TIRE CENTER · Pressure & TPMS
Proper tire pressure
Find the recommendation for this vehicle
PSI—pounds per square inch—is the unit shown on many pressure gauges. For the original tire setup, find the vehicle’s tire-information label (placard), usually near the driver’s door, or the owner’s manual. Front and rear recommendations may differ.
A tire-sidewall maximum is not automatically the operating recommendation. Changed sizes/types and specialty applications need verified load/inflation guidance.
Recommendation → measurement
Locate the valve
Use cold readings and a routine
For normal passenger guidance, cold means before driving or after parking at least three hours; it does not mean freezing weather. Check monthly, before trips and the spare where applicable. Do not bleed warm tires down just to match a cold recommendation.
Below the applicable recommendation, extra flexing and heat or inadequate load support can result. Excess pressure can affect performance and increase impact-damage susceptibility. Correct pressure does not rule out damage.
Apply the reading
Recommendation versus measurement
- Compare your gauge reading with the recommendation for that tire position and adjust appropriately. Recheck an uncertain reading and replace the valve cap.
- Record recurring pressure loss and have the cause inspected instead of repeatedly topping up without finding it.
- No sample PSI is a default setting for your vehicle or equipment.
Sources and Technical Notes
Technical concepts reviewed 2026-10-10. Actual application instructions remain controlling.
Application-specific details and scope
NHTSA’s cold-pressure guidance means the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours. Original-fitment placards do not establish operating pressures for every changed tire size/type or specialty application.