The recommended pressure for a car is never a guess; it is printed on the vehicle in a handful of standard places. Knowing where to look takes the uncertainty out of checking pressure.
The usual places
The figure set by the car maker is almost always in one of these spots:
- The driver's door sill or frame: a small sticker, visible with the door open, often the same plate that carries the tyre size
- Inside the fuel filler flap: a label on the flap or the body behind it
- The vehicle handbook: usually in the tyres or technical section
- The dashboard display: many newer cars show the figures, and sometimes the live pressures, on screen
All of these give the same manufacturer figures, so any one of them will do.
Reading the placard
A pressure placard usually lists more than one figure. Expect to see:
- Pressures by axle, front and rear, which may differ
- A normal figure and a higher laden figure for a full load or towing
- Units in PSI and bar (sometimes kPa)
The figures are matched to the wheel and tyre size the car left the factory with. A car fitted with a different approved size may have its own pressures, which a fitter can confirm when new tyres go on, as with any set ordered from an online tyre seller such as Tyres.co.uk and booked in.
Not the figure on the tyre
The one place not to read the recommended pressure is the tyre itself. The pressure moulded into the sidewall is the tyre's maximum, set by the tyre maker, and is usually well above what the car needs. The placard figure, not the sidewall figure, is the working pressure.
When the label and fitted tyres disagree
A placard may cover several wheel options, and the tyres currently fitted are not proof that the selected option is approved. Check the vehicle details and any modification information. Ask the manufacturer or a competent fitter for the correct pressure and fitment rather than borrowing a number from a similar-looking car. Keep a copy of the confirmed setting, including units and loaded values, so future checks are straightforward and consistent.
Common questions
Where do I find my car's recommended tyre pressure?+
In a few standard places: a sticker on the driver's door sill or door frame, inside the fuel filler flap, or in the vehicle handbook. Many newer cars also show it digitally on the dashboard. All should give the same manufacturer figures.
How do I read the tyre pressure placard?+
The placard lists the recommended pressures by axle and often by load. It usually shows a normal figure and a higher laden figure for a full car or towing, in PSI and bar. Match the figure to the axle and to how loaded the car is.
Why are there two different pressure figures?+
Most placards give a normal pressure and a higher one for a full load, extra passengers, a loaded boot or a towed trailer. The heavier the car, the more pressure the tyres need to carry it properly, so the laden figure is used when fully loaded.
Is the pressure on the tyre the recommended one?+
No. The figure on the tyre sidewall is its maximum pressure, set by the tyre maker. The recommended pressure for the car is the lower figure on the vehicle's placard or in its handbook, and that is the one to inflate to.