By the Rims & Tires Team
Compiled & reviewed by our West Georgia tire & wheel research team · Updated 2026-07-24
Winter cold drops tire pressure; summer heat raises it. Every 10-degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature adds approximately 1 PSI to tire pressure. A Georgia summer can push ambient temperatures 30 to 40 degrees above the cold temperature at which you last checked your tires. And that's before highway driving heat adds more. Tires also lose roughly 1 PSI per month from natural permeation regardless of temperature, according to NHTSA, so it's worth checking monthly rather than just seasonally.
How heat builds pressure in tires
Tire pressure is measured in PSI — pounds per square inch. The air inside the tire is subject to gas law: as temperature increases, gas expands and pressure rises.
For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature increase, expect approximately 1 PSI pressure increase in the tire. In Georgia: if you inflate your tires at 7 AM at 70 degrees to 35 PSI, then park in direct sun and the pavement reaches 110 degrees, the tire temperature may reach 90 to 100 degrees. That adds 2 to 3 PSI, pushing pressure to 37 to 38 PSI.
Driving adds more heat. Highway driving generates friction heat from tread flexing. Tire pressures at highway speed are typically 4 to 6 PSI higher than cold inflation.
Should you release air when pressure is high from heat?
No, and this is a common mistake. The door sticker cold inflation pressure accounts for the expected operating temperature range. A hot tire reading higher than door-sticker specification is normal and intended.
Do not release air from a hot tire. The tire will then be underinflated once it cools, leading to underinflation wear.
Always check and adjust pressure when the tire is cold (car parked 3+ hours or driven less than 1 mile).
Frequently asked
Is it normal for tire pressure to increase in summer?
Yes, it's expected and designed for. Tires are engineered to handle the pressure increases from normal operating temperatures. Do not release air from hot tires.
What is the maximum safe tire pressure?
Never exceed the maximum pressure molded into the tire sidewall. That number is not the recommended pressure; it's the structural maximum. Running at the sidewall max is too high for most vehicles.
When should I check my tire pressure in summer?
Check it in the morning before you've driven anywhere, when the tires are cold. Driving heats the air inside and reads high, so a hot-tire check will fool you into letting out air you actually need. Once a month is plenty for most drivers, plus before any long summer road trip.
Does West Georgia heat wear tires out faster?
Our long, hot summers do age rubber quicker than a mild climate would, especially on a car that sits outside all day. Heat is hardest on tires that are already low on air, since an under-inflated tire runs even hotter. Keeping pressure at spec is the single best thing you can do to get full life out of a set here.
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Last updated 2026-07-24. General guidance only — confirm specifics with a local shop for your exact vehicle.