XL tyres... Why??
Discussion
I looked at this with Michelin CrossClimate's as they were only XL when they first came out.
Someone on here who does tyre tests say Michelin use the same carcass across many tyres anyway so they're not reinforced as such.
In use on a Golf and an Ateca there's no sense of them being any harsher on ride comfort.
One thing I noticed on tyre charts is XL tyres have slightly higher pressures than non-XL for any given load - I can only think this might be due to reinforced tyres heating a bit more if they flex??
Someone on here who does tyre tests say Michelin use the same carcass across many tyres anyway so they're not reinforced as such.
In use on a Golf and an Ateca there's no sense of them being any harsher on ride comfort.
One thing I noticed on tyre charts is XL tyres have slightly higher pressures than non-XL for any given load - I can only think this might be due to reinforced tyres heating a bit more if they flex??
jeremyc said:
Camskill list a choice of 20 different tyres in 225/50R17 with a 94 (non XL) load rating (use the filter to select the load rating). 
From Sunny at £49 a corner to Continental at £126 each.
Not today though goddammit!! From Sunny at £49 a corner to Continental at £126 each.
And they list 89 XL tyres. I guess it's just a result of increased car sizes.nickfrog said:
Sheepshanks said:
One thing I noticed on tyre charts is XL tyres have slightly higher pressures than non-XL for any given load
I don't believe there are XL and non XL versions of a tyre for any given load. They either have a load high enough to warrant the XL label or they don't.I don't mean max load. Tyre's load capability depends on the tyre pressure. The heavier the load, the higher the pressure needed - hence for heavier loads XL tyres might be needed that can withstand higher pressures.
Here's a couple of charts:
You'll notice how, for example, a standard tyre with a load index of 91 requires 2.5bar for a 615kg rating, but an XL tyre with the same load index requires 2.9bar for the same 615kg rating.
I realise that for any given tyre size both standard and XL wouldn't be the same load index, but if you use the usual rating figures for each there's still a difference.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Wednesday 12th July 11:29
I went through each local protyre franchise in turn and found what I wanted in the right load rating. Roll on 
Sorry for the thread resurrection folks.
I run a Yeti, which has OEM spec tyre of 225/50/17 on a 94 load rating. The car needs new tyres soon.
For reasons unknown the 98 load rated tyre is £45 cheaper per tyre than a 94, so a saving of almost £200. Everything else about the tyre is identical (Goodyear Efficientgrip Performance 2).
My feeling is I will not really notice any difference compared with the 94s and I’ll have £180 on my back pocket. Am I overthinking this? Does anyone have any first hand experience of going to a higher load rating and regretting it for any reason?
I run a Yeti, which has OEM spec tyre of 225/50/17 on a 94 load rating. The car needs new tyres soon.
For reasons unknown the 98 load rated tyre is £45 cheaper per tyre than a 94, so a saving of almost £200. Everything else about the tyre is identical (Goodyear Efficientgrip Performance 2).
My feeling is I will not really notice any difference compared with the 94s and I’ll have £180 on my back pocket. Am I overthinking this? Does anyone have any first hand experience of going to a higher load rating and regretting it for any reason?
Yes I think my worry is really only about a potentially firmer ride, but again this may be negligible, and a tweak of tire pressures may bring it back in line anyway.
Also, reviews seems to suggest the Goodyears are a bit softer, more comfort orientated, than the Pirelli Cinturato’s on the car at the moment, so a higher load rating on the Goodyears may actually even things out.
Also, reviews seems to suggest the Goodyears are a bit softer, more comfort orientated, than the Pirelli Cinturato’s on the car at the moment, so a higher load rating on the Goodyears may actually even things out.
I doubt you'd notice the difference in ride quality between the same make and model of tyre between standard and XL.
If the XL's are slightly stiffer/tougher that can only be a good thing given the state of the roads.
By the way those Goodyear Efficient Grips mentioned recently come with over 8mm new tread and are wearing really well on a family Golf.
On the subject of tyres Camskill (and possibly others) have a £25 cashback offer on 4 already well priced Uniroyals on their site, which would go some way to paying the fitting costs.
If the XL's are slightly stiffer/tougher that can only be a good thing given the state of the roads.
By the way those Goodyear Efficient Grips mentioned recently come with over 8mm new tread and are wearing really well on a family Golf.
On the subject of tyres Camskill (and possibly others) have a £25 cashback offer on 4 already well priced Uniroyals on their site, which would go some way to paying the fitting costs.
Smint said:
I doubt you'd notice the difference in ride quality between the same make and model of tyre between standard and XL.
If the XL's are slightly stiffer/tougher that can only be a good thing given the state of the roads.
By the way those Goodyear Efficient Grips mentioned recently come with over 8mm new tread and are wearing really well on a family Golf.
On the subject of tyres Camskill (and possibly others) have a £25 cashback offer on 4 already well priced Uniroyals on their site, which would go some way to paying the fitting costs.
I second the 8mm tread on the EfficientGrips, on my 335d xdrive. If the XL's are slightly stiffer/tougher that can only be a good thing given the state of the roads.
By the way those Goodyear Efficient Grips mentioned recently come with over 8mm new tread and are wearing really well on a family Golf.
On the subject of tyres Camskill (and possibly others) have a £25 cashback offer on 4 already well priced Uniroyals on their site, which would go some way to paying the fitting costs.
My question is; mine are runflats, generally OK, but if I replace them for non-runflat should I go XL to be attuned with the suspension?
Pica-Pica said:
I second the 8mm tread on the EfficientGrips, on my 335d xdrive.
My question is; mine are runflats, generally OK, but if I replace them for non-runflat should I go XL to be attuned with the suspension?
I would go for XL. I did when switching from RFTs a long time ago on my 130i. My question is; mine are runflats, generally OK, but if I replace them for non-runflat should I go XL to be attuned with the suspension?
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