1968 Lotus Tire Fitment Guide

1968 Lotus vehicles use four sizes across two models: 145R13, 520-13, 165R13, and 600-13. The Elan uses all four sizes, while the Europa uses 145R13 and 520-13 only. Every size mounts on a 13-inch rim, and rim-width guidance appears where the tire itself supports it: 145R13 spans 4.00 to 5.00 inches on Firestone, 520-13 appears at 3.5 inches and 3.50 to 4.00 inches depending on product, 165R13 spans 4.50 to 6.00 inches on Michelin, and 600-13 spans 4.00 to 4.50 inches.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a 1968 Lotus tire choice. Europa owners can focus on the two shared sizes, while Elan owners need to decide whether they are staying with the smaller shared fitments or moving to one of the Elan-only sizes. Wheel diameter is straightforward because everything is 13-inch, but the model and intended look still matter before settling on a specific tire.

On a 1968 Lotus, 520-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.20 portion refers to the nominal section width in the older numeric system, and the 13 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial size, it does not use a slash-and-aspect-ratio format, and the construction is bias-ply rather than radial.

That matters because the size code is describing both the era and the tire type. On a 1968 Lotus Elan or Europa, 520-13 is the shared bias-ply fitment and is the most natural place to start if your goal is a period-style appearance and feel. Because sidewall styles vary within 520-13, it is also worth deciding early whether you want a plain blackwall or a narrow whitewall presentation.

No. The 1968 Lotus Europa uses 145R13 and 520-13, while the 1968 Lotus Elan uses those two shared sizes plus 165R13 and 600-13. All four sizes fit 13-inch rims, but the wider Elan-only sizes do not apply across the whole Lotus range for the year.

That model split is important because it changes the starting point for fitment research. If you own a Europa, the choice is relatively narrow and centers on shared Lotus sizing. If you own an Elan, the tire conversation broadens to include both shared sizes and model-specific alternatives, so selecting the model page first is the quickest way to avoid comparing sizes that were never used on the Europa.

For a 1968 Lotus Elan or Europa, the 520-13 and 145R13 are the two shared sizes, but they represent different construction types. The 520-13 is a bias-ply tire in an older numeric format, while the 145R13 is a radial metric size. Both mount on 13-inch wheels, so the real difference is less about wheel diameter and more about the character you want from the car.

Owners focused on period style often gravitate toward the bias-ply option because it fits the era visually and historically. Owners who expect more regular road use often prefer the radial format because it aligns with later driving expectations without changing wheel diameter. On a 1968 Lotus, that makes the choice a matter of authenticity goals, driving habits, and making sure the selected tire matches the wheel width actually on the car.

1968 Lotus tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The radial sizes 145R13 and 165R13 are available as blackwalls. The shared 520-13 bias-ply size comes in blackwall and narrow whitewall form, while the Elan-only 600-13 bias-ply size is available in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions.

For a Lotus sports car of this period, blackwall is usually the most natural visual choice, especially for buyers trying to preserve a distinctly European sports-car look. Whitewall options can still appeal in a custom, regional, or personal-style context, but they change the appearance more noticeably than the blackwall radials do. Sidewall style is often the quickest visual cue that separates a subtle restoration from a more individualized presentation.

Five brands cover 1968 Lotus tire sizes: Michelin, Firestone, Premium Sport, Dunlop, and BFGoodrich. Michelin and Firestone cover 145R13, Firestone and Premium Sport cover 520-13, Michelin and Dunlop cover 165R13, and BFGoodrich covers 600-13. That mix includes both European-style radial offerings and American-brand bias-ply choices depending on the size you need.

Brand choice on a 1968 Lotus usually starts with the size and construction you want rather than with the badge on the sidewall. A buyer comparing radial options in 145R13 or 165R13 will see a different group of brands than someone shopping the bias-ply 520-13 or 600-13 sizes. Once the correct size is settled, the remaining differences usually come down to sidewall appearance, load information, and rim-width compatibility where it is stated.

Rim-width guidance for 1968 Lotus tires depends on the size. Firestone’s 145R13 fits 4.00 to 5.00-inch rims, Michelin’s 165R13 fits 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims, BFGoodrich 600-13 fits 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims, and 520-13 appears with fitment references to 3.5 inches and 3.50 to 4.00 inches depending on the product. Every size uses a 13-inch rim diameter, but width compatibility changes from size to size.

That is why wheel width should be confirmed before a final tire choice, especially on a 1968 Lotus Elan where several different sizes are in play. A wheel that accepts one 13-inch tire diameter may still be too narrow or too wide for another size in the same diameter. Checking the actual wheel on the car is more useful than assuming all 13-inch Lotus wheels are interchangeable across every tire option.

Inner-tube requirements vary by size and by product on 1968 Lotus tires. The Michelin 145R13 and the Michelin 165R13 are marked TL for tubeless use, while other products in those same sizes do not carry the same marking in the size description. The bias-ply sizes 520-13 and 600-13 do not show a consistent tube marking across all products, so tube use should be confirmed against the individual tire and the wheel design being used.

That makes wheel type part of the conversation, not just tire size. A tubeless-marked radial may still be paired with a wheel whose condition or design leads an owner to use a tube, while older wheels and bias-ply applications often call for closer scrutiny. The best approach on a 1968 Lotus is to match the tire’s marking to the wheel you actually have rather than assuming all 13-inch products follow the same setup.

All 1968 Lotus tire sizes here share a 13-inch rim diameter, so diameter compatibility is consistent across the range. That means the original 13-inch wheel diameter is not the dividing line between 145R13, 520-13, 165R13, and 600-13. The important difference is wheel width, because the radial and bias-ply options do not all call for the same rim-width range.

On a 1968 Lotus Europa, the shared sizes keep the wheel discussion fairly simple. On a 1968 Lotus Elan, where wider sizes also appear, wheel width becomes more important before changing from one fitment to another. Original wheels can often remain in service within the correct width range, but it is wise to measure the wheel and compare it to the tire maker’s approved range before making a cross-size change.

A 1968 Lotus should be stored away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and persistent moisture, with the tires kept at proper inflation while the car sits. Clean, dry storage is especially important for older-style collector tires because sidewalls age from time and environment as much as from mileage. Bias-ply tires also tend to flat-spot more readily during long static periods than radials.

If the car will sit for months, moving it periodically or supporting it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch can help preserve ride quality. Owners alternating between 520-13 or 600-13 bias-ply tires and radial options may notice the bias-ply set feeling less happy after extended immobility. Good storage habits matter on a lightweight sports car like a 1968 Lotus because small changes in tire shape can be felt quickly on the road.

Tires on a 1968 Lotus should be judged more by age than by tread depth alone. Collector-car tires often cover modest mileage, so a tire can look usable while still aging internally. A practical rule is to evaluate them closely once they reach about five to seven years old and to treat ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, using the DOT date code as part of the decision.

That timeline matters even more on a lightly used Lotus that spends much of its life in storage, because limited mileage can hide age-related hardening or cracking. A radial 145R13 or 165R13 and a bias-ply 520-13 or 600-13 may wear differently in use, but age remains the main concern for both. Tread depth is only one part of the picture; condition, ride quality, and visible sidewall health matter just as much.

Tires on a 1968 Lotus should be checked before every drive and inspected more carefully before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and make sure the tread surface is free from signs of age-related separation. If your chosen tire and wheel setup uses tubes, the valve stems and any slow leakage deserve extra attention.

Frequent inspection is especially worthwhile on a car like a Lotus because low weight and communicative steering can make tire condition very noticeable once you are underway. A quick walk-around before local use and a more thorough pressure and condition check before a highway trip is a sensible routine. That habit costs very little time and helps catch age, storage, or setup problems before they affect the way the car drives.

A 1968 Lotus Elan would have belonged to a period when bias-ply tires were still historically appropriate and radial adoption was increasingly common, especially on European cars. Within the Elan range, 520-13 and 600-13 represent bias-ply fitments, while 145R13 and 165R13 represent radial alternatives on the same 13-inch wheel diameter. That means original-style research should focus not only on size, but also on whether the specific car was delivered or restored around a bias-ply or radial presentation.

For serious originality work, the right answer often depends on market, timing, and restoration goal rather than on year alone. A concours-minded owner should treat 1968 Lotus Elan fitment as a combination of size, construction, and sidewall appearance, then confirm the final choice with factory literature or a Lotus marque specialist. That extra step matters more than the brand name alone if the goal is to present the car as accurately as possible.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1968 Lotus, especially if the car is judged for authenticity rather than simply displayed. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire’s size, construction type, and sidewall style suit the period and the character of the car. A blackwall radial and a whitewall bias-ply can each be valid products, but they send very different visual and historical signals on a Lotus sports car.

For an event focused on originality, the most common issues are using a construction that looks too modern for the restoration goal or choosing a sidewall style that does not fit the intended market appearance. A driver-oriented restoration may accept that compromise, while a concours build may not. If the car will be judged, check the event’s standards and consult Lotus club resources so your tire choice supports the way the car is being presented.

For a 1968 Lotus Elan in 165R13, Michelin XAS-FF and Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet are both blackwall radial choices with an H speed rating, which carries a 130 mph ceiling. Michelin’s XAS-FF is shown with a 4.50 to 6.00-inch rim-width range and a 20-pound weight, while the Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet carries a max load figure of 1,047 pounds and also weighs 20 pounds. Both stay within the Elan’s 13-inch radial fitment theme, but they are not identical on the details that matter to a careful buyer.

That makes the comparison less about broad category and more about the specifics you care about most. If wheel-width guidance is the deciding factor, Michelin provides that directly in this size. If you want a radial with a clearly stated load figure, Dunlop brings that to the table. On a 1968 Lotus Elan, either can make sense, but it is smart to compare wheel width, intended use, and the overall style of the restoration before settling on one.

1968 Lotus tires can be suitable for highway driving when the size, construction, age, and condition are all appropriate to the car. The 145R13 and 165R13 radial offerings include H-rated products, which carry a 130 mph ceiling, and that is comfortably above normal U.S. highway speeds. Bias-ply options do not carry the same style of speed marking here, so they should be approached with the understanding that construction type affects feel and behavior even when the car is mechanically sound.

On a 1968 Lotus, the broader roadworthiness question often extends beyond the tire itself. Steering feel, suspension condition, brake performance, alignment, and how long the car has been sitting all influence confidence at speed. A fresh, correctly sized tire is essential, but it should be viewed as one part of an age-sensitive sports car system rather than as a stand-alone guarantee of modern highway behavior.

Inflation pressure for 1968 Lotus tires should start with the vehicle’s factory guidance, then be checked against the tire maker’s own pressure and load information for the specific size you choose. Among the available products, 145R13 appears with 825 pounds at 44 psi, 520-13 appears with 770 pounds at 32 psi and 1,100 pounds at 60 psi depending on product, and 600-13 appears with 1,010 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not a universal pressure setting for every 1968 Lotus.

The reason not to copy one pressure across all sizes is that the constructions and load capacities differ. A radial 145R13 and a bias-ply 520-13 may both fit a 13-inch wheel, but they are not interchangeable from an inflation standpoint. The safest approach is to begin with the car’s recommended baseline, then make sure the chosen tire’s rating and intended use support that pressure rather than assuming any 13-inch Lotus tire should run the same number.

Before a longer drive in a 1968 Lotus, inspect each tire for sidewall cracks, cuts, bulges, abnormal tread wear, and proper cold inflation, and check that the spare is still serviceable. Any valve stems should be examined closely, and tube-type or tube-using setups deserve extra attention for leakage or aging components. A tire that looks fine in the garage can still be the weak link if the car has spent long periods parked.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive check suited to a 1960s Lotus: brakes, fluid levels, wheel fasteners, steering feel, and suspension condition all deserve a look before a serious outing. Because these cars are light and responsive, they communicate small tire issues quickly, but it is better to catch them before departure. A careful once-over helps the drive begin on your terms rather than the car’s.