Volkswagen · T5 Transporter · kPa
276 kPa front, 379 kPa rear — Volkswagen T5 Transporter
- Drivetrain
- front-wheel drive
- Body
- light commercial
- 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
Kilopascals show up on some Asian stickers and ISO sheets. 276 kPa front and 379 kPa rear is the Volkswagen T5 Transporter midpoint (100 kPa = 1 bar). TPMS typically warns near 30 psi (about 25% below target). That is already a soft tyre, not a fill target.
kPa, bar and PSI
kPa-led conversions. 220 kPa is 2.2 bar and about 32 psi — handy if this T5 Transporter 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 (235/75R15 and others)
If your Volkswagen T5 Transporter no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 235/75R15 or 275/65R18 and confirm with the tyre maker’s load table.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 235/75R15 | 41 | 58 | 2.83 | 4 | 283 | 400 | Older compact truck |
| 275/65R18 | 43 | 61 | 2.96 | 4.21 | 296 | 421 | Plus-size 18-inch |
| LT265/70R17 | 48 | 69 | 3.31 | 4.76 | 331 | 476 | LT 17-inch |
| 255/65R17 | 43 | 60 | 2.96 | 4.14 | 296 | 414 | Highway 17-inch |
| LT245/75R16 | 48 | 67 | 3.31 | 4.62 | 331 | 462 | LT-metric, higher load |
| 245/70R16 | 42 | 59 | 2.9 | 4.07 | 290 | 407 | Common 16-inch all-terrain |
| 265/70R17 | 43 | 60 | 2.96 | 4.14 | 296 | 414 | Typical 17-inch load tyre |
| 285/70R17 | 44 | 62 | 3.03 | 4.27 | 303 | 427 | Wide all-terrain |
Volkswagen T5 Transporter placard versus sidewall
Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this T5 Transporter 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 T5 Transporter.
| 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 T5 Transporter
- Park the Volkswagen T5 Transporter 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 T5 Transporter 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 light commercial 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 | 41 psi / 2.83 bar | 57 psi / 3.93 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 42 psi / 2.9 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 T5 Transporter 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.
A cheap gauge and a monthly habit will do more for this T5 Transporter than nitrogen upsells.
Other Volkswagen models
Questions about this T5 Transporter
Front versus rear on the Volkswagen T5 Transporter?
This row is 35-45 F / 45-65 R. Even when they match, a laden rear can justify a higher number if the sticker prints one.
What tyre pressure should a Volkswagen T5 Transporter use?
Catalogue reference is 35-45 psi front and 45-65 psi rear (2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar), cold. Confirm on the door-pillar placard.
When does TPMS warn on a Volkswagen T5 Transporter?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 30 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
What PSI if I plus-size toward LT265/70R17?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 235/75R15, 275/65R18 and LT265/70R17 as a planning band.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Volkswagen T5 Transporter?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The T5 Transporter placard is the operating target, near 35-45/45-65 psi.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation