Hello there. I am considering buying a 2013 XKR and wanted some feedback from other owners in this forum. I currently own a 2004 xj8 and I have "tried" to drive it all seasons. Usually during bad snow days I tend to work from home but I am not sure if I'll always have that sort of luxury in the coming years. I have never put snow tires on them so my experience in driving the XJ in moderate to heavy snow is not very good.
So I am trying to figure out if the XKR will have to be a 3 seasons car? Will snow tires (if even possible) on the XKR help in snowy weather? Please share your winter driving experiences.
Thanks in advance.

 

As you are considering a 2013 model, I've moved your question from XK8/XKR 1996-2006 section to XK/XKR 2006 Onwards section.

Graham

 

there is a snow mode, too.

 

Unless it is actually snowing and not ploughed, I drove my XK all winter. Keep in mind that sh** happens while it snows and it may not be your fault. Do you want to take that risk? Tires are tires and are only going to do that much. Heck, we got stuck in our Range Rover with 22’s in the snow this season! Hence I am going back to 19’s (didn’t like the ride on the 22’s either, but that beside the point).

A little commonsense and restraint will get you driving just about all the year. The hardest part with any of these cars are the initial first few feet and last few.

I am using Pilot Sport AS+ tires in 19”

 

I too am wondering how I will approach the next winter having just recently purchased a 2012 XKR vert in balmy Toronto, Canada. It does have the winter traction mode (which starts it in 2nd and adjusts certain other parameters I'm told). It also has the heated seats and steering wheel which I have gotten used to from previous winter-driven cars.

But, do I want to subject my new garage beauty to the perils of winter?? I am a bit stumped. I know winter wheels/tires can be done and I have plenty of experience in winter but unfortunately many of my fellow Torontonians are inept at winter driving and I can just see getting my poor XKR rammed by some new-to-snow driving Shlepp in a 94 Corolla.

My friends all say I should get a winter beater, but how sad would it be to buy a sweet Jag and then drive a POS for 5-6 months of the year? I should mention that one of the key selling factors for my wife was my ability to drive it all year so that she can keep driving her E-class wagon (I made that point when I gave her the "I need a Jag Sales Pitch"). She's not liking my sudden worry about driving the XKR in winter... and with it, the thought of me now using the wagon in winter.

Hmmm. Dilemma...

(Yikes. I suddenly have developed the need to protect the Jag like a newborn child - never felt this way about a car before)

 

I totally understand this feeling. 6 months in and I still park it on the far side of parking lots, and fret about driving through puddles.

I would not drive this car on snow or slush. But cleared roads should be fine. Unless there is salt...

 

I would not even consider driving it during the winter.......there's salt on those roads.

 

But if New Hampshire is anything like Michigan there's a car wash on every street corner with an undercarriage flush, and you can buy monthly passes that will let you run it through every day if you wish. If you have something like that nearby it would help ease your mind about driving on salty roads.

 

Four Blizzak snows and you will think your driving a Artic Cat

 

winter tires helps pretty well, it is significant difference and much more adapted to snow. you need smaller wheels too. best is buy a winter set wheel and tires even basic wheels.