Free template · PDF · US Letter
Free Printable Tire Pressure & Rotation Log (PDF)
| Date | Odometer | FL psi | FR psi | RL psi | RR psi | Tread / rotation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
How to check pressure so the numbers mean something
Check cold — before driving, or after the car has sat for a few hours. Driving warms the tires and raises the reading by several psi, which is why a gas-station check after a highway run always looks fine. Use the pressure on the placard inside the driver's door jamb (or the owner's manual), not the 'max press' moulded on the tire sidewall; that number is the tire's limit, not the car's specification. Front and rear are sometimes different, which is why the sheet has four columns.
A tire that is consistently a few psi lower than its neighbors in the log is the one with the slow leak — a nail, a corroded wheel rim, or a valve stem. That pattern is invisible without a dated record, and it is the most common thing this sheet catches.
Reference values
General guidance commonly given by tire makers and safety agencies. Your owner's manual and the door-jamb placard take priority.
| Item | Guidance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Correct pressure | Door-jamb placard or owner's manual | Not the sidewall maximum; front and rear may differ |
| Check interval | Monthly, and before long trips | Pressure drops roughly 1 psi per 10°F fall in temperature |
| Rotation interval | Commonly every 5,000–8,000 miles (8,000–13,000 km), or with each oil change | Follow the manual; some AWD vehicles are stricter |
| Tread depth — new | Typically 10/32″ to 11/32″ for passenger tires | Varies by tire type |
| Tread depth — replace soon | 4/32″ is a common wet-grip recommendation | Penny/quarter tests approximate this |
| Tread depth — legal minimum | 2/32″ in most US states; 1.6 mm in the UK/EU | Wear bars appear at this depth |
Uneven wear across the four tread readings points to alignment, pressure, or rotation issues — note the pattern (inner edge, outer edge, center) in the Notes column.
How to use this sheet
- Print the PDF and keep it in the glovebox with the tire gauge.
- Once a month, before driving, check all four tires and write the pressures in the FL/FR/RL/RR columns with the odometer reading.
- Adjust to the placard pressure and note how much each tire needed — a tire that always needs air is leaking.
- Every few months, measure tread depth with a gauge at the inner, center, and outer tread and write the lowest reading.
- When tires are rotated, write 'rotated' with the pattern used (front-to-back, cross) so the next one can be planned from the odometer.
Questions
Is this sheet really free?
Yes. The PDF is free to download and print — no sign-up, no email, no watermark.
What tire pressure should I use?
The one on the placard inside the driver's door jamb or in the owner's manual, measured cold. The number on the tire sidewall is the maximum the tire can hold, not the recommended pressure for your car.
How often should tires be rotated?
Many manufacturers suggest every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, or at each oil change; your manual is the authority. The log shows the odometer at the last rotation so you know when the next one is due.
Why does my tire pressure drop in winter?
Air contracts as it cools — roughly 1 psi for every 10°F drop. A tire set correctly in September can be several psi low by December, which is why the sheet records the date alongside the readings.
Is there an app version?
Yes — MotorLog for iPhone records tire pressure, rotations, service, and fuel by odometer and reminds you when the next rotation is due. Core is free, no account needed, and your data stays on your device.
Want the log to analyze itself?
MotorLog for iPhone tracks the same things in seconds and shows you the patterns — free core, no account, and everything stays on your device.