Lotus · Cortina · Front
Lotus Cortina front tyre pressure
- Drivetrain
- rear-wheel drive
- Body
- passenger car
- PSI F / R
- 32-35 / 32-35
- Bar F / R
- 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4
psi front
34
2.31 bar · 231 kPa at the steering axle
32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa
The front axle of a Lotus Cortina steers and, on rear-wheel drive cars, often pulls as well. Catalogue front pressure is 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar. Size estimates on this page include 225/50R17, 215/55R16 and 185/65R15 — interpolated from the catalogue midpoint, not a second factory sticker.
Lotus Cortina placard versus sidewall
The tyre-information placard on a Lotus Cortina sits on the driver’s door pillar (sometimes the fuel-filler flap). Catalogue figures here are a general band: 32-35 / 32-35 psi.
Estimated pressure by tyre size (225/50R17 and others)
Planning cold pressures for sizes often seen on a passenger car. This Cortina sample opens with 225/50R17, then 215/55R16 and 185/65R15.
| Tyre size | Front PSI | Rear PSI | Front bar | Rear bar | Front kPa | Rear kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225/50R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Touring 17-inch |
| 215/55R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Slightly wider 16-inch |
| 185/65R15 | 33 | — | 2.28 | — | 228 | — | Small / older car |
| 205/55R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Typical mid-compact OEM |
| 215/50R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Plus-size 17-inch |
| 205/60R16 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Taller 16-inch |
| 225/45R17 | 35 | — | 2.41 | — | 241 | — | Sport 17-inch |
| 195/65R15 | 34 | — | 2.34 | — | 234 | — | Very common compact |
Pressure against load
Load moves the rear of a passenger car first. If the factory placard already has a “laden” column, use that instead of these sketches.
| Condition | Front (est.) | Rear (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Driver only | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 34 psi / 2.34 bar |
| Full occupancy | 34 psi / 2.34 bar | 35 psi / 2.41 bar |
| Motorway + luggage | 35 psi / 2.41 bar | 37 psi / 2.55 bar |
Steering feel on the Cortina lives on this axle. Do not drop front pressure to “soften” a plus-size 185/65R15; you will roll the sidewall in a roundabout.
How to set the Cortina
- Park the Lotus Cortina for at least three hours (cold tyres).
- Use a calibrated gauge, not the only meter on a forecourt hose.
- Set the placard for that axle — about 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar front and 32-35 psi / 2.2-2.4 bar rear on this catalogue row.
- Recheck all four. A 2 psi miss on a rear-wheel drive Cortina is enough to feel a pull.
- Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.
PSI, bar and kPa
PSI-led conversions for the Lotus Cortina band (32-35 / 32-35).
| PSI | Bar | kPa |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2.07 | 207 |
| 32 | 2.21 | 221 |
| 33 | 2.28 | 228 |
| 33.5 | 2.31 | 231 |
| 35 | 2.41 | 241 |
| 36 | 2.48 | 248 |
| 38 | 2.62 | 262 |
| 40 | 2.76 | 276 |
| 44 | 3.03 | 303 |
| 50 | 3.45 | 345 |
| 60 | 4.14 | 414 |
Temperature drift
Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this Cortina.
| Ambient | Gauge (front mid) | Bar | kPa | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| −5 °C (hard frost) | 31 psi | 2.14 bar | 214 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 0 °C | 32 psi | 2.21 bar | 221 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 8 °C (UK winter morning) | 33 psi | 2.28 bar | 228 kPa | Gauge reads low; do not overfill once warm |
| 20 °C (set cold here) | 34 psi | 2.34 bar | 234 kPa | Baseline |
| 30 °C | 36 psi | 2.48 bar | 248 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
| 38 °C (heatwave tarmac) | 37 psi | 2.55 bar | 255 kPa | Do not bleed a hot tyre |
Lotus notes
No special Lotus exception: the Cortina uses the door-pillar placard. Size estimates on this page only help if you have left the original load index behind.
Spare and inflator kit
A matching full-size spare on the Lotus Cortina usually follows the higher axle (often the rear, near 32-35 psi). A space-saver is commonly 60 psi / 4.1 bar — read that tyre’s own sidewall. An inflator kit is not a spare; check the sealant date.
If the Lotus sticker and this page disagree, the sticker wins.
Other Lotus models
Questions about this Cortina
What is that in bar and kPa for the Cortina?
Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.
When does TPMS warn on a Lotus Cortina?
Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.
How often should I check a Cortina?
Monthly, before a long trip, and after a 10 °C weather swing. Include a full-size spare.
Should I bleed pressure after a motorway run?
No. Heat raises the gauge. Set cold only. Bleeding a hot tyre leaves it low the next morning.
What tyre pressure should a Lotus Cortina use?
Catalogue reference is 32-35 psi front and 32-35 psi rear (2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar), cold. Confirm on the door-pillar placard.
Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation