Development Tyres - Model X150 New XK

[N6 JMX]

Here's a bit of a dichotomy for folks like me that prefer to stick with the development tyre as designed for the vehicle. For the New XK, the X150, the development tyres were:

Dunlop SP Sport Maxx and correspondingly with a "J" for Jaguar spec.

Pirelli P Zero, with either a "JRS or J" spec, again fro Jaguar.

I typically replace my tyres at 5 years old, irrespective of the wear during the period - obviously if they were worn down, replacement would have been sooner. In 2025, it was time to replace all 4 tyres on an age basis, but when I started to search for replacement Dunlop SP Sport Maxx J spec, which I have had fitted to the car from new, then there appeared to be a lack of front tyres in the J spec - 255/35/20R. Rears in the correct spec at 285/30/20R were readily available. After some digging I was informed that Dunlop (now a part of Good Year) have ceased production of the front tyres in the correct size and specification. The alternate would be Sport Maxx RT2, which I understand are a little bit of a softer compound with the added disadvantage of being simply a "generic" sporty tyre. I actually believe that there are better generic sporty tyres out there if forced down that particular road.

Undeterred, since I wanted 4 matching tyres, I spoke with Pirelli and found that they have the reverse problem, suitable P Zero for the fronts, but no such luck for replacement rears. Pirelli also advised that their production schedule look ahead, which is typically 8 weeks, was not indicating that the rears with J spec were going to be available anytime soon.

After much thought, I removed all 4 wheels and tyres from the car and carried out a thorough inspection. My conclusion was formed from the basis that the front tyres were actually in perfect condition, having nearly 7mm of tread evenly across the section, so around 1mm of wear in 5 years and 15,500 miles. The rears however were worn down close to the wear bars, so some 7mm of wear in the same 5 years and 15,500 miles, and therefore rightly due for a change on wear. At least the rear wear pattern was completely even across the tread section.

I have elected to change only the rears for the time being and maintain a watchful eye on the fronts, fully accepting that if I do encounter a front tyre issue, I will be back to square one and looking for 4 x replacement tyres once again.

I am sure that the fronts will begin to affect the handling by becoming harder as the compound ages past the 5 years, but despite wearing out the rears completely, I am not pushing the car as hard as I might once have.

Unfortunately tyre choice is very much a personal thing for a lot of folks, but my choice has been, to date, to stick with the development tyre despite its technology being over 20 years old - although manufacturing processes and constituent compounds will have been updated since 2005 during its development. Also tyres are not something that one can try before you buy so moving to a replacement brand, premium or otherwise, is always going to be a bit of a gamble and one has to seek out personal experience of the Jaguar community for alternative suggestions.

I understand that a lot of folks cannot see past Michelin, in the various sporty guises, but I have never had good experience with Michelin, so historically i stay away from them, but what have others out there found?

N6 JMX