1987 Bentley Tire Fitment Guide

1987 Bentley Continental, Eight, and Mulsanne models all use the same tire size: 235/70R15. That means the entire 1987 Bentley passenger-car range covered here shares a 15-inch rim diameter and a common radial fitment rather than splitting into different sizes by model. Where rim-width guidance is published for this size, it spans from 6.0 to 8.5 inches depending on the specific tire.

That shared fitment makes the first step simpler than it is on many year-make pages. Once you know you have a 1987 Bentley Continental, Eight, or Mulsanne on its correct 15-inch wheels, the decision usually shifts to sidewall appearance, brand preference, and whether your wheel width falls inside the approved range for the exact tire you want.

On a 1987 Bentley tire, 235/70R15 means the tire is 235 millimeters wide, uses a 70-series aspect ratio, has radial construction, and mounts on a 15-inch wheel. The first number is section width, the second is the sidewall height as a percentage of width, the R identifies radial construction, and the final number is wheel diameter in inches.

That code matters because a 235/70R15 keeps the correct basic size relationship for all three Bentley models covered here. If a product also adds a service description such as 101H or 101V, that gives extra information about load index and speed rating, which can influence which version of the same size makes the most sense for your driving habits.

Yes. The 1987 Bentley Continental, Bentley Eight, and Bentley Mulsanne all use 235/70R15 tires. There is no split here where one model takes a different rim diameter or a separate front-and-rear sizing arrangement, so year and make buyers can begin with one common size before narrowing down by model presentation and product preference.

That consistency reduces the risk of choosing the wrong size simply because of body style. It also means the model distinction is more about how you want the finished car to look and feel, since a blackwall luxury-touring tire gives a different visual impression from a redline or raised-white-letter tire even when the size stays the same.

1987 Bentley tires in 235/70R15 are available with blackwall, redline, and raised white letter styling. Avon and Michelin appear in blackwall form, BFGoodrich offers a redline version, and Cooper offers a raised white letter treatment. All of them share the same basic size, but the sidewall presentation changes the personality of the car quite a bit.

For a formal Bentley saloon or coupe, blackwall is usually the most natural visual match because it preserves the understated luxury look associated with the marque in the 1980s. Redline and raised white letter styles can appeal to owners who want a more personalized appearance, but they create a noticeably less restrained presentation than a traditional blackwall touring tire.

Four brands cover 1987 Bentley fitment in 235/70R15: Cooper, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Michelin. All are radial tires, but they serve slightly different buyer priorities through their sidewall styling, published rim-width ranges, and service markings. Michelin and Avon are especially familiar names to buyers looking for premium European-style touring character, while BFGoodrich and Cooper broaden the appearance options.

Brand choice on a 1987 Bentley often comes down to the balance between visual authenticity and the look you want the finished car to project. A buyer restoring a formal sedan or coupe may lean toward a restrained blackwall presentation, while someone personalizing the car may prefer a redline or raised-white-letter tire in the same core size.

Michelin XVS and Avon Turbosteel both cover the 1987 Bentley in 235/70R15, but they differ in the details. The Michelin carries an H speed rating in 235/70HR15 101H TL form, fits 15-inch wheels, and has a published rim-width range of 6.00 to 8.50 inches. The Avon appears as 235/70R15 101V, also for a 15-inch wheel, with a V speed rating and blackwall presentation.

For a Bentley owner, that means the two tires overlap in size and general mission but are not identical in service character. The Michelin gives you an explicitly tubeless H-rated option with a broad published wheel-width range, while the Avon offers a higher V speed rating, so the better choice depends on wheel width, desired service markings, and the kind of period look you want.

Published rim-width guidance for 1987 Bentley tires in 235/70R15 ranges from 6.0 to 8.5 inches, depending on the specific tire. Cooper Cobra Radial G/T is suited to 6.0 to 8.0-inch rims, while BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial and Michelin XVS extend to 6.00 to 8.50-inch rims. All of them mount on 15-inch wheels, but wheel width still matters within that common diameter.

That is why the wheel should be measured, not assumed, before you commit to a particular product. A 1987 Bentley may still wear its original wheels, but restored, refinished, or replacement wheels can differ, and confirming width first helps you avoid selecting a tire whose approved wheel range is narrower than the wheels on your car.

Tube fitment varies by product rather than by size alone on 1987 Bentley tires. Michelin XVS in 235/70HR15 101H TL is explicitly marked tubeless, while some other 235/70R15 products in this fitment do not carry a tube-type or tubeless marker in the size description. That makes it important to verify the sidewall marking and the wheel condition before final installation.

The practical question is not just the tire itself but the wheel it will be mounted on. If your 15-inch Bentley wheels are intended for tubeless radial use and are in proper condition, a tubeless-marked tire may be appropriate, but a restorer should still confirm the exact product marking and wheel suitability rather than assuming every 235/70R15 in this application is set up the same way.

A 1987 Bentley should be stored clean, dry, and away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings when the tires remain fitted. Keep the tires out of prolonged exposure to electric motors, battery chargers, and heaters, and maintain inflation so the sidewalls are not left under-deflected. Radial tires generally tolerate storage better than older bias-ply designs, but they still age when left stationary for long periods.

Moving the car periodically helps prevent flat spotting and keeps the contact patch from sitting in one place month after month. For long seasonal storage, many owners either roll the car occasionally or support it in a way that reduces static load while still respecting suspension geometry and safety, especially on a heavy luxury car such as a Bentley.

Tire life on a 1987 Bentley is usually governed more by age than by mileage. Collector cars often cover limited annual miles, so tread depth can remain acceptable long after the rubber has begun to harden. A sound practice is to evaluate tires carefully once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of remaining tread.

The easiest place to start is the DOT date code on the sidewall, followed by a close inspection for cracking, weather checking, impact damage, and any change in ride quality. A Bentley that spends most of its life indoors can still age its tires, so replacement decisions should be based on time, condition, and confidence at road speed rather than on mileage alone.

Tires on a 1987 Bentley should be inspected before every drive, especially if the car is used intermittently. Check pressure, sidewall condition, tread wear, and whether the tire is holding air consistently after sitting. On a heavy luxury car, even mild underinflation can change steering feel and increase stress on the sidewall over time.

A more thorough inspection is wise before any longer outing or touring event. Look for cracking near the bead and sidewall, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, valve-stem aging, and any vibration that may suggest internal damage or age-related issues, because a seldom-driven car can develop tire problems quietly between otherwise trouble-free starts.

Yes, 1987 Bentley tires in 235/70R15 can be appropriate for highway driving when they are in good condition, correctly inflated, and matched to the wheel. The products here are all radial tires, with examples carrying H and V speed ratings. H corresponds to 130 mph and V corresponds to 149 mph, which is well beyond normal U.S. highway use in ordinary collector-car driving.

The larger safety question on a 1987 Bentley is often overall mechanical condition rather than the raw speed letter on the tire. Brakes, suspension bushings, steering components, wheel condition, and alignment all influence how confidently a big luxury Bentley travels at speed, so tire selection should be treated as part of a complete roadworthiness check rather than as the whole answer.

Inflation pressure for a 1987 Bentley should be matched to the specific tire and the factory guidance for the car, not borrowed from another size or another brand. Within 235/70R15 fitment, some products publish load and pressure figures such as 1,896 pounds at 35 psi. That number describes the tire's rated carrying capacity at that pressure, not automatically the pressure every Bentley owner should run.

The right approach is to start with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation for normal operation and then confirm that the chosen reproduction or replacement tire is being used within its rated range. If you change brand or service description within 235/70R15, recheck the sidewall and the maker's technical guidance so you are not assuming all versions of the size behave identically.

Before a longer drive in a 1987 Bentley, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, bulges, irregular wear, embedded damage, and correct inflation. Confirm that the valve stems are sound, the wheels are in proper condition, and the tires have not aged out even if they still look presentable at a glance. A highway-speed vibration on a heavy Bentley should never be dismissed as normal.

Tires are only one part of the pre-trip routine on an older luxury car, so it also makes sense to check brakes, fluid levels, belts, hoses, and suspension condition before setting off. If the Bentley has been sitting, a short local test drive before a longer run can reveal pressure loss, flat spotting, or ride issues while you are still close to home.