Feature Focus: How Nissan's Easy Fill Tire System Works

When was the last time you checked the air pressure in your vehicle’s tires? If you have to think about it, chances are it was too long ago.

Tires are hugely important, not just for safety but also comfort, handling and even fuel economy. In fact, they’re the only part of your vehicle that should ever touch the road. Ignore their maintenance to your own peril.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicles with tires that are under-inflated by as little as 20 percent are nearly three times more likely to be involved in a tire-related crash.

Unfortunately, keeping tabs on your car or truck’s inflation pressure is not a whole lot of fun. You need access to an air compressor, plus a tire gauge and some free time. Fortunately, Nissan has come up with a common-sense solution that takes much of the inconvenience out of this process.

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The Japanese automaker’s Easy-Fill Tire Alert System was first introduced in 2013, but since then, it’s been gaining traction… so to speak.

While it doesn’t completely automate the process, it does take the guesswork out of it and eliminates the need for a tire-pressure gauge, working through the vehicle’s existing tire pressure-monitoring system.

With the ignition on, you start adding air to a tire, as you do, the turn-signal lights flash letting you know the vehicle has noticed what you’re doing. Once the correct pressure is reached, the horn honks to let you know it’s all set; if it gets too high, it’ll sound twice. It’s that simple.

For all the juicy details about this technology — there’s much more to it than just this — and to learn about the vehicles it’s offered in, make sure to check out the video posted above.

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