Caterham · CSR 260 · Rear

Rear axle PSI and bar on the Caterham CSR 260

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 rear

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 Caterham CSR 260 is 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar. TPMS typically warns near 25 psi (about 25% below target). That is already a soft tyre, not a fill target.

Caterham CSR 260 placard versus sidewall

The tyre-information placard on a Caterham CSR 260 sits on the driver’s door pillar (sometimes the fuel-filler flap). Catalogue figures here are a general band: 32-35 / 32-35 psi.

Estimated pressure by tyre size (225/50R17 and others)

If your Caterham CSR 260 no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 225/50R17 or 225/45R17 and confirm with the tyre maker’s load table.

Tyre size	Front PSI	Rear PSI	Front bar	Rear bar	Front kPa	Rear kPa	Note
225/50R17	—	35	—	2.41	—	241	Touring 17-inch
225/45R17	—	35	—	2.41	—	241	Sport 17-inch
185/65R15	—	33	—	2.28	—	228	Small / older car
225/40R18	—	36	—	2.48	—	248	Low-profile 18-inch
205/55R16	—	34	—	2.34	—	234	Typical mid-compact OEM
245/40R18	—	36	—	2.48	—	248	Wide touring 18-inch
215/55R16	—	35	—	2.41	—	241	Slightly wider 16-inch
215/50R17	—	35	—	2.41	—	241	Plus-size 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 CSR 260.

How to set the CSR 260

Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep CSR 260 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 Caterham CSR 260 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 CSR 260.

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

Caterham notes

No special Caterham exception: the CSR 260 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 Caterham CSR 260 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.

A cheap gauge and a monthly habit will do more for this CSR 260 than nitrogen upsells.

Other Caterham models

Classic 7 Seven 420 21 Seven 270 Super 7 Seven 485 SP/300.R Seven 310

Questions about this CSR 260

What is that in bar and kPa for the CSR 260?

Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.

How often should I check a CSR 260?

Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.

When does TPMS warn on a Caterham CSR 260?

Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.

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 Caterham CSR 260 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.

Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation