Pirelli P Zero Tyres - Premature Cracking

[anonymous-user]

charltjr said:

Citation needed, never heard of anything like that before. P Zero is just a mainstream car tyre so I find it very hard to believe.

OP what is the DOT code on the tyres? They may already have been a good few years old before they were fitted to the car.

On U.S. Warranty used to say 45f but now just says low ambient temp, see page 5. UK data sheet used to say 8c but missing from the weep site atm.


https://www.pirelli.com/asset/index.php?idelement=...

[wilwak]

Hang On said:

charltjr said:

Citation needed, never heard of anything like that before. P Zero is just a mainstream car tyre so I find it very hard to believe.

OP what is the DOT code on the tyres? They may already have been a good few years old before they were fitted to the car.

On U.S. Warranty used to say 45f but now just says low ambient temp, see page 5. UK data sheet used to say 8c but missing from the weep site atm.


https://www.pirelli.com/asset/index.php?idelement=...

That’s really shocking.

Can’t beleive Jaguar can sell their cars with tyres that are likely to crack and be dangerous at normal U.K. temperatures.

I’ve been advised to replace mine. It’s not purely cosmetic. The dealer felt them to be unsafe.

So if you collect your brand new car on a cold day, then the moment you drive it away the warranty on the tyres is invalid? Not good.

[PhillipM]

They're not dangerous, the rubber compound down by the carcass there is much harder than usual, it's not unknown for many tyres to crack there in cold weather.

[anonymous-user]

wilwak said:

That’s really shocking.

Can’t beleive Jaguar can sell their cars with tyres that are likely to crack and be dangerous at normal U.K. temperatures.

I’ve been advised to replace mine. It’s not purely cosmetic. The dealer felt them to be unsafe.

So if you collect your brand new car on a cold day, then the moment you drive it away the warranty on the tyres is invalid? Not good.

I don't disagree. They are a silly tyre to supply oem on a car intended to be used all year round. It is particularly bad with Porsche. All of their regular production sports cars have P zero tyres but the salesman won't warn you of the consequences. They are quite happy for you to take a used approved car for a thrash in sub zero temperatures, then sell it on.

In fairness, most cars are supplied on summer-only tyres of some type. It is just that P Zero's have this particular reputation for cracking and breaking if used in winter. That said, I wonder if they have changed their position on enforcing the warranty conditions? Their website a year ago used much more aggressive language than it does today. It might be worth you presenting a case that the tyres are unfit for intended purpose? Chat with friendly solicitor maybe.

[wilwak]

PhillipM said:

They're not dangerous, the rubber compound down by the carcass there is much harder than usual, it's not unknown for many tyres to crack there in cold weather.

I’ve just been acting based on the advice of the dealer. They look quite worrying to me particularly on a performance car.

I did wonder whether they just look worse than they really are?

They certainly don’t look very reassuring!

I feel they’d be safer without the cracks but don’t really know.

Edited by wilwak on Sunday 28th January 08:37

[Pistom]

I had Pirelli something or other on my Boxster which suffered the same within a couple of years. I went back to the dealer who replaced all 4 tyres. They said they had seen it several times.

Maybe worth going back to your dealer.

[Avantime]

I had the front tyres on my Jaguar XFR fail - the sidewall cracked and came away from the tread. It's a well documented problem with the Dunlops, and they were replaced FOC at the dealers.

Obviously it's a different brand, but start off by going to the dealership.

[wilwak]

The dealership did the MOT and identified the problem. They’ve quoted for 4 replacements.

It’s booked in with them to be done.

I’ll tell them that I’m going to try to claim and see what they say. Thanks.

[TooMany2cvs]

charltjr said:

OP what is the DOT code on the tyres? They may already have been a good few years old before they were fitted to the car.

Now, what do we think the chances of Jaguar fitting old-stock tyres to a brand new car on the production line are...?

TBH, OP, just replace the tyres. A new set of four is going to cost you about the same as 100 miles-worth of depreciation so far.

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Sunday 28th January 09:26

[Durzel]

TooMany2cvs said:

Now, what do we think the chances of Jaguar fitting old-stock tyres to a brand new car on the production line are...?

On a car that's expected to do limited mileage? I'd say the chances are high. Different story if you took the same car in for part exchange though - then the tyres would be something they'd chip you down on.

Anyway OP just get Michelins and be done with it.

Replaced the Pirelli P-Zeros on my car for Michelin Pilot Super Sports and it was a night and day difference.

Edited by Durzel on Sunday 28th January 09:34

[Matthen]

wilwak said:

The dealership did the MOT and identified the problem. They’ve quoted for 4 replacements.

It’s booked in with them to be done.

I’ll tell them that I’m going to try to claim and see what they say. Thanks.

Not for a replacement set of Pirellis I hope..

[TooMany2cvs]

Durzel said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Now, what do we think the chances of Jaguar fitting old-stock tyres to a brand new car on the production line are...?

On a car that's expected to do limited mileage? I'd say the chances are high.

So Pirelli and Jaguar keep a warehouse of tyres, ageing specially to fit to XJRs going down the line...?
"No, Trev, not that pallet - they're not ready for another year yet."

[MJK 24]

Seen that on various Continental tyres over the years. Don't think you have any comeback.

See if Michelin do something suitable. They have great longevity in my experience.

[DaveH23]

wilwak said:

I have a three year old Jaguar XJ.

and then said:

It’s a treasured weekender car.

As this is PH surely this is the 5.0 Supercharged version.

Please do a Readers Cars thread, I love these cars.

[peteA]

I have p-zeros on a car and Michelin sports on another and much prefer the sports so was planning on replacing the p-zeros with Michelin’s when the time comes - interested, shocked at the pirellli warranty conditions, what are the Michelin warranty details?

Not come across anything like what has hapened to the OP tyres, more curious than anything?

Is this a ‘hidden’ or relatively unknown tyre industry thing rather than being specific to Pirelli?

[anonymous-user]

peteA said:

I have p-zeros on a car and Michelin sports on another and much prefer the sports so was planning on replacing the p-zeros with Michelin’s when the time comes - interested, shocked at the pirellli warranty conditions, what are the Michelin warranty details?

Not come across anything like what has hapened to the OP tyres, more curious than anything?

Is this a ‘hidden’ or relatively unknown tyre industry thing rather than being specific to Pirelli?

All performance summer tyres harden considerably in cold temperatures. That means they lose flexibility and therefore can crack under pressure. Most of the internet noise is about Pirelli tyres but that may not mean they are the worst, (though they have they reputation). But might that just be because they supply such a huge volume of tyres to GM in the U.S. that their name crops up most?

[GroundEffect]

wilwak said:

Hang On said:

charltjr said:

Citation needed, never heard of anything like that before. P Zero is just a mainstream car tyre so I find it very hard to believe.

OP what is the DOT code on the tyres? They may already have been a good few years old before they were fitted to the car.

On U.S. Warranty used to say 45f but now just says low ambient temp, see page 5. UK data sheet used to say 8c but missing from the weep site atm.


https://www.pirelli.com/asset/index.php?idelement=...

That’s really shocking.

Can’t beleive Jaguar can sell their cars with tyres that are likely to crack and be dangerous at normal U.K. temperatures.

I’ve been advised to replace mine. It’s not purely cosmetic. The dealer felt them to be unsafe.

So if you collect your brand new car on a cold day, then the moment you drive it away the warranty on the tyres is invalid? Not good.

They are summer tyres. It is not advised you use them below 7C in general as they don't grip properly. We have st weather in the UK.

But in general I agree they shouldn't be allowed to fail like that in those temperatures, but they can't be expected to grip well. My Michelin Pilot Super Sports really don't like <8C.

[wilwak]

Matthen said:

wilwak said:

The dealership did the MOT and identified the problem. They’ve quoted for 4 replacements.

It’s booked in with them to be done.

I’ll tell them that I’m going to try to claim and see what they say. Thanks.

Not for a replacement set of Pirellis I hope..

I’ve ordered exactly the same as they are the recommended tyre and I like how the car drives.

I’d assumed that they were just a dodgy batch as I’ve never seen tyres crack like that before and I’ve had several cars with PZeros on.

Tyres are a tough one. So many opinions on what’s best.

If these new PZeros crack I certainly won’t buy any more! For sure.

[anonymous-user]

wilwak said:

I’ve ordered exactly the same as they are the recommended tyre and I like how the car drives.

I’d assumed that they were just a dodgy batch as I’ve never seen tyres crack like that before and I’ve had several cars with PZeros on.

Tyres are a tough one. So many opinions on what’s best.

If these new PZeros crack I certainly won’t buy any more! For sure.

I really like mine and will continue to use them. 5 years old now and no cracking. They will be changed for new P Zeros later this year due to age. Like you, I like how they drive. Mine are used only on warm days and during winter I keep the garage heated to 10c so the cold weather thing isn't an issue for me.

I wish there was such a thing as a good all-season performance tyre but there simply is not. If you wanted to use the car during the winter months you might just want to buy a set of winter wheels and have the dealer swap and store the spares for you.

[fatboy b]

I bought. Second hand XFR-S with Pirellis all round. The fronts were cracked, only noticed after I got it home. The dealer - Taunton Jaguar - we’re crap and refers me to Pirelli, who were excellent. They replaced them FOC having done 2600 miles and 18 months when I bought the car. The replacements lasted 14 months and about 22000 miles, but we’re also cracking towards the end. So not a bad batch. Pirellis crack. I’m now on MPS4.