A method for determining a p-V characteristic of at least one wheel brake cylinder of a brake system of a vehicle. The method includes: increasing a pressure prevailing in the wheel brake cylinder during a measurement time interval, wherein a volume variable that reflects a present volume in the wheel brake cylinder, and a pressure variable that reflects a present pressure in the wheel brake cylinder, are determined at least once during the measurement time interval, and setting the p-V characteristic of the wheel brake cylinder taking into consideration the volume variable and the pressure variable. Before the measurement time interval, during a pressure increase interval, a pressure exerted on the closed wheel inlet valve and/or the closed isolating valve is increased with an average pressure build-up gradient greater than or equal to 50 bar/second up to a limit pressure of greater than or equal to 25 bar.
