Oh no, it's more tyre questions

[DDJC]

Firestone Vanhawk 2 winter tyres for me all year, we’ll see how they’ll cope with a summer run down to Croatia. But after a run to Bavaria in Dec and a few weekends at the coast they seem to be wearing well
View attachment 592958
Not even took the excess moulding rubber off

These look double hard. Tempted. No getting stuck on grass in spring or autumn.

Do winter tyre wears more quickly than 4s season? And do 4 season wear more quickly than summer? And what sort of wear? If I do 5 or 6 thousand miles a year, when am I going to need new boots for summer, 4 seasons and winter? Three years for winter, five for 4 season, more for summer? Or am I way out of whack?

Are they a more uncomfortable ride?

 

[Googlebot]

I wouldn’t worry about grass, they are better but not much.

A wet boggy field will defeat most 2WD.

I have seen a 4x4 Merc with off road tyres get stuck.

 

[WESTY66]

These look double hard. Tempted. No getting stuck on grass in spring or autumn.

Do winter tyre wears more quickly than 4s season? And do 4 season wear more quickly than summer? And what sort of wear? If I do 5 or 6 thousand miles a year, when am I going to need new boots for summer, 4 seasons and winter? Three years for winter, five for 4 season, more for summer? Or am I way out of whack?

Are they a more uncomfortable ride?

I don’t think my firestones are any better or worse than toyos or any other winter tyre! The Michelin cross climates are good but directional so can only be fitted one way (so 50% awkward if you carry one as a spare) That said I’m happy enough with them, they’re not too noisy and seem good grip in the rain and slush of Germany last December. The only reason I didn’t go for toyos is I couldn’t get any at a reasonable price and would have had to wait for them, My Firestone van hawks were £124 a corner

 

[Wabs]

Thanks, I'm swinging towards 4 seasons.

I'm doing a comparison of 225/R15 tyres, as an upgrade from 215. Here is where I am.

Make	Tyre Name	Season	Speed	Load Index	Weight per Tyre	Weight per axle	Fuel	Wet	Noise	Speed MPH
Michelin	Agilis Cross climate	4 Season	R	112​	1120​	2240​	C	A	73	106
Michelin	Agilis Cross climate	4 Season	S	112​	1120​	2240​	C	A	73	112
Pirelli	Carrier 4 season	4 Season	S	112​	1120​	2240​	C	A	71	112
Uniroyal	AllseasonMax	4 Season	R	112​	1120​	2240​	C	A	73	106
Firestone	Vanhawk multiseason	4 Season	S	112​	1120​	2240​	C	B	73	112
Goodyear	Vector 4 Season Cargo	4 Season	R	112​	1120​	2240​	C	B	73	106
Yokohama	BluEarth Van All season	4 Season	R	112​	1120​	2240​	C	B	73	106

I've filtered out crap wet stopping distance

Any thoughts?

I have Cross Climates fitted to the van , very happy with them, nice and quiet, great in the wet, and feel very solid,,,good luck with whatever you choose

 

[Wabs]

I personally don’t care what I spend on tyres, my view is , it’s the only thing between me and the tarmac,,,

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[paddymcc]

Did you get that the wrong way round? The four seasons are one of two tyres that will take the loading on my motorhome, both made by Continental. That’s in a 225/17/15 fitment, my rear axle is 2420kgs

I am interested in more details if you have found another tyre

Not sure what you mean by the wrong way round? They are 225/70/15 and load rating is 112/110R (115N) The bracketed figure is the alternative load rating so okay at the lower speed - the speed rating of N is I think up to 90mph whilst the load rating of 115 is fine for 2460kg on the back axle (1215kgx2). I don't go over 65mph generally.
I bought them from Camskills but I have just looked and they don't seem to have them at present.

 

[Wabs]

Maybe a bit of over thinking here

 

[DDJC]

Talking of over thinking...

I really like the idea of having the higher load capacity of 115N (2430kg axle weight) if you opt to drive at less than 87mph.

As a bear of very little brain, I equate higher load capacity with stronger tyre, and wouldn't intend to go even close to a 2430kg axle weight or go faster than 65mph.

I've looked for the Conti 225/R15 112/110R (115N) tyres and no one seems to do them anymore. Even the tech details on the Conti website make no mention of their van tyres being '115N'. Is the '115N' actually included as a small print thing in all Continental 225/70 R15 110/112 tyres?

 

[Landy Andy]

Stronger tyre, tougher construction, = harder/harsher ride.

 

[Lenny HB]

These look double hard. Tempted. No getting stuck on grass in spring or autumn.

Do winter tyre wears more quickly than 4s season? And do 4 season wear more quickly than summer? And what sort of wear? If I do 5 or 6 thousand miles a year, when am I going to need new boots for summer, 4 seasons and winter? Three years for winter, five for 4 season, more for summer? Or am I way out of whack?

Are they a more uncomfortable ride?

I have Toyo Observe Van they are a winter tyre, not much better on grass but feel much more secure on wet roads.

Ride comfort far better than Michelin Campers.

Wear: Just been out and measured them, wear fairly high on the front but very low on the rear.
Spare- unused 10mm
Rear- 6000 miles 10mm
Front 6000 miles 7mm

By comparison the Michelin camper they replaced at 3 years old and 25000 miles.
Front 4mm
Rear 4.5mm
But the fronts had been swapped with the spare at 10000 miles & 20000 miles. So hard to do a direct comparison the Toyo may be a bit higher on the front but they are 30% cheaper.

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[DangerMousy]

We're also in the market for new tyres - but there's so much choice out there its hard to make a decision About the only thing we have managed to decide on is that we want all season/winter tyres.

I know the Michelin Agilis Crossclimates are well regarded but at £185 per corner for 225/75 R16 they're not cheap (we need 4). Costco have <Broken link removed> for £150, but the 121 load rating is way above what we need (rear axle is 2250kg) so I'm worried these will be too harsh a ride. Does anyone use them?

 

[nabsim]

Not sure what you mean by the wrong way round? They are 225/70/15 and load rating is 112/110R (115N) The bracketed figure is the alternative load rating so okay at the lower speed - the speed rating of N is I think up to 90mph whilst the load rating of 115 is fine for 2460kg on the back axle (1215kgx2). I don't go over 65mph generally.
I bought them from Camskills but I have just looked and they don't seem to have them at present.

Ah you have twin wheel back axle. Mine is single wheel and only Conti make a tyre that take the loading or at least, it was the only one I had found to date. Thought you had found something I missed

 

[nabsim]

Talking of over thinking...

I really like the idea of having the higher load capacity of 115N (2430kg axle weight) if you opt to drive at less than 87mph.

As a bear of very little brain, I equate higher load capacity with stronger tyre, and wouldn't intend to go even close to a 2430kg axle weight or go faster than 65mph.

I've looked for the Conti 225/R15 112/110R (115N) tyres and no one seems to do them anymore. Even the tech details on the Conti website make no mention of their van tyres being '115N'. Is the '115N' actually included as a small print thing in all Continental 225/70 R15 110/112 tyres?

They still do them (or did 18 moths back) with the 115 rating on two different tyres. I went for the four seasons tyres, can’t remember which model(?) the other one was. Without digging out the old emails from Conti tech support I can’t tell you where the (115) stamp is but I seem to think it was on the tyre although my memory isn’t sharp enough to remember where

 

[Jamesh]

I have Toyo Observe Van they are a winter tyre, not much better on grass but feel much more secure on wet roads.

Ride comfort far better than Michelin Campers.

Wear: Just been out and measured them, wear fairly high on the front but very low on the rear.
Spare- unused 10mm
Rear- 6000 miles 10mm
Front 6000 miles 7mm

By comparison the Michelin camper they replaced at 3 years old and 25000 miles.
Front 4mm
Rear 4.5mm
But the fronts had been swapped with the spare at 10000 miles & 20000 miles. So hard to do a direct comparison the Toyo may be a bit higher on the front but they are 30% cheaper.

Just put Toyo open country on my van 245 75 16 very road biased tyre quiet for an AT, so I think observe will be a great tyre for most people, cheapest decent tyre imho.

 

[cmcardle75]

I really like the idea of having the higher load capacity of 115N (2430kg axle weight) if you opt to drive at less than 87mph.

I'm not sure it is a case of "opt". If the vehicle is not limited to this lower speed, either electronically or due to insufficient engine power/gearing, then it needs the full load capacity rating on the tyres for its actual maximum speed to be legal.

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[paddymcc]

They still do them (or did 18 moths back) with the 115 rating on two different tyres. I went for the four seasons tyres, can’t remember which model(?) the other one was. Without digging out the old emails from Conti tech support I can’t tell you where the (115) stamp is but I seem to think it was on the tyre although my memory isn’t sharp enough to remember where

Yes it is on the tyre in brackets after the 112/110 rating. My understanding nabsim is that this applies to the singles on the back axle but at a slower speed and that the twin loading would be okay up to 4x 110 rating.

 

[DDJC]

Anyone ever used:

Bridgestone Duravais All season 225/70 R15 112 S
or
Uniroyal AllseasonMax 225/70 R15 112 R

Both C for rolling resistance and A for wet stopping

 

[Jamesh]

Anyone ever used:

Bridgestone Duravais All season 225/70 R15 112 S
or
Uniroyal AllseasonMax 225/70 R15 112 R

Both C for rolling resistance and A for wet stopping

I would go for the Bridgestone models just on the tread pattern - much better for rain / mud / snow.

Greater lugs snipes for better water dissipation and grip in mud / snow.