How to Check Tire Pressure

AdultingEasy4:475 steps

By ShowMeStepByStepPublished April 28, 2026Updated May 15, 2026

Based on a video by 1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know.

Under-inflated or over-inflated tires hurt your handling, your gas mileage, and how long the tires last. The check takes five minutes. There's no excuse not to do it once a month.

1A Auto's Mike walks through the basics: find the recommended PSI on the door jamb, press a gauge against each valve stem, and adjust until you match. The number on the side of the tire is the maximum, not the target - look for the smaller sticker on the driver's door.

You'll need a tire gauge (any drugstore version works), an air source (your gas station's compressor or a portable inflator), and about five minutes per car.

The same physics applies to bicycles: low pressure is the leading cause of pinch flats out on a ride. If you're a cyclist, our companion guide on how to remove and install a bicycle tire and tube covers the swap procedure when checking pressure isn't enough.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Find the recommended PSI on the door jamb

1:40

Open the driver's door and look on the door jamb (the door frame, not the door itself) for a yellow-and-white sticker labeled 'Tire and Loading Information.' It lists the recommended cold tire pressure for the front, rear, and spare tires.

That's the number you're aiming for. Don't use the max PSI printed on the side of the tire - that's the absolute ceiling, not the target. Most cars run between 30-35 PSI front and rear.

Tip

Some vehicles put the sticker on the inside of the fuel filler door or in the glovebox. If it's not on the door jamb, check there next.

Step 2: Press the gauge onto the valve stem

2:10

Unscrew the cap from the valve stem on one tire and set it somewhere you won't lose it.

Take a tire gauge - pencil style, dial, or digital all work - and press it firmly straight onto the valve stem. You want a clean seal so you don't hear air hissing out around the gauge head.

Tip

Check tires when they're cool. Tires that just came off the highway will read 3-5 PSI higher than cold and throw off your numbers.

Products used in this step

Tire Pressure GaugeView product

Step 3: Read the pressure

2:20

Pull the gauge off and look at the reading. Pencil gauges have a sliding stick - read where the stick stopped. Dial and digital gauges show the number directly.

Compare to the recommended PSI from the door jamb. If the gauge reads 28 and the door says 33, you're 5 PSI low. If it reads 38, you're 5 PSI high.

Step 4: Add or release air until it matches

3:10

If the tire is low, push an inflator onto the valve stem and add air in short bursts. Most gas station compressors have a built-in gauge - watch the number rise.

If the tire is high, find the small button or pin on the back of your tire gauge and press it against the center of the valve stem. Air releases in 2-3 second bursts. Recheck after each burst so you don't go too low.

Products used in this step

Portable Tire InflatorView product

Tire Pressure GaugeView product

Step 5: Recheck and replace the cap

3:35

Press the gauge on one more time to confirm you hit the target. Adjust if you went past it.

Screw the valve cap back on tight - it keeps dirt out of the valve and stops slow leaks. Repeat for the other three tires. If your dashboard tire pressure light was on, it should clear within a few minutes of driving once all four are correct.

Tip

If the warning light stays on after all four tires are at proper pressure, the tire pressure sensors may need to be reset. Most last about 8 years before the internal batteries die.

Products Used

Tire Pressure GaugeView Portable Tire InflatorView

Your Guide

1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know

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