---

Lotus Esprit Tire Pressures

---

To find tires for your Lotus Esprit see our Lotus Esprit Tires page.

• Tire pressure for a Lotus Esprit ranges from 18-33 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.

---

• The Lotus Esprit originally fitted 195/70-14 Dunlop SP Super front and 205/70-14 Dunlop SP Super rear. Later the Lotus Esprit moved onto 195/60-15 front and 235/60-15 rear tires. We have tires available in all these sizes, from tire manufacturers including Michelin and B F Goodrich.
• To find out more information on Lotus Esprit tires follow the link to our Lotus Esprit Tire Section.

---

---

The Lotus Esprit

---

The Lotus Esprit was designed to be a successor for the Europa and was produced from 1976 and 1986 (prior to the Peter Stevens redesign). Its early concept design, conceived by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, was an extension of the Lotus Europa chassis.

---

Lotus Esprit Tires

---

The early Lotus Esprit had Dunlop SP Super 195/70-14 front tires and 205/70-14 rear tires. We would now suggest fitting the 195/70 VR 14 Vredestein on the front of a pre-1986 Esprit, but we are expecting to soon have the fantastic PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN36 in this size, which would be the ideal tire since we already have the rear. Longstone suggests fitting 205/70 WR 14 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 tires to the rear of a Lotus Esprit built before 1986.

From 1978 to 1981, the Lotus Esprit S2 and S2.2 used 205/60 - 14 Dunlop SP Sport Super front tires and 205/70VR14 Dunlop SP Sport Super rear tires. The 205/60R14 Galaxy Formula X is our only tire in this size. The Lotus Espirit was fitted with 195/60-15 front tires and 235/60-15 rear tires in 1986.

Previously, these bigger 15" BBS Mahl wheels with 195/60R15 and 235/60R15 tire combinations were offered as an upgrade starting with the series 3 Lotus Esprit in 1982. If you want the same tire and tread pattern front and back, we offer the 195/60 SR 15 B.F.Goodrich Radial T/A and the 235/60 SR 15 B.F.Goodrich Radial T/A; nevertheless, the elevated white lettering and tread design are more ideal for American muscle cars than European sports cars.

Longstone values tire handling and appropriateness above matching tires and tread patterns when it comes to cars like the Esprit, thus we propose the 195/60 VR 15 Michelin Pilot Primacy 3 on the front and the 235/60 WR 15 Pirelli P600 on the rear.

---

Lotus Esprit Innertubes

---

According to our period Innertube Guides, the Esprit was released on tubeless wheels from the start. These wheels do not require innertubes if they are OE and in good shape. If you decide to fit innertubes, we offer the Michelin 14F innertube for these 70% profile tires.

Tires having a profile of less than 70% (for example, 205/60R14) should not be used with innertubes.

---

History of the Lotus Esprit

---

The Lotus Esprit is a British sports car produced by Lotus Cars between 1976 and 2004 at their Hethel plant in England. It was one of the earliest polygonal designs by auto designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. Early Esprits were known as "Series 1" (or S1) Esprits. The wedge-shaped fibreglass bodywork was supported by a steel chassis. The 1,973 cc four-cylinder Lotus 907 engine produced 160 horsepower in its European specification.

While the S1 Esprit was praised for its agility and was believed to have the greatest handling of any Esprit model, it was often viewed as underpowered, particularly in places where the motor was choked by emission laws, such as the United States. Lotus' promise of 0-60 mph acceleration in 6.8 seconds and a maximum speed of 138 mph may have been overly ambitious, as real road tests indicated a 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds and a maximum speed of around 133 mph. The updated Series 2 Esprit was debuted in 1978. External modifications included intake and cooling ducts placed behind the rear quarter windows, Rover SD1 taillights, and an integrated front spoiler.

The Series 3 and Turbo Esprit made their debuts in April 1981. The two models shared a chassis and bodywork was created using the same moulds. The S3 was fitted with the 2.2 L Type 912 engine. The Turbo Esprit used a wet sump engine with the same torque and horsepower output as its dry sump forerunner. Interior trim was altered, which, when paired with adjustments to the body moulds, resulted in additional headroom and a larger footwell.

British designer Peter Stevens restyled the Esprit in 1987. Stevens, who subsequently designed the McLaren F1, created a more rounded, less geometric Esprit. Giugiaro is claimed to have loved the revised form, but felt it was too similar to his initial design. The outward alterations were matched by an interior remodelling that provided the residents with greater room. The updated Esprit was not given a new "Series" number, but is generally referred to by its project code, X180.

The last Esprit went off the assembly line on February 20, 2004, after a 28-year run. A total of 10,675 Esprits were manufactured. The Esprit was one of the last vehicles to feature pop-up headlights.

---

Lotus Esprit Variants Tire Sizes

---

---

Lotus Esprit Tire Pressure Tables

---

1965-1978 Lotus Esprit Tire Pressures by Dunlop

1988 Lotus Esprit Tire Pressures by Pirelli

1993 Lotus Esprit Tire Pressures by Pirelli

---