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The short answer, straight from Tesla’s manual: keep your Model Y’s tires at the cold pressure printed on the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver’s door pillar, which the touchscreen also displays, even if the tire sidewall says something else. Check with a gauge when the tires are cold, and expect roughly 1 psi lost for every 10°F drop in temperature. Confirm the target for your own car on its label or in your manual.
Where Tesla says to find the right number
Tesla doesn’t publish one pressure for every Model Y, because it depends on the wheels and tires the car came with. Its manual points to two places: the Tire and Loading Information label on the center door pillar (visible with the driver’s door open), and the touchscreen, which shows the recommended cold pressure. Tesla also says to keep using the label’s pressure even if the number on the tire itself is different, and that the label never changes even if you later fit different tires.
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How to check it, Tesla’s way
- Check when the tires are cold, with an accurate gauge.
- If you must check warm tires, expect higher readings, and don’t let air out to match the cold number. Tesla warns that a hot tire at or below the cold target is dangerously underinflated.
- Add or remove air to reach the label’s pressure, then re-check.
- If the low-pressure light comes on, inflate before driving. Tesla notes it only warns when a tire is below the label’s threshold, not for small drops.
Winter, kids and full cars
Tesla’s manual says tires lose about 1 psi for every 6°C (about 10°F) the temperature drops, which is why the warning tends to appear on the first cold morning of the season. Tesla also says to double-check all four tires when the car is loaded to full capacity, which for families means the road trip with every seat and the trunk full. Towing has its own rule: Tesla says not to use the label pressures when towing a trailer; see its towing guidance.
For the winter side of this, see our winter tips for families.
A note on safety: we’re Model Y owners, not mechanics. Follow Tesla’s owner’s manual and the equipment maker’s instructions, and when in doubt, have a professional do the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tire pressure should a Tesla Model Y have?
The pressure on your car’s Tire and Loading Information label, on the driver’s door pillar, which the touchscreen also shows as the recommended cold pressure. Tesla says to use that number even if the tire sidewall says something different; it varies by wheel and tire, so confirm it on your own label or in your manual.
Why does my Model Y lose tire pressure in winter?
Cold air is denser. Tesla’s manual says tires lose about 1 psi for every 6°C (about 10°F) drop in outside temperature, so a tire set in September can trip the low-pressure warning on the first cold morning.
Where do I see tire pressure on the Model Y screen?
Tap the car image on the touchscreen; cars with direct TPMS show each tire’s pressure, and the screen also shows the recommended cold pressure. You can switch between psi and bar under Controls > Display > Tire Pressure.
Should I check Model Y tire pressure when the tires are warm?
No. Tesla says to check with an accurate gauge when the tires are cold, and never to let air out of warm tires to match the cold number, because a hot tire at or below the cold target is dangerously underinflated.
Source: Tesla Model Y owner’s manual, Tire Care and Maintenance and Vehicle Loading sections, checked October 2026. This page repeats Tesla’s guidance; always confirm the pressure for your car on its own label or in your manual.
