Michelin camper tyres disappointment

[Stacetop]

Our new van has Michelin agility camper tyres fitted 225/75 r16.

We have had the van 6 months but due to lockdown only really started to use it now. Having come from a rear wheel drive transit that had to have van tyres due to their size we are extremely disappointed that these camper tyres seem to have no grip on damp grass and slight mud.

I don’t really want to buy 4 new tyres but not sure what to do. I feel like we may end up getting stuck now where our previous RWD van would just cruise by!!

I need to buy a spare wheel-

would changing just the front two tyres be ok? Then I could use one as an emergency spare? My gut tells me this isn’t ideal! In a non covid world we would do 8-9000 miles a year.

thanks

 

[Ivory55]

Front wheel drive is always going to be not as good as rear wheel on mud etc. May be try some snow socks or park on boards to make moving off easier

 

[EuroTrotters]

TOYO H09's Now "Observe" Switching From Michelin Agilis Alpin

As you may know from many of my numerous tyre posts and replies, I have always fitted Winter Tyres to all of our Motorhomes and vans. The last 3 Motorhomes, including the current one, have had Michelin Agilis Winter Tyres, as do my Sprinters. However, the prices of Michelin have rocketed (Paid...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Stacetop]

Thanks- I appreciated it would be as good but this van/tyre combo is dreadful!

I am collecting some monster mats tomorrow to use and hope this may be enough but I doubt it!

 

[Ivory55]

We use sand boards from a 4x4 site the wheels don’t sink in and can drive off more easily

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[Howard B]

Front wheel drive is always going to be not as good as rear wheel on mud etc. May be try some snow socks or park on boards to make moving off easier

Do snow socks work on mud?

 

[Ivory55]

Do snow socks work on mud?

So others have said, but we use the sand boards . Drive off and walk back for them.

 

[Podney]

A few members on here have commented on the poor grip of the Michelin Agilis tyres. I have them,and have not had any problems. However the rear tyres are now showing some cracking in the side walls and I will be changing them soon......but not yet sure to what.

What pressure are your front tyres? Michelin recommend 80psi,which gives you a bone shaker ride. Reduce to 60psi and you’ll get a better grip and better ride.

 

[MITHRANDIR]

You can take it from me and others that the michelin agillis camping tyres are crap, awful ride quality, bordering on dangerous in the wet.
Your choice of course, i can thoroughly recommend michelin agillis crossclimate tyres, like night and day compared to the ones you have.

 

[bigwood]

I have noticed a trend towards motorhomes and campers being fitted with all terrain tyres. If you need them permanently fitted perhaps your travels would be better in a 4x4.
From my Landrover days we used to call wet grass green ice.

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[Stacetop]

We did put all climate tyres on our last van the mpg did drop slightly though. I do think all climate maybe what we change to eventually!

 

[Coolcats]

The other option is to drive on roads rather across fields

 

[Stacetop]

The other option is to drive on roads rather across fields

funnily enough that’s what I hope to be doing this year - it’s just not a long term solution!!

 

[Guigsy]

To be fair, wet grass is REALLY slippy. Even 4x4s can get caught out on a mild incline of wet grass if they've got road tyres on.

 

[68c]

You can take it from me and others that the michelin agillis camping tyres are crap, awful ride quality, bordering on dangerous in the wet.
Your choice of course, i can thoroughly recommend michelin agillis crossclimate tyres, like night and day compared to the ones you have.

Do not agree, Michelin CP tyres seem OK to me, wet or dry. OK on wet grass providing you are carefull.

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[Coolcats]

Do not agree, Michelin CP tyres seem OK to me, wet or dry. OK on wet grass providing you are carefull.

I agree with you to date no issues in the wet or dry if your in a field gently as you go and my thought is if you do park in a muddy field it’s going to be a farmer pulling you out if it’s that bad. Regarding noise and harshness again ours do not seem overly noisy or harsh some BMWs I have had provide a harsher (firm) ride

 

[Guigsy]

When I got my last van, it had a mix of random brands on it. It would wheelspin very easily and even the smallest amount of damp and it'd understeer horribly. I changed them for Continental VanContact 4Season. Went over the Alps several times with slush on the road and didn't have issues through the hairpins. Driven through torrential rain and never felt a problem. Been driving on the motorway after really heavy rain and crossed through standing water at 50mph and barely felt it, but the Mini next to me had a massive aquaplane tank slapper. Did 20k miles and the fronts looked about 60% worn and rears were still like new. I went up a size (215 to 225 on 15") and got the heavier grade tyres so I could run nice lower pressures (Continental provide a good handbook). Made the ride nice and comfortable. It did make acceleration feel a bit more sluggish and cost me a couple out of the MPG though. I'd still run them again.

 

[Pausim]

Sometimes silly high pressures are recommended for these tyres and I don’t see this as helpful when on slippery surfaces. Carthago give some alternative pressures that are much more helpful.

 

[Stacetop]

Sometimes silly high pressures are recommended for these tyres and I don’t see this as helpful when on slippery surfaces. Carthago give some alternative pressures that are much more helpful.View attachment 497657

Ahh yes I think maybe our tyre pressures are far too high! I hope to get on the weighbridge soon so I can adjust them!!

 

[Reevsie]

I was on a meet the other week. a 4X$ with road tyres on tried to pull a van off. Not a hope in hell, it just slid sideways. They tried a disco with off-road tyres on and no trouble at all.

The last time I got stuck I was told to try and reverse off and it seemed to do the trick as the van was acting like a RWD.

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[Lenny HB]

Not just wet grass Michelin CP don't have any grip on tarmac diabolical tyres shouldn't be allowed to be sold. Even with lower pressures the ride is a bone shaker.
Changed mine well before they were worn out for Toyo Observe Van, far better grip, nice comfortable ride.

 

[Speve]

I’ve driven thousands of miles on Michelin Agilis tyres and yes the inflation pressures need to be monitored and adjusted to your requirements and they tend to not grip as well as a rear wheel drive on grass or tarmac but if you take your time and don’t over rev when on wet grass you can get off it with care.
I have come to the conclusion that there are better out there and will change to perhaps Toyo Observe?
However I am not going to change for the sake of it but when I have to, if you think you can’t wait why not change them and advertise for sale I did this when I had Contis and wanted Michelin’s and they sold very quickly as the didn’t have many miles on them like yours

 

[Landy Andy]

Fitted Mich camping tyres on and have very little grip on any surface. Just got myself some new Goodyears to fit,

 

[Coolcats]

Sometimes silly high pressures are recommended for these tyres and I don’t see this as helpful when on slippery surfaces.

Just a thought, I suspect that recommended tyre pressures are not made up by the tea lady who works for the tyre company. Why would an average owner believe the pressures are not right when the chances are the manufacture has gone to great lengths in making the tyre and recommended pressure right and safe for the job? Only asking not criticising.

 

[Ivory55]

Just a thought, I suspect that recommended tyre pressures are not made up by the tea lady who works for the tyre company. Why would an average owner believe the pressures are not right when the chances are the manufacture has gone to great lengths in making the tyre and recommended pressure right and safe for the job? Only asking not criticising.

Higher pressure gives better mpg

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[pandas]

All weather tyres, 4 season or whatever as long as it has the mountain Symbol and is legal in say Austria in the winter months are quite a different ride to standard tyre compound. Softer, much better grip, wear the same and so is the noise.

 

[Coolcats]

Higher pressure gives better mpg

A higher pressure than recommended causes tyre wear and less grip ! Again I would rather use recommended pressures than guesstimates as this can be one cause of blowouts and premature wear (under or over inflated even by a few pounds). Just saying.....and not criticising.

 

[Pausim]

Just a thought, I suspect that recommended tyre pressures are not made up by the tea lady who works for the tyre company. Why would an average owner believe the pressures are not right when the chances are the manufacture has gone to great lengths in making the tyre and recommended pressure right and safe for the job? Only asking not criticising.

No real idea but most vehicle manufacturers give different pressures for different loadings, without reference to the make of tyre. I have just gone by the Carthago manual which gives specific pressures for a range of makes and sizes.

 

[Guigsy]

If the pressure is too low, then yes, you get poor MPG and adding air improves your mileage. But only to a point.

If road surfaces were perfectly smooth, then harder tyres would always be better. But as they're not, there's a benefit to the tyre having some give and deforming over the smaller imperfections. It's better that the carcass deforms over a rock than losing your forward energy by lifting the whole wheel. Plus it's more comfortable!

 

[Ivory55]

All anyone can do is what suits them, just because someone has a keyboard doesn’t make them an expert in any subject. Just do what is best for them.

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