1990 Lotus Esprit — Base Model
The 1990 Lotus Esprit Base Model shipped with 2 different factory tire sizes, depending on the wheel package it left the factory with (this can also reflect a staggered front/rear setup). Check your tire sidewall or door placard to confirm which one applies to your vehicle.
This trim shipped with more than one tire size (staggered fitment, front/rear, or optional wheel package). Confirm which one matches your vehicle by checking your tire sidewall or door placard.
205/55R15 (Front)
| Section width | 205 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 55% (112.8 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 15" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~23.9" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~845 |
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245/50R16 (Rear)
| Section width | 245 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 50% (122.5 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 16" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~25.6" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~786 |
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What this size means for your Lotus Esprit
On the 1990 Lotus Esprit Base Model, the factory 205/55R15 measures about 23.9″ in overall diameter with a 112.8 mm (4.4″) sidewall, and completes roughly 845 revolutions per mile. Its 55-series aspect ratio gives a balanced everyday-passenger profile — enough sidewall to soak up road shock while keeping steering response crisp. In tire terms it is a passenger (P-metric / Euro-metric) size.
This is a staggered setup: the front axle runs 205/55R15 and the rear runs 245/50R16. The two sizes are not interchangeable, so order each for its correct axle and don't rotate front-to-rear.
Because the 1990 Lotus Esprit predates many current tire lines, confirm this size is still stocked before ordering — some vintage fitments are now served mainly by specialty and classic-car tire suppliers.
Lotus Esprit tire sizes by year
- 2004 Lotus Esprit 235/40R17 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 2003 Lotus Esprit 235/40R17 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 2002 Lotus Esprit 235/40R17 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 2001 Lotus Esprit 235/40R17 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 2000 Lotus Esprit 235/40R17 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 1999 Lotus Esprit 235/40R17 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 1998 Lotus Esprit 235/40R17 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 1997 Lotus Esprit 235/40R17 (Front) / 285/35R18 (Rear)
- 1996 Lotus Esprit 215/40R17 (Front) / 245/45R17 (Rear)
- 1995 Lotus Esprit 215/40R17 (Front) / 245/45R17 (Rear)
How to read a tire size
A tire size like 225/45R17 breaks down into three parts:
the first number is the section width in millimeters
(the tire's width from sidewall to sidewall), the second is the
aspect ratio — the sidewall's height as a percentage of
that width — and the number after the "R" is the rim
diameter in inches. A letter prefix (P or LT) indicates
Passenger or Light Truck construction; its absence usually means
Euro-metric sizing.
Some trucks and off-road tires instead use "flotation" sizing, like
37X12.50R17 — here the numbers are the tire's overall
diameter and width in inches directly, with the rim diameter last.
Always verify against the tire information placard on your driver's-side door jamb or your owner's manual before purchasing — tire size can vary by factory option package even within the same trim.