top of page
graphic of the world map and text PeterPanPlanet motopedia bar vs psi

Did you know? In 1888, John Boyd Dunlap made the first pneumatic tire... that we still use today!

bar  vs  psi converter

If you have a soft tyre and need to check the air pressure in the US. The air pressure machine shows 14.5 psi. Is it too much or too little? And how about if you are from the US and the air pressure gauge shows you 5 bars? Too much of too little? Here under, you have answers to those questions!

list of units about different air pressure in Bar vs in Ps, and image of a biker on black harley i
white colour background with black text about the history of the Bar unit

THE HISTORY OF THE BAR

 

The word bar has its origins in the Ancient Greek word βάρος (baros), meaning weight. 


Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) was the first scientist who was seriously interested in air pressure! 
In 1643, Italian physicist Evangelista Torricelli invented the mercury barometer, which allowed for the measurement of atmospheric pressure.

 

In 1909, bar and millibar were defined by Sir Napier Shaw, and in 1929, they became used internationally. Also for measuring air pressure of motorcycle tyres! 

table of conversion about Air pressure from Psi to Bar
white colour background background with black text about the history of the Psi unit

THE HISTORY OF THE PSI

 

PSI (pounds per square inch) It's actually a relic from Britain's imperial times, and it came to the US when the Brits came. It's still partly used in the UK, but today the US is the only country that uses only PSI for measuring the air pressure of motorcycle tyres! 

​

In England and America, the unit of force was the pound, and the unit of area was the square inch; hence, the pressure unit became pounds per square inch (psi). In this system, the atmospheric pressure was 14.7 psi at sea level. 

motopedia button with blue text on orange colour background
back to top button with white text on orange colour background
bottom of page