XJ40 Tyre Recommendations

[PeetBee]

One of the tyres on my XJ40 is at the legal minimum and the spare is barely legal

So can anyone recommend a budget alternative to the Pirelli P4000 that are on there now? I've found them at £116 each but would rather not pay that much! Still at least it hasn't got metric wheels, that would be a scary price! The size is 225/65R15. Thanks

[lowdrag]

Look up Micheldever tyres (about the cheapest I've found in the UK and between Winchester and Southampton if it is in your neck of the woods) and ask them. They are very helpful. If too far then talk to one of your local tyre specialists (independent if possible not Quikfit or Midas) and get some advice there.

[Jaguarnut]

I have recently paid £224 for two Pirelli P6000's size 225/60R16, 98V rated. I had these from Melksham Tyre Services, Melksham, Wiltshire. I could not get P4000's in that size.

It might be worth looking up www.mytyres.co.uk and search for alternatives. It will give you a feel for the price (adding about £20/wheel for fitting etc.). My recomendation would be to stick to the Pirelli's, either P4000 or P6000 with a strong suggestion that they are not mixed on an axle. My X300 runs on P6000's all round, the XJ40 on P4000's for the rear, and now P6000's for the front.

If you do go for another brand, do check the speed and load rating to avoid invalidating your insurance. The correct ones should be "V" for speed (or W which is higher) and "98" as a load rating. Some lesser priced tyres may actually be of lesser ratings!

[PeetBee]

Thanks Ian

[Jaguar steve]

I have P6000s on my XJ8. The combination of these, 17" Celtic alloys and sports suspension give a poor low speed ride and are really noisy on concrete road surfaces.

I found P4000 tyres on my previous X300 were much better, but the best ride quality I ever had was on Avon tyres fitted my S3 XJ6.

If you can get Avons at a good price and value refinement and comfort over performance and handling, they may be the answer. Have a look at www.blackcircles.co.uk for some more tyre reviews.

I've heard that the Mitchelin Pilot tyres are superb, but you might not want to spend over £800 a set....

JS

[PeetBee]

Jaguar steve said:

I've heard that the Mitchelin Pilot tyres are superb, but you might not want to spend over £800 a set....
JS

You're right, I don't want to spend that much, I'm sure I could buy another XJ40 for that!

Thanks for the other info, fortunately I do low mileage as it's not my main car, so have the luxury of time to sort it out. I also think that I'll stick to the 15" wheels as the ride quality is one of the things I bought the car for. Although lets be honest, at 16 years old I bet the tyres are doing more then the bushes to make the ride as good as it is!

[Jaguarnut]

Probably too far into the future, but the next Jaguar Spares Day at Stoneleigh NAC might give you some options. The next is on 21st October. At the last one in March, there was one tyre dealer who amongst other offers was selling 4 Genuine XJ8 16" wheels (new!) with new P6000's fitted and balenced for £650!!! Seemed hell of a deal if you need to refurbish/replace the existing wheels. The size was correct at 225/60R16 at 98W. These particular whhels would fit an XJ40 or X300. Not sure of the inpact on the speedo gearing by altering the wheel size, but I suspect there is little practical difference. Another option to think about perhaps?

I personnaly have found little difference between the P4000's and the P6000's of the same size.

[PeetBee]

Interesting, worth bearing in mind, as I will undoubtedly think of many other parts that I can't possibly live without by then!

[groomi]

Lots of people have recommended Avons over the years.