https://tiresize.com/speedometer-calibration/

You might play with the site above using different size wheels/tires. Personally I'd go with the 19 wheels. No contest imho. I just bought a '17 XJL that came with 20" wheels and I had them swap them for the 19" from another car. The 20" were a 3K item, but I surrendered them for the less expensive '19".

Main reason for selecting the '19": less road noise number one. Number two reason is I just replaced a 20" wheel and tire on my CL550 due to it being cracked after hitting a road pot hole. NOT a cheap item. Cracked said wheel 800 miles from home at night in 14* weather.

 

I actually like the look of more sidewall on the 19" over the 20". The super low profile looks was neat in the early 90's.

 

Big wheels do look cartoonish on ricers.
However- the XK is an ungodly large car, in relativity to the norm.
Nowadays, even cheap, entry-level compacts are supplied with 18" wheels standard.
So paradoxically, you run the risk of looking a bit disproportionate and outdated yourself. A image problem Jaguar has wrongly suffered from for a long time. For heaven's sake dont feed the perception. Let them think someone 'in-touch' is driving that Jaguar- it wont hurt in the long run.

 

Come on QC... The OP asked if 19" ride more comfortable than 20", and the only answer is yes.

The general rule for rim size:

 

I hear you CN, logically smaller makes more sense and is more comfortable.
But....its a Jaguar...with Nevis Wheels....is ride comfort paramount?
Just playing the devil's advocate.

 

Another perspective would be Donald going in for hand reduction surgery so he can be a better craftsman.

 

He already wears a Ladies size 2, so any smaller and he'd need FOUR hands to hold a water bottle.

 

See, you get ride comfort at the cost of perception.
But that's the bargain a Camry makes.

 

Consumer perception dominates over engineering when it comes to wheels. Same reasons why there isn't an Evora in everyone's garage who bought a new 911. Big wheels sell; end of story.

 

Ride comfort is marginally better with 19". You need to go down to 18" or so to notice a bigger difference.
I prefer 20" for looks and we live in the 20th century!:-D
17" was big in the 80's, 18" was big in the 90's, 19" in the beginning of 2000.............!:-D

 

The wheel size controversy treads closely to what defines our cars. Are they sports cars or grand touring coupes? As QC said, our girls are a little on the big side and take up a full parking space at the mall. I think the size of the visible tire band and how it fills the wheel well makes or breaks the look of the car.

A lot of 20" combo pics have too small an aspect ratio and too large a wheel gap. That makes those same folks want to lower their car using harsher springs and risk bending a rim along with the miserable ride all over poor tire selection. Since these GT coupes are the E types of our day, give me a taller aspect tire on a decent sized 19" rim that fills the gap and I'm happy.

I vote a 5% taller aspect ratio on a 19" rim vs anything 20" for a truly 'driven' car.

 

Wow! I thought Sweden was just in the next timezone, not the next galaxy.

Graham

 

I was waiting for this comment

 

Graham, looks like you have been doing some time travel yourself.
Good choice mate, the last of the last Jaguar.
What do you think of it and what exact colour is it?

 

Well, speaking from direct experience.....

My XKR came with 20 inch Nevis rims, and the OEM tires were 255/35/20 front and 285/30/20 rear. Ride was abysmal. One pothole at 20k miles bent front rim, required trip to wheel specialist for straightening. constant granular feedback from all four wheels that did not enhance handling, just increased NVH.

Swapped in a set of 19" OEM Caravela wheels with proper offset f&r. upsized slightly to 255/40/19 and 285/35/19 Michelin AS3+.

Could not be happier. Car tracks better, significant reduction in NVH, and handling actually seems better as it inspires confidence in gradual breakaway versus abrupt loss of traction.

 

Ooops!
Never use century in Sweden, so confusing for me.

 

I doubt you feel a significant difference, it's more in your head. 285-30 vs 285-35 is not much. 18" I would agree makes a difference.

 

Ahh heck. If we're talking music, most of mine is from the 20th century so part of me still lives there

 

Because several studies have shown; music that one is not exposed to by their 30's, one will never appreciate- Even the 9th Symphony!

Could wheels and tires be the same way too?? where that which is outside the norm of our youth is 'funny' to us? By the same token, are the youth and the honies, who have had a different association be looking at us funny?

I bring this up because we all get to an age where its important to ingratiate the younger generation, if for no reason than their mercy and grace. Because, the alternative can also lead to bad ride comfort when they treat you like an invalid on the roads.

 

Q&C, hadn't you mentioned a different number the last time you brought up music?

I'm stuck with the smaller size from a performance standpoint. I still look back at my car after I lock it and walk away with it on 19" wheels,.

2010 XKR brakes and 20" or 21" could make it look better, but ultimately the car is my primary means of getting around rather than a show car. In the Lamborghini doors thread, my Jaguar is the equivalent of the Mercedes belonging to the gentleman in the video I posted, as it is also I suspect for others here.

The same also applies to lowering the car.

It would have to be a toy rather than a mainstay for me to want to go with 20" or 21".