Bentley Continental Tires

Bentley Continental uses a broad range of tire sizes across this page: 185R16 and 650-16 for 1952-1955; 235/70R15 for 1985-1995; 255/60R16 for 1993; 255/55R17 for 1994-2002; 255/65R15 for 1995; 285/45R18 for 1997-2003; 255/50R18 for 1998-2002; 275/40R19 for 2003-2013; 275/35R20 for 2005-2013; 275/35R21 and 275/40R20 for 2012-2018; 265/40R21, 265/45R20, 275/35R22, 295/40R20, 305/35R21, and 315/30R22 for 2020-2026 depending on configuration. Rim diameters in this group run from 15 to 22 inches, with the early 1952-1955 applications using 16-inch rims.

The practical takeaway is that Bentley Continental fitment is strongly generation-specific and sometimes configuration-specific within the same year. Start with the model year, then verify the wheel diameter actually fitted to the car, and only then compare section width and aspect ratio. On years with several listed sizes, especially 1995, 1998-2002, 2012-2013, and 2020 onward, checking the mounted wheel is more reliable than assuming every Bentley Continental from that year used the same package.

On a Bentley Continental, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size used for 1952 through 1955. The 650 portion denotes a nominal 6.50-inch section width, and the 16 denotes a 16-inch rim diameter. The products available in this size are bias-ply tires, with many built around 4.50 to 5.00-inch rim widths, and that construction places this fitment firmly in the period-correct early Continental era.

The important implication is that 650-16 should not be confused with a later metric radial size simply because both fit 16-inch wheels. A buyer restoring an early Bentley Continental often chooses between period-style bias-ply character and the alternate 185R16 radial option listed for the same years. If the goal is authenticity in stance and appearance, 650-16 is the historic-looking choice, and tube-type service should be assumed for most applications in this size.

A 1995 Bentley Continental has three sizes listed because that model year spans more than one wheel-diameter configuration. The listed sizes are 235/70R15, 255/55R17, and 255/65R15, which means both 15-inch and 17-inch wheel applications appear within the same year. That is a wheel-package split rather than a case of one universal tire fitting every 1995 Bentley Continental.

The practical step is to inspect the car before choosing a tire, rather than relying on the calendar year alone. Check the wheel diameter stamped on the wheel or confirm the existing tire size if the current setup is known to be correct. If the car has been updated over time, the present wheel may not match the original delivery configuration, so wheel measurement is the safest starting point.

Bentley Continental uses several rim diameters across the years covered here. The early 1952-1955 applications use 16-inch rims, the later 1985 fitment begins at 15-inch, and the range then expands through 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22-inch wheels depending on year and configuration. The first major wheel-diameter change in this page occurs in 1985, when the listed fitment moves from the early 16-inch setup to a 15-inch radial size.

That wide spread makes rim diameter the first thing to verify on any Bentley Continental. Once the wheel diameter is confirmed, the remaining choice becomes much simpler because it narrows the possible sizes immediately. This matters most on years with several listed fitments, where the same model year can include multiple wheel packages and, in later cars, staggered-looking combinations that should be matched carefully.

The correct tire size for a year-specific Bentley Continental is determined by matching the model year to the listed sizes and then confirming the wheel diameter actually on the car. Some years have only one listed size, while others have two, three, four, or even six. The most complex years include 1995, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026, where multiple configurations appear under the same Bentley Continental year.

Begin with the year listing, then physically inspect the wheels and the tires already fitted if they are known to be correct. On a restored or modified Bentley Continental, wheel swaps can change the answer entirely, especially when later cars use 20-, 21-, or 22-inch packages. If originality matters, compare the car against factory literature, ownership history, or marque-club references before settling on a replacement size.

Bentley Continental tires in this group appear in several sidewall styles, including Blackwall, Wide Whitewall, Narrow Whitewall, Redline, and RWL. The early 650-16 offerings include both blackwall and wide whitewall bias-ply choices, while later radial sizes such as 235/70R15 and some modern 20-inch fitments add specialty looks like redlines and raised white letters. Other listed modern performance sizes are predominantly blackwall.

Sidewall style affects the look of a Bentley Continental as much as the size itself. A 1950s car restored to formal touring appearance may suit a blackwall or wide whitewall depending on the chosen presentation, while later cars typically look most natural on blackwall radials. Redline and RWL options can be useful for a custom visual preference, but buyers pursuing period-correct presentation should match the sidewall style to the era and restoration goal.

The brands represented for Bentley Continental sizes on this page include Michelin, Avon, Vredestein, BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Tornel, Cooper, Nitto, Pro-Trac, and M&H Racemaster. Those brands are spread across different size groups rather than appearing in every Bentley Continental fitment. Early sizes such as 650-16 have the broadest variety, while some later performance sizes are covered by fewer brands.

Brand choice should come after size and wheel diameter are settled. Once the correct fitment is identified, compare the available brands by construction style, sidewall appearance, and intended use, whether that is touring, judged restoration, or later high-performance driving. A Bentley Continental owner shopping across generations will notice that the brand mix changes dramatically between the 1950s bias-ply offerings and the modern radial performance applications.

Bentley Continental products here span several tire series with very different purposes, including Michelin X Radial, Turbosteel, Sprint Classic, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Silvertown Radial, Michelin XVS, Radial T/A, g-Force Sport Comp 2, g-Force Comp 2 AS, g-Force Phenom T/A, Nitto NT555 G2, Street Pro III, Drag Radial, and others. Some are period-style bias-ply collector tires, some are classic-appearance radials, and some are modern performance radials for later Continental generations.

That means the right series depends on how the Bentley Continental is being used. An early 1950s restoration may call for a traditional bias-ply line, while a later 1980s or 1990s car may suit a classic touring radial, and modern 2000s-plus applications often fall into performance-oriented radial families. Once the correct size is established, compare series by era, appearance, and intended driving character rather than by name alone.

A Bentley Continental should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from ozone sources such as electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and welders. Keep the car off damp ground, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and move the car periodically if it sits for long stretches. Collector cars with heavy curb weight, including Bentley Continental models, can develop flat spotting when left stationary for extended periods.

For longer storage, many owners reduce the strain on the tires by rolling the car occasionally or using storage practices that prevent one small section of tread from carrying the load for months at a time. The exact method depends on the suspension, wheel, and storage setup. The goal is steady support, stable pressure, and protection from heat and UV, all of which help preserve both modern radials and earlier collector-style tires.

Tires on a Bentley Continental should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly several times during the season, especially if the car is used infrequently. Look for pressure loss, sidewall cracking, tread separation, bulges, impact damage, and uneven wear. On older collector applications such as the early Bentley Continental sizes, inspection should also include valve stems, tubes where fitted, and the condition of the wheel itself.

Low annual mileage does not remove the need for inspection; in fact, it makes visual checks more important because age-related deterioration can develop without much tread wear. A Bentley Continental that spends long periods parked should have pressure checked regularly and should be examined after any long storage interval before returning to the road. Any vibration, pull, or visible sidewall change deserves prompt attention before further driving.

Bentley Continental tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, internal deterioration, repeated pressure loss, impact damage, or structural change appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on cars driven only occasionally. A tire can look cosmetically sound yet still be unsuitable for regular road use if its materials have become brittle or unstable with time.

The safest approach is to treat age and condition as equally important. If a Bentley Continental still wears an older set whose history is uncertain, a specialist inspection is wise before continued use. That matters even more if the car carries a long-stored period tire, because age alone can outweigh appearance. Replacement decisions on collector cars should be conservative, particularly on heavy grand touring cars that place meaningful load on their tires.

Bentley Continental tires can be suitable for public-road use when the correct size, construction, load capability, and overall condition match the specific car. The page includes everything from early 1950s collector sizes to modern radial performance applications for much newer Continental generations, so safety depends on selecting the correct fitment and using a tire appropriate to the car's era and intended driving style. Condition matters as much as specification.

A well-sorted Bentley Continental on correctly chosen, healthy tires can be driven confidently within the limits of its setup, but an incorrect size or aged tire can undermine braking, stability, and ride quality. Before regular road use, check inflation, inspect for age damage, and make sure the tire matches the wheel diameter exactly. Cars used for occasional touring should still be evaluated with the same care as regularly driven vehicles.

Before driving a Bentley Continental, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and any signs of impact damage or uneven wear. Confirm that all four tires match the intended setup for the car, especially on later Continental generations where multiple sizes and larger wheel packages appear. On early 650-16 bias-ply applications, include a close look at the tube-type hardware and wheel condition as part of the pre-drive routine.

Those checks matter because Bentley Continental models are heavy, fast, and sensitive to tire condition in different ways depending on the era. A few minutes in the garage can catch problems that are easy to miss on a low-use collector car, such as a slow pressure loss or sidewall age cracking. If the car has been stored for a long period, treat the first drive as a recommissioning check rather than a casual outing.

Appropriate speed for a Bentley Continental depends on the exact tire fitted, the car's condition, and whether it is running an early period-style tire or a later modern radial. A 1950s Bentley Continental on bias-ply collector tires should be driven with more restraint than a later car on modern radial performance tires, even when both are in good condition. Tire age and construction influence safe real-world driving more than appearance alone.

The practical rule is to match road speed to the limitations of the tire and the condition of the vehicle rather than the model name's grand touring reputation. Early bias-ply-equipped Bentley Continental cars are best treated conservatively, while later radial-equipped cars still deserve a cautious warm-up and steady monitoring of pressure and feel. Any vintage car that wanders, vibrates, or feels unstable should be slowed immediately and inspected before continuing.