245/70R16 · pickup / double-cab · PSI
245/70R16 PSI chart (35 psi planning figure)
- Size
- 245/70R16
- Class
- pickup / double-cab
- Planning PSI
- 35
- Planning bar
- 2.41
psi
35
2.41 bar · 241 kPa · pickup / double-cab planning figure
245/70R16 · 35 psi · 2.41 bar · 241 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.
If someone typed “245/70R16 psi”, they want Imperial. Start near 35 psi on an unladen pickup / double-cab, then confirm the vehicle placard. Sidewall max is not the target. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a 245/70R16; over-inflation wears the centre rib and bangs every cat’s eye.
Estimated 245/70R16 pressure by load
These 245/70R16 load steps are ± a few PSI from 35. They are not a licence to ignore a printed second column on a van or estate.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only / unladen | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa | 39 psi / 2.69 bar / 269 kPa |
| Typical occupancy | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa | 41 psi / 2.83 bar / 283 kPa |
| Payload / towing (sketch) | 37 psi / 2.55 bar / 255 kPa | 42 psi / 2.9 bar / 290 kPa |
PSI, bar and kPa
Use the table, then set a cold gauge. 241 kPa is 100 × 2.41 bar on this size.
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 2.14 | 214 |
| 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 |
What 245/70R16 means
Read 245/70R16 as width / aspect R rim. Nothing in the size string is a pressure. Pressure lives on the car, not moulded as 205 or 55.
Half-ton all-season 16-inch. Rim diameter 16 in; section 245 mm. Estimates on this page assume a typical load index for the pickup / double-cab class.
Placard versus sidewall
This website maps size searches such as “245/70R16 psi”. It does not replace the VIN label. If the two disagree, the label wins.
Cars often seen on 245/70R16
These catalogue models are often seen on 245/70R16 or a close OEM neighbour. Open the vehicle chart for axle-specific PSI and bar.
How to set 245/70R16
- Measure before the school run, not after the motorway.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep 245/70R16 numbers in your head.
- Add air in short bursts toward the placard, using 35 psi only as a map.
- If one 245/70R16 is 4 psi down, hunt for a nail before you blame the weather.
- Log date, ambient temperature and the four readings.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 35 psi as a 20 °C baseline for 245/70R16.
| Ambient | Gauge | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 32 psi | 2.21 bar | 221 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 33 psi | 2.28 bar | 228 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 34 psi | 2.34 bar | 234 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 35 psi | 2.41 bar | 241 kPa | Baseline for this size sketch |
| 30 °C | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 245/70R16 |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 38 psi | 2.62 bar | 262 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 245/70R16 |
A cheap gauge and a monthly habit will do more for a set of 245/70R16 than nitrogen upsells.
Questions about 245/70R16
What is 245/70R16 in kPa?
241 kPa is the planning midpoint (100 kPa = 1 bar). 248 kPa is one PSI higher.
What PSI should 245/70R16 tyres be?
A pickup / double-cab planning figure is about 35 psi cold (2.41 bar / 241 kPa). Confirm on the vehicle placard — two cars can share 245/70R16 and not share a sticker.
Can I run 245/70R16 at a lower pressure for comfort?
Not as a habit. A soft 245/70R16 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.
Is 245/70R16 the same as a plus-size swap?
Only if that is the size you fitted. Overall diameter should stay close to OEM. Pressure still follows the car, with load index at or above original.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · cold inflation · all sizes