UK · EU reference Tyre Pressure

255/70R16 · pickup / double-cab · Overview

255/70R16 tyre pressure

Size
255/70R16
Class
pickup / double-cab
Planning PSI
35
Planning bar
2.41

255/70R16

35 psi / 2.41 bar

241 kPa · estimates for this size class

255/70R16 · 35 psi · 2.41 bar · 241 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.

Searches for “255/70R16 pressure” usually want a number. Use 35 psi (2.41 bar) only as a sketch; the door-pillar placard on the car that wears this size still wins. A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed 255/70R16.

What 255/70R16 means

Read 255/70R16 as width / aspect R rim. Nothing in the size string is a pressure. Pressure lives on the car, not moulded as 205 or 55.

16-inch crossover-truck overlap. Rim diameter 16 in; section 255 mm. Estimates on this page assume a typical load index for the pickup / double-cab class.

Estimated 255/70R16 pressure by load

Plus-sizing to 255/70R16 from a taller OEM tyre usually keeps the same placard if the load index is equal or higher.

ConditionFront (est.)Rear (est.)
Driver only / unladen35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa38 psi / 2.62 bar / 262 kPa
Typical occupancy36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa40 psi / 2.76 bar / 276 kPa
Payload / towing (sketch)37 psi / 2.55 bar / 255 kPa41 psi / 2.83 bar / 283 kPa

PSI, bar and kPa

Use the table, then set a cold gauge. 241 kPa is 100 × 2.41 bar on this size.

PSIBarkPa
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
473.24324

Placard versus sidewall

This website maps size searches such as “255/70R16 psi”. It does not replace the VIN label. If the two disagree, the label wins.

Cars often seen on 255/70R16

These catalogue models are often seen on 255/70R16 or a close OEM neighbour. Open the vehicle chart for axle-specific PSI and bar.

How to set 255/70R16

  1. Park so the 255/70R16 tyres are cold (three hours, or less than about a mile).
  2. Read the door-pillar placard for that car — not the 255/70R16 sidewall maximum.
  3. If the sticker is missing, 35 psi / 2.41 bar is only a pickup / double-cab 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 35 psi as a 20 °C baseline for 255/70R16.

AmbientGaugeBarkPaNote
−5 °C (hard frost)32 psi2.21 bar221 kPaGauge reads low; do not overfill once warm
0 °C33 psi2.28 bar228 kPaGauge reads low; do not overfill once warm
8 °C (UK winter morning)34 psi2.34 bar234 kPaGauge reads low; do not overfill once warm
20 °C (set cold here)35 psi2.41 bar241 kPaBaseline for this size sketch
30 °C37 psi2.55 bar255 kPaDo not bleed a hot 255/70R16
38 °C (heatwave tarmac)38 psi2.62 bar262 kPaDo not bleed a hot 255/70R16

A cheap gauge and a monthly habit will do more for a set of 255/70R16 than nitrogen upsells.

Questions about 255/70R16

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 255/70R16 in kPa?

241 kPa is the planning midpoint (100 kPa = 1 bar). 248 kPa is one PSI higher.

Is 255/70R16 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.

What PSI should 255/70R16 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 255/70R16 and not share a sticker.

What is 255/70R16 in bar?

35 psi is 2.41 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