I'm onboard with this, but it also implies that I fill to max-pressure. Most of my tires (sorry, no 'y' here) say they can take 40psi or even 44psi, but I still only go to 32psi. Does Australia fill in Kpa? Are other readers filling to the max pressure?

I read mine before the need to fill them arises. That way I don't have to guess when the crunch is on.

the tire companies assume that the users either only use one car and should know it by heart , or that the common car owner is an idiot and always takes car to dealership to get things like tire pressure fixed....but i feel your frustration brother and i agree....max psi is the most important peice of information for the user on the side of the tire and it should definetley be more prominent....and taking away the small things that add to everyday frustrations in peoples lives is more important to solving the worlds problems than you give yourself credit for....thumbs up

A government safety regulation could easily fix this too-small PSI info on tires. If a letter were sent to the appropriate agency, it might motivate them.

This unreadable type is an instance of producers being unable to see things from the consumer's point of view. Another instance is the unreadable ID-code on button batteries. Another is magazines (like Discover and The NYT Book Review And the Smithsonian) that don't print the date (or even their own name, sometimes) in their page footings, not allowing for the concept that some readers might tear out and file portions of their product. I bet there are more such instances.

Dependant on the car you drive, there are other ways of telling.

If you open the driver's side door of your car, there might be a sticker on the body of the car that's covered up when the door is closed.

I just checked on my dad's Peugeot 407 and I remember having to do it on work experience. (They also had a list on the wall for tyre pressures)

Sure, there are other ways to find out the right pressure, but that's no excuse for making the print needlessly small. This is an excellent suggestion.

Agreed. Very annoying. Actually, I just got a new car and it was not even inscribed on my tires. It was on the inside of my driverside door.

again, the pressure recommended by the mfg is seldom the pressure written on the tire. If the tires say "max 44 psi" and the sticker on the car says 'front 32psi, rear 26psi" which do you-people use?

My gut-feel is to go with the mfg recommendation, even though I'd probably save gas with 44psi.

The car designers normally spec more pressure for the front than the rear. I think this is because if a car has a high front- weight distribution, they want to increase rear traction (lower pressure) to compensate, hoping to achieve the same traction on both axles for neutral handling.

the max tire pressure is there for the max psi@wheight class,for you to acheive max contact with surface(drag cars use bald tires =more rubber on surface=better traction) for us proper air gives least amount of rolling resistance(better millage)SO KEEP YOUR AIR UP!

PS.my tires take 85 psi@2,150 lbs per tire (now what)

In Australia we use PSI mainly and kpa also, i always fill tyres with 36-40 psi cold, less drag, better fuel economy etc. This is on sports tyres and econmoy tyres or tyres with high walls.

I use the auto manufacturer's recommended tire pressures, which is on a label in the driver's door frame. I've memorized mine.

You could make it bigger, but most standard tires are all the same psi. Fill it to 35-40psi. If you got wider tires, or truck tires, then it can change to 40-45psi. Semi trucks go even hire. But its all standard issue. You dont exactly have to look it up on the TIRE, you could check the owners manual if your not sure, and then just remember it that way.

The weirdest tires, like the slim rims and low profiles are the ones that would make you unsure, and would need checking. But when you invest that much in a TIRE, its info thats available by the dealer.

As others have said, why are you filling to max pressure? I highly doubt that's what is recommended for your vehicle.

I've worked as a tire installer for 20 years now and this is an extremely common mistake people make. Tire manufacturers are required by law to state on the tire the max (cold) air pressure that specific tire can handle at a certain speed per period of time before it compromises the structural integrity of the tire. It varies from tire to tire based on speed ratings and load indexes and its composite make up. It's not meant for the average motorist to concern him/herself over. If it was it would probably be A LOT easier to read. There are usually a couple places where you can find the correct air pressure for your vehicle.1. Inside your door or the jamb there is a sticker/placard that has information on the year/weight/V.I.N./and correct air pressure, if it's not there or if it's too greasy/dirty to make it out then...2. Sometimes the sticker is in the passenger door (same place) if not then...3. If it's a foreign model a lot of times the sticker is located in the glove box if not then...4. The information IS ALWAYS in your vehicles manual. (which you should read anyway). If you've lost the manual then...5. Call up your make/ models dealership and ask.

Hears a site that will educate you about what all the sidewall gobbly-gook means; Www.coasttire.com/tires/readsidewall.asp