Volkswagen · Transporter · PSI
What PSI 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
psi
40 / 55
Catalogue mid-points, front / rear · 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar
35-45 psi F · 45-65 psi R · 2.4-3.1 / 3.1-4.5 bar · 276/379 kPa
PSI is the Imperial reading most UK motorists still see on garage hoses. For the Volkswagen Transporter the catalogue row is 35-45 psi front and 45-65 psi rear. A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed Volkswagen tyre.
Volkswagen Transporter placard versus sidewall
If the Volkswagen sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Volkswagen Transporter band (35-45 / 45-65).
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 2.41 | 241 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
| 44 | 3.03 | 303 |
| 45 | 3.10 | 310 |
| 50 | 3.45 | 345 |
| 55 | 3.79 | 379 |
| 60 | 4.14 | 414 |
| 65 | 4.48 | 448 |
Estimated pressure by tyre size (LT245/75R16 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a light commercial. This Transporter sample opens with LT245/75R16, then 255/65R17 and 235/75R15.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 235/75R15 | 41 | 58 | 2.83 | 4 | 283 | 400 | Older compact truck |
| LT265/70R17 | 48 | 69 | 3.31 | 4.76 | 331 | 476 | LT 17-inch |
| 275/65R18 | 43 | 61 | 2.96 | 4.21 | 296 | 421 | Plus-size 18-inch |
| 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 |
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.
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 | 40 psi / 2.76 bar | 56 psi / 3.86 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 41 psi / 2.83 bar | 59 psi / 4.07 bar |
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
Front versus rear on the Volkswagen 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.
How often should I check a Transporter?
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 Transporter?
No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Transporter placard is the operating target, near 35-45/45-65 psi.
What PSI if I plus-size toward 235/75R15?
Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use LT245/75R16, 255/65R17 and 235/75R15 as a planning band.
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.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation