Volkswagen · Transporter · Bar
Recommended bar for a Volkswagen 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
bar
2.76 / 3.79
35-45 / 45-65 psi · 276 / 379 kPa
35-45 psi F · 45-65 psi R · 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar · 276/379 kPa
2.3 bar is not 23 psi. On this Transporter 2.4-3.1 bar converts to about 35-45 psi. Use the table, not a guess. TPMS typically warns near 30 psi (about 25% below target). That is already a soft tyre, not a fill target.
Bar, PSI and kPa
Bar-led conversions around the Volkswagen Transporter. 2.4-3.1 bar is not “35-45 divided by ten”.
| Bar | PSI | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 2.41 | 35 | 241 |
| 2.48 | 36 | 248 |
| 2.62 | 38 | 262 |
| 2.76 | 40 | 276 |
| 3.03 | 44 | 303 |
| 3.10 | 45 | 310 |
| 3.45 | 50 | 345 |
| 3.79 | 55 | 379 |
| 4.14 | 60 | 414 |
| 4.48 | 65 | 448 |
Volkswagen Transporter placard versus sidewall
The tyre-information placard on a Volkswagen Transporter sits on the driver’s door pillar (sometimes the fuel-filler flap). Catalogue figures here are a general band: 35-45 / 45-65 psi.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (245/70R16 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a light commercial. This Transporter sample opens with 245/70R16, then LT265/70R17 and 285/70R17.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 245/70R16 | 42 | 59 | 2.9 | 4.07 | 290 | 407 | Common 16-inch all-terrain |
| LT265/70R17 | 48 | 69 | 3.31 | 4.76 | 331 | 476 | LT 17-inch |
| 285/70R17 | 44 | 62 | 3.03 | 4.27 | 303 | 427 | Wide all-terrain |
| 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 |
| LT245/75R16 | 48 | 67 | 3.31 | 4.62 | 331 | 462 | LT-metric, higher load |
| 255/65R17 | 43 | 60 | 2.96 | 4.14 | 296 | 414 | Highway 17-inch |
| 265/70R17 | 43 | 60 | 2.96 | 4.14 | 296 | 414 | Typical 17-inch load tyre |
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 | 57 psi / 3.93 bar |
How to set the Transporter
- Park the Volkswagen 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 Transporter 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 40 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this 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 |
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 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.
If the Volkswagen sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.
Other Volkswagen models
Questions about this Transporter
What is that in bar and kPa for the Transporter?
Mid-points are about 2.76 bar (276 kPa) front and 3.79 bar (379 kPa) rear.
Is the sidewall number correct on a Volkswagen Transporter?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Transporter placard is the operating target, near 35-45/45-65 psi.
How often should I check a Transporter?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 285/70R17?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 245/70R16, LT265/70R17 and 285/70R17 as a planning band.
What tyre pressure should a Volkswagen 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.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation