2007 XKR Tyre recommendations

[SkyUK]

Hi All
Im sure this has been asked before but the search engine is down, so please excuse me asking again.

I have a 2007 XKR with standard 19" wheels, and I'm really struggling to find Pirellis for it. Pirelli themselves are unable to tell me when they will be available (it's like this everytime I try to get new tyres). 245/40ZR19, 275/35ZR19

I have had the car tuned to >500bhp, and I drive it fast, but I also drive it everywhere; it is not a weekend toy.

What tyres would you recommend for this car? I want grip, straight line stability, feedback and progressive breakaway, in both dry and wet conditions; I'm less worried about wear rates (if I was I would drive slower, lol)

Many thanks in advance
Richard

[xkrsupercharged]

I've just gone with a new set of Falken FK452 tyres for my XKR and I must say I am very impressed with the ride quality and grip of these things. I knew they were good as I used to have a set on my BMW 535d and they have been great on the XKR too.

They are cheaper than the Dunlops and Pirelli's but in no way would I say those are superior.

[xkrG]

Having similar issues, dont want pirelli's and cant get hold of Toyo T1-R's so the current thoughts are:

Falken 452
Avon ZZ3
Toyo T1-Sports

Personally I am thinking Falken 452's are first choice

[MPowerMark]

Slightly off subject but may i ask what you did to get your XKR up to 500bhp from 420. And is the difference that noticeable. I ask because i too have a xkr (2008) and would like to get it up to 500-520bhp.

Cheers.

[SeanCW]

If you go on the Autoexpress website they have a tyre survey in the product section

Might give some insight.

[xkrG]

SeanCW said:

If you go on the Autoexpress website they have a tyre survey in the product section

Might give some insight.

Just read it, a bit too focussed on wet handling. Im more interested in progressive loss of grip in the dry and how they grip when im screaching them sideways !

[unpc]

Another vote for the FK452s. Have them on my 03 XKR and quite impressed. Progressive breakaway in the dry too.

[SkyUK]

MPowerMark said:

Slightly off subject but may i ask what you did to get your XKR up to 500bhp from 420. And is the difference that noticeable. I ask because i too have a xkr (2008) and would like to get it up to 500-520bhp.

Paramount Performance in Slough is where I got mine done, they offer a number of tuning options and have a very good website. I can *definitely* notice the difference, with the power upgrades it explodes at the horizon in a very enjoyable way, and with the shorter stiffer springs is corners better than it has a right to at 1.7 tons, and those springs also made the steering sharp (originally it felt more akin to skippering a tanker up the English Channel - I was very disappointed with the stock sterring accuracy).

Hope that helps
Rich

[SkyUK]

Thanks to all those have replied so far. I'd never heard of Falkens but they are looking favourite from the comments, although happy to hear more recommendations.

[johnnnnnnyy]

SkyUK said:

Paramount Performance in Slough is where I got mine done, they offer a number of tuning options and have a very good website. I can *definitely* notice the difference, with the power upgrades it explodes at the horizon in a very enjoyable way, and with the shorter stiffer springs is corners better than it has a right to at 1.7 tons, and those springs also made the steering sharp (originally it felt more akin to skippering a tanker up the English Channel - I was very disappointed with the stock sterring accuracy).

Hope that helps
Rich

Hi Rich,

I want to get mine lowered, do you have pics so I/we can see the difference. Does the ride feel a lot stiffer, you feel the bumps?

[SkyUK]

johnnnnnnyy said:

Hi Rich,

I want to get mine lowered, do you have pics so I/we can see the difference. Does the ride feel a lot stiffer, you feel the bumps?

The springs drop the car by 25mm and noticeably stiffen the car. Whether it is too stiff is a personal thing. It made the whole car much tighter, more accurate, and provided better feedback, all things which are a positive for me. Yes you do feel the bumps, but the springs are a compromise between the standard super soft setup, and a track rock hard setup; one I like. There is a picture at PPs website:
http://www.paramount-performance.com/acatalog/gall...

I'm near Reading, if you are close I'd be happy to meet up and show you. PM me

Rich

[drangular]

SkyUK said:

johnnnnnnyy said:

Hi Rich,

I want to get mine lowered, do you have pics so I/we can see the difference. Does the ride feel a lot stiffer, you feel the bumps?

The springs drop the car by 25mm and noticeably stiffen the car. Whether it is too stiff is a personal thing. It made the whole car much tighter, more accurate, and provided better feedback, all things which are a positive for me. Yes you do feel the bumps, but the springs are a compromise between the standard super soft setup, and a track rock hard setup; one I like. There is a picture at PPs website:
http://www.paramount-performance.com/acatalog/gall...

I'm near Reading, if you are close I'd be happy to meet up and show you. PM me

Rich

Really interested in what you've done to yours and why. Very similar thoughts have been going round my head for a few months now. I have a 2007 XKR Convertible and love it...but I want to feel more in touch with the road when it matters.. round the bends. However I don't want to lose the Jaguar ride quality. I know it's a difficult one and very personal but your thoughts on how far the changes have taken yours away from the Jag feel would be interesting.
Steve

Edited by drangular on Friday 16th March 17:29

[SkyUK]

drangular said:

Really interested in what you've done to yours and why. Very similar thoughts have been going round my head for a few months now. I have a 2007 XKR Convertible and love it...but I want to feel more in touch with the road when it matters.. round the bends. However I don't want to lose the Jaguar ride quality. I know it's a difficult one and very personal but your thoughts on how far the changes have taken yours away from the Jag feel would be interesting.
Steve

Edited by drangular on Friday 16th March 17:29

That is tough. I came from 2 years driving a track oriented Lotus Elise to the XKR (well returned as I had a 1999 XKR before the Elise). The power was fabulous, but it handled like a cow, there was no accuracy in the steering - hitting an apex at the planned point was pure luck, and it would roll horribly significantly reducing grip, and do alarming things in bumpy corners.

The ride is now still compliant and is not harsh at all in my view, but the roll is massively reduced, and the behaviour in bumpy corners is now predictable so I can confidently enter them fast. The surprising thing was the improvement in steering accuracy and feedback caused by just changing the springs. Paramount told me this would happen, but I didn't believe them sales speak I thought. But I was wrong. If I could only do one thing to it I would change the springs, no question. The transformation is astonishing.

I also had the supercharger pulley changed to speed the blower up, the sports cats fitted (200 cells rather than 320), ECU remap and sports exhausts. The exhausts do nothing for power, and the Paramount ones are LOUD so make sure you want to make that much of a statement!

I drive in sports mode on the paddles everywhere and stock car is whisper quiet so I just couldn't tell when to change gear without looking at the tacho. At my age it takes over .5 seconds to focus on the tacho and then back on the road - not good when driving fast! So I did the exhausts and learned to change by exhaust note - change down that is, it auto upchanges on the limiter (I would rather it didnt but heyho). Now I can drive with my hands on teh wheel and my eyes on the road all the time. I love flappy paddles

Hope that helps
Rich

[drangular]

Very insightful and helpfully descriptive comments Rich. Thank you very much. I bought my XKR after four years in an S Type R so it initially felt much better for obvious reasons. However I soon began to notice the lack of feel when trying to keep up with fellow PH'rs in their 911's. Elise's etc round the bends on spirited drives. This lack of road feel became really obvious when I bought an '07 Mini Cooper to teach my daughter to drive. It is really good fun round the corners and reminds me of my early Golf GTI's back in the late eighties/early nineties. (I had four in a row!)Because of this lack of road feel I have been thinking about getting a 911 to try to get more of a driving experience but I don't want to give up the XKR!! Unfortunately I can't have both so the idea of getting the XKR improved in the road handling stakes has been in my mind. Your comments have been really helpful so thanks very much for that. One last thing, in terms of the exhaust, is it OK for long distance M way driving? I mean it doesn't cause too much cabin thrum does it? Or is it switchable?
Steve

[drangular]

Or I could just wait a year and get one of these!!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It looks like it should handle!

[SkyUK]

drangular said:

Very insightful and helpfully descriptive comments Rich. Thank you very much. I bought my XKR after four years in an S Type R so it initially felt much better for obvious reasons. However I soon began to notice the lack of feel when trying to keep up with fellow PH'rs in their 911's. Elise's etc round the bends on spirited drives. This lack of road feel became really obvious when I bought an '07 Mini Cooper to teach my daughter to drive. It is really good fun round the corners and reminds me of my early Golf GTI's back in the late eighties/early nineties. (I had four in a row!)Because of this lack of road feel I have been thinking about getting a 911 to try to get more of a driving experience but I don't want to give up the XKR!! Unfortunately I can't have both so the idea of getting the XKR improved in the road handling stakes has been in my mind. Your comments have been really helpful so thanks very much for that. One last thing, in terms of the exhaust, is it OK for long distance M way driving? I mean it doesn't cause too much cabin thrum does it? Or is it switchable?
Steve

Thanks for your feedback, happy to have helped
My exhaust is not switchable, it does give some cabin thrum but I do not find it obtrusive, but if you value the whisper quiet stock experience then this might intrude. I have done 60k miles with this pipe and I still like it.
Rich

[xkrG]

Ive just put two new Falken 452's on the front. So far so good, I need to scrub them to get the best turn in but they are smooth and quiet so far

[TurricanII]

I was about to start a 'what tyre' thread as could not find a recent one for X308 XJR.. Has anyone tried the Kumho KU39's on an XJR/XKR?

They are almost the same price wise as the Falken's but seemed to get better reviews on tyrereviews.co.uk - in particular for longevity.

My current PZero Rosso's are all due for replacement now so hoping for a good experience with these budget tyres at £100 per corner saving!

Would be great to hear any feedback on these.

[SkyUK]

TurricanII said:

I was about to start a 'what tyre' thread as could not find a recent one for X308 XJR.. Has anyone tried the Kumho KU39's on an XJR/XKR?

They are almost the same price wise as the Falken's but seemed to get better reviews on tyrereviews.co.uk - in particular for longevity.

My current PZero Rosso's are all due for replacement now so hoping for a good experience with these budget tyres at £100 per corner saving!

Would be great to hear any feedback on these.

Please let me know how there do. I just fitted Toyos to mine, and I've been ill so haven't scrubbed them yet. I came back from the local tyre place in the rain and had a clear run at the local slip road so I thought I'd start the new tyre learning curve, and I had a great laugh but mainly because there was no grip and I did the whole 170 degree corner in a 4 wheel drift. Not quite what I was looking for lol. But I'll scrub them and put them through thier paces.
Cheers, Rich

[TurricanII]

SkyUK said:

TurricanII said:

I was about to start a 'what tyre' thread as could not find a recent one for X308 XJR.. Has anyone tried the Kumho KU39's on an XJR/XKR?

They are almost the same price wise as the Falken's but seemed to get better reviews on tyrereviews.co.uk - in particular for longevity.

My current PZero Rosso's are all due for replacement now so hoping for a good experience with these budget tyres at £100 per corner saving!

Would be great to hear any feedback on these.

Please let me know how there do.

The Kumho's are OK although having reread the thread I don't think my XJR gets driven like the XKR's of everyone else!! I have only had one wet outing and no drama taking off quickly in a straight line from standstill on a very wet road. No noticeable difference at 110mph on a dry road. Possibly a little more road noise on older tarmac but hard to say. Still quiet on smooth tarmac.