Emira photos with different diameter wheels (20, 19, 18)

[centerpunch]

I borrowed a photo posted by @Lotus64 and modified it to show what the car would look like with different diameter wheels.

According to some other threads, 18" wheels will not fit on the rear due to the design of the parking brake.

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EDIT OCT 2025 There is now a solution, see this thread:

Darkworks PBR (parking brake relocator/rotator)

Hey eveyone, parking brake blocking your 18" track or safari wheel dreams. DREAM NO MORE! https://www.darkworks-design.com/products/emira-parking-brake-relocator

www.emiraforum.com

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And of course, different wheels are different, this is just a photographic demo, I'm not saying all wheels of these sizes will fit on the car! And while shrinking the wheel image I was also shrinking the brake image, so in reality the smaller wheels would have less space between the brake and the inside of the wheel.

Possible tire sizes might be 235/45-18F, 235/40-19F, 275/35-19R, 285/35-19R, those are all pretty close to the oem tire diameter.

Here's the source of the photo. https://www.emiraforum.com/threads/osmium-silver-lotus-emira-photo-thread.3837/page-6#post-147119
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[centerpunch]

Not sure if this will display properly- animated gif with 3 seconds per size.
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[centerpunch]

As an officially old dude, who is not from "the old school," but rather from "the school they tore down to build the old school," I like the looks of the 18F/19R the best.

 

[Totally Average]

As an officially old dude, who is not from "the old school," but rather from "the school they tore down to build the old school," I like the looks of the 18F/19R the best.

I think I'm in agreement with you...curious on 18/18 vs 19/19....I definitely like 19/19 over 20/20.

 

[centerpunch]

Not that anyone cares, but I did a spreadsheet showing possible tires sizes for 18" and 19" wheels.

These are sizes calculated from the tire size, in actuality different brands and models will vary somewhat from these theoretical sizes.
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[allenyao09]

Very interesting comparison. Look wise, I still like the 20/20 setup

 

[Speedy Emira]

Has anyone ever considered 21 inch wheels?

It would be good to see a render of them.

Front OEM 255/35/20 = 686.5mm
Front 255/30/21 = 686.0mm

Rear OEM 295/30/20 = 685.0mm
rear 305/25/21 = 685.9mm

This has got to be the closest I have ever got changing wheel sizes with different combinations.

 

[centerpunch]

Aren't oem front 245?

 

[centerpunch]

21 F&R and 18 F&R
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[Lotus64]

21 inch wheels look ridiculous.

I love them.

 

[centerpunch]

I'm old, and think the 20" wheels also look ridiculous, and do not love them.

Might change to 19's since 18's probably won't fit.

 

[T6061]

While I find the touring suspension to be pretty comfortable overall, I do feel the impact harshness through the short 35/30 series sidewalls when hitting expansion joints and potholes/uneven pavement on the freeway at speed. I would think a taller sidewall would help. 19/19 would be the easy answer with good tire options available but maybe a staggered 18/19 setup would be even better to avoid the rear parking brake clearance issue and give the best impact harshness insulation. I haven’t looked at tire availability in the 18/19 setup yet but will definitely take a look.

Update: Good availability on the 18/19 setup with Conti EC 02/Michelin PS4/Pirelli P Zero availability. I do like the stock Goodyear but would be interested to try the Continental’s.

 

[centerpunch]

I was also thinking 18F 19R, but it may look weird, since the F & R tires are the same diameter. Typically on a staggered diameter vehicle, the rear tires are taller than the front. I'll explore that and add pics here.

 

[centerpunch]

As I suspected, I think 18F 19R will look weird.

Typically staggered diameter wheel cars use larger diameter tires on the rear, giving the rear tires a more dramatic or powerful look.

With the Emira using essentially the same diameter tires front and rear, if you downsize the wheel diameter on the front, it makes that tire look noticeably fatter than the rear.

I think...
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[T6061]

The Powerdog Tire size calculator suggests the sidewall would be 4.3" for the 245/45/18 and 4.1" for the 295/35/19. Of course real world tire dimensions can vary a bit but doesn't seem like it would be that noticeable visually. You would pick up almost an inch of additional sidewall in the front and just over half an inch in the rear. Seems like that would be enough to help with the impact harshness...

 

[centerpunch]

Well, maybe you're right. I'm probably overthinking this. (As usual...)

I looked at the dimensions of the performance Continentals, Michelins, and Pirellis in the 18F and 19R, all show 26.7 dia front and 27.1 dia rear.

So on the front you have 26.7 - 19.5 (that's the dimension of the outside edge of an 18" wheel), divided by 2, equals 3.6 inches of visible tire sidewall.

On the rear, 27.1 - 20.5 (that's the dimension of the outside edge of a 19" wheel) divided by 2, equals 3.3 inches of visible sidewall. Probably that would look ok.

I'm actually planning on all-season tires, Michelin PS AS4 or Conti DWS 06+. I have the Michelins on my 993 and NSX and really like them. The available sizes are pretty close but not exact- since the available rears are 285 instead of the stock 295, I might go to the slightly narrower 235 on the front also.
front 235/40-19 or 245/40-19 OR 235/45-18 or 245/45-18
rear 285/35-19

(BTW both of those all season tires are available in the oem 20" sizes.)

Braid wheels are known for fitting when most others will not- they must really design their wheels for maximum brake clearance. I had a set of 17" Braid wheels made for my GR Corolla (now sold) for winter and rallycross, they were the only 17" wheels I could find that would fit.

I'll ask GRP about the Braid fitment. They already list 18" wheels, but I'm not sure if those will fit over the stock emergency brake. I'm sure they can get 19" wheels also- Braid wheels are essentially made to order.

18

BRAID Motorsport Forged Wheels are machined to create a wheel that is extremely stiff, exceptionally strong, and very lightweight., surpassing the most stringent manufacturing knowledge for an even higher performance, driving dynamic and structural integrity. Fitment for all Lotus Evora Cars...

www.gregsraceparts.com

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[Speedy Emira]

Well, maybe you're right. I'm probably overthinking this. (As usual...)

I looked at the dimensions of the performance Continentals, Michelins, and Pirellis in the 18F and 19R, all show 26.7 dia front and 27.1 dia rear.

So on the front you have 26.7 - 19.5 (that's the dimension of the outside edge of an 18" wheel), divided by 2, equals 3.6 inches of visible tire sidewall.

On the rear, 27.1 - 20.5 (that's the dimension of the outside edge of a 19" wheel) divided by 2, equals 3.3 inches of visible sidewall. Probably that would look ok.

I'm actually planning on all-season tires, Michelin PS AS4 or Conti DWS 06+. I have the Michelins on my 993 and NSX and really like them. The available sizes are pretty close but not exact- since the available rears are 285 instead of the stock 295, I might go to the slightly narrower 235 on the front also.
front 235/40-19 or 245/40-19 OR 235/45-18 or 245/45-18
rear 285/35-19

(BTW both of those all season tires are available in the oem 20" sizes.)

Braid wheels are known for fitting when most others will not- they must really design their wheels for maximum brake clearance. I had a set of 17" Braid wheels made for my GR Corolla (now sold) for winter and rallycross, they were the only 17" wheels I could find that would fit.

I'll ask GRP about the Braid fitment. They already list 18" wheels, but I'm not sure if those will fit over the stock emergency brake. I'm sure they can get 19" wheels also- Braid wheels are essentially made to order.

18

BRAID Motorsport Forged Wheels are machined to create a wheel that is extremely stiff, exceptionally strong, and very lightweight., surpassing the most stringent manufacturing knowledge for an even higher performance, driving dynamic and structural integrity. Fitment for all Lotus Evora Cars...

www.gregsraceparts.com

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View attachment 55922
View attachment 55923

I thought we can't get 18s to fit due to the electric brake?

 

[Speedy Emira]

21 F&R and 18 F&R
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View attachment 55859View attachment 55860

I think the 21s look really good, but I already have one set of wheels spare and now I would love some 21s and 18s if someone ever got some that would fit.

 

[centerpunch]

I thought we can't get 18s to fit due to the electric brake?

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I've emailed GRP to ask about the Braid fitment. They already list 18" wheels, but I'm not sure if those will fit over the stock emergency brake. I'm sure they can get 19" wheels also- Braid wheels are essentially made to order.

 

[Speedy Emira]

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I've emailed GRP to ask about the Braid fitment. They already list 18" wheels, but I'm not sure if those will fit over the stock emergency brake. I'm sure they can get 19" wheels also- Braid wheels are essentially made to order.

A set of 18s would be nice for a GT4 look, and especially if someone had a replica body kit.