Volkswagen · T5 · kPa
Volkswagen T5 tyre pressure in kPa
- 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
kPa
231 / 231
2.31 / 2.31 bar · 32-35 / 32-35 psi
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
Kilopascals show up on some Asian stickers and ISO sheets. 231 kPa front and 231 kPa rear is the Volkswagen T5 midpoint (100 kPa = 1 bar). Size estimates on this page include 215/55R16, 205/55R16 and 195/65R15 — interpolated from the catalogue midpoint, not a second factory sticker.
kPa, bar and PSI
kPa-led conversions. 220 kPa is 2.2 bar and about 32 psi — handy if this T5 sticker uses SI units.
| kPa | Bar | PSI |
|---|---|---|
| 207 | 2.07 | 30 |
| 221 | 2.21 | 32 |
| 228 | 2.28 | 33 |
| 231 | 2.31 | 33.5 |
| 241 | 2.41 | 35 |
| 248 | 2.48 | 36 |
| 262 | 2.62 | 38 |
| 276 | 2.76 | 40 |
| 303 | 3.03 | 44 |
| 345 | 3.45 | 50 |
| 414 | 4.14 | 60 |
Estimated pressure by tyre size (215/55R16 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a passenger car. This T5 sample opens with 215/55R16, then 205/55R16 and 195/65R15.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215/55R16 | 34 | 35 | 2.34 | 2.41 | 234 | 241 | Slightly wider 16-inch |
| 205/55R16 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Typical mid-compact OEM |
| 195/65R15 | 34 | 34 | 2.34 | 2.34 | 234 | 234 | Very common compact |
| 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 |
| 225/50R17 | 35 | 35 | 2.41 | 2.41 | 241 | 241 | Touring 17-inch |
| 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 |
Volkswagen T5 placard versus sidewall
Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this T5 is the pillar sticker, near 34/34 psi.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this T5.
| 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 T5
- Park the Volkswagen T5 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 T5 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 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 | 36 psi / 2.48 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 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 Volkswagen T5 on the printed band; use 215/55R16 and 195/65R15 only as a map for non-OEM wheels.
Other Volkswagen models
Questions about this T5
How often should I check a T5?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Volkswagen T5?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The T5 placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.
Front versus rear on the Volkswagen T5?
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.
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.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 195/65R15?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 215/55R16, 205/55R16 and 195/65R15 as a planning band.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation