The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche came from an era when handcrafted luxury convertibles and coupes still carried a formal, coachbuilt presence on the road. Its long hood, elegant proportions, and refined touring character make tire choice as much about stance and presentation as basic fitment. This model uses a 235/70R15 radial on a 15-inch rim, so the focus is not on sorting through multiple original sizes but on choosing the right interpretation of that fitment. Available options include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter styles across several premium touring and period-style radial lines. The right selection depends on whether the car is being kept closer to a traditional luxury look or prepared for regular road use with a specific visual preference.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche
The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche uses one primary tire size: 235/70R15. It is a radial fitment on a 15-inch rim, and the Corniche Base uses that same size as well. That makes the real decision less about which size fits and more about choosing the right radial tire style, sidewall treatment, and product series for the way the car is restored, presented, and driven.
A 235/70R15 size uses a 235 millimeter nominal section width, a 70-series profile, radial construction, and a 15-inch rim diameter. On the 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche, that makes it a modern radial fitment rather than an earlier bias-ply size, which suits the car's luxury touring character and late-1970s wheel package. Product choices in this size include Avon, BFGoodrich, Cooper, and Michelin, with sidewall treatments ranging from blackwall and narrow whitewall to wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter. This size is the correct starting point when choosing between a more formal restoration-oriented appearance and a more contemporary road-going presentation.
Fitment is straightforward across the covered 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche sub-models. The key check is still confirming that the car remains on the proper 15-inch wheel setup before choosing among the available radial tire styles and series.
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1978 Rolls Royce Corniche Base
The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche Base uses the same 235/70R15 radial fitment as the core model. Tire selection therefore centers on sidewall appearance, touring-oriented product choice, and wheel compatibility rather than sorting through multiple original size options.
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 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche Tires for Sale
Available 235/70R15 choices span Cooper, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Michelin, with touring and period-style radial series that differ mainly in sidewall presentation. Blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter options are all represented in this size.
These FAQs focus on the 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche's 235/70R15 radial fitment, 15-inch wheel setup, sidewall and brand choices, and the practical checks that matter before putting a collector luxury car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche?
The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche uses a 235/70R15 radial tire. That is the primary tire size for this model and it corresponds to a 15-inch rim, making it the correct starting point when replacing tires on a stock-wheel Corniche.
Fitment is simple in size terms, but selection still matters because this size is offered in several different sidewall styles and tire series. Before choosing one, confirm that the car still has the proper wheel diameter and that no wheel, suspension, or body changes have altered clearance requirements.
What size rim does a 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche use?
The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche uses a 15-inch rim with its 235/70R15 tire size. That rim diameter is central to the fitment, since the final number in the tire size identifies the wheel size the tire is built for.
Rim diameter should be verified before ordering tires, especially on collector cars that may have been changed over the years. A matching 15-inch diameter does not settle every fitment detail, so wheel width and the car's actual clearance should still be checked before mounting a new set.
Does the 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche Base uses the same 235/70R15 radial tire size as the core Corniche fitment. That means there is no separate primary tire size to sort out for the Base sub-model within this application.
That shared fitment makes shopping easier, but it does not eliminate the need to verify the actual wheel setup on the car. Once size is confirmed, the main decision becomes choosing the sidewall style and tire series that best match the Corniche's appearance and intended road use.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 235/70R15 tire for a 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche?
Start with the correct 235/70R15 radial size and a confirmed 15-inch wheel. From there, compare sidewall appearance, tire series character, rim-width compatibility where stated, and whether the car is being kept in a formal luxury presentation or given a more personalized look.
A Corniche can look very different on blackwalls, whitewalls, redlines, or raised white letters even when the size stays the same. It also helps to compare load figures, product weight, and wheel-width suitability so the tire chosen matches both the vehicle setup and the way the car will actually be driven.
What sidewall styles are available for 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche tires?
The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche's 235/70R15 fitment is available in several sidewall styles, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter. Those choices give the car very different visual personalities even though the underlying size remains the same.
A more formal luxury presentation often points buyers toward blackwall or whitewall variations, while redline or raised white letter tires create a more customized period feel. Since appearance is a major part of the decision on this car, sidewall style should be chosen alongside wheel compatibility and intended use, not as an afterthought.
What brands offer tires for the 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche?
The 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche's 235/70R15 size is available from Cooper, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Michelin. Those brands cover several distinct radial tire series, giving Corniche owners a mix of touring-oriented and period-style options within the correct size category.
Brand choice is best treated as part of a broader comparison rather than the only decision point. Looking at sidewall treatment, stated rim-width range where available, load information, and the tire's overall visual character will usually narrow the field more effectively than choosing by brand name alone.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche?
A period-style 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche should begin with the correct 235/70R15 radial fitment and then move to appearance details. Whitewall, narrow whitewall, and blackwall options generally align more naturally with the Corniche's formal late-1970s luxury character than more overtly sporty sidewall treatments.
That said, period-style does not automatically mean one exact sidewall or brand for every car. Buyers pursuing a highly authentic restoration should compare the tire choice against original photos, build paperwork, marque-club knowledge, and the specific way the individual Corniche was delivered and presented when new.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche?
Construction is straightforward here because the 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche uses a radial tire size rather than a vintage bias-ply fitment. The visual difference on this car comes less from radial-versus-bias construction and more from profile, sidewall treatment, and the styling of the tire series itself.
That makes details like blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, or redline especially important on a restored example. Keeping the proper size and wheel diameter preserves the car's proportions, while the chosen sidewall helps determine whether the finished look feels formal, understated, or more personalized.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche?
Yes. Even though the primary size is 235/70R15, modifications can change whether that fitment still works as expected on a particular 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche. Wheel width changes, aftermarket wheels, altered ride height, suspension work, or body changes can all affect clearance and overall compatibility.
A Corniche that no longer has its original-style wheel setup should be measured before tire selection rather than relying on the stock size alone. Checking wheel diameter, wheel width, steering clearance, and fender space helps prevent problems that may not be obvious until the tires are mounted and the car is moving.
What should I inspect before driving a 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche on new tires?
Before driving a 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct size and condition, make sure the tires are properly mounted and inflated, and look over the suspension and steering for looseness or wear. A clean visual check for rubbing points is also worthwhile.
Collector luxury cars often spend long periods parked, so the rest of the chassis may need as much attention as the tires themselves. A short, careful test drive followed by a second inspection for air loss, unusual wear, or contact marks can catch issues early before the car is taken on a longer outing.
How should 235/70R15 tires on a collector 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche be maintained?
235/70R15 tires on a collector 1978 Rolls Royce Corniche should be kept at the proper inflation for the tire and vehicle setup, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, and protected from long periods of heat, sunlight, and ozone exposure during storage.
Low annual mileage does not eliminate aging, so condition matters just as much as tread depth on a car like this. Occasional movement, clean storage surfaces, and periodic checks for air loss help preserve both ride quality and appearance, especially when the Corniche is driven only seasonally or for special events.
