What pressure should car tyres be?

What Pressure Should My Car Tyres Be?

There isn't one correct tyre pressure for every car. The recommended pressure depends on your vehicle, tyre size and sometimes how heavily the car is loaded, with different pressures often specified for the front and rear tyres.

The safest answer is always to use the pressures recommended by your vehicle manufacturer rather than relying on a general PSI figure or the maximum pressure printed on the tyre itself. You'll usually find the correct figures on a label inside the driver's door or door frame, inside the fuel filler flap, in the glovebox or in your owner's manual.

Check the pressures when the tyres are cold and remember that some manufacturers recommend different settings when carrying a full load of passengers and luggage. Regular pressure checks are one of the easiest things you can do to maintain your leased car, and helps avoids more serious and expensive problems from poorly-inflated tyres.

Where Can I Find the Correct Tyre Pressure for My Car?

Try these places:

• Inside the driver's door or on the door pillar

• Inside the fuel filler flap

• Inside the glovebox

• The vehicle owner's manual

• The manufacturer's app or online handbook

• A reputable tyre-pressure lookup using your registration

The label may give several figures depending on tyre size and vehicle load, so make sure you're reading the correct one.

If the recommended tyre pressure is in the printed manual, it’s worth bookmarking or folding the corner over on this page so you can find it easily without having to thumb through the manual each time you need to top up the tyres.

PSI or Bar? What’s the difference?

Tyre pressures are commonly shown in either PSI (pounds per square inch) or bar, depending on the vehicle and pressure gauge you're using. Both measure the same thing, just using different units. 1 bar is close to normal air pressure at sea level.

As a rough conversion:

1 bar = 14.5 PSI

2 bar = 29 PSI

2.5 bar = 36.3 PSI

You don't normally need to calculate this yourself, as most tyre inflators allow you to switch between PSI and bar. Simply check which unit your vehicle manufacturer uses and make sure the inflator is set to the same one before adjusting your tyres.

Should All Four Tyres Have the Same Pressure?

Not necessarily. Some cars specify different pressures for the front and rear axles, while recommended pressures may also change when the vehicle is heavily loaded. A car carrying four passengers and luggage on a motorway journey, for example, may require different pressures from the same vehicle carrying only the driver around town.

Follow the manufacturer's figures for your particular vehicle and expected load rather than simply making all four tyres identical.

How Often Should You Check Your Tyre Pressure?

Get into the habit of checking your tyre pressure every month. However, you may also want to check:

• Before a long journey

• Before carrying a heavy load

• After a significant temperature change

• If the car has been standing for an extended period

• If a tyre-pressure warning appears

• If handling or fuel economy suddenly changes

Always check the pressure of tyres when they are ‘cold’

Ideally, check tyre pressures before driving or after the vehicle has been stationary for several hours after a long trip. Driving heats the tyres and increases the measured pressure, which can give a misleading reading.

How to Check and Inflate Your Tyres

1. Find the manufacturer's recommended pressures.

2. Check which figures apply to your tyre size and vehicle load.

3. Remove the valve cap (keep this somewhere safe where it can't get lost or roll away)

4. Attach the pressure gauge firmly to the valve.

5. Compare the reading with the recommended pressure.

6. Add or release air as necessary.

7. Remove the hose carefully and recheck the pressure.

8. Replace the valve cap.

9. Repeat for each tyre.

What if air escapes when I remove the hose?

A brief hiss when attaching or removing an airline is normal. If you're concerned that you've lost enough air to affect the pressure, simply reconnect the gauge and take another reading. Removing the connector cleanly and quickly can also minimise air loss.

What Does the Tyre Pressure Warning Light Mean?

Most newer cars have a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). If the warning appears, one or more tyres may have fallen outside the expected pressure range.

If you see this symbol appear on your dashboard:

• Stop somewhere safe when it’s practical to do so

• Visually inspect the tyres – check for nails, screws or objects that may be causing a slow puncture

• Check pressures manually

• Inflate them to the manufacturer's specification

• Re-check for punctures or damage if pressure drops again

Some vehicles also require the TPMS to be reset after correcting the pressures, so check the vehicle instructions.

Don’t assume the sensor replaces manual checks.

What Happens if Your Tyres Are Underinflated?

Increased fuel or electricity consumption

An underinflated tyre creates greater rolling resistance, requiring the vehicle to use more energy.

Faster tyre wear

Underinflation can cause uneven and accelerated wear, potentially shortening the useful life of the tyre.

Poorer handling

Steering may feel less precise and the vehicle can respond differently during cornering or emergency manoeuvres.

Increased heat

Excessive flexing generates heat within the tyre, particularly during longer or faster journeys.

Reduced load capability

Particularly relevant when the vehicle is heavily loaded.

Does Cold Weather Affect Tyre Pressure?

As temperatures fall, tyre pressures can decrease. That means a tyre that was correctly inflated during warmer weather may trigger the TPMS warning after a cold snap.

Conversely, don't deliberately let air out simply because the measured pressure rises after you've been driving on a warm day. Measure against the recommended figure when the tyres are cold.

See our Seasonal Safety checks guide for other checks to do as the year progresses.

Are Tyre Pressures Different for Electric Cars?

Electric cars don't require a fundamentally different approach to tyre pressure, but correct inflation is particularly important. The weight and instant torque of some EVs can place greater demands on tyres, while underinflation increases rolling resistance and can reduce driving efficiency. Always use the pressure specified for your particular EV rather than assuming figures from an equivalent petrol or diesel model will be suitable.

See our EV guide hub for more advice on electric cars.

Tyre Pressure for Vans and Heavily Loaded Vehicles

Vans and vehicles regularly carrying heavy loads may have significantly different requirements depending on load and axle.

If you're preparing a vehicle for a heavy load, don't simply add extra air yourself. Check the manufacturer's loaded-vehicle recommendations.

See our guide on maintaining your business van for further checks.

When Is Incorrect Tyre Pressure a Sign of a Problem?

If one tyre repeatedly loses pressure while the others remain stable, don't just keep pumping it up. Possible causes include:

• Puncture

• Damaged valve

• Wheel/rim damage

• Poor tyre seal

• Tyre damage

Likewise, unusual tyre wear could indicate alignment or suspension problems rather than inflation alone. If you're constantly correcting the same tyre, get it inspected.

Tyre Pressure and LeaseCar Maintenance

Correct tyre pressure is a small but important part of looking after a leased vehicle. Maintaining the tyres throughout your agreement helps keep the car safe and efficient while reducing unnecessary tyre wear before the vehicle is returned.

For drivers who prefer predictable running costs, LeaseCar's optional maintenance package can cover replacement tyres due to fair wear and tear alongside scheduled servicing, MOTs and other routine maintenance. The option can be selected when arranging an eligible lease, or customers can speak to the team about the maintenance requirements of their chosen vehicle.