Home
News
Esprit Models
Owners
Esprit History
For Sale
Other Stuff
Roadtests
Buying & Running
Parts & Specialists
Other Esprit Stuff

Lotus Esprit Tyre Info

This page has been set up to gather information for when it's time to replace the tyres on your Esprit. Never an easy decision when it comes to replacing the rubber. We hope to give you a few ideas on which tyres make the most sense and also where to get the rubber from. Hopefully by reading this page, it will make life easier for owners to replaces the worn black stuff.

We are currently waiting on a list of currently approved tyres from Lotus Cars Ltd. This will be added to this page once we have it.

Where to BUY?


Cavalry Park
Peebles
Edinburgh
EH45 9BU

Email: info@blackcircles.co.uk

NEW 10% Discount on Tyres for members

Black Circles are offering ClubLEW members a new 10% discount (up from 5%) on all their tyres either by web order or via phone. The discount code can be used on their website (promotional box in the top right hand corner) or over the telephone (0845 200 0022). You will need your clubLEW membership number. More details on our discount page in the club site.

Black Circles deliver 'the best fully fitted tyre prices in the UK'

Black Circles is the new easy way to buy tyres over the internet. You just order your tyres, at our low low prices. Then make an appointment to have them fitted at one of our centres near you. Do all this in a few easy steps online. 

The Black Circles team offer 'the BEST fully fitted prices in the UK'. Our fully fitted service experience includes: Access to over 700 service points. All inclusive fitted prices - No hidden extras! Appointment service – Just choose your tyres and let us do the rest! Customer satisfaction guaranteed. Cheap tyres in price alone.  No compromise on performance or quality.

Button 120x60
3% Discount on Esprit Tyres

MyTyres.co.uk can offer 3% off the total cost of the order for the members of ClubLEW.

/
Summer- All-season- Winter tyres All
 

Other Websites
Check out these sites for Esprit Tyres online, not used them all yet, but might be of use to some if you want to shop around. If you use any of these site please email me and tell us how they performed.

www.tyres-sold-online.co.uk
www.etyres.co.uk
www.kwik-fit.com
www.xpediatyre.co.uk
www.e-tyres.co.uk

Locking Wheel Nuts for S350 Wheels
After some research, i have the details of a company making locking wheel bolts in the correct size for the crono magnesio wheels (sport 350 type). The bolts are made by ASTRALI and the reference is 'LB48' (part No 942754).

You can find your nearest outlet by ringing the astrali sales office 01922 454 815 or check your local motor accessories shop - lots of places stock the astrali stuff. The LB48 wheel bolts do not fit any vehicle with standard wheels; these bolts are `specials' that astrali have manufactured for people who swap their original standard wheels for aftermarket alloys.

Retail price is £22.11. Quality is excellent - very substantial, unlike the naff tri-locks or similar. N.B. these are for the V8 only when fitted with OZ Crono Magnesio wheels - these are a longer bolt (32mm thread length) than is used for V8's with AWIs etc. If someone wants to see if these guys can also do a locking bolt for the 'normal' V8 wheel then drop me a line off list - i have a contact there i can pass on who was very helpful.

Rob Ellis ( V8-GT)

Original Esprit Tyre Sizes

Stevens Fronts Rears Original Make Estimated cost (each)
Sport 350 235/40 ZR 17" 295/35 ZR 18" Pirelli P-Zero £165/£250
V8 235/40 ZR 17" 285/35 ZR 18" Dunlop SP Sport 9000 £165/£200
GT3 215/40 ZR 17" 245/45 ZR 17" Goodyear Eagle GS-A £120/£220
S4S 235/40 ZR 17" 285/35 ZR 18" Michelin Pilot MXX3 £130/£200
Sport 300 245/45 ZR 16" 315/35 ZR 17" Goodyear GS-C £120/£390
S4 215/40 ZR 17" 245/45 ZR 17" Goodyear Eagle GS-A £170/£220
SE 215/50 ZR 15" 245/50 ZR 16" Goodyear Eagle GS-A £160/£160
X180R 225/50 VR 16" 275/40 VR 16" Bridgestone Potenza £150/N/A
Turbo 195/60 VR 15" 235/60 VR 15" Goodyear Eagle NCT £75/£110
N/A 195/60 VR 15" 235/60 VR 15" Goodyear Eagle NCT £75/£110
Giugiaro        
Turbo HC 195/60 HR 15" 235/60 HR 15" Goodyear Eagle NCT £75/£110
Turbo 195/60 HR 15" 235/60 HR 15" Goodyear Grand Prix £75/£110
S3 195/60 HR 15" 235/60 HR 15" Goodyear Grand Prix £75/£110
Essex 195/60 HR 15" 235/60 HR 15" Goodyear Grand Prix £75/£110
S2.2 195/60 HR 14" 205/70 HR 14" Goodyear Grand Prix £70/£85
JPS 195/60 HR 14" 205/70 HR 14" Goodyear Grand Prix £70/£85
S2 195/70 HR 14" 205/70 HR 14" Goodyear Grand Prix £65/£85
S1 195/70 HR 14" 205/70 HR 14" Goodyear Grand Prix £65/£85

Turbo Esprit Tyre News
September 2004
Lotus Esprit World has managed to get a World Exclusive on testing done at Hethel on replacement tyres for Giugiaro Turbos. Lotus have now completed testing and are waiting for TUV approval, which is expect to be a formality. So any owners with Giugiaro Turbos can now buy and fit tyres tested and recommended by Lotus for their model. Below is the information direct from Lotus.

Lotus Turbo Esprit Tyres
Lotus has now completed the Tyre Investigation to find and approve an alternative to the currently specified Good Year Eagle NCT that is now obsolete. The sizes currently specified are: -

Front 195/60 VR 15
Rear 235/60 VR 15

The rear size of 235/60x15 is now a non-standard size and availability is very limited. Lotus has now completed an assessment of alternative tyres & sizes. In order to ensure vehicle compliance (tyre coverage & speedo calibration etc.) tyre choice was restricted. The new recommendation is as follows:

Front 195/60 VR 15
Rear 225/60 VR 15

The above specification has been tested & approved by Lotus. The TUV approval documentation has been completed and the application submitted to the relevant authority to cover the German Registered vehicles.

Several manufacturers tyres were tested. The following were considered to give the best handling & ride package and would be the products recommended by Lotus.

Pirelli P6000
Dunlop SP Sport 0

Other makes of tyres tested did not produce the handling / ride requirements that Lotus consider desirable for the Esprit Turbo vehicle.

Tyres for the SE's
27th April 2006

Lotus are still investigating the issue of a lack of tyres for the 15" wheels fitted to the SE. Lotus have some front tyres in the original size to test and approve. As we know the original Good Year Eagle is no longer produced. Lotus have some front tyres – Dunlop SP Sport 9000 215/50ZR15 to evaluate. Unfortunately they do not make a matching rear tyre.

Lotus have identified a replacement Good Year that they want to evaluate. They are Good Year Eagle GSC P245/50ZR16. They currently have one at Hethel and are awaiting another. Good Year say that will be available in the next couple of weeks. Lotus expect the Dunlop SP Sport 9000 to be ok for Esprit front (also common to Excel).

We'll keep you updated as information is available. In the meantime, if you're desperate for a set of front tyres, get some Dunlop's.

Tyres for the SE's
June 2010

Q: Just checking about the recommended tyres for the SE alloys, the Pirelli P6000 is no longer manufactured in the 245/50/16 size.. what does lotus recommend these days for the front and rear? I live in australia and will need to import tyres here, i cannot get the dunlop sport 9000s in the 215/50/15 in this country.

A: Lotus are constantly being asked about Esprit Tyres by Owners & Dealers / Specialists. The main question concerns the Front Tyre 215/50 x 15. (Esprit and Excel). This Tyre is now a Non Preferred Size for the Main Tyre Manufacturers so availability in the required speed rating is getting extremely difficult to source. We did start looking into alternatives. The only real option is to go to 205/50 x 15.

Anything wider than the original 215 fouls the Wheelarch on full lock. Lotus Aftersales terminated the work so no approved recommendation is available. The Rear 245/50 x 16 size is still available from some manufacturers but we have never tested any alternative tyres. A possibility is 245/45 x 16 which will give a slightly higher Speedo reading ( + 3.8%). We know some owners are running this combination.

return to top
home email news esprit models road tests buying an esprit running an esprit esprit owners maintenance pictures for sale history Lotus models links