The original equipment Dunlops on my 2011 XKR are in need of replacement at 20K miles. I am not an overly aggressive driver, (rarely over 100MPH) but reside in North Florida, so the temps are in the 90s much of the year.
My car has the 20" Kasuga wheels, Tire sizes are: 255/35R20 front, 285/30R20 rear.
The replacement Dunlops seem to be much more expensive than alternative brands such as Michelin or Bridgestone.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!

 

I have the same car and same rims and Michelin Pilot Super Sports or PSS as everyone refers to them are by far the best tires for the 175. The car will feel totally different (in a GREAT way)than the Dunlop tires.


I have gone through a lot of high end cars typically changing out every six months or so and I have no desire to change out the Big Cat. By far the best and most rewarding car I have ever owned.

 

One additional point, I have noticed in the past couple years with previous cars, that when mounting new tires and then spin balancing, that the tires would be a bit wonky. I would always ask that them re-mount the tire and that typically solved it. I have used Conti's on my last car and three out of 4 tires were warped from the factory so I switched to the PSS and they were perfect. Also consider getting a 4 wheel alignment with the new tires.


Good Luck

 

With your car, I will be in total in agreement with Greek175.
It deserves nothing but the best, and the MPSS holds that slot

If you step up to a Ultra High Performance (UHP) compound. Then your best looking at the noisy but sticky Bridgestone RE-11, or the newer RE-71r. Both will shock you, and leave the MPSS in the dust, just be ready to replace then yearly and tolerate higher road noise due to the stiffer sidewalls.

If for some reason you are in need of an all/season (Yuck) then the Continental Extreme Contact DWS is highly respected here in the pacific northwest for its ability to grip very well even in standing water...

BOL
V

 

Thanks for the reply. Send a photo of your car.

 

It is interesting that you recommend the Michelins. I was surprised to hear from a very good friend of mine that is an engineer at Bridgestone, that he recommended the Michelins even over any of his company's Bridgestone tires. Based on his knowledge, the quality control and consistency of the Michelin product far exceeds all other tire manufacturers. In his words, "buy the highest quality Michelin that you can afford".
I will be getting the MPSSs.
Thanks for your input.

 

I will offer, to have the tire shop "Road Force" balance, if available. This process has cleared a number of "wonky" tire balance related ills.
Happy Motoring........

 

I'll be going through this process most likely next year. The question I will be going through will most likely be the PSS vs the Conti DWS. Hopefully I'll see more comparison data but the primary priority would be comfort and not performance. I , like some others am looking for a smooth and quiet riding tire with good wet/dry handing and some good tread life. The net is something that will be enjoyable for weekend cruises as well as 400 mile trips. Time will tell.

 

Good choice,

I'm sad to hear your friend has low opinions of the Bridgestone line. Perhaps he was working in the some of the lower end products. I've run many of Bridgestones compounds (about 7) and each have shined in their own way. I currently run the Bridgestone S-04, which rated just under the Michelin, but at a $400+ savings. Had the RE-11s not been a noisy tire, I would be back on them in an instant and carving corners where no Michelin dare to follow. But the Cat deserves a quite and comfy ride as you know, so the S-04s offer what I need at a price I'm willing to pay every year if needed.

 

Well I'm in a pickle here. The leak I had done on my OEM Dunlop 285/30-20 is not holding. It's to bad that if it did I could get another 3K miles out of them but that small pin nail took out the tire. Looks like my fronts will go for another 15K miles so I'm going to look at getting some filler replacements that will last until I can replace all 4 with Conti's in a few years. Looking at either Sumitomo or Hankook. Heading out this afternoon to see if my tire place has them or can get them. I wasn't looking to replace the rears and it doesn't make sense to only replace one so I'll just have to eat it. To bad I couldn't pick up a used Dunlop with similar miles just to finish out their life.

 

Why not just stick Contis on the back now, since that's what you want in the long term? You're already going to have different compounds F & R anyway.

 

That's one of my thoughts too but I was wondering how it would ride with summer tires on the fronts and all seasons on the rear vs. putting on a set of Hankook's if I can find them. One guy wanted me to go to Bridgestones and another said try Sumitomo's or Nankang which they had available.

 

You might have more front grip than rear - but the rears are wide, and those of us who drive A/S all the time don't find them crazily tail-happy. Active Dynamics will kick in anyway if you get too much yaw on. Unless you're planning a lot of track days, I doubt you'll notice.

 

May I suggest.

Best deal for the money in my opinion....

Hankook Ventus V12 Evo.....$780 for a set of 4 in the 20" tire.

I have a set right now mounted on my 2009 Jaguar XKR Portfolio Edition. This is not the first time I have purchased these tires for one of my cars.

They are excellent tires and can be bought and mounted at Discount Tire Stores which are located all over the USA. Discount tire will remove and remount the new tires for $16.00 each which includes balancing.

Check them out, you won't be sorry.

 

Jagtoes,
I have the Hankooks on my 2010XKR and the fronts are wearing nicely while the rears are not. They are certainly a bargain priced tire (I think I paid $115 each for the rears from Tire Rack), but know that on the freeway these are the noisiest tires I have ever experienced on an automobile. They transmit tremendous amounts of noise into the cabin. If most of your driving is around town, it will be tolerable, but if it's highway crusing that you're doing, you'll need headphones. Then again, it will certainly drown out the drone noise you've reported without any problem.

 

I have someone looking for them but they seem hard to find. Price is $250 +$20 +tax per tire. Around $600 for a pair. No Discount tire stores around here just the usual Mavis or Firestone or Goodyear type tire outlets.

 

The more I think about it the more I'm leaning to the Conti DWS for the rear now and next year do the fronts. It seems this is tire year as my Lexus has 34K miles on them and they are just about shot. I'll need to replace all four next month so I was looking to solve this as cheap as I could. I guess that isn't going to work out.

 

This just keeps going from bad to worse...

Please go talk to some people that actually know tires and suspensions. Start by finding your local SCCA club. They will put you on the correct path to tire specialists in your area.
Your starting to play in dangerous turf here putting loose A/S tires on the rear and leaving sticky summers up front. Electronics can only do so much to counter abnormal tire differentials.

BOL and stay safe,
Vince

 

Remember your xk and you are relying on no more than 4 sq feet of surface contact to handle any unforeseen circumstances. When I replace tires on my vehicles I get the best i can afford because my vehicle's and my safety and life rely on the tires to a great degree.

 

Vince I think you are making to many assumptions about my driving. My track days are long over and even spirited driving has gone by the wayside. I drive the speed limits around town and on the interstates only 5-7 mph over the limits. If it's raining i usually don't take the car out and if snowing it is stored. So the difference in grip is not to much of a concern. If I go with the DWS it shouldn't be to much of an issue other then looks. I have been driving for 55 years with one ticket for 4 in the front of my 63 Corvette. No accidents and have mostly owned sports cars. So I don't think it's to dangerous which ever way I go. Sorry I hijacked this post from the OP but there is some good discussion here.