Tesla Model S: Displaying Tire Pressures

Display tire pressures on the touchscreen by touching Controls > Service. The pressure of each tire displays in the visualization of your Model S, in addition to what time your tire pressures were last measured. You can choose whether you want to display tire pressures using Bar or PSI by touching Controls > Display > Tire Pressure. The touchscreen also displays your vehicle's recommended cold tire pressures so you can easily determine how much to inflate your tires.

NOTE: You may need to drive briefly before the visualization displays the tire pressure values.

Maintaining Tire Pressures

Keep tires inflated to the pressures shown on the Tire and Loading Information label, even if it differs from the pressure printed on the tire itself. The Tire and Loading Information label is located on the center door pillar and is visible when the front door is open.

The Tire Pressure indicator light on the instrument panel alerts you if one or more tires is under- or over-inflated.

The Tire Pressure indicator light does not immediately turn off when you adjust tire pressure. After inflating the tire to the recommended pressure, you must drive over 15 mph (25 km/h) for a short amount of time to activate the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which turns off the Tire Pressure indicator light.

If the indicator light flashes for one minute whenever you power on Model S, a fault with the TPMS is detected (see TPMS Malfunction).

NOTE: Your vehicle's tire pressures will drop in cold ambient temperatures. If the TPMS indicator light appears, inflate the tires before driving. The tires will lose one PSI for every 10º F (6º C) drop in outside temperature. Proper tire pressures help protect tires from potholes and improve range when properly inflated.

WARNING: Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failures and can cause a tire to overheat, resulting in severe tire cracking, tread separation, or blowout, resulting in unexpected loss of vehicle control and increased risk of injury. Under-inflation also reduces the vehicle's range and tire tread life.

WARNING: Check tire pressures using an accurate pressure gauge when tires are cold. It takes only about one mile (1.6 km) of driving to warm up the tires sufficiently to affect tire pressures. Parking the vehicle in direct sunlight or in hot weather can also affect tire pressures. If you must check warm tires, expect increased pressures. Do not let air out of warm tires in an attempt to match recommended cold tire pressures. A hot tire at or below the recommended cold tire inflation pressure is dangerously under-inflated.

Checking and Adjusting Tire Pressures

Follow these steps when tires are cold and Model S has been stationary for over three hours:

1. Refer to the Tire and Loading Information label located on the driver's center door pillar for the target tire pressure.

2. Remove the valve cap.

3. Firmly press an accurate tire pressure gauge onto the valve to measure pressure.

4. If required, add or remove air to reach the recommended pressure.

NOTE: You can release air by pressing the metal stem in the center of the valve.

5. Re-check pressure using the accurate tire gauge.

6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary until the tire pressure is correct.

7. Reinstall the valve cap to prevent dirt from entering. Periodically check the valve for damage and leaks.

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