Hey everybody,
I had a new set of Continental DWS tires Installed about 2 weeks ago and I'm loving them.
The first night was right before 5 to 6 inches of snow fell and the snow traction was really good! I replaced a set of Proxes FZ4's and what a difference. They are also very smooth and quiet in town and on the highway. No more steering wheel wiggle or pulling to the left.
So far I am very happy with them!
Just thought you might like to know.

 

Please keep us posted on your new Continental DWS tires. They are number two on my list (number one is the Dunlop SP Sport Signature) when it comes time to replace the mediocre Hankook Ventus tires that had just been installed by the dealer when I bought our S-Type in December 2008. My biggest concern about the Continental DWS tire is that quite a few owners begin to complain of very soft sidewalls that flex too much and don't hold up to heavier vehicles after just a short period of time. Since the S-Type weighs close to 4,000 pounds, that concerns me. But the tire sure gets good reviews for its wet traction and that's important to me as well.

So you can serve as the guinea pig for the DWS tire on an S-Type and please post on a regular basis what you like and don't like about the tire. Thanks....

 

The DWS I found was described as 93Y.... is that 93 appropriate (even for a 3.0)? Do they do others?

 

The number, 93 in this case, is the load rating.... A 93 is way low for a car like ours... The "tire rack" recommends a load rating of 96 or greater as a OEM replacement.... Hence Jon's comment about people feeling that there is too much sidewall flex. If a lower load rated tire is placed on a "heavy" vehicle, it may support the weight, but will be subject to flex and possible damage to road impacts....

Another little FYI... I placed upsized rims with low profile tires on my Accords. I always made sure I purchased tires with a much greater load rating than was required and low and behold I never had an issue with pot hole impacts other than it feeling like I would rattle my fillings out. No sidewall or rim damage even when running an 18" rim with a 35 profile tire..

 

I agree with sticking to a 96-or-better load rating. Even our mediocre Hankooks are rated at 96. But they also carry a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty and there's no way they'll last 50,000 miles on our 3.0. Just shy of 24,000 miles right now, they all measure 5/32 of remaining tread from the original tread depth of 10/32. I run them at 34 psi, check the pressures every weekend, and rotate them every 6,000 miles. They'll do 30,000 miles certainly but I doubt if they'll see 35,000 miles on our car. Traction has been good, they've never hydroplaned, they've stayed in balance, they've worn evenly, and they've stayed quiet. They just aren't capable of getting the kind of mileage that Hankook claims they will. I'll find out how Hankook deals with its customers when I contact them for proration once our tires are down to between 3/32 and 2/32 of tread....

We don't drive our S-Type in the snow so I have no information to provide from that standpoint. My guess would be "average in light snow", though....

 

You'll have to let us know how they handle when the weather dries up. I'm currently using Michelins which I believe are also 93Y with a 500AA grade. I love them, not the best traction in the snow, but the Jag's DSC makes up for it.

 

Mine are 93 front and 95 rear and the difference between these and a 96 is not that great lb. wise so I'll keep enjoying my quiet smooth ride. Also that (Slight) difference in sidewall flex is what helps smooth out train tracks and things like that plus they are great in the snow! Sometimes I think we tend to get a little to technical with #'s. The total difference for all 4 tires between mine and the 96 rating is 352lbs. or about 88 lbs per tire. Not bad when were talking 1450 to 1550 load per tire.
Thanks phaelax for your comment!
Thanks for your input. I will keep you posted.

 

I have the same tires as you, Jon. I only have about 4k miles on them so far. However, I have driven them in the snow. They handle fairly well provided you're not in the middle of a blizzard, like the last storm we endured here in MD.

 

hit1,

Did you purchase the Hankook tires yourself or were they already on your S-Type when you acquired it?

If you purchased the tires yourself, what criteria did you use? I know they're inexpensive compared to other tire options, but for just a little more $ per tire there are several much better choices out there....

 

I've noticed the tyres to avoid are those el cheapo ones from the far east. Cheap they are, and doubtless not dangerous, but they spoil the handling of an otherwise good car, esp. by rolling down the camber, making it feel that the steering is pulling to one side. All the well known names seem to be ok provided they are the right ones for the job. AND they are your only contact with the road...neglect tyres at your peril.
Leedsman.

 

My door tag says 93 front and 95 rear for the load rating so these tires are fine for this car!

 

Jon, they were dealer installed and were brand new when I purchased the car. I tried getting them to switch them to another set I saw on another S-type but I lost that battle. Hankooks would not have made my list of tires to consider, but I have to say I am pleasantly surprised so far. Next winter will be more telling once the tires have worn down a bit more.

 

Even though the Hankooks our dealer installed on our S-Type were less than a week old when I bought the car, I used these tires as another reason to really low-ball my offer for the car. And yes, I've been pleasantly surprised by the Hankooks as well. I was hoping for 40,000 miles out of them but that will not happen.

I would run another set of these tires if someone gave them to me, but I wouldn't pay for another set. I'm leaning towards the Dunlop SP Sport Signature when these Hankooks bite the dust, probably by late summer....

 

I also have the Hankooks and as mentioned above they ride great. I purchased mine from Discount Tire and had them road force balanced. Below is what I paid back in November.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=29014


Hankook Ventus V12 Evo
245/40/18 Front
275/35/18 Rear
Front- $125.00
Rear- $165.00
Road Hazard Front- $21.50
Road Hazard Rear- $28.50
Road Force Balance- $20.00
NC environmental fee (total BS) charged on every tire sold in NC- $16.60

 

You have more of a performance tire that will probably get even less mileage out of the tread than my set will. I have the Hankook Ventus V4 ES H105 in size 235/50/R17 all around. In my neck of the woods you can get them for about $115 each.