Lotus · V8 · Cold

Setting cold tyres on a Lotus V8

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

34 / 34

Catalogue mid-points, front / rear · 2.2-2.4 / 2.2-2.4 bar

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

Cold means the Lotus V8 has stood at least three hours, or covered less than about a mile. Heat from a dual carriageway run is not the number you set. Size estimates on this page include 245/40R18, 225/50R17 and 195/65R15 — interpolated from the catalogue midpoint, not a second factory sticker.

Temperature and a cold gauge

Roughly 1 psi per 5–6 °C. The table uses 34 psi as a 20 °C baseline for this V8.

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

How to set the V8

Park the Lotus V8 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 V8 is enough to feel a pull.
Refit valve caps and reset TPMS if the handbook asks for a relearn.

Lotus V8 placard versus sidewall

If the Lotus sticker is painted over, the handbook is next. This website is a map, not a replacement VIN label.

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

If your Lotus V8 no longer wears the OEM diameter, start at the row nearest 245/40R18 or 225/50R17 and confirm with the tyre maker’s load table.

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
225/50R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Touring 17-inch
195/65R15	34	34	2.34	2.34	234	234	Very common compact
205/55R16	34	34	2.34	2.34	234	234	Typical mid-compact OEM
185/65R15	33	33	2.28	2.28	228	228	Small / older car
215/50R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Plus-size 17-inch
215/55R16	34	35	2.34	2.41	234	241	Slightly wider 16-inch
225/45R17	35	35	2.41	2.41	241	241	Sport 17-inch

PSI, bar and kPa

PSI-led conversions for the Lotus V8 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

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	34 psi / 2.34 bar	35 psi / 2.41 bar
Motorway + luggage	35 psi / 2.41 bar	36 psi / 2.48 bar

Lotus notes

No special Lotus exception: the V8 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 V8 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

340 R Eletre Omega Evija Excel 2-Eleven Elise Emeya

Questions about this V8

What is that in bar and kPa for the V8?

Mid-points are about 2.31 bar (231 kPa) front and 2.31 bar (231 kPa) rear.

When does TPMS warn on a Lotus V8?

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

Front versus rear on the Lotus V8?

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.

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 V8 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