It warmed up a little in Chicago this past weekend and took the XKR for a drive around the block. We had enough rain to clear the salt off the streets but the roads were wet (and cold) and slightly slushy. Between the rear wheel drive, the Yokohama Advan Sport All-Seasons, and the wet/slushy/icy roads holy cow the car was quite the handful. Fun for a drive around the block but not something I would want to commute in.

When I bought the XKR I went with the coupe instead of a convertible because I had visions of swapping on a set of snow tires and driving after the plows had cleared the roads. Here in Chicago the roads are usually cleared shoulder-to-shoulder and adequately salted to keep the ice off. Time got away from me and I never got the chance to find wheels and snow tires for the XKR so it's been spending the winter in the garage.

Is anyone driving their XK/XKR in snow? What has your experience been? After this weekend I'm leaning towards cancelling my plans to get snow tires and just let it rest in the garage until Spring.

 

There was a fellow out here in the western suburbs who drove his year round. Pretty sure he put winter tires, like Blizzaks, on it for the winter. Haven’t seen him on this forum for quite awhile, DpezXK8 was his ID. I seem to recall the car handled quite well in the snow and slush. Search for his postings.
Mine stays garaged for the winter. I had ordered Blizzaks to put on my 19” wheels after I bought some 20’s, but was sorely disappointed in the Conti’s I bought for the 20’s so I changed my mind and decided not to ditch the tires on the 19’s, so cancelled the order for the Blizzaks.

 

I tried Snow Mode once in some slushy rain from an unexpected storm while I was already out, and it worked surprisingly well. I even had three-season tires on at the time.
While I wouldn't WANT to drive mine in snow and cold, I wouldn't necessarily be afraid, but all the wet goop sloshing everywhere would be my main concern.

 

I drive my car all year, with Conti DWS all around. Driver skill out performs the weather conditions every time.

 

We don't get particularly heavy snow in the North of England but I've always used my Jaguars throughout the year. I cleared the snow off the XK and took it out this day last year:





An earlier XK8. Snow cleared off ready for the 700 mile drive from Durham to the Loire Valley in France.




.Graham

 

Great photo! Your car looks a lot like mine. Where in Ontario are you? I am in West Mississauga and commute into midtown Toronto....I don't use my XKR in the winter though. My biggest issue is that amount of salt and crap on the roads.

 

If driving in winter conditions Blizzaks are an excellent choice.

 

I drive in the snow, cold and muck..... I just use my F150 to do it.

 

I have used my XKR-S in the snow with summer tires - got caught out with some unexpected snow one day. I used snow mode and it was ok as long as I kept moving. Stopping at a light on a slight incline was not an option. Only had about two inches of snow though. Anymore and it would have been a snow plow. I would not recommend it.

 

My Conti DWS 06 are relatively new and I drive in the snow if I need to.

Did some donuts in the parking lot the other day while it was snowing. Had to take the DSC off for that.

On the snowy streets it handles well. DSC does a good job and tires make all the difference.

 

I do not. I have driven it from one stall into another and did not get stuck with my dws06s for the driveway trip. I hate my X3, but this is why I hate it. It's very decent in snow.

 

Up until the last 3 winters I did very frequently. In fact I thought the car handled very well, very predictably. It all started with putting the winters from the xjr onto the car. I learned that traditional high profile tires worked best else there was too much planing. 30, 35, or 40 series tires just don’t work.

For my driving style, traction control also doesn’t work. I found it fights me and my winter driving instincts. Yes, my father taught me how to drive in the winter with a manual merc sedan. He was a rally driver, and loved the winter races.

ive been to Mt Washington, Tremblant, and Mont St Marie in the car, with the skis on the roof rack, in the best of snowy weather.

sadly, with the car’s age I feel it’s now too delicate to have the fun I once had. As capable as all wheel drive, Quattro, x-drive, 4matic... are, it is a different driving technique needed for the winter over traditional rear wheel drive. And with our car’s exceptional balance, I tell you in the best of winter, many a wrx couldn’t lose me.

i went from x-ice, to blizzak to finally Michelin alpins. Those alpines were excellent.

Every fall I still put on the winters... Even though the car rarely leaves the garage. Creature of habit.

 

I have Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 and they dominate the snow and rain. Worth the price.

 

Lots of great info here - thanks to all. I have a "sacrificial" Toyota Sequoia with AWD/4WD and a nice set of snow tires that is a beast in the snow, but I miss my Jaguar on days when the weather isn't crazy. Lots of great ideas in here to think about.

 

It has been a mild winter in West Virginia, USA so I have been able to drive many/most days thus far. But our terrain (very hilly), and our traffic (under-resourced students and other folks driving RWD vehicles on sketchy tires), and much better options for me (AWD VW Passat or AWD Merc C-Class) garages the XK in any questionable weather.

I'll share that I drove the Jag from initial purchase last year back from Minnesota USA to WV through freezing rain and ice during the last weekend of 2019. Very exciting driving through northern Indiana on 'Lake effect' black ice during my first 24 hours of ownership. Didn't really like some parts of that, but we made it, and it was a bonding experience with the car and my co-pilot, who is my 21-year-old son. So a great story. Unfortunately, no pics.

Chris

 

I use to drive it through the winter, but the latches didn't work well in very cold temps. As long as the roads are plowed, I am driving my car (whatever it is).

 

Winter Mode is extraordinary. I've never used the car with quality snow tires (I've got 20" wheels and I'm not sure about the effectiveness of snow tires in my scenario), but if I had to do more winter driving I'm confident that a set of 19" wheels with good snow tires and Winter Mode would make a huge difference.
(FYI Winter Mode is amazing in heavy, flash-flood rain. Was proud of the XKR when I had no option but to power through it)

 

Driving a jaguar Any jaguar in deep snow over 6 inch with winter tyres on with winter mode selected is not a good idea , cant speak for the AWD as not tried them , on the flat car performs not to bad if taken slowly but try going uphill you wont reach the top

 

I've never driven my XKR in the snow, but I'm looking forward to the day I get to do it. My car is my daily driver. We only get one or two snow days here each year.

 

At least you get untreated icy roads a few times a year.