Mulliner Develops Massive 22-inch Carbon Fiber Wheels for Bentley

These big composite rollers save weight, improve stiffness, and look the business on the big Bentayga.

If the thing holding you back from laying out cash on a Bentley Bentayga has been the lack of suitably imposing carbon fiber rims, good news: Mulliner has you covered. The company's coachbuilding and customization division have a solid interest in developing high-profile products like this, and 22-inch carbon fiber wheels are sure to draw some attention.

22-inch Carbon Fiber wheels

While flashy and enormous, there are also some practical benefits to carbon fiber wheels. For one, Mulliner claims each one is 13 pounds lighter than a comparable forged aluminum rim. That's a total reduction of 52 pounds of unsprung mass when you count all four wheels. The reduction of unsprung mass (and rotational inertia) should, theoretically, pay significant dividends in ride quality, handling, and acceleration on the big SUV. And 13 pounds per wheel is quite a lot to lose.

Bentley Bentayga with 22-inch Carbon Fiber wheels

Bentley also claims the increased stiffness of the composite wheel has a few benefits. For one, a sharp damaging impact on an aluminum wheel can cause a blowout. The carbon fiber wheel's woven construction means that the air loss from a big hit might be slower and less likely to cause an accident. In addition, the company claims reduced wheel deflection, which improves handling by providing a more consistent camber in a corner. Even forged aluminum rims flex in hard cornering. Whether your average Bentayga is going to be cornering hard enough to suffer from a slight loss of camber due to wheel flex is an open question, but these secondary benefits—however theoretical—are great selling points.

22-inch Carbon Fiber wheels

The best selling point has to be the woven texture, visible under a clear coat of these 10-spoke rims. The allure of the weave hasn't lessened as carbon fiber has become increasingly common as both a structural and cosmetic element. They have a sporty, technical look to them that should make certain Bentley specs pop.

22-inch Carbon Fiber wheels

Want one? The cost is likely to be immense, as the factory carbon fiber wheel options we've seen from Ford and others are all generally in the five-figure range. But for Bentley fans, especially ones dipping into the Mulliner catalog, spending a little more to make their car more exclusive is the whole point. The wheels go on sale late this year.