Lotus 7 Tire Pressures

To find tires for your Lotus 7 see our Lotus 7 Tires page.

The tire pressures for a Lotus 7 range from 16-28 PSI.
To find the ideal tire pressures to match your car's year, model, and chosen tires follow the link to our Tire Pressure Guides.

Our recommended Lotus 7 tires are the 155HR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67, 145HR13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67, 155R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67, or the 165R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 depending on your model and wheel size.
To see more information on Lotus 7 tires follow the link to our Lotus 7 Tire Section.

1961 Lotus Super 7 Brochure Cover

Lotus 7 on 145HR13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67 Tires

Lotus 7 Tires

When Colin Chapman first developed the Series 1 Lotus 7 (1957–1960) it fitted 15" wheels and tires, with 5.20-15 crossply tires as the OE tire size. 5.20-15 crossply tires are no longer made, we suggest switching to an equivalent radial size; 135 R15, 145 R15, or 155 R15. We recommend fitting 155 R15 tires, as it allows for the fitment of the fantastic 155HR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67.

The 155HR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67 is a high-quality, sports-oriented classic car tire with a notable pedigree, originally fitted as equipment on various performance cars of its era, including some lucky Lotus 7s. Known for its light, progressive handling, the CA67 is an ideal complement to the nimble and lightweight Lotus 7, enhancing its agility and delivering a driving experience that aligns perfectly with the car’s sporting heritage.

Series 2 Lotus 7 Tires

For the Series 2 Lotus 7 (1960–1968), Lotus switched to 13" wheels, and 520 - 13 crossply tires. There are currently no high-quality crossply tires made in the 520 - 13 size, we recommend switching to radial tires.

The best radial alternative for a 520-13 crossply would be a 145HR13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67.

Series 3 Lotus 7 Tires

The 1968–1970 Series 3 Lotus 7 also fitted 155 R13 tires, we recommend the 155R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67. Some Lotus 7 owners like to fit larger tires. We typically recommend fitting the original size, however if you want wider tires we suggest the 155R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67. The 155 HR 13 Michelin XAS FF is also a great tire in this size.

Lotus 7 on 165R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 Tires

Lotus 7 on Michelin TB Racing Tires

Series 4 Lotus 7 Tires

The 1970–1973 S4 Lotus 7 and Lotus Super 7 began fitting larger tire sizes such as 155 R13 and 165 R13. The 155R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67, or the 155 HR 13 Michelin XAS FF are the best 155 R13 Lotus 7 tires. The 165R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 is the ideal 165 R13 Lotus 7 tire. Michelin's 165 HR 13 XAS FF is also excellent.

The PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 was introduced in 1968, a high-performance range of tires created to improve the handling of lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports cars from the 1960s and 1970s. The CN36 offered sizes that allowed drivers to switch from full profile (80% of the tire’s width as sidewall height) to lower-profile tires (60% and 70%), offering improvements to the handling and stability.

Lotus 7 Low-Profile Tires

Some Lotus 7 owners opt for wider, low-profile tires. The wider, low-profile alternatives to 165 R13 are 175/70 R13 and 185/70 R13. The best low-profile Lotus 7 tire in these sizes is the 175/70 VR 13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 and the 185/70 VR 13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36.

Lotus 7 on Dunlop Racing Tires

Colin Chapman in his Lotus 7 1/2 at the 1962 Six Hour Race

Lotus 7 Inner Tubes

Series 1, 2, and 3 Lotus 7 models fitted tube type wheels that require inner tubes fitted to function. Our period fitment guides suggest that some S4 Lotus 7 models may have been released on tubeless wheels, however this must be taken with a pinch of salt as the fitment guides contradict one another. See below to find your year and model, or for more information, call us on +44 1302 711123.

We always recommend Michelin's inner tubes when available as they are reliably of the highest quality.

For 135 R15 and 145 R15 tires, the correct inner tube is the Michelin 15CB. The Michelin 15E fits 155 R15 tires. For 145 R13 tires, use the Michelin 13CG inner tube, while 155 R13 and 165 R13 tires are compatible with the Michelin 13D. The Michelin 13E inner tube is ideal for 175/70 R13 and 185/70 R13 tires.

Lotus 7 Racing Tires

There are a number of suitable Lotus 7 racing tire options from the Classic Dunlop Racing range, as well as from Michelin's classic racing TB range.

The Lotus 7 can fit a wide range of tires depending on the setup. The Lotus 7 is also commonly used in racing. Different race events have different tire requirements for participation, so if you are looking for racing tires, have a look at your racing requirements before making a purchase.

Lotus 7 on Racing tires

Lotus Tire Pressure & Fitment Guides

When evaluating the evolution of rubber compounds, safety standards, and tire manufacturing methods, some enthusiasts question the relevance of historical tire pressure guidelines. To address these concerns, we reached out to a knowledgeable representative at Pirelli, who provided the following insights:

"Our philosophy is to reproduce as closely as possible the original tire characteristics using new processes and materials thus to maintain the handling of the vehicle the same. This means, yes we maintain the original handbook pressures.”