**New Research Uncovers The Common Vehicle Feature That Could Track You**
Having your vehicle monitored and being followed home or having an unfamiliar person learn your habits is a frightening concept. While you may be cautious about noticing who trails you, your vehicle might actually broadcast a trackable signal from your tires that you’re oblivious to. It’s your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). TPMS continuously sends out wireless signals, and each tire has a distinct signal. Although it is intended to relay tire pressure to your car, this signal can also be intercepted by would-be criminals to monitor your movements.
Most modern vehicles come equipped with TPMS. Its aim is to enhance your safety, since improperly inflated tires can lead to vehicular accidents, though TPMS may not always be completely trustworthy. This system is indicated on your dashboard with a yellow warning icon featuring an exclamation mark.
This issue was highlighted in a study conducted by researchers at the IMDEA Networks Institute located in Madrid, Spain. The research titled “Can’t Hide Your Stride: Inferring Car Movement Patterns from Passive TPMS Measurements” is set for publication through IEEE WONS in 2026, with preliminary findings already illuminating this serious concern.
**Insights from the TPMS Study**
Researchers from the IMDEA Networks Institute initiated a 10-week study investigating the wireless signals transmitted by TPMS. They constructed radio receivers at a cost of under $100 each. Over the duration, these receivers gathered more than six million TPMS signals from over 20,000 vehicles. These devices could capture TPMS signals from more than 164 feet away, even penetrating walls and capturing signals from moving vehicles. The tire pressure data collected was also analyzed to distinguish whether the vehicle was a cargo truck or a smaller family car.
The study demonstrated that an individual utilizing a basic device can track the unique signals emitted by tires, thus identifying if the same vehicle has been monitored previously. Over time, this could establish a pattern of someone’s daily activities, such as their work schedules, their return home, or their shopping patterns. The researchers stressed the necessity for automotive manufacturers to address this issue.
When thoughts of surveillance arise, you might consider the possibility of ICE tracking your vehicle or surveillance from traffic cameras. The fact that your own vehicle tires can emit trackable signals is a startling revelation, especially given the numerous instances where criminals have monitored people’s vehicles through simpler methods.
**Significance of This Research**
This study reveals yet another means by which criminals can track individuals, presenting a new obstacle for both law enforcement and automotive manufacturers. The issue of individuals following others home already exists, and it does not require sophisticated technology to accomplish. A woman in Ohio, while driving around to view fireworks in 2025, heard something strike her car and assumed it was a rock. In reality, it was a phone affixed with a magnet that had been thrown. The individuals who hurled the phone tracked its signal to the woman’s residence and attempted to coax her to open the front door. She contacted the police, who then intervened.
There have also been instances of individuals utilizing Apple Air Tags to monitor vehicles. Cases have arisen where individuals discovered these devices attached to their cars upon receiving alerts from their phones. One woman in Michigan realized that an Air Tag had been secured underneath her vehicle while she was inside a Walmart. Tracking a vehicle through TPMS signals is as straightforward and inexpensive as these other methods, but it does not necessitate the criminal being in close proximity to the car.
According to statistics from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), over three million individuals are stalked in the United States annually, primarily by someone they know. Regrettably, this TPMS system flaw presents stalkers and other criminals with another method to monitor you.