Tyre decision - what would you choose?

[TeamBandS]

After 6 and a half years I am about to change my tyres. The Michelin Campers have done 37,000 miles and still have 3 mm across all 4 tyres and no signs of the dreaded cracks many have experienced. I would like to replace them with something with a softer ride and from what members have suggested over the last year, I am looking at the Hankook Vantra RA18 and the Michelin Agilis cross climate. Both are not dedicated MH tyres but as I regularly use the van and am not convinced MH tyres are essential (or plan to go to Italy!) I am happy with van tyres. Having used the MH for the last 6 years I have not needed All season or winter tyres but I do travel to Spain in January so could have been lucky. That said if I did encounter heavy snow I would just stop ASAP and wait for a change / roads to be cleared.

The current MH tyres are 225/75 R16 Q116 Summer tyre on a 3500kg Hymer Exsis 6.2 mt

Hankook is about £524 from local dealer and is rated C C 70 with 10 ply load rating 121 - Summer Tyre

Michelin Cross Climate are £586 from Qwik Fit rated C A 73 load rated at a confusing 116/118 - All season tyre (15% discount on line)

What do members think and have I missed other tyres I should consider?

 

[M-J]

Toyo Observe Van

 

[Pablotti]

We swapped out our Michelin CP Campers for Cross Climates. Personally I found them to be a big improvement over the camper tyres.

 

[MitchandJenny]

Continental all season .
Mitch

 

[highwayman]

Hankook, used them for years.

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[Two on Tour]

I fitted the Hankook Vantra's on our MH 2 years ago, they are a much more comfortable ride and a great tyre.

 

[poppycamper]

confusing 116/118

This is load rating depending if used as single tyres or on a dual back axle.
I have run Cross Climate's for last 3 years and I think they are an excellent tyres..... Stand by for contradicting replys..... everyone has there own ideas what is best tyres

 

[gerry mcg]

Michelin Crossclimate

 

[TeamBandS]

Thanks, The Toyo is classed as a Winter tyre by the company and as the vast majority of my mileage is in the summer and often in quite hot weather I was not sure about these tyres.

 

[Raul]

I know tyres are a personal choice, and what suits one, does not suit others. I had two sets of conti’s and found the hard. Before that had a set of budgets that I liked. I wanted cross climates but 600 is too much. Goodyear matador close to 600. I went for a medium budget maxxis vansmart for 85 each fitted. The reason I wanted to give them a try, as I got maxxis winter separate set, that I had the chance to test on snow and ice, very impressed. So far the new maxxis vansmart mcv3, are supple and much better ride than conti.

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[PP Bear]

Michelin all the way, whichever variant that may be.

 

[Podney]

I changed to Hankooks and very happy with them so far.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Ours are continental vango camper, been great, 40,000 miles and still 3+ mm on the fronts. I'll get them again when the time comes

 

[OldCodger]

I went with Continental VanContact all season - I looked at Michelin but they get so much negative press I decided not to risk it and I’m on a Merc chassis so they don’t do a CP tyre for my wheel size

 

[TeamBandS]

As expected, a cross section of preferences, currently 5 to 3 for the Michelins! However, the good news is both my choices have received favourable comments. Many thanks ....

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[gus-lopez]

hankook winter .Leave on all year

 

[poppycamper]

Although Cross Climates are an all season tyre they differ to other all season tyres in that others are winter tyres that have summer capabilities whereas Cross Climates are summer tyres with winter capabilities which IMV are more suitable for our milder climate.
They are also excellent on wet grass/muddy conditions

 

[TeamBandS]

Although Cross Climates are an all season tyre they differ to other all season tyres in that others are winter tyres that have summer capabilities whereas Cross Climates are summer tyres with winter capabilities which IMV are more suitable for our milder climate.
They are also excellent on wet grass/muddy conditions

If I follow you correctly, the Michelin Cross Climates are more summer biased with good winter capabilities hence better for most UK weather and indeed my own driving .

 

[poppycamper]

If I follow you correctly, the Michelin Cross Climates are more summer biased with good winter capabilities hence better for most UK weather and indeed my own driving .

Yes indeed.

 

[Vipar]

Toyo

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[Masman]

I've changed to cross climates. Better ride.

 

[Jaws]

The Michelin Campers have done 37,000 miles and still have 3 mm across all 4 tyres

There is a good clue as to why you do not want to buy them again
There is a direct trade off between grip and longevity
Personally U would go for grip every time

Out of the option you present, Hankooks are head and shoulders above the rest

 

[Terry242]

Which ever you choose, try Blackcircles.com

Terry

 

[KUSKUS]

I have Michelin cross climates on the rear of my 4.6 ton Hymer at less than two years old They were showing signs of cracking on side walls , at three years old I have just replaced one and will replace another one soon, the inner tyres ( as there's four on the back axle ) still look ok.
They seem to have plenty of grip on wet grass and seem good on the road.

 

[OldCodger]

Which ever you choose, try Blackcircles.com

Terry

We had great service from Kwikfit on the drive. and their prices were good due to an offer. And I never thought I’d say that! I always feel I’m being played when I go into their depots.

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[Lenny HB]

Got rid of the Michelin campers at 3 year, 25,000 they still had over 4mm tread depth but such a hard ride even with full air and they must be the worst tyre for grip ever made they were diabolical.

Fitted Toyo Observe Van, far better grip great ride quality, don't notice any difference in hot weather.
I also wanted a non-directional tyre so I can swap them round with the spare.

 

[pandas]

Couple of points/observations: driving in Austria, Germany etc from specific dates in October to February ish to be legal you need a tyre that has the actual alpine/snow flake symbol.
In our experience an all weather tyre gives a much better ride, less teeth fall out, have much better grip including driving on wet grass, the noise level at the usual motorhome traveling speeds is not an issue and the wear is just as good as summer tires. So for us no contest.
As mentioned earlier BlackCircle are good to buy on line from.

 

[wiljoy]

I'd been a Michelin fan for years but my last two sets cracked badly. My local tyre fitter recommended Hankook as he was fed up with Michelins poor quality now. I've had them for 2 years now and realise how bad Michelin were for many reasons.

 

[Guigsy]

My nearly new van is a '20 reg and came with Michelin Campers with 10k miles on. The ride was incredibly bad at the recommended 80psi. Even when I reduced the pressure to 60psi, they were still awful. While trying to manoeuvre in a tight cul-de-sac, I needed to mount the kerb due to a parked car and it did a wheelspin in the dry. I changed them even though they were virtually new.

Went to Continental VanContact 4Season. Mostly changed to Continental because their handbook provides recommended pressures for axle weights, so I have a justification for running at 50psi. Ride is far better and driving the van is no longer a chore. Still not a magic carpet, but half as bad as it was before. Not exactly pushed them, but not had any issues with grip so far either. Manoeuvred and easily drove out of a wet field when the VW Transporter next to us needed to take a second attempt with a run-up to get out.

 

[Alesupper]

Couple of points/observations: driving in Austria, Germany etc from specific dates in October to February ish to be legal you need a tyre that has the actual alpine/snow flake symbol.
In our experience an all weather tyre gives a much better ride, less teeth fall out, have much better grip including driving on wet grass, the noise level at the usual motorhome traveling speeds is not an issue and the wear is just as good as summer tires. So for us no contest.
As mentioned earlier BlackCircle are good to buy on line from.

So which tyres do you use pleas?

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