The Lotus Grand Tourers

I pulled into Tesco the other day to put 5 quids worth of 99octane in,(to last the next couple of months!) and thought it best to fill up the water and air at the same time. I've got no idea what pressure my tyres are supposed to have! Mine are Kumho 205 50 15. Any ideas? Even the Bloke who fitted them didn't have a clue! I put 26psi front and back.

Dougie wrote:I pulled into Tesco the other day to put 5 quids worth of 99octane in,(to last the next couple of months!) and thought it best to fill up the water and air at the same time. I've got no idea what pressure my tyres are supposed to have! Mine are Kumho 205 50 15. Any ideas? Even the Bloke who fitted them didn't have a clue! I put 26psi front and back.

The handbook says 24 psi all round for 15" wheels & 215/15 VRx15 tyres.

As said, you should have 24 psi all round in everyday use with 215/50 15's.
However, if you intend to do sustained high speeds (say over 100mph on a track) the manual recommends 30 psi all round.

I hope the pressure gauge on Tesco's forecourt airline is accurate!

I've 225's all round.

Keep around 25/26 psig (bar's are something you drink in) all round.

They seem to be wearing evenly accross the surface so can't be to far out.

just to be awkward...I use 22psi all round in my 205/50/15 Toyo T1Rs because the side walls are stiff and the ride suffers with 24 psi as standard for 215s on an Excel. The original elite eclat on 205/60/14s also used 22psi all round for normal sub 100mph driving.. If your car is heavy (ie air con, PAS, fat driver/pasenger etc) then the psi should increase to stop side wall failure. Optimum pressure depends on tyre construction as well as section width, laden weight, cruising speeds, ....and driving style.
Peter

I had Kumho 205/50 x 15s fitted two months ago and they seem to run fine at 28 psi. The guy who fitted them recommended that I didn't run them below 26psi as this would increase stress on the sidewalls. Most of my mileage is dry and they seem to grip well on the road in the twisty bits.

dpr59 wrote:I've 225's all round.

Keep around 25/26 psig (bar's are something you drink in) all round.

They seem to be wearing evenly accross the surface so can't be to far out.

Agree - bars are for drinking in

But don't know what psig means

Anyway 26 psi is the pressure that my original hand book recommends. I use that and if the fronts drop below 22 psi I can tell because they squeal at slow speed corners.

psig is to distinguish from psia - Gauge mode (i.e. above atmospheric pressure) and Absolute mode (i.e. relative to zero pressure). Most people seem content to measure their tyre pressures relative to atmospheric pressure rather than travel into deep space to get the absolute value! Atmospheric pressure may vary a little, but not enough to make a discernible difference.

Hi

Are you guys aware that Pirelli are now making the 215/50R15 P700-Z again for you guys?

They are also an Audi Quattro tyre so that helped us get them made again.

Dougal Cawley wrote: Mon Apr 17, 2023 12:17 Hi

Are you guys aware that Pirelli are now making the 215/50R15 P700-Z again for you guys?

They are also an Audi Quattro tyre so that helped us get them made again.

Yes, you’ve told us 3 times today !!

I bought 4 of these last week...



£200 delivered.
Also bought a tyre fitting stand / alloy wheel tyre fitter / static balancer / box of stick on weights for around same price a couple of months ago.
So far I've replaced the Clan's and SMART Roadsters tyres, and re seated three others that were leaking on cars belonging to my kids.
I'll post pictures of the Excel tyre fitting process on here before the MOT due next month.

Btw I found the SMARTs lower profile 15" diameter road tyres much easier to fit than the 13 inch soft compound Avon CR 500 tyres fitted to the Clan, so I'm expecting the Excel job to be straightforward.