The 1981 Bentley Mulsanne came from an era when Crewe-built luxury sedans balanced traditional craftsmanship with modern road manners, giving owners a full-size grand touring car with unmistakably formal presence. Its tire fitment reflects that more contemporary character, using a 235/70R15 radial on a 15-inch rim rather than an earlier bias-ply format. That keeps the decision focused less on decoding vintage sizing and more on selecting the right presentation, with options that range from blackwall and narrow whitewall to wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter designs. For a Mulsanne that is driven, shown, or carefully restored, appearance, rim compatibility, and intended use all matter.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1981 Bentley Mulsanne
The 1981 Bentley Mulsanne uses one primary tire size: 235/70R15 radial on a 15-inch rim. That fitment carries across the covered Mulsanne sub-models, so the main decision is not choosing between multiple primary sizes, but selecting the right radial tire style, brand, series, and sidewall treatment for the way the car is presented and driven.
A 235/70R15 size uses modern metric radial sizing: 235 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 15 is the rim diameter in inches. On the 1981 Bentley Mulsanne, that means a contemporary radial fitment suited to a large luxury sedan rather than an older alphanumeric or numeric bias-ply size. Available choices include Avon, BFGoodrich, Cooper, and Michelin, with sidewall treatments such as blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter. Choosing within this size comes down to appearance, rim-width suitability, and how traditional or sporty the car should look on the road.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1981 Bentley Mulsanne sub-models, with the same primary size used throughout. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car remains on the expected wheel and tire setup before comparing sidewall and product options.
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1981 Bentley Mulsanne Base
The 1981 Bentley Mulsanne Base uses the same 235/70R15 radial fitment found across this model range. That keeps tire selection focused on presentation and product choice, such as blackwall, whitewall, or other period-style sidewall treatments, rather than sorting through multiple primary sizes.
The 1981 Bentley Mulsanne Turbo also uses the 235/70R15 radial size on a 15-inch rim. Tire selection is therefore more about choosing the right series, brand, and sidewall appearance, while confirming that the car still has the intended wheel width and overall clearance.
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 1981 Bentley Mulsanne Tires for Sale
Available 235/70R15 choices span Avon, BFGoodrich, Cooper, and Michelin, with series such as Turbosteel, Silvertown Radial, Cobra Radial G/T, Radial T/A, and XVS. Sidewall presentation varies widely, so the product grid is especially useful for comparing blackwall, whitewall, redline, and raised white letter options.
Owners of a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne usually need clear answers on 235/70R15 fitment, 15-inch rim compatibility, sidewall appearance, available brands and tire series, and what to inspect before putting a collector-era Bentley back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne?
The 1981 Bentley Mulsanne uses a 235/70R15 radial tire. That is the primary fitment for the covered Mulsanne models, including both Base and Turbo versions, and it mounts on a 15-inch rim.
Using the correct size keeps the tire's proportions in line with the car's wheel diameter and intended stance. The next step is choosing among the available 235/70R15 options by sidewall style, tire series, brand, and rim-width suitability, especially if the car has been fitted with replacement wheels at some point in its life.
What size rim does a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne use?
The primary tire fitment for a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne uses a 15-inch rim diameter. That rim diameter matches the 235/70R15 tire size, where the final number in the size code identifies the wheel diameter in inches.
Rim diameter should be confirmed before ordering tires, particularly on a collector car that may have seen wheel changes over time. Rim width matters too, since some 235/70R15 products call for ranges such as 6.0 to 8.0 inches, 6.00 to 8.50 inches, or 6.5 to 8.5 inches depending on the tire.
Do all 1981 Bentley Mulsanne sub-models use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1981 Bentley Mulsanne sub-models use the same primary tire size, 235/70R15 radial. Both the Base and Turbo versions share that fitment, so there is no split in primary tire sizing between those two sub-models.
That makes tire selection simpler, because the decision centers on product type rather than sub-model size differences. It is still worth confirming the actual wheels on the car, since a Mulsanne with non-original wheels or suspension changes can need a closer check for rim width, steering clearance, and overall visual balance.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 235/70R15 tire for a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne?
Start with the correct primary size, 235/70R15, and make sure the tire is radial construction on a 15-inch rim. From there, compare sidewall style, tire series, brand, and rim-width specifications, since the available options for this size cover traditional blackwall looks as well as whitewall, redline, and raised white letter treatments.
A formal touring presentation may point one buyer toward blackwall or whitewall choices, while another may prefer a more assertive period look. Product specifications such as maximum load, weight, and approved rim-width range are also worth reviewing so the tire's physical fit and intended appearance suit the actual Mulsanne being outfitted.
What sidewall styles are available for 1981 Bentley Mulsanne tires?
The 1981 Bentley Mulsanne's 235/70R15 tire size is available in several sidewall styles, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter. That gives the car a broad range of visual directions without changing its primary tire size.
Sidewall choice has a strong effect on how the Mulsanne reads visually, from restrained and formal to more obviously period-styled. Since sidewall treatment does not override basic fitment, the right approach is to pair the preferred appearance with the correct 15-inch rim setup and a product whose width range matches the wheels actually on the car.
What brands offer tires for the 1981 Bentley Mulsanne?
Tires for the 1981 Bentley Mulsanne's 235/70R15 fitment are available from Avon, BFGoodrich, Cooper, and Michelin. The tire series include Turbosteel 70 CR11B, Silvertown Radial, Cobra Radial G/T, Radial T/A, and Michelin XVS.
Those brand and series choices give owners room to prioritize visual style, sidewall treatment, and product specifications within the same size. Rather than looking for a single universal answer, compare the tire's approved rim-width range, sidewall appearance, and overall character against the way the Mulsanne is used, whether that means touring, show presentation, or occasional fair-weather driving.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1981 Bentley Mulsanne?
A period-style 1981 Bentley Mulsanne should start with the correct 235/70R15 radial size on a 15-inch rim. From there, the choice usually comes down to visual character, with blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall options offering a more formal presentation than sportier sidewall treatments.
The best appearance match depends on the way the individual car is being restored or preserved. Buyers aiming for close historical accuracy should compare tire appearance against marque references, photos, and vehicle-specific documentation, while still making sure the selected tire's rim-width specification and overall fit suit the actual wheel setup on the car.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1981 Bentley Mulsanne?
On a restored 1981 Bentley Mulsanne, tire construction is less about choosing between bias-ply and radial and more about selecting the right radial presentation. The car's primary fitment is already a radial 235/70R15, so appearance differences come from tire series and sidewall style rather than from a change in basic construction type.
That means the visual decision is usually between blackwall, whitewall, redline, or raised white letter treatments, along with the overall character of the tire series itself. A more restrained tire can preserve the Mulsanne's formal luxury look, while a bolder sidewall can shift the car toward a stronger period-performance impression.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne?
Yes. A 1981 Bentley Mulsanne may use the correct 235/70R15 size in stock form, but aftermarket wheels, changes in wheel width, altered offset, suspension work, or ride-height changes can all affect how that tire sits and clears the car.
Any modified Mulsanne should be checked at the wheel rather than assumed to match a standard setup. Wheel diameter, wheel width, steering travel, suspension condition, and body clearance all deserve attention, particularly on a heavy luxury sedan where visual stance and smooth operation matter as much as simply mounting the tire.
What should I inspect before driving a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne on new tires?
Before putting a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne back on the road with new tires, inspect the wheels for correct diameter and condition, confirm the tires are properly seated, and check inflation, valve stems, and balance. It also makes sense to look over suspension and steering components on a car that may have spent long periods in storage.
A short road test should follow once basic checks are complete. Pay attention to clearance at full steering lock, any rubbing over bumps, unusual vibration, and the car's straight-line behavior, since a collector Bentley can reveal wheel, alignment, or suspension issues only after the new 235/70R15 tires are in service.
How should 235/70R15 tires on a collector 1981 Bentley Mulsanne be maintained?
Collector-car tires on a 1981 Bentley Mulsanne should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspections, and careful storage habits. The 235/70R15 tires should be examined for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and slow air loss, especially if the car is driven infrequently or sits for long stretches.
Storage conditions matter nearly as much as mileage on a low-use Bentley. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps protect the rubber, while periodic inspections of tread and sidewall condition can catch age-related problems before a tour, event, or longer highway drive.
