The Nano tyre pressure is set at 26 psi for both front wheels and 28 psi for both rear wheels, read with the tyres cold. These figures cover every Nano version, from the first car to the GenX, because the tyre sizes never changed. Tata stopped making the Nano, yet thousands still run in our cities, so the numbers matter every week at the air machine.
The Tata Nano tyre pressure is not the same at both ends, and that surprises many owners. The engine sits at the back, so the rear tyres carry more weight. They are also a different, wider size. Pumping all four to one number is the slip our bay sees most on this little car.
Nano fitment card
- Front tyre
- 135/70 R12
- Rear tyre
- 155/65 R12 (wider than the front)
- Spare tyre
- 135/70 R12, front size
- Tyre pressure (cold)
- Front 26 psi, rear 28 psi
- Manual pressure band
- Front 26 to 28 psi, rear 28 to 30 psi
- Wheels
- 12 inch steel with covers; 12 inch alloys were a dealer accessory
- Wheel fixing (PCD)
- 3 studs, 3 x 100 mm
Nano tyre pressure chart
| Tyre | Size | Pressure (cold) | Owner's manual band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front, left and right | 135/70 R12 | 26 psi | 26 to 28 psi |
| Rear, left and right | 155/65 R12 | 28 psi | 28 to 30 psi |
| Spare | 135/70 R12 | see manual | see manual |
The owner's manual prints a small band rather than a single number. Most owners and most published figures use the lower end, 26 and 28. Move toward the top of the band when the car is full of people and luggage. Tata printed no extra table for a fully loaded Nano, so none is given here.
Why the back of a Nano needs more air
The Nano carries its engine and gearbox beneath the back bench. Hence the back wheels carry the bulk of the car, which is why Tata fitted 155 mm wide tyres there and 135 mm tyres up front. The heavier end needs more pressure to hold its shape. If the rear runs soft, the car feels loose on a fast bend and the rear tyres wear on their outer shoulders.
Keep the front lower than the back. A front that is too hard makes the light steering twitchy over broken roads, and a rear that is too soft lets the tail wander in a crosswind on a flyover.
Filling the Nano at a petrol pump
- Fill before you drive far, or once the Nano has been parked for two or three hours.
- Set the machine to 26 for the front wheels.
- Reset it to 28 before you move to the rear wheels. Many attendants forget this step on a Nano.
- Refit every valve cap. Small 12 inch wheels pick up mud and grit in the valve quickly.
- Check the spare in the front boot once a month. It is easy to forget because it hides under the bonnet.
If you have just driven 10 km in summer, the gauge will read 2 or 3 psi high. Never bleed air to hit the chart while the rubber is hot. Come back when the tyres are cool, or add 2 psi to the target. A pocket gauge helps; see how to check tyre pressure.
The spare tyre in the front boot
The spare is a 135/70 R12, the front size. If a rear tyre punctures, the spare will get you to a shop, but you will be driving with one narrower tyre at the back. Drive gently, keep under 60 km/h and get the rear tyre repaired the same day. The manual lists a spare pressure; follow it, and if you cannot find the book, fill the spare to the rear figure so it is ready for either end.
Under filled or over filled: what a 12 inch Nano feels
The Nano rides on tiny wheels with a thin cushion of rubber under each rim. Low pressure lets the sidewall fold over a speed breaker and pinch against the rim edge, which cuts the tyre from inside. It also makes the steering heavy, and the car burns more fuel than it should.
Overfilling brings its own trouble. The car hops across patchy concrete, less rubber touches the tarmac and a wet stop takes more distance. Whatever number the rubber itself carries is a ceiling for that tyre, never a fill target. Stick with 26 and 28.
Rain, expressway runs and a full Nano
In the rain, correct pressure helps the narrow grooves clear water. A soft Nano tyre aquaplanes earlier because the tread flattens and closes up. For a highway run with four adults and bags in the back, fill toward the top of the manual band, 28 front and 30 rear, and look at the gauge once more at the first tea stop. Ghat roads load the outer shoulders on long bends, so a correctly filled rear matters even more on the way down.
Some pump machines show bar. Roughly, 26 psi equals 1.8 bar and 28 psi equals 1.9 bar; for anything else, open our tyre pressure converter.
Questions owners ask
Tata Nano tyre pressure in psi, front and back?
Cold, it is 26 up front and 28 at the back. The owner's manual allows up to 28 front and 30 rear for heavy loads.
Why does the Nano have different front and rear pressure?
The engine is at the back, so the rear tyres carry more weight. They are also a wider size, 155/65 R12 against 135/70 R12 up front. Both reasons call for a little more air at the back.
Is 30 psi all round fine for a Nano?
We would not do it. The front would be too hard for the light steering and the car would skip over rough patches. Keep the front at 26 to 28 and the rear at 28 to 30.
Does nitrogen help on a Nano?
Nitrogen escapes at a slightly slower rate, though the Nano targets do not change with it. Check it monthly just like normal air. More on that in the nitrogen guide.
How often should I check Nano tyre pressure?
Each fortnight, and again on the morning you leave the city. Small tyres lose a couple of psi quickly, and with 26 psi to start with there is little margin.
Where does Tata print the Nano pressures?
Two places: the owner's manual, and a small printed label glued to the body where the driver door shuts. The figure on the tyre itself is only the maximum.