Volvo Tire Pressure Reset, Problems, Light Meaning

Volvo Tire Pressure Reset at a Glance
- The Volvo tire pressure sensor activates a warning light when one or more tires are underinflated
- Other symptoms, such as reduced MPGs, can accompany this warning light
- Your Volvo vehicle's tires should be filled per the info on your car's doorjamb sticker
- After you fill the tires properly, the Volvo tire pressure warning light should
reset once you accelerate above 20 mph
Your Volvo tire pressure sensor keeps careful track of the pounds per square inch (psi) in your vehicle's tires to warn you if the pressure gets too low. Underinflated tires share too much contact with the road. The friction and heat, combined with the less-than-ideal shape, can make your car unwieldy to drive and increase the risk of blowouts and tread separation.
Therefore, it’s best to take your sensor's warnings seriously. The following guide offers tips for how to do so.
What Sets Off Your Volvo Tire Pressure Sensor?
In short: underinflated tires.
Check your owner's manual or the sticker on the driver's side door to find the recommended psi for the tires. For most vehicles, the answer is usually between 32 and 35 psi. If you drive on tires with figures below that range, the sensors in the tires' valves will report back to a receiver, which will trigger your tire pressure sensor light to turn on.
You may also notice other warning signs, including worsened fuel economy and premature tire wear, which will only accelerate your tire replacement schedule.


How Do You Check Your Tire Pressure & Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated?
Make a habit of checking the pressure of each tire regularly to avoid potential incidents on the road, especially during inclement climate conditions, as the weather affects tire pressure. However, you should definitely take a look if your Volvo tire pressure light is going off. You can find tire pressure gauges and air pumps available through our parts department.
- Step 1: The air valve on each tire should have a cap over it. Carefully remove it and set it on a safe surface, so it won't become lost.
- Step 2: Attach the tire gauge to this opening. You can read the current psi on the dial.
- If it's low, attach the hose from the air compressor to the tip of the tire's air valve. There should be a measured noise as the tire fills up with air. If it sounds more like a hissing gasp, you might need to press the hose’s nozzle over the air valve more firmly.
- At regular intervals, remove the hose and replace it with the tire gauge to figure out how much more air the tire needs. If you overshoot, press on the pin located in the middle of the valve stem to release excess air.
- Step 3: Replace the valve stem cap.
Topping up the car's tires and taking the vehicle on the road at speeds greater than 20 mph should automatically cause a Volvo tire pressure sensor reset. However, if this warning light continues to show up during your drives, reach out to our team, as it hints that a larger problem might be at play. We can also talk to you about the pros and cons of nitrogen vs. air in tires, as the former tends to lose pressure less easily.
What Are Common Volvo Tire Pressure Sensor Problems?
If you've topped up your tires and the warning light persists or keeps popping back up, there might be leaks that are causing the tire pressure to drop below the recommended levels regularly. For example, the valve stem may be broken, or there may be a gap around the wheel rim. There could also be a leak in the tire rubber that needs to be patched immediately.
It could also be that the readings are inaccurate. Your Volvo tire pressure sensor battery may have died, it could be receiving incorrect information from a malfunctioning sensor, or something could have occurred during your latest tire rotation to put the sensors and receiver out of sync. When you stop by our service department, you can be confident that you’re getting expert service from technicians who are specifically trained to know the ins and outs of Volvo vehicles. Bring your car to us as soon as any issues occur to let us diagnose the problem.

Trust Our Team for Automotive Service
Whether you need Volvo tire replacement or Volvo tire pressure sensor replacement, let our team prove just how much we make customer care a priority. We know your life is hectic, so we work our hardest to get you in and out of our service bays as quickly as possible while also doing our due diligence to keep you and your family safe on the road. To schedule an appointment or for tips and advice on car tire care, call us today.

Expert Opinion
Your Volvo sedan or SUV is a precision vehicle that's fine-tuned for optimal performance and safety, so if you notice a tire pressure sensor light on your dash, it's best for your wallet and your driving security to pay attention. Tire pressure naturally fluctuates as temperatures go up and down, but recurring TPMS lights even after you've filled your tires often signify a more serious problem. As a general rule, we recommend that you bring your Volvo vehicle in for maintenance anytime your TPMS tells you there's a problem. After all, it's much better to make a quick stop at our service center and drive home with great gas mileage than it is to ignore a tire pressure light and risk a blowout.
Bryan Barton, General Manager
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Volvo tire pressure sensor work?
Sensors embedded in your tires' valves monitor the inflation pressure data when you're driving over 20 mph and relay it to your car's computer system. The tire pressure warning light will then illuminate if it detects that one or more of your tires don't contain enough air. You can typically top off the air supply yourself, but a leak will need to be patched, or the tire might need replacement.
How do you reset the tire pressure sensor on a Volvo car?
If your tires' low psi caused the tire pressure warning light to come on, pulling over, topping the air supply, and then going for a drive above 20 mph should automatically reset the system. If it continues to persist, it might indicate a deeper problem. Stop by our service department for efficient, thorough service so that we can keep your car running at peak performance.
Why is my tire pressure light on when my tires are fine?
Your tire might have some invisible damage, causing air to leak out slowly. As a result, the tire pressure reached an acceptable range when you checked it last but is working toward being underfilled. If you are traveling from a cold to a warm region, the shock of the temperature change can cause the tire pressure to suddenly lower. Alternatively, the monitoring system might be faulty.
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