VEM · Cover · Bar
VEM Cover bar chart (2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4)
- 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 VEM Cover still wants even corners. 2.2-2.4 vs 2.2-2.4 is an axle split, not a left-right split. TPMS typically warns near 25 psi (about 25% below target). That is already a soft tyre, not a fill target.
Bar, PSI and kPa
Bar-led conversions around the VEM Cover. 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 |
VEM Cover placard versus sidewall
If the VEM sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (225/50R17 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a passenger car. This Cover sample opens with 225/50R17, then 185/65R15 and 205/60R16.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Touring 17-inch |
| 185/65R15 | 33 | 33 | 2.28 | 2.28 | 228 | 228 | Small / older car |
| 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 |
| 245/40R18 | 36 | 36 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 248 | 248 | Wide touring 18-inch |
| 215/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 225/40R18 | 36 | 36 | 2.48 | 2.48 | 248 | 248 | Low-profile 18-inch |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Sport 17-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 | 36 psi / 2.48 bar |
How to set the Cover
- Park the VEM Cover 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 Cover 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 Cover.
| 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 |
VEM notes
No special VEM exception: the Cover 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 VEM Cover 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 VEM Cover on the printed band; use 225/50R17 and 205/60R16 only as a map for non-OEM wheels.
Other VEM models
Questions about this Cover
What is that in bar and kPa for the Cover?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
Is the sidewall number correct on a VEM Cover?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Cover placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
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 Cover?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
What tyre pressure should a VEM Cover 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