My OEM Pirellis P Zeros are coming up to replacement time.

Michelin PSS are about $2,500 over here - or $1,200 in the USA.
Shipping is $100, so even allowing for customs / tax and fitting, there's a lot of money to be saved!

 

Greetings RobB,

Like you I have previously gone Pzero, but the S-Type fraternity both over here and even o/s are talking in somewhat glowing terms about the new top shelf KUMHO Asymmetric coded 245/40R18 97Y KU19.

Prices quoted in Sydney are $149 each plus $15 fitting for each, and given the load and speed ratings and tread depth/ pattern, I'm getting a set for the S-Type. They may be worth a look for your XKR and as I hope to be in the market for an XK8 or XKR in the near future, I'm interested in your feedback.

Rob, I'm in the process of posting to Mad Matt, also over your way, to encourage you fellas to stir the pot a bit locally. Why not take up Jim's suggestion to post into his "roll call" thread ... as well as raising interest among other WA Jag owners (whether exotic or classic), it helps those of us around Oz to keep in touch with you.

Best wishes,
Ken

 

Hi Ken,


Thank you for the Kumho tip - I think the tyre model is the Ecsta SPT - the KU31?
('reading around' for reviews now..)
I spend most of my time on the site in the XKR section - but you're right, I'll put in a but more effort around here, see if we can get things moving locally..


Cheers,


Rob

Cheers,
Rob

 

Hello again Rob ... and like you, I have been continuing my research of these Kumho tyres. I believe you may be interested in the following links ...

First, the KU-19 as per my earlier post ... KU-19 link

Then, the KU-31 as per your reply post ... KU-31 link

Both are load & speed rated at 97Y, but the latter is both a more complex (better?) asymmetric tread pattern, but is being offered by this seller with freight included delivery to buyer anywhere in Australia (?) for all inclusive price of $165.29 each. If this is a bonus for me in Coffs Harbour, I hazard it's an even bigger bonus for you fellas in the West.

Best wishes,
Ken

 

Hi Rob,

I did pickup on your comment about stirring up some interest in WA ... why not discuss it with Matt, Steve and others.

Don't forget to invoke any help you want from Jim [JimC64] and any of us fellow convicts to your east. It strikes me that the only thing better than owning and using your Jaguar, is having that passion shared by like minded pals. That shared passion and friendship can remain arms length via JF, or it can be reinforced by meeting locally.

Either way, as the example of the Kumho tyres demonstrates, there are great benefits to keeping in touch with each other and sharing your stories and experiences.

Cheers mate,
Ken

 

Unfortunately, Kumho don't make any tyres to fit the 20" rears.
Looks as though I'm back to the USA import option.
My local fitter is happy to fit imports. He's unhappy about what he has to pay and was honest enough to say that in my position, he'd import as well..

 

Strange Rob,

Do you have an oddball profile for your 20s? I ask because I'm seeing Kumho KU31s all the way out to 285/30 R20 with rating of 99Y. Some are ECSTA; some SPT ... but all available ex Sydney, by googling "Kumho R20" with KU-31, 36, 39 or whatever.

Please be assured I am not thumping a drum on this ... just want to make sure I pass on any help possible. True; in R20 the prices asked are a steep jump on the R18 I need; but please let us know the outcome.

Best wishes,
Ken

 

Hi Ken,


Really appreciate the feedback and the reasons for it!
I went to Kumho's website and checked. They do have KU22 and KU31 in the required size, but have discontinued the KU 36 and KU 39 for the standard 20" rear wheel size (285 / 30 ZR20 99Y).


At heavily discounted prices, the KU31'a are $1,260 fitted. This is a perfectly good tyre, but not the highest rated tyre for performance driving in reviews.


For the same price, I can ship & fit "Bridgestone Potenza S04 Pole Positions".
These are rated as second only to the Michelin Pilot Super Sports - which will not be available for several months due to the manufacturing schedule at Michelin (I have been researching!).


As I've a few thousand KMs left on the current tyres, I can afford to wait a few weeks for them to ship. Additionally, there are a few reasons that I am keener to go for a very high-end tyre, namely that I :


- Intend to track the car 3 or 4 times a year (had great fun today!)
- Am a generally enthusiastic driver.
- Prefer to have the safety of really good tyres in case I make a mistake - or someone around me does..
- Believe in the 4 little contact points being really, really important.


A worthwhile contender was also the Sumitomo HTR Z III Max Performance Summer - which work out about $325 cheaper.


I'll update on the ordering shipping process if that's of interest.

 

Tyres + US delivery $1,106.06
ANZ transfer fee $ 24.00
USA to AUS fee $ 100.00
Freight GST $ 123.68
Insurance $ 20.20
Fitting $ 120.00


Actual Total $1,494.94
Australian quote $2,400.00
Saving $ 906.06
Saving % 38%

 

Thanks Rob.
Same as you, I purchased a set of Bridgestone Potenza S-04 "Pole Position" tyres from Tire Rack in the USA, back in early April this year.
Same as you, I cross shopped the Bridgestones with the Michelin Pilot Super Sports, and by most tests, reviews and comparisons they were 95% as good as the PSS but only 65% of the cost, a no-brainer in my opinion.
I got 2 x 285/30/R20 at $245US each = $490US and 2 x 255/35R20 at $209US each = $418US = $908US total.
Plus $373.19US shipping.
Overall total $1281.19US, which at the time converted to $1409.05AU (by my calcs the AU$ was buying .90925 US$ then).
So it seems my tyre cost was a bit less than yours but the shipping cost was a fair bit more.
No GST or import duty as the supplier posted the tyres as two separate shipments to get under the $1000AU import threshold.
Then it cost me $100 for fitting and balancing.
Overall worked out much the same as you, about a 40% saving on buying the same tyres locally, despite my shipping cost being three times yours.
Of course Oz buyers won't save as much as I did now as the $AU is buying only around .80US$ now.

 

Usatoaus.com were only $100 + tax+insurance.
But the shipping took months..

 

Yeah, funny about that.
Shipping of the the tyres from Tyre Rack took only seven days, but at the same time I ordered the new rims (Coventry Whitley) from a Sydney supplier and they took three weeks to roll up.
USA to Adelaide seven days, Sydney to Adelaide three weeks, go figure!

 

Maybe the rim supplier didn't have them in stock when you ordered.(a risk we take buying online instead of over the counter)

I can get genuine Triumph motorcycle parts from the UK in 7 days, takes my local dealer longer to get them out of Sydney!