Bristol · 408 · Cold
Cold tyre pressure for a Bristol 408
- Drivetrain
- front-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
UK winter mornings will show a lower gauge on this 408 without a puncture. Set 34/34 psi at ~20 °C equivalent, not after a motorway blast. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a 408; over-inflation wears the centre rib and bangs every cat’s eye.
Temperature and a cold gauge
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this 408.
| 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 |
How to set the 408
- Park the Bristol 408 for at least three hours (cold tyres).
- Use a calibrated gauge, not the only meter on a forecourt hose.
- Set the placard for that axle — about 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar front and 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar rear on this catalogue row.
- Recheck all four. A 2 psi miss on a front-wheel drive 408 is enough to feel a pull.
- Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.
Bristol 408 placard versus sidewall
If the Bristol sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (215/55R16 and others)
If your Bristol 408 no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 215/55R16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/55R16 | 34 | 35 | 2.34 | 2.41 | 234 | 241 | Slightly wider 16-inch |
| 215/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 205/60R16 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Taller 16-inch |
| 185/65R15 | 33 | 33 | 2.28 | 2.28 | 228 | 228 | Small / older car |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Sport 17-inch |
| 205/55R16 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Typical mid-compact OEM |
| 195/65R15 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Very common compact |
| 225/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Touring 17-inch |
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Bristol 408 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 |
Load notes
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 | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 35 psi / 2.41 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 35 psi / 2.41 bar | 38 psi / 2.62 bar |
Bristol notes
No special Bristol exception: the 408 uses the door-pillar placard. Size estimates on this page only help if you have left the original load index behind.
Spare and inflator kit
A matching full-size spare on the Bristol 408 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.
Keep the Bristol 408 on the printed band; use 215/55R16 and 205/60R16 only as a map for non-OEM wheels.
Other Bristol models
Questions about this 408
When does TPMS warn on a Bristol 408?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
How often should I check a 408?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
Front versus rear on the Bristol 408?
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.
What is that in bar and kPa for the 408?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
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