Hi


I need to get new tires for my XK8 from 1998 - rims are 17" and the obvious/cheapest solution would be to buy new 245/45-17...but is 17 the best size or should I go for 18"...what is your experience with different sizes?


Have a great day


Frank

 

The XK8/XKR began life with 17 inch Revolver wheels. Designers ideas/buyers tastes changed and rim sizes increased with tyre profile decreasing to display more wheel and less rubber.

My 2001 XK8 was fitted with 18 inch Impellar and my 2001 XK8 with 20 inch Sepang.

I found the ride very much harsher on the 20 inch with no handling benefit. My current XK has 19 inch Carelia which, to me, is a good compromise between appearance and ride quality.

Graham

 

Hi Graham...is your current photo with the 19" rims?..Looks really good


Frank

 

I opted to go from 17" Lamina's to 18" Coventry Whitley's which were a very nice change

 

20" BBS on mine with Pirelli Pzero rubber. Some hate the screw-in valve extensions but, along with recessed locking nuts, hopefully deters some . . . and amuses others. I love 'em. I love 'em.

Cheers

Ken

 

What changes need to be made to safely switch from the original 17s to larger wheels? Are there particular sizes that can just be swapped out without mods?

 

As long as the wheels fit properly (i.e. clear the calipers, correct hub bore and offset, etc.) then no special mods are needed... I went to 20" from factory 18" with no issues... one key is to keep the overall tire height roughly the same so it doesn't impact the speedo (among other things).

The attached pdf should help...

 

Cat as Trophy -

That is one BEAUTIFUL ride

 

I think 18"s are a really good size on the X100. Coupled with Michelin Pilot Super Sports, you can't go wrong.

-dsd

 

As Steve described, I plan to go from factory 17 revolvers to 18 coventry's this season. What I was wondering is about going staggered with that. Wider wheels on the back. Any changes in performance or handling going that route? What would be the ideal rear and front width ?

 

As a general statement, don't forget that the best wheels will be among the ones you can actually find! There were a lot of different wheels over the years for the XK8/XKR. They pretty much all fit (except small wheels with big XKR brakes) perfectly, were picked and spec'd by Jaguar experts, they are well documented and well represented in lots of online catalogs, but inventory (finding ACTUAL wheels) is spotty at best. This is a low-supply, low-demand type of situation. The bad part is that they are hard to find, the good part is that prices are not necessarily high (unless you want the nicer 20").

I personally went from a set of 19" Apollos to a set of 18" Hydras. The 18" are lighter, more suited for real roads with imperfect pavement, tires are cheap and available, and I like the understated look.

A strategy is to take your time and wait for someone else to upgrade their wheels and make an offer on their original factory set. Unavoidably, the extra set takes too much space in the garage after the upgrade, and comes up for sale at a price that makes everyone happy. If you don't wait too long, then you can offset some of that expense by selling your original set, with tires, so someone else can install and use these wheels immediately.

Best of luck.

 

......or you could just keep your original 17 inch wheels and replace the tires, as you considered in your original post.

There is zero benefit from a performance/handling/comfort standpoint in increasing wheel diameter in real world road conditions; in fact doing so degrades your driving experience on anywhere but a smooth track. Despite the rationalizations made by those who choose to go with big wheels and skinny tires, the reality is that it is solely about fashion.


But that is OK too, since it is your car and your tastes will dictate. I think the original 17 inch revolvers, which were designed to harmonize perfectly with the cars lines and styling are great and I would never change mine, but if you like something different, go for it. But do not delude yourself into thinking it will improve anything other than your perception of the "looks".


Andy

 

Thanks Chris . . . We love it. I say "we" as my adult daughter has already "inherited" it and phones regularly to ensure I have warmed up or washed "her" XK8. Then I see your gleaming convertible, another fine car, and start wishing for more space in Ken's Kattery . . . home also to a sole XJ-S in a litter of sedans; Jaguars of course.

Hey Brad . . . it strikes me that much of what you are contemplating, moving to 18"x 8" and beyond, is exactly what Jaguar themselves did as the XK8/R and its contemporaries like the S-Type, developed . . . first 17", then 18" became the default standard, with 19" and 20" as factory options . . . and just like the STR, wider at rear than front.

Another issue is ready availability of Jaguar spec tyres . . . not cr@ppy H rated el cheapo's, but full spec . . . and at less than "sell the kids" prices. So mine has Pirelli Pzero 255/35ZR20 on 20" x 9" BBS up front and Pirelli Pzero 285/30ZR20 on 20" x 10" BBS at rear. I would argue that the ride is no harsher than our S-Type on similarly tyred 245/40ZR18 on 18" x 8" Mercurys all around. Speed & Load Ratings are 99Y. IMHO, they don't come any better. One caveat . . . with drive wheel rubber that wide, caution is warranted to prevent gravel rash ruining those tuck-away rear body panels.

Cheers and best wishes,

Ken

 

Ixller8,

There's nothing in the world as pretty as a set of 20" BBS Montreal's! They make the XKR even more beautiful than it already is!

Billy Clyde in Houston