Supplier of new tyres

[Phil 18]

Hello to all enthusiasts. I have just had two brand new pirelli P600 fitted
at my local suppliers. They told me that this was the last that they had and Pirelli do not make them any more. After contacting various supplier, this seems to be the general word. Does anyone know if this is the case or am I
missing somewhere. I really want to keep to orginal if possible. Incidentley the two I just bought cost the best part of £350.00, daylight robbery. Still the joys of xjs ownership.



From Phil Black XJS

[ptjs1]

Phil,

You haven't said what model you've got or the tyre size to which you're referring.

I spoke to Pirelli 12 weeks ago to try and get a definitive statement on the availability of the various size tyres that were fitted to XJSs.

If you can tell us the tyre size, I'll tell you what Pirelli said about that tyre.

Paul

[Phil 18]

Thanks for that Paul

The tyre size are 235/60 R15

Phil

Black XJS 3.6

Location Churchdown, Glos

[ptjs1]

Phil,

There were a number of tyres fitted to XJSs over the life of the car. For most of the sizes, Pirelli were either the specified Jaguar supplier, or one of the supplier options.

I am often getting calls and emails from members who say that their tyre fitters are telling them that "Pirelli don't make those tyres any more".

Pirelli, as with other tyre manufacturers, make tyres in batches. For low-volume tyres they naturally have to estimate the market need in deciding when to produce the next batch. Tyres that are still a Pirelli current production tyre but awaiting the next batch run are referred to as "Back Order". They WILL be produced but it could be some weeks or perhaps a few months before they are available.

I spoke to Pirelli again this morning to get the most up-to-date position. The list below is the different tyre size fitted to XJS models from 1975-1996 and the current availability of a Pirelli tyre.

Code: Select all

Original Tyre Size Pirelli availability

205/70 VR15 P4000 S 205/70 R15 95W - Available from stock
215/70 VR15 P4000 S 215/70 R15 97W - Available from stock
235/60 VR15 P600 235/60 R15 98W - On Back Order
225/60 VR15 No Pirelli tyre available
225/55 ZR16 J P6000 225/55 ZR16 95W J - On Back Order
225/60 ZR16 J Obsolete - Use 225/55 ZR16
225/50 ZR16 No Pirelli tyre available

The 225/55 ZR16 is specifically made to a Jaguar specification and is stamped with a "J".

So, for your own 235/60 tyres, they are still a current Pirelli tyre but are awaiting the next batch run.

I know that won't help you much if you've got an urgent need and have to have a tyre fitted now. But could I suggest to you (and any other members who think they might need tyres soon) that you ask your tyre fitters to put in an order to Pirelli (assuming they don't want the money up front!). Even if you don't need the tyres when they are produced, it helps to encourage the batch date to come forward as Pirelli have no real statistics other than orders from fitters to help them determine the latent need.

I hope that helps you and other members understand the current situation.

Paul Sinnott

[almcl]

Paul

Could you ask your contact what the secret of getting the 70 profile tyres is?

I've been told repeatedly (and by several sources) for many months now, that neither the 205 nor the 215 are available? As a result my DD6 is now riding on Japanese Falkens, intended for an ATV, in the 205 width rather than the 215 it left the factory with.

[ptjs1]

Al,

Following your post, I've just spoken to Pirelli again this morning. They have confirmed that they do have stocks of the 205 & 215 / 70 tyres. The stock numbers aren't large (eg dozens rather than hundreds of the 215s) but they are there. Unfortunately they couldn't tell me when the batches were produced so I guess it may have been after your fitters last enquired.

I suspect that most small fitters are just checking stock availability at their agent (I understand that most local fitters source their tyres from a bigger main Pirelli agent) rather than pushing the agent to order the tyre from Pirelli.

The good news is that, at this moment, they are available. The bad news is that I guess that small stock level won't last long.

If you are thinking of buying, it would be good to know how you get on.

Paul

[almcl]

Paul

Many thanks for the info.

I'll ask my supplier if he can get some, casually, and let you know the result.

[Phil 18]

Thank you for your help on this one Paul, as of today I have moved on
to another project, replacing the radio aerial which as come brand new
through the post today.

A genuine Hirschmann, very nice

Phil Black XJS 3.6
Churchdown

[BigCatXJS]

At the risk of becoming unpopular, can I suggest 225/60 R15 tyres for your XJ-S/XJS running 15" wheels? There are a number of reasonable tyres out there on this size. The size difference is negligible so folks need not worry about speedo differences. Personally, I think it extremely unlikely that Pirelli would ever make another a batch of P600 235/60 R15 tyres, so expect rip-off pricing for old stock of what is a fairly average unremarkable tyre.

Rich.

[ptjs1]

BigCatXJS,

I think you're right that it's inevitable that owners have to start looking at other sizes / makes as the Pirelli tyres become uneconomic (in Pirelli's view) to manufacture.

Many owners seem to move to 16" wheels with the better availablity of tyres and the ability to still retain genuine Jaguar wheels that don't look out of place on the earlier cars.

As regards the 235/60 R15, I can only reiterate what I've written in the post. It's not an obsolete tyre so, according to Pirelli, the next batch will be produced in weeks / months. If Pirelli eventually move it to "obsolete" status, I'll post back on here.

Paul

[kierant]

My 235/60 15s are getting a bit long in the tooth — still plenty of tread, frustratingly, but some unhealthy-looking deep cracks and they squeal terribly when cornering even at low speeds, making me think the rubber has hardened.

Reading this thread, and looking around, it seems like 225/60 15s would be a reasonable way to go on the existing mesh wheels, and I was pleased to see a few manufacturers list that size. In particular, I've had really good handling improvements with Avon ZV3 tyres on other cars so I was keen to use those.

However, my local supplier has told me they're not available and in fact the only thing he can find from any of his suppliers in this size is the Falken ZE912, which he's listing at £98. From the Falken website, the tyre looks acceptable. Has anyone any experience of them yet?

[Montana5]

A few weeks ago I also ran into a similar problem with my local supplier, 15" tyres for my other baby (MX-5), sadly Goodyear are no longer making the excellent Eagle GSD 3, now replaced by the not so grippy but very eco green 'Efficient Grip', after some research it was narrowed down to the Avon Z3V or the Uniroyal Rainsport 2, in the end I went for the Rainsports, mainly because the tread pattern was similar to the Goodyear Eagle... and so far so good, though the soft side walls do require a little more pressure, anyway the point I was trying to make is that my own local independent Tyre Dealer informed me that he could not supply either of those makes, due to a limited order of 12 tyres from his distributors, he was quite willing to fit them if I could source them elsewhere and in the end that is what I did, online dealer 'Black Circles' had plenty in stock and arranged delivery to my local fitters, so basically what I'm saying is check elsewhere if your local place can't source them, as it seems that nowadays, sadly there are less and less people like you and I demanding the Tyres that we want, rather than take what's cheapest and available.

Doug.

[kierant]

Well, typical I suppose... got the four Falkens fitted today, and suddenly the tracking is completely off the scale. Literally. I watched the mechanic raise the car, and I don't think he's done any damage that way, so I'm somewhat surprised that just being lifted could do such harm. Going to let them have a play with the tracking tomorrow so we'll find out more then. But it's one of those moments. Fiddle with one thing on an old car, and something else seems to go!

[BigCatXJS]

Well, typical I suppose... got the four Falkens fitted today, and suddenly the tracking is completely off the scale. Literally. I watched the mechanic raise the car, and I don't think he's done any damage that way, so I'm somewhat surprised that just being lifted could do such harm. Going to let them have a play with the tracking tomorrow so we'll find out more then. But it's one of those moments. Fiddle with one thing on an old car, and something else seems to go!

I would suggest taking your Cat to a garage that has a decent tracking system. The wheel-mounted lazer systems can be inaccurate (as it depends on the technician alligning these up perfectly). The Falkens are directional so worth checking that the tyre has been fitted to the wheel in the right direction. From memory, the outside wall of the tyre should state "outside".

I have run Falken 225/60 R15's on my XJ-S for the last three years without issue (apart from slightly inaccurate tracking and wheel balancing!).

Also worth checking that you don't have too much play with your steering. I currently have around 4" of play caused by a set of steering bushes not doing their job properly and also cracked v-mounts.

Tracking, bushes, and v-mounts are on my to-do list.

Rich.