The 1973 Bentley T Series came from an era when Crewe-built luxury cars balanced formal British presentation with increasingly modern road manners. As the Bentley counterpart to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, the T Series is valued for its quiet touring character, refined proportions, and engineering sophistication. Tire selection on this exact car is relatively straightforward because the 1973 Bentley T Series uses a 205R15 radial on a 15-inch rim. Within that size, the available choices include both a traditional wide whitewall presentation and a more understated blackwall radial. The real decision is how closely the tire should match the car’s intended appearance, road use, and existing wheel setup.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1973 Bentley T Series
The 1973 Bentley T Series uses one primary tire size: 205R15, a radial tire mounted on a 15-inch rim. That fitment also carries across the covered w/Compliant Susp. sub-model, so the main choice is not between multiple primary sizes, but between tire style, brand, and the appearance you want the car to carry on the road.
A 205R15 size uses a nominal section width of 205 millimeters, radial construction, and a 15-inch rim diameter. In this format, the size is a classic Euro-metric radial and is commonly understood as an 80-series type even though the aspect ratio is not written into the code. For the 1973 Bentley T Series, that keeps the selection focused on presentation as much as fitment, with both Phoenix and Avon options available, including wide whitewall and blackwall styles in different tire series. It is the right place to start if the goal is proper size, a radial driving format, and a choice between more formal or more restrained visual character.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward for the 1973 Bentley T Series because the covered configuration uses the same primary tire size. Checking the exact sub-model still matters so the tire choice stays aligned with the car’s suspension configuration and intended appearance.
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1973 Bentley T Series w/Compliant Susp.
The 1973 Bentley T Series w/Compliant Susp. uses the same 205R15 radial fitment as the core model. That makes tire selection less about decoding multiple sizes and more about choosing the right sidewall style, brand, and overall presentation for the car.
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 1973 Bentley T Series Tires for Sale
Available 205R15 choices for the 1973 Bentley T Series include Phoenix and Avon radial tires in different series and sidewall styles. The main comparison points are blackwall versus wide whitewall presentation, along with brand character and rim-width compatibility where stated.
These FAQs focus on 1973 Bentley T Series tire size, 15-inch rim fitment, available radial choices, sidewall appearance, and the checks worth making before road use on a collector-era luxury car.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1973 Bentley T Series?
The 1973 Bentley T Series uses a 205R15 radial tire. That is the primary fitment for this model and it pairs with a 15-inch rim, keeping the sizing question fairly simple compared with vehicles that used multiple wheel and tire combinations in the same model year.
The next step is confirming that the car still has the correct wheel setup, especially if it has had wheel replacements or long-term restoration work. Once the size is confirmed, the real choice becomes the type of 205R15 tire you want, including sidewall appearance, brand, and whether the tire suits the car’s touring-focused presentation.
What size rim does a 1973 Bentley T Series use?
The 1973 Bentley T Series uses a 15-inch rim with its 205R15 tire size. The size code itself confirms the 15-inch wheel diameter, and the available products in this fitment are built around that same rim diameter.
Wheel diameter is only one part of the fitment picture on a collector car. It is also worth checking actual wheel width, bead condition, and whether the car still carries its original-style wheels or has been changed at some point, because those details affect how confidently a 205R15 radial can be selected.
Does the 1973 Bentley T Series w/Compliant Susp. use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1973 Bentley T Series w/Compliant Susp. uses the same 205R15 radial tire size as the core model fitment. That means this covered sub-model does not introduce a second primary tire size or a different rim diameter for the buyer to sort through.
Even with shared sizing, it still helps to verify the actual car before purchase. Restored or modified vehicles can end up with different wheels than expected, and a suspension-related sub-model label makes it especially sensible to check wheel dimensions and visible clearance before settling on a particular 205R15 tire.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 205R15 tire for a 1973 Bentley T Series?
Start with the correct 205R15 size and radial construction, then compare the details that shape how the car looks and is used. On this Bentley, the available choices differ by brand, tire series, sidewall treatment, and in some cases stated rim-width compatibility.
A wide whitewall gives the T Series a more formal, traditional luxury presentation, while a blackwall creates a more restrained look. It also helps to think about how the car is driven, whether originality of appearance matters more than visual understatement, and whether the existing wheels match the tire’s stated fitment range.
What sidewall styles are available for 1973 Bentley T Series tires?
The available 205R15 tires for a 1973 Bentley T Series include both Wide Whitewall and Blackwall sidewall styles. Those two options create distinctly different visual results even though they share the same primary tire size and radial construction.
Sidewall style has an outsized effect on a luxury car from this period because it changes the entire stance and visual formality of the vehicle. Choosing between them usually comes down to restoration taste, wheel appearance, and whether the car is being presented as a more traditional formal sedan or a subtler road-going driver.
What brands offer tires for the 1973 Bentley T Series?
Phoenix and Avon both offer 205R15 radial tires for the 1973 Bentley T Series. The available choices also differ by tire series, with Phoenix offered in a European Passenger format and Avon offered as a Turbosteel in the Textile series.
Brand choice should be considered alongside the tire’s visible style and specifications, not in isolation. On this application, the stronger deciding factors are often whether a whitewall or blackwall suits the car better, whether the wheel width aligns with the tire, and whether the overall character fits the Bentley’s intended use.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1973 Bentley T Series?
A period-style 1973 Bentley T Series starts with the correct 205R15 radial size, since that preserves the car’s intended overall fitment format. From there, the choice usually narrows to whether the car should carry a more formal wide whitewall presentation or a cleaner, more understated blackwall appearance.
For many restorations, the visual decision matters as much as the mechanical one because sidewall treatment changes how the car sits visually against its body lines and wheel covers. When exact originality is important, period photos, build records, and marque-specific references are useful for confirming the presentation that best suits the individual car.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1973 Bentley T Series?
On a restored 1973 Bentley T Series, radial construction keeps the car in the sizing and road-use format associated with its original-era fitment style. Since the primary fitment is already radial, the visual difference comes less from construction type and more from sidewall treatment, overall profile, and brand presentation.
That makes the restoration decision more refined than on earlier cars that began with bias-ply tires. A wide whitewall can emphasize the Bentley’s formal luxury character, while a blackwall can give it a more discreet look, so the better choice depends on whether the car is being restored for visual authenticity, touring use, or personal taste.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1973 Bentley T Series?
Yes. A 1973 Bentley T Series may have the correct primary tire size of 205R15, but modifications can still affect fitment. Changes to wheel width, wheel offset, suspension height, steering components, or body clearance can alter how comfortably that tire works on the car.
That is why an owner should look beyond the size code alone when the car has been restored or updated over time. Checking wheel dimensions, inner and outer clearance, and how the tire sits at full steering lock helps avoid choosing a tire that matches the nominal size but conflicts with the Bentley’s current setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1973 Bentley T Series on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve stems, and mounting condition, then confirm that each tire is holding pressure evenly. It is also wise to look over suspension and steering components, since a luxury car like the 1973 Bentley T Series benefits most from proper tire fitment when the rest of the chassis is in sound condition.
A short initial drive followed by a second inspection can reveal rubbing, irregular seating, or air loss that is not obvious in the shop. Collector vehicles also deserve an age-and-condition review of spare tires, brake hoses, and rubber suspension parts before a longer outing, especially after extended storage.
How should 205R15 tires on a collector 1973 Bentley T Series be maintained?
205R15 tires on a collector 1973 Bentley T Series should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly, and protected from long idle periods in poor storage conditions. Even when tread looks fresh, sidewall cracking, flat spotting, cuts, bulges, and gradual air loss deserve attention on a low-mileage luxury car.
Storage habits matter because heat, direct sunlight, moisture, and nearby ozone sources can shorten tire life on vehicles that are driven infrequently. Regular movement of the car, periodic pressure checks, and a visual inspection before each outing help preserve both ride quality and confidence when the Bentley returns to the road.
