XL tire rating – effects on handling?
 

Rookie question: I was doing a bit of comparison shopping for Michelin Pilot Super Sports and I noticed that TireRack only offers XL versions of the sizes I'm looking at – 235/40ZR18 (95Y) XL and 235/45ZR17 (97Y) XL

I looked up the definition of XL tires and they seem to indicate a higher load rating (i.e., for weight) and tire pressure. Is this an advantage for performance tires, for example, on the racetrack and how do they compare with a non-XL version in the same size?

PSS is not a race tire, nor is it a tire you should use for track days. So it does not really matter. Do they even make the tire in the same size with a lower load rating? I don't think they do.

Thanks! I was also thinking of getting the Bridgestone Potenza RE-71R for track days, but I thought they would wear out more quickly and have a more limited temperature range (it gets pretty cool for half the year here and we also have sudden, severe rainstorms).

Michelin only has XL tires in these sizes. Other manufacturers mainly sell XL tires in these tire sizes – perhaps it makes sense with a low profile. However, a few of them (like the Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT and Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2) offer both XL and non-XL versions in the same size.

Yes, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

They'll have a much much much much much stiffer sidewall to support the 5000lb SUVs the tyres are intended to be used with.

Maybe even a different compound to deal with the weight.

I hope it doesn't screw up the driving experience. These shouldn't be unusual sizes.

It's nothing to worry about. If anything, XL should have stiffer sidewalls, so better steering response and handling stability.

Thanks for the input. I'll report back if I get them.