Scion TC Tire Pressure

The ideal tire pressure for the Scion tC is between 32 and 39 psi for the front tires and 29 and 36 psi for the rear tires. However, the exact psi value for your particular vehicle will depend on the model year, trim, and OEM tire size.

Due to the extensive tire pressure recommendation that hinges on the Scion TC model year, it is best to consult your car’s owner’s manual or the label attached to the driver’s side door frame to know your car’s air pressure requirement for front and rear tires.

The Scion tC ranges from 2005 to 2016 models, and the correct tire pressure, depending on load and driving condition, can be as low as 29 psi or as high as 39 psi.

I’ve done the legwork for you, putting together all the available Scion tC model years, the different trims, their OEM tire sizes, and the specific factory-recommended tire pressure for each.

Table of Contents

Tire Pressure Table For Scion Tc Year Models And Trims

		Recommended Tire pressure
Scion TC Year Model	Tire Size	Front tire	Rear tire
2016	235/35R19/XL 91Y	39 psi	36 psi
	P225/45R18 91W	33 psi	30 psi

2015	235/35R19/XL 91Y	39 psi	36 psi
	P225/45R18 91W	33 psi	30 psi

2014	235/35R19/XL 91Y	39 psi	36 psi
	P225/45R18 91W	33 psi	30 psi

2013	P225/45R18 91W	33 psi	30 psi

2012	P215/50R17 90W	33 psi	30 psi
	P225/45R18 91W	33 psi	30 psi

2011	P215/50R17 90W	33 psi	30 psi
	P225/45R18 91W	33 psi	30 psi

2010	215/45R17 87H	32 psi	29 psi
	225/40R18 88W	32 psi	29 psi

2009	215/45R17 87H	32 psi	29 psi
	225/40R18 88W	32 psi	29 psi

2008	215/45R17 87H	32 psi	29 psi
	225/40R18 88W	32 psi	29 psi
	P205/55R16 89V	32 psi	29 psi

2007	215/45R17 87H	32 psi	29 psi
	225/40R18 88W
	P205/55R16 89V

2006	215/45R17 87H	32 psi	29 psi

2005	P215/45R17 87H	32 psi	29 psi

10 Series	P225/45R18 91W	33 psi	30 psi

Spec	225/40R18 88W	32 psi	29 psi
	P205/55R16 89V	32 psi	29 psi

Model with TRD package	235/35R19 91Y XL	39 psi	36 psi

Should I Go With The Pressure On The Tires?

It is generally not ideal for inflating your Scion TC tires based on the specification written on the tire’s sidewall. Instead, you should comply with the requirement on the sticker attached to the door jamb. Here’s why:

A load of your vehicle is unknown to tire manufacturers. So, even if the diameter is larger or the profile is different, the same pressure is required for the majority of the tire for the same width tire.

Meanwhile, many Scion TC users have come to forums to explain how they experience smooth driving with a lower psi value in the front tires than at the rear.

But while this is drawing from cornering experience, it depends more on the tire than the PSI you inflate your tires with.

If the tires mounted on your Scion tC have a stiffer sidewall, they can run at lower pressures and grip better. But the tradeoff is corner response.

If you notice any handling abnormalities after inflating your Scion Tc tires, here are the chances:

You’re using too little pressure, which is lower than the manufacturer recommends. In such a situation, there can be more wear on the shoulders of the tires

You are running under too much pressure. In such a situation, you may notice more wear in the centre of the tire.

It becomes an issue of toe or camber if only one edge of the tire is worn more than other areas. However, this is up for debate since it would take a lot of camber to cause such significant wear in one part.

Going with the pressure specification on the tire sidewall is unsafe because the psi represents the maximum air pressure levels.

How To Check The Tire Pressure On A Scion Tc

The first step to checking your Scion tC’s tire pressure is to know your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure for the front and rear tires.

You can now find your year and model in the table above and know the ideal tire pressure you should work with. After that, get a reliable tire pressure gauge and follow these steps:

Step 1: Take off tire valve caps

Step 2: Use the tire pressure gauge to check tire inflation in every tire.

Step 3: Adjust Scion tC tire pressure to its recommended levels by pressing down the centre plunger in the valve stem to let the air out (if the tire is overinflated)

Step 4: Recheck tire pressure after the adjustment to ensure all tires are properly inflated.

Step 5: Replace the valve stem caps.

To get an accurate reading on the gauge, it is best to check tire pressure when the tires are “cold” and have not been driven for at least 3 hours.

What Is The Proper Tire Pressure For Scion Tc Replacement Tires?

The factory-recommended air pressure levels may not apply when replacing your Scion tC OEM tires with new, non-standard ones.

They will likely have different sizes, load capacities, and dimensions. So they will require a different inflation pressure to perform optimally.

In such a situation, you can use a reliable tire pressure calculator to find the proper tire inflation. Most people use this when switching to a different tire size on their Scion TC or other cars.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that Scion TC specifies the recommended tire pressure for their vehicles on a sticker attached to the driver’s door jamb.

But remember that those specifications apply to only OEM tires and will yield their estimated mpg ratings.

For my Scion tC, I use 32 and 29 psi for the front and rear tires, respectively, when going on regular, everyday driving. But when I intend to drive at sustained speeds (of over 100 mph), I inflate the tires at 38 psi for the front and rear tires, respectively.

So you can bump 2 to 3 psi above the recommended psi, especially if you want a better tire shape on corners. That will help you achieve a better cornering effect and get more mpg.