What is the primary purpose of a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)?

The primary purpose of a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is to alert the driver when tire pressures are too low. Maintaining proper tire pressure is crucial for vehicle safety, fuel efficiency, and tire longevity. A TPMS actively monitors the air pressure within the tires and provides real-time information to the driver. If it detects that any tire’s pressure falls below a specified threshold, it activates a warning light on the vehicle's dashboard. This alert allows the driver to take immediate action, such as inflating the tire to the correct pressure, thus reducing the risk of tire blowouts and improving overall vehicle handling.

The other options, while related to tire maintenance, do not represent the primary function of a TPMS. Tire tread wear tracking and signals for tire rotation are important for overall tire health but are not the direct responsibilities of a TPMS. Likewise, measuring tire temperature is a different aspect of tire monitoring that is not part of a typical TPMS function, which focuses specifically on pressure readings.