Rolls Royce Corniche Tyres
Here is a short film made about the Silver Shadow 1 tyres, also relevant to post 1973 Rolls Royce Corniche tyres.
Rolls Royce Corniche 1971–1995
- Original equipment tyres on an early pre-1973 Rolls Royce Corniche were 815 - 15 crossply or 205 - 15 Radial.
- We would suggest the best tyre for an early series 1 Rolls Royce Corniche is a 205 WR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN72.
- Avon also make the 205 R 15 Avon Textile which is an option for pre-1973 Corniche.
- Although not exactly the correct size, we could also offer a 215/75R15 Galaxy Whitewall. They do fit and people are often tempted by its budget price, it has a thin white band, (which can be fitted inwards if you don't want white walls).
- Corniche wheels are said to be tubeless, but they are lacking the safety beads that prevent tyre slippage in the event of a flat tyre. We would suggest running these wheels with innertubes, even if you fit tubeless radial tyres.
- The Michelin 15/17H13 will be the best fitting innertube for these tyres.
Post 1973 Corniche Tyres
- In 1973, Rolls Royce followed the trend and moved to the more modern, low profile tyre size 235/70-15 on the Corniche.
- At the time, Rolls Royce was keen to fit Michelin's asymmetric XVS tyre, because of its handling characteristics, however, Michelin was not keen to support Rolls Royce's very low-pressure recommendations.
- So the post-1973 Corniche was fitted with 235/70 R 15 Avon Turbosteel or the 235/70 VR 15 Avon Turbosteel Whitewall for its soft quiet ride.
- The 235/70x15 Michelin XVS White Wall was the best option for those owner drivers who wanted to dramatically improve the handling of their Corniche while staying fashion conscious.
- There is a budget alternative 235/70 - 15 Galaxy Whitewall with a white band on one side.
- For the Corniche 1, Corniche 2, Corniche 3 or Corniche 4 with 205R15 or 235/70R15 tyres, we suggest the Michelin 15/17 H innertube.
Modern Classic Corniche Tyres
- In 1995 the Turbocharged Rolls Royce Corniche S. (Corniche S meaning Sport) fitted 255/65 VR 15 Avon Turbospeed CR27.
- The 5th series Rolls Royce Corniche fitted 255/55 WR 17 Avon CR228D from the year 2000 through to 2002.
- These later Corniche 5 and Corniche S cars with tyres of a profile lower than 70% should not fit an innertube.
The following video is the Longstone Classic Tyres Team how to use a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow on the autobahns in Germany sporting a set of 235/70 HR 15 Michelin XVS tyres.
History of the Rolls Royce Corniche
The Rolls-Royce Corniche is a front-engined, two-door, rear-wheel-drive luxury car produced by Rolls-Royce. The Corniche was available as a hardtop coupé between 1971 and 1980 and a convertible between 1971 and 1995. The Corniche was a Mulliner Park Ward-designed variation of the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. In 1965 and 1966, the 2-door Saloon and Drophead Coupé were introduced. The manufacture remained at Mulliner Park Ward in London until March 1971, when the new name was established.
The Corniche was named after the experimental Corniche prototype that was produced in 1939. The name comes from the French word corniche, which refers to a beach road, especially one that runs down the face of a cliff, such as the Grande Corniche, which runs along the French Riviera above Monaco.