Now that we are well into Fall, I wanted to get some input from other XJR owners on the latest summer tires. I have read many tire reviews, but what works well on an Audi or Mercedes, may not be the right choice on an XJR. I am running the stock Asteroid wheels. My car is a daily driver, and while I appreciate a sticky tire, I am really just looking for a good all around summer tire.

Since I live in Southern California, "summer" tires are year round tires for me. I will be needing to replace the Michelin Pilot Super Sports which have been great in a lot of ways, but for all their cost did not solve the tramlining issue that my car has always had. I won't put an off brand tire on my car, and considering their importance I do not cheap out on tires.

Here is my ordered list of wants in a tire:

1. No tramlining
2. Decent handling
3. Low road noise/ good comfort
4. Decent wear

So what do you guys suggest?

 

Tramlining is usually caused by a change in suspension geometry under lateral load. This can be accentuated by low profile tires with stiff sidewalls. Jaguar knew they had a problem with the X300, which is why they re-designed the front suspension for the X308.

Have you checked all the bushings in the front wishbones, or just replaced them?

I suspect different tires might make it slightly better or worse, but they won't eliminate the problem.

I have long since formed the opinion that Michelin tires are the best when it comes to all round performance. My requirements are about the same as yours, except that I like some ability in winter conditions. So I would be going for the Pilot Sport A/S 3.

The only times I haven't gone for Michelin, I have been trying to save money, and have regretted it.

 

I have Toyo tires on both my XKR and XJ8 .they are the best ones I have brought in years.

 

Jaguars have always been about "the ride" ... yes, they handle well in relation to the average american car -- but they never were German.

As the car evolved into the 90's and then with the XJR's -- Jaguar had a problem. The competition had both handling and ride.

The x308 ... like the x300 .. is a challenge with bigger rims and lower aspect ratio tires. Jaguar's and especially the R's don't like firm side walls .. so Jaguar had to make some compromise. The OE tires being special Pirelli with soft sidewall. Everything had to be set up perfectly on the XJR.

The original Pirelli were then best ... I have had good luck with others when new but they all suffer as the rubber gets hard. I have never put Michelins on my Jaguars .. mostly because those around me that have Jaguars/ w/Michelins don't like them because of the firm side walls.


I'm going to pick up my rims with DSW's on them this week. Not a summer ... an AS .. so better then the winters.

 

I put Toyo T1-R’s on shortly after I bought my XJR. Better than the worn Pilrellis that were on it.

After I wore through those I put on a set of Michelin Pilot Supper Sports and loved them. I think I’m on my 2nd full set. I seem to go through the rears about 2x as fast as the fronts, so I just swap the half worn rears to the front and get new rears every 10K miles or so.

The PSS’s are fantastic. Great grip in the dry, amazing grip in the wet. The PSS’s had more grip in torrential wet than the T1-R’s did in the dry (granted, near the end of their life). Great cornering and I can’t fault the ride quality. The traction does drop off when it gets really cold.

I have never noticed any tramlining with the PSS’s in 30K+ miles, FWIW. Maybe it is ruts in your roads?

I have PS2’s on my E36 M3 ‘vert (only because PSS’s weren’t out then), and also run PSS’s on my 463 rwhp 300ZX. I’d only consider going with a real R compound over the PSS’s on the Z, but since I was DDing it I didn’t want to risk not having enough traction due to not being able to keep enough heat in an R compound while commuting.

Mike

 

Just to follow up: I ended up going with Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3s, and so far they are just what I was looking for. While not quite as sticky as the Super Sports, the AS/3s are a great tire - tramlining went away, and it is a smooth quiet tire with a 45K mile warranty (Super Sports are 30K mi).. We will see how they wear, but so far I am very pleased; the only downside being cost; about $250 each.

 

Well I'm a little late as you have already purchased your tires but I put a set of Hankook Ventus V12 Evo's on my XJR and love them. I read somewhere on the forums that members recommended them, glad I went with them.

 

Mind to share your rim and tire sizing?
I am considering to use them for staggered F-8J/F-9J rims.

E.

 

I'm not sure what style rim they are, but they are the stock jaguar aluminum or composite I'm not sure which 5 spoke rims. Tire size 225/40/R18

Ah correction found a number for them, Jaguar 59695 OEM wheels.