XL Tyres - Yes or No ?

molerat

Looking for a pair of tyres and 97W XL C/A/70 are only 40p more than the 93V C/A/69 of the same mid range tyre. Forums chatter is split. Pro - stiffer side walls for cornering and more resilient, Con - possible harsher ride (but can't be worse than the Conti PC 2's on at the moment !)

Nodding_Donkey

XL will be considerably more tolerant of potholes.

n217970

I run XLs on both my cars, went back to standard on one set and I didn't like how the car handled. Felt "wallowy" in the corners. Comfort wise I didn't detect any difference.

neilmcl

Just be aware that if you change to a tyre that's not recommended by the manufacturer for your vehicle and is not standard spec then you will have to notify your insurer as this will be classed as a modification.

molerat

My car came from the factory with a tyre spec lower than "recommended" by the manufacturer, how does that one fit in with my insurance then ?

AdrianC

XL is simply a higher load rating. If you don't need it, then there's no real benefit. The sidewalls are stiffer, so the ride will be harsher. I very much doubt there's any cornering benefit at all - few modern tyres are grip-limited by sidewall flex.

neilmcl

molerat wrote: »

My car came from the factory with a tyre spec lower than "recommended" by the manufacturer, how does that one fit in with my insurance then ?

What do you mean by lower spec? Does it conform to the sizes/spec outline on the sticker located inside your car?

neilmcl

AdrianC wrote: »

XL is simply a higher load rating. If you don't need it, then there's no real benefit. The sidewalls are stiffer, so the ride will be harsher. I very much doubt there's any cornering benefit at all - few modern tyres are grip-limited by sidewall flex.

The only time I'd use an XL tyre is if I was changing from a runflat.

molerat

neilmcl wrote: »

What do you mean by lower spec? Does it conform to the sizes/spec outline on the sticker located inside your car?

All the sticker on the car lists is 215/55/16 (which is what I would be fitting) amongst several other tyre sizes, no ratings listed. The Ford web site "recommends" V rated but my car came with H rated tyres. So I will be fitting standard road going tyres of no lower a specification than those that came with the vehicle and a higher specification than recommended by the manufacturer's website, something no reasonable person could consider a "modification".

neilmcl

molerat wrote: »

All the sticker on the car lists is 215/55/16 (which is what I would be fitting) amongst several other tyre sizes, no ratings listed. The Ford web site "recommends" V rated but my car came with H rated tyres. So I will be fitting standard road going tyres of no lower a specification than those that came with the vehicle and a higher specification than recommended by the manufacturer's website, something no reasonable person could consider a "modification".

Unless an XL tyre is OEM fitment for your vehicle then it would be classed as a mod, plain and simple.

Gloomendoom

neilmcl wrote: »

Unless an XL tyre is OEM fitment for your vehicle then it would be classed as a mod, plain and simple.

Presumably, deviating in any way from the tyres originally fitted when the car was produced, including make and model, would also be a modification, plain and simple?