06
Find your correct pressure
The number stamped on the tire itself is not what you should inflate it to — that's the tire's maximum rating, not your car's recommended setting. The real number lives on a sticker inside the driver's door frame.
TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION
| SEATING CAPACITY | 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| FRONT | REAR | |
| TIRE SIZE | 215/65R16 | 215/65R16 |
| COLD TIRE PSI | 35 PSI | 33 PSI |
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. SPARE: 60 PSI
Where to look
Open the driver's door and look at the door frame itself (not the door) — it's usually a white or silver sticker near the latch, sometimes on the fuel door or glovebox instead.
Why "cold" matters
Check pressure before driving, ideally in the morning. Driving heats the air inside the tire and temporarily raises the reading — checking cold gives you the number that actually matches the placard.
Front and rear can differ
Many vehicles call for different front and rear pressures. Set each axle to its own number, not one pressure across all four.
Don't use the tire's sidewall number
The "MAX PRESS" figure molded into the tire is the ceiling the tire can safely hold, not what your vehicle needs. Follow the door placard even if you switch to a different tire brand or model.
How to use it
Remove the valve cap, press the gauge's open end straight onto the valve stem until the hiss stops and the needle settles — that's your current pressure. A quick, firm press gives the cleanest reading with the least air lost.
Compare it to the placard, not the tire
Once you have your reading, compare it against the door placard number from above — not the "MAX PRESS" figure molded into the tire itself.
Check it cold
Same rule as the placard number: check before driving. A tire that's been driven on will read a few PSI higher than its true cold pressure.
Don't forget the spare
Spares slowly lose pressure sitting unused. It's worth a quick check a couple times a year so it's actually usable the one day you need it.
The classic pencil gauge — cheap, no batteries, fits in a glovebox
How to read it
Press the open end straight onto the valve stem. Air pressure pushes the white scale out the other end — read the number lined up at the tip, same idea as the sliding tread depth gauge. Push the scale back in when you're done so it's ready for next time.