New tyre day

[JohnCalifornia]

Hi everyone, I got my Cali MOTd around 2 weeks ago and all good and well apart from tyre issues. At the moment they have good year all seasons on. I’m assuming these were also fitted from the factory. Anyway both front tyres have big chunks of rubber missing from around the edge, one rear on,y has 3mm tread and the other rear ok but got changed 2 year before as the original Good Year all season had a split in the side wall and you could see the cords (apparently) Anyway I’m biting the bullet and getting all 4 replaced but not with the same Good Year all season tyres . I’ve left the tyre choice to my trusted garage and I have just specified they fit a trusted brand. They are having a think about it but are not going to fit the all season type of tyre due to the compound type. They are blaming this for the chunks of rubber missing from the fronts. These vehicles weigh 3 tones so I’m assuming a good quality commercial van rated tyre will be fitted. I’ll let you know what gets fitted later today. Anyone else had problems with their Good Year all seasons?.

 

[sticky1]

My son has these fitted to his campervan and has been really pleased with how they are wearing. https://www.continental-tyres.co.uk/products/car/tyres/vancontact-camper/
They are clearly designed to cope with the weight of a camper van and seem pretty reasonably priced.

 

[Californication69]

Michelin Cross Climate 2 is the defacto tyre of choice for the camper van.
Nothing beats it in terms of summer and winter use.
So I’ve heard from this forum for 5 years.

I’m usually a summer tyre and replace with metal wheel & winter tyre type of guy.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Michelin Cross Climate 2 is the defacto tyre of choice for the camper van.
Nothing beats it in terms of summer and winter use.
So I’ve heard from this forum for 5 years.

I’m usually a summer tyre and replace with metal wheel & winter tyre type of guy.

… and ordering online through ‘Black Circles’ should get the best price, including fitting by a local tyre place near you: strangely Black Circles will beat the best price from that same tyre fitter if you simply contact the latter direct (because Black Circles own the Michelin brand brand, so my tyre dealer tells me). I realise this is too late for @JohnCalifornia but might be helpful for others. I saved hundreds on four Cross Climate 2 tyres, against alternative quotes, total fully fitted and balanced price (including new valves) a few months ago was £618.50.

Black Circles prices do vary however, today’s price is even slightly less (note the SAVE15 discount):

 

[GrannyJen]

Albert, my first Cali, came with Goodyear. I replied with Michelin Cross climate and only used Michelin on Alfie, his successor. I hound the Michelins to be superb compared to the Goodyear.

 

[Van Diesel VW]

Michelin Cross Climate 2 is the defacto tyre of choice for the camper van.
Nothing beats it in terms of summer and winter use.
So I’ve heard from this forum for 5 years.

I’m usually a summer tyre and replace with metal wheel & winter tyre type of guy.

Had CC2 fitted to the van last week, all good so far, glad to see the back of the original Bridgestone.

 

[AdamsFamily]

There's a lot of love for Michelins on here, but I do like Continental tyres.
The VanContact Camper that @sticky1 refers to in Post #2 unfortunately won't fit my 17" wheels - only do them in 15, 16 and 18 strangely.

If I search by Vehicle Type I get VanContact A/S Ultra - better Fuel Efficiency (B vs C) but worse wet grip (B vs A).
I've had some Continental AllSeason Contact2 fitted to my EV and I have to say they are a decent tyre.
How would one tell if it would suitable for a Cali? Is it the loading you go by?

 

[Nick from Bath]

After a great start to the holiday of needing two new rear tyres rapidly on the first day arriving in France, the local VW garage have put on new Bridgestone Turanza 6 All Seasons. Very similar in look and handling to the CrossClimate 2’s they’ve had to prematurely replace. I was hesitant about Bridgestones given the dreadful OEM ones but liking them so far after about 1500km.

 

[AdamsFamily]

After a great start to the holiday of needing two new rear tyres rapidly on the first day arriving in France, the local VW garage have put on new Bridgestone Turanza 6 All Seasons. Very similar in look and handling to the CrossClimate 2’s they’ve had to prematurely replace. I was hesitant about Bridgestones given the dreadful OEM ones but liking them so far after about 1500km.

Pretty much the little brother of the Michelins, and less ££
YouTube Review

 

[KevH]

Continental Van Contact were fitted at new, just passed 18k miles (daily driver) and have plenty of wear left, with no ‘missing rubber’.
I see no reason not to replace with same unless the Michelins are significantly cheaper at the time.
They provide a nice ride imo.

 

[JohnCalifornia]

So I collected my Cali today with its newly fitted fresh rubber. I have had Goodyear Efficient Grip 2 SUV tyres fitted. I paid £155 each fitted so we will see how these perform. They put the only decent Goodyear all season that were fitted on my spare wheel so all good.

 

[AGPlant80]

I am looking to replace the standard continental van eco contact 215/55r17 with cc2’s 235/55r17 in the hope of better ride comfort.

 

[Commissioner_X]

I have had Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons on my van for the past 16 months and have been very happy with them. I have had Michelin Crtoss Climate on other vans and they are just as good.

 

[RichardH]

Slightly off topic but I took my Cali for attention to a very slow puncture in April, before setting off on a 5,000 mile round trip to Romania. Decent tyre depth at the time and fine at the MOT in January. But I needed to replace both rear tyres. There was significant deterioration of the inner tyre walls that couldn't easily be seen without getting under the vehicle. I would have suspected that KwikFit were crying wolf, but they had good photographic evidence. I'm so glad that it was spotted before problems arose on the autobahn! It could have been nasty.

 

[andyinluton]

I am looking to replace the standard continental van eco contact 215/55r17 with cc2’s 235/55r17 in the hope of better ride comfort.

235/55 will be a bigger overall diameter than 215/55 so will affect your speedo accuracy etc.
If you go up a size in width you need to go down a size in profile to keep the same height sidewall.

 

[AGPlant80]

Michelin Cross Climate 2 is the defacto tyre of choice for the camper van.
Nothing beats it in terms of summer and winter use.
So I’ve heard from this forum for 5 years.

I’m usually a summer tyre and replace with metal wheel & winter tyre type of guy.

Out of interest, what psi do you run yours at? 45?

 

[Californication69]

Out of interest, what psi do you run yours at? 45?

Not got my T7 4M Ocean yet.
I would look at the manufacturers specs and also the usually Vw Cali tyre size and advised psi.
And maybe do a search, I’m sure it will have been asked before with a few answers.
Sorry I can’t be more helpful

 

[stationmaster]

Out of interest, what psi do you run yours at? 45?

I have my cross climates at 50 as they were wearing too much on the outer portion of tread...at 50 they are better but not completely even on the fronts - raising the fronts to 53 to see if this improves things

 

[crookrise]

Not much difference in the top tyres, one maybe better in certain driving conditions but it's marginal
I've run Goodyear Vectors for 10 years in their various "latest" gen.
Did have problem with shredding the inside especially rear cured with upgraded springs a and tracking and correct allingment

 

[WelshGas]

I have my cross climates at 50 as they were wearing too much on the outer portion of tread...at 50 they are better but not completely even on the fronts - raising the fronts to 53 to see if this improves things

I suggest you get a 4 wheel alignment before just increasing the tyre pressures.

 

[WelshGas]

Out of interest, what psi do you run yours at? 45?

I ran my 180 4Motion on Michelin Crossclimates 235/55/17/103H on 44psi front and rear, and have done on 4 sets of tyres over 120,000 miles with equal wear Front to Rear , Left to Right. Never needed to swap tyres as wear is equal all round. That's fully loaded apart from water.

 

[Van Diesel VW]

L

I ran my 180 4Motion on Michelin Crossclimates 235/55/17/103H on 44psi front and rear, and have done on 4 sets of tyres over 120,000 miles with equal wear Front to Rear , Left to Right. Never needed to swap tyres as wear is equal all round. That's fully loaded apart from water.

Likewise my CC2 are set at 44psi. Early days only had them fitted for a month.

 

[stationmaster]

I ran my 180 4Motion on Michelin Crossclimates 235/55/17/103H on 44psi front and rear, and have done on 4 sets of tyres over 120,000 miles with equal wear Front to Rear , Left to Right. Never needed to swap tyres as wear is equal all round. That's fully loaded apart from water.

Thanks. I have had crossclimate 2 tyres - on from new. 235/55/17/103H. I had a wheel alignment check and all was good. At 45psi I have had uneven wear on the outer edges, rear look ok - hence raising the pressures.
I'll check the gauge - maybe it is out.

 

[Cali Phillip]

I suggest you get a 4 wheel alignment before just increasing the tyre pressures.

Agree on the 4 wheel alignment, mine handled better after, we will see on tyre wear. Besides that, the biggest variable that reduced wear on outer edges was switching to vector gen 3 suv from the none suv version and running 3.35bar,48psi (235/55/17).
Commuting on twisty highland roads doesn’t help the wear !

 

[stationmaster]

Agree on the 4 wheel alignment, mine handled better after, we will see on tyre wear. Besides that, the biggest variable that reduced wear on outer edges was switching to vector gen 3 suv from the none suv version and running 3.35bar,48psi (235/55/17).
Commuting on twisty highland roads doesn’t help the wear !

Agree. Most my driving is small twisty roads. I take it easy of course. But it is a fairly heavy vehicle on 103 rated tyres. A higher rating would be better.