the TPMS menu using steering-wheel-mounted controls or the infotainment system.
Holding down the “reset” button will clear the system and ensure accurate readings. The car should be in the “on” position with the engine off before hitting "reset.” Then after the tire pressure light blinks three times, start the engine. It may take up to 20 minutes for the system to reset.
Keep in mind that routine tire rotation or replacement requires the correct recalibration of TPMS. If your GMC recently received tire-related service and the TPMS light is on, have a certified mechanic check the system to make sure it was recalibrated correctly.
Why is TPMS needed?
Every new car, truck, and SUV with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs is federally mandated to have TPMS installed as standard, a requirement of the TREAD Act, which passed in November 2000.
The goal of a TPMS is to monitor air pressure at all four tires and warn the driver if it detects a problem. The warning system consists of a light on the dashboard or gauge cluster that looks like a U-shaped cross section of a tire with an exclamation point at its center.
If you’re driving and this symbol lights up, take the message seriously and pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so.
What happens if you drive on unsafe tires?
First make sure you know the correct tire pressures for your GMC truck or SUV (like the GMC Yukon). These are found in the owner’s manual, or on the driver-side door jamb. Routinely checking your vehicle’s tire pressure is also ideal. It only takes a couple of minutes, and could not only save you money, but potentially avoid a traffic accident.
That’s because driving on underinflated tires diminishes your vehicle’s fuel economy, leads to excessive tire wear, and negatively impacts steering and suspension responses. These are serious issues in everyday driving, and they’re even more serious in a truck or SUV with thousands of pounds being towed behind it.
Driving on overinflated tires is equally risky, in that it also shortens the tires’ lifespan and negatively affects how your vehicle rides and handles.
