Ford · Transit · kPa
276 kPa front, 379 kPa rear — Ford Transit
- Drivetrain
- front-wheel drive
- Body
- van
- PSI F / R
- 35-45 / 45-65
- Bar F / R
- 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5
kPa
276 / 379
2.76 / 3.79 bar · 35-45 / 45-65 psi
35-45 psi F · 45-65 psi R · 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar · 276/379 kPa
Kilopascals show up on some Asian stickers and ISO sheets. 276 kPa front and 379 kPa rear is the Ford Transit midpoint (100 kPa = 1 bar). Size estimates on this page include 225/65R16, 225/75R16 and 235/60R17 — interpolated from the catalogue midpoint, not a second factory sticker. Commercial and load-biased bodies like this van often need a higher rear; LT or C-type sizes such as 235/60R17 are not filled like a Fiesta.
kPa, bar and PSI
kPa-led conversions. 220 kPa is 2.2 bar and about 32 psi — handy if this Transit sticker uses SI units.
| kPa | Bar | PSI |
|---|---|---|
| 241 | 2.41 | 35 |
| 248 | 2.48 | 36 |
| 262 | 2.62 | 38 |
| 276 | 2.76 | 40 |
| 303 | 3.03 | 44 |
| 310 | 3.10 | 45 |
| 345 | 3.45 | 50 |
| 379 | 3.79 | 55 |
| 414 | 4.14 | 60 |
| 448 | 4.48 | 65 |
Estimated pressure by tyre size (225/65R16 and others)
If your Ford Transit no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 225/65R16 or 225/75R16 and confirm with the tyre maker’s load table.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225/65R16 | 41 | 58 | 2.83 | 4 | 283 | 400 | Common transaxle van |
| 225/75R16 | 42 | 60 | 2.9 | 4.14 | 290 | 414 | Taller load range |
| 235/60R17 | 41 | 58 | 2.83 | 4 | 283 | 400 | Plus-size van |
| 215/75R16C | 45 | 64 | 3.1 | 4.41 | 310 | 441 | C-type 215 |
| 215/65R16 | 40 | 57 | 2.76 | 3.93 | 276 | 393 | Compact van |
| LT215/85R16 | 46 | 65 | 3.17 | 4.48 | 317 | 448 | LT commercial |
| 235/65R16 | 42 | 59 | 2.9 | 4.07 | 290 | 407 | Loaded van |
| 195/75R16C | 44 | 63 | 3.03 | 4.34 | 303 | 434 | C-type commercial |
Ford Transit placard versus sidewall
Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this Transit is the pillar sticker, near 40/55 psi.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 40 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this Transit.
| Ambient | Gauge (front mid) | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 38 psi | 2.62 bar | 262 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 39 psi | 2.69 bar | 269 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 40 psi | 2.76 bar | 276 kPa | Baseline |
| 30 °C | 42 psi | 2.9 bar | 290 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 43 psi | 2.96 bar | 296 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
How to set the Transit
- Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep Transit numbers in your head.
- Add air in short bursts toward 40 psi (2.76 bar) front and 55 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.
Load notes
Load moves the rear of a van first. If the factory placard already has a “laden” column, use that instead of these sketches.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only | 40 psi / 2.76 bar | 55 psi / 3.79 bar |
| Full occupancy | 40 psi / 2.76 bar | 56 psi / 3.86 bar |
| Payload / towing | 41 psi / 2.83 bar | 57 psi / 3.93 bar |
Ford notes
Ford UK placards on the Transit 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 Transit usually follows the higher axle (often the rear, near 45-65 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 Transit
What is that in bar and kPa for the Transit?
Mid-points are about 2.76 bar (276 kPa) front and 3.79 bar (379 kPa) rear.
What tyre pressure should a Ford Transit use?
Catalogue reference is 35-45 psi front and 45-65 psi rear (2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar), cold. Confirm on the door-pillar placard.
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.
When does TPMS warn on a Ford Transit?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 30 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Ford Transit?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Transit placard is the operating target, near 35-45/45-65 psi.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation