TPMS Legislation - United States, Europe, and South Korea

The safety and environmental benefits of TPMS have resulted in legislation in the United States, Europe, and South Korea mandating TPMS in all new vehicles. 

Certain U.S. states and European countries also mandate a working TPMS system as part of their vehicle inspection testing. 

United States
  • TREAD Act: Passed by Congress in 2000 in response to fatal accidents caused by defective Firestone tires
  • Primary purpose: Safety
  • Notification whenever pressure drops 25% or more below the recommended cold inflation pressure
  • Detection time: 20 minutes
Europe
  • UNECE 64: Implemented November 1, 2012 for all "Type approved***" vehicles. 
  • All vehicles required to be equipped with TPMS starting November 1, 2014. 
  • Primary purpose: Environmental
  • Notification whenever pressure drops 20% of more below the recommended warn inflation pressure
  • Detection time: 10 minutes (one wheel) / 60 minutes (more than one wheel)
  • Winter wheel legislation also passed in several European countries
  • *** Vehicle Type Approval is the confirmation that production samples of a design will meet specified performance standards.  
South Korea
  • In March 2011, the South Korean Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs revised the South Korean Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to mandate TPMS on all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 4.5 metric tons or less 
  • Phase-in: January 2013. To be completed by January 2015. 
  • Expected to mirror UNECE 64