This tells you what the maximum pressure of your tire can be without it spontaneously combusting. The NHTSA also mandates that every tire have the maximum possible pressure molded into the sidewall. On my Ford Explorer, both sets of tires need 32 PSI. This number might be different between your front tires and your rear tires. For most cars, it is somewhere around 30 PSI. Tire pressure is measured in Pounds per Square Inch, also known as PSI. On my Ford Explorer, it is actually on the visor! On some vehicles, it is on the edge of the driver’s side door, or it could be in the glove box, and of course, it’s in the driver’s manual. On every car, a Tire and Loading Information Label tells you what the manufacturer of your vehicle recommends your tire pressure should be. Both overinflation and underinflation especially will reduce tire performance, thus increasing your gas mileage (which ultimately means you’ll be at the gas station more often, spending more of your money on increasingly expensive fuel). Tire pressure will also affect your fuel economy too. More importantly, it can greatly affect the safety of your car while on the road at high and low speeds. This doesn’t just apply to racecars, this applies to personal vehicles too! One small change in either direction can greatly impact the ride, feel, and comfort of your drive.

It is shocking how big of a difference a change one way or the other can make. I remember playing the NASCAR video game on my PlayStation as a kid, and toggling the different PSIs my car’s tires would have.

If you’re a fan of auto racing, then you have probably heard of the importance of tire pressure. It should also be mentioned, however, that for some cars (especially small cars) proper tire pressure also changes depending on how much weight you have in the car, so if you’re planning to fill your car with lots of weight, or go on a long car journey with lots of people, that you double-check your manufacturer’s guide for increased loads. Pick-Up Trucks: Average tire inflation of about: 38-40 PSI.Medium Sized Cars: Average tire inflation of about: 30-35 PSI.Small Cars: Average tire inflation of about: 25-32 PSI.That being said, as a general rule, recommended psi for each type of car is as follows: One thing to know before we get started is that recommended tire pressure varies depending on your type of vehicle, and even vehicle to vehicle within that category, so your first port of call should be your car’s tire pressure sticker, usually located in either the fuel filler tube door, or the driver’s side door.Īlternatively, you could find it in your vehicle manufacturer’s information pack for your car, where it will usually be somewhere under the “tires” subheading. You could drive over halfway around the world with those extra miles. And that by doing so, you can extend the life of your tires by 4,700 miles. It is recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that you check tire pressure at least once a month. Well, I will tell you everything you need to know about maintaining a healthy tire pressure for your car and extending tire life and reducing the chance of tire failure. You have probably looked at your tires and asked yourself, “what should my tire pressure be?” and didn’t know where to begin. If you feel lost and overwhelmed when it comes to the technical side of cars – especially something as specific as tire pressure – there are lots of resources to help. Unlike oil changes and detailing – which can take hours – checking your tire pressure only takes about five minutes! But since it’s so easy to do, now there isn’t any excuse for you to put off doing it.

The good news is that it doesn’t take much time at all to monitor your tire pressure. Something as simple as tire pressure could be costing you money without you even knowing! Maintaining proper pressure will help ensure safety for you as a driver, as well as for your wallet. But what you might not know, is that the air inside the tire–more specifically the amount of air– is just as important.Īn overinflated tire could burst while driving, and an underinflated tire could wear more quickly. They carry the whole weight of the vehicle and act as a barrier between the car and the road. Higher letters (M-Y) indicate the maximum speed a tire can be operated for a sustained amount of time.Tires are a vital part of any car. The speed rating (AKA Performance Rating) of the tire should match the needs of the vehicle. The higher the number, the greater the tire’s load capacity. A reference of the maximum weight a tire can support at optimum air pressure in a value ranging from 65 (639 lbs.) to 150 (7,385 lbs.).

Typical tire psi