Hi All! I just gave in to a lifelong desire and bought my first Jaguar... a 1986 XJ6, claret with biscuit interior. Love the car, don't care for the original "Kent" alloy wheels.

My question: Will wheels from a 1991-1993 XJ6 fit my 1986? The current Kents seem to be 15 x 6 inches, 5 bolts on 4.75 inch circle, with 28.5mm offset.

The 91-93 wheels I've found are listed as same bolt pattern, but 15 x 7 inches and 33mm offset.

Think it would work? Would my (decent) 215/70 R15 Pirelli tires fit? The newer wheels are "dignified" rather than "sporty" (like the Kents) and I like them. (My first post here... hope I did it right.)

Thanks,
John

 

Welcome to the forum. I think, over time, you will find the people and information here invaluable.

As for your wheel question...the wheels from the 1993 should fit fine but 215 series tires wont be ideal. The wheel will be too wide and the tires sidewall wont have the proper aspect to the road. Also, generally speaking, its not a great idea to afix wheels from different era's. It may not look right but this is just my opinion. I'd suggest the 15 x 7 basket weave bbs style wheel that was used on the later XJ6's and XJS. The are a great wheel and have a good look and can be run with up to 235 series tires for excellent grip.

 

Thanks! I'll look into the basket weave wheels. They are certainly good looking.

John

 

I am running B.F. Goodrich 215 x 70 x 15 on 7" XJS lattice wheels. They look great on my XJ wuzza six and fill the wheel wells just right. No interference with suspension or tin. T rated is fast enough for me. I got a good deal on the tires and a Kiwi gave me the pristine wheels. Got better ones for his pristine XJS!!

 

Yes those wheels should fit and the tires should be fine. A 7" wide wheel is within the recommended tire width for most 215 tires. If you would up buying new tires, look into the 225's - they might be a slightly better fit.

If you wanted, you could also go up to a 16" Jaguar wheel with a 225/60-16 tires as well. The 16" wheels came on the sedans through the mid-late 90's. Most of them will fit just fine.

 

They fit with spacers on the front - front hub on S1 is different and I needed longer lug nuts on the front due to the spacers.

The rear fit fine...they do not hit anywhere and with modern directional tires the car handles very well. They are 15X7 with 215/70/15 tires.

 

Thanks to all! You guys are a gold mine of information!

I bought the '93 XJ6 wheels for my '86. They're the ones where the lug nuts are concealed under domed center caps... remind me a bit of steel wheels with center hubcaps -- sort of a retro look that I like on my XJ6.

I'm attempting to attach a picture of my car with the new wheels. (I Photoshopped the wheels in from the eBay ad... haven't actually got 'em yet!) Hope it works.

 

Nice car. wheels look very nice on it.

Carl

 

Quick note.

The "Lattice" type wheel used on the late 80s-early 90s XJS is 15 x 6.5, not 15 x7


Cheers
DD

 

Thanks, Carl. I notice you're right up the road from me in Walnut Creek. I'm in Alamo. Can you recommend a good local mechanic for older Jags?

I do most of my own work on my other cars, but this is my first Jaguar and I'd like to get an expert opinion on the car's problems. (Including those I may not have discovered for myself yet!) Then I can decide what repairs to do myself, and what to hire out.

 

John:

I've only used about three outside shops in my days of Jaguar ownership. Two were not particularly interested in furrin iron, but willing to do it for the bucks. One is now gone. The other, I think may have screwed up my had brake pads. California Care Care is now Franks. The tech stayed. Bill. Very skilled, he ironed out a couple of issues that me stumped and not able to pass SMOG!! After his ministering, flying colors. His boss got more than a "few" of my bucks.

Joe's foreign cars on N. Main has seen mine a couple of times. OK, I think. All are pricey.

As you are handy, you can check it out quite handily. Weak pun, huh! Brakes lights, suspension, electrics, etc.

Carl