The door-jamb tire placard: how to read every line

The yellow-and-black sticker on your driver door jamb has more usable info than the owner's manual. Here's what each line means and which numbers matter.

Every passenger car sold in the US since 2003 carries a federally-mandated tire placard on the driver's door jamb (49 CFR 571.110). It's the most authoritative tire information for your specific vehicle — more reliable than the owner's manual, more reliable than the salesperson, and absolutely more reliable than any third-party fitment website (including ours). Here's how to read every line.

Tire size

The size string appears as "P235/40R18 95Y" or similar. P prefix means passenger; LT means light truck; no prefix means metric/euro size. The placard lists the OEM size and any factory alternates (some cars have different sizes for different trim levels — the placard shows yours specifically).

Inflation pressure

"COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE" — set tires to this when they've sat for 3+ hours. Most cars list separate front and rear pressures; some list a single number. This is the manufacturer's recommendation balancing ride, handling, tread life, and fuel economy. Don't substitute the sidewall maximum number (that's the tire's max, not the car's recommended).

Hauling near max load? The placard often has a "WITH LOAD" line with a higher pressure to use when towing or fully loaded.

GVWR and seat capacity

The placard lists Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR — total max weight including passengers and cargo) and seating capacity. These are the safety baseline. If you load past GVWR, tire load ratings may be exceeded and braking distance changes.

Rim size

Most placards list the OEM rim size — usually "8.0 x 18" meaning 8-inch wide, 18-inch diameter. Different from the tire size. Replacement rims should match this within ±0.5 inch unless you're plus-sizing (see plus-sizing guide).

Spare tire info

If your car has a spare, the placard often lists separate inflation for the spare. Mini-spares (donuts) are usually inflated to 60 PSI and rated for max 50 mph, max 50-70 miles. Full-size matching spares use the same pressure as the main tires.

When the placard wins vs the sidewall

The tire's sidewall lists the tire's manufacturer specs (max pressure, max load). The placard lists what the CAR needs from the tire. The placard wins for normal use. Sidewall numbers are absolute limits — don't exceed them.

Example: tire sidewall says "MAX 51 PSI". Placard says "32 PSI front, 35 rear". Run 32/35, not 51.

Why the placard beats online lookup

Trim levels within the same model often have different OEM tire sizes. A 2019 Honda Civic LX runs different sizes from a Civic Si or Type R. Online fitment databases (including ours) try to track all trims but inevitably miss edge cases — option packages, mid-year refreshes, regional variants. The placard is specific to your vehicle's actual build.

If your placard is missing or unreadable

Salt-belt cars sometimes have placards corroded or peeled off. Recovery options:

Owner's manual usually has the same info in the tire section
The dealer can pull the OEM spec from VIN
Tire-rack-style fitment databases (including ours) are accurate for the most popular trims
For odd configurations (police interceptor, fleet variant), call the dealer with your VIN

When the placard becomes wrong

If you've plus-sized the wheels significantly or moved to a different tire size category (e.g. summer to winter), the original placard pressures may not be optimal. The general rule: stay within ±2 PSI of placard for plus-1 sizing. Larger changes can warrant pressure adjustments; the tire manufacturer's load-pressure tables are the authoritative source.

Frequently asked questions

What if the placard size isn't available anymore?

Discontinued OEM sizes happen on older cars. The replacement rule: match overall diameter within ±3%, load index ≥ original, speed rating ≥ original. Our /size/ pages list common alternates.

Is the placard on every car?

Federally required on every passenger car/SUV/light truck sold in the US after September 2003. Older cars may have the info in the glove box or owner's manual instead.

Should I follow placard or the dealer's recommendation?

Placard. Dealers sometimes recommend higher pressures (to extend their service interval) or lower (for ride comfort). Placard is the engineered balance.

What about race tracks or sustained high-speed driving?

Manufacturers publish a separate 'high-speed' inflation table — often in the owner manual or at the dealer. Sustained 80+ mph driving on stock placard pressures can overheat tires; add 2-4 PSI for track or autobahn use.

Sources

FMVSS 110 (49 CFR 571.110) — Federal motor vehicle safety standard for tire labeling
Tire and Rim Association load and inflation tables — Authoritative tire pressure data

By Mark Bishop · Updated 2026-05-04.