215/55R16 · passenger car · kPa
215/55R16 kPa inflation table
- Size
- 215/55R16
- Class
- passenger car
- Planning PSI
- 34
- Planning bar
- 2.34
kPa
234
2.34 bar · 34 psi · 100 kPa = 1 bar
215/55R16 · 34 psi · 2.34 bar · 234 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.
If the gauge only speaks kPa, 234 kPa is the sketch for this passenger car size. Fine-tune to the vehicle that actually wears 215/55R16. A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed 215/55R16.
kPa, bar and PSI
Convert around the 215/55R16 band. 2.34 bar is about 34 psi — not 23, not 33 unless the maths says so.
| kPa | Bar | PSI |
|---|---|---|
| 207 | 2.07 | 30 |
| 214 | 2.14 | 31 |
| 221 | 2.21 | 32 |
| 228 | 2.28 | 33 |
| 234 | 2.34 | 34 |
| 241 | 2.41 | 35 |
| 248 | 2.48 | 36 |
| 255 | 2.55 | 37 |
| 262 | 2.62 | 38 |
| 269 | 2.69 | 39 |
| 276 | 2.76 | 40 |
| 283 | 2.83 | 41 |
| 290 | 2.90 | 42 |
| 296 | 2.96 | 43 |
| 303 | 3.03 | 44 |
| 310 | 3.10 | 45 |
| 317 | 3.17 | 46 |
Estimated 215/55R16 pressure by load
Plus-sizing to 215/55R16 from a taller OEM tyre usually keeps the same placard if the load index is equal or higher.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only / unladen | 34 psi / 2.34 bar / 234 kPa | 34 psi / 2.34 bar / 234 kPa |
| Typical occupancy | 34 psi / 2.34 bar / 234 kPa | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa |
| Motorway + luggage (sketch) | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa |
What 215/55R16 means
215/55R16 means a 215 millimetre section width, a sidewall that is 55 percent of that width, on a 16-inch rim. The R is radial construction.
Slightly wider 16-inch OEM. Rim diameter 16 in; section 215 mm. Estimates on this page assume a typical load index for the passenger car class.
Placard versus sidewall
If a forum says “all 215/55R16 run 34 psi”, ignore it. A Qashqai and a Golf can share a size and not share a sticker.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for 215/55R16.
| Ambient | Gauge | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 31 psi | 2.14 bar | 214 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 32 psi | 2.21 bar | 221 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 33 psi | 2.28 bar | 228 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 34 psi | 2.34 bar | 234 kPa | Baseline for this size sketch |
| 30 °C | 36 psi | 2.48 bar | 248 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 215/55R16 |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 215/55R16 |
How to set 215/55R16
- Park so the 215/55R16 tyres are cold (three hours, or less than about a mile).
- Read the door-pillar placard for that car — not the 215/55R16 sidewall maximum.
- If the sticker is missing, 34 psi / 2.34 bar is only a passenger car planning figure for this size.
- Set all four with a calibrated gauge. A 3 psi miss on one corner shows up as a wander.
- Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.
Cars often seen on 215/55R16
These catalogue models are often seen on 215/55R16 or a close OEM neighbour. Open the vehicle chart for axle-specific PSI and bar.
If the door sticker and this 215/55R16 page disagree, the sticker wins.
Questions about 215/55R16
Can I run 215/55R16 at a lower pressure for comfort?
Not as a habit. A soft 215/55R16 cooks the shoulders and dulls steering. Keep load index and stay on the placard.
Should I bleed pressure after a motorway run?
No. Heat raises the gauge. Set cold only. Bleeding a hot tyre leaves it low the next morning.
What is 215/55R16 in kPa?
234 kPa is the planning midpoint (100 kPa = 1 bar). 241 kPa is one PSI higher.
Is the sidewall number correct for 215/55R16?
No. Sidewall PSI or kPa is a maximum for the carcass. Operating pressure is the door-pillar placard.
What is 215/55R16 in bar?
34 psi is 2.34 bar. Add a tenth of a bar if the placard’s laden column is higher, which is common on vans that wear this size.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · cold inflation · all sizes