Oldtimer · Moskvitch · Front
Oldtimer Moskvitch 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
A 3 psi miss on one front corner of this Moskvitch shows up as a wander before the TPMS lamp bothers you. Target 34 psi (2.31 bar) cold. A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed Oldtimer tyre.
Oldtimer Moskvitch placard versus sidewall
If the Oldtimer sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (245/40R18 and others)
245/40R18 is the first planning size here. 225/45R17 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 | — | 2.48 | — | 248 | — | Wide touring 18-inch |
| 225/50R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Touring 17-inch |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Sport 17-inch |
| 205/60R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Taller 16-inch |
| 205/55R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Typical mid-compact OEM |
| 215/55R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Slightly wider 16-inch |
| 185/65R15 | 33 | — | 2.28 | — | 228 | — | Small / older car |
| 195/65R15 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Very common compact |
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 | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 35 psi / 2.41 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 35 psi / 2.41 bar | 37 psi / 2.55 bar |
Steering feel on the Moskvitch lives on this axle. Do not drop front pressure to “soften” a plus-size 225/45R17; you will roll the sidewall in a roundabout.
How to set the Moskvitch
- Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep Moskvitch 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.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Oldtimer Moskvitch 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 Moskvitch.
| 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 |
Oldtimer notes
No special Oldtimer exception: the Moskvitch 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 Oldtimer Moskvitch 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 Oldtimer sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.
Other Oldtimer models
Questions about this Moskvitch
What is that in bar and kPa for the Moskvitch?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
What tyre pressure should a Oldtimer Moskvitch 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.
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 Moskvitch?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Oldtimer Moskvitch?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Moskvitch placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation