Subaru · WRX · Cold
Setting cold tyres on a Subaru WRX
- Drivetrain
- all-wheel drive
- Body
- passenger car
- PSI F / R
- 32-35 / 32-35
- Bar F / R
- 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4
psi
34 / 34
Catalogue mid-points, front / rear · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
Cold means the Subaru WRX has stood at least three hours, or covered less than about a mile. Heat from a dual carriageway run is not the number you set. TPMS typically warns near 25 psi (about 25% below target). That is already a soft tyre, not a fill target. Keep side-to-side spread inside about 2 psi so the all-wheel drive hardware is not working on a radius mismatch.
Temperature and a cold gauge
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this WRX.
| 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 |
How to set the WRX
- Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep WRX 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.
Subaru WRX placard versus sidewall
If the Subaru sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (195/65R15 and others)
195/65R15 is the first planning size here. 245/40R18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 195/65R15 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Very common compact |
| 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 |
| 185/65R15 | 33 | 33 | 2.28 | 2.28 | 228 | 228 | Small / older car |
| 215/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Sport 17-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 |
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Subaru WRX 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 |
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 | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 35 psi / 2.41 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 35 psi / 2.41 bar | 37 psi / 2.55 bar |
Subaru notes
No special Subaru exception: the WRX 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 Subaru WRX 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.
Keep the Subaru WRX on the printed band; use 195/65R15 and 245/40R18 only as a map for non-OEM wheels.
Other Subaru models
Questions about this WRX
Front versus rear on the Subaru WRX?
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.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 245/40R18?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 195/65R15, 225/40R18 and 245/40R18 as a planning band.
What tyre pressure should a Subaru WRX 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.
When does TPMS warn on a Subaru WRX?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Subaru WRX?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The WRX placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation