Caterham · Seven S3 · Front
Caterham Seven S3 front tyre pressure
- 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 front
34
2.31 bar · 231 kPa at the steering axle
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
A 3 psi miss on one front corner of this Seven S3 shows up as a wander before the TPMS lamp bothers you. Target 34 psi (2.31 bar) cold. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a Seven S3; over-inflation wears the centre rib and bangs every cat’s eye.
Caterham Seven S3 placard versus sidewall
If the Caterham sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (245/40R18 and others)
If your Caterham Seven S3 no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 245/40R18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 245/40R18 | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | — | Wide touring 18-inch |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Sport 17-inch |
| 215/55R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Slightly wider 16-inch |
| 205/60R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Taller 16-inch |
| 225/40R18 | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | — | Low-profile 18-inch |
| 225/50R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Touring 17-inch |
| 205/55R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Typical mid-compact OEM |
| 195/65R15 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Very common compact |
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 | 38 psi / 2.62 bar |
Steering feel on the Seven S3 lives on this axle. Do not drop front pressure to “soften” a plus-size 215/55R16; you will roll the sidewall in a roundabout.
How to set the Seven S3
- Park the Caterham Seven S3 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 Seven S3 is enough to feel a pull.
- Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Caterham Seven S3 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 Seven 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 |
Caterham notes
No special Caterham exception: the Seven S3 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 Seven 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.
A cheap gauge and a monthly habit will do more for this Seven S3 than nitrogen upsells.
Other Caterham models
Questions about this Seven S3
What is that in bar and kPa for the Seven S3?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
Front versus rear on the Caterham Seven 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.
How often should I check a Seven S3?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 215/55R16?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 245/40R18, 225/45R17 and 215/55R16 as a planning band.
What tyre pressure should a Caterham Seven 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.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation