tyre confusion

[turnitdown]

I have factory summer tyres on my 2024 Ocean and they are *terrible* in snow. Looking to replace them with something I can use year round, including in the Highlands and Alps in winter. From reviews and prior forum discussion it sounds like a lot of people pick Michelin Crossclimate 2s for this. However I'm confused about the options.

My current tyres are 215/60/R17 C 109/107T LT. They are on factory rims, the 17" Aracaju alloy 7Js.

Michelin's website and various others (e.g. Blackcircles) give different information about what tyres will work on the vehicle, some of which is clearly inaccurate (e.g. load ratings below 100).

It looks like 215/60R17 109T (which will definitely work) are £250 each fitted, which is painful. I can buy CC2 in 215/65/R17 103 V XL for about £150 each fitted. Would that work (65 aspect ratio rather than 60)? I realise the speedometer would be off by 2-3, I'm wondering more from a fit/legal perspective?

Otherwise it looks like the one options are the 215s at £250 each or 235s at £160 each, which would require new rims (and so cost more rather than less in the end). Is this right or am I missing something?

Blackcircles has Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo for £150 each fitted. I have no idea how they compare to the CC2 but £400 isn't nothing.

 

[WelshGas]

I have factory summer tyres on my 2024 Ocean and they are *terrible* in snow. Looking to replace them with something I can use year round, including in the Highlands and Alps in winter. From reviews and prior forum discussion it sounds like a lot of people pick Michelin Crossclimate 2s for this. However I'm confused about the options.

My current tyres are 215/60/R17 C 109/107T LT. They are on factory rims, the 17" Aracaju alloy 7Js.

Michelin's website and various others (e.g. Blackcircles) give different information about what tyres will work on the vehicle, some of which is clearly inaccurate (e.g. load ratings below 100).

It looks like 215/60R17 109T (which will definitely work) are £250 each fitted, which is painful. I can buy CC2 in 215/65/R17 103 V XL for about £150 each fitted. Would that work (65 aspect ratio rather than 60)? I realise the speedometer would be off by 2-3, I'm wondering more from a fit/legal perspective?

Otherwise it looks like the one options are the 215s at £250 each or 235s at £160 each, which would require new rims (and so cost more rather than less in the end). Is this right or am I missing something?

Blackcircles has Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo for £150 each fitted. I have no idea how they compare to the CC2 but £400 isn't nothing.

The VW 17" tyres will happily take 215 or 235 tyres.
Normally the tyre sticker on the Drivers door gives information about both tyre widths as both are fitted by the factory.

 

[andyinluton]

I have factory summer tyres on my 2024 Ocean and they are *terrible* in snow. Looking to replace them with something I can use year round, including in the Highlands and Alps in winter. From reviews and prior forum discussion it sounds like a lot of people pick Michelin Crossclimate 2s for this. However I'm confused about the options.

My current tyres are 215/60/R17 C 109/107T LT. They are on factory rims, the 17" Aracaju alloy 7Js.

Michelin's website and various others (e.g. Blackcircles) give different information about what tyres will work on the vehicle, some of which is clearly inaccurate (e.g. load ratings below 100).

It looks like 215/60R17 109T (which will definitely work) are £250 each fitted, which is painful. I can buy CC2 in 215/65/R17 103 V XL for about £150 each fitted. Would that work (65 aspect ratio rather than 60)? I realise the speedometer would be off by 2-3, I'm wondering more from a fit/legal perspective?

Otherwise it looks like the one options are the 215s at £250 each or 235s at £160 each, which would require new rims (and so cost more rather than less in the end). Is this right or am I missing something?

Blackcircles has Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo for £150 each fitted. I have no idea how they compare to the CC2 but £400 isn't nothing.

The Aracaju rims will take 235 tyres. my 2020 ocean came had factory fitted 235s on those rims.

 

[turnitdown]

ah, very interesting. I'd read an online guide to tyre sizing that said 7Js would only tolerate up to 225s. I missed that the door sticker says the 235s will fit on the 7Js.

I can order CC2 235/55 R17 103 Y for £150/tyre fitted. Sounds like these should work perfectly fine then?

 

[WelshGas]

ah, very interesting. I'd read an online guide to tyre sizing that said 7Js would only tolerate up to 225s. I missed that the door sticker says the 235s will fit on the 7Js.

I can order CC2 235/55 R17 103 Y for £150/tyre fitted. Sounds like these should work perfectly fine then?

That’s what I used for the last 8 yrs.

 

[chockswahay]

I can’t really comment on the ‘snowability’ of the CC2’s but I have had them for a year now and at least they do inspire a level of confidence. They certainly are sure footed in wet weather and deep standing water.

Good value I reckon

 

[Azteccamper]

Yokohama bluEarth just won best all season tyre 24/25. Black Circles offer 4 for £465.
I’ve used CC2’s in the past but trying UniRoyal this time as I had a good deal on them. They all carry the 3 peaks symbol.

 

[pjm-84]

I've had Goodyear (17in) / Bridgestone (18in) and now on CC2 (18in)...... first or last but not the ones in the middle.

Currently on 16k miles on my 18in CCs which is unheard of in T5 / T6 circles

 

[turnitdown]

Thanks everyone. In the end I went with Continental All Season Contact 2s. Tyrereviews has these as very good - not as good as the CC2 or the Yokohamas in the snow, but markedly better in the wet, which seems more important living in Edinburgh (or almost anywhere in the UK for that matter). Also they're cheaper and wear better supposedly.

 

[Skiver]

Thanks everyone. In the end I went with Continental All Season Contact 2s. Tyrereviews has these as very good - not as good as the CC2 or the Yokohamas in the snow, but markedly better in the wet, which seems more important living in Edinburgh (or almost anywhere in the UK for that matter). Also they're cheaper and wear better supposedly.

If you went with 235’s, there is also a tyre setting on the dash control panel you can change to say you are now on 235’s ! I believe it makes the speedo more accurate but it also sets the right tyre pressure warnings.

 

[turnitdown]

If you went with 235’s, there is also a tyre setting on the dash control panel you can change to say you are now on 235’s ! I believe it makes the speedo more accurate but it also sets the right tyre pressure warnings.

thanks. I did go with the 235s. I'll look for this dash panel thing and in the manual.
I have to say I immediately felt way more solid on the road. Maybe it was placebo effect but it seemed really obvious.

 

[Neilos]

Just back from the alps, 235 CC2s. Roads were pretty snow covered and icy in resort. Steep hill to accommodation and the tyres went well. No issues. I’d never have got up that hill with summer tyres, so pleased with the CC2s. Fuel economy seems a bit worse compared with 215 conti van contacts. Ride is comfier though.


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[Velma's Dad]

Have used Michelin Crossclimates for a while and they've been okay in various conditions (not tried them in deep snow). However I recently had one of them, on the rear, go lumpy even though only about one third worn. Had to replace, the juddering was so bad. VW Indy workshop that I use told me he sees a lot of this on vans, with 'all seasons' tyres generally not just Michelins.

I do a lot of towing which might contribute to the problem.

Will prob stick with all-seasons for the van as they're a convenient option, but not very impressed when need to replace a defective one.

 

[B J G]

Have used Michelin Crossclimates for a while and they've been okay in various conditions (not tried them in deep snow). However I recently had one of them, on the rear, go lumpy even though only about one third worn. Had to replace, the juddering was so bad. VW Indy workshop that I use told me he sees a lot of this on vans, with 'all seasons' tyres generally not just Michelins.

I do a lot of towing which might contribute to the problem.

Will prob stick with all-seasons for the van as they're a convenient option, but not very impressed when need to replace a defective one.

One of the reasons that I suggest using SUV versions as they have stronger sidewalls than standard 'car' tyres.

 

[arcadelt]

My California is fitted with Pirelli Scorpion AT+ 225/65 R17 106H - nice tyre, and are far less crashy than the Bridgestone 215/60 that came from the factory. However, should declare the Pirellis are passenger tyres, not light truck. Also, 235/65 will not fit in the standard spare wheel carrier, so you’ll have to factor that in.

 

[Velma's Dad]

One of the reasons that I suggest using SUV versions as they have stronger sidewalls than standard 'car' tyres.

Yes the Crossclimates have an SUV version which is what I've gone with. However in the case of my defective tyre it was not the widewall but rather the carcass under the tread or maybe the fixing of tread to carcass. So the jury is out, as far as I'm concerned.

(Personally I love the Michelin Latitude Cross which is an extremely durable tyre, however it's not available with a 3PMSF rating.)

 

[The Tall Luthier]

I have no solutions only experience as for fifteen years I have driven cars/vans to the alps on snow tyres.

We have an amazing local independent tyre fitting company near us and I’ve always trusted them. Never once have they recommended a snow tyre that didn’t do the job brilliantly and never once have I recognised the brand name!!!

Costs have changed over the years but £500 is a darned sight closer to the mark than £1,000, for a decent set. All snow tyres are more grippy, more comfortable and much louder than regular tyres.

If you can find a good independent near you I’d recommend having a chat with them.

 

[htayles]

I am after a full set of winter tyres (not all season) for my 2024 Beach and am finding it very confusing.

I have the standard 17" 7J wheels. Based on the driver door sticker, I think I am right that if you have 215/60 R17 tyres (which I have at the moment), they need to be load rated C (so van/commercial)? This reduces the number of options available.

If I choose R35/55 R17s, I think this means I just need ones rated xl (this gives more options – like the Dunlop Winder Sport 5 SUV)?

Is anyone able to confirm if this is right?

Is there anything to bear in mind if buying a set of new rims to put them on? Is it as simple as buying a set of 17" T6/T6.1 rims (i.e. will they all be the same size as my existing ones and so fit any of these listed tyre sizes as well)?

 

[s2bear]

I am after a full set of winter tyres (not all season) for my 2024 Beach and am finding it very confusing.

I have the standard 17" 7J wheels. Based on the driver door sticker, I think I am right that if you have 215/60 R17 tyres (which I have at the moment), they need to be load rated C (so van/commercial)? This reduces the number of options available.

If I choose R35/55 R17s, I think this means I just need ones rated xl (this gives more options – like the Dunlop Winder Sport 5 SUV)?

Is anyone able to confirm if this is right?

Is there anything to bear in mind if buying a set of new rims to put them on? Is it as simple as buying a set of 17" T6/T6.1 rims (i.e. will they all be the same size as my existing ones and so fit any of these listed tyre sizes as well)?

Don’t know about the ‘c’ rating on the 215s but If you go for 235.55R17 the common load rating is 103. This is what the factory fitted 235s are rated at and is sufficient.

According to VW you shouldn’t fit conventional chains to the ‘wider’ 235s - only the narrower 215s due to clearance issues on the inside of the tyre. HOWEVER you CAN fit non-conventional / ‘no-fit’ traction aids / chains to the wider 235’s. Think snow socks or the chains which secure to your wheel nuts and don’t extend round to the back of the Tyre - just the tread. Hope that helps.


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[htayles]

Thanks - good point about the chains. I have these already but for the 215s that I already have on so useful to be reminded that these wouldn’t work if I switched to 235s (although hopefully I wouldn’t need them with the snow tyres).

This is what the tyre sticker says.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Following link explains XL / Reinforced marking, just make sure that any replacement tyre matches or exceeds the load rating shown on the door pillar:

When to use reinforced tyres ? | MICHELIN

What are reinforced tyres and when should they be used? Are they necessary for your vehicle? Read our article to find out.

www.michelin.co.uk