How to Check Your Tire Pressure
Proper tire pressure is one of the easiest and most important car-care habits there is. It improves safety, saves fuel, and makes your tires last longer — and it only takes a couple of minutes a month.
- Check your tires at least once a month, when they're cold.
- Use the pressure listed on the driver's door jamb, not the tire sidewall.
- Underinflated tires wear faster, hurt fuel economy, and can overheat.
- A tire pressure gauge costs a few dollars and lasts for years.
Why tire pressure matters
Tires are the only part of your car touching the road, and their pressure affects everything. Underinflated tires have more rolling resistance, which lowers gas mileage and makes the tire run hotter — and heat is what causes blowouts. Overinflated tires ride harshly and wear unevenly. The right pressure keeps you safe and saves you money.
Find the correct pressure
Many people read the number on the tire sidewall, but that's the maximum pressure, not the recommended one. The correct figure for your car is on a sticker in the driver's door jamb, and it's usually somewhere between 32 and 36 psi. Check that sticker, not the tire, and use the pressure the manufacturer recommends.
Check when the tires are cold
Tire pressure rises as the tires warm up from driving, so always check them cold — ideally before you've driven more than a mile or two. Checking a hot tire gives a falsely high reading. The best time is in the morning before you head out, or after the car has sat for a few hours.
Use a tire gauge
A simple tire gauge is all you need, and you can get a good one for a few dollars. Digital gauges are easiest to read, but a basic stick or dial gauge works fine. Unscrew the valve cap, press the gauge firmly onto the valve stem, and read the pressure. Check all four tires, plus the spare if you have one.
Add or release air as needed
If a tire is low, add air with a pump or at a gas station air pump until it reaches the recommended psi. If it's overinflated, press the small pin in the center of the valve to release a little air, then recheck. Small adjustments, checked with the gauge, get you to exactly the right number.
Check monthly, and before trips
Tires slowly lose air over time — a pound or two a month is normal — so a monthly check is a good habit. Always check before a long road trip too, when you'll be driving at highway speeds for hours. A few minutes of checking can prevent a blowout far from home.
Watch for slow leaks
If one tire keeps losing air while the others stay steady, you likely have a slow leak from a nail, a valve, or a damaged rim. A tire shop can find and fix most slow leaks cheaply. Ignoring a slow leak just means you'll be refilling constantly — until it becomes a fast leak at the worst time.
Adjust for load and temperature
If you're carrying a heavy load or towing, the recommended pressure may be higher — check the door sticker for a "loaded" figure. And remember that cold weather drops pressure, while hot weather raises it. In winter, you may need to add air as temperatures fall, so check a little more often.
Don't rely only on the TPMS light
Most modern cars have a tire pressure monitoring system, or TPMS, that warns when a tire is significantly low. But the light often comes on only after a tire is already well below ideal, and it may not tell you which tire is the problem. Use the light as a prompt to check all four tires with your gauge, not as a substitute for checking.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check tire pressure?
At least once a month, and before any long trip. Tires lose a little air over time, and checking regularly catches slow leaks before they become problems.
What psi should my tires be?
Check the sticker on your driver's door jamb — usually 32 to 36 psi for most cars. The number on the tire sidewall is the maximum, not the recommended pressure.
Why does my TPMS light come on in cold weather?
Cold temperatures lower tire pressure, sometimes enough to trigger the sensor. Check all four tires with a gauge and add air to the recommended level.