215/45R17 · passenger car · PSI
What PSI for 215/45R17 tyres?
- Size
- 215/45R17
- Class
- passenger car
- Planning PSI
- 35
- Planning bar
- 2.41
psi
35
2.41 bar · 241 kPa · passenger car planning figure
215/45R17 · 35 psi · 2.41 bar · 241 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.
If someone typed “215/45R17 psi”, they want Imperial. Start near 35 psi on an unladen passenger car, then confirm the vehicle placard. Sidewall max is not the target. A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed 215/45R17. Low-profile {sz} does not want a “softer” pressure to recover ride. Stay at or slightly above the car’s original placard if load index is kept.
Estimated 215/45R17 pressure by load
Plus-sizing to 215/45R17 from a taller OEM tyre usually keeps the same placard if the load index is equal or higher.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only / unladen | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa |
| Typical occupancy | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa | 37 psi / 2.55 bar / 255 kPa |
| Motorway + luggage (sketch) | 37 psi / 2.55 bar / 255 kPa | 38 psi / 2.62 bar / 262 kPa |
PSI, bar and kPa
1 bar ≈ 14.5 psi; 1 psi ≈ 6.89 kPa. Planning midpoint for 215/45R17: 35 psi = 2.41 bar = 241 kPa.
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 2.14 | 214 |
| 32 | 2.21 | 221 |
| 33 | 2.28 | 228 |
| 34 | 2.34 | 234 |
| 35 | 2.41 | 241 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 37 | 2.55 | 255 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 39 | 2.69 | 269 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
| 41 | 2.83 | 283 |
| 42 | 2.90 | 290 |
| 43 | 2.96 | 296 |
| 44 | 3.03 | 303 |
| 45 | 3.10 | 310 |
| 46 | 3.17 | 317 |
| 47 | 3.24 | 324 |
What 215/45R17 means
A 215/45R17 on a passenger car is a geometry. Two cars can share the size and disagree on PSI because mass and axle split differ.
Very common sport 17-inch. Rim diameter 17 in; section 215 mm. Estimates on this page assume a typical load index for the passenger car class.
Placard versus sidewall
The sidewall of a 215/45R17 may say 51 psi or 350 kPa. That is a carcass maximum. Operating pressure is the tyre-information placard on the driver’s door pillar.
Cars often seen on 215/45R17
These catalogue models are often seen on 215/45R17 or a close OEM neighbour. Open the vehicle chart for axle-specific PSI and bar.
How to set 215/45R17
- Measure before the school run, not after the motorway.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep 215/45R17 numbers in your head.
- Add air in short bursts toward the placard, using 35 psi only as a map.
- If one 215/45R17 is 4 psi down, hunt for a nail before you blame the weather.
- Log date, ambient temperature and the four readings.
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 35 psi as a 20 °C baseline for 215/45R17.
| Ambient | Gauge | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 32 psi | 2.21 bar | 221 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 33 psi | 2.28 bar | 228 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 34 psi | 2.34 bar | 234 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 35 psi | 2.41 bar | 241 kPa | Baseline for this size sketch |
| 30 °C | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 215/45R17 |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 38 psi | 2.62 bar | 262 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 215/45R17 |
Keep 215/45R17 on the printed band for that car; 35 psi is a size sketch, not a second VIN label.
Questions about 215/45R17
Can I run 215/45R17 at a lower pressure for comfort?
Not as a habit. A soft 215/45R17 cooks the shoulders and dulls steering. Keep load index and stay on the placard.
What is 215/45R17 in bar?
35 psi is 2.41 bar. Add a tenth of a bar if the placard’s laden column is higher, which is common on vans that wear this size.
What PSI should 215/45R17 tyres be?
A passenger car planning figure is about 35 psi cold (2.41 bar / 241 kPa). Confirm on the vehicle placard — two cars can share 215/45R17 and not share a sticker.
Is the sidewall number correct for 215/45R17?
No. Sidewall PSI or kPa is a maximum for the carcass. Operating pressure is the door-pillar placard.
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.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · cold inflation · all sizes