Tyre Pressure PSI to Bar and kPa: Conversion Chart

The short answer

To convert tyre pressure, 1 bar is about 14.5 PSI and 1 PSI is about 0.069 bar. So 32 PSI is 2.21 bar (220.6 kPa), and 2.4 bar is 34.8 PSI. For any other value, type it into the Pressure Converter and choose PSI, bar or kPa. The number to aim for is the one your vehicle maker lists on the door-edge label or in the owner's manual, not the maximum printed on the tyre.

Tyre pressure conversion chart

Values below are rounded the way a tyre gauge or air pump usually displays them.

PSI	Bar	kPa
26	1.79	179
28	1.93	193
30	2.07	207
32	2.21	221
33	2.28	228
35	2.41	241
36	2.48	248
40	2.76	276
44	3.03	303

And the other way, from the bar figures many European and Asian car labels use:

Bar	PSI	kPa
2.0	29.0	200
2.2	31.9	220
2.3	33.4	230
2.4	34.8	240
2.5	36.3	250
2.8	40.6	280

Notice that bar and kPa are the same scale with the decimal point moved: 1 bar is exactly 100 kPa. So a label reading 230 kPa means 2.3 bar.

The conversion formulas

The converter uses 1 PSI = 6,894.757 pascals and 1 bar = 100,000 pascals.

• PSI to bar: multiply by 0.0689476. Example: 35 × 0.0689476 = 2.41 bar.
• Bar to PSI: multiply by 14.5038. Example: 2.5 × 14.5038 = 36.3 PSI.
• PSI to kPa: multiply by 6.894757. Example: 32 × 6.894757 = 220.6 kPa.
• kPa to bar: divide by 100. Example: 240 kPa = 2.4 bar.

For a rough mental check, use 1 bar ≈ 14.5 PSI. Two bar is about 29 PSI, so 2.2 bar is a little under 32 PSI.

How to convert with the Pressure Converter

Open the Pressure Converter.

Type your reading in the value box, for example 32.

Set From to PSI.

Set the target menu to Bar. The result appears straight away, here 2.20632224 bar, which rounds to 2.21.

Check the list underneath for kPa and other units at the same time. Click a row to copy that value.

The converter also lists pascals, megapascals, atmospheres, mmHg and inches of mercury, which you will not need for tyres but may see in other contexts such as weather or blood pressure readings.

Where to find the correct pressure for your vehicle

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says the correct pressure is the one the vehicle manufacturer lists, which you can find on the tyre and loading information label on the driver's side door edge, or in the owner's manual. It is not the number printed on the tyre itself.

Labels in different countries use different units. A car sold in India or Europe often shows bar or kPa, while a US car shows PSI. Many labels show more than one. If your pump only shows PSI and the label only shows bar, that is exactly when a conversion is needed.

Some labels list a different pressure for the front and rear tyres, or a higher one for a fully loaded car. Convert each figure separately.

The sidewall number is a maximum, not a target

The number moulded on the tyre's sidewall is the maximum permitted inflation pressure for that tyre. A common mistake is to convert that number, for example 51 PSI (3.52 bar), and inflate to it. That is far above what most passenger car makers recommend. Use the vehicle label instead.

How to check tyre pressure properly

NHTSA gives three practical rules:

Check when the tyres are cold. It defines cold as the car not having been driven for at least three hours. Driving warms the air inside, which raises the reading.

Check all tyres, including the spare.

Check at least once a month.

Then:

• Remove the valve cap and press the gauge firmly onto the valve.
• Compare the reading with the label value, converting units if needed.
• Add air in short bursts and re-check, or press the valve core briefly to let air out if it is too high.
• Refit the valve cap.

If you can only reach a pump after driving, the reading will be higher than the cold value. Do not let air out to match the cold figure while the tyres are hot; re-check later when they have cooled.

Common conversion mistakes

• Reading kPa as bar. If the label says 230, it is almost certainly kPa (2.3 bar). Nobody inflates car tyres to 230 bar.
• Mixing PSI with kg/cm². Some older gauges in India show kg/cm². One kg/cm² is about 0.98 bar, close but not identical. The Lazyblink converter does not list kg/cm², so convert carefully or use a gauge that shows bar or PSI.
• Rounding too early. Converting 2.3 bar to 33 PSI instead of 33.4 PSI is fine for daily use, but round only at the final step if you are converting several values.
• Using the wrong label. Motorcycles, SUVs and cars with optional wheel sizes can have different recommended pressures. Match the label to your actual tyre size.

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