NSU · RO80 · Front
NSU RO80 front tyre pressure
- 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 front
34
2.31 bar · 231 kPa at the steering axle
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
The front axle of a NSU RO80 steers and, on front-wheel drive cars, often pulls as well. Catalogue front pressure is 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar. Size estimates on this page include 205/60R16, 215/50R17 and 225/40R18 — interpolated from the catalogue midpoint, not a second factory sticker.
NSU RO80 placard versus sidewall
If the NSU sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (205/60R16 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a passenger car. This RO80 sample opens with 205/60R16, then 215/50R17 and 225/40R18.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205/60R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Taller 16-inch |
| 215/50R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 225/40R18 | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | — | Low-profile 18-inch |
| 245/40R18 | 36 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | — | Wide touring 18-inch |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Sport 17-inch |
| 225/50R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Touring 17-inch |
| 185/65R15 | 33 | — | 2.28 | — | 228 | — | Small / older car |
| 205/55R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Typical mid-compact OEM |
Pressure against load
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 | 36 psi / 2.48 bar |
Steering feel on the RO80 lives on this axle. Do not drop front pressure to “soften” a plus-size 225/40R18; you will roll the sidewall in a roundabout.
How to set the RO80
- Park the NSU RO80 for at least three hours (cold tyres).
- Use a calibrated gauge, not the only meter on a forecourt hose.
- Set the placard for that axle — about 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar front and 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar rear on this catalogue row.
- Recheck all four. A 2 psi miss on a front-wheel drive RO80 is enough to feel a pull.
- Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the NSU RO80 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 |
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this RO80.
| 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 |
NSU notes
No special NSU exception: the RO80 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 NSU RO80 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 NSU sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.
Other NSU models
Questions about this RO80
What is that in bar and kPa for the RO80?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
Front versus rear on the NSU RO80?
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 NSU RO80?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The RO80 placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
How often should I check a RO80?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
What tyre pressure should a NSU RO80 use?
Catalogue reference is 32-35 psi front and 32-35 psi rear (2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar), cold. Confirm on the door-pillar placard.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation