what was my 2003 XKR originally equipped with tire-wise?
there are Pirelli PZEROs on there now, just curious

 

Look under the lid of your console/arm rest.

 

Robs post above of unlike brands is the first I've read in this forum. I've been told to keep tires the same brand for stability and safety sake. I bought my 99 with 45s I'd like to use the 16 year old original spare which has never been on the ground but I need another Pirrelli 50 to put on the opposite side. Since the owner didn't rotate as prescribed 2 tires are worn more than the others. Is it safe to put new OEMs on the rear then replace the front KUMHO 45s when needed?

 

Ordering the General G-Max AS-03 today for my '97.

 

I have often mixed brands in the past. As long as I have the same tires on an axle I don't worry. Of course, it's better to have the same all around.

 

Those Generals reportedly have a rather short treadwear lifespan. I crossed them off my list and selected the Yokohama YK580 from Discount Tire back in 2012. They've indeed been great tires on my wife's 2006 XK8....

 

If you are planning to use a 16-year-old tire be aware that rubber deteriorates with age, and this would probably not be safe.

 

+1

 

The reason I'm replacing my tires is age deterioration. I only drive about 1k a year & the 6 yr old tires are showing cracks on the sidewalls. I also have the original Pirelli spare.

 

i have been running toyo tires for about 2 years now handle excellent and very quiet comparred to pirellis only complaint is theres a flat spot when you let it sit overnight which takes about 5 min of driving to roll out

 

If you feel the spare unsafe. Would you consider selling it?

 

I have about 2-3k on a set of Gmaxs and they are pretty good tires. A little loud with that tread design and a little squirmy with the think treads but they perform very well in most conditions (no they are not a high performance summer tire) but I also just drove the car on a ski trip and didn't have an issue going up icy snowy back roads either. General often runs rebates as well so I would to a search for that. One thing I'm not a fan of them for is they are a directional tire so rotation stays on the same side rather than going to the opposite side. Another good choice that I think may come in 245/50r17 is the Kumho Escta X. We have those on our x type. I would've gotten them had Kumho been running a rebate, since they weren't my tire guy recommended the Gmax.

What gets me is everyone talking about tread life being short. Why yes good sticky tires have less life then hard touring tires, it is a fact of life. Personally I would rather stop 10 feet shorter when I need to or take a turn without loosing control but performance tires getting 25k out of their life is a very good lifespan. I run tires on my TVR that need replaced in 10k, our XJR gets its tires done in that 15-20k range but I also don't have an issue with 4 year old tires cracking and falling apart like the crappy mich. that came on my XK8 that were beyond junk. The could have been replaced with Chen Shins and I would have been happier.

 

So you're not interested in tires that have equal or better stopping power and wet-weather performance compared to what you're running and still tend to get twice the treadlife (with proper care, of course) for not a great deal of money more than you paid for your Generals? A bit counterintuitive, I'd say....

My wife's XK8 came to us with those same crappy Michelins you described on her front axle. They were indeed "chunking" (throwing off bits of rubber) with more than half of their treadlife remaining. I made a phone call and opened a case with Michelin, took the car to Discount Tire, they examined both tires and declared them unsafe, and they followed through with Michelin to get me a 75% credit towards replacing both front tires with whatever tire I chose. My research had already pointed me to the Yokohamas. As I said, they've been great tires. They're pushing 39,000 miles and still going strong....

 

Sorry Jon, you obviously have different priorities for tires then I do. I push my cars to their limits a great deal. If you did the same you wouldn't be on a tire with 39k on it. Do you think that those who race their cars use tires for 39k? There is a reason why, regardless of manufacturer longevity=harder less sticky compounds.