Ford · Orion · Cold
Cold tyre pressure for a Ford Orion
- 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 Orion without a puncture. Set 34/34 psi at ~20 °C equivalent, not after a motorway blast. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a Orion; 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 Orion.
| 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 Orion
- Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep Orion 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.
Ford Orion placard versus sidewall
The tyre-information placard on a Ford Orion 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 (245/40R18 and others)
245/40R18 is the first planning size here. 225/50R17 is usually the plus-size or LT step. Keep load index at or above original equipment.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 245/40R18 | 36 | 36 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 248 | 248 | Wide touring 18-inch |
| 205/55R16 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Typical mid-compact OEM |
| 225/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Touring 17-inch |
| 195/65R15 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Very common compact |
| 225/40R18 | 36 | 36 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 248 | 248 | Low-profile 18-inch |
| 205/60R16 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Taller 16-inch |
| 215/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Sport 17-inch |
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Ford Orion 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 | 35 psi / 2.41 bar | 36 psi / 2.48 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 36 psi / 2.48 bar | 38 psi / 2.62 bar |
Ford notes
Ford UK placards on the Orion are often printed in PSI even when the handbook also shows bar. A Mondeo, Focus or Kuga does not share a Transit number. Loaded vans use the second column.
Spare and inflator kit
A matching full-size spare on the Ford Orion 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 Ford sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.
Other Ford models
Questions about this Orion
Front versus rear on the Ford Orion?
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.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Ford Orion?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Orion placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 225/50R17?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 245/40R18, 205/55R16 and 225/50R17 as a planning band.
When does TPMS warn on a Ford Orion?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
What is that in bar and kPa for the Orion?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation