Audi · S3 · Overview
Audi S3 tyre pressure
- Drivetrain
- all-wheel drive
- Body
- passenger car
- PSI F / R
- 32-35 / 32-35
- Bar F / R
- 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4
psi
34 / 34
Catalogue mid-points, front / rear · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
The Audi S3 catalogue band is 32-35 psi front and 32-35 psi rear — 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar, or about 231 / 231 kPa — measured cold. A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed Audi tyre. Keep side-to-side spread inside about 2 psi so the all-wheel drive hardware is not working on a radius mismatch.
Pressure against load
Load moves the rear of a passenger car first. If the factory placard already has a “laden” column, use that instead of these sketches.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 34 psi / 2.34 bar |
| Full occupancy | 35 psi / 2.41 bar | 36 psi / 2.48 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 36 psi / 2.48 bar | 36 psi / 2.48 bar |
Audi S3 placard versus sidewall
If the Audi sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.
How to set the S3
- Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep S3 numbers in your head.
- Add air in short bursts toward 34 psi (2.31 bar) front and 34 psi rear.
- If one corner is 4 psi down, hunt for a nail before you blame the weather.
- Log date, ambient temperature and the four readings.
Spare and inflator kit
A matching full-size spare on the Audi S3 usually follows the higher axle (often the rear, near 32-35 psi). A space-saver is commonly 60 psi / 4.1 bar — read that tyre’s own sidewall. An inflator kit is not a spare; check the sealant date.
Temperature and a cold gauge
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this S3.
| Ambient | Gauge (front mid) | 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 |
| 30 °C | 36 psi | 2.48 bar | 248 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
PSI, bar and kPa
1 bar ≈ 14.5 psi; 1 psi ≈ 6.89 kPa. Mid-points on the S3: 34 psi = 2.31 bar = 231 kPa.
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2.07 | 207 |
| 32 | 2.21 | 221 |
| 33 | 2.28 | 228 |
| 33.5 | 2.31 | 231 |
| 35 | 2.41 | 241 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
| 44 | 3.03 | 303 |
| 50 | 3.45 | 345 |
| 60 | 4.14 | 414 |
Estimated pressure by tyre size (215/50R17 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a passenger car. This S3 sample opens with 215/50R17, then 225/40R18 and 225/50R17.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 225/40R18 | 36 | 36 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 248 | 248 | Low-profile 18-inch |
| 225/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Touring 17-inch |
| 245/40R18 | 36 | 36 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 248 | 248 | Wide touring 18-inch |
| 205/60R16 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Taller 16-inch |
| 205/55R16 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Typical mid-compact OEM |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Sport 17-inch |
| 215/55R16 | 34 | 35 | 2.34 | 2.41 | 234 | 241 | Slightly wider 16-inch |
Audi notes
No special Audi exception: the S3 uses the door-pillar placard. Size estimates on this page only help if you have left the original load index behind.
If the Audi sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.
Other Audi models
Questions about this S3
What tyre pressure should a Audi S3 use?
Catalogue reference is 32-35 psi front and 32-35 psi rear (2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar), cold. Confirm on the door-pillar placard.
What is that in bar and kPa for the S3?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
Front versus rear on the Audi S3?
This row is 32-35 F / 32-35 R. Even when they match, a laden rear can justify a higher number if the sticker prints one.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Audi S3?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The S3 placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
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.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation