Tires or Tyres for a Bentley Arnage?

Lou Garvin · Joined: 22 Dec 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Denton, TX

It's time for a new set of shoes for my Arnage. I bought the car in Jan. 2013 with 31,000 miles on the clock. I have been enjoying my commute to work in Dallas of 70 miles round trip and now have 43,000.

I have Pirelli P Zero 255/50ZR18 with a 102y designation that I understand are the original equipment choice on the car now. They cost new $480 a piece. Problem is there doesn't seem to be any alternatives on the market in the states that are the same size.

I was told by one tire shop that I could use an all season Bridgestone 255/55R18 with a 109H designation that cost $225 a piece. The agent there said this tire would only be a 1/4 of an inch taller than the Pirelli.

My question members is will this tire fit? Do I really need a Pirelli capable of 186 mph when this Bridgestone will go 130 mph? I rarely do even a "ton" on the interstate on my commute.

So dear members-your comments please.

Thanks,

Lou

John Murch · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:12 am Post subject:

Hello Lou,

I know nothing about the law in the USA, but in the UK fitting a tyre with a lower speed rating can, potentially, invalidate your insurance.

John

p.s.

How good to read that you are getting some proper use from the car.

Lou Garvin · Joined: 22 Dec 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Denton, TX

Thanks John-i will check with my insurance agent and let u know.

Lou

Lou Garvin · Joined: 22 Dec 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Denton, TX

Hola John,

I talked to my insurance agents and they barely knew what I was talking about when I mentioned speed ratings and assured me it would not effect my rates or coverage to use a tire with a lower rating. Looks like we still haven't come very far from the frontier here in the "colony".

I did some further investigation on my own though and found out the truth in the difference between a 255/50R18 and a 255/55R18 tire is actually 1inch in diameter and over 3 inches in circumference. Not something I want to be the test pilot on with my beautiful Arnage. I have however found a tire that is 255/50R18 made buy Nitto. It costs $167 a piece. It has a "V" speed rating which is good for 149 mph. That should work for my commute to Dallas and save me $1200 and buy my gas for 5 months.

Yes I plan to drive my Arnage well into the six figure mileage range with a smile on my face all the way. I'll report back on the ride and mileage I get on the Nittos.

Cheers,

Lou

Laurie Fox · Guest

John Murch · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 4:40 pm Post subject:

If you spoke to the insurers and they had no problems, great. But I would be inclined to send them a communication stating your intentions, don't give them room to wriggle!
What a different in price!

John

John Robins · Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 6:01 pm Post subject:

I've never understood this. My innocuous daily driver is fitted with Y rated tyres, the national speed limit is 116 mph below the speed rating of the tyres!

a) these days I drive like Miss Daisy's chauffeur
b) the car wouldn't do 186 mph with a rocket up its rear.

If I went for cheaper tyres the insurance might be invalidated, and I might therefore be committing a serious offence. All because some gink thinks Y rated tyres look good on my estate car!

Lou Garvin · Joined: 22 Dec 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Denton, TX

Thanks Laurie for the encouragement to keep driving. I'll be more than satisfied if I hit 300,000 on my Bentley both in the car and myself. We'll done to you.

Good advice John Murch-I shall post a letter to my insurer the day I have the Nittos mounted.

I guess there are some freedoms still to be found on the frontier John Robins that the ginks can't touch.

Happy Holidays members,

Lou

Lou Garvin · Joined: 22 Dec 2012 Posts: 17 Location: Denton, TX

I have yesterday installed the new Nitto tyres on my Arnage. We have had some very unusual weather here in Dallas this past 7 days which started with an ice storm and 3 inches of ice on the roads and the temperature never above 32 degrees F. I dared not take the Arnage out in that weather as the tyres needed replacing and the Pirellis on it are not meant to use in ice or snow.

After the installation of the Nittos I did drive about 30 miles in what was left of the ice and snow and had no problems. These tyres are designed for an SUV and look like it.

I will update more on the ride, noise level, and wear after a few more thousand miles.

Lou.

JRnage · Joined: 23 Aug 2021 Posts: 11 Location: Texas, USA

Hi Lou. I am jn San Antonio and noticed you have a Arnage and live in Texas. Do you still have it?
Look forward to talking about our cars. Mine is a 2005 T.
John in San Antonio.

Joe Wells · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2023 7:56 pm Post subject:

I have an Arnage with Pirrelli P Zero 255 50 R18 106Y which was original equipment but they have stopped making them in this size so I have had two Bridgestone Turanza T005 which have the same specifcation as the Pirelli fitted to the rear of my car and they seem to be working fine and are designated as a car tyre, I assume they may be available in the USA.

bbshriver · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 2:03 pm Post subject:

Well, this is an old thread, but seems an evergreen issue thanks to Bentley's use of strange size tires.

It seems 255/50/18 aren't really available in any tire at the moment, even the OE Pirelli. Mine are dated 2019 so I'm near needing to replace them due to age.

I'm strongly considering the 255/55 fitment as there are several more options at that size, even with correct speed ratings.

John Murch · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2025 4:28 pm Post subject:

History does tend to repeat itself! If in the 1950’s you had a WO car, then 25years old, you would be struggling to find a 525/21 tyre, now there are multiple suppliers.
Perhaps Arnage owners should have a chat with Blockley tyres and see if they would do a run of suitable rubber.