These instructions apply to the Tesla Model S (2012-2021).
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If the tyre-pressure warning has come on in your Tesla Model S (2012–2021) after you’ve adjusted the pressures or changed a wheel, the system relearns by driving — there’s no button to press. Here’s how it works.
The amber horseshoe symbol with the exclamation mark is the tyre-pressure monitoring (TPMS) warning. On the Model S it lights when a tyre reads below the pressure the car expects — typically because the air has cooled, you’ve topped a tyre up, or you’ve changed a wheel. It’s a notification rather than a fault, and the touchscreen shows the live pressure at each corner so you can see exactly which one is low. Once the pressures are correct and you’ve driven a short way, the warning clears on its own.
How TPMS works on the Model S
The Model S uses a direct system: each wheel has a battery-powered sensor that transmits its actual pressure to the car, which is why the per-wheel figures appear on the touchscreen. There’s no reset menu or relearn button — the car reads the sensors continuously and updates its reference as you drive. Set the pressures right, cover a little distance, and the stored values catch up automatically.
Getting Ready
- Set pressures cold — before driving, or after the car has stood for a few hours. Warm tyres read high and store the wrong baseline.
- Use the figures on the driver’s door-pillar placard and confirm them against the touchscreen readout.
- Correct every low corner, including any wheel you’ve just fitted or a temporary spare.
- Park level and be ready to drive a continuous stretch rather than a series of short trips.
Completing the Procedure
- Park level and set all four tyres to the correct cold pressures (placard at the driver’s door pillar).
- Drive the vehicle for a sustained period at over 25 km/h (15 mph).
- The warning clears once the system has read the corrected pressures. Live pressures show on the touchscreen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reset the tyre pressure light on a Tesla Model S?
Set all four pressures correctly, then drive above 25 km/h until it relearns — no button press is needed.
If the Warning Stays On
- Recheck every tyre with a gauge. One corner below spec keeps the warning on even when the others are perfect — the touchscreen shows which.
- Drive long enough. A brief trip may not give the system time to re-read all four; a sustained run usually is.
- Set them cold. Pressures set while the tyres are warm fall below spec as they cool and re-trip the light.
- Cold morning? Pressure drops about 1–2 psi per 10°C fall, so a cold snap can set it off on its own — top up to the placard figure.
- Fitted a spare or different wheel? A wheel without a working sensor reads as missing or low until the sensored road wheel is refitted.
- Back after a day or two? That suggests a slow puncture — have the tyre inspected rather than just re-inflating it.
- Correct pressures but still lit? A sensor with a depleted battery can’t report and needs a workshop check.
What Happens Next
With the pressures right and a sustained drive behind you, the warning goes out and the touchscreen shows steady, in-spec figures at each corner. It should stay off for the rest of the journey. If it returns, treat it as genuine — a real leak or a failing sensor — and check the tyre rather than resetting it away.
Is there a reset button?
No — the system relearns automatically as you drive; live pressures show on the touchscreen.
Do I need a tool?
Not for a normal relearn; a tool is only needed when new pressure sensors are fitted.
Where do I find the correct pressures?
On the placard at the driver’s door pillar, and on the touchscreen.
Why does the light keep returning in cold weather?
Cold air lowers tyre pressure, so a tyre that read correctly in mild conditions can slip below spec overnight. Check and top up to the placard figure while the tyres are cold; if it only shows on the coldest mornings and clears as the day warms, it’s a temperature effect, not a leak.
Is it safe to keep driving with the warning on?
Drive gently to a safe place to check and inflate, but don’t ignore it. A low tyre affects handling and range and can overheat at speed. Correct the pressure promptly, and if a tyre keeps losing air have it inspected for a puncture.
If the warning came on with other alerts, decode the code on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Tesla. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.