Lotus · Emira · Bar

Lotus Emira bar chart (2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4)

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

bar

2.31 / 2.31

32-35 / 32-35 psi · 231 / 231 kPa

32-35 psi F · 32-35 psi R · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar · 231/231 kPa

A rear-wheel drive Lotus Emira still wants even corners. 2.2-2.4 vs 2.2-2.4 is an axle split, not a left-right split. Under-inflation cooks the shoulders of a Emira; over-inflation wears the centre rib and bangs every cat’s eye.

Bar, PSI and kPa

Bar-led conversions around the Lotus Emira. 2.2-2.4 bar is not “32-35 divided by ten”.

Bar	PSI	kPa
2.07	30	207
2.21	32	221
2.28	33	228
2.31	33.5	231
2.41	35	241
2.48	36	248
2.62	38	262
2.76	40	276
3.03	44	303
3.45	50	345
4.14	60	414

Lotus Emira placard versus sidewall

Sidewall PSI is a carcass maximum. Recommended operating pressure for this Emira is the pillar sticker, near 34/34 psi.

Estimated pressure by tyre size (245/40R18 and others)

245/40R18 is the first planning size here. 215/50R17 is usually the plus-size or LT step. Keep load index at or above original equipment.

Tyre size	Front PSI	Rear PSI	Front bar	Rear bar	Front kPa	Rear kPa	Note
245/40R18	36	36	2.48	2.48	248	248	Wide touring 18-inch
195/65R15	34	34	2.34	2.34	234	234	Very common compact
215/50R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Plus-size 17-inch
225/50R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Touring 17-inch
185/65R15	33	33	2.28	2.28	228	228	Small / older car
225/40R18	36	36	2.48	2.48	248	248	Low-profile 18-inch
225/45R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Sport 17-inch
215/55R16	34	35	2.34	2.41	234	241	Slightly wider 16-inch

Load notes

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	35 psi / 2.41 bar	36 psi / 2.48 bar
Motorway + luggage	36 psi / 2.48 bar	37 psi / 2.55 bar

How to set the Emira

Measure before the school run, not after the M25.
Write LF / RF / RR / RL. Do not keep Emira numbers in your head.
Add air in short bursts toward 34 psi (2.31 bar) front and 34 psi rear.
If one corner is 4 psi down, hunt for a nail before you blame the weather.
Log date, ambient temperature and the four readings.

Temperature drift

Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this Emira.

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 Emira 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 Emira 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

Elan 340 R 2-Eleven Exige Cortina Esprit Type 130 Excel

Questions about this Emira

Front versus rear on the Lotus Emira?

This row is 32-35 F / 32-35 R. Even when they match, a laden rear can justify a higher number if the sticker prints one.

When does TPMS warn on a Lotus Emira?

Direct TPMS typically flags about 25% below placard — near 25 psi on this row. Fill to the sticker, not to the lamp.

What tyre pressure should a Lotus Emira 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.

Is the sidewall number correct on a Lotus Emira?

No. Sidewall PSI is a maximum. The Emira placard is the operating target, near 32-35/32-35 psi.

What PSI if I plus-size toward 215/50R17?

Keep load index at or above OEM. Low-profile sizes usually stay at or slightly above the placard. Use 245/40R18, 195/65R15 and 215/50R17 as a planning band.

Handbook: placard · bar vs PSI · front vs rear · cold inflation