Jaguar S-Type. Manual — part 50

Tires

208

L

R (4)

The R stands for radial. Radial ply
construction of tires has been the industry
standard for the past 20 years.

Wheel diameter (5)

This two-digit number is the wheel or rim
diameter in inches. If you change your
wheel size, you will have to purchase new
tires to match the new wheel diameter.

Load index (6)

This two- or three-digit number is the
tire's load index. It is a measurement of
how much weight each tire can support.

Note: You may not find this information
on all tires because it is not required by
law.

Speed rating (7)

The speed rating denotes the speed at
which a tire is designed to be driven for
extended periods of time. The ratings
range from 99 miles per hour (mph) to 186
mph. These ratings are listed in the
following table.

Note: You may not find this information
on all tires because it is not required by
law.

U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN) (8)

This begins with the letters DOT and
indicates that the tire meets all Federal
standards. The next two numbers or
letters are the plant code where it was
manufactured, and the last four numbers
represent the week and year the tire was
built. For example, the numbers 3197
means the 31st week of 1997. The other
numbers are marketing codes used at the
manufacturer's discretion. This
information can be used to contact
consumers if a tire defect requires a
recall.

M+S (9)

The M+S or M/S indicates that the tire
has some mud and snow capability. Most
radial tires have these markings: they
have some mud and snow capability.

Letter Rating

Speed Rating

Q

99 mph

R

106 mph

S

112 mph

T

118 mph

U

124 mph

H

130 mph

V

149 mph

W

168 mph

Y

186 mph*

* For tires with a maximum speed
capability over 149 mph, tire
manufacturers sometimes use the
letters ZR. For those with a maximum
speed capability over 186 mph, tire
manufacturers always use the letters
ZR.

209

Tires

R

Tire ply composition and materials
used (10)

The number of plies indicates the number
of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the
tire. In general, the greater the number of
plies, the more weight a tire can support.
Tire manufacturers also must indicate the
materials in the tire, which include steel,
nylon, polyester, and others.

Treadwear number (11)

This number indicates the tire's wear rate.
The higher the treadwear number is, the
longer it should take for the tread to wear
down. For example, a tire graded 400
should last twice as long as a tire graded
200.

For more information, refer to page 213.

Traction letter (12)

This letter indicates a tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement. A higher graded tire
should allow you to stop your car on wet
roads in a shorter distance than a tire with
a lower grade. Traction is graded from
highest to lowest as AA, A, B, and C. For
more information, refer to page 213.

Maximum load rating (13)

This number indicates the maximum load
in kilograms and pounds that can be
carried by the tire.

Temperature letter (14)

This letter indicates a tire's resistance to
heat. The temperature grade is for a tire
that is inflated properly and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-inflation or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination, can
cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure. From highest to lowest, a tire's
resistance to heat is graded as A, B, or C.
For more information, refer to page 213.

Maximum permissible inflation
pressure (15)

This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
under normal driving conditions.

Tires

210

L

RECOMMENDED TIRE
FITMENT

The following chart details the tires
recommended for use in the countries
listed below:

A. Mexico.

For all other countries refer to your
local Jaguar Dealer for specific tire
fitment.

3.0 litre, 4.2 litre

Tire size

Pattern

A

245/40R18 97Y

Pirelli P Zero

yes

S-TYPE ‘R’ Wheels

Tire size

Pattern

A

8 x 18 (Front)

245/40 ZR 18 Continental
ContiSport Contact

yes

9.5 x 18 (Rear)

275/35 ZR 18 Continental
ContiSport Contact

yes

8 x 19 (Front)

245/35ZR19 Pirelli P Zero Rosso

yes

9.5 x 19 (Rear)

275/30 ZR19 pirelli P Zero Rosso

yes

211

Tires

R

TEMPORARY USE SPARE
WHEEL

!

WARNING:

Failure to comply with the following
can be dangerous. When a temporary
use spare wheel is fitted, switch off
Dynamic Stability Control, drive with
caution and replace with the specified
wheel and tire assembly as soon as
possible. Do not fit more than one
temporary use spare wheel at one time.
Temporary use spare wheel maximum
speed is 80 km/h (50 mph).

For information about temporary use
spare wheel, refer to page 161.

TIRE CARE

In the interests of safety and reliability, it is
advisable to check the tires, including the
spare, for condition and pressure on a
weekly basis. Refer to page 204 for
instructions on how to check tire
pressures.

Wear

All tires fitted as original equipment
include Tread Wear Indicators (TWI) in
their tread pattern. When the tread has
worn to a remaining depth of 1.6 mm, the
indicators appear at the surface as bars
which connect the tread pattern across
the full width of the tire.

It is illegal, in certain countries,
to continue to use tires after the tread has
worn to less than 1.6 mm over three
quarters of the width and the entire
circumference of the tire.

It should be noted that the properties of
many tires alter progressively with wear.
In particular the wet grip and aquaplaning
resistance are gradually but substantially
reduced. Extra care and speed restriction
should, therefore, be exercised on wet
roads as the effective tread depth
diminishes.

Steel road wheel
size

4 x 16

Tire type/size

145/80 R 16
Continental

Steel road wheel
size

4 x 18

Tire type/size

T115/85 R 18 96
Pirelli