What PSI Should Your Tires Be? Read the Door-Jamb Label
3 lessons in this series, 7 min in total
- What PSI Should Your Tires Be? Read the Door-Jamb Label 3 min read
- When Does the Tire Pressure Light Come On? 2 min read
- How to Fill Your Tires With a Portable Inflator 2 min read
This lesson draws on the federal placard rule FMVSS No. 110, the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), Continental, The Autopian and a 2025 Kia owner’s manual. See how we research.
Where to find your car’s PSI
Federal standard FMVSS No. 110 calls for a “Tire and Loading Information” placard. It lists the carmaker’s recommended cold pressure for the front, rear and spare tires, plus the tire sizes. It belongs on the driver’s side B-pillar, the post you see with the driver’s door open.
If the design doesn’t allow that, backup spots include the rear edge of the driver’s door or next to the driver’s seat. USTMA also points to the owner’s manual, and Continental notes the label is sometimes on the fuel filler door.
The Autopian flags three things to check on the label:
- Front and rear can differ. Running one pressure where the car calls for two can upset handling.
- Some list two sets. The higher set is for a full load of passengers and luggage.
- Find your tire size’s line and read the pressure next to it.
Tire pressure numbers at a glance
PSI means pounds per square inch. These are the numbers to know before you check:
| What | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Target pressure | The cold PSI on your placard or in your manual | FMVSS No. 110; USTMA |
| Typical passenger-vehicle range | About 30-35 PSI (2.1-2.4 bar) | Continental |
| “Cold” tires | Parked 3+ hours, or driven less than a mile (1.6 km) | USTMA; Continental |
| How often to check | At least once a month and before long trips | USTMA; Continental |
| Compact “donut” spare | 60 PSI (4.1 bar) in a 2025 Kia owner’s manual | Kia |
If your placard differs from the typical range, the placard wins.
Why not the sidewall maximum
The number molded into the tire’s sidewall is a ceiling, not a target. In Continental’s words, the sidewall maximum “is not the target operating pressure.”
Filling to that maximum has costs. The Autopian says it can hurt handling, because it shrinks the patch of rubber on the road. USTMA says over-inflated tires are more likely to be cut, punctured or damaged by a pothole.
So fill to the placard figure, and treat the sidewall figure only as a limit the tire should never pass.
Check them cold, spare included
The placard number is a cold number, as the table defines it. The Autopian’s advice is to set pressures before you’ve driven any meaningful distance. Weather moves the reading too; see how much a cold morning lowers tire pressure.
The placard lists a cold pressure for the spare as well, or says “none” if the car comes without one. USTMA and Continental both say to check the spare along with the other four tires.
A compact spare can need far more air than the road tires. A 2025 Kia owner’s manual lists 60 PSI (4.1 bar) for its compact spare, a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) on it, and a pressure check after you install it.
Next, learn why the tire pressure light is a late warning.
