How much psi is needed to fill a car tire


Recommended Tire Pressure - What Should My Tire Pressure be?

Maintaining correct tire inflation pressure is very important since it helps optimize tire performance and fuel economy while over-inflated tires are just as problematic as under-inflated ones.

In fact, driving with under-inflated tires is one of the biggest causes of tire failure, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Besides, under-inflated tires can cause many other problems such as wearing out more rapidly, handling poorly and reducing fuel efficiency.

In addition, over-inflated tires are more susceptible to damage from road irregularities, and this also creates a bumpier ride.

Overfilling your tires is just as dangerous as under-filling them, so it’s important you know what is recommended for your vehicle.

This article will give you everything that you need know about your recommended tire pressure. These include:

  • where to find recommended tire pressure
  • reasons that maximum tire pressure is not the best one
  • how to check your tire pressure
  • signs that your tires might be under-inflated

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Recommended tire pressure, where to find it?

Since tire pressure is so important to your safety and your car’s overall performance, it is important to know which level of tire pressure is right for your vehicle.

In fact, how much air pressure your tires need depends on several factors, including the type of vehicle, the type of tire and the intended use of the vehicle etc.

Air pressure in tires is measured in pounds per square inch or PSI. You can find your tire pressure both inside your car and on the sidewall of the tire.

How to find recommended tire pressure inside your car

You could find the manufacturer’s optimum or recommended tire pressure for your car on a sticker in the door jam, or in your owner’s manual. Some car models even place the stickers on the trunk lid, in the console or on the fuel door. For best results, look for a placard on the inside of the driver’s door, like the example in the photo below.

How to find maximum tire pressure on the sidewall of your tires

Somewhere on the sidewall of your tire, just below the big, bold letters of the manufacturer, for example, you might have noticed the words ‘Max. Press. 35 PSI.’ (pounds per square inch).

That number tells you the maximum cold pressure needed for your tire to carry its maximum load.

Most typical tires require about 32 to 35 pounds per square inch (PSI) of air, says Rod Tate, owner of highly rated Colony One Auto Center in Stafford, Texas.

Large trucks require much larger tires with PSIs of 50 to 60. Heavy-duty vehicles can go even higher. For example, tire in the picture below requires 41 pounds per square inch of air.

However, the tire’s maximum pressure is NOT necessarily the most suitable pressure for every vehicle upon which the tire can be used (almost all vehicle manufacturers’ recommended tire inflation pressures are less than the tires’ maximum pressure).

You really should follow the recommended pressure printed somewhere inside your car or in the manual rather than the maximum pressure. In the next section, I will explain why.

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Why is maximum tire pressure not the best?

If you insist on inflating your tires to the max PSI, there will be more likely that two things below will happen

  • The handling characteristics change

Since tires inflated to the max cannot give as much on the sidewall, you might see superior cornering, but it could be at the risk of your braking threshold. One quick corner and your back end could slide out.

  •  The life of your tire decreases

When your tires are inflated too much, the rubber rounds out at the top of the tire when you are driving, and the center will quickly wear out. You will also reduce your traction and you could even cause a blowout.

Therefore, maximum pressure is not the best, rather, recommended pressure is. I need to repeat here that the pressure listed on the sidewall is a maximum pressure only, but not a recommended pressure. Instead, you should use the air pressure recommended in the vehicle’s owner’s manual or tire information placard label.

How to check your tires pressure?

Therefore, maximum pressure is not the best, rather, recommended pressure is. I need to repeat here that the pressure listed on the sidewall is a maximum pressure only, but not a recommended pressure. Instead, you should use the air pressure recommended in the vehicle’s owner’s manual or tire information placard label.

After knowing the most appropriate pressure for your car tires, you should check whether your tires have such pressure. In addition, checking the pressure of your tires regularly is one of the most important – and most often overlooked – regular maintenance that you should do to ensure your safety and quality of your driving. Monitoring the amount of air in your tires will let you know if you have a small leak and can help you avoid an unexpected flat tire.

Frequently checking your PSI becomes even more important in the fall and winter, when outside temperatures drop and weather conditions fluctuate causing your tires to lose air more quickly. Generally speaking, your tire will gain or lose one PSI for every 10-degree change in temperature, which means if you have a sudden drop of 30 degrees, you could lose three PSI overnight. If your tires were already low, this could cause tire damage, steering problems or even a flat tire.

Some experts recommend that you should check the air pressure every time you refuel; others say once a month is sufficient.

How to check tire pressure properly? Checking tire pressure is easy. You can do it right at home or at the gas station. Just be sure you check the pressure when your tires are cold, or have not been driven in several hours. This will give you the most accurate reading.

The most important piece of equipment you need is an accurate tire pressure gauge. You can find battery-operated digital gauges, or more traditional stick-type gauge found at most gas stations. A good gauge should not set you back more than $15 – a worthwhile investment for a longer life for your tires.

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Make sure you have your manufacturer’s PSI handy when you are checking your tire pressure, and then follow these steps:

  • Remove the end caps on your tires’ air valves (do not lose them!).
  • Place the tire pressure gauge into the valve stem and press down quickly to get a reading.
  • Check the PSI reading. Compare that to your vehicle’s recommended PSI. (It can often be tricky to get the gauge to press fully onto the valve, resulting in an off reading – so take a few readings to eliminate any anomalies.)
  • If the reading is above the recommendation, push in the valve to let out some air (you might have to do this a few times to get it right).
  • If the PSI reading is below the recommendation, fill your tire with air until you reach the ideal level (this may also take a few tries).

By checking tire pressure once a month, you will get a good idea how they are performing. If your tires are fairly new and continue to leak air, you should consult your dealer or mechanic. You may have a faulty valve or other damage that is difficult to detect which could unfortunately result in the need to replace the tires completely. But with proactive maintenance, you could catch an issue before it becomes a problem, and just end up needing a small repair.

Signs that your tires might be underinflated

Often, it is hard to spot an under-inflated tire until it is too late – in other words, it is completely flat. Of course, you could carry a gauge around at all times to measure the pressure, but that is not exactly convenient. Instead, watch for these signs and symptoms of tires that are under-inflated.

  • Your car is not handling as well as it usually does

When your tires are under-inflated, your ride can be less smooth than usual. You may even find that it takes longer to brake.

  • There are cracks in the tire

When a tire is not inflated properly, it wears down more quickly. If you notice that one or all of your tires are wearing out faster than usual, it may be because they are under-inflated.

  • Your steering wheel is shaking or vibrating

Tires that are under-inflated can make your vehicle quiver and shake, which is not a pleasant driving experience. Under-inflation can even cause tires to become misaligned, with comes with it is own variety of problems.

Conclusion

These are all things that you need to know about recommended pressures of your car tires. After reading this article, you will never confuse about the right pressure of your tires and will know how to check it.

Please share your ideas with me if you have other tips for this.

Alvin Reyes

Alvin Reyes has expertise in automotive evaluation. He collaborated with famous newspapers and is still making efforts in tire review for DrivingPress.com

Recommended Tire Pressure for your tires

The recommended tire pressure is the pressure established by the manufacturer of your car as the optimal air pressure for your tires. Running your tires at the correct pressure is important because it keeps you safe, cuts down your gas bill, and makes your tires last longer. Each vehicle has its own specifications for tire pressure, but most fall between 28 and 36 PSI (pounds per square inch).

Maximum pressure

Be careful not to confuse the recommended pressure with the maximum pressure. The recommended pressure is the one you should use when filling your tires, and, as explained above, you can find on your doorjamb or in your owner’s manual. The maximum pressure, on the other hand, is usually stated on the sidewall of the tire itself in small print near the tire’s bead (where the rubber abuts the rim). This measurement is provided by the tire manufacturer rather than the car manufacturer and is the maximum amount of pressure the tire can safely withstand.

What happens if you inflate your tires to the max PSI?

Your tires’ max PSI almost always exceeds the recommended pressure. It isn’t advisable to fill your tire to this pressure for everyday driving. At max PSI, your car does not handle as well, braking is impaired, and you could risk dangerous blowouts. Over-inflation can also cause the center of your tire’s tread to wear out prematurely and reduce the lifespan of your tires. You may want to use the max pressure on a temporary basis if you are hauling especially heavy load or towing something.

Minimum pressure

Most manufacturers do not state a minimum tire pressure, per se. The recommended value is the amount of air that a tire needs for a car to handle properly and safely, and anything under that value is not recommended, so functionally the optimal value is also the minimum. Under U.S. law, vehicles are required to be equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that warn the driver when tire pressure falls below 25 percent of the recommended PSI. This is considered severe under-inflation, but less drastic pressure drops are still considered moderate or mild under-inflation, and they and can still have negative consequences.

What happens if you inflate your tires to the minimum PSI?

If your tires are inflated to a pressure that is below the recommended PSI (as shown in the manual or on the driver’s side doorjamb), your car will not operate safely. Under-inflation can cause the tire to heat up excessively, which can make the tread pull away from the body of the tire. If this happens on the highway, it could lead to a blowout and a serious accident. There are also financial reasons for making sure your tires aren’t under-inflated. A low tire has more rolling resistance, which means the car has to work harder to move down the highway and consumes more fuel. Well-inflated tires are going to save you money at the pumps. Low tires also wear more quickly and unevenly, so you will have to replace them more often.

TPMS and tire pressure

A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) uses either a direct sensor inside your valve stem or a combination of both software and other existing sensors in your vehicle to let you know when your tire pressure is outside of a safe range of pressures. If the pressure falls below the legally specified limit (25% of recommended pressure) an indicator light shaped like the letter U with an exclamation point inside it (representing the cross-section of a tire) will light up on the dashboard. When you see this TPMS light on you should immediately check your tire pressure and make any necessary adjustments.

Nearest dealer

If you have further questions about tire pressure or any other aspects of your tires, find your nearest tire dealer to get some advice.

What should be the tire pressure? Optimum Performance

Maintaining the correct tire pressure will help prolong tire life, improve vehicle safety and maintain fuel efficiency. In this article, we will look at how to correctly measure and maintain the recommended tire pressure.

Optimum tire pressure

Maintaining proper tire inflation is relatively easy and makes a big difference to the overall performance of your vehicle's rubber.
Maintaining the tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer has a significant effect on driving safety, comfort, handling, vehicle stability and the economy of its operation.

What is measured?

Pressure is the force with which it acts on the tires. There is no single standard for tire pressure, but consider seasonality when inflating tires.
In Russia, the physical quantity of pressure is a bar, in European countries and the USA it is psi (pound force). Bars are measured in atmospheres or kilograms per square centimeter, psi is pounds per square inch.
Converting a pressure value from pounds to bar is easy: divide the value by 14.5. If you need to convert from bar to pounds, multiply the value in bar by 14.5.
Universal tire pressures in bar and psi are shown in the table:

Unit Values ​​
bar 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8
psi 29 30 32 33 35 36 38 39 41

Where can I find pressure ratings?

The exact tire pressures of cars or trucks can be found:

  • In the vehicle user manual.
  • On the tailgate.
  • On the sticker on the fuel filler flap. The hatch always shows the correct fuel grades and the correct tire pressures.
  • At the end of the driver's car door. It is more convenient to see the values ​​​​on the door, because they are written larger and contain comprehensive data, with a detailed indication of the size of the wheels and the corresponding pressure.

If tires of different diameters were installed on the vehicle, depending on the equipment, each size may have its own value. Look in the table for your exact wheel size.
The manufacturer can prescribe the tire pressure value for different vehicle loads. You can also find recommended tire pressures for spare tires.

What determines tire pressure standards?

Car manufacturers indicate pressure recommendations depending on the following parameters:

  • Season. At different times of the year, the amount of air in car tires may vary. The reason lies in the physical properties of the gas that inflates the tires. When the temperature rises, the gas tends to expand, and when the temperature decreases, it contracts.
    In summer, use the values ​​recommended by the manufacturers. When the temperature drops by 10 degrees Celsius, tire pressure drops by 0.07-0.14 bar or 1-2 psi. In winter, add 0.2 bar or 2.9 to the normpsi.
  • Vehicle usage speed. Look for pressures that are recommended for long journeys at different speeds.
  • Number of passengers. The indicator table displays data according to the filling level of the car (up to four or five people).
  • Trunk load. The manufacturer on the information sheet displays the weight of the load in kilograms and the appropriate pressure value.

Machine manufacturers do not always display detailed information about the above parameters.

When should I check the pressure?

Tires deflate very easily if they are not inflated regularly. A tire typically loses about 0.07 bar (1 psi) per month and this can lead to uneven tread wear.

Important: Make checking part of your car maintenance routine, and take the time to check the tread depth of your tires and see if there is any damage.

Tires recommended:

  • Every two weeks.
  • Before motorway and long journeys.
  • In the winter season. Check it in the fall when you change summer tires to winter ones. When the first frost occurs and when the temperature drops, remember about the pressure and, if necessary, pump up the wheels.
  • In the summer season. Check and inflate tires in mid-spring and late summer before changing to studded tires.

It is best to measure the amount of air in tires when the tires are cold. By "cold" it means that you did not start driving or did not drive more than 3 km before checking. If the tires on your vehicle are not cold, the pressure inside them will increase by approximately 10%.
A small error in the pressure measurement will not reflect the realistic state of the wheels. Do not release excess air from warm tires, because after cooling the pressure will be lower than the recommended values.
When you need to inflate the wheels while driving, inflate 10% more than the manufacturer recommends. Then measure the pressure again when the wheels have cooled, but not earlier than 3 hours after a complete stop.

How and with what to measure?

You will not be able to see changes in eye pressure. To make it easier for you to check your tires, you need to have a good and reliable tire gauge on hand, which you can find at a large number of service stations or auto parts stores. You can use the following gauges:

  • Manometer. It can be found as a portable device. It looks like a small key fob or like a stationary gadget used at gas stations, tire shops or other car service and repair organizations.
    The device can be pointer, mechanical or electronic. Both the price and reliability, accuracy of indicators depend on its type.
    The pressure gauge is mounted on the compressor itself to inflate the wheels. It regulates the inflation process and the incoming amount of air, but it can also be used to determine tire pressure.
    It is recommended to check the operation of the pressure gauge immediately after visiting the tire shop, as there you will be able to accurately adjust the tire pressure and you can easily compare the readings.
  • Automatic tire pressure monitoring systems. Such a system is usually installed in the wheel rim on modern premium cars. The sensors send information directly to the on-board computer when they measure temperature and pressure.
    If there is a slight change in the values, they signal this. This device can be bought and installed in a car dealership.
  • Indicator caps. They are screwed directly onto the tire nipples. These sensors control the pressure in the following way. They are transparent on top, and when there is any change in pressure, they become colored.
    With this device, you will not see pressure readings until you come to a complete stop and visually inspect the wheels.

Once you have the tire pressure gauge in hand, follow these steps to measure the readings:

  1. Unscrew the cap from the air valve on the tire and put it where you won't lose it.
  2. Press the probe against the open valve for a second or two. It's normal to hear air hiss. However, do not “poison” the air for a long time, otherwise the values ​​\u200b\u200bwill not be entirely accurate.
  3. Check pressure gauge. For manual devices, the scale indicates the pressure by how far the pointer has moved. The pressure on the digital gauge will appear on the screen automatically.
  4. Compare this number with the recommended tire pressure.
  5. If readings are normal, replace the tire air valve cap. If you need to adjust the air pressure, postpone this step.
  6. Repeat the process for each tire.

Visual instructions on how and with what to measure tire pressure:

Tire pressure ratings by car brands

Each car model and brand has its own tire pressure recommendations. The table will help you find out about these values:

Model

Type, radius

Front tire pressure (bar/psi)

Rear tire pressure (bar/psi)

Lada Vesta

195/55 R16

2.1/31

2.1/31

Lada Niva

185/75 R16

2.1/31

2. 0/29

Skoda Rapid

215/40 R17

2.2/30

2.3/33

Volkswagen Polo

185/60 R15

1.9/27

1.9/27

Volkswagen Toureg

255/55 R19

2.3/33

2.5/36

Ford Focus

215/50 R17

2.2/32

2.2/32

Ford Mondeo

235/45 R17

2.5/35

2.2/32

Audi A4

205/60 R16

2.3/33

2.3/33

Kia Picanto

175/50 R15

2.3/33

2.1/30

Kia Optima

215/55 R17

2.3/33

2.3/33

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

205/55 R16

2. 5/36

2.5/36

BMW 6 series

245/45 R18

2.2/32

2.5/35

When should I adjust the tire pressure?

When we drive on asphalt, the tires contain an amount of air that is not suitable for off-road and mountainous terrain. Inflate or deflate your tires regularly to ensure safe driving.
Make tire pressure adjustments depending on various factors:

  • seasonality;
  • type of roads on which the car will drive;
  • vehicle load, etc.

Let's figure out under what conditions it is necessary to make adjustments.

Loaded vehicle

When driving on rural roads, it is especially important to take into account the total weight of the vehicle. Choose the tire pressure according to the load of the machine. You may notice that the recommendations say that the more cargo in the vehicle, the more inflated the rear wheels.
When driving on poor roads, do not drive fast, as the road surface may damage the tires.

Long road trip

Before a long trip, always pay attention to the recommended values, but choose average pressure values, because when driving in heavy rain and, for example, on a road with potholes, different values ​​\u200b\u200bof the number of atmospheres are used.

Off-road

If you plan to drive on unpaved roads, there are some cases when the wheels are pumped up and when the air is bled:

  • Rocky road. When you drive for a long time on a broken, stone-strewn road, on which you can see only sharp rocks and cobblestones, inflate your tires to at least 2.5-3 bar, otherwise the stones can easily cut the wheels.
    Professional off-road drivers always advise to inflate tires from 2-2.2 bar recommended under normal conditions to 2.5-3. If you pump a little, this will provide you with better vehicle cross-country ability on the road, as the wheels will roll harder on large obstacles.
  • Forest and sand road. When you plan to drive on unstable, muddy roads or sandy hills, bleed the tires here. In this case, it is better to deflate the wheels to 1 bar, and for driving on sand dunes - to 0.5 bar. These indicators are suitable for any vehicles.
    However, always be careful not to turn the steering wheel to the extreme position to prevent slipping and getting stuck. When the air in the tires is bled, the area of ​​contact between the wheel and the surface becomes larger, that is, traction becomes better, driving is safer and more comfortable, and the suspension does not wear out.

Mountainous terrain

A large number of serpentines and sharp repeated braking in mountainous terrain is the main reason for changing the driving style of the vehicle. In this case, the tires will be very hot both from the loads and from the operation of the brake pads.
Thus, the idea that in the mountains, due to low pressure, it is necessary to increase the pressure in the wheels is incorrect, since tire heating plays an important role in such a situation.

Packed snow and ice

When driving in freezing temperatures on ice, packed and loose snow, for newly purchased tires, you can inflate the tires a little so that loose snow and water are squeezed out of the center of the wheel on contact with the road, and the tread works better.
For the protector to work properly:

  • It must be at least 4 mm deep.
  • The wheel must always be kept clean. If the tread is clogged with snow, the braking distance increases and grip with the surface worsens much.

When your car has worn winter tires, but the tread depth is acceptable, don't expect it to work like new tyres. When driving, such wheels will not self-clean. You will have to blow them off to increase the grip area with the road surface.

Other situations

If you have a situation not covered above, always refer to the recommendations from the vehicle manufacturer.
With reduced tire pressure, you can only drive at low speeds, not exceeding 30 km/h. When you start driving faster, there is a chance that you will lose control of the vehicle.
It is also not recommended to deflate the tires much during a sharp descent, since when braking there is a risk of blocking the rims, while the tires themselves will continue to rotate.

Why is deviation from the norm dangerous?

Tire pressure is one of the main indicators on which the safety of driving a car depends. Monitor constantly and inflate tires to the recommended values.

High pressure

Over-inflated tires can really affect your vehicle's handling. Rubber with too much air has less contact with the road, which means you will have:

  • longer stopping distance;
  • less grip.

You will most likely find that over-inflated tires have heavy and uneven wear in the center and that this results in a shorter tire life than properly inflated tires.

Pressure below

Tires can quickly become under-inflated if you do not check them regularly. Driving with low tire pressure for an extended period of time will result in:

  • to excessive wear of the inner and outer edges of the tread due to uneven tire contact with the road;
  • to increase rolling resistance, which means your vehicle's fuel economy will decrease as it uses more energy to compensate for the resistance.

If your tires need a little more air, use a suitable pump, adding a small amount of air at a time.

Signs of incorrect tire pressure

You can prevent driving with inflated and flat tires by the following signs of incorrect tire pressure.
For flat tires:

  • whistling in tight turns and at low speeds;
  • if one wheel is flat, the car starts to “drive” (pull in one direction) along the road;
  • In fast corners, a flat tire "breaks" - a sound may appear.

For overinflated tyres:

  • car becomes difficult to handle on a straight road;
  • shakes her on small bumps;
  • more felt side edge of the wheel in turns;
  • there is a pleasant sensation (this should alert) that the car suddenly began to roll well.

Checking your tires is incredibly important for three main reasons:

  • Driving safety. Incorrect tire pressure can affect handling. If you do not follow your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations, the risk of hydroplaning increases and braking distances on dry roads increase.
  • Fuel economy. You will reduce your operating costs by maintaining the correct tire pressure. Under-inflated tires work much harder than properly inflated tires because they have increased rolling mileage, which then increases your vehicle's fuel consumption.
  • Durability. Driving with the wrong tire pressure can cause tire wear and weaken the reinforcement structure, which will significantly shorten the life of your tires.

Tire pressure affects driving comfort, vehicle handling and your own safety. Check tire pressure at least once a month and most importantly before a long journey. Choose the necessary indicators for the wheels, according to the recommendations received from the manufacturer.

Chevrolet Cruze tire pressure: photo

Chevrolet Cruze tire pressure, as in other cars, strongly affects not only handling, but also rubber wear, running gear life and fuel consumption. Constant and accurate pressure control will save you from many troubles, and it is advisable to carry it out at least once a week. We will consider all the subtleties of this issue today.

Contents

  • 1 What is the optimum tire pressure for a Chevrolet Cruze
  • 2 When is tire pressure variation acceptable?
    • 2.1 When to increase tire pressure?
    • 2.2 Tire pressure selection video
  • 3 Conclusions 215/50, 205/65 or 225/50.

    2.2 bar is the optimum pressure.

    Regardless of tire size and engine, vehicle modification and body type, it is recommended that Chevrolet Cruze tire pressure be kept within 220 kPa (2.2 bar) of or 32 pounds per square inch (psi). This applies to both the front and rear wheels of the vehicle.

    It must be remembered that the pressure is checked only on cold rubber, since when heated, the pressure gauge will increase by about 0.2 bar.

    The spare tire must be maintained at the same pressure as the stock tires.

    The pressure in the full size spare tire should be kept within the same limits, and the pressure in the temporary spare should be maintained at 420 kPa (4.2 bar) or 61 psi. In order not to get confused in different pressure designation standards, below is a table with which it is easy to adapt the required pressure to the designations on the scale of the pump, pressure gauge or compressor.

    Conversion of pressure parameters to various units.

    However, there are cases when it is possible and necessary to deviate from the norms specified by the manufacturer.

    When tire pressure tolerances are allowed

    Table on body.

    Chevrolet Cruze Owner's Manual indicates that the minimum fuel consumption is achieved at a pressure of 270 kPa, but it must be taken into account that the car will become much stiffer and the load on the suspension elements will be slightly higher.

    And besides, with high pressure and operation for a long time, uneven tire wear may occur - the middle part of the tread will wear out much more intensively than . Maintaining such pressure makes sense only when driving on the highway at high speed, and in the city and on a bad road, of course, you need to adhere to the ratings indicated by the manufacturer.

    When to increase tire pressure?

    Tire pressure must be increased when the vehicle is loaded.

    Another indication for increased pressure is vehicle loading.

    The factory allows pressure increase to save fuel on a good road only when there are no more than 3 passengers in the cabin, but with a maximum load (five passengers plus full luggage), the pressure in the front and rear wheels should be at the level of 220 kPa .

    Tire pressure selection video

    Conclusions

    A quick guide to Chevrolet Cruze tire pressure is pasted on the driver's door pillar, its photo is shown above, and in other cases it is necessary to be guided by the above data.


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