LT235/85R16 · LT-metric truck · kPa
LT235/85R16 kPa inflation table
- Size
- LT235/85R16
- Class
- LT-metric truck
- Planning PSI
- 55
- Planning bar
- 3.79
kPa
379
3.79 bar · 55 psi · 100 kPa = 1 bar
LT235/85R16 · 55 psi · 3.79 bar · 379 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.
Kilopascals show up on some Asian stickers and ISO sheets. 379 kPa is the planning midpoint for LT235/85R16 (3.79 bar / 55 psi). 100 kPa = 1 bar. TPMS typically warns near 41 psi (about 25% below a 55 psi target). That is already a soft tyre. LT-metric sizes print a load range. The vehicle door sticker, not the LT sidewall maximum, is still the operating pressure.
kPa, bar and PSI
1 bar ≈ 14.5 psi; 1 psi ≈ 6.89 kPa. Planning midpoint for LT235/85R16: 55 psi = 3.79 bar = 379 kPa.
| kPa | Bar | PSI |
|---|---|---|
| 303 | 3.03 | 44 |
| 317 | 3.17 | 46 |
| 345 | 3.45 | 50 |
| 352 | 3.52 | 51 |
| 359 | 3.59 | 52 |
| 365 | 3.65 | 53 |
| 372 | 3.72 | 54 |
| 379 | 3.79 | 55 |
| 386 | 3.86 | 56 |
| 393 | 3.93 | 57 |
| 400 | 4.00 | 58 |
| 407 | 4.07 | 59 |
| 414 | 4.14 | 60 |
| 421 | 4.21 | 61 |
| 427 | 4.27 | 62 |
| 434 | 4.34 | 63 |
| 441 | 4.41 | 64 |
| 448 | 4.48 | 65 |
| 455 | 4.55 | 66 |
| 462 | 4.62 | 67 |
| 552 | 5.52 | 80 |
Estimated LT235/85R16 pressure by load
These LT235/85R16 load steps are ± a few PSI from 55. They are not a licence to ignore a printed second column on a van or estate.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only / unladen | 55 psi / 3.79 bar / 379 kPa | 57 psi / 3.93 bar / 393 kPa |
| Typical occupancy | 55 psi / 3.79 bar / 379 kPa | 58 psi / 4 bar / 400 kPa |
| Payload / towing (sketch) | 56 psi / 3.86 bar / 386 kPa | 65 psi / 4.48 bar / 448 kPa |
What LT235/85R16 means
LT235/85R16 means a 235 millimetre section width, a sidewall that is 85 percent of that width, on a 16-inch rim. The R is radial construction.
Tall LT 16-inch. Rim diameter 16 in; section 235 mm. Estimates on this page assume a typical load index for the LT-metric truck class.
Placard versus sidewall
If a forum says “all LT235/85R16 run 55 psi”, ignore it. A Qashqai and a Golf can share a size and not share a sticker.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 55 psi as a 20 °C baseline for LT235/85R16.
| Ambient | Gauge | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 52 psi | 3.59 bar | 359 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 53 psi | 3.65 bar | 365 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 54 psi | 3.72 bar | 372 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 55 psi | 3.79 bar | 379 kPa | Baseline for this size sketch |
| 30 °C | 57 psi | 3.93 bar | 393 kPa | Do not bleed a hot LT235/85R16 |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 58 psi | 4 bar | 400 kPa | Do not bleed a hot LT235/85R16 |
How to set LT235/85R16
- Park so the LT235/85R16 tyres are cold (three hours, or less than about a mile).
- Read the door-pillar placard for that car — not the LT235/85R16 sidewall maximum.
- If the sticker is missing, 55 psi / 3.79 bar is only a LT-metric truck planning figure for this size.
- Set all four with a calibrated gauge. A 3 psi miss on one corner shows up as a wander.
- Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.
Cars often seen on LT235/85R16
These catalogue models are often seen on LT235/85R16 or a close OEM neighbour. Open the vehicle chart for axle-specific PSI and bar.
A cheap gauge and a monthly habit will do more for a set of LT235/85R16 than nitrogen upsells.
Questions about LT235/85R16
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.
What is LT235/85R16 in kPa?
379 kPa is the planning midpoint (100 kPa = 1 bar). 386 kPa is one PSI higher.
Can I run LT235/85R16 at a lower pressure for comfort?
Not as a habit. A soft LT235/85R16 cooks the shoulders and dulls steering. Keep load index and stay on the placard.
What is LT235/85R16 in bar?
55 psi is 3.79 bar. Add a tenth of a bar if the placard’s laden column is higher, which is common on vans that wear this size.
What PSI should LT235/85R16 tyres be?
A LT-metric truck planning figure is about 55 psi cold (3.79 bar / 379 kPa). Confirm on the vehicle placard — two cars can share LT235/85R16 and not share a sticker.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · cold inflation · all sizes