245/70R16 · pickup / double-cab · Bar
Recommended bar for 245/70R16
- Size
- 245/70R16
- Class
- pickup / double-cab
- Planning PSI
- 35
- Planning bar
- 2.41
bar
2.41
35 psi · 241 kPa · not a second factory sticker
245/70R16 · 35 psi · 2.41 bar · 241 kPa — estimates. Placard wins.
A 245/70R16 C-type or LT carcass can live far above a hatchback bar figure. This page’s 2.41 bar sketch is for the pickup / double-cab class, not every car that can physically mount the tyre. A 10 °C overnight drop takes roughly 1 psi (0.07 bar) off a closed 245/70R16.
Bar, PSI and kPa
1 bar ≈ 14.5 psi; 1 psi ≈ 6.89 kPa. Planning midpoint for 245/70R16: 35 psi = 2.41 bar = 241 kPa.
| Bar | PSI | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 2.14 | 31 | 214 |
| 2.21 | 32 | 221 |
| 2.28 | 33 | 228 |
| 2.34 | 34 | 234 |
| 2.41 | 35 | 241 |
| 2.48 | 36 | 248 |
| 2.55 | 37 | 255 |
| 2.62 | 38 | 262 |
| 2.69 | 39 | 269 |
| 2.76 | 40 | 276 |
| 2.83 | 41 | 283 |
| 2.90 | 42 | 290 |
| 2.96 | 43 | 296 |
| 3.03 | 44 | 303 |
| 3.10 | 45 | 310 |
| 3.17 | 46 | 317 |
| 3.24 | 47 | 324 |
Estimated 245/70R16 pressure by load
These 245/70R16 load steps are ± a few PSI from 35. They are not a licence to ignore a printed second column on a van or estate.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only / unladen | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa | 39 psi / 2.69 bar / 269 kPa |
| Typical occupancy | 35 psi / 2.41 bar / 241 kPa | 40 psi / 2.76 bar / 276 kPa |
| Payload / towing (sketch) | 36 psi / 2.48 bar / 248 kPa | 41 psi / 2.83 bar / 283 kPa |
Placard versus sidewall
The sidewall of a 245/70R16 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.
What 245/70R16 means
A 245/70R16 on a pickup / double-cab is a geometry. Two cars can share the size and disagree on PSI because mass and axle split differ.
Half-ton all-season 16-inch. Rim diameter 16 in; section 245 mm. Estimates on this page assume a typical load index for the pickup / double-cab class.
Cars often seen on 245/70R16
These catalogue models are often seen on 245/70R16 or a close OEM neighbour. Open the vehicle chart for axle-specific PSI and bar.
How to set 245/70R16
- Measure before the school run, not after the motorway.
- Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep 245/70R16 numbers in your head.
- Add air in short bursts toward the placard, using 35 psi only as a map.
- If one 245/70R16 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 245/70R16.
| 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 245/70R16 |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 38 psi | 2.62 bar | 262 kPa | Do not bleed a hot 245/70R16 |
Keep 245/70R16 on the printed band for that car; 35 psi is a size sketch, not a second VIN label.
Questions about 245/70R16
Is 245/70R16 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.
Can I run 245/70R16 at a lower pressure for comfort?
Not as a habit. A soft 245/70R16 cooks the shoulders and dulls steering. Keep load index and stay on the placard.
When does TPMS warn on 245/70R16?
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.
What is 245/70R16 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.
Is the sidewall number correct for 245/70R16?
No. Sidewall PSI or kPa is a maximum for the carcass. Operating pressure is the door-pillar placard.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · cold inflation · all sizes