Driver Disputes Mavis Over Tire Pressure Standards, Questions Shop's Expertise

A TikTok user with years of auto repair experience recently shared his frustrating experience at a Mavis Tire store. He brought his daughter’s car in for new tires and a wheel alignment but clashed with staff over tire pressure specifications. The staff insisted on inflating the tires to the pressure recommended on the door jamb sticker, not the “Max 44 PSI” marked on the tire sidewall. The customer mistakenly believed he should inflate to the sidewall value, which led to abnormal tire wear. He questioned why Mavis had originally recommended incompatible tires and expressed disappointment in the store’s technical competence, vowing never to return. Experts clarified that the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure—typically found on the driver’s door jamb or inside the fuel filler flap—is the correct standard; the PSI on the tire sidewall indicates only the maximum allowable pressure, not the recommended everyday inflation level. Mavis operates more than 2,100 locations nationwide and has received mixed customer reviews.