Toyota Supra is equipped with Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) for the purpose of warning the driver when one or more of the tires are significantly under-inflated, creating a potentially unsafe driving condition. In this article we discuss the reasons for the amber colored TPMS warning light in Supra, and how you can reset it.
The TPMS warning light illuminates in Toyota Supra when air pressure is low in one or more of the tires, battery has depleted in a pressure sensor, TPMS receiver module has malfunctioned, or a pressure sensor has been damaged.
Low tire pressure
When the amber colored TPMS warning light 
turns on in your Supra, stop your vehicle when it is safe to do so and check tire pressure on all the wheels, including the spare wheel (if your vehicle has one). Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Reinflate the tires
Reinflate all the tires of your Supra to the manufacturer specified air pressure, which is mentioned on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label usually located on the B-pillar or the edge of the driver door. If you can’t find the label, check the size of your tire which is mentioned on the sidewall of the tire, and match it to the tire pressure information shown below. These are official cold tire pressure values for Supra from Toyota for driving speeds up to 100 mph (160 km/h).
2.0 models tire pressure values
- 225/50 R 17 98 H M+S XL Std/RSC: 32 psi
- 255/40 R 18 99 V M+S XL Std: 32 psi
- Front: 255/40 ZR 18 95 Y Std: 32 psi
Rear: 275/40 ZR 18 99 Y Std: 32 psi - Front: 255/35 ZR 19 96 Y XL Std: 32 psi
Rear: 275/35 ZR 19 100 Y XL Std: 32 psi
3.0 and 3.0 Premium models tire pressure values
- 225/50 R 17 98 H M+S XL Std/RSC: 32 psi
- 255/40 R 18 99 V M+S XL Std: 38 psi
- Front: 255/40 ZR 18 95 Y Std: 38 psi
Rear: 275/40 ZR 18 99 Y Std: 38 psi - Front: 255/35 ZR 19 96 Y XL Std: 38 psi
Rear: 275/35 ZR 19 100 Y XL Std: 38 psi
Resetting the TPMS warning light
After you have inflated all the tires to the correct air pressure, the TPMS warning light should turn off automatically after driving for a few miles. Toyota Supra uses the direct method for monitoring tire pressure, which means a pressure sensor actively records the internal pressure of the tire on each wheel. If the warning light doesn’t turn off you should perform a reset procedure from the instrument cluster settings.
TPMS reset procedure in Toyota Supra
- Start your Supra.
- Using steering wheel controls, navigate to “My vehicle” in the instrument cluster display.
- Select “Vehicle status”.
- Select “Tire Pressure Monitor”.
- Select “Tire settings”.
- Select tires: “Summer tires”, or “Winter tires/all-season tires”.
- Select “Current:”.
- When not selecting “Other tire”: Select “Load state”. Select “Confirm settings”. Drive the vehicle.
When selecting “Other tire”: Select “Tire settings”. Switch on drive-ready state. Reset tire inflation pressure: “Perform reset”. Drive away.
After driving faster than 19 mph/30 km/h for a short period, the set tire inflation pressures are accepted as the target tire inflation pressures. The reset is completed automatically while driving. You may interrupt this trip at any time. When you continue the reset resumes automatically.
After a successfully completed reset, the wheels on the Control Display are shown in green.
If the low tire pressure light does not turn off automatically after reinflating the tires in your Supra, increase the tire pressure by 5 psi on top of the factory recommended value, and drive your vehicle for at least 10 miles (16 km). After the TPMS warning light turns off, and the vehicle has been parked for a few hours, reduce the tire pressure to the factory recommended value.
Chilly weather can turn on low tire pressure light in Supra
Cold weather is one of the most common cause for low tire pressure warning light in Toyota Supra. When analyzing WheelsJoint’s statistical data, it has been observed that there is sharp rise in the number of searches for TPMS warning light causes at the start of every winter season, about three times higher as compared to mid summer season.
The air, like most other substances, expands when heated and contracts when cooled. So when the weather gets colder, the tire pressure decreases, which could trigger TPMS warning light in Supra. The tire pressure will vary with temperature by about 1 psi (7 kPa) for every 12°F (6.5°C).
Inflate tires when cold
Tire pressure in Supra should always be set based on cold inflation tire pressure. This is defined as the tire pressure after the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) after a three-hour period.
Do not adjust tire pressure when hot
The tires on your Supra can get around 50 degrees hotter than the outside temperature when you’re driving, which increases the tire pressure by about 4 psi – this is normal and there should be no adjustment for this increased pressure.
Does altitude affect tire pressure?
Yes, altitude can change tire pressure values, but it is negligible and not a cause for concern. If you drive your Supra from sea level to Mount Evans Scenic Byway in Colorado which is the highest paved road in North America at the altitude of 14,130 feet (4,307 m), the tire pressure should theoretically increase by approximately 6 psi. But, the decrease in ambient temperature at higher elevation contracts the air in tires and compensates for any altitude pressure changes.
Is it safe to drive Supra with low tire pressure?
The driving characteristics of Supra change even if the air pressure is 5 psi less than manufacturer’s recommended value: the braking distance can be longer, cornering worse, and at particularly high speeds there is even a risk that the tire will burst. Low tire pressure also increases tire wear, and the higher rolling resistance of the tire means higher fuel consumption. So it is recommended to reinflate the tires to the correct pressure as soon as possible.
Dead battery in a tire pressure sensor
Each tire pressure sensor in Supra is powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery. When the battery is depleted, the sensor stops transmitting tire pressure information to the receiver module. When this happens, the TPMS warning light will flash every time the engine is started, and will remain illuminated until you turn off the vehicle.
How long do the pressure sensor batteries last?
The tire pressure sensor batteries usually last anywhere from 5 to 10 years in Supra. When the battery is depleted, you must replace the sensor itself, as the battery is sealed into the sensor unit and is non-replaceable.
Identifying a faulty pressure sensor
The most reliable method for detecting a faulty tire pressure sensor or a sensor with dead battery is by testing each sensor with a scan tool. For example, MaxiTPMS TS408 is commonly used for diagnosing and programming tire pressure sensors. A sensor that is not detectable by the scanner is most likely defective and should be replaced with a new one.
If you don’t want to spend over a hundred bucks on a scanner, then head over to any reputable tire shop and perform a TPMS diagnostic scan of your Supra. Some shops like Discount Tire and Pep Boys offer free of charge TPMS diagnostic services.
Installed new tires?
If a pressure sensor stopped responding after you installed new tires on your Supra, it is possible the sensor got damaged during tire installation. These sensors are quite sensitive, and can be easily damaged if utmost care is not taken while changing tires.
Toyota Supra TPMS user guide
The system monitors tire inflation pressure in the four mounted tires. The system warns you if there is a loss of pressure in one or more tires.
Sensors in the tire valves measure the tire inflation pressure and tire temperature.
The system detects the mounted tires automatically. The system displays the specified nominal pressure values on the Control Display and compares these values to the actual tire pressure values.
If tires are being used that are not specified on the tire inflation pressure details on the vehicle, such as tires with special approval, the system needs to be actively reset. The system will then take over the actual tire inflation pressures as the target pressures.
When operating the system, also note the additional information found in the Tire inflation pressure.
WARNING! The display of the target pressures is not a substitute for the tire inflation pressure details on the vehicle. Incorrect entries in the tire settings can lead to incorrect target tire inflation pressure values. In this case, it cannot be guaranteed that the notification of a loss of tire inflation pressure will be reliable. There is a risk of injury and risk of damage to property. Ensure that the tire sizes of the mounted tires are displayed correctly and match the details on the tires and on the vehicle.
Functional requirements of TPMS
The following conditions must be met for the system; otherwise, reliable flagging of a loss of tire inflation pressure is not assured:
- After each tire or wheel change, the system detects and updates the mounted tires and displays them after a short trip on the Control Display.
Note: Enter the information about the mounted tires in the tire settings when the system does not automatically detect the tires.
TPM does not activate until after driving for a few minutes:
- After a tire or wheel replacement.
- Reset, for tires without special approval.
- After changing the tire setting.
For tires with special approval:
- After a tire or wheel replacement, a reset was performed with the correct tire inflation pressure.
- After the tire inflation pressure was adjusted to a new value, a reset was performed.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure
The corrected tire inflation pressures are applied automatically. Make sure that the correct tire settings have been made. With tires that cannot be found in the tire pressure values on the Control Display, reset the Tire Pressure Monitor TPM.
What can cause TPMS light in Supra
The indicator light lights up: the Tire Pressure Monitor reports a low tire inflation pressure or a flat tire. Follow the information in the vehicle message.
The indicator light flashes and then continuously lights up: no flat tire or loss of tire inflation pressure can be detected.
- Interference caused by systems or devices with the same radio frequency: after leaving the area of the interference, the system automatically becomes active again.
- A wheel without TPM wheel electronics is mounted: have it checked by your Toyota dealer as needed.
- Malfunction: have the system checked by your Toyota dealer.
VSC light
A low tire inflation pressure may cause the VSC Vehicle Stability Control System warning light to be switched on.
Tire settings
The information about the mounted tires can be entered in the tire settings if the system does not automatically detect the tires.
The tire sizes of the mounted tires can be gathered from the tire inflation pressure details on the vehicle, or directly on the tires.
The tire details do not need to be re-entered when the tire inflation pressure is corrected.
For summer and winter tires, the tire details entered last are stored. After a tire or wheel replacement, the settings of the tire sets used last can be selected.
Opening the menu via Toyota Supra Command:
- “My vehicle”
- “Vehicle status”
- “Tire Pressure Monitor”
Changing settings via Toyota Supra Command:
- “Tire settings”
- Selecting tires:
• “Summer tires”
• “Winter tires/all-season tires” - “Current:”
- Select the tire type that is mounted on the rear axle:
• Tire size, e.g., 245/45 R18 96 Y.
• For tires with special approval: “Other tire” - Select the maximum road speed that will be used with the tires.
- “Confirm settings”
The measurement of the current tire inflation pressure is started. The measurement progress is displayed.
Current tire inflation pressure
The current tire inflation pressure is displayed for each tire. The current tire inflation pressures may change during driving operation or depending on the external temperature.
Current tire temperature
Depending on the model, the current tire temperatures are displayed. The current tire temperatures may change while driving or due to the external temperature.
The tire inflation pressure depends on the tire’s temperature. Driving or exposure to the sun will increase the tire’s temperature, thus increasing the tire inflation pressure. The tire inflation pressure is reduced when the tire temperature falls again. These circumstances may cause a warning when temperatures fall very sharply. Following a temperature-related warning, the target pressures are displayed on the Control Display again after a short distance.
Reset the entire system
If the low tire pressure warning light won’t turn off due to a glitch in the tire pressure monitoring system, it may be possible to reset the TPMS system by resetting all on-board computers in your Supra. This method should only be considered as a last resort, when all else fails.
You can reboot all the on-board computers by disconnecting the main 12 volt battery for a few minutes. Remove the cable from the negative terminal of the battery first, then from the positive terminal. With the battery disconnected, press the horn button a few times and turn on the headlights to drain out all the residual electricity from the system. After about 15 minutes, reconnect the battery in reverse order: positive cable first, then negative cable.
Tire pressure keeps getting low
If the TPMS warning light turns on frequently in your Supra, and the tire pressure is also decreasing after you have reinflated the tires, there may be an air leak. One or more of the tires may have been punctured by an external object, or the air may be leaking from a defective value stem.
Can I disable the TPMS system in Supra?
No, the TPMS system is federally mandated, and cannot be disabled in Toyota Supra. All vehicles must have a working tire pressure monitoring system to be legally compliant.
Use OBD2 scanner for diagnosis
Since Toyota Supra is equipped with on-board diagnostics (OBD), a fault diagnosis can provide initial indications of where the malfunction is located. But when it comes to TPMS, a basic code reader will not suffice. You will need an advanced scanner to monitor TPMS data or read TPMS codes.
BlueDriver is a commonly used scanner by DIYers that can read TPMS codes for most vehicles and isn’t too expensive – costs about a hundred bucks. You can also clear the TPMS fault codes with this device which will turn off the warning light, but the light may come back on if the on-board diagnostic system detects a fault again.
