I have a 2005 XK8 and a Jaguar rookie. When looking for new tires it quotes staggered tire application. Does Jag recommend 2 different tire sizes for front and back?

 

Welcome to the forum Hutch,

I've moved your post to the XK8/R section where it belongs, please post an intro in the new members section when you can.

The XK8 does not have staggered tyres the XKR does.

 

What style wheels are on your XK8 (if you do not know you can post a picture)? What tire sizes are currently on them? Some of the OEM wheels are staggered, some are not.

 

Mine does, and it's a '97 XK8.

Options were either 8J x 17 wheels all round, or 8J x 18 at the front and 9J x 18 at the rear.
Recommended tyre sizes therefore 245/50 17 99 for 17" and 245/45 18 96 front and 255/45 18 99 rear for 18"

I think 19" and 20" wheels were an option on the XKR but not sure of my facts there.

 

My rims are 19". I have 8.5 wide fronts and 9 inch wide rear Atlas I think...every time I want to do anything with the tires/wheels I look it up. So my 2005 has staggered. I had one of my 9 inchers on the front for over a year due to the previous owner or their tire guy messing up the placement. I like to put the widest tire and get a little extra sidewall height if possible without throwing off the abs or odo or ecm or who knows what. I think tire research is like the old "measure twice, cut once" and it still has to work. If it doesn't it doesn't.
That being said, next time I will keep my current side wall and try to go wider. I'm running 275/40/19 on the back now...245s on the front. I would also like to go 255 up front, but it's tough to find out if that works on this car with 19x8.5.
Biggest mistakes on cars I've seen many times are tires/brakes. These are important items. Like steering.

 

I should add:
Mine is 05 XK8 Vert N/A. I didn't like the way the tires sat in the wheel well and put on 15mm spacers. Good thing I did. After coming back from my tire guy and pulling the wheels (which are concentric hubs on our cars, and can be tough to get off) to add the spacers I detected slight rub on the inside fenderwell from the 275s. The 15mm spacers put that geometry back perfect. I'm not a go fast guy, just an old guy that likes the widest tires I can fit kinda person. Especially on the rears. They ride great so far.

 

Most (all?) of the Jaguar factory wheel sizes are listed on a sticker under the armrest lid. Tire pressure as well...

 

Hutch - at the risk of being patronising - just look at what is already on the car. The numbers on the tyres will tell you what you have at the moment, and whether or not they are all the same or different front and back.

 

My UK spec MY04 4.2L XK8 has the widest 20" BBS option and they are certainly staggered . . . the split rims are 20"x 9" front & 20"x 10" rear, running 255/35ZR20 front tyres and 285/30ZR20 rears. Price of those 2 rear tyres is numbing, but virtually all of my driving is higher speed country highway based and I respect the improved traction, braking and general handling.

I am often asked if bump is harsh using these wheels & tyres. No; because the optimum pressures turn out to be 32 front & 30 rear around town and 36 front & 34 rear for higher speed touring. Of course, adjusting pressures is a real pain with these wheels, but we love it.

Hope this helps,

Ken