Tire pressure: vehicle placard or tire sidewall?

Identify the right pressure reference and prepare useful information for a tire professional.

Start with the vehicle reference

Recommended tire pressures appear on the vehicle placard or in its manual. They may differ front to rear or with load. The figure on the tire sidewall is not automatically your vehicle’s recommended operating pressure. Do not copy another vehicle’s setting simply because its tires have a similar size.

Record the details

Note the fitted tire size, placard location, readings and usual load. If the size has changed, ask a qualified specialist about suitability instead of guessing a new pressure. Keep a clear placard photograph in your own records so you do not have to rely on memory.

Make measurements repeatable

Follow the manual’s instructions on measuring cold tires. Record the conditions and repeat an unexpected measurement with a suitable gauge. Repeated pressure loss in one tire needs investigation; adding air repeatedly does not explain the leak.

Know when to request an inspection

Visible damage, a change in handling or recurring pressure loss calls for inspection rather than guesswork. This guide supplies neither a substitute pressure setting nor a universal tire lifespan. Follow the manual and a professional assessment of the actual condition.

Your next step

Use the guide to organize your decision, then open the related tool.