Tire pressure makes sure your tires last as long as possible and allow them to support as much of a load as they can.
If you’re wondering the right tire pressure level you should maintain in your vehicle even during different seasons, we have a comprehensive guide.
What PSI Should My Tires Be?
Most passenger cars should have tire pressures of between 30 and 35 PSI. You can find your manufacturer’s exact recommendation in a sticker along the edge of the driver’s doorway or owner’s manual. It’s also dependent on the type of vehicle you’re driving as well as factors such as parts and intended use. You should take the reading when the tire is cold because heat, including the one generated through friction when driving, increases pressure in the tire.
To learn everything you need to know about the correct air pressure for your tires, including when towing, and for special vehicles like RVs and lawnmowers, keep reading!
What PSI Should My Truck Tires Be?
Most heavy trucks should have more tire pressure in the rear set than the front, so something like 80 PSI for rear tires and 55 PSI for front tires should work.
Alternatively, having 75 PSI on all of the truck’s tires could also work, but this figure decreases when it comes to oversize tires and you should check with the manufacturer.
What PSI Should My Truck Tires Be When Towing?
When towing, you should ensure that you have a lot of air pressure to increase load capacity, and this usually requires between 50 and 60 PSI.
It’s recommended that you have your tires at the maximum pressure they can manage when towing.
Do I Need To Increase Tire Pressure When Towing?
From the section above, we’ve established that you’re better off having tire pressure at its maximum capacity when towing so if it’s lower than that you should look into increasing it.
What PSI Should My Summer Tires Be At?
During the summer, PSI should still be within the normal range (around 35 PSI) but the issue comes in when taking the reading.
As stated previously, it should be taken when the tire is cold but the summer heat makes this harder to do.
Try taking the reading before you start driving, and ensure the vehicle hasn’t sat for too long in direct sunlight as this could impact the result.
Depending on what the pressure was before the environmental temperatures went up, you may need to manually reduce it to keep it within the normal range.
What PSI Should Winter Tires Be?
Tires used during winter should have their pressure at normal levels, i.e. 30 to 35 PSI but the environmental temperatures might lower the number.
You may have to manually add pressure to your tires to inflate them to within the recommended range.
What PSI Should Your Tires Be On Sand?
Tires being used to drive a normal vehicle over sand where there is a serious risk of getting stuck should have a pressure of between 18 to 20 PSI.
When driving on sand, you need to have lower tire pressure in order to make the rubber less rigid so it pushes downward less aggressively and is less likely to sink.
What PSI Should My RV Tires Be?
RVs differ greatly, especially by the type of load they’re meant to carry but if you use a standard 16 inch tire, the pressure should be between 35 and 80 PSI.
What PSI Should 35 Inch Tires Be?
35 inch tires, such as the ones used on Jeep Wranglers, are usually rated by the manufacturer for a maximum of 31 to 32 PSI.
As stated in the section about trucks, larger tires require lower pressure to operate smoothly, so you should keep your 35 inch tires at around 25 PSI.
What Air Pressure For Tires Is Bad?
Low tire pressure makes the vehicle harder to control and reduces fuel economy but if it goes below 20 PSI it becomes a flat tire and you can’t drive at all.
Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) come standard in most vehicles these days and they’re programmed to alert you when your pressure is 25% below the recommended level so you should address the issue as soon as it’s brought up.
High tire pressure places you in danger of a blowout that could result in a serious accident depending on where and when it occurs.
Is 40 PSI Too High For Tires?
For standard passenger vehicles, 40 PSI is definitely too high as the recommended range is 30 to 35 PSI.
For vehicles meant to carry a significantly greater amount of weight such as RVs and trucks, the PSI could actually be lower than or within the lower end of the recommended levels. In these situations, you should consult the manufacturer’s directions.
Is 28 Tire Pressure Too Low?
For a lot of vehicles, the recommended tire pressure is about 35 PSI so 28 is definitely too low and is close to an inoperable flat tire.
Unless you’re operating a fairly large tire on a standard vehicle such as a 35 inch on a Jeep Wrangler, 28 PSI should signal the need for reinflation.
Is 50 PSI Too Much For Tires?
50 PSI is too much pressure for most tires unless they’re fitted onto a large truck or RV intended for heavy loads.
It places you at high risk of a blowout and you should let some air out from the nozzle to get it back down to a safer level.
To find out more, you can also check our posts on penny in tire tread test, underinflated tires, and overinflated tires.
Conclusion
Having your tire pressure at the level recommended by the manufacturer will ensure the tires last longer, give you a smooth ride and ensure you can carry the maximum load your vehicle was meant to handle.
You can find the factory recommended tire pressure in the driver side door or owner’s manual but it’s usually 30 to 35 PSI for passenger cars.
It’s higher for vehicles meant for heavy loads like trucks and RVs and the opposite for smaller vehicles such as lawnmowers.
Tire pressure is inversely proportional to the size of the tire so, for example, the 35 inch tires on a Jeep Wrangler should be inflated to about 25 PSI.
If your tire pressure is too high or overinflated, they’re likely to blow out but when it’s low or underinflated, they’re likely to become flat, especially when they go below 20 PSI.