I have a 1998 XK8 w/ 23,000 mi. I have the original Pirelli P zero tires on the car and the fronts need replacing. What do people recomend as a good tire with a smooth ride. I don't drive the car at high performance speeds.

Should I replace the fronts with the OEM tire or should I go with something else?

 

There have been a few postings in the past on this forum about other tires available for the XK8's--less expensive alternatives. I'm not going to get into the other brands' pros and cons. There are quite a few tires well liked by forum members that are available online.

One of the problems is that these cars' OEM tires are a size that's not very commonly used (by other cars.)


After buying 11 new tires last year, I've been very satisfied with using Tire Rack's online road tests, customer evaluations and general information on their website.

I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pay $322 per tire plus delivery on a Pirelli P7 when I can get a perfectly good name brand tire for the half the price. I really don't care for the feel of the brand new Pirelli tires on my car when I bought it.

 

I've only got a couple of hundred miles on 'em so far, but just fitted a set of Michelin Primacy 225-60X16's (HR) on my XJ6 and am very happy. I had Pirelli P4000's with 37,000 mi. and one was pretty well gone. Mich's are much smoother and quieter, and provide much better grip. I went with the H rated vice the V rated in the interest of ride quality and wear resistance at the possible expense of handling for the same reasons as you state.

 

I used Riken Raptor tires when replacing mine. Great price, excellent tire. Riken is owned by Michelin.

 

I've had good luck, and very pleased with my Hancook Evo V12s, I'm on my second set of these. Prior to the Hancooks, I had Falken FK 452s, which I believe were a little harder compound than the Hancooks.

 

I switched from performance summer tires to all season touring tires. That made a big difference with mileage rating & comfort. There are limited choices for the xk8. I found them using Tire Rack, but bought the Turanza from Firestone/Bridgestone store.

 

I use Turanza tires on my everyday Acura and they are Excellent!

I am using General Exclaim UHP tires on my Jaguar and they are smooth, quiet and very reasonably priced.

 

Why do your front tires need replacement @ 23,000 miles?

Are they dry rotted? Or, are you having suspension problems?

 

Eventually replacing tires has also been in the back of my mind since, when I bought my XKR, out of curiosity I researched on how much the OEM Pirelli's would cost. Since I have the 20" wheels they are about $400 each which is much more than I will want to spend.

Similarly, when I had my 95 Corvette the Goodyear GSC's were also quite high. When I needed new tires on that car, the local tire store I went to recommended Bridgestone Potenzas which were about half the price of the Goodyears. I was extremely pleased as the tires performed at least as well as the Goodyears but, even better, treadwear was fantastic. I will probably consider Bridgestone when it comes time for the Jaguar.


Doug

 

In '06 I bought my '98 XK8 with 36K miles. The original Pirelli's were sooooo dry rotted they were a hazard to use. Replaced with Kumo's oversized 255's These were the only inexpensive tires Tire Rack had that would fit. A little hard riding but after 60K miles on them there is still plenty of tread left. Jack

 

I just put on General G-MAX AS-03. They have been out less then a year but getting very good press and are the least expensive option.

 

I guarantee you the rears need replacing too! A tire is shot after 5 years in service and yours are WAYYYYY over! I am using Yokahama Advan Sport summer tires, but they are dangerous in winter if there is below-freezing weather, so if you need the car in a snowy, cold area, use all season.

 

I replaced mine a few years ago with Michelin Pilot Sport All Season tires. I wanted an All Season tire as we live in Chicago area and while I don't often drive the car in bad weather there is occasionally a time when our other car is out of service when we need to a little and the summer tires on even a tiny bit of snow were absolute suicide.

I really like the ride of the Michelins, much smoother than the OEM tires but still sporty enough for us. Only down side is that they are a little pricey. Mine are getting near needing replacement again (old ones are 4 years old but not too high in mileage) and I'd buy the newer version in a heartbeat - I think the newer one is called the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S plus or something like that.

 

I only have about 700 miles on my new set of Hankook Evo V12 Ventus 19" tires, but so far I've been impressed by their performance as well as happy with how quiet and smoothly they run. Fuel economy seems good as well - the car delivers 26 mpg average on Indiana interstates @ legal speeds.

 

Mine came with these: FEDERAL 595 Drift Competition

I'm amazed at the ride quality, and they're very quiet. The previous owner paid less than $500 for all 4, installed. I have no idea what the expected tread life should be.

 

Oh, and the price on the Hankook's was $250/tire, incl. tax & install at a local tire shop (very comparable with online ordering + installation cost, I found).

 

I've used the Michelin's A/S the last two times and I like them better than the Perelli's for sound and ride, but I'm also in the Chicago area so I wanted a good all season. They were about $250.00 a tire.