Last updated: July 31, 2026 · Author: Merrick Vaughn, Founder of AutoReviewNest · Originally published: February 20, 2026
Editorial verification: This guide was checked against current NHTSA tire-safety guidance, FMVSS 110 and 138, U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association guidance, and tire-manufacturer technical resources.
The door jamb tire pressure sticker, officially called the Tire and Loading Information label or tire placard, shows the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended cold tire pressure for the front, rear, and sometimes spare tires. Use these axle-specific PSI or kPa values for normal driving, not the maximum pressure molded on the tire sidewall. The placard also lists the original tire size, seating capacity, and combined occupant-and-cargo limit.
Key Takeaways
- Use the cold PSI listed on the tire placard or in the owner’s manual for normal driving.
- Do not use the tire sidewall’s maximum inflation pressure as the routine target.
- Use the separate front, rear, and spare values exactly as listed; do not average them.
- The combined occupant-and-cargo limit includes people, luggage, accessories, roof cargo, hitch equipment, and trailer tongue weight carried by the vehicle.
- If the installed tire size, load rating, wheels, suspension, or load-carrying setup differs from stock, verify the pressure instead of guessing.
Which Tire Pressure Number Should You Use?
| Number or Source | What It Means | How to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Door-jamb placard PSI | The vehicle manufacturer’s recommended cold pressure for each listed tire position. | Use it for normal daily inflation. |
| Owner’s manual PSI | Vehicle-specific instructions, including any load, speed, towing, or alternate-tire guidance supplied by the manufacturer. | Follow it when it gives a condition-specific value. |
| Tire sidewall maximum pressure | The tire manufacturer’s maximum cold inflation pressure for that tire, not the vehicle’s normal operating target. | Do not use it as the routine target. |
| TPMS reading or warning | A current pressure display or an underinflation warning, depending on the vehicle. | Use it to spot a problem, then confirm and adjust with a gauge. |
| Certification-label GVWR or GAWR | Vehicle and axle weight ratings shown on a separate door-area label. | Use for weight-limit checks, not as an inflation target. |
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What Is a Door Jamb Tire Pressure Sticker?
The label inside the driver-side door opening is commonly called the door jamb tire pressure sticker, tire placard, or Tire and Loading Information label. On newer U.S. vehicles, it is normally attached to the driver-side B-pillar, the rear edge of the driver’s door, or another inward-facing surface near the driver if the standard location is not practical.
For U.S. motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, except motorcycles and certain vehicle-specific exceptions, FMVSS 110 requires the placard to show information including the recommended cold inflation pressure, original tire size, seating capacity, and combined occupant-and-cargo limit.
The most important maintenance number is the recommended cold tire pressure, shown in PSI and often kPa. It is selected for the vehicle’s original tire-and-wheel configuration, axle loads, handling, braking, ride, and load-carrying requirements.
Warning: Do not inflate the tires to the sidewall maximum for normal driving unless the owner’s manual, vehicle manufacturer, tire manufacturer, or a qualified tire professional gives a vehicle-specific instruction to do so.
What Information Is on the Tire Placard?
A typical U.S. Tire and Loading Information label contains these fields:
- Recommended cold tire pressure: The PSI or kPa for the front, rear, and spare tire, if one is supplied.
- Original tire size: The tire size installed at first sale, such as P225/50R16.
- Vehicle capacity weight: The maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo.
- Seating capacity: The total number of occupants and their designated seating locations.
- Loading warning: The statement that the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed the listed value.
Some vehicles or markets show more than one pressure row for different loads, speeds, or tire sizes. Match the row to the vehicle’s installed tires and current operating condition, then confirm any special instruction in the owner’s manual.
Is the Tire Placard the Same as the Certification Label?
No. Two labels may appear close together in the door opening. The Tire and Loading Information placard lists tire size, cold pressure, seating capacity, and the combined occupant-and-cargo limit. The separate vehicle certification label commonly lists the VIN, build information, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), and front and rear gross axle weight ratings (GAWR). Read both when checking payload, axle loading, towing setup, or replacement tires.
How Do You Read a Tire Pressure Door Sticker?
Use this order so you do not confuse a tire size, pressure, or load number:
- Find the correct label. Look for “Tire and Loading Information,” “cold tire pressure,” PSI, or kPa.
- Match the installed tire size. Compare the size on the placard with the size molded on the tire sidewall.
- Read the front and rear pressure separately. Use the value assigned to each axle.
- Check the spare line. A compact or full-size spare may use a different pressure.
- Confirm the tires are cold. Check after the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours.
- Read the capacity statement. Add passengers, cargo, accessories, and any hitch or trailer tongue weight carried by the vehicle.
- Stop if the setup does not match. If the tire size, load rating, wheels, suspension, or vehicle configuration has changed, use the owner’s manual and tire-manufacturer data before choosing a pressure.
60-second decision rule: If the tire size matches the placard, the vehicle is unmodified, and the tires are cold, use the listed front and rear values. If any of those conditions is false, verify the pressure instead of adding a fixed number of PSI.
What Do the Tire Size Numbers on the Placard Mean?
A size such as P225/50R16 breaks down as follows:
- P: Passenger-vehicle tire. Some sizes begin with LT for light truck or have no leading letter.
- 225: Nominal section width in millimeters.
- 50: Aspect ratio; the sidewall height is 50% of the nominal section width.
- R: Radial construction.
- 16: Wheel diameter in inches.
A complete sidewall description may also include a load index and speed symbol, such as 91V. These identify the tire’s load-carrying and speed categories. See Michelin’s tire marking guide for a detailed sidewall-key.
For a normal replacement, start with the placard size and owner’s manual. A wheel-size change, alternate tire size, LT tire conversion, or different load rating may require a different pressure calculation.
Should You Use the Door-Jamb PSI or the Tire Sidewall PSI?
Use the door-jamb PSI or the owner’s-manual value for normal driving. The placard is a vehicle operating specification. The sidewall maximum is a limit for the tire itself.
- Recommended cold pressure: The vehicle manufacturer’s target for the original tire-and-wheel setup.
- Maximum cold inflation pressure: The highest cold pressure marked by the tire manufacturer for that tire.
- Maximum load: A separate tire rating. For some tires, the pressure used to achieve the maximum load rating is lower than the sidewall’s maximum inflation pressure.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells drivers to use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure from the Tire and Loading Information label or owner’s manual, not the pressure listed on the tire itself. For more detail on the sidewall limit, see what maximum tire pressure means.
Why Is the Placard PSI the Daily Target?
The placard pressure is tied to the vehicle’s certified configuration and expected axle loads. It supports the handling, braking, ride, tire-load capacity, and tire-wear balance intended by the vehicle manufacturer. If the front and rear values differ, keep that difference.
What Does the Sidewall Maximum PSI Mean?
The sidewall maximum is not a universal “best” pressure. It does not account for the vehicle’s axle load distribution or the pressure selected by the vehicle manufacturer. It also should not be used by itself to calculate the correct pressure for a non-original tire; use the applicable load-and-inflation table and professional guidance.
Why Are Front and Rear Tire Pressures Sometimes Different?
Front and rear tires may carry different axle loads. Engine location, drivetrain layout, suspension tuning, seating, cargo position, and staggered tire sizes can all affect the listed values. Use the exact pressure for each axle and do not average the two numbers.
Note: A warm tire normally reads higher than a cold tire. Do not release air simply because the reading increased after driving.
Why Does the Placard Load Limit Matter?
The capacity statement gives the maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo the vehicle is designed to carry. It is not just a trunk-space figure. It includes the driver, passengers, luggage, tools, pets, aftermarket accessories, roof cargo, hitch-mounted carriers, and trailer tongue weight supported by the vehicle.
Overloading can increase tire heat, lengthen stopping distance, reduce stability, and add stress to tires, wheels, suspension, brakes, and axles. The placard capacity also does not replace the GVWR and front/rear GAWR limits on the certification label; the vehicle must remain within all applicable ratings.
How Do You Calculate Remaining Occupant-and-Cargo Capacity?
Use this simple calculation:
Remaining capacity = placard limit − people − cargo − added accessories − hitch or tongue weight carried by the vehicle.
Example: If the placard limit is 900 pounds and four occupants weigh 180 pounds each, the occupants use 720 pounds. That leaves 180 pounds for luggage, tools, accessories, and other carried load.
What Happens If You Exceed the Placard Load Limit?
An overloaded vehicle can feel less stable and require more distance to stop. Underinflated tires under heavy load flex more and build additional heat, which can contribute to internal tire damage or failure. Reduce the load rather than trying to “fix” an overloaded vehicle by adding an arbitrary amount of air.
NHTSA reports that 511 people died in tire-related traffic crashes in 2024. Proper inflation and load control cannot prevent every tire failure, but they reduce avoidable heat, stress, and handling problems. See NHTSA TireWise for current tire-safety guidance.
How Often Should You Check Tire Pressure?
- Check all road tires and the spare at least once a month.
- Check again before a long trip, heavy load, or towing.
- Measure when the tires are cold whenever possible.
- Inspect tread depth, uneven wear, cracks, cuts, bulges, and embedded objects at the same time.
- Recheck after a major seasonal temperature change.
A TPMS warning light is a backup warning, not a maintenance schedule. Monthly gauge checks can find low pressure before it reaches the warning threshold.
How Do Temperature and Driving Change Tire Pressure?
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association says inflation pressure can rise or fall about 1 to 2 PSI for every 10°F temperature change. Cold weather lowers the reading; warmer conditions and driving raise it.
If a warning appears on a cold morning and disappears after driving, check the tires with a gauge. The warmer reading may only be masking a low cold pressure. If you must add air after driving, add enough to avoid remaining below the placard value, then recheck and make the final adjustment after the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours.
For a fuller seasonal explanation, see how tire pressure changes with temperature.
Note: The placard number is a cold-pressure target. Do not bleed a warm tire down to that number.
What Does the TPMS Light Tell You?
Under FMVSS 138, most U.S. passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less manufactured on or after September 1, 2007 must have TPMS, with exceptions including vehicles that have dual wheels on an axle.
The low-pressure warning must activate when one or more monitored tires reach the federal threshold: generally 25% below the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended cold pressure, or the applicable minimum pressure in the standard, whichever is higher. That means a tire can be meaningfully low before the warning appears.
If the TPMS light flashes for about 60 to 90 seconds and then stays on, the system has detected a malfunction. The system may not be able to warn correctly until the fault is repaired.
Warning: If the TPMS light comes on while driving, find a safe place to stop and check the tires. Do not continue driving on a visibly damaged, flat, or rapidly deflating tire.
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What Are the Most Common Tire-Pressure Mistakes?
- Using the sidewall maximum as the target: Use the vehicle placard or owner’s manual for normal driving.
- Waiting for TPMS: The warning may not appear until pressure is significantly low.
- Setting all four tires to one number: Some vehicles require different front and rear pressures.
- Checking only before road trips: Check monthly and before long trips, heavy loads, or towing.
- Judging pressure by appearance: A tire can be low without looking flat; use a gauge.
- Adding a fixed amount for aftermarket tires: A different size or load rating requires a load-based calculation, not a universal “plus 3 PSI” rule.
How Do You Set Tire Pressure Correctly?
- Park the vehicle for at least three hours so the tires are cold.
- Find the front, rear, and spare cold-pressure values on the placard.
- Remove one valve cap and press the gauge squarely onto the valve stem.
- Compare the reading with the value for that tire position.
- Add air if low or release a small amount if high.
- Measure again until the reading matches the placard or owner’s-manual instruction.
- Reinstall the valve cap and repeat for every tire, including the spare if accessible.
- If one tire repeatedly loses pressure, have it inspected instead of repeatedly topping it up.
NHTSA recommends checking all tires, including the spare, at least once a month when cold. Inspect tread and visible damage during the same routine.
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Where Is the Tire Pressure Sticker Located?
Check these locations in order:
- Driver-side B-pillar or door jamb
- Rear edge of the driver’s door
- Another inward-facing surface next to the driver’s seat
- Inside the fuel door on some vehicles
- Glove box or trunk area on some older vehicles
- Owner’s manual or manufacturer service information
If the sticker is missing, unreadable, painted over, or damaged, use the VIN to request the correct specification or replacement label from the vehicle manufacturer or dealer. Do not rely on a generic PSI chart because trim, tire size, axle load, and vehicle configuration can change the correct value.
When Is the Door-Jamb Sticker Not Enough?
The placard is the correct starting point for the original tire size and an unmodified vehicle. Get additional guidance when:
- The installed tire size or load rating differs from the placard.
- Aftermarket wheels have been installed.
- The vehicle has a lift, lowering kit, heavy accessories, shelving, or work equipment.
- The vehicle frequently tows or carries heavy loads.
- Passenger tires have been replaced with LT tires, or vice versa.
- The vehicle has been converted, altered, or completed by a later-stage manufacturer.
Use this process instead of guessing:
- Record the original tire size and placard pressure.
- Record the installed tire size, load index or load range, and wheel-pressure limit.
- Check the owner’s manual for approved alternatives or special load conditions.
- Use the correct tire-industry load-and-inflation table to find a pressure that carries at least the original tire’s required load at each axle.
- Have the final setup confirmed by the vehicle manufacturer, tire manufacturer, or a qualified tire professional.
Toyo Tires’ load-and-inflation guidance explains how technical tables are used when an optional size is not listed on the placard. The correct result depends on the exact original and replacement tire specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you read a tire pressure door sticker?
Find the Tire and Loading Information placard in the driver-side door opening. Match the installed tire size, read the separate cold PSI or kPa values for the front, rear, and spare, then check the combined occupant-and-cargo limit. Use the listed values only when the tire setup matches the placard or owner’s-manual guidance.
Should I use the PSI on the tire or the door jamb?
Use the cold PSI on the door-jamb placard or in the owner’s manual for normal driving. The PSI molded on the tire is the tire’s maximum cold inflation pressure, not the vehicle manufacturer’s routine operating target.
What does cold tire pressure mean?
Cold tire pressure is the reading before driving has warmed the tires. Check after the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours. A warm tire normally reads higher, so do not bleed it down to the cold placard value.
Why are the front and rear tire pressures different?
The axles may carry different loads because of engine position, drivetrain layout, passengers, cargo, suspension tuning, or staggered tire sizes. Use each axle’s listed value and do not average the numbers.
What if the tire sidewall PSI and door-jamb PSI are different?
That difference is normal. The placard is the vehicle operating target, while the sidewall number is a tire limit. Use the placard for the original setup. If the installed tire size or load rating differs, get a load-based pressure recommendation for the exact replacement tire.
What should I do if the tire pressure sticker is missing?
Check the owner’s manual and manufacturer service information, then contact the vehicle manufacturer or dealer with the VIN for the correct specification or a replacement label. Avoid generic PSI charts that do not account for the exact vehicle configuration.
Can I use the placard PSI with aftermarket tires?
Use the placard pressure only when the replacement tire’s size and load specification are compatible with the original requirement. A different size, load range, or passenger-to-LT conversion may require a pressure selected from the correct load-and-inflation table. Confirm the result with the tire or vehicle manufacturer or a qualified tire professional.
How many bars is 30 to 35 PSI?
Thirty PSI is about 2.07 bar, and 35 PSI is about 2.41 bar. Use the exact pressure on the placard; the 30-to-35-PSI range is only a conversion example, not a universal recommendation.
Should I release air if the tires read high after driving?
Usually, no. Driving heats the tires and raises pressure, while the placard gives a cold target. Recheck after the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours, then adjust if needed.
Why is my TPMS light on if the tires look normal?
A tire can be low without looking flat, and cold weather can reduce pressure enough to trigger the warning. Check every tire with a gauge, inflate to the cold placard value, and have the tire inspected if pressure keeps dropping.
Conclusion
The door jamb tire pressure sticker is the correct starting point for cold PSI, original tire size, and occupant-and-cargo capacity. Open the driver’s door, photograph the placard for reference, and check every tire with a gauge when cold. Use each axle’s listed value, treat TPMS as a warning system, and get a load-based recommendation whenever the tire or vehicle setup no longer matches the placard.
Sources
- NHTSA TireWise: Tire Safety Ratings and Awareness: cold-pressure definition, monthly checks, placard pressure, tire size, TPMS limitations, and 2024 tire-related fatality data.
- 49 CFR 571.110: Tire Selection and Rims: placard location, required tire and loading information, original tire size, cold inflation pressure, and vehicle capacity weight.
- 49 CFR 571.138: Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems: TPMS scope, warning threshold, malfunction-light behavior, and owner-manual warnings.
- U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association: Tire Care Essentials: monthly checks, cold pressure, temperature-related pressure changes, spare checks, and TPMS limitations.
- Michelin: Tire Markings Explained: tire-size, load-index, and speed-symbol explanations.
- Tire Rack: How Do I Check My Tire Specs?: distinction between maximum inflation pressure, maximum-load pressure, load range, and load capacity.
- Toyo Tires: Load and Inflation Tables: use of load-and-inflation data for optional tire sizes not listed on the placard.
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