Vehicle Placard and Tire Sidewall Pressure Markings: Which Number to Use
The pressure on your tire's sidewall is a maximum, not a target. Learn where to find your vehicle's tire placard, how to read it, and how to convert psi to bar.
Contents
The right inflation pressure for your car, SUV or truck is the one listed on the vehicle's tire placard, which is usually on the driver's door jamb, or in the owner's manual. The pressure molded into the tire's sidewall is the tire's maximum pressure, not the recommended operating pressure for your vehicle. Use the placard figure unless your vehicle no longer has its original tire size or type, or unless the owner's manual gives a different pressure for heavy loads. In either case, confirm the correct pressure before you inflate.
Placard vs. sidewall at a glance
| Marking | Where it appears | What it describes | Use it to set everyday pressure? |
| Tire placard (door sticker) | Vehicle body, typically the driver's door jamb | The vehicle maker's recommended pressures for that vehicle and its original tire size, plus seating and load capacity information | Yes, for the tire size listed on it |
| Sidewall maximum pressure | Molded into the tire, usually near the maximum load marking | The highest pressure the tire is designed to carry, paired with its maximum load rating | No. It is a limit, not a target |
Where to find the tire placard
On most vehicles the placard is a label on the driver's side door opening, often on the door frame pillar or the edge of the door. Open the driver's door and check both surfaces. If the label is missing or unreadable, the owner's manual lists the recommended pressures and normally shows where the label is placed on that model.
How to read your tire placard
Placards differ in layout by manufacturer and market, but most carry the same core information:
- Original tire size: the size the recommended pressures apply to.
- Front and rear pressures: these can differ, so read each axle's value separately.
- Spare tire pressure: compact temporary spares often have their own, different figure.
- Seating and load capacity: the placard identifies the number and location of seating positions and the vehicle's total load capacity for occupants and cargo.
- Cold pressure wording: the recommended values are cold inflation pressures, meaning pressure measured before the tires have warmed up from driving.
Pressures are commonly shown in both psi (pounds per square inch) and kPa (kilopascals). Some labels and gauges use bar instead. All three describe the same pressure in different units.
What the pressure on the tire sidewall means
The sidewall number usually appears in a phrase such as "MAX PRESS" next to the tire's maximum load. Together, these markings describe the tire's limits: the most weight the tire can carry and the maximum inflation pressure it is built for. They do not account for your vehicle's weight, weight distribution, suspension tuning or handling. The tire maker does not know which vehicle the tire will be fitted to, so it cannot print a vehicle-specific recommendation.
The vehicle manufacturer chooses the placard pressure to balance ride comfort, handling and load-carrying needs for that specific vehicle. Inflating to the sidewall maximum ignores that balance and typically produces a harsher ride. Treat the sidewall figure as a ceiling that should not be exceeded.
Why there is no single tire pressure chart for sedans or SUVs
Searches for a "normal" pressure for a sedan or an SUV assume that every vehicle in a class uses the same figure. Recommended pressures depend on the specific model, tire size, load rating and sometimes the axle, so a generic chart by vehicle type can easily give the wrong number for your vehicle. This guide does not give typical values by vehicle class because the evidence behind it does not include a verified dataset. Your placard is the authoritative chart for your vehicle.
Converting psi, bar and kPa
If your gauge or air pump uses a different unit than your placard, convert the placard value rather than guessing. One bar equals 100 kPa or about 14.5 psi, and 1 psi is about 6.895 kPa. The table below is a unit conversion only. The values are not recommendations for any vehicle.
| psi | bar (approx.) | kPa (approx.) |
| 26 | 1.79 | 179 |
| 28 | 1.93 | 193 |
| 30 | 2.07 | 207 |
| 32 | 2.21 | 221 |
| 34 | 2.34 | 234 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
bar = psi ÷ 14.504
kPa = psi × 6.895
psi = bar × 14.504When the placard may not be the whole answer
- Different tires than original: if the tires now fitted differ in size, load index or type from the size printed on the placard, the placard figure may not apply directly. A tire professional can determine the equivalent pressure using the tire maker's load and inflation data.
- Heavy loads or towing: some owner's manuals list adjusted pressures for a fully loaded vehicle or for towing. Check the manual for your model year.
- Light-truck or special-application tires: these tires can follow different load and inflation conventions from passenger tires, so confirm the right figure with the vehicle or tire maker.
- Missing or damaged placard: use the owner's manual, or ask a dealer with your vehicle details.
Checking and setting pressure
- Check the tires cold, before driving or after the vehicle has been parked for a while.
- Use a tire pressure gauge, and make sure it reads in the same unit as your placard or convert the value.
- Compare each tire against the front or rear value on the placard, and check the spare against its own listed pressure.
- Add or release air until each tire matches the placard figure. Never go above the sidewall maximum.
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