Disappointed in Michelin tyres

[wiljoy]

I had a set of so called quality Michelin tyres delaminate after 2 years. I discussed my problem with a customer who operates a fleet of 70 delivery vans. He would never use Michelin tyres again
as the quality and reliability has gone. He now uses only Hankook which after over a million miles overall on the fleet have proved to be brilliant.
As a very good customer to Michelin he took his concerns up with there rep. He wasn't very confident with his own product either.

 

[Lenny HB]

Agilis CP is a tyre specifically for mohos. IMO a very substandard tyre that will not get you off a wet field if that is your thing never mind being safe in winter conditions

Mine struggle to get up steep hills in the dry, worse tyres I've ever come across for grip.

 

[Speve]

Mine struggle to get up steep hills in the dry, worse tyres I've ever come across for grip.

I quite agree with you Lenny I’m thinking of cross climates when I need to change we have them on our car and they are really good in the wet and also on wet grass and mud.

 

[EuroTrotters]

The Original Michelin camper tyres were very poor. Shocking Grip and cracking Sidewalls.
I don't know much about the latest generation.

I do highly recommend Michelin Agils Alpin. Ive run Vans and motorhomes on them for many years. Superb tyres. Run our Motorhome and my Sprinter van on them.

I bought a second hand car 4 years ago with Michelin Energy Tyres on it, they were all brand new when I bought it. I mostly run our Vehicles on Winter or All-Season tyres. But as this one was spending its winters in Spain, I opted to leave them on. Shocking grip in the rain, aquaplaned in small puddles. But worse was, the sidewalls were cracking after 12 months, they have had to go after less than 3 years and less than 12,000 miles.

 

[Lenny HB]

I quite agree with you Lenny I’m thinking of cross climates when I need to change we have them on our car and they are really good in the wet and also on wet grass and mud.

I looked at Cross Climates but they are directional which causes problems if you want a matching spare.

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[Clipgate]

As regards tyre suitability each insurance company is likely to have its own clauses, in my case it is mute on the subject, other than a generality regarding vehicle condition and maintained in a roadworthy condition. I rang them and they were bemused as what to say other than we will note your call.
As to age the Continental tyres I sent a photo of were dated 2018. I would not advise anyone to follow my example it is for each to make their own mind up. Ultimately the owner/driver is fully responsible for the vehicle condition and compliance with various regulations.

 

[chrisinplymouth]

I looked at Cross Climates but they are directional which causes problems if you want a matching spare.

Sorry could you explain that?

 

[Figaro]

I looked at Cross Climates but they are directional which causes problems if you want a matching spare.

Surely if you need to put your spare on, its unlikely to match wear with the one on the other end of the axle ?

 

[cmcardle75]

Sorry could you explain that?

With directional tread patterns, the wheel is set up either for being on the left or right hand side of the vehicle. This means the spare might be wrong handed in an emergency. This isn't a great problem as the tyre must work safely in both directions. However, it is recommended to correct it as soon as convenient.

On dual rear wheel, it is even harder, because you should have matched wear for each wheel pair on the axle. Otherwise, both tyres get very high subsequent wear. This means you may need to do lots of swapping around to get two similar wear patterns together. Also, if you have directional tread, the inner runs the opposite way to the outer!

 

[Speve]

Sorry could you explain that?

They are only able to be fitted one side as they are paired the tread resembles a tractor tyre with forward facing V so if you try putting one from rh side to lh it’s tread faces the wrong way.

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[chrisinplymouth]

Thank you both for the explanation

 

[chrisinplymouth]

So in an emergency you could use one in the wrong direction until you can get the faulty one repaired or replaced? Also could you not use a completely different make that was non directional for a spare?

 

[EuroTrotters]

So in an emergency you could use one in the wrong direction until you can get the faulty one repaired or replaced? Also could you not use a completely different make that was non directional for a spare?

Yes and yes

 

[cmcardle75]

So in an emergency you could use one in the wrong direction until you can get the faulty one repaired or replaced? Also could you not use a completely different make that was non directional for a spare?

Yes, except for dual rear wheel where matched pairs (both make and wear level) must be used. Fixing that to be true quickly is significantly more important than directional tyres going in the right direction.

 

[chrisinplymouth]

Thanks again....... mine need changing end of this year and I quite fancy the Cross Climate ones

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[ManTheVan]

I fitted Agilis cross-climates earlier this year to replace Vanco CPs and the transformation has been gob-stoppingly incredible. The ride is like a magic carpet, but with wonderful grip in the dry and the wet. The ride is also v v quiet. I always have winter tyres on the cars during the cold seasons, so it was excellent to bring the MH up to the same spec.

 

[Howard H]

Just an update I decided the cheapest option is to get a brand new Michelin tyre and fit that to the damaged tyre and swop the brand new spare to the other front tyre and then use that tyre as a spare or that was the plan ,I have rang 3 suppliers to be told by them all Michelin camper tyres are on back order and are not due in to the middle of November . Good job we are not in a rush to get away

 

[chrisinplymouth]

I fitted Agilis cross-climates earlier this year to replace Vanco CPs and the transformation has been gob-stoppingly incredible. The ride is like a magic carpet, but with wonderful grip in the dry and the wet. The ride is also v v quiet. I always have winter tyres on the cars during the cold seasons, so it was excellent to bring the MH up to the same spec.

I am hoping for similar..... I’m also from Devon and nipped up to north Devon for a quick break after all the rain we had. It took extreme care to get of the grass pitch.

 

[Jane4gav]

Hi thinking of replacing worn out conti campa 33000 miles with Michelin cross climate are they quite
? Adria vision A class thanks

 

[lou020]

Michelin’s certainly aren’t as good as they once were. We’ve tried them on the trucks and trailers, special price direct from Michelin. Michelin don’t want to know when we’ve had problems, tyre walls cracking, uneven wear etc. Bridgestone aren’t much better either. Gone back to Hankook. I did have Michelin and conti campers on the Motorhome, but mileage is rubbish. I fitted 2 Hankook vantra to the front on my Motorhome, Don’t think you’ll find a better load rated tyre for the price. Load rating is higher than Michelin or conti.

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[Ivory55]

Michelin’s certainly aren’t as good as they once were. We’ve tried them on the trucks and trailers, special price direct from Michelin. Michelin don’t want to know when we’ve had problems, tyre walls cracking, uneven wear etc. Bridgestone aren’t much better either. Gone back to Hankook. I did have Michelin and conti campers on the Motorhome, but mileage is rubbish. I fitted 2 Hankook vantra to the front on my Motorhome, Don’t think you’ll find a better load rated tyre for the price. Load rating is higher than Michelin or conti.

Always said they had lots of money in Huddersfield, new branded truck tyres ? Haha retreads or Chinese golden crown in Norfolk.

 

[lou020]

Always said they had lots of money in Huddersfield, new branded truck tyres ? Haha retreads or Chinese golden crown in Norfolk.

we've had the remix drive tyres which weren't too bad. We've even tried the Chinese makes but don't get the mileage out of them,500+BHP soon wears them down.. But there's some funny chinese names out there.

 

[Ivory55]

we've had the remix drive tyres which weren't too bad. We've even tried the Chinese makes but don't get the mileage out of them,500+BHP soon wears them down.. But there's some funny chinese names out there.

We are a bit flatter down here, no hills. I bet most never have more than 460 , only then because the new ones are that strangled for emmisions they use a bigger motor.

 

[Garry - June]

As you asked about alternatives I'll answer that..... we likewise weren't impressed with the Agilis on our Tag A Class and have replaced them with Nexen Roadian CT8 commercial tyres....having compared them side bt side when changing them i was extremely impressed with the Nexen build quality...they have 10 ply and have higher load rating than the Agilis and the drive quality in my opinion is superior to the Michelins too.... they may not suit all MH's obviously but so far i am mightily impressed.....oh and they saved me £450 as well as i obviously needed six but having said that even if the price was the same i would still have chosen the Nexens after comparing the two ..

 

[Garry - June]

I’m surprised nobody has said much about the age of their tyres,apart from the mileage achieved,or grip,or ride quality. Many people,most with far more knowledge than I have,recommend changing your tyres every 5 to 7 years,irrespective of tyre wear. Many motorhomes do well below the national average mileage but need to be changed for safety reasons will before the tread is worn.

I had one woman arguing about tyres on another forum openly state that she was perfectly happy with her tyres as there was no visible cracking that she could see...and they were still going strong after 17 years !!!

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[cmcardle75]

I had one woman arguing about tyres on another forum openly state that she was perfectly happy with her tyres as there was no visible cracking that she could see...and they were still going strong after 17 years !!!

That is actually quite possible if the tyres have been protected from UV (i.e. stored in a dark garage, or with well fitting wheel covers). It is sun damage destroying the plasticisers coupled with lack of driving to migrate plasticisers to the surface that causes most aging damage.

 

[Podney]

I had one woman arguing about tyres on another forum openly state that she was perfectly happy with her tyres as there was no visible cracking that she could see...and they were still going strong after 17 years !!!

And these people are using our oxygen!

 

[AndyVW]

Howard.... Three simply fixes to all the above.
Stay off the loud pedal
front wheel drive campers will always have a ware problem.
All tyres not just campers have a tyre pressure directly related to the load its carrying

Weigh your van, that will tell you the true pressure required and the tyre speed/load rating need.

 

[Howard H]

Howard.... Three simply fixes to all the above.
Stay off the loud pedal
front wheel drive campers will always have a ware problem.
All tyres not just campers have a tyre pressure directly related to the load its carrying

Weigh your van, that will tell you the true pressure required and the tyre speed/load rating need.

Hi Andy , the wear problem I can live with but the side wall bulging out is not acceptable or safe . I have always been a bit anal about tyres being a motorcyclist and all that ,you think if you pay a premium price you would get a premium product not so it would seem. The tyres are inflated to Michelin recommendation, but they must be able to sell all they make because I can’t get one for love nor money locally

 

[68c]

Fitted Michelin Agilis CP at the beginning of the year, they have been OK to me even in all that heavy rain. Regularly camp on a friends field have no problem driving on grass, obviously avoid soft ground. I keep below my 3500kg limit so load shared well between axles, no problems starting uphill or tight turns. Not particularly noisy at 70mph. I think they are a good tyre I am also comfortable knowing that is what is listed in the handbook so one less insurance worry in the event of an accident.

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