Volkswagen · Crafter · kPa
Volkswagen Crafter tyre pressure in kPa
- Drivetrain
- front-wheel drive
- Body
- van
- PSI F / R
- 35-45 / 45-65
- Bar F / R
- 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5
kPa
276 / 379
2.76 / 3.79 bar · 35-45 / 45-65 psi
35-45 psi F · 45-65 psi R · 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar · 276/379 kPa
If your gauge only speaks kPa, aim near 276 / 379 for this Crafter, then fine-tune to the placard. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a Crafter; over-inflation wears the centre rib and bangs every cat’s eye. Commercial and load-biased bodies like this van often need a higher rear; LT or C-type sizes such as 235/60R17 are not filled like a Fiesta.
kPa, bar and PSI
kPa-led conversions. 220 kPa is 2.2 bar and about 32 psi — handy if this Crafter sticker uses SI units.
| kPa | Bar | PSI |
|---|---|---|
| 241 | 2.41 | 35 |
| 248 | 2.48 | 36 |
| 262 | 2.62 | 38 |
| 276 | 2.76 | 40 |
| 303 | 3.03 | 44 |
| 310 | 3.10 | 45 |
| 345 | 3.45 | 50 |
| 379 | 3.79 | 55 |
| 414 | 4.14 | 60 |
| 448 | 4.48 | 65 |
Estimated pressure by tyre size (225/65R16 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a van. This Crafter sample opens with 225/65R16, then 215/75R16C and 235/60R17.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225/65R16 | 41 | 58 | 2.83 | 4 | 283 | 400 | Common transaxle van |
| 215/75R16C | 45 | 64 | 3.1 | 4.41 | 310 | 441 | C-type 215 |
| 235/60R17 | 41 | 58 | 2.83 | 4 | 283 | 400 | Plus-size van |
| LT215/85R16 | 46 | 65 | 3.17 | 4.48 | 317 | 448 | LT commercial |
| 215/65R16 | 40 | 57 | 2.76 | 3.93 | 276 | 393 | Compact van |
| 235/65R16 | 42 | 59 | 2.9 | 4.07 | 290 | 407 | Loaded van |
| 195/75R16C | 44 | 63 | 3.03 | 4.34 | 303 | 434 | C-type commercial |
| 225/75R16 | 42 | 60 | 2.9 | 4.14 | 290 | 414 | Taller load range |
Volkswagen Crafter placard versus sidewall
Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this Crafter is the pillar sticker, near 40/55 psi.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 40 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this Crafter.
| Ambient | Gauge (front mid) | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 38 psi | 2.62 bar | 262 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 39 psi | 2.69 bar | 269 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 40 psi | 2.76 bar | 276 kPa | Baseline |
| 30 °C | 42 psi | 2.9 bar | 290 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 43 psi | 2.96 bar | 296 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
How to set the Crafter
- Park the Volkswagen Crafter 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 35-45 psi / 2.4-3.1 bar front and 45-65 psi / 3.1-4.5 bar rear on this catalogue row.
- Recheck all four. A 2 psi miss on a front-wheel drive Crafter is enough to feel a pull.
- Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.
Load notes
Load moves the rear of a van first. If the factory placard already has a “laden” column, use that instead of these sketches.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only | 40 psi / 2.76 bar | 55 psi / 3.79 bar |
| Full occupancy | 40 psi / 2.76 bar | 56 psi / 3.86 bar |
| Payload / towing | 41 psi / 2.83 bar | 58 psi / 4 bar |
Volkswagen notes
VW usually prints bar first (2.3, 2.5). Convert carefully: 2.3 bar is about 33 psi, not 23. Golf, Passat and Tiguan stickers are not interchangeable.
Spare and inflator kit
A matching full-size spare on the Volkswagen Crafter usually follows the higher axle (often the rear, near 45-65 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 Volkswagen Crafter on the printed band; use 225/65R16 and 235/60R17 only as a map for non-OEM wheels.
Other Volkswagen models
Questions about this Crafter
Is the sidewall number correct on a Volkswagen Crafter?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Crafter placard is the operating target, near 35-45/45-65 psi.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 235/60R17?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 225/65R16, 215/75R16C and 235/60R17 as a planning band.
When does TPMS warn on a Volkswagen Crafter?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 30 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
What is that in bar and kPa for the Crafter?
Mid-points are about 2.76 bar (276 kPa) front and 3.79 bar (379 kPa) rear.
How often should I check a Crafter?
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