If you are new to the world of pressure measurements, you may be wondering what is the difference between PSI, BAR and KPA.
PSI stands for pounds per square inch and is a unit of pressure.
BAR stands for bars and is also a unit of pressure.
KPA stands for kilopascals and is a metric unit of pressure.
In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between these three units of measurement and which is more commonly used depending on where in the world you are from. So, what’s the difference? Keep reading to find out!
The three units of pressure measurement: PSI, BAR and KPA.
All three measures of pressure measure in different ways making the difference between PSI, BAR and KPA quite drastic. PSI is a unit of pressure that is based on the English system of measurement. BAR is a unit of pressure that is based on the metric system. KPA is a unit of pressure that is also based on the metric system.
So, why are there three units of measurement? The answer lies in history and the different ways that countries have developed their own systems of measurement.
The English system of measurement is a system that was developed by the British and uses units such as inches, feet and pounds. The metric system, on the other hand, was developed by the French. The metric system uses units such as meters, centimeters and kilograms.
As you can see, the two different systems of measurement are quite different.
PSI for tire pressure
PSI stands for Pounds per Square Inch and is a unit of pressure. One common use for PSI is to measure the pressure in tires. The average car tire is inflated to about 30 PSI. This does not include spare tires. For example, a car tire that is inflated to 30 PSI has 30 pounds of force pushing on each square inch of the tire.
When filling up your tires, always make sure to refer to your vehicle hand book to check to what pressure you should be filling your tires. This information can also normally be found on a sticker placed on the inside of the passenger door.
BAR for tire pressure
While PSI is the most common unit of pressure measurement when it comes to tire pressure, BAR is also used. BAR is a metric unit of pressure and is not commonly used in the United States. In Europe, however, BAR is a more common unit of measurement for tire pressure.
When it comes to measuring tire pressure, always make sure to check your vehicle handbook for the correct unit of measurement. 1 BAR is equivalent to about 14.504 PSI.
KPA for tire pressure
KPA is used to calculate the atmospheric pressure. Pascals are a smaller unit than both PSI and BAR and mainly used in low pressure environments. For this reason, Kilopascals are used to measure tire pressure. 1 Kilopascal is equivalent to 0.145038 PSI.
Another common use for KPA is in car engines. Many car engines are designed to run at a certain pressure, which is usually expressed in terms of KPA. For example, a car engine that is designed to run at 200 KPA has 200 kilopascals of force pushing on each square inch of the engine.
The average atmospheric pressure on Earth is 101.325 KPA. KPA is also used to measure the pressure of liquids and gases in laboratories. Scientists use KPA because it is a more accurate unit of measurement than PSI or BAR.
Which is more commonly used in different parts of the world
So, which system of measurement is more commonly used? The answer depends on where in the world you are from. In the United States, PSI is the unit of pressure that is most commonly used. This means that globally, PSI is the most commonly used unit of pressure measurement.
BAR is the unit of pressure that is most commonly used in Europe. In countries such as the United Kingdom however, both the metric system and the imperial system are used.
KPA is the unit of pressure that is most commonly used in Australia and New Zealand.
FAQ
Where do I find the pressures for my tires?
You can find the pressures that you should inflate your tires to in your vehicles handbook or also on the sticker on the inside of the drivers door.
How do I convert PSI, BAR and KPA?
Check out our handy calculator below
| BAR | PSI | KPA |
| 0.1 | 1.5 | 10 |
| 0.2 | 2.9 | 20 |
| 0.3 | 4.4 | 30 |
| 0.4 | 5.8 | 40 |
| 0.5 | 7.3 | 50 |
| 0.6 | 8.7 | 60 |
| 0.7 | 10.2 | 70 |
| 0.8 | 11.6 | 80 |
| 0.9 | 13.1 | 90 |
| 1 | 14.5 | 100 |
| 2 | 29.0 | 200 |
| 3 | 43.5 | 300 |
| 4 | 58.0 | 400 |
| 5 | 72.5 | 500 |
| 6 | 87.0 | 600 |
| 7 | 101.5 | 700 |
| 8 | 116.0 | 800 |
| 9 | 130.5 | 900 |
| 10 | 145.0 | 1000 |
In conclusion
So, if you are from the United States, you will most likely use PSI when measuring pressure. If you are from Europe, you will most likely use BAR. And if you are from Australia or New Zealand, you will most likely use KPA.
Now that you know the difference between PSI, BAR and KPA, you can be sure to look out for the correct pressure when filling up your vehicles tires.
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