Recommended Tire Pressure for Cars & Motorcycles

It is important to maintain proper tire pressure for your car, minivan, light truck, pickup, crossover or SUV tires. Low tire pressure will result in tire underinflation, and high tire pressure will result in tire overinflation, which can compromise tire safety, cause tire blowout, decrease fuel efficiency, cause uneven tire wear and reduce tire tread life. Check tire pressure regularly, and monitor tire inflation levels to avoid overinflated or underinflated tires.

Keep in mind that tire inflation value listed on tire sidewall is a maximum tire pressure the tire can be inflated to, and not a recommended tire pressure for your vehicle. Use recommended tire pressure listed on the tire pressure chart found on a sticker on driver's door jam or in vehicle's manual. Also, pay attention as your vehicle may have different recommended tire pressure values for front and rear tires. Keep your tires inflated within reasonable psi range of the recommended levels.

If you replace original equipment tires with optional tire sizes or you switch to plus size tires, make sure to follow guidelines for the application of load and inflation tables to find proper tire pressure for your new tires on your vehicle. Tires with the same load index, regardless of tire size, may carry the same load, but not always, and they may require substantially different inflation pressures. Tire load index may not be used independently to determine replacement tire acceptability for load capacity. An equal or greater load index does not always correspond to equal or greater load capacity at all inflation pressure settings.

Always refer to the vehicle owner’s manual for any specific safety advice regarding the application of replacement tires.

Replacement tires must have equal or greater speed rating compared to the original equipment tires if the vehicle’s speed capability is to be maintained. It is recommended that tire installers refer to the vehicle owner’s manual to identify any tire speed rating restriction or recommendation that could affect the operation of the vehicle. If the replacement tires have a lower speed rating than original equipment tires, the vehicle’s speed must be restricted to that of the replacement tires.

Original equipment tires that come on your vehicle will have the proper tire load index, so stick to that number or higher when you replace them with new tires. Tire load index tells you how much weight your tire can carry. Putting too much weight on your tires will overload them, and can cause tire damage, premature tire wear or even tire blowout. You can check your vehicle’s manual to find the recommended tire size and load rating.

Tire pressure changes with temperature, so check your tire pressure when outside temperatures change. During colder months when temperatures drop, your vehicle's tire pressure will decrease also by approximately 1 psi for each 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain proper winter tire pressure by adding air to your tires as needed to the recommended tire inflation levels.

Tire pressure should be checked when tires are cold, after the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours. It is best to check your tire inflation pressure in the morning, after the car has been parked overnight.

If your car is equipped with tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), pay attention to tire pressure warning light being on. Ensure your tire pressure sensors are working properly to stay alert and enjoy a safe ride. If your tire pressure warning light is on, check front and rear tires to make sure they are properly inflated.

What is my recommended tire pressure for my car, minivan, light truck, pickup, crossover or SUV?
Recommended tire pressure for your vehicle is determined by the vehicle's manufacturer based on your vehicle's characteristics and tire sizes. Select your vehicle make to find recommended tire pressure for your car, minivan, light truck, pickup, crossover or SUV tires.

How do I find my recommended tire pressure setting for my car, minivan, light truck, pickup, crossover or SUV? What should my tire pressure be?
You can find your vehicle's recommended tire pressure in vehicle owner's manual, on sticker attached to the driver's door jam, inside glove box compartment or fuel door. Recommended tire inflation for your vehicle will be listed in psi, bar or kPa.

How to check my tire pressure for my car, minivan, light truck, pickup, crossover or SUV?
Proper tire inflation is essential to the overall tire performance of your vehicle. To check tire pressure for your vehicle you will need to know its recommended tire pressure levels and a standard or digital tire pressure gauge. Check inflation levels in your tires with the tire pressure gauge and adjust your vehicle's tire pressure to its recommended levels be adding or releasing air. Check tire pressure levels in all tires again. Make sure to check tire pressure for your vehicle regularly to ensure safe and comfortable drive.

Why is my tire pressure warning light on?
If your vehicle is equipped with TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) it will alert you when tire pressure is too low and your tires could be underinflated, or tire pressure is too high and your tires could be overinflated, both of which can lead to uneven tire wear and can cause tire failure. If tire pressure warning light is on, check all tires for low tire pressure and inflate tires to the recommended tire pressure levels. Keep in mind that TPMS does not replace routine tire pressure check and maintenance.

How do I reset tire pressure warning light?
To reset tire pressure monitoring system for your vehicle, make sure front and rear tires are inflated to the recommended levels. Turn the engine on, then press and hold the tire pressure reset button located under the steering wheel on the instrument panel. Hold the button down until the TPMS light blinks three times then release the button.

What is recommended winter tire pressure for my car, minivan, truck, pickup, crossover or SUV?
Recommended winter tire pressure for your vehicle is same no matter what season. You should always keep tire pressure at recommended levels. Keep in mind that tire inflation levels will decrease with lower outside temperatures, so make sure you check tire pressure during winter months regularly to keep your tires properly inflated.