Tire safety: pressure and warning signs
Read the pressure label, recognize damage, and prepare for safe roadside assistance.
Read the lesson, then check your understanding.Find the vehicle’s pressure recommendation
Use the vehicle’s tire-information label or owner’s manual for recommended cold inflation pressure. The maximum on the tire sidewall is not your vehicle’s normal pressure target. NHTSA recommends checking monthly, including the spare, with tires cold—typically after at least three hours without driving. A pressure-monitoring lamp does not replace these checks.
Before your appointment, photograph the door label and the tire size while parked safely. If the front and rear sizes differ, note both. Share any recent puncture, curb impact or repeated loss of pressure. That history helps the shop decide what needs inspection.
Look beyond the center of the tread
Inspect for uneven wear, exposed cords, cuts, bulges and cracking. NHTSA identifies 2/32 inch as the replacement threshold for worn tread; visible damage can require attention before that point. Ask for tread readings across the tire and a damage assessment, not just one number.
A tire that repeatedly loses air needs investigation. Do not assume adding air has fixed the cause, and do not continue on a visibly damaged or flat tire. Arrange assistance if you cannot safely use the vehicle. Tell dispatch if the vehicle cannot safely be driven.
Prepare for safe transport
If the vehicle cannot be driven safely, describe its location, vehicle type and access conditions when arranging roadside assistance. Wait for dispatch to confirm the service, destination, price and arrival time.
Keep records of warning lights and recent maintenance. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s guidance for routine checks, and do not put yourself near moving traffic to gather photos or measurements.
Your next-visit checklist
- Use the vehicle label for pressure.
- Share all tire sizes and any pressure-loss history.
- Confirm safe transport if the vehicle is disabled.
- Keep the invoice and warranty terms.
Check your understanding.
Answer all three correctly to save this course as completed. You can review and retry as often as needed.
Next: Brakes: describe the concern clearly →Explore the original guidance
Lesson updated September 17, 2026. General education; use the instructions for your vehicle and confirm current requirements with the relevant authority. Completing this lesson does not certify you to repair or inspect vehicles.