Oldtimer · Riley · Bar

Oldtimer Riley tyre pressure in bar

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

bar

2.31 / 2.31

32-35 / 32-35 psi · 231 / 231 kPa

32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa

A front-wheel drive Oldtimer Riley still wants even corners. 2.2-2.4 vs 2.2-2.4 is an axle split, not a left-right split. Size estimates on this page include 225/40R18, 245/40R18 and 205/60R16 — interpolated from the catalogue midpoint, not a second factory sticker.

Bar, PSI and kPa

Bar-led conversions around the Oldtimer Riley. 2.2-2.4 bar is not “32-35 divided by ten”.

Bar	PSI	kPa
2.07	30	207
2.21	32	221
2.28	33	228
2.31	33.5	231
2.41	35	241
2.48	36	248
2.62	38	262
2.76	40	276
3.03	44	303
3.45	50	345
4.14	60	414

Oldtimer Riley 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 (225/40R18 and others)

If your Oldtimer Riley no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 225/40R18 or 245/40R18 and confirm with the tyre maker’s load table.

Tyre size	Front PSI	Rear PSI	Front bar	Rear bar	Front kPa	Rear kPa	Note
225/40R18	36	36	2.48	2.48	248	248	Low-profile 18-inch
245/40R18	36	36	2.48	2.48	248	248	Wide touring 18-inch
205/60R16	34	34	2.34	2.34	234	234	Taller 16-inch
225/50R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Touring 17-inch
225/45R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Sport 17-inch
215/55R16	34	35	2.34	2.41	234	241	Slightly wider 16-inch
215/50R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Plus-size 17-inch
195/65R15	34	34	2.34	2.34	234	234	Very common compact

Load notes

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	38 psi / 2.62 bar

How to set the Riley

Park the Oldtimer Riley 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 Riley is enough to feel a pull.
Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.

Temperature drift

Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this Riley.

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 Riley 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 Riley 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.

A cheap gauge and a monthly habit will do more for this Riley than nitrogen upsells.

Other Oldtimer models

Alfa Romeo Ariel Autobianchi Auto Union Adler Aurora Avanti Auburn

Questions about this Riley

Is the sidewall number correct on a Oldtimer Riley?

No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Riley placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.

When does TPMS warn on a Oldtimer Riley?

Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.

What PSI if I plus-size toward 205/60R16?

Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 225/40R18, 245/40R18 and 205/60R16 as a planning band.

What tyre pressure should a Oldtimer Riley 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.

How often should I check a Riley?

Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.

Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation