I would submit a question regarding the weel rim and tire sizes. I'm trying to add other size to the official circulation card that reports only very expensive 215/70VR15 tires. I have red in specialized magazine that after 4/1988 to 9/1993 other sizes like 235/60VR15 and 215/65VR15 were authorized. Can some owner confirm? In case of 235/60 can someone inform if the width of the weel rimmis exactly the same used with 215/70? 215/70 and 215/65 have the sae weel rim? thanks for your help.

 

No idea on the technicallities of all that,

BUT

I run 235/60 X 15 tyres on all my V12 cars, and the S2 6 cylinder Sedans, as they are readily available down here, and work well.

NO rubbing
SLIGHT tramlining when they get low on tread.
Quiet
Handle my speeds, HIGH.
OK on Dirt roads, mostly my area.
Some brands are better in the wet than others, but that is subjective.

Tried 225/65, probably sightly better, but too hard to get hold of at the time, so next on the list sat better in the big scheme of things.

The fact they are round, Black in colour, and have grooves in them, commonly called tread, is just a bonus.

 

Later XJS models (the facelifted cars) had 16 inch rims, rather than the 15 inch rims of the early cars. These 16 inch OEM rims are available on Ebay from time to time. These rims run 225/60/16 tyres which are MUCH cheaper and are readily available from many tyre makers.

 

I've not heard of the XJS ever being fitted with 215/65x15 from the factory.

The 215/70x15 tires were fitted on a 6.5" wide "Starfish" wheel or, in some cases, a 6.0" wide "Pepperpot" wheel.

The 235/60x15 tires were fitted on a 6.5" wide "Sport Alloy" wheel, often referred to as the "lattice" wheel.

Cheers
DD

 

I can confirm 215 65 15 my tyre pacard lists this size and these were fitted to my car

 

Hi tpicotti

These are the Tyres and Rim Sizes, that were factory fitted to my 1989 and 1990 XJS's



Not sure why the Handbook mentions the 3.6 as both these handbooks were supplied with my 5.3 V12's

 

I wonder if that size was for a specific market?

Cheers
DD

 

Hi Doug

They seem to be a lot easier to get hold of but I'd rather pay more and have the ones, as fitted by the factory 235/60 VR15

 

Hi warrjon,
thanks for your interesting information. Your type of tires is the cheapest one. Could you be so kind to give me your weel rim type?
Grazie

 

These were on Starfish 15 x 6.5, and the tyres were Pirelli

I do not run these rims now I have 16x8 with 245 50 all round, as the 215 65 15 tyre sizes were unavailable under $600ea here in Aus in a V rating, and after talking to my insurance company it was cheaper to buy new rims and tyres.

BTW with the 215 65 15's my speedo was less than 1km/h out at 100km/h

 

I've been running 225/60R15s on daytons for quite a while now. Pretty easy to get, maybe 215 is easier but there is a significant jump in price and availability between 225 and 235, so I go for a little extra width.

 

I have Penta's in ours.

Our car is a very low mileage XJS and I wanted to preserve the original tires and wheels for car shows & etc so I decided to upgrade to Pentas for an updated look and better handling.

Here is what Pentas look like on a 1992 XJS if you decide to consider them. Rears bold right on and fronts need spacers for small hubs to fit properly (which I still have not gotten to)

 

I bought a set of 16"x 7.5" Borbet Wheels with P225/60R16 Snow Tires and they almost rub when turning the wheel, so I took them back off. Maybe I should try running them?

 

Andreas, quite often the rubbing is on the plastic wheelarch baffles, which can easily be replaced/heated and bent to prevent the fouling.