215/45R17 · passenger car · Overview
215/45R17: PSI, bar and kPa
- Size
- 215/45R17
- Class
- passenger car
- Planning PSI
- 35
- Planning bar
- 2.41
215/45R17
35 psi / 2.41 bar
241 kPa · estimates for this size class
215/45R17 · 35 psi · 2.41 bar · 241 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.
215/45R17 is a passenger car size (215 mm section, 45 % aspect, 17-inch rim). A planning cold figure around 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa is a starting map, not a second factory sticker. Very common sport 17-inch. These rows are estimates interpolated for the size, not OEM for a named VIN. 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.
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.
Estimated 215/45R17 pressure by load
Load moves the rear first on a passenger car. If the factory placard already has a laden column, use that — not this sketch for 215/45R17.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only / unladen | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa |
| Typical occupancy | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa |
| Motorway + luggage (sketch) | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa | 37 psi / 2.55 bar / 255 kPa |
PSI, bar and kPa
Use the table, then set a cold gauge. 241 kPa is 100 × 2.41 bar on this size.
| 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 |
Placard versus sidewall
This website maps size searches such as “215/45R17 psi”. It does not replace the VIN label. If the two disagree, the label wins.
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
When does TPMS warn on 215/45R17?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below target — near 26 psi if you were aiming at 35. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
Is 215/45R17 the same as a plus-size swap?
Only if that is the size you fitted. Overall diameter should stay close to OEM. Pressure still follows the car, with load index at or above original.
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.
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.
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