If the tires on your car say 44 psi max, what should you fill them to? 44 psi? or 35 psi?

This is all the info you will need and its reasons

A tire's maximum inflation pressure is the highest "cold" inflation pressure that the tire is designed to contain. However the tire's maximum inflation pressure should only be used when called for on the vehicle's tire placard or in the vehicle's owners manual. It is also important to remember that the vehicle's recommended tire inflation pressure is always to be measured and set when the tire is "cold". Cold conditions are defined as early in the morning before the day's ambient temperature, sun's radiant heat or the heat generated while driving have caused the tire pressure to temporarily increase.

For the reasons indicated above, It is also normal to experience "hot" tire pressures that are up to 5 to 6 psi above the tire's recommended "cold" pressure during the day if the vehicle is parked in the sun or has been extensively driven. Therefore, if the vehicle's recommended "cold" inflation pressures correspond with the tire's maximum inflation pressure, it will often appear that too much tire pressure is present. However, this extra "hot" tire pressure is temporary and should NOT be bled off to return the tire pressure to within the maximum inflation pressure value branded on the tire. If the "cold" tire pressure was correctly set initially, the temporary "hot" tire pressure will have returned to the tire's maximum inflation pressure when next measured in "cold" conditions.

A tire's "maximum inflation pressure" may be different that the assigned tire pressure used to rate the tire's "maximum load". For example, while a P-metric sized standard load tire's maximum load is rated at 35 psi, many P-metric sized standard load performance and touring tires are designed to contain up to 44 psi (and are branded on their sidewalls accordingly). This additional range of inflation pressure (in this case, between 36 and 44 psi) has been provided to accommodate any unique handling, high speed and/or rolling resistance requirements determined by the tire and vehicle manufacturers. These unique tire pressures will be identified on the vehicle placard in the vehicle's owner's manual.

The tire's maximum inflation pressure is indicated in relatively small-sized print branded near the tire's bead (adjacent to the wheel) indicating the appropriate value. Because tires are global products, their maximum inflation pressure is branded on the tire in kilopascals (kPa) and pounds per square inch (psi). These values can also be found in the industry's tire load & inflation charts.

That's a great tip. Thank you.

I wasn't going to reply, but DAMN!!!!,,there's some bad info here.

The MAX air pressure printed on the tire
means you should never exceed that pressure even while trying to seat the bead, it's for people that put the tires on the wheel. LOOK inside driver side door or your owners manual for correct tire pressure AND always check your tire pressure while the tires are cold <-------that means the vehicle should not have been driven in the last 30 minutes and ideally the tires should be out of the sun also.

WTF? The mfr says "for god's sake don't put more than 44 lbs in these losers or they will blow you to the moon"
You really don't want to put the max pressure in them.

35 will probably be fine unless you find the car recommendations. Remember that when the tires are rolling down the interstate the pressure will increase as the tires heat up.

Not really. It lists the PSI to inflate THE TIRES THE CAR CAME WITH to. Tires do need to be changed. And some people put different tires on their rims, some have drastically different pressure ratings depending on what the vehicle is used for.

So. The best advice is check both and use best judgement.

no one is recommended and the other is max

If you are in a position where you need to ask this question on a forum, the answer for that sort of person is to NOT EXCEED EITHER.

Which is better advice than anyone else has given. 'because the mechanic said so' is not a reason.

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N C O N S P I R A C Y

35#. After this make sure you check that blinker fluid. They wont work without it.

True but still the one is a recommended not a max!

but also to point out the old mechanic may know a few things in the equation like that exact tires characteristics and/or the vehicle

OP, the best way to know what pressure you need.

First fill to pressure recommended in manual. This should get you close unless you put custom tires.

Next get some chalk and draw a line accross one front and back tire.

Then drive a few block, with little to no turns. Pull over and check lines.

You want to see even wear across entire width of tire. If middle is lighter then outside, too much air. If outside is lighter then middle, need more air.

Once you have a nice even wear from you chalk line, pressure test your tires. ie, see what pressure you have, and make a note.

From this time on, you will always know EXACTLY what pressures to keep your tires. Note, the pressure for rear and front, as they WILL be different. Always have both pairs the same pressure. Always repressurize tires when rotated.

Have fun.

lower pressures will give better traction

higher pressures will give better mileage

correct pressures will give better tire life

You should keep them at whatever the owners manual says they should be at.

sure you would if your talking trucks or towing

This was the best answer so far.
A lot of misinformed answers here, especially the guy from china!(probably has never owned a car!)
Most cars recommend tire pressures between 26-35 psi depending on the weight of the vehicle and the load it is carrying. Trucks and suv's maybe higher. Definitely follow recommendations in your car's owners manual or the sticker found on door pillar or sometimes under the gas flap. For a more comfortable ride use the lower range for slightly better mileage use a higher range.

Improper inflation of tires affects gas mileage, tire wear and safety. To determine the proper inflation for your car's tires, consult the sticker located inside the glove box, on the driver's side door post or driver's side door, or inside the fuel filler door. This sticker will list the proper pounds per square inch of air pressure (PSI) for front and rear tires. Check your tire pressure with a pressure gauge when the tires are cold.
Poorer Handling
Over-inflated tires don't grip the road as well. While this may result in slightly better gas mileage, it also means less traction and poorer handling. Poor road conditions such as a wet or icy road magnify this problem, making it more likely that you'll have an accident if you're driving with over-inflated tires.

Poorer handling also translates to a rougher, less comfortable ride. When Popular Mechanics writer Ben Stewart over-inflated his tires for a gas mileage test, he reported the car's handling was compromised and the ride was rough and full of vibration. He also found no difference in gas mileage with the over-inflated tires.
Blowouts
Improper inflation, whether over-inflation or under-inflation, causes tires to overheat and increases the risk of blowout. A blown-out tire ruptures and can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. This could lead to a serious, even fatal accident.
Tire Wear
When tires are over-inflated, the tread wears out faster in the center of the tire. You'll need to replace the tires sooner, an expensive penalty for driving with over-inflated tires.

Over-inflated tires, being stiffer and more rigid, are also more susceptible to damage from hitting pot holes or striking curbs.

I would go with pure oxygen...it smooths out the ride at max pressure.

Thus, they will most likely crack or rot before you wear out the tread.

Are the tires custom made for you car? I didnt think so. Only 2-3 people have been right so far, some have giving dangerous info. You have to go by what the sticker on the CAR says, not the tire. The tire maker has no Idea the weight of the car that will be sitting on its tires. Most cars and SUV are 32 - 36 psi currently. Some are even different for front and rear. To get maximum mileage and tire life follow the CAR sticker.

Use a higher PSI in summer condition for better MPG et less wear.

Use a lower PSI in winter for better grip, anything over 35PSI you will kill yourself.

Stickers in the door are the recommended/max PSI for STOCK TIRES.

Always follow what's written ON the tire if you're not using OEM tires.

your a genius! lol

no nitrogen not oxygen

I told people not to exceed either. That would yield the result of having your tires below where the OP is trying to avoid.

You fail.

The car company does not make the tires. I would trust the tire maker over the auto maker for tire pressure.

But to the OP, if its a passenger vehicle, 32-35 is fine. under more load, 38 PSI will be ok.

From above:

Additionally, Canadian poster, I am not from China I'm just using the proxy. I race cars and motorbikes as a hobby on weekends.

I know plenty about tire pressures thankyou

i say 35. anything over that and you're asking for them to explode and have no way of knowing when it will happen, some tires explode at 40 psi

35 PSI is industry standard for passenger tires. NO More, no less... That is unless you have special tires for hauling loads or oversize/off roading tires.


Inflate to 44 and you will feel like you are riding in a chuck wagon and you will literally chow through the center part of your tread. Underfill and you will destroy the outer part of the tread...

Last Edited by UNThredded on 06/09/2010 10:38 AM

always trust the printing on the tyre the sticker on the drivers side door was put their by the car company the printing on the tyre by the tyre maker.


NEVER, REPEAT NEVER trust the tyre pressure gauge at the filling station.

So my hunch was right...you've never owned a car.