www.jec.org.uk

Hi, I read on 'Tinterweb' that the Pirelli Rosso were designed to be quieter than the standard p zero's. Just having acquired my first XKR convertible I do notice significant road noise from the tyres and wondered if anyone had experienced both tyre types and could confirm this claim of less noise? I love having the top down, but as she's so heavy and my XKR wheels are 20" detroits it's all much noisier than my XJ-SC and MGF.
Any advice appreciated.
I have noted this year my insurance does not specify which tyre types they require, unlike another company last year. You may all need to double check your policy docs, this seems to be a new sneaky 'get-out' clause!
Thanks
Tara

Hi again Tara ,
Make sure that the replacement tyres are "extra load" as it's equally important that the speed rating AND the load rating are suitable for our cars , if I remember correctly Rosso's are not suitable whereas Zero's with a 'J' rating are .
If you want a tyre that is quieter , longer lasting and cheaper than Pirelli's go for the Dunlop Sport Maxx , I fitted the Dunlops to my coupe after two sets of Pirelli's and found them much , much superior , incidently I have 20" Sepangs and the Dunlops transformed the car ,

Hope this helps ,

Nik

PS Hopefully DelBoy will be along soon , he had a nasty experience with his previous XKR but he feels his replacement XKR is much better on the Dunlops

Yes Nik is right
Rolled my first XKR which was fitted with NEW Pirelli p zero's.
Dunlop Sport Maxx are the way to go......
They will totally transform the way your car handles

thanks guys, i appreciate the advice and I think I'll give Dunlop a go!
Ta
Tara

Hi guys
Have just read Del Boys reply with interest - I am about to change the front tyres on my XK8 conv. which are Pirelli PZero's ( only covered 14k miles but the inside edges have gone)
Have been quoted £189 for Pirelli's and £163 for Dunlop Sport Maxx this is from Bathwick Tyres in Poole and includes fitting etc.
I am inclined to go for the Dunlops but am concerned about compatability with Pirelli's which I have on the back -
Any comments would be appreciated
Peter

Hi guys
Have just read Del Boys reply with interest - I am about to change the front tyres on my XK8 conv. which are Pirelli PZero's ( only covered 14k miles but the inside edges have gone)
Have been quoted £189 for Pirelli's and £163 for Dunlop Sport Maxx this is from Bathwick Tyres in Poole and includes fitting etc.
I am inclined to go for the Dunlops but am concerned about compatability with Pirelli's which I have on the back -
Any comments would be appreciated
Peter

Hi guys
Have just read Del Boys reply with interest - I am about to change the front tyres on my XK8 conv. which are Pirelli PZero's ( only covered 14k miles but the inside edges have gone)
Have been quoted £189 for Pirelli's and £163 for Dunlop Sport Maxx this is from Bathwick Tyres in Poole and includes fitting etc.
I am inclined to go for the Dunlops but am concerned about compatability with Pirelli's which I have on the back -
Any comments would be appreciated
Peter

Just a note to say it's not my fault that my last message has appeared 3times!!! - I pressed all the right buttons and the Error page came up 3 times
Happy days
Peter

You are right to be concerned about compatibility. Different brands of tyres with different slip angles can make a Jaguar feel quite strange. It's always safer to stick with a single brand to avoid this effect. If a member has experience of this particular Dunlop/Pirelli combination, it would be good to hear from him/her. However, I would be also be concerned about the reason for the existing tyre wear. Inner shoulder wear is typical of worn suspension bushes so checking for wear could prevent rapid wear on the new tyres. Mike.

I replaced my 18" P Zeros on the front of my 02 XK8 with Continental Contisport 3's. Found them to be better than the P Zeros. Just about to change the rears to Contis'. Had no problems with different front / rear combo but then again I leave the traction control on! (Contis are listed as OE in my handbook)

I changed my rears from Pirellis to Dunlop Sport Maxx last year. The fronts are still P Zeros (but will be changing them to Dunlops within the next couple of months).

There has been no adverse handling characteristics with different tyres front and rear.

The P Zeros, at £100 more per tyre, was just too much!

Hi again chaps, I've just had a pair of 'Jaguar fitment' Dunlop Sports Maxx fitted to the front wheels of my XKR and they are superb. Quieter, smoother, and it may be just my imagination but the steering seems smoother too, specially during a tight parking manoeuvre. Thanks for the advice, you've been awesome!
Tara

Hi again chaps, I've just had a pair of 'Jaguar fitment' Dunlop Sports Maxx fitted to the front wheels of my XKR and they are superb. Quieter, smoother, and it may be just my imagination but the steering seems smoother too, specially during a tight parking manoeuvre. Thanks for the advice, you've been awesome!
Tara

We try to help Tara ,

All the best ,

Nik

I wish I'd registered and accessed these threads before I parted with my cash on a full set of Pirellis for my XKR! I bought the '54 car in the summer with 17k miles. I had new spec wishbones, Polybushes, lower shock mounts, arb links and top mounts fitted up front, and the car drives great! I'm now up to 31k miles and time for new tyres ahead of the winter (I'll use the car all year round). Drove to tyre place with smooth, quiet and totally stable steering & drive. Parted with cash and drove out with new replacement Jag spec 20" Pirellis and the car is a shaddow of its former self. I've have vibration from the front wheels (strangely worse for a mile or so when setting off from services after a break), severe tramlining (M1 50 mph roadwork sections can be lively), and even worse there is a dull pulsing through the car from the rear wheels (even feels like a missfire as it goes through 55mph to 65 mph). The guys at the tyre place had tried very hard indeed to balance the wheels, four time in all, and had improved things but not solved it. I then took the car to Stratstone at Teesside and they balanced again. This time it was quite a bit better, but not quite there yet. Today I've has a full inspection of all the wheel bearings and susspension to double check there is no underlying issues. I'm having the drive shaft joints replaced on Monday as there is some play and I want to take out any possible cause of these issues; and then the car will be mechanically 100% by any standards. I am now pretty convinced these tyres are the root cause of the issue, and reading about the praise on the Sport Maxx it seems I should be buying these. Its good/reasuring to read these comments on the Dunlops and thanks for sharing experiences.

One thought on your handling issue. Have the V mounts on the front subframe checked. They have a tendency to suffer from delamination betwen the Rubber V and the aluminium mounting block. This was a problem on my car. The handling was what I can best describe as insecure. Since replacement the handling is transformed, taught and confidence inspiring. The net reult is that I'm wearing out tyres faster as I am more inclined to be adventurous!. Incidently, I use the Dunlop Maxx tyres and agree they are better but I think the rubber is a softer compound so wear faster anyway.