Tire Pressure Guide: TPMS, Cold Weather, and Optimal PSI for Your Challenger

What's the Right Tire Pressure for a 2022 Challenger?

The official recommended tire pressure for the 2022 Challenger is printed on the driver's door jamb sticker — not on the tire sidewall (that's the maximum pressure, not the recommended pressure).

Common specifications:

• R/T (245/45R20): 32 PSI front and rear
• Scat Pack Narrowbody (245/45R20): 32 PSI front, 32 PSI rear
• Scat Pack Widebody (305/35R20 rear): 35 PSI front, 35 PSI rear
• Hellcat Widebody: 35 PSI front, 35 PSI rear

Always check your specific door sticker, as different trim and tire combinations may vary.

When to Check Tire Pressure

Always check cold — meaning the car has not been driven in the last 3 hours. Driving heats the air inside the tires, raising pressure by 3–7 PSI. Checking hot tires and inflating to the door spec will leave you under-inflated once they cool.

Check pressure:

• Monthly as a routine habit
• When temperatures change significantly (especially seasonal changes)
• Before any track day or spirited driving
• Any time the TPMS light illuminates

Understanding the TPMS Warning

The Challenger's TPMS system has two warning modes:

Solid TPMS light: One or more tires is 25% or more below the recommended pressure (typically 8 PSI low or more). Check all four tires immediately.

Flashing TPMS light for 60–90 seconds then solid: System malfunction — sensor battery dead, sensor not recognized, or programming issue. Not necessarily a pressure problem.

The TPMS system is accurate to within 1–2 PSI under normal conditions but can be slow to update (up to 10 minutes of driving for the sensors to transmit). Don't assume a tire is fine just because the light hasn't come on.

Cold Weather Pressure Drop

Tire pressure drops approximately 1 PSI per 10°F of temperature decrease. Real-world example:

You check your tires in September when it's 80°F and set them to 32 PSI. In January when it hits 10°F, those same tires will read approximately:

80°F to 10°F = 70°F drop = ~7 PSI loss → 25 PSI

That's well below the 32 PSI spec and will trigger the TPMS warning and noticeably affect handling.

Solution: In fall, inflate tires to 34–35 PSI (2–3 above spec) so the winter pressure drop keeps you close to spec without constant refilling.

Effects of Incorrect Pressure

Under-inflated (too low):

• More rolling resistance = worse fuel economy
• Tires flex excessively = faster wear on tire shoulders
• Car feels sluggish and vague in corners
• Increased risk of tire failure at high speed

Over-inflated (too high):

• Harsher ride — less cushioning
• Tire wears faster in the center of the tread
• Reduced contact patch = less grip
• More susceptible to impact damage (potholes, road debris)

For track days, slightly over-inflate cold (2–3 PSI) to compensate for the pressure rise from heat, then check hot pressures and adjust to target hot spec (typically 35–40 PSI for track use depending on tire).

Resetting the TPMS Light

After inflating all tires to correct pressure, the TPMS light typically extinguishes after driving at 25+ mph for 10–15 minutes as the sensors transmit updated readings.

If the light persists: Check all four tires manually with a gauge (don't trust gas station gauges — many are inaccurate). If all four are correct and the light remains after a drive, there may be a sensor battery issue or programming fault — worth a quick dealer visit.