Ferrari · 488 · Bar

Recommended bar for a Ferrari 488

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

bar

2.31 / 2.31

32-35 / 32-35 psi · 231 / 231 kPa

32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa

European and UK handbooks usually quote bar. The Ferrari 488 catalogue is 2.2-2.4 bar front and 2.2-2.4 bar rear (midpoint 2.31 / 2.31). A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed Ferrari tyre.

Bar, PSI and kPa

Bar-led conversions around the Ferrari 488. 2.2-2.4 bar is not “32-35 divided by ten”.

Bar	PSI	kPa
2.07	30	207
2.21	32	221
2.28	33	228
2.31	33.5	231
2.41	35	241
2.48	36	248
2.62	38	262
2.76	40	276
3.03	44	303
3.45	50	345
4.14	60	414

Ferrari 488 placard versus sidewall

Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this 488 is the pillar sticker, near 34/34 psi.

Estimated pressure by tyre size (225/45R17 and others)

Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a passenger car. This 488 sample opens with 225/45R17, then 235/35R19 and 275/35R18.

Tyre size	Front PSI	Rear PSI	Front bar	Rear bar	Front kPa	Rear kPa	Note
225/45R17	34	35	2.34	2.41	234	241	Front sport size
235/35R19	36	36	2.48	2.48	248	248	Front 19-inch
275/35R18	36	37	2.48	2.55	248	255	Wide rear
275/30R19	36	37	2.48	2.55	248	255	Rear 19-inch
225/40R18	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Front 18-inch
255/35R18	35	36	2.41	2.48	241	248	Rear stagger 18-inch
245/40R18	35	36	2.41	2.48	241	248	Square-ish sport
255/40R17	35	36	2.41	2.48	241	248	Rear stagger 17-inch

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	35 psi / 2.41 bar	36 psi / 2.48 bar
Motorway + luggage	36 psi / 2.48 bar	37 psi / 2.55 bar

How to set the 488

Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep 488 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.

Temperature drift

Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this 488.

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

Ferrari notes

No special Ferrari exception: the 488 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 Ferrari 488 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 Ferrari sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.

Other Ferrari models

400 296 GTS 296 GTB 328 456 308 348 246

Questions about this 488

When does TPMS warn on a Ferrari 488?

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.

Is the sidewall number correct on a Ferrari 488?

No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The 488 placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.

Front versus rear on the Ferrari 488?

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 488?

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

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