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Ford Cortina Tire Pressures

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To find tires for your Ford Cortina see our Ford Cortina Tires page.

• Tire pressure for a Ford Cortina ranges from 20-36 PSI depending on the specific model, the type of tires that you decide to fit, and pressure differences for front and rear tires.
• To find the ideal tire pressures for your car's year, model, and chosen tires follow the link to our Tire Pressure Guide.

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• The 1200 and 1300 Cortina originally fitted tires as small as 145HR13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67. Later the Ford Cortina moved onto 165R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36, both tires are available today.
• To find out more information on Ford Cortina tires follow the link to our Ford Cortina Tire Section.

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Ford Cortina Tires

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Longstone has a superb selection of period tires for the whole Cortina family, including the Ford Cortina MK I, Cortina MK II, Cortina MK III, Cortina MK IV, Cortina MK V, Cortina Estate, Cortina Crusader, Cortina Ghia, Cortina GLS 2000GT & 2.3, and the magnificent Lotus Cortina.

Early 1200 and 1300 Cortina used 145HR13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67 tires. We suggest fitting PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 165R13 tires for the Ford Cortina 1500, 1600, 2 Litre and even 2.3 litre V6 base models of Cortina when fitting the standard steel 4.5” wheels. The Michelin 13D innertube is suitable for vehicles with 165R13 tires. Cortina basic models with 165R13 tires have 4.5" tubeless steel rims. For Cortina MK II, MK III, and all Estate models we recommend the 175/70 VR 13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36.

We would fit PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 185/70 VR 13 tires to a Ford Cortina Crusader, Ghia, GLS 2000GT, and 2.3. The most luxurious variants of Cortina and any Cortina fitting the 5.5" tubeless Alloy wheels and 185/70R13 tires. The Michelin 13E innertube is designed for 175/70R13 or 185/70R13 tires, if an innertube is needed.

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Lotus Cortina Tires

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The original Lotus Cortina was equipped with Dunlop tires. In period there was a choice of crossply 6.00-13 or 165 R 13 Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet. Ford quickly altered the Lotus Cortina to accommodate 165R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67 tires, although the CA67 is no longer manufactured. However, Pirelli does produce a CN36 in this size. For the time being, the best performance tire for the Lotus Cortina is the 165 HR 13 Pirelli Cinturato CN36. We also sell 13" Dunlop Racing tires for Lotus Cortina racing.

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Ford Cortina Innertubes

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Our period fitment guides inform which models launched with tube-style wheels and which came with tubeless wheels. See the Fitment Guides below to find your year and model. A black triangle next to the wheel size indicates that the wheel is tubeless; no black triangle indicates that the wheel is tube-type and requires innertubes. Innertubes may still be installed to tubeless wheels if desired; they could be useful if your wheel is in bad condition and no longer airtight. The Michelin 13E innertube is intended for tires measuring 175/70R13 or 185/70R13. The Michelin 13D innertube is designed for cars equipped with 165R13 tires.

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Ford Cortina History

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The Cortina was the best-selling car in the UK throughout the 1970s and was constructed in five incarnations (Mark I through Mark V, however, the final one was officially titled the Cortina 80) from 1962 to 1982. Under the moniker "Archbishop," it was designed to compete with the Morris Oxford and Vauxhall Victor. Originally dubbed the Ford Consul 325 but then renamed Cortina after the Italian ski town Cortina d'Ampezzo, Ford's goal was for the vehicle to be a low-cost automobile to operate in the United Kingdom.

Despite the fact that it was essentially a rebadged Taunus at times, Britain had an infatuation with the Cortina, and from the MK I to the MK V it kept itself relevant as a relatively affordable pragmatic car and was the best-selling car every year from 1972 to 1982 when it was overtaken by the Ford Escort.

The Lotus Cortina concept was first conceived in 1961. Colin Chapman wanted his own Lotus engines, so he commissioned Autocar's technical editor at the time, Harry Mundy (who also built the Coventry Climax motor), to develop a twin-cam version of the Ford Kent engine. The two-door Cortina bodyshells were supplied by Ford, while the vehicles were constructed by Lotus. Power was provided by a 1557cc twin-cam engine producing 105bhp and coupled to the Lotus Elan's close-ratio gearbox. After just 3306 specimens were produced, production terminated in 1966.

The Mk2 Cortina debuted in October 1966, with the tagline "New Cortina is More Cortina" referring to the car's 6.4cm greater width than its forerunner. Initially offered with the same engine line-up as the Mk1, the Mk2 gained the technically better and more efficient 'Kent' Crossflow engines in 1298cc and 1598cc versions in 1968. Two-door and four-door saloon variants were once again available in basic, Deluxe, Super, and GT trims, while an estate - at the time the class leader in carrying capacity - was introduced a few months after the saloon variants.

Ford unveiled the formidable Cortina 1600E at the Paris Motor Show in October 1967. With the GT 1600 Kent engine and Lotus Cortina lowered suspension, luxurious walnut interior, and sports steering wheel, the car quickly became iconic and is still highly coveted today.

To make the Mk2 Cortina Lotus more cost-efficient, it was decided to develop it in-house at Boreham (Ford's competition department) and produce it alongside Mk2 Cortina GTs at Dagenham. The Lotus Cortina Mk2 debuted in March 1967. Power was now 109bhp from a brisk 1557cc twin-cam straight-four engine, nearly identical to the motor used in the Escort Twin Cam in 1968, which helped propel the Mk2 Lotus Cortina from 0-60mph in just 11.0 seconds.

Despite internal rivalry from the 1600E and Escort Twin Cam, as well as external competition, Ford's new Cortina was marginally more popular than the Mk1. However, the Escort Twin Cam proved to be the Mk2 Cortina's downfall, since although being built until 1970, interest began to fade as the Escort's popularity rose, notably in motorsport, where the Escort began to show its supremacy.

In 1970, the Mk3 Cortina made its debut. It was a significant break from its forefather's square box lines, and it was greatly influenced by the current 'Coke bottle' design aesthetic of the period. There were five trim levels available, with 1.3-litre, 1.6-litre, and new 2.0-litre overhead-cam engines. The MacPherson strut front suspension was substituted with a more traditional double wishbone setup, and coil springs were used in place of leaf springs in the back. The Mk4 Cortina was debuted in 1976, with a more conventional look than its predecessor, ostensibly to appeal to fleet purchasers. This series gave birth to the first Ghia vehicle that superseded the 2000E.

In 1977, Ford introduced the Cologne 2.3-litre V6 engine. Despite being a smoother, and more than the 2.0-litre Pinto engine, the Cologne V6 never sold especially well in the UK, owing in part to its higher fuel consumption and higher insurance costs. The Mk4 Cortina was Britain's best-selling car during its manufacturing run, but serious rust problems, along with the car being a popular option for banger racing, have resulted in the Mk4 becoming one of the rarest Cortina cars today.

The next year, Ford gave the Cortina a significant facelift, transforming it into the Mk5. To go along with the minor external changes, the 2.3-litre V6 received electronic ignition and a power boost from 108bhp to 116bhp. The Crusader special edition was the penultimate run-out model in 1982 and the best-specified Cortina until that point. The Cortina Crusader sold 30,000 units, making it Ford's best-selling special edition vehicle at the time.

Although the last Cortina was produced in the summer of 1982, more than 11,000 units remained unsold until 1983, and the final six specimens were not sold until 1987. Despite this, the Cortina has earned its place in history, having been the best-selling vehicle in the United Kingdom from 1972 to 1981. In all, about 2.6 million Ford Cortina models were sold in the United Kingdom.