How to Check Your Tires: Pressure, Tread and Damage

A tire-pressure warning light is useful, but it is not a substitute for a quick monthly inspection. With a simple gauge and a few minutes, you can check the details your car’s dashboard may not show.

WSDK Cars & Everyday Guide · Published October 26, 2026 · 5 minute read

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends checking tires at least monthly and before long trips. Use the vehicle maker’s recommended pressure, inspect for visible damage and watch for changes in how the car handles. If you find damage or a tire will not hold pressure, have a tire professional assess it.

Find the right pressure first

Look for the tire-and-loading placard on the driver-side door area, or check the owner’s manual. That is where to find the vehicle’s recommended cold pressure. The number molded on a tire sidewall is a maximum pressure rating for that tire; it is not the car’s target setting.

1. Check when the tires are cold. NHTSA describes this as a car that has not been driven for at least three hours. A drive warms the tires and changes the gauge reading.
2. Use a pressure gauge. Remove the valve cap, press the gauge squarely onto the valve stem, note the reading and compare it with the vehicle placard. Check each tire, including the spare if your vehicle has one.
3. Adjust to the placard value. Add air or release a small amount as needed, recheck with the gauge and replace the valve cap. If the tires are warm, check again when cold rather than guessing at a correction.
4. Record persistent pressure loss. If one tire is repeatedly low, a puncture, valve issue or other problem may need attention. Arrange a professional inspection rather than relying on repeated top-ups.

Look over tread and sidewalls

With the car parked safely on level ground, walk around all four tires. Look across the tread and sidewalls for cuts, cracks, punctures, bulges, scrapes, exposed cords or objects lodged in the rubber. Do not pull out an embedded object; it may be limiting an air leak. Ask a tire professional what to do.

Check that tread is not worn to the built-in wear bars. NHTSA says passenger tires should be replaced when tread reaches 2/32 of an inch; its tire guidance describes the penny test as another way to spot that minimum. Replace tires sooner if a qualified professional identifies damage or unsafe wear. Uneven wear can signal a need for rotation, balance, alignment or another inspection.

Understand the dashboard light

The tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a helpful alert, but NHTSA says the warning may activate only after a tire is significantly underinflated. Check pressure with a gauge when the light comes on and look for visible damage. If the pressure seems correct but the warning remains or flashes, consult the owner’s manual or a service professional; the monitoring system may need attention.

Use the vehicle owner’s manual for vehicle-specific requirements, including rotation intervals, spare-tire details and any sensor reset procedure. For roadside supplies, see the WSDK car emergency-kit checklist; for a broader emergency reserve, read our emergency-fund basics guide.

Sources and further reading

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Tire safety ratings and awareness
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Winter driving and tire checks
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Summer driving and road-trip checks

This guide is general information, not a vehicle-specific service procedure. Follow your owner’s manual and consult a qualified tire professional when you see damage, a warning light that does not clear, vibration, noise or repeated pressure loss.