BMW · 240 · Rear
BMW 240 rear tyres: 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar
- Drivetrain
- rear-wheel drive
- Body
- passenger car
- PSI F / R
- 32-35 / 32-35
- Bar F / R
- 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4
psi rear
34
2.31 bar · 231 kPa at the rear axle
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
The rear of a passenger car takes passengers, luggage and, on vans, payload. Catalogue rear pressure on the BMW 240 is 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar. Size estimates on this page include 225/40R18, 215/50R17 and 225/45R17 — interpolated from the catalogue midpoint, not a second factory sticker.
BMW 240 placard versus sidewall
Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this 240 is the pillar sticker, near 34/34 psi.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (225/40R18 and others)
If your BMW 240 no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 225/40R18 or 215/50R17 and confirm with the tyre maker’s load table.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225/40R18 | — | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | Low-profile 18-inch |
| 215/50R17 | — | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 225/45R17 | — | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | Sport 17-inch |
| 205/60R16 | — | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | Taller 16-inch |
| 215/55R16 | — | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | Slightly wider 16-inch |
| 245/40R18 | — | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | Wide touring 18-inch |
| 195/65R15 | — | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | Very common compact |
| 225/50R17 | — | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | Touring 17-inch |
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 |
A family passenger car with a boot full of luggage should use the laden rear figure if Ford, VW or Mercedes printed one. Otherwise the modest steps in the load table are only a sketch for this 240.
How to set the 240
- Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep 240 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.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the BMW 240 band (32-35 / 32-35).
| 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 |
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this 240.
| 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 |
BMW notes
BMW run-flats still want the placard. Comfort settings in the iDrive do not replace the door-pillar figure on this 240.
Spare and inflator kit
A matching full-size spare on the BMW 240 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.
If the BMW sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.
Other BMW models
Questions about this 240
Front versus rear on the BMW 240?
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.
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 tyre pressure should a BMW 240 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 PSI if I plus-size toward 225/45R17?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 225/40R18, 215/50R17 and 225/45R17 as a planning band.
Is the sidewall number correct on a BMW 240?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The 240 placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation