UK · EU reference Tyre Pressure

225/55R17 · SUV / crossover · PSI

What PSI for 225/55R17 tyres?

Size
225/55R17
Class
SUV / crossover
Planning PSI
34
Planning bar
2.34

psi

34

2.34 bar · 234 kPa · SUV / crossover planning figure

225/55R17 · 34 psi · 2.34 bar · 234 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.

If someone typed “225/55R17 psi”, they want Imperial. Start near 34 psi on an unladen SUV / crossover, then confirm the vehicle placard. Sidewall max is not the target. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a 225/55R17; over-inflation wears the centre rib and bangs every cat’s eye.

Estimated 225/55R17 pressure by load

These 225/55R17 load steps are ± a few PSI from 34. They are not a licence to ignore a printed second column on a van or estate.

ConditionFront (est.)Rear (est.)
Driver only / unladen34 psi / 2.34 bar / 234 kPa36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa
Typical occupancy35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa38 psi / 2.62 bar / 262 kPa
Motorway + luggage (sketch)36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa39 psi / 2.69 bar / 269 kPa

PSI, bar and kPa

Use the table, then set a cold gauge. 234 kPa is 100 × 2.34 bar on this size.

PSIBarkPa
302.07207
312.14214
322.21221
332.28228
342.34234
352.41241
362.48248
372.55255
382.62262
392.69269
402.76276
412.83283
422.90290
432.96296
443.03303
453.10310
463.17317

What 225/55R17 means

A 225/55R17 on a SUV / crossover is a geometry. Two cars can share the size and disagree on PSI because mass and axle split differ.

CUV 17-inch highway. Rim diameter 17 in; section 225 mm. Estimates on this page assume a typical load index for the SUV / crossover class.

Placard versus sidewall

The sidewall of a 225/55R17 may say 51 psi or 350 kPa. That is a carcass maximum. Operating pressure is the tyre-information placard on the driver’s door pillar.

Cars often seen on 225/55R17

These catalogue models are often seen on 225/55R17 or a close OEM neighbour. Open the vehicle chart for axle-specific PSI and bar.

Nissan QashqaiFord KugaHyundai TucsonMazda CX-5

How to set 225/55R17

  1. Park so the 225/55R17 tyres are cold (three hours, or less than about a mile).
  2. Read the door-pillar placard for that car — not the 225/55R17 sidewall maximum.
  3. If the sticker is missing, 34 psi / 2.34 bar is only a SUV / crossover planning figure for this size.
  4. Set all four with a calibrated gauge. A 3 psi miss on one corner shows up as a wander.
  5. Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.

Temperature drift

Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for 225/55R17.

AmbientGaugeBarkPaNote
−5 °C (hard frost)31 psi2.14 bar214 kPaGauge reads low; do not overfill once warm
0 °C32 psi2.21 bar221 kPaGauge reads low; do not overfill once warm
8 °C (UK winter morning)33 psi2.28 bar228 kPaGauge reads low; do not overfill once warm
20 °C (set cold here)34 psi2.34 bar234 kPaBaseline for this size sketch
30 °C36 psi2.48 bar248 kPaDo not bleed a hot 225/55R17
38 °C (heatwave tarmac)37 psi2.55 bar255 kPaDo not bleed a hot 225/55R17

If the door sticker and this 225/55R17 page disagree, the sticker wins.

Questions about 225/55R17

What is 225/55R17 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.

What PSI should 225/55R17 tyres be?

A SUV / crossover planning figure is about 34 psi cold (2.34 bar / 234 kPa). Confirm on the vehicle placard — two cars can share 225/55R17 and not share a sticker.

Is the sidewall number correct for 225/55R17?

No. Sidewall PSI or kPa is a maximum for the carcass. Operating pressure is the door-pillar placard.

When does TPMS warn on 225/55R17?

Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below target — near 26 psi if you were aiming at 34. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.

What is 225/55R17 in kPa?

234 kPa is the planning midpoint (100 kPa = 1 bar). 241 kPa is one PSI higher.

Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · cold inflation · all sizes