Low tire pressure on new car? What's the normal tire pressure on stock tires?

[pounamu]

Hi everyone,

Picked up my new baby last night :banana: Signed up for onstar and received my first vehicle status email. It all looked good, except this:


Tire Pressure: Low (Add Air)

• One or more tires are low and need air. Inflate them to the recommended tire pressure listed below as soon as possible.
• Properly inflated tires can improve your fuel economy, vehicle performance, and tire life.
• Recommended tire pressure - Front: 38 psi,
Rear: 38 psi

Left Front:
Low, 33 psi

Left Rear:
Low, 33 psi

Right Front:
Low, 34 psi

Right Rear:
Low, 32 psi

Should I be worried? What's the normal tire pressure for the stock Hankook tires for a 2013 Sonic?

Thanks everyone!

 

[423]

Refer to manufacturer's label inside left front door (post). Numbers are for cold pressures. Different vehicles the same model may have different pressures. Follow the label for your vehicle.

423

 

[sx sonic]

I would imagine the tires should be inflated to the "recommended" 38 psi as indicated on the door placard, several threads on this forum, and you're very own ONstar report.

Air them up to 38 psi and enjoy the new Sonic. If one tire is significantly lower than the rest then you've got a leak

 

[ChrisJ]

In my opinion the car sat on the lot for a while and the tires simply got a little soft.

Pump them back up to where they should be, which I think varies depending on what size rims\tires you have. Mine are 38PSI and being it is the fall I have them at around 40PSI cold which I did planning ahead for the cooler weather.

I wouldn't be worried at all.

Also check your spare if you have one. The spare should probably be around 60psi but go by the label not me.

 

[chivalryder]

The stealership I bought my car from honestly believed that the tires should be inflated to 27 psi.

"Because that's what we're used to."

They didn't even look at the sticker on the door. As soon as I got home from the drive, my TPMS was going nuts!

If you want something done properly, you have to do it yourself.

 

[Ms.DannyStone]

What should the psi be for 17s? My sticker inside my door is still for my old 16s

 

[ChrisJ]

What should the psi be for 17s? My sticker inside my door is still for my old 16s

Are yours 195s or 205s Danny?

I *think* the 205s are the ones that call for 35PSI and the smaller 195s call for 38PSI.

You can tell by looking at the tire size, the first 3 digit number is what you're after.

 

[pounamu]

Guys, thanks so much. I think you're totally right, the car sat on the lot for a few months and the tires got deflated a bit. The dealer told me that unless the TPMS signal comes on, I should be fine; however, I don't think that's good enough for me. I'll check the sticker tomorrow, but my guess is, I'm gonna have to inflate the tires a bit. It's not something I know how to do myself, but I'm guessing a gas station attendant can do it for me? I'd hate to go to the auto shop just for that, though i will if I have to.

 

[River_Rat]

Inflating your tires is actually a pretty simple process. A few gas stations still have free air, although most seem to want to charge you up to a dollar. Have a look at these videos (in no particular order) and see what you think.

How to Add Air to Your Car's Tires - YouTube
Car Tire Maintenance : How to Inflate Car Tires - YouTube
The Practical Girl's Guide to Putting Air in Your Tires - YouTube

 

[SiyQ]

I've inflated my back left tire 4 times in the past 2 months. The TPMS light keeps coming on for it. I'll go to fill it up, and the other ones are 38 PSI, while that back left is 27-29 PSI.

 

[ChrisJ]

I've inflated my back left tire 4 times in the past 2 months. The TPMS light keeps coming on for it. I'll go to fill it up, and the other ones are 38 PSI, while that back left is 27-29 PSI.

That sounds like you have a leak to me.

 

[ChrisJ]

Guys, thanks so much. I think you're totally right, the car sat on the lot for a few months and the tires got deflated a bit. The dealer told me that unless the TPMS signal comes on, I should be fine; however, I don't think that's good enough for me. I'll check the sticker tomorrow, but my guess is, I'm gonna have to inflate the tires a bit. It's not something I know how to do myself, but I'm guessing a gas station attendant can do it for me? I'd hate to go to the auto shop just for that, though i will if I have to.

In regards to a dealer saying to go by the TPMS light, screw that. Check your tire pressure and try to keep it close to what the tag in the door says. The TPMS light is for saftey concerns and will not come on even though you are sucking down a lot more fuel.

I'm not 100% sure, but in my Sonic it calls for 38PSI per tire and I don't think the light comes on until around 34 PSI.

 

[mowcowbell]

I'd highly recommend purchasing a digital tire gauge and checking the pressure every month.

Here's a good one for less than $10:

http://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-4...1380722395&sr=8-1&keywords=digital+tire+gauge

Most self service gas stations have air hoses so that you can monitor tire pressure. If you've ever put air in a bicycle tire, the process is exactly the same for any tire.

 

[ChrisJ]

You can also buy a fairly cheap hand tire pump to maintain pressure. Its what I've been using for a few years.

I think they go for around $20 or so.

 

[sx sonic]

In regards to a dealer saying to go by the TPMS light, screw that. Check your tire pressure and try to keep it close to what the tag in the door says. The TPMS light is for saftey concerns and will not come on even though you are sucking down a lot more fuel.

I'm not 100% sure, but in my Sonic it calls for 38PSI per tire and I don't think the light comes on until around 34 PSI.

Historically most TPMS systems don't come on until around 27 psi.

At that pressure tire life is significantly reduced, handling begins to suffer, and gas mileage is reduced.

 

[Eric Smit]

just put 40 in and have a good day.

 

[ChrisJ]

just put 40 in and have a good day.

If they call for 38 I agree but if they call for 35 then I disagree.

 

[pounamu]

Oh my god, you guys are the absolute BEST. Thank you for the videos, links, etc. I've never inflated a tire in my life, but I think with all this information, I'll handle it. I can be pretty handy if I put my mind to it! And the sticker on my car calls for 38, so 38 it will be!

 

[ChrisJ]

Oh my god, you guys are the absolute BEST. Thank you for the videos, links, etc. I've never inflated a tire in my life, but I think with all this information, I'll handle it. I can be pretty handy if I put my mind to it! And the sticker on my car calls for 38, so 38 it will be!

If you're in an area that is about to get cold you're going to have to add air again soon. Don't be surprised if your pressure goes from 38PSI cold (car sitting over night) to something like 34PSI just because it got cold outside. Going from say 80F out to 20F out makes a pretty big difference in tire pressure.

You need to adjust with the weather, which is why I put 40 in mine preparing for the fall and because I'm lazy.

The reason they say to fill them to 38PSI cold is the tires warm up when you are driving. So make sure you check it after they have had time to cool, maybe a few hours. This "cold" has nothing to do with the outside air temperature. I don't think it does, anyway.

 

[sx sonic]

If you're in an area that is about to get cold you're going to have to add air again soon. Don't be surprised if your pressure goes from 38PSI cold (car sitting over night) to something like 34PSI just because it got cold outside. Going from say 80F out to 20F out makes a pretty big difference in tire pressure.

You need to adjust with the weather, which is why I put 40 in mine preparing for the fall and because I'm lazy.

The reason they say to fill them to 38PSI cold is the tires warm up when you are driving. So make sure you check it after they have had time to cool, maybe a few hours. This "cold" has nothing to do with the outside air temperature. I don't think it does, anyway.

Correct and correct.