I agree - I used to love my X-Type in the snow and it's true to say that the XF isn't as good. I have hard others comment favourably on Nokians although I've never tried them personally.

 

drove home from Buffalo where they just got 3 feet of snow, good thing i put my snow tires on my xfr, no issues at all!!

 

Hi,

I know, I know. Not the season but I am picking up my 09 XF Supercharged - the car has 20" wheels now.

My question is I can do 19" with snow tires, but would prefer 18" for extra traction... will the 19 vs 18 be a difference in terms of snow handling?


Also, tirerack doesn't have an 18" setup for my car... are my cars brakes like the XFR or can I fit 18" wheels, if so what size do I want and where can I get wheels that are 18" that fit my 09 XF S/C.

THANK YOU! THis forum is great

 

I'm in California so I'm hardly the one to give you advice on snow tires, but I'm guessing that it will be very difficult to find 18" wheels that will fit over the brakes. I don't think the difference between 18" and 19" will be that critical, and you might not have the choice anyway due to the brake size. Just don't go overboard on width; for snow tires you want them (relative to summer tires) narrower (although you obviously know that already).

 

I think 18 will be a no go for the XFR but I think the SC can accept them. It may be not all 18 will fit.

However, in my experience there will be very little practical difference in traction between the 18 and the 19 inch. In fact, I think the tread width will be the same 245mm width. The old idea that narrow and tall tires are better in winter is out of date as most times you want the better handling of the wider tire on bare or wet roads. The idea that narrower tires work better in snow is a bit out of date since even "narrow" tries are pretty wide.

 

I have an 08 XF S/C. It is effective in the snow but less so than my previous AWD X-Type. I got 20" wheels & then got a set of 18" wheels with snow tires. The lease on my XF is expiring - anyone near Calgary Alberta need a set of wheels & snow tires?
I'm sure that you'll love your car - we have!

 

18" wheels fit on an 09 S/C?

What wheels, pics?

 

I am looking for 18 inch wheels and live in North Calgary.

supraero@telus.net

I just bought out my lease I am so happy with my XF.

 

I'm out of town for a couple of weeks but will put pics up when I get back.

 

We have a need for snow tires for 2010 XK. I would like to use 18 inch wheels insstead of the stock 19 wheels. I need to know this first before we go on. Feel free to add any comments. Western Montana!

 

I used my 2009 model XF Supercharged for the last three winters in Toronto with no problems using Pirelli Sottozero 240 winter tires on a second set of OE 20" rims. Typically there are only a handful of days each winter when traction is an issue in this location but the Jag coped very well when it was bad, climbing slopes that had many BMWs struggling for traction.

The lease has ended on this car now so I have the set of rims & tires for sale if anyone in Toronto needs a set.

 

GJSmith,
I might be interested in your wheels and tires if you don't mind shipping them to the US. My XF is not supercharged, but I think that only changes the brakes, not the wheels. I'd have to make sure 20" will fit my car and figure out what to do with tire sensors as I don't want to unmount my all seasons if I don't have to.

 

I haven't had a winter in my XF SC yet, but used to drive my RWD Ford Mustang GT through the mountains in Colorado (lived for 5 years in Colorado Springs) with heavy snow and had nowhere near the problems my friends in AWD cars and 4x4 SUVs were having. I think if you know how to drive properly in the conditions and use the features provided in the XF, you'll be fine.

 

Thanks SnowyXF. E-mail me at gary@gjsmith.ca and I can send you more details.

 

Yes they do. I bought a set from Tire Rack mounted on 18" sport rims. 245/45R18 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60. Fit perfectly and were great in the snow here in Rhode Island.

 

Couldn't see the pic???

 

GJSmith still has the tires and wheels for sale that I said in an earlier posting I was going to buy. He told me that they might not be right for me and he was correct. Just didn't want people to think they were gone based on my posting and also wanted to vouch for him - he sounds like an honest guy.

 

Sorry. I was trying to upload the pic from Tire Rack and wasn't able to. Here is a link to the sports rims:

Sport Edition A7 Silver Painted

The tires were Blizzak LM60s. 18" all around.

 

Great thread on a topic that was probably the biggest determining factor whether or not my wife and I bought a Jaguar. I can't even tell you how I excited i am to be driving such a fun car, but all of that will be wiped out if my wife can't control it in the snow. We are in Chicago so it sounds like a set of 18's and some Blizzaks are coming our way. Does anyone in the Chicago area think there is a better tire? Thanks for any opinions.

 

Continental Extreme Contact will beat Blizzaks. Those Bridgestones are marketers tires: sound good but not the greatest especially when half worn.