Correct tire pressure varies from vehicle to vehicle and wheel to wheel. In fact, the recommended pressure for personal vehicles ranges from 20 to over 50 psi.



The information that tells you the proper tire pressure for your car is listed on a information label. This label is located in a few standard places on your car. The label can be found on the interior of the glove compartment, trunk, or gas tank door or on the side of one of the car doors or on the post inside one of the car doors. If you cannot easily find the label, the owner's manual should include the correct information or tell you where the pressure label is located.

A common misconception is that the pressure listed on the tire sidewall is the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure. It is not. It is actually the maximum tire pressure that the tire can safely be inflated to. This is also usually the pressure that is required to carry the maximum load the tire is rated for.

Once you know the correct tire pressure, you need to measure the tire pressure on all tires to ensure they are inflated correctly. The correct way to determine tire pressure:

How to measure and correct tire pressure:

Step 1:

Make sure you have a tire pressure gauge. There are many kinds. You do not need an expensive one. A gauge with a dial is easier to read than the pop up kind.

Step 2:

Find the recommended inflation pressure for your tires on the vehicle information placard. Check the owner's manual for its exact location. A sight inspection is not an appropriate way to measure the air pressure in your tires.

Step 3:

Tire air pressure should only gauged when the tires are cold. A tire that has been at rest at least 3 hours or a tire that has not been driven for more than 1 mile is considered a cold tire.

Step 4:

Complete tire inflation pressure check: Remove the cap from the valve on one tire, press the pressure gauge onto the valve and take a pressure reading. Make sure you press the pressure gauge completely onto the valve. You should not hear any air escaping from the tire as you are taking the reading. If air is escaping, remove the gauge from the valve and try reseating it again.

Step 5:

Add air to achieve recommended air pressure. If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the valve, then re-measure the pressure.

Step 6:

Repeat the above procedure for each of the tires.

Check your tire pressure at least once per month is the standard recommendation you should follow. A tire's pressure will change as air will leach from a tire over time. Use and heat can help to accelerate the rate that air is lost. If you check once per month you can be certain that your tires will remain at the correct pressure all year.

Follow this advice and you will have more money in your pocket every time you fill up. At the end of the year you will have saved $100 to $200 dollars. It's that easy!