Ford · Transit · PSI
Ford Transit tyre PSI
- Drivetrain
- front-wheel drive
- Body
- van
- PSI F / R
- 35-45 / 45-65
- Bar F / R
- 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5
psi
40 / 55
Catalogue mid-points, front / rear · 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar
35-45 psi F · 45-65 psi R · 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar · 276/379 kPa
A Ford Transit run at sidewall-max (often 44–51 psi) is over-inflated for this van. The operating PSI is 35-45/45-65. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a Transit; over-inflation wears the centre rib and bangs every cat’s eye. Commercial and load-biased bodies like this van often need a higher rear; LT or C-type sizes such as 195/75R16C are not filled like a Fiesta.
Ford Transit placard versus sidewall
The tyre-information placard on a Ford Transit sits on the driver’s door pillar (sometimes the fuel-filler flap). Catalogue figures here are a general band: 35-45 / 45-65 psi.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Ford Transit band (35-45 / 45-65).
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 2.41 | 241 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
| 44 | 3.03 | 303 |
| 45 | 3.10 | 310 |
| 50 | 3.45 | 345 |
| 55 | 3.79 | 379 |
| 60 | 4.14 | 414 |
| 65 | 4.48 | 448 |
Estimated pressure by tyre size (235/60R17 and others)
If your Ford Transit no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 235/60R17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 235/60R17 | 41 | 58 | 2.83 | 4 | 283 | 400 | Plus-size van |
| 225/75R16 | 42 | 60 | 2.9 | 4.14 | 290 | 414 | Taller load range |
| 195/75R16C | 44 | 63 | 3.03 | 4.34 | 303 | 434 | C-type commercial |
| LT215/85R16 | 46 | 65 | 3.17 | 4.48 | 317 | 448 | LT commercial |
| 235/65R16 | 42 | 59 | 2.9 | 4.07 | 290 | 407 | Loaded van |
| 225/65R16 | 41 | 58 | 2.83 | 4 | 283 | 400 | Common transaxle van |
| 215/65R16 | 40 | 57 | 2.76 | 3.93 | 276 | 393 | Compact van |
| 215/75R16C | 45 | 64 | 3.1 | 4.41 | 310 | 441 | C-type 215 |
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 | 59 psi / 4.07 bar |
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 |
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.
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.
How often should I check a Transit?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
Front versus rear on the Ford Transit?
This row is 35-45 F / 45-65 R. Even when they match, a laden rear can justify a higher number if the sticker prints one.
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.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation