I currently have sport tires on my XJR and they just don't work. So I'm looking for some decent all season tires but I only have around $600 to spend, all suggestions and options appreciated.

Thanks,

 

I'd like to know as well

 

The XJ of our and earlier generations don't like firm tires -- the OE tires being special Pirelli for the XJ with the ability to run with lower pressure. The side walls were reinforced without them being firm.

That is why people have so much trouble with tires on these vehicles -- especially Michelins or anything with too large a rim.


I recently put Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus on two of my MB's -- a wagon and sedan. The "plus" is a new tire (last summer) and got very good reviews especially in wet weather -- the only complaint (slight) was in responsiveness -- but it still finished first in the Tirerack test. So I ordered two rim/tire sets and I can't be more pleased -- they are very quiet and well mannered without the control joint thump of the OE Michelins. They are a softer tire and still have a very long life

Give them a look -- make sure you are looking at the plus.


Interesting -- The Tire Rack site now says they would have liked a bit more wet traction? Still have them as first.

 

I looked at Tire Rack to see what they had in your size that I might be familiar with. No bells rang, sorry.

However I think you might be a tad light on your $600 budget. I saw choices from about $175 to $240 each.

Cheers
DD

 

If this is a true statement, it defines my car. I loathe how the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires I run make my car handle. They render a very harsh ride and the car tracks like crazy. The colder the temperature, the worse the car handles. I'm the second owner and I can't believe the PO was convinced when buying the car to go with the 18" wheel package and these tires. FAIL.

I am very interested in finding a nice set of 16" OEM wheels, I believe we like the older VDP wheels though, and a good set of All Seasons.

 

I have stock rims (16") on my 98 VDP (but custom chromed), and Good Year Assurance all season tires. They perform fine, but being in SoCal, I don't see much rain, and hardly any snow. Tires have less than 5K on them, and I am pleased with their performance. Funny,....my spare is not chromed, and it's an original Pirelli that was never used!

 

i hear Continental DWS tires are great

 

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S are great as far as I am concerned. I can't complain about the ride or the handling on my XKR.
They are great in the rain and in slushy snow but lots face it unless you have 4WD most tires on performance cars are not great on ice and compact snow no matter what brand you have.
They are more than your $600.00 budget for sure but don't forget but you get what you pay for.
If you only run them in the winter they will last for a long time. Also be sure to run them at the correct psi.
I have 8.5 X 20" on the front and 10 X 20" on the rear. I'm not sure if the other sizes ride any different but mine run great.

 

The Goodyear F1 Eagle All-season is on closeout
from Discount-Tire direct. If you talk to a salesman
online you might be able to work the price down
because the tires are out of production. They handle
ok but are low on comfort or grip. The ones on my
car had very bad cupping and were noisy. But the
steering feel of the cupped, worn-out Goodyears was
better than the flaccid Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus.

The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus has a lot of "plus",
they had a very soft ride, they also had decent
grip. also, they are warrantied to last 45,000 miles.
The downside is, they have the word "Sport" in
the name, which doesn't really work. The sidewalls
were so soft that the car's steering sharpness totally
disappeared. I had never driven an XJ (I've driven 6 X308s)
with worse off-center steering feel than one on A/S
Pluses.

Michelin, being the absolute stars that they are,
give you the "Promise Plan". 30 days of driving on
the tires, and the only cost you will incur is the mount/
balance if you are unsatisfied. I sent mine back
before the 30 days were up and ordered a set of Pilot
Super Sports, which are brilliant. But this doesn't apply
to you, so moving on...

I have read good reviews of both the Conti DWS and the
Michelin A/S Plus, but Continental doesn't take care of their
customers the way Michelin does. And despite all the positive
reviews I was pretty disappointed with the steering. That
is one of my favorite features of the car and losing it was such a
let down.

I had Falken FK452 on the XJ Sport's 18" wheels, they lasted
about 22k miles and handled great. Off-center feel and grip were
fab. The ride was a little firm.

The Yokohama YK580 might appeal to you. Given your $600 budget
you have no hope of finding new tires, unless you are an Arab Oil
mogul level of negotiator with Discount Tire Direct, and get the Goodyears
for $150 each. They should be around $200 each right now.

I have tried to provide information, but I don't know if I can recommend
anything given your price point.

Keep in mind, these comfort ratings I give are from Tulsa, OK
where the roads are all from the 1970s and have never been
maintained. In Orlando, with any tires on my Sport/ XJR I have
felt like I was driving around on silk.

Ian

 

Kumho Platinum Ecsta LX all season tires we purchased in march 2011 for our 2001 XJ8 (tire size 235/60ZR16) have been great tires. Quiet, smooth riding and long tread life (warantee 60,000 miles).

Our local Town Fair tire company matched Tire Rack pricing ($370.44 plus sales tax for 4 tires) and gave a $70 refund check (also part of the Tire Rack deal).

I also brought Michelin X-Ice Xi2 Ice/snow tires in Dec 2010 from Tire Rack ($452 - 4 tires, plus $42 shipping plus sales tax).

I have the tires mounted on 2 sets of rims - Kumko on one set and the Michelin on another set that I purchase used.

The Michelin X-Ice I really appreciate on the Ice and Snow packed hills here in Connecticut.

Your 2001 XJR tire size (255/40ZR18) is a lot larger than the XJ8.

Tire Rack Pricing for 4 of the Kumko Ecsta LX Premium is $736 plus shipping and maybe sales tax for your XJR. I could not find any Kumko rebates or promotion at this time.

Jim Lombardi

 

The DWS's come in a few variations. My local shop has had good luck with the smaller sizes -- but the larger low profile tires have had some side wall issues.

If you do a search -- you will see the side wall issue discussed .... The price is appealing. I may try them next year if I keep my convertible that needs a new set.

The R does limit your choices. I run 18 summers and 17 winters -- so my only reference is driving other owners XJ's with all seasons - and some are very harsh -- obviously less so when you get down to the 16's

True performance tires (soft) as they came from the factory transform the car - but they are expensive and short lived.

 

For those of us that do not know what DWS tires mean, it is Dry Wet and Snow. Probably the Continental Extreme Contact DWS tires - their Ultra High performance all season tires. Tire rack price is $892 for 4 of these tires (255/40RZ18) plus shipping and maybe sales tax.

Jim Lombardi

 

Do you think I could get away with falken fk452 in cleveland winters?

 

Well, they don't flat spot when it's cold. (Yokohamas,
in my experience, take forever to get warm) However,
I don't think that summer compound tires will be any
use in snow. In the wet, I'd describe the grip as good.
Much better than the Hankook Icebear (winter) I had on the
back for a little while.

I know Michelin uses 4/5ths winter compound in the
Super Sport, so if I had to use a summer tire in the
winter (which I do) that's what I would pick. However,
Tulsa (which has snow sometimes) was fine last
winter on the FK452s, but keep in mind I never drove
with them in the snow. I recommend them. They
really are a great tire for the money.

You can get away with 245-40-18, but that will offer
you absolutely no protection from a curb. 255s will
protect your wheel from curb scratches. I bit into
one of two curbs with 245 Falkens and had some
pretty bad damage. The 255s should prevent that.

 

The Contiextreme Contact DWS is a good tire. I have 245/45/18 on mine. They are quiet and grip well on dry and wet roads. I haven't used them in the snow however.

They are an improvement over the previous Conitextreme Contact (non DWS) which were noiser and had very soft sidewalls. Those tires were pretty good in the snow when the tread is new. The soft sidewalls allowed my rim to become bent after hitting a huge pot hole. But even the discontinued original Contiextreme Contacts were good tires.

I originally had Pirelli P6 225/60/16 on my car and they were just ok. They had much less dry grip than the Continentals, and the steering feedback was vague.

 

I've recently fitted Conti DWS on the wife's BMW and am pleased. We run another dedicated winter set so cannot comment on ice/snow performance but they are fine in the wet, reasonably quiet in dry. I run my tires at higher inflation than most for a crisper turn in, ride is still decent would be better at recommended inflation.
For my $ these are tough to beat.