The Tesla Model Y is a heavy, powerful electric SUV, and its tyres do a lot of work. Running them at the right pressure keeps the car stable, protects the tyres and helps you get the most range out of every charge.
This guide explains where to find the correct tyre pressure for your Model Y, how to check and adjust it, what the tyre pressure warning light means and how to reset the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
What Is the Recommended Tyre Pressure for a Tesla Model Y?
The correct tyre pressure for your Model Y is printed on the Tyre Information label fitted to the centre door pillar (B-pillar). Tesla's owner's manual says that on UK cars it's visible when you open the passenger door. Some other Tesla documentation refers to the driver's side instead, so check both door pillars if you can't see it straight away.
Always inflate to the pressures on this label, even if they differ from the maximum pressure moulded into the tyre sidewall. The sidewall figure is the most the tyre can safely hold, not the pressure your car should run.
If your Model Y has direct TPMS, the touchscreen also shows the recommended cold tyre pressures alongside the live readings, so you can see at a glance how much air each tyre needs.
We haven't published a pressure table here because Tesla's UK owner's manual doesn't list the figures for normal driving. Your car's label and touchscreen give the correct pressures for its exact wheel and tyre setup, so use those.
How to Check Tyre Pressure on a Tesla Model Y Using the Touchscreen
How you check your tyre pressures on screen depends on which tyre pressure monitoring system your Model Y has. Tesla fit either direct TPMS, which uses a sensor in each wheel, or indirect TPMS, which estimates pressure loss and only alerts you when a tyre is underinflated.
To find out which system your car has, go to Controls > Service. If the Model Y image shows a pressure reading next to each tyre, your car has direct TPMS.
- Direct TPMS: pressures appear in the cards area of the car status display, or under Controls > Service, along with the time they were last measured. You can also see them in the Tesla app. You may need to drive for a short while before the readings appear.
- Indirect TPMS: there are no individual readings. Instead, an alert appears in the car status area if underinflation is detected, with an icon next to the affected tyre.
You can switch the display between bar and PSI under Controls > Display > Tire Pressure.
How to Check and Adjust Your Model Y Tyre Pressures
Check pressures when the tyres are cold, ideally after the car has been parked for more than three hours. Tesla say just a mile of driving is enough to warm the tyres and push the reading up.
- Find the target pressure on the Tyre Information label on the door pillar.
- Remove the valve cap.
- Press an accurate tyre pressure gauge firmly onto the valve to take a reading.
- Add air, or release some by pressing the metal pin in the centre of the valve, until you reach the recommended pressure.
- Recheck with the gauge and repeat until the pressure is correct.
- Refit the valve cap to keep dirt out and check the valve for damage or leaks.
- On cars with direct TPMS, drive above 15 mph for a short time so the system picks up the new pressures. On cars with indirect TPMS, calibrate the system (see 'How to Reset the Tyre Pressure Warning' below).
If you have to check warm tyres, expect the readings to be higher. Don't let air out to match the cold pressure on the label, as a hot tyre at or below the cold figure is dangerously underinflated.
How to Reset the Tyre Pressure Warning on a Tesla Model Y
How you reset the TPMS depends on which system your car has.
Indirect TPMS: the system must be calibrated manually every time you adjust the pressures, or have the tyres changed, repaired or rotated. Make sure all four tyres are at the recommended cold pressure first, then go to Controls > Service > Tire Pressure > Calibrate Tire Pressure. Calibration starts once you drive above 15 mph, and the system learns the new values after at least 20 minutes of driving above that speed. Steady driving at higher speeds helps it finish sooner, while stop-start traffic slows it down.
Direct TPMS: there's no manual reset after topping up. Drive above 15 mph for a short time and the sensors update. If you fit a different set of wheels, the sensors relearn automatically within around two minutes of driving above 15 mph.
Don't calibrate an indirect system with pressures that are too high or too low. Tesla warn this can cause false warnings, or stop the system from warning you when a tyre really is low.
Why Is My Tesla Model Y Showing a Tyre Pressure Warning?
The tyre pressure indicator light comes on when one or more tyres are underinflated. On cars with direct TPMS, it can also warn you when a tyre is overinflated.
- Light stays on: a tyre is below the recommended pressure. Stop and check your tyres as soon as possible and inflate them to the correct pressure.
- Light flashes for about a minute, then stays on: the TPMS has detected a fault with the system itself. This can happen after fitting replacement wheels or tyres. Book a service appointment through the Tesla app.
- Light still on after inflating: the light doesn't switch off straight away. On direct TPMS cars, drive above 15 mph for a short time. On indirect TPMS cars, run a calibration.
A tyre can be well below its correct pressure without looking flat, which is why the light can come on when the tyres look fine. Use a gauge rather than judging by eye.
Tesla Model Y Tyre Pressure in Cold Weather
Tyre pressures drop as the temperature falls. Tesla say the tyres lose roughly 1 PSI for every 6°C drop in outside temperature, so a cold snap can be enough to trigger the warning light overnight.
If the light comes on during cold weather, inflate the tyres to the recommended pressure before you drive. Checking more often through winter helps catch the gradual drop before it becomes a problem.
Tyre Pressure When Towing or Carrying a Heavy Load
The pressures on the door pillar label don't apply when towing. Tesla publish separate towing pressures in the Towing and Accessories section of the owner's manual, and these override the label when you have a trailer attached.
Be aware that the low pressure warning is based on the pressures for normal driving. Tesla note that it won't alert you if a tyre is underinflated for the load you're carrying, so check your pressures with a gauge before a fully loaded trip.
Does Tyre Pressure Affect Tesla Model Y Range?
Yes. Tesla's owner's manual states that underinflation reduces the car's range as well as tyre tread life, and that correct pressures help protect the tyres from pothole damage.
Underinflation is also the most common cause of tyre failure. An underinflated tyre can overheat, leading to cracking, tread separation or a blowout.
Does Tyre Pressure Change with Wheel Size?
The Model Y has been sold with a range of wheel sizes, and the Tyre Information label gives the correct pressures for the wheels and tyres your car was built with. Always go by the label on your car rather than a figure quoted for a different specification.
If your Model Y is now on aftermarket tyres in a different size from those on the label, Tesla's manual makes it the driver's responsibility to find the correct pressure. Ask your tyre fitter or Tesla Service before driving.
Tesla Model Y Tyres at Blackcircles.com
The right tyre pressure only does its job on tyres with healthy tread. Tesla recommend checking the tread and sidewalls regularly for cuts, bulges and uneven wear, especially on the inner shoulder (the inside edge of the tread), and replacing tyres before the tread wear indicators show.
If your Model Y is due new rubber, browse
tyres for your Tesla Model Y at Blackcircles.com and choose fitting at a local garage or at home with our mobile tyre fitting service.
