1964 Rolls Royce Tire Fitment Guide

1964 Rolls Royce vehicles covered here use one tire size: 890-15, and it applies to the Phantom. That size fits a 15-inch wheel, and Firestone versions of the 890-15 are intended for 6.50- to 7.00-inch rim widths. All products in this fitment use bias-ply construction.

That makes the first step straightforward: confirm that your car is the 1964 Rolls Royce Phantom, then focus on the version of the 890-15 that best matches your goals. Once the size is established, the real decision becomes sidewall appearance and brand preference rather than comparing multiple fitments across the year.

On a 1964 Rolls Royce tire, 890-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 8.90 portion refers to the nominal section width in inches, while the 15 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. In period sizing like this, the code is not written the way a modern metric radial tire would be.

That difference matters when you start comparing reproduction collector tires to later radial sizing systems. A modern-looking metric code and a period numeric code are not interchangeable just because the wheel diameter matches. If your car is meant to retain its original character and appearance, staying with the proper numeric bias-ply format is usually the right starting point.

Within the 1964 Rolls Royce coverage here, yes: the Phantom uses 890-15. There is no second size to sort through at the year-and-make level, so fitment is consistent across the model coverage on this page.

That simplifies the search process, but it does not eliminate the need to choose carefully. Whitewall width, blackwall versus whitewall presentation, and brand differences still affect how the car looks and how closely it aligns with a formal restoration. Once size is confirmed, attention should shift to appearance, intended use, and wheel compatibility.

1964 Rolls Royce tires in 890-15 are available in both wide whitewall and blackwall form. Firestone offers wide whitewall versions in 3.00-inch and 5.00-inch treatments, while Avon offers a blackwall Turbospeed in the same overall size. All of them remain within the correct period-style bias-ply category for the car.

Sidewall appearance has a major effect on a Rolls-Royce because the tire is part of the car’s formal visual balance. A wide whitewall usually suits a more traditional luxury presentation, while a blackwall can create a more restrained touring look. If the car is being judged or restored to a particular delivery style, compare your choice against period photos and marque guidance.

Firestone and Avon both make 890-15 tires for 1964 Rolls Royce applications covered here. Firestone offers wide whitewall bias-ply options, and Avon offers the blackwall Turbospeed Mk4 bias-ply in 890-15 110S. That gives buyers a choice between distinct visual styles as well as two established vintage-tire names.

For many owners, the brand decision will come down to how the car is used and presented. Firestone’s whitewall choices fit a classic American-market luxury look, while Avon carries long-standing recognition in vintage touring and European collector circles. If authenticity is important, choose the brand and sidewall treatment that best matches your car’s restoration story.

The Firestone 890-15 options are bias-ply tires with wide whitewall styling, each rated at 2,500 pounds at 40 psi and intended for 15-inch wheels with a 6.50- to 7.00-inch rim width. The Avon Turbospeed 890-15 110S is also a bias-ply tire, but it uses a blackwall sidewall and carries an S speed rating, which corresponds to 112 mph, with a maximum load of 2,337 pounds.

That means the difference is not basic fitment, since both are 890-15 bias-ply tires, but presentation and product character. The Firestone versions lean toward a more formal whitewall appearance, while the Avon offers a blackwall touring look with an explicit speed rating. Buyers should compare wheel width, sidewall preference, and the car’s restoration direction before choosing.

For 1964 Rolls Royce applications using 890-15, Firestone specifies a rim width range of 6.50 to 7.00 inches on a 15-inch wheel. That gives a usable width target for the Firestone whitewall versions in this size. The tires covered here all mount on 15-inch rims.

Before ordering, verify the actual wheel on the car rather than assuming every restored or replacement wheel matches factory dimensions. Collector cars sometimes carry replacement rims from earlier restoration work. If your wheel falls within the stated range, that is a strong sign the size is being matched correctly.

A 1964 Rolls Royce should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat-spotting and sidewall aging when a heavy collector car sits in one position for long periods. Clean, dry floors and proper inflation also help protect the casing.

If the car will be stationary for an extended stretch, move it periodically or use stands in a way that follows safe storage practice for the suspension and chassis. Even when the tires look excellent cosmetically, long idle periods can harden the rubber and affect ride quality. A Rolls-Royce that is exercised gently and stored correctly will usually preserve its tires better than one left untouched for seasons at a time.

Tires on a low-use 1964 Rolls Royce should be judged more by age than by mileage. A good rule is to begin evaluating them closely at about five to seven years of service and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if the tread still looks healthy. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age.

Collector cars often accumulate very few miles, so tread depth alone can be misleading. Whitewalls and sidewalls may remain attractive while the internal structure ages. If the car is used for tours, higher-speed road work, or long-distance events, age becomes even more important because a vintage car places a great deal of responsibility on the tire.

Tires on a 1964 Rolls Royce should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Check for sidewall cracking, cuts, embedded debris, uneven wear, bulges, and any loss of pressure. On a large luxury car, small warning signs can become much more significant once the car is moving at touring speeds.

A brief pre-drive walkaround is one of the best habits an owner can develop. Also look at the spare, because collector spares are often far older than the road tires and may not be ready when needed. If the car has spent time in storage, the first inspection after waking it up should be especially thorough.

A 1964 Rolls Royce Phantom would have been associated with period-style bias-ply construction in this size range, and the correct fitment here is 890-15. That matches the construction type and size family used on the car today through reproduction and vintage-style offerings. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery history, so the key point is the correct size, construction type, and appearance.

For an accurate restoration, start with 890-15 bias-ply fitment and then narrow the sidewall treatment to match the car’s intended presentation. A formal car can look very different on blackwalls than on broad whitewalls. If you are restoring to a specific coachbuilt body, country of delivery, or show standard, a marque club or factory archive source is the right next step.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1964 Rolls Royce because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction, and sidewall style immediately. On a car of this caliber, a tire that looks too modern or carries the wrong sidewall treatment can disturb the visual balance and detract from authenticity even if it fits the wheel.

For show purposes, the goal is not just to mount a usable tire but to preserve the car’s proper stance and era. A 890-15 bias-ply tire aligns with the period character of the model. The remaining decision is whether your car should wear blackwalls or wide whitewalls, and that is best checked against period images and event-specific judging standards.

Both Firestone 890-15 options for the 1964 Rolls Royce are bias-ply tires with the same 2,500-pound load rating at 40 psi, the same 15-inch rim diameter, and the same 6.50- to 7.00-inch rim width range. The major difference is the width of the whitewall itself: one uses a 3.00-inch whitewall and the other uses a 5.00-inch whitewall.

That makes the choice primarily visual rather than structural. A wider whitewall creates a more formal, unmistakably period luxury look, while the narrower whitewall is still classic but slightly more restrained. On a Rolls-Royce, that visual difference is prominent, so the right pick depends on the car’s restoration theme and the look you want when the car is viewed in profile.

1964 Rolls Royce tires in 890-15 can be suitable for highway driving when they are in good condition, correctly inflated, and matched to a mechanically sound car. The Avon 890-15 110S carries an S speed rating, which corresponds to 112 mph, while the Firestone 890-15 options are bias-ply touring tires without a speed letter in the size marking shown here. On a car from this era, braking, suspension condition, steering, and alignment are often just as important as tire capability.

Highway safety depends on the complete condition of the car, not on the tire in isolation. A well-maintained Rolls-Royce used within sensible touring speeds is a very different situation from a long-neglected car being driven aggressively. Before any sustained highway use, confirm the age and condition of the tires and make sure the rest of the chassis is equally ready.

Inflation pressure for 1964 Rolls Royce tires should begin with the factory recommendation for the car and then be compared with the tire maker’s maximum-rated pressure for the specific product. Firestone 890-15 tires in this fitment carry a maximum load of 2,500 pounds at 40 psi. Pressure should not be chosen by copying another size or another vehicle simply because the wheel diameter is the same.

The practical approach is to treat the manufacturer’s published maximum as a limit, not an automatic operating pressure. Ride, wear, and handling on a heavy luxury car can change noticeably with only a small pressure difference. Use the owner’s manual or marque literature as your baseline, then verify that your selected tire supports that range appropriately.

Before a longer drive in a 1964 Rolls Royce, inspect each tire for visible cracking, bulges, cuts, tread separation, uneven wear, and stable inflation. Check the spare as well, because an old spare is common on collector cars and may not be roadworthy when finally needed. Tire condition should be part of a broader inspection that includes brakes, steering, suspension, and fluid levels.

A longer trip puts sustained heat and speed into the tire, which can expose weaknesses that may never show up on short local drives. It is also wise to verify that the valve stems are sound and that the car tracks straight without vibration. On an older Rolls-Royce, confidence comes from careful preparation rather than assuming a low-mileage car is automatically ready.