got this from DOT

 

And, my apologies if I sounded harsh or condescending. I was raised (mostly) in a Japanese-American community, and while I recognize the difference, many of my best students were Chinese have I Chinese neighbors and friends. I have great respect for their ability to turn dust into factories and cities, but the revelations of dangerous quality control abuses makes me leery of their products.

I know they are under pressure to build a vibrant and powerful national economy, but when they resort to the use of inferior materials it concerns me. I was fairly set on the Kumho Ecstas because of the good reviews, but I'd feel a whole lot better if I knew the particular factory they come from is using the highest standards. As little, and as "gently" as I drive my XK8 anymore, I'm not sure it's an issue. BUT...if I get the urge to open her up on a deserted Nevada highway so I can cruise at 100+ for awhile, I want good stuff touching the road.

BTW: I see that Dunlops (what I have now) are listed as UK mfgr., but my research says they are not made in UK...Japan if I remember right.

 

My 2000 XKR came with Riken Raptors when I bought it two weeks ago. I've been impressed with how quiet they are. Haven't pushed them for handling as I'm still getting accustomed to the car and it is so CROWDED in SE Tennessee (especially compared to the wide open spaces of Montana!).

 

That's interesting. I remember a lot of reviews on those that said they were very noisy. Go figure.

 

Are those mudflaps?

 

oldjaglover wrote: That's interesting. I remember a lot of reviews on those that said they were very noisy. Go figure.

I expected them to be noisy, but they've been quieter than anticipated. Now, that impression may change when I install better tires. Since I've been a Jag owner a whopping two weeks, my experience is still quite limited.

 

Was told today (by shop that doesn't sell tires) that my $1200 Michelin Pilot A/S tires with just 16k miles are dry rotted and I need new tires. Going to Michelin dealer next week to see what I can recoup from the warranty. Sadly, however, I don't want to replace with Michelins. Very disappointed.

 

Are they original? Tyre compound does deteriorate with age - tyre life is a function of age and mileage. Old tyres are hard tyres and will affect the handling of the car. The numbers on the sidewall after the US DOT will give you the date of manufacture(note - not the date they were fitted to the car)

 

Just a vote for Kumho........replaced my P Zeros and like them very much. I am an old lady driver on sunny days, so this may not apply to you. Very smooth and quiet with no vibration up to 85mph. (go ahead and laugh you Avos fans. Some day I'll break 100mph.)

 

Samantha: You may have some recourse, Have you seen this? https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...hunking-82025/
Although the AS+ has issues I personally wouldn't rule out Michelins entirely. The Pilot Supersports are excellent.

 

I second the advice above. If they are the A/S Plus Michelins, you should get some assistance for their replacement. I did, and went with the Yokohama YK580 tires from Discount Tire to replace them. Very pleased thus far....

 

My Pilots went square edged long before they wore out. Put Toyo's on and they are great. Smooth ride yet good handling. Wear so far is minimal. Very happy with them.

 

If you can allow your Jaguar to ride and handle like a Camry buy Hancook or Khumo tire. Then again why not just buy a Camry too and save even more.

Any tire brand will certainly cost less, hold air, give decent tire mileage and remain in balance.

However if you want your Jaguar to handle like it was designed buy a quality European tire.

 

As someone in the tire business, I have to agree with most of what Frank M says. Top tier tires like Michelin, Pirelli, and Yokohama should certainly ride smoother and more quiet than mid level tires. There is nothing wrong with mid level tires. Dunlop, Goodyear, Kumho, etc all make fine tires, they just are not on par with top level tires in terms of overall ride and noise. Some people even like some lower end tires like the Rikens.

It all boils down to how picky the rider is about their ride. A Jaguar with a mid or lower grade tire will still certainly ride better than a Camry or other such car with the same tires. I have seen people complain about noises that only they can hear and vibrations that only they can feel. I have seen other people ride on tires that are obviously not round anymore and think they are just fine.

Everyone has their own level of what is perfect, or what is acceptable. If you can live with a lower priced tire then absolutely go for it. You will save money and in a lot of cases the lower priced tires will last just as long or longer than the high end tires.

That being said, I would advise against going as low as Chinese tires. They are required to meet minimum requirements but they are inferior tires. They tend to blow out A LOT more often. The tread seems to separate A LOT more often. Spend a few more bucks and get a better made generic. Or catch a good deal on some mid grade tires at a local tire retailer.

 

I'm going to throw a spanner in..... in addition to my XK8 I have a Lotus Esprit Turbo that had Pirelli P6000 tyres on it. the car used to loose grip at the rear wheels when accelerating hard, and lose front wheel grip going into tight bends. After some research I put Nankeng NS-11 tyres on, and the car sticks to the road like glue. I would certainly consider using them on my Jag when the time comes.

 

While I don't agree with FrankM about only putting a "quality European tire" on an XK car, as there are plenty of excellent quality domestic and Asian (as in Japanese) tires, and frankly, I wouldn't put a Pirelli tire on a red wagon, I do agree about the poor quality of the Chinese tires. On another tire related post, yesterday, I recounted how a few months ago, I had a set of Hercules (Chinese) tires put on my 2002 XKR. At the end of a 5 hour trip, I parked my car for a few minutes only to find the tire had deflated very rapidly. The tires were only a few months old, so I assumed I had run over a nail. I happened to have my small compressor in the trunk, so I attempted to inflate the tire only to find it wouldn't hold air for more than a very short time. I reached around the back of the tire as I could hear the hissing of escaping air, and I was shocked to feel that I could put my whole hand in a separation that had formed between the sidewall and the tread. I took it back and had it replaced. One week later, the same thing happened to the other rear tire, and that was it. I had all 4 tires removed the next day and have since put on Nexen 3000s without any problems or complaints. The Chinese tires are dangerously poor quality. But there are plenty of other reasonably priced tires like the Nexens that are just fine. And by the way, I happen to like Michelin products, but on my huge rear Pantera Michelins (335 35 17), the side walls were showing cracks almost immediately after I had them installed, so even the expensive tires sometimes have quality problems.

 

For me anyway, the key to buying tires is to put the necessary time and effort in on the research first. A number of tire manufacturers have made great strides with their quality controls during the past decade or so, and if you search hard enough you can find some great deals out there (particularly in this tough economy)....

Like many here, I will not take a chance on Chinese tires. But I won't buy Michelin or Pirelli, either - nearly always overpriced compared to better bang-for-the-buck choices out there. We currently have three very different vehicles (a truck, a sedan, and a convertible) with three very different sets of tires on them. I spent weeks to months researching all of those tires compared to their many alternative choices before finalizing my decisions. As a result, I've been happy with the performance and longevity of all of these tires thus far. Having a strong relationship with a local tire supplier also helps. They see and sell many different brands and tires each and every day. Develop a good relationship with them and you'll be rewarded with valuable advice on what will work and won't work on your particular vehicle....

Lastly, understand your tires' warranties and do not hesitate to use them if your tires fall short of your expectations. I always have and always will. My primary tire provider realizes that and is always willing to work with me because he knows I do my research and that I take the proper care of our tires. Makes a big difference if there is ever an issue....

 

I took a flyer on a set of Sumitomo high performance summer tires on my Corvette and am very pleased. 2 years in and they still have lots of life in them. Sumitomo makes truck tires, primarily, and some oddball sizes of performance tires. 'Vette tires are expensive, maybe $1500+ a set, these were half that from Tire Rack.

I have Michelin Pilot Sport A/S on the XK8. A good utility tire for a daily driver.