WHAT’S YOUR PSI? 

Tire Safety Quiz Answers

1. A. Tire 1 is underinflated by 40%! Tire 1

should be at 32 psi (pounds per square 

inch) and it’s at about 19 psi. Bottom 

line: you can’t always tell just by looking, 

kicking or pressing. It’s a good safety 

practice to keep a tire pressure gauge 

in your vehicle at all times — they’re 

available at tire dealerships, auto supply 

stores or other retail outlets. 

2. B. Because tires may naturally lose 

air over time, it’s important to check 

tire pressure on all tires, including 

your spare, at least once a month. 

There’s nothing wrong with checking 

more frequently, before a long trip, for 

instance. To get an accurate reading, 

measure tire pressure when the tires are 

“cold,” meaning when the vehicle has 

not been driven for at least three hours. 

Even driving one mile can heat up your 

tires so that obtaining an accurate “cold” 

measurement is difficult. 

3. A. Most folks think B, the tire 

manufacturer, but the correct answer 

is A, the vehicle manufacturer. This 

information is listed as pounds per 

square inch (psi) and can be found on 

the vehicle's tire information label and 

in your owner’s manual. The label is 

typically located on the inside of the 

driver’s side doorframe or doorpost. It 

can also be on the inside of the glovebox door or trunk lid. Take a minute and 

look at this label next time you get in 

your vehicle. 

4. A and B. Underinflated tires and 

overloaded vehicles are the leading 

causes of tire failure. Always inflate your 

tires to the recommended tire pressure 

on the vehicle's tire information label. 

Some vehicle manufacturers may also 

provide a lower recommended tire 

pressure for lightly loaded vehicle 

conditions, e.g., if there are only 1-3 

occupants in the vehicle. However, 

lowering tire pressure to give a more 

comfortable ride without following the 

loading guidelines is an unsafe practice.

Always follow the tire pressure and 

loading guidelines on your vehicle’s 

tire information label or within your 

owner’s manual. 

While uneven tread wear may be 

undesirable, it’s generally not an immediate

safety concern. Uneven tread wear is 

usually the result of wheel misalignment, 

improperly balanced tires, or the need for 

tire rotation. Follow the guidelines in your 

owner’s manual for proper tire rotation 

and check with your tire dealer if you’re 

experiencing uneven tread wear. 

5. A and D. Tires should be replaced when 

the tread wears down to 2/32 (or 1/16) 

of an inch. Tires also have built-in tread 

wear indicators, or “wear bars,” that let 

Tire 1 Tire 2

you know when the tread reaches this 

mark. You can also use a Lincoln penny 

to test your tire tread. Simply turn the 

penny so that Lincoln’s head is pointing 

down – and insert it into the tread. If 

you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time 

to replace your tires. 

HOW’D YOU DO?

If you missed any, you 

might want to take a look 

at the Tire Safety section 

of www.safercar.gov or 

www.rma.org for more 

information.

You may also want to keep 

this guide in your vehicle 

for easy referencing.
QUESTIONS MAY HAVE 

MULTIPLE ANSWERS

A SHORT QUIZ 

TO TEST YOUR

KNOWLEDGE

OF TIRE SAFETY

DOT HS 809 866

April 2005

1. Which of the tires pictured 

here is underinflated? A Tire 1 B Tire 2 C Both D Neither

2. How often should you check 

your vehicle’s tire pressure? A Once a week B At least once a month C Every six months D When you get your oil 

 changed

Tire 1 Tire 2

3. Who should determine the 

correct pressure for your 

vehicle’s tires?

A The vehicle manufacturer B The tire manufacturer C A certified mechanic D The salesman who sold you 

 the vehicle

4. Which factors can have an 

adverse and immediate 

impact on tire safety? A Underinflated tires B An overloaded vehicle C Uneven tread wear D All of the above

5. When do you know it’s 

time to replace a tire? A When the tread is worn 

 down to 2/32 (or 1/16) of 

 an inch B Every year C Every 10,000 miles D When the “wear bars” 

 become level with 

 the tread

ANSWERS AND TIRE 

SAFETY INFO INSIDE...