Home > categories > Automotive & Motorcycle > Tires > When looking for tire pressure, (PSI) do you go by the tire or by the sticker on the door jam?
Question:

When looking for tire pressure, (PSI) do you go by the tire or by the sticker on the door jam?

The tire says 35 pounds, and the door jam says 30 pounds

Answer:

The sticker on the door is for the tires that were originally placed on the car. If you still have the original tires you should go by the door, if you bought new tires, you should go by what the tires say.
The number on the tire (35psi) is the maximum cold pressure, the number on the door is the recommended pressure for the car. Don't go over 35, you risk tire failure, and don't go under 30 you will get bad tire wear. If it's only you in the car most of the time or you like a soft ride stick with the 30psi, if you have a heavy load or like a firmer ride the try closed to the 35psi. you could just split it with something like 33, that's what I do, I keep mine at about 34.
Go with the pressure that the tire manufacturer recommends. The reason is tire manufacturers test their tires for safety and durability based on the tire pressure listed on the tire. The tire pressure listed on the door jam is the tire pressure recommended by the auto manufacturer for a comfortable ride quality. (We all know what happens here with the Ford Explorers right?) Always go by what the tire manufacturer recommends to minimize tire wear, get the safety recommended by the tire manufacturer (they test at that tire pressure) and get maximum fuel efficiency. If you go by the auto manufacturer's recommendation, you may get a better ride, but you risk safety just like the Ford/Firestone fiasco. Ford had under inflated the firestone tires to the point where the soft ride caused excessive heat build up and tread separation.

Share to: