Another Tyre thread…

[RustyRuss]

We went to Beziers, Southern France in late June this year in our new to us in 2019, 2013 Autotrail Apache rated at 3750kg . The temperature was at least 37c most of the way there, probably hotter. We had 4 Kumho Portran KC53 215/70R15C 109/107T tyres (fitted by Spinney Caravans when we bought it) with very minimal wear when we set off. Cold tyre pressures 4.5 bar front 5.5 bar rear. By the end of the first day in France the rear driver’s side tyre, in the sun light the whole time while driving south, was at around 6.6/6.7 bar and a whopping 70c. I foolishly hadn’t noticed this as we were tired and looking for our illusive campsite. When I looked at the tyre it was a bigger diameter than the others and was very hot to the touch. I managed to change it and put the spare on, a Continental vancocamper. The existing rear Kumho tyre ran/runs at 6.1bar and around 35-37c at around 65-70mph. The Continental tyre ran/runs slightly hotter at 37-40c and slightly higher pressure than the other rear at around 6.3 bar. I had a hell of a job trying to purchase another Kumho tyre as all the French tyre depots wanted to sell me a pair. I eventually, as a last resort, managed to get a second hand Continental vancocamper from a second hand tyre dealer I came across near Beziers, so at least I had a spare for the return trip, all be it of dubious provenance. The return was uneventful other than a puncture in the front driver’s side, which we managed to get fixed in Rouen without the tyre going below 4.2bar, but that’s another story.
So after all this rambling on I now have a question, Should I go for another Kumho that runs a little cooler and slightly less bar when at cruising speed, or a Continental? The Kumho is a C rated tyre, the Continental a CP rating.

I look forward to your thoughts and advice.

Cheers!

Russ

 

[RustyRuss]

Bump

 

[EuroTrotters]

Don’t buy CP tyres.

Just get some decent 8 or better still 10 ply C rated

 

[DumfriesDik]

We have Michelin Agilis CP tyres and love 'em. So in answer to your question I would go for Continental CP's.

 

[rb62]

Whatever you go for I'd go for one with a better load rating 120/122,106/107 may be sailing a bit close to the wind however careful you are when loading the van.

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[JockandRita]

Don’t buy CP tyres.

Just get some decent 8 or better still 10 ply C rated

RustyRuss. I'm with Trev on this one.
If quality rated commercial van tyres are good enough for the MH manufacturer at the factory build stage, they are good enough for me, but our MH is used all year round and seldom sat in storage.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[RustyRuss]

Thanks guys! A 120/122 rated 215/70R15 haven't seen any of them when I've been tinternetting? Can you recommend one?

TIA!

Russ

 

[Bessy765]

If you have to renew why not look at 225/70r15 put these on Aspire when uprating it to 3850kg. No worries about loading and a much better ride.

 

[RustyRuss]

That's a good idea Bessy, I'm assuming I can keep the Kumhos on the front as 215's and put a couple of 225's on the back axle?

 

[DumfriesDik]

Mixing the tyres is okay if you don't carry a spare!

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[RustyRuss]

Gone for Bessy’s idea. Getting two 225’s fitted tomorrow. Thanks for your help people!

Cheers! Russ

 

[RustyRuss]

I went for the 225's in the end, we went to Aberdaron on the Llyn peninsula for a few days and the air temp on the way there was similar to The return leg of our French trip, so around 31c. The garage took a look at the "max pressure" and would only put 4.5 bar in them. I checked with the manufacturer and they said I could run at 5.5 bar, so I did. 4.5 bar is for the USA. the old tyres were up around 6.1/6.2 and 43c when in France, these 225's ran at 5.6/5.7 and around 36c, so all in all a good shout Bessy.

Cheers!

Russ