The meaning of this indicator light is not well known to motorists, however it is important to resolve the problem it indicates fairly quickly.
A car’s dashboard is full of little lights. They were not placed there to look pretty but to warn the driver of possible problems with their vehicle. Some, when they light up red, require you to stop driving immediately otherwise you risk worsening the situation and breaking down on the road a few kilometers further. Others, orange in color, give indications to the person driving, such as when the fuel gauge lights up to indicate that there is not much fuel left in the tank.
But some of these warning lights are not well known to motorists. This is the case of the one that looks like a horseshoe (with a toothless part) which contains an exclamation point. Difficult at first glance to make the link with any part of the vehicle, which can lead to some confusion when you discover it for the first time. When a car’s light comes on, it’s rarely a good sign. So if we also don’t understand what the problem is, quite quickly a little wave of panic can sweep through us.
This light with a slightly strange design is important because it signals a problem with the tires. When it lights up, it means that one or more of your tires have a pressure lower than the limit recommended by the manufacturer. And, more specifically, that your tires are underinflated by at least 25% compared to the recommended pressure. This tire monitoring system, called TPMS for Tire Pressure Monitoring System, is installed on most recent cars. It is used to monitor tire pressure in real time and therefore to warn the driver if it is too low and requires re-inflating.
It is worth reminding all motorists that it is important to maintain correct tire pressure for safety. Driving with poorly inflated tires is dangerous because their contact surface with the road is more irregular, which reduces their grip. This can extend braking distances and reduce vehicle stability, especially in difficult driving conditions such as rain or snow. Not to mention that insufficiently inflated tires wear out more quickly and increase fuel consumption. The correct tire pressure for a car depends on its weight but is generally between 2 and 3 bars. If you have any doubts, you will find all the information in your vehicle’s maintenance booklet.