How to Determine the Proper Tire Air Pressure

Proper tire pressure is important for vehicle safety.

Proper tire inflation is very important if you want to maintain the highest level of fuel mileage for your vehicle and the longest lifespan for the tread on your tires. Both help save money, and maintaining proper tread wear also helps improve vehicle safety by ensuring your tires do not develop bald spots. There are three easy ways to determine the proper pressure for your tires.

Things You'll Need

• Owner's manual

Instructions

Determine Proper Tire Pressure

1. Inspect the side of the tire. You will locate the tire size, brand and model. You will also locate the correct tire pressure. It will be a number followed by PSI (pounds per square inch.) A common tire pressure is 32 PSI. Make sure you check a front and rear tire, as some vehicles require different tire pressures on the front and back. If the tire is old, the lettering might be eroded and difficult to see. If this is the case, try the second or third options.

2. Open the door on the driver's side and locate the vehicle product sticker on the left side of the door jamb. On the sticker, you will locate the tire speed rating and the tire pressure requirements for all four tires. Over time, the sticker can fall off or fade, making it hard to read. If this is the case, try option number three.

3. Look at your owner's manual. The manual contains a maintenance schedule that specifies proper tire pressure. In most cases, you will find the owner's manual in the glove box of the vehicle. If you do not have the owner's manual in the vehicle, you can obtain a replacement from a dealership that sells your brand of automobile.

References

• "Ford Mustang, Mercury Capri Repair & Service Manual 1979-1988"; Chilton Manuals; 1989
• "Chevrolet, GMC Pickups, Suburban, Blazer, Jimmy, Tahoe, Yukon, Denali Repair Manual 1988-2000"; Ken Freund, John H. Haynes; 2001