245/45R18 · passenger car · PSI
What PSI for 245/45R18 tyres?
- Size
- 245/45R18
- Class
- passenger car
- Planning PSI
- 36
- Planning bar
- 2.48
psi
36
2.48 bar · 248 kPa · passenger car planning figure
245/45R18 · 36 psi · 2.48 bar · 248 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.
PSI is the garage-hose number. For 245/45R18 a typical passenger car planning figure is 36 psi cold — about 2.48 bar or 248 kPa. 18-inch saloon / GT. These rows are estimates interpolated for the size, not OEM for a named VIN. Low-profile {sz} does not want a “softer” pressure to recover ride. Stay at or slightly above the car’s original placard if load index is kept.
Estimated 245/45R18 pressure by load
These 245/45R18 load steps are ± a few PSI from 36. They are not a licence to ignore a printed second column on a van or estate.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only / unladen | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa |
| Typical occupancy | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa | 37 psi / 2.55 bar / 255 kPa |
| Motorway + luggage (sketch) | 37 psi / 2.55 bar / 255 kPa | 38 psi / 2.62 bar / 262 kPa |
PSI, bar and kPa
1 bar ≈ 14.5 psi; 1 psi ≈ 6.89 kPa. Planning midpoint for 245/45R18: 36 psi = 2.48 bar = 248 kPa.
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 2.21 | 221 |
| 33 | 2.28 | 228 |
| 34 | 2.34 | 234 |
| 35 | 2.41 | 241 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 37 | 2.55 | 255 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 39 | 2.69 | 269 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
| 41 | 2.83 | 283 |
| 42 | 2.90 | 290 |
| 43 | 2.96 | 296 |
| 44 | 3.03 | 303 |
| 45 | 3.10 | 310 |
| 46 | 3.17 | 317 |
| 47 | 3.24 | 324 |
| 48 | 3.31 | 331 |
What 245/45R18 means
A 245/45R18 on a passenger car is a geometry. Two cars can share the size and disagree on PSI because mass and axle split differ.
18-inch saloon / GT. Rim diameter 18 in; section 245 mm. Estimates on this page assume a typical load index for the passenger car class.
Placard versus sidewall
The sidewall of a 245/45R18 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 245/45R18
These catalogue models are often seen on 245/45R18 or a close OEM neighbour. Open the vehicle chart for axle-specific PSI and bar.
How to set 245/45R18
- Park so the 245/45R18 tyres are cold (three hours, or less than about a mile).
- Read the door-pillar placard for that car — not the 245/45R18 sidewall maximum.
- If the sticker is missing, 36 psi / 2.48 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.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 36 psi as a 20 °C baseline for 245/45R18.
| Ambient | Gauge | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 33 psi | 2.28 bar | 228 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 34 psi | 2.34 bar | 234 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 35 psi | 2.41 bar | 241 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 36 psi | 2.48 bar | 248 kPa | Baseline for this size sketch |
| 30 °C | 38 psi | 2.62 bar | 262 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 245/45R18 |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 39 psi | 2.69 bar | 269 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 245/45R18 |
If the door sticker and this 245/45R18 page disagree, the sticker wins.
Questions about 245/45R18
Can I run 245/45R18 at a lower pressure for comfort?
Not as a habit. A soft 245/45R18 cooks the shoulders and dulls steering. Keep load index and stay on the placard.
What is 245/45R18 in bar?
36 psi is 2.48 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 245/45R18 tyres be?
A passenger car planning figure is about 36 psi cold (2.48 bar / 248 kPa). Confirm on the vehicle placard — two cars can share 245/45R18 and not share a sticker.
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.
Is the sidewall number correct for 245/45R18?
No. Sidewall PSI or kPa is a maximum for the carcass. Operating pressure is the door-pillar placard.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · cold inflation · all sizes