treadsheet

What should my tire pressure be?

Use the number on the sticker inside your driver's door frame, measured when the tires are cold. Most cars and SUVs fall between 30 and 36 psi. The number on the tire itself is the maximum it can take, not what you should fill it to.

open doorTIRE AND LOADING INFOTIRESIZEPSIFRONT225/65R1735REAR225/65R1735SPARET155/90D1760

Look up the pressure for your car

How to check and fill your tires

  1. 1
    Find your number

    Open the driver's door and read the sticker on the door frame. It lists the front, rear and spare pressures for your car. Some cars put it inside the fuel door or the glove box instead.

  2. 2
    Check when the tires are cold

    Before you drive, or after the car has been parked for at least three hours. Driving warms the tires and raises the reading by a few psi.

  3. 3
    Measure each tire

    Press a gauge firmly onto the valve stem. Most gas-station air pumps have one built in, but a $10 pocket gauge is more accurate.

  4. 4
    Add or release air

    Fill in short bursts and re-check. If you overshoot, press the small pin in the middle of the valve to let air out.

  5. 5
    Don't forget the spare

    Compact spares usually need much more air, often 60 psi. Check it a few times a year so it works when you need it.

Why your tires lose pressure in cold weather

Air contracts as it cools. A tire loses roughly 1 psi for every 10°F (about 6°C) drop in temperature, so tires set in a warm garage can be several psi low on a cold morning. That's why the warning light often comes on with the first cold snap of autumn. Check monthly, and again whenever the season turns.

What the tire pressure warning light means

Cars sold in the US since the 2008 model year have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The warning light, a horseshoe shape with an exclamation mark, comes on when a tire is about 25% below its recommended pressure. That's already well under-inflated, so treat it as "check today", not "sometime soon". If the light flashes for a minute and then stays on, the system itself has a fault.

What happens if pressure is wrong

  • Too low: the tire flexes more and heats up, wears on the outer edges, uses more fuel, and is more likely to fail.
  • Too high: a harsher ride, less grip, and faster wear down the centre of the tread.

Different front and rear pressures

Some vehicles, especially trucks, performance cars and some EVs, specify different pressures front and rear. The door sticker shows both. If you rotate your tires, set each one to the pressure for the position it's in now.

Still not sure which size or trim you have? Find your car to see the factory tire size and pressure for every trim, or read how to read a tire size.