What PSI Should My Tires Be? How to Find the Right Pressure for Your Car

Ask five people what pressure their tires should be and you'll hear five different numbers. The good news: you don't have to guess. Your car already tells you.

The short answer

Use the pressure printed on the tire placard inside the driver's door frame. You'll also find it in the owner's manual. For most passenger cars it's somewhere around 30 to 35 PSI, but the only number that matters is the one for your car.

Where to find your car's tire pressure

1. Driver's door jamb. Open the driver's door and look at the edge of the door or the pillar it closes against. The sticker lists the recommended cold pressure for the front tires, the rear tires and often the spare.
2. Owner's manual. Look for "tire pressure" or "tires and loading" in the index.
3. Other spots on some cars: the inside of the fuel door or the glove box.

Why not use the number on the tire?

The PSI molded into the tire's sidewall is the maximum pressure that tire can safely hold. It's not what your car needs. The door-sticker number is set by the car's maker for your car's weight, handling and braking, so it's usually well below the sidewall maximum.

Front and rear can be different

Many cars use the same pressure all around, but some list a different number for the front and rear tires. Check the sticker and set each axle to its own number.

Don't forget the spare

A compact temporary spare often needs a much higher pressure than your regular tires, such as 60 PSI. The exact number is printed on the spare itself or on the door sticker. Spares lose air sitting in the trunk, so check yours a few times a year.

Check it cold

The recommended pressure is a cold pressure. Driving warms the tires and raises the reading, so check in the morning before you drive or after the car has been parked for a few hours. Temperature matters outside the car too: tire pressure drops about 1 PSI for every 10°F colder it gets. That's why the low-tire light so often shows up on the first cold morning of the year. More on that in our cold-weather tire light guide.

What happens if the pressure is wrong?

• Too low: the tire flexes more, wears faster on the edges, can cost you fuel economy and makes the car feel less responsive. Badly under-inflated tires can overheat.
• Too high: a smaller contact patch, a harsher ride, less grip and faster wear in the center of the tread.

How often should I check?

Once a month and before a long trip is a good habit, plus any time the weather turns cold. Tires lose a little air over time even without a leak, so a monthly check catches it before the warning light does.

The easiest way to keep it right

A pressure gauge tells you the number. An inflator fixes it. With a cordless inflator like BARIO ProPump, you screw the hose onto the valve, set the number from your door sticker and press start. It stops on its own when it gets there, so you don't over-inflate.

One honest note: ProPump is made for topping up. After 10 to 15 minutes of continuous use it needs to rest and cool down, and it can't fix a puncture. If a tire keeps losing air, have it checked.

Quick recap

• Your number is on the driver's door sticker, not the tire.
• Front and rear may differ. The spare usually needs more.
• Check cold, once a month and when it gets cold out.
• Fill to the sticker number, not more.

Want it all on one page? See our tire pressure guide.