The 2007 Lotus Exige comes from an era when Lotus still built road cars around light weight, sharp response, and minimal distraction, giving the Exige a reputation as a focused driver’s machine rather than a grand tourer. That approach makes tire choice especially important, because the car’s balance depends on its staggered setup. This model uses 195/50R16 radial tires in front and 225/45R17 radial tires in the rear. Available choices range from performance-oriented blackwall radials to more distinctive sidewall treatments on the rear size, while the front size includes a very different restoration-style whitewall offering. The key is matching the correct front and rear sizes before comparing appearance, rim fitment, and intended road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 2007 Lotus Exige
The 2007 Lotus Exige uses two primary tire sizes, with one size for the front axle and another for the rear. Both are radial metric sizes, but they use different rim diameters, so the first step is confirming which wheel position you are buying for. Once that is settled, the decision shifts to product style, sidewall appearance, and the kind of road use you expect from the car.
In 195/50R16, the 195 designates nominal section width in millimeters, the 50 is the aspect ratio, the R identifies radial construction, and 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. On the 2007 Lotus Exige, this is the front tire size, so it plays a direct role in preserving the car’s intended staggered setup. Available choices in this size are limited, and the sidewall treatment here is very different from the rear offerings, with a wide whitewall Silvertown Radial. This size should be selected only for the front wheel position after confirming the wheel itself remains the correct 16-inch fitment.
In 225/45R17, the 225 refers to nominal section width in millimeters, the 45 is the aspect ratio, the R marks radial construction, and 17 is the rim diameter in inches. On the 2007 Lotus Exige, this is the rear tire size, paired with the narrower front tire to maintain the car’s staggered tire arrangement. This size offers the broader selection, including BFGoodrich, Nitto, and Pro-Trac options, along with blackwall, raised white letter, and redline sidewall treatments across several tire series. It is the size to compare carefully when rear-wheel width, appearance goals, and street-driving priorities matter most.
Sub-model fitment on the 2007 Lotus Exige is straightforward, but the front and rear positions use different tire sizes and different wheel diameters. Checking whether you need the front or rear tire matters more than trim distinction, because the staggered setup is part of the car’s overall fitment picture.
1
2007 Lotus Exige Base Front
The 2007 Lotus Exige Base Front uses the 195/50R16 radial size on a 16-inch wheel. Front tire selection is less about comparing many competing options and more about confirming the correct wheel position, maintaining the staggered setup, and choosing a tire style that suits the car’s intended presentation.
The 2007 Lotus Exige Base Rear uses the 225/45R17 radial size on a 17-inch wheel. Rear tire selection offers more variation, so this is where sidewall style, tire series, and rim-width compatibility become more important when matching the tire to the vehicle’s current wheel setup.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 2007 Lotus Exige Tires for Sale
Available 2007 Lotus Exige tire choices center on radial construction, with BFGoodrich, Nitto, and Pro-Trac options across several series. The rear 225/45R17 size offers the most variety, including blackwall, redline, and raised white letter styles, while the front 195/50R16 selection is far narrower.
Showing 6 of 7
Radial Tires
BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial | 2 Inch Whitewall | 195/50R16
These FAQs focus on the 2007 Lotus Exige’s staggered tire sizing, front-versus-rear wheel fitment, available radial tire choices, sidewall styles, and the checks worth making before road use or after wheel and suspension changes.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 2007 Lotus Exige?
The 2007 Lotus Exige uses a staggered tire setup rather than one size at all four corners. The front uses 195/50R16 radial tires, while the rear uses 225/45R17 radial tires. Those are two different metric radial sizes, and they also use two different wheel diameters.
That means the first step is identifying whether you are replacing a front tire or a rear tire. A 16-inch front wheel and a 17-inch rear wheel require different tires, so the size should be matched to wheel position before comparing brands, sidewall styles, or rim-width specifications.
What size rim does a 2007 Lotus Exige use?
A 2007 Lotus Exige uses two rim diameters as part of its staggered tire package. The front tire size, 195/50R16, fits a 16-inch rim, and the rear tire size, 225/45R17, fits a 17-inch rim. The tire sizes and wheel diameters are tied together by axle position.
Rim diameter is the first fitment point to confirm before ordering a tire. The rear product range also includes rim-width guidance on some options, so wheel width should be checked along with diameter, especially if the car has aftermarket wheels or any previous wheel and tire changes.
Why does the 2007 Lotus Exige have more than one tire size?
The 2007 Lotus Exige uses more than one tire size because it has a staggered setup, with a narrower 195/50R16 tire in front and a wider 225/45R17 tire in the rear. That arrangement is part of the car’s overall fitment design and uses different wheel diameters at each end.
For the buyer, that means tire selection is not just about matching the year and model. The front and rear tires are not interchangeable, so replacement should start with the correct wheel position, then move to product details such as sidewall appearance, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 2007 Lotus Exige?
Start with the correct wheel position, because a 2007 Lotus Exige uses 195/50R16 in front and 225/45R17 in the rear. Both are radial sizes, but the rear size has a much broader product range, so the biggest choice factors are correct sizing, wheel compatibility, and the kind of appearance or road use you want.
Once the axle position is confirmed, compare tire series, sidewall treatment, and any available rim-width guidance. Rear options differ more in character than front options, while the front size is much narrower in product selection. On a car as sensitive to setup as the Exige, matching the intended front-to-rear combination matters.
What sidewall styles are available for 2007 Lotus Exige tires?
Sidewall styles for the 2007 Lotus Exige include blackwall, wide whitewall, redline, and RWL, depending on tire size. The front 195/50R16 offering is a wide whitewall Silvertown Radial, while the rear 225/45R17 selection includes blackwall options as well as Pro-Trac redline and raised white letter styles.
That means sidewall appearance is not uniform across the Exige’s two tire sizes. Anyone trying to maintain a cohesive look should consider the full front-and-rear combination rather than selecting one tire in isolation. Sidewall style can shape the car’s visual character even when the core fitment remains the same.
What brands offer tires for the 2007 Lotus Exige?
Tires for the 2007 Lotus Exige are available from BFGoodrich, Nitto, and Pro-Trac. BFGoodrich appears in both the front and rear fitments, while Nitto and Pro-Trac are part of the rear 225/45R17 selection. The available products are all radial tires, but they vary by series and sidewall presentation.
Brand choice should come after the basic fitment questions are settled. The front size has far fewer options, while the rear size offers more room to compare series, sidewall styles, and wheel-width suitability. It makes sense to evaluate each brand within the correct axle position rather than treating the Exige as a single-size application.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 2007 Lotus Exige?
A period-style 2007 Lotus Exige still needs to start with the correct staggered sizing: 195/50R16 in front and 225/45R17 in the rear. From there, the appearance decision comes from the specific tire style, because the available products range from conventional blackwall performance radials to much more visually assertive sidewall treatments.
The main question is how closely the finished look should follow the character of an early-2000s lightweight sports car versus a more customized presentation. Since sidewall styling differs notably between the available front and rear products, it helps to consider the visual balance of the complete set before choosing one tire at a time.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 2007 Lotus Exige?
On the 2007 Lotus Exige, construction itself is less of an appearance divider because the available fitments are radial tires. The bigger visual difference comes from sidewall treatment and tire series, especially on the rear 225/45R17 size where blackwall, redline, and raised white letter choices create very different presentations.
That makes the appearance decision more about style than about bias-ply versus radial tradition. A buyer aiming for a cleaner modern sports-car look may lean toward blackwall, while a more individualized presentation may point toward redline or RWL. The front and rear combination should still look intentional when viewed as a matched set.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 2007 Lotus Exige?
Modifications can affect tire fitment on a 2007 Lotus Exige even when the original tire sizes are known. If the car has aftermarket wheels, altered offsets, suspension changes, or body modifications, the factory-style front 195/50R16 and rear 225/45R17 fitment may need to be checked more carefully before selecting a tire.
The practical concerns are wheel diameter, wheel width, and available clearance at steering lock and suspension travel. A staggered car leaves less room for guesswork, so it is smart to confirm the actual wheel setup on the car before ordering, especially when rear tires include product-specific rim-width guidance.
What should I inspect before driving a 2007 Lotus Exige on new tires?
Before driving a 2007 Lotus Exige on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage, confirm the front and rear sizes are installed in the correct positions, and make sure tire pressures are set appropriately for the tire and vehicle setup. It also helps to check for any rubbing at full steering lock or under normal suspension movement.
A careful walkaround after installation can prevent avoidable problems. Look for uneven seating at the bead, verify valve stems are in good condition, and recheck clearance if the car has non-stock wheels or suspension changes. On a lightweight sports car, small fitment issues can become noticeable quickly once the car is back on the road.
How often should tires on a 2007 Lotus Exige be inspected?
Tires on a 2007 Lotus Exige should be inspected regularly, especially if the car is driven infrequently or stored for long periods. Check them before road use and during routine maintenance for air loss, uneven wear, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, and sidewall cracking. Low-mileage collector use does not eliminate age-related tire concerns.
Frequent inspection matters because the Exige uses a staggered setup, so front and rear tires may not show the same wear pattern or age in the same way. Storage conditions also matter. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve tire condition between drives.
