Lotus Tyres



Classic Lotus Tyres

On the following pages, Longstone Classic Tyres give classic tyre fitment recommendations for Lotus cars.


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Lotus Tyres

Classic Lotus tyres can be difficult because these cars are so specialist and in some cases rare. There have been some good developments in Classic Lotus tyres. The original Elite tyre 155 HR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67 is available. And now there is also the perfect tyre for the early Lotus Elan with a 145HR13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67, and 175/70 VR 13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 and 185/70 VR 13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 for the Lotus Europa.


Lotus History

1961 Lotus Elite
1961 Lotus Elite

While on leave from the RAF, Colin Chapman began by creating a trials racing vehicle in 1948. He re-engineered a 1930s Austin Seven into the Mark 1 Lotus with only rudimentary panelling skills. With an engineering degree behind him, Chapman expanded his firm from the lock-up where the Mark 1 Lotus was created to different locations until landing in 1966 at the Hethel facility in Norfolk. The 55 acres of an abandoned US airbase offered plenty of space for a 2.5-mile race circuit, which has seen some of the world's best road and track vehicles, driven by some of the world's most famous drivers.

Chapman's ideology was founded on the concept of "performance through lightweight." “Adding power makes you faster on the straights, subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.” This philosophy has always been central to Lotus vehicles, and it is beneficial in more ways than one. Lotus has developed some of the fastest vehicles in their class in terms of miles per gallon thanks to the lightweight standard. There are several disputed stories about Lotus' name, but the emblem immortalises Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman's initials.

Lotus Europa
Lotus Europa

The Lotus Eleven's launch in 1956 heralded the beginning of another tradition. From then on, all model names began with the letter E. And the Elan, Esprit, and Elise are all in the motoring hall of fame, and no one has to mention the Lotus to recall their heritage. Lotus engineering has long been sought after by large manufacturers. Their collaboration with Ford dates back to the 1960s, with famous examples such as the Lotus Cortina and Lotus Escort. These were propelled to enormous success in motorsport - both on and off the track.

Lotus also collaborated with Vauxhall in 1990 to produce the Lotus Carlton. With maximum speeds exceeding 170 mph, the police allegedly attempted to outlaw it from the roads. The development of track performance was critical in Lotus' development. Lotus stormed onto the worldwide motor racing arena with the Mark 8 in 1954, achieving instant success. It also fueled Chapman's creativity, as he attempted to exploit regulatory flaws with engineering genius. Jim Clark, driving the Type 25, was the first Lotus driver to win both the Formula One Constructors' and Drivers' titles in 1963. This feat was replicated in 1965  in Type 49, Type 72 in 1970, the Type 72 in 1972, and the Type 79 in 1978.

Chapman, who was always on the lookout for new economic possibilities, brought commercial sponsorship to the Formula One circuit in 1968. Lotus vehicles were first painted in the Gold Leaf tones of their cigarette sponsor. However, beginning in 1972, they were magnificent in their famed John Player Special livery of black and gold. This is still their colour scheme, and it is as associated with Lotus as it was with their sponsors. Lotus' talent for design drew the attention of another sector known for its beauty - Hollywood. When Bond took the Esprit underwater in 'The Spy Who Loved Me' in 1977, it transformed into a submersible.  four years later, Lotus was featured again with the Esprit Turbo in 'For Your Eyes Only'.

An Esprit S4 Police Car was assigned to the force in 1994. I can't speak to its success in terms of crime figures, but it must have worked wonders in terms of police recruiting! In 1995, prohibitive costs pushed Team Lotus off the track. In 2010, the team returned to Formula One. Lotus Renault GP returned to Team Lotus' black and gold livery in 2011. The Lotus F1 Team returned to the podium in 2012, completing the overhaul.


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