Jaguar Tyres

Jaguar Tyres

XK Jaguar Wheels

STOP PRESS: Prices reduced for XK Jaguar Borrani wheels!

If you would like to have the ultimate wire wheel upgrade then please click here for information on Borrani wire wheels for the XK Jaguar .

XK Fitted with Borrani Wire Wheels

XK Jaguar Tyres

The Jaguar XK120, XK140 and XK150 all came from the factory fitted with 600x16 cross ply vintage tyres. Luckily for owners of these fabulous cars today, there are more than enough options available in this size and it is no longer necessary to use van tyres or taxi tyres. We have superb supplies of vintage cross ply tyres and classic radial tyres suitable for use on the XK120, XK140 and XK150.

Of the cross ply tyres available the original 600H16 Dunlop RS5 would be the best option giving you perfect period looks negating the need to fit wider tyres with a chunky tread pattern that will make the steering feel uneccesarily heavy. Of course if you want the ultimate cross ply tyre then the fully road legal 600x16 Dunlop Racing tyre would be best in its class. The only radial tyres that would have been available in the 1950s are the 185SR16 Michelin X and the 185VR16 Pirelli Cinturato™, these tyres will give light steering due to their design.

The Jaguar XK120, XK140 and XK150 were regarded as one of the best sportscars of their time and fitted the same size tyres as other top marques such as Ferrari, Maserati and Aston Martin. Due to the demand by so many classic cars for one tyre size Michelin have designed a new classic tyre to suit called the 600WR16 Pilote X (with a W(168mph) speed rating). This tyre has a period cross ply style tread pattern designed to move water quickly at high speed and grip tenaciously in all conditions! The Michelin Pilote X has slightly rounded sidewalls with period styled writing and cross ply style dimensions on the sidewalls all based on the best tyre technology currently available. We can currently offer free delivery on all orders of these tyres.

Longstone Tyres are now pleased to be able to offer XK owners the 185VR16 Pirelli Cinturato™ as a fantastic period altenative (again free delivery is available on all orders for these tyres). The Cinturato™ was the worlds first textile radial vintage tyre and was fitted to many cars in period as the ultimate performance tyre upgrade!

Jaguar XK 16" Tyre Options

For an unbiased view of the 16" tyres available the please click on this link to an article written in the Maserati Club magazine, please bear in mind that this article was written while the Pirelli Cinturato™ was unavailable! .

Jaguar XK Fitted with Michelin 600WR16

Jaguar XK Fitted with Michelin 600WR16 Pilote X Tyres

Jaguar XK Fitted with Michelin 600WR16 Pilote X Tyres

XK Jaguar History

During World War 2 the Jaguar design team led by Sir William Lyons set to work on a brand new double overhead cam engine. As it neared completion it became obvious that a worthy successor to the SS100, powered by the new 160bhp engine, would be possible. The decision to build a sportscar to house the engine was given the go ahead. Less than 2 months later, in October 1948, the Jaguar XK120 was unveiled at the Earls Court Motor Show. The car was an instant success with the public and press alike hardly able to comprehend the availability of 120mph sportscar that was civilised at all speeds and cost only £998! The Jaguar XK 120 evolved throughout its life with the advent, in 1954, of the XK 140 with 190bhp and (small) backseat and the final incarnation in 1957, the XK150, with disc brakes and a 210bhp engine option. Production of all Jaguar XK120, XK140 and XK150 variants, dropheads, roadsters and fixed heads ceased in 1961.

Jaguar XK Fitted with Michelin 600WR16 Pilote X Tyres

E Type Jaguar Tyres

The first E-Type Jaguar was fitted with a 640H15 Dunlop RS5 cross ply tyre until 1965 when the factory offered the E Type with a Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet 185HR15 radial tyre as an alternative. This ,now classic, tyre became standard fitment to all series one Jaguar XKE's and series two Jaguar E-Types.
The best tyres to fit to pre 1971 E types are the new 185VR15 Pirelli Cinturato™ or the 185VR15 185VR15 Michelin XVS.

Check out this fantastic You Tube video featuring an E Type Jaguar fitted with the 185VR15 Pirelli Cinturato™ tyres.

1971 saw the introduction of the series three Jaguar XKE in 5.3 litre V12 form fitted, as standard, with Dunlop ER70x15 (205/70HR15) radial tyres on 6"x15" steel wheels (wire wheels were optional). The series three Jaguar E-Type also had the benefit of power steering as standard equipment. This overcame the problem of otherwise heavy steering gained by the fitment of wider tyres.

9600HP Thanks to Philip Porter

E Type Jaguar History

In 1961, 12 years and 4 months after the launch of the XK120, Jaguar wowed the world again at the Geneva motor show with the Jaguar E type (XKE) coupe. This phenomenal car offered people 265bhp, 150mph performance with acceleration to match and 18mpg average fuel consumption, all from a fully equipped touring/sports car that cost £2000. In its day this was a feat that no other manufacturer had achieved and is quite remarkable even now! From its inception in '61 in 3.8 litre series one E Type form, through 4.2 litre series two Jaguar E-Type in 1968 to its death in '75 as the 5.3 V12 series three XKE the Jaguar E-type was a benchmark car, and some might say, the most beautiful car of all time.

9600HP Thanks to Philip Porter

E Type Jaguar Wheels

STOP PRESS: Prices reduced for E-Type Jaguar Borrani wheels!

If you would like to have the ultimate wire wheel upgrade then please click here for information on Borrani wheels for the E Type Jaguar.

Jaguar E Type with Borrani Wheels

The Most Famous Jaguar E Type in the World, with Borrani Wheels

The Most Famous Jaguar E Type in the World, with Borrani Wheels

The Most Famous Jaguar E Type in the World, with Borrani Wheels

MkI & MkII Jaguar History

The Jaguar 2.4 saloon (or Mark 1 as it would latterly be known) was launched at the 1955 Motor Show as a car to fill the gap between the sporting XK series and the luxury MkVII in the Jaguar stable. Jaguar had realised that there was a large sector of the public that required an affordable quality motor car and new they where more than capable of coming up with the goods.

This car was to be Jaguar (and William Lyons) first attempt at monocoque construction, and as such was very over engineered.

The Jaguar 2.4 was equipped with a short stroke version of the legendary XK six cylinder twin cam engine (hence the 2.4 name), and acres of leather and wood to cosset those inside! This could not, however, detract from the fact that the 2.4 litre car was only able to give its owner "grace and space".

To combat this, and give the Jaguar its "pace", a 3.4 litre version of the car was introduced in 1957. Disc brakes became available shortly afterwards!!

Production of the Jaguar Mark 1 continued until 1960, with over 35,000 examples having rolled off the production line at Browns Lane (despite the disastrous factory fire in 1957).

By this time Jaguar had learnt a great deal about the chassis-less (monocoque) construction methods used with the Mk1. This knowledge was put to good use in designing the Mk2 bodyshell. The large windscreen pillars of the early car were replaced with a narrower design (as the shell was more than rigid enough) this helped to make the interior feel more spacious and improved visibility.

There was a wider track for the rear of the car to improve on the limit handling and 4 wheel disc brakes (courtesy of Dunlop) were a standard option. The 2.4 and 3.4 models continued as before, but were also joined with what is now considered to be the cream of the crop, the 3.8.

Jaguar Mk2s were popular with high-speed drivers, such as bank robbers, the police and racing drivers. The MkII also was extremely succesful as a racing car (until the arrival of the Ford Galaxie).

All three versions of XK powered Mk2 where available from Jaguar showrooms until 1968 (the 2.4, downgraded somewhat thanks to cheaper interior trim and slim bumpers, was re-badged as the 240 and soldiered on until 1969), when the sensational XJ6 hit the forecourts, designed to replace not just the Mk2, but also the 420 and epic Mk10/420G saloons.

MkI & MkII Jaguar Tyres

The Jaguar MkI was fitted with a Dunlop RS5 640H15 cross ply tyre.

The best radial alternative for non power steering cars is a Michelin XAS 180H15 radial tyres.

The Jaguar MkII was fitted with Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet 185HR15 radial tyres or Michelin 185HR15 XVS radial tyres or Dunlop ER70x15 (205/70HR15) radial tyres or Michelin 205/70HR15 XWX radial tyres.

MkI & MkII Jaguar Wheels

If you would like to have the ultimate wire wheel upgrade then please click here for information on Borrani wheels.

XJ6 Jaguar Tyres

The Jaguar XJ6 was equipped with 205/70x15 (ER70x15) tyres as standard.

Click here to see the options available for your Jaguar XJ6 .

XJ6 Jaguar History

The classic Jaguar XJ6, using 2.8 Litre and 4.2 Litre straight six cylinder versions of Jaguar's renowned classic XK engine, replaced most of Jaguar's classic saloons which, in the 1960s, had expanded to four separate ranges. Apart from the engines, the other main component carried over from previous models was the widest version of Jaguar's IRS unit from the mark 10.
An upmarket version was marketed under the Daimler brand and called the Daimler sovereign, continuing the name from the Daimler version of the classic Jaguar 420.
The "XJ" designation was from the car's code name during development, standing for Experimental Jaguar.The car was introduced in September 1968. Power assisted steering and leather upholstery were standard on the 2.8 L 'De Luxe' and 4.2 L models and air conditioning was offered as an optional extra on the 4.2 L. Daimler versions were launched in October 1969, in a series of television advertisements featuring Sir William. In these spots, he referred to the car as "the finest Jaguar ever". An unusual feature, inherited from the Jaguar Mark 10, was the provision of two fuel tanks, positioned on each side of the boot, and filled using two separately lockable fuel caps one on the top of each wing above the rear wheel arches.
In March 1970 it was announced that the Borg-Warner Model 8 automatic transmission which the XJ6 had featured since 1968 would be replaced on the 4.2 litre engined XJ6 with a Borg-Warner Model 12 unit, The new gearbox now had three different forward positions accessed via the selector lever, which effectively enabled performance oriented drivers to hold lower ratios at higher revs in order to achieve better acceleration.
In 1972 the option of a long wheel base version, providing a modest increase in leg room for passengers in the back, became available.

Jaguar XJS Tyres

The Jaguar XJS was equipped with 215/70x15 tyres as standard.

Click here to see the options available for your Jaguar XJS .

Jaguar XJS History

The first XJS appeared in 1975. Power came from the Jaguar V12 petrol engine with a choice of manual or automatic gearbox, but the manual was soon dropped.

V12 classic cars were unusual at the time, with notable others coming from Italian luxury classic sports car makers Lamborghini and Ferrari. The specifications of the XJS compared well with some classic Italian cars, it was able to accelerate to 60 mph in 8.9 seconds (slow by todays standard but not bad for the 70's), and reach 142 mph.

The first series of XJS cars had a Borg-Warner Model 12 transmission with a cast iron case and a bolt on bell housing. In 1979 General motors Turbo-Hydromatic 400 transmissions were fitted. The TH400 transmission was an all aluminium alloy case with an integrated non detachable bell housing.

Jaguar's timing was not all that good as the car was launched in the wake of a fuel crisis, and the market for a 5.3 litre V12 grand tourer was very small. The styling was also the subject of criticism, including the "flying buttresses" behind the windows.

Jaguar did seize promotional opportunities with the television series The New Avengers and Return of the Saint. Return of the Saint saw Simon Templar driving an early XJS with the number plate "ST 1". Miniature versions were made by Corgi and proved popular. A decade and a half before, Jaguar had turned down the producers of the earlier Saint series when approached about using an E-type, the producers had instead used a Volvo P1800.

Responding to criticisms that the XJS was not a worthy E-type successor, Pininfarina revealed a sporty show car in 1978 based on XJS mechanicals and called Jaguar XJSpider. The car never went into production.

Jaguar XJ40 Tyres

The Jaguar XJ40 was equipped with 220/65x390 tyres as standard.

Click here to see the options available for your Jaguar XJ40 .

Jaguar XJ40 History

Throughout the 1970's Jaguar had been developing the classic Jaguar XJ40 which was an all-new model intended to replace the original XJ6. Due to problems at British Leyland and the fuel crisis, the car was continually delayed. Proposals from Jaguar's in-house designers and Pininfarina were received. Eventually it was decided an internal design would be carried through to production. This car was finally released in October 1986 with controversial square headlamps on all but the lowest specification, these were a lingering feature from the 1970s development. The car was considered more evolutionary than revolutionary, receiving improvements such as the second generation of Jaguar's IRS. It had to fight off a new competitor, the recently enlarged classic E32 7 series BMW.
While the British press favoured the Jaguar, the XJ40 tended to lose comparison tests run by German publications. Only six-cylinder models were initially offered: a 2.9 L and a 3.6 L. The V12 and a long wheelbase model, including a high-roofed Daimler Majestic model and destined for official use, were again delayed, being launched at the very end of the XJ40's life.
The delay in fitting the V12 engine was due to the design of the engine bay which was too narrow to allow a V formation engine, said to have been designed deliberately in that fashion as the designers feared that their parent company would insist use of an engine based on their widely-used Rover V-8. After Jaguar's takeover by Ford in December 1989, work began on redesigning the engine bay to accommodate the V12. Ironically, thanks to Ford, Jaguar was later to find itself back in common ownership with another part of the old Rover family, Land Rover, where they had previously been thanks to British Leyland. However, having since developed their own more modern V8, they saw the reverse happen with a version of their engine fitted to the now classic Land Rover models, from which the old Rover V8 was finally dropped.