Bentley accessories

Ultra luxury winter items

So you finally attained that niche in your career and celebrated by buying a new Bentley. Now with winter coming on, what do you do? Before you go scrambling through the classifieds for a “beater,” Bentley would like you to consider properly equipping your car to be driven through the winter.

With the latest range of Bentley approved winter tires, socks and snow chains, your car will be equipped to handle the very worst winter conditions, whether driving through heavy snow, on compacted ice or in freezing rain.

Juha Kankkunen takes a Bentley Supersports on a record setting run on the frozen Baltic Sea.

If you snagged one of the 100 available Continental Supersports ISR (for Ice Speed Record, in celebration of Juha Kankkunen’s 330.695 km/h run on the frozen Baltic Sea), you’re well on your way to safe winter driving because it comes standard with Bentley’s all-wheel drive system (as do all Bentley Continentals) and standard, unstudded Pirelli Sottozero winter tires.

It’s also the most potent Bentley convertible ever produced, using a six-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine (631 hp/590 lb.-ft. of torque) paired with a Quickshift six-speed automatic transmission. Zero to 100 km/h takes four seconds; to 100 mph (160 km/h) takes 9.5.

Other Bentley models can be equipped from authorized dealers from a comprehensive range of winter tires in 19-, 20- and 21- inch sizes to fit Continental GT and GTC, Continental Supersports and Flying Spur and Mulsanne models. All winter tires are uniquely engineered for Bentleys and subjected to a rigorous and comprehensive quality and engineering test and development program in extreme climatic conditions, including extensive high speed track driving. It means that approved tires are fully compatible with Bentley chassis control systems, eliminating any risk of damage to surrounding components or wheel clearance problems.

The Autosock provides excellent temporary traction when fitted over the drive wheels.

The ingenious Autosock is an ideal temporary measure to gain extra grip in unexpected wintry weather conditions. This short term alternative to the traditional snow chain is made from a special fabric that fits snugly over the driven wheels (on the rear for Mulsanne models; on the front for Continentals). The fibres in the material stick to dry snow and ice as it moves over the ground, maximizing grip. Unlike snow chains, the Autosock is silent and smooth in operation.

The Spikes Spider holds chains more loosely to take advantage of traction on variable surfaces.

Bentley’s approved snow chains are designed to provide extra traction in deep snow. As an alternative to traditional snow chains, the Spikes-Spider features a central hub that holds the chain more loosely, allowing it to flex in response to the road surface.

“In common with all Bentley accessories, the Bentley winter range has been tested exhaustively by Bentley engineers and is backed by a full Bentley warranty,” says Steve O’Hara, Bentley’s after sales director. “Customers can therefore drive with complete confidence, whatever the road conditions or the weather.”

Tags: autosock, Bentley, spikes spider, winter, winter chains, winter driving