Pontiac · Trans Am · Bar
Pontiac Trans Am 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
European and UK handbooks usually quote bar. The Pontiac Trans Am catalogue is 2.2-2.4 bar front and 2.2-2.4 bar rear (midpoint 2.31 / 2.31). A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed Pontiac tyre.
Bar, PSI and kPa
Bar-led conversions around the Pontiac Trans Am. 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 |
Pontiac Trans Am placard versus sidewall
Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this Trans Am is the pillar sticker, near 34/34 psi.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (215/50R17 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a passenger car. This Trans Am sample opens with 215/50R17, then 215/55R16 and 185/65R15.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 215/55R16 | 34 | 35 | 2.34 | 2.41 | 234 | 241 | Slightly wider 16-inch |
| 185/65R15 | 33 | 33 | 2.28 | 2.28 | 228 | 228 | Small / older car |
| 225/40R18 | 36 | 36 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 248 | 248 | Low-profile 18-inch |
| 205/60R16 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Taller 16-inch |
| 195/65R15 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Very common compact |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Sport 17-inch |
| 245/40R18 | 36 | 36 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 248 | 248 | Wide touring 18-inch |
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 Trans Am
- Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep Trans Am 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.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this Trans Am.
| 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 |
Pontiac notes
No special Pontiac exception: the Trans Am 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 Pontiac Trans Am 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 Trans Am than nitrogen upsells.
Other Pontiac models
Questions about this Trans Am
Front versus rear on the Pontiac Trans Am?
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 Pontiac Trans Am?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Trans Am placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
When does TPMS warn on a Pontiac Trans Am?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
What tyre pressure should a Pontiac Trans Am 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.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 185/65R15?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 215/50R17, 215/55R16 and 185/65R15 as a planning band.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation