Bar to PSI: The Complete Guide
Bar and pounds per square inch (PSI) are both units of pressure, most commonly encountered in tyre/tire inflation, industrial equipment, and scuba diving. Bar is metric (1 bar ≈ 1 atmosphere); PSI is imperial. Car tyre pressures in Europe and Asia are quoted in bar or kPa; in the US and UK they're quoted in PSI.
The Conversion Formula
PSI = bar × 14.5038For a quick mental estimate: multiply by 14.5 (or roughly 15 for a fast approximation).
Tyre Pressure Reference
- 1.8 bar = 26 PSI
- 2.0 bar = 29 PSI (common for small cars)
- 2.2 bar = 32 PSI (most common car tyre pressure)
- 2.4 bar = 35 PSI
- 2.5 bar = 36 PSI (SUVs, loaded vehicles)
- 3.0 bar = 43.5 PSI (some high-performance tyres)
Other Pressure Contexts
- Bicycle tyres: Road bikes 6–9 bar (87–130 PSI); mountain bikes 1.5–3 bar (22–44 PSI)
- Scuba tanks: 200–300 bar (2,900–4,350 PSI)
- Espresso machines: 9 bar (130 PSI) is the standard extraction pressure
- Atmospheric pressure: 1.01325 bar = 14.696 PSI
Always Check Cold
Tyre pressure should always be measured cold (before driving). Pressure increases as tyres warm up — typically by 0.2–0.4 bar (3–6 PSI). Never deflate warm tyres to hit the specified pressure; wait for them to cool.
Convert any pressure instantly: Free bar to PSI converter