Advice on buying all-season tyres for motorhome

Vanman

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Hi - first time needing to change tyres on PVC. On my car I'd go to Blackcircles or similar find a good deal and have them delivered to a National fitting service in the NW England. I'm guessing it's not quite so simple with the Van as not everywhere will have the roof / ramp height. I'll be looking for M+S all season tyres. All advice welcome - thanks!
 
I think you can follow the same process for your van as for your car.
E.g. when I looked for car tyres on BC, it gave me fitting options near home, but if I look for van tyres, then it gives me different fitting services - which I assumed were able to fit my van tyres.
It might work better if you search by number plate so it knows the vehicle they tyres are for.
 
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If you are planning on going to Europe during the winter then it might be best to go for 3 PMSF (3 peak mountain snowflake) After October this year some countries will not accept M&S for snowy conditions.

 
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I had mine replaced through Black Circles recently without problem my van is 4500kg unfortunately the fitters damaged two of my alloys but fair play to Black Circles they have paid for the wheels to be recut £300 so not much profit for them on that sale👍😊
 
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Camskill Tyres is another source.
Mike.

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Wanted new Bridgestone Duravis 225 R15 70 S 4 seasons.

Black circles were £150.99 per corner, National were £144.99, Kwikfit were about £1680,999.99 per tyre (didn't look - never do - don't trust them). Halfords Autocentre were £145.99, Asda were £140.99, but they use a place that is a struggle to get a MH in or out.

So, got new Bridgestone 4 seasons coming on Thursday. Halfords Tyres on the Drive. A guy with a big van full of wheely-type tools is coming over to do it on the drive. I shall get him a cup of tea, then sit inside my house and do some work, while he works. Fitting, valves and balancing free. £140.99 per tyre.
 
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Wanted new Bridgestone Duravis 225 R15 70 S 4 seasons.

Black circles were £150.99 per corner, National were £144.99, Kwikfit were about £1680,999.99 per tyre (didn't look - never do - don't trust them). Halfords Autocentre were £145.99, Asda were £140.99, but they use a place that is a struggle to get a MH in or out.

So, got new Bridgestone 4 seasons coming on Thursday. Halfords Tyres on the Drive. A guy with a big van full of wheely-type tools is coming over to do it on the drive. I shall get him a cup of tea, then sit inside my house and do some work, while he works. Fitting, valves and balancing free. £140.99 per tyre.
If you have an Al-Ko chassis make sure he puts the jack in the right place on the rear, a lot of tyre fitters try to jack up the axle which can bugger it.
 
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If you have an Al-Ko chassis make sure he puts the jack in the right place on the rear, a lot of tyre fitters try to jack up the axle which can bugger it.
Where is the right place to put the jack on an Al-Ko chassis please?
 
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Where is the right place to put the jack on an Al-Ko chassis please?
There is a black plate bolted to the chassis that retains the axle, it wraps under the bottom edge of the chassis, there is a round collar on the bottom where the Fiat jack locates.
 
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If your tyre pressures are 5.5 bar like mine you need high pressure steel valves not the normal ones.
Old school here and 5.5bar meant nothing to me until i converted it....
80PSI.... Jesus, the ride must be awful..
Much akin to the steel Rim wooden wheels of by gone days?.
Sorry.. not doubting you... just seem excessive..
My 4t Movano runs at 60psi front, 65PSi rear....
 
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Old school here and 5.5bar meant nothing to me until i converted it....
80PSI.... Jesus, the ride must be awful..
Much akin to the steel Rim wooden wheels of by gone days?.
Sorry.. not doubting you... just seem excessive..
My 4t Movano runs at 60psi front, 65PSi rear....
Usual advise for “cp” rated tyres always 80psi.
mine is 4.25t and running 65psi rears 56 fronts, makes a massive difference in ride quality
 
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Not a million miles away is Ron Crosbie tyres in Ormskirk. Just had 4 tyres replaced there. Slightly chaotic parking but great service and prices. They know their stuff and are really nice people.
 
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Wanted new Bridgestone Duravis 225 R15 70 S 4 seasons.

Black circles were £150.99 per corner, National were £144.99, Kwikfit were about £1680,999.99 per tyre (didn't look - never do - don't trust them). Halfords Autocentre were £145.99, Asda were £140.99, but they use a place that is a struggle to get a MH in or out.

So, got new Bridgestone 4 seasons coming on Thursday. Halfords Tyres on the Drive. A guy with a big van full of wheely-type tools is coming over to do it on the drive. I shall get him a cup of tea, then sit inside my house and do some work, while he works. Fitting, valves and balancing free. £140.99 per tyre.
Halfords don’t fit metal high pressure valves, they fit rubber ones, which aren’t up to the job in my opinion. I brought a nice set and, after the photo below, returned to change the tyre free of charge and then fitted the metal valves I supplied. I had a spare set and the fitter liked them so much, I gave them to him as his tip.

Now I’m not saying this was the valve, but at only 300 miles on new michelin tyres and 80 psi on their rubber valves, I insisted they changed them all. I’d really think hard about getting some and have them fitted, or replaced. You can still see the wet gunk they used when fitting them.
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Halfords don’t fit metal high pressure valves, they fit rubber ones, which aren’t up to the job in my opinion. I brought a nice set and, after the photo below, returned to change the tyre free of charge and then fitted the metal valves I supplied. I had a spare set and the fitter liked them so much, I gave them to him as his tip.

Now I’m not saying this was the valve, but at only 300 miles on new michelin tyres and 80 psi on their rubber valves, I insisted they changed them all. I’d really think hard about getting some and have them fitted, or replaced. You can still see the wet gunk they used when fitting them.
View attachment 863019
View attachment 863020
View attachment 863021

I have 72 psi on the back and 62 on the front - but we do ride on or close 3500.
Is that high pressure? Do I need metal valves?
 
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I’d say yes for sure, especially at 72 psi.

This is the kind I had fitted.

View attachment 863122


OK, the Halfords tyre man is here putting on my 225 Bridgestones. He fitted metal valves, without asking. I queried this and he said that, cars get rubber valves, but anything commercial or over 55psi, gets metal valves. So, if you want metal, just say you put 56psi in your tyres.

Have to say, I can't fault him. He is balancing each wheel, taking his time. Pretty pleased with his work.
 
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OK, the Halfords tyre man is here putting on my 225 Bridgestones. He fitted metal valves, without asking. I queried this and he said that, cars get rubber valves, but anything commercial or over 55psi, gets metal valves. So, if you want metal, just say you put 56psi in your tyres.

Have to say, I can't fault him. He is balancing each wheel, taking his time. Pretty pleased with his work.

I was wrong about something though.

He had coffee not tea ...
 
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OK, the Halfords tyre man is here putting on my 225 Bridgestones. He fitted metal valves, without asking. I queried this and he said that, cars get rubber valves, but anything commercial or over 55psi, gets metal valves. So, if you want metal, just say you put 56psi in your tyres.

Have to say, I can't fault him. He is balancing each wheel, taking his time. Pretty pleased with his work.
That’s brilliant news, I’m really pleased. Can’t understand why they didn’t stock them at the time of my tyre fitting, as I wanted 5.5bar 80psi. I did have a long chat to an area manager over having to retro fit them post my tyre failure, so wonder if they started fitting them again. Anyhow, great news and I’m glad for you 👍🏻

Same as you, I couldn’t fault the Halfrauds fitters, they were brilliant.

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OK, the Halfords tyre man is here putting on my 225 Bridgestones. He fitted metal valves, without asking. I queried this and he said that, cars get rubber valves, but anything commercial or over 55psi, gets metal valves. So, if you want metal, just say you put 56psi in your tyres.

Have to say, I can't fault him. He is balancing each wheel, taking his time. Pretty pleased with his work.

Good to know for future 👍👍
 
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Old school here and 5.5bar meant nothing to me until i converted it....
80PSI.... Jesus, the ride must be awful..
Much akin to the steel Rim wooden wheels of by gone days?.
Sorry.. not doubting you... just seem excessive..
My 4t Movano runs at 60psi front, 65PSi rear....
I wouldn't say the ride is awful but it is firm 😀
 
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My wheels have metal valves and I just have new cores fitted
 
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I wouldn't say the ride is awful but it is firm 😀

I like a firm ride.

(Oh behave! ::bigsmile: )

Before I got semi air on the rear axle, the bus wallowed round like a Citroen 2CV! With the air pumped to 2.5 psi, it now sticks to the road. The new 225 tyres add an additional total 4cm of tyre contact with the road. Doesn't seem much, but I have read reports saying that the positive difference is very noticeable. Next trip out is over Easter to Snowdonia (Eryri), so we will find out.
 
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I've decided to go with Goodyear Vector 4Seasons Cargo from National (now part of Halfords): approx £500 for four. (225 70 R15 112/110)

I've always gone with the pressures from my Mercedes Sprinter handbook: 45psi front & 51psi rear using weighbridge figures of 1660kg & 1840kg in touring trim.
But I decided to see what Goodyear recommend: they don't!

I tried tyresafe.org and on entering my reg (under "cars" :rolleyes:) it tells me that I'm driving a Sprinter 311 and pressures should be 33 & 41. (No comments about loads.)
However, I think I'm driving a Sprinter 316 because I've got the 5cylinder, 156 bhp diesel rather than the 2.2 4cylinder. Enter those details and it says 54 & 65, based on maximum axle loads of 1750 & 2240kg.

Michelin say 41 & 65 for both 311 and 316.

I wonder what Mr Plod would expect to find?
I shall be sticking with the figures from my handbook: 45 & 51 because I carry the written evidence around with me at all times.

Gordon
(I shall be asking National what they think tomorrow ;) )

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Halfords don’t fit metal high pressure valves
.
I got 2 Duravis AS on front at McChonnechies in Perth, part of Halfords. (Sept23 @160 each)

They were very careful with jacking, and used a torque wrench not the usual air gun thingie.

They happily fitted metal stems, after I had requested them.

I'll be back there for 2 on rear on way north in April ( get them ordered Ali !)
_
 
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I always shop around, with people I think I can trust for car / Motorhome tyres , I soon realised years ago that sometimes if you use the same seller they don't always give you the best price , but, if you trust one person I advise you always get a cost from elsewhere to present to your favourite seller .
 
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A slightly different tyre query, sort of related, the answers to which may also be of interest.

We were intended to change all four tyres for this coming season (still not sure what to put on at present but that's another matter!), currently running with Conti Vanco campers. I would be interested to learn others opinions whether to change this year or possibly, get another season out of them, probably about 7000 miles this coming year. All 4 tyres have equal wear (I have swapped front with rear two years ago to achieve this, front wheel drive) and each tyre is evenly worn across it's width, about 3.8mm remaining. The tyres were fitted 2017, so this will be the 7th (or possibly 8th) season of use. According to MOT records (we have owned only for 3 yrs), about 33k since tyres were fitted, on inspection, no signs of splitting or crazing across tread or sidewalls.

So, I suppose I'm wondering is it best to change now or wait another year.

Any thoughts/suggestions much appreciated.
 
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