Question about Continental 4 Season Tyres

[Insider]

Rather than asking which brand of tyre I have a more specific question. I have a 2016 Autocruise Forte with the original tyres -Continental VancoFourSeason 225/75 R 16C 121/120R - lots of thread but time to change. I'm happy with the tyres so happy to stay with the same. I have it narrowed down to 2 from Continental - VancoFourSeason 2 or VanContact 4Season as below. While the VancoFourSeason 2 seem to be the natural successor the manufacturer specs(simplistic as they are) appear to be better for the VanContact 4Season - better economy and better wet grip. Any views?

 

[Otter Spotter]

I have Vancontact 4 season and I am very happy with them currently around 22000 miles and still over half the tread. They are very good in the wet and surprisingly not bad in mud. Fitted to my PVc as avatar

 

[Daffy64]

I’ve dealt with most of the premium tyre manufactures and have found Michelin and Continental to be very helpful, I’d suggest giving them a ring and asking them the question and also tell them what you want them to do and ask which they recommend.

heres a link.

Continental UK

 

[Lenny HB]

The Foursesson 2 has a chunkier tread so probably better in snow & mud but at the expense of noise.

 

[Insider]

The Foursesson 2 has a chunkier tread so probably better in snow & mud but at the expense of noise.

Well spotted. I had ignored their pictures as I assumed they were just stock pics but there is a discernable difference. Would make me lean towards them as the difference in economy will be negligible whereas the potential of extra grip getting out of a field would be a bonus. I think I'll follow Daffy64's advice and give them a call in the morning to see what they say - now there's a phrase that does not make any sense

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[Detnor]

I'm using van contact 4 season, had them fitted in August, and so far they have been fine. Used them in wet and dry without issue. Had them fitted by tyres on the drive. The fitter showed me they were a matched set before starting on the job. Date codes indicated only a few weeks since production.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Well spotted. I had ignored their pictures as I assumed they were just stock pics but there is a discernable difference. Would make me lean towards them as the difference in economy will be negligible whereas the potential of extra grip getting out of a field would be a bonus. I think I'll follow Daffy64's advice and give them a call in the morning to see what they say - now there's a phrase that does not make any sense

I changed the tyres on my Spanish car from Michelin B rated to D Rated Chinese (first time I have purchased Chinese tyres)

Not sure how scientific these test are, but the car is currently returning just over 5 % better fuel consumption.

 

[Insider]

Called Continental and had a chat with them. On the basis of that I'm going with the Vanco FourSeason 2 as should be marginally better on grass/mud and the economy is not a big thing given the mileage a camper typically does(I'm always happy putting diesel in as it means I'm driving it rather than working!!). What is surprising is the chart below. I have measured my front axle at around 1700kg and my rear at around 1800kg with everything needed. 3.0 to 3.25 bar is 43 to 47psi. Seems very low and is quite a bit lower than what I am running at currently.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello
Further to our conversation at the phone.
It is extremely likely that the relevant information supplied with the chassis is documented for use as a commercial vehicle therefore, proposed before the conversion to a motor home. For this reason, Continental tyres would always recommend having the motor home weighed on a weigh bridge at your heaviest travelling weight, including liquids to achieve specific axle weights. In some cases, the coach builder will also put their recommended pressures on the vehicle plate. However, the majority put this to the maximum inflation pressure of the tyre to cover all loads being applied and not specific loads which often, are not near the plated weight you actually travel at.

I have attached the chart from the technical data book showing the various pressures at various weights fyi.

Also, you need to know that:

S means Front and Rear axle single fitment

T means Rear axle with twin tyre fitment.





I hope this helps.

 

[funflair]

As a rule of thumb I use the axle load divided by the maximum axle load and then times this by the maximum pressure so 1800/2900x84=52psi so not far away from the figures from the table they supplied.

 

[BillandHelen]

Our van tyres, Continental van contact 200’s, are 3 years old, at last service it was pointed out that we had cracking on the sidewalls and would need changing in next year or so, done 24000 miles. Wanted to swap to all season tyres so had a chat with technical guys at Continental about the 2 tyres that Insider had mentioned. Their advice was to go for the VanContact 4 season, that they thought was the better option. Got them ordered today through my Mercedes Commercial garage and will be fitted next week when van is in for its first mot.

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[BillandHelen]

Just a quick update on out tyre choice, after a farce at Mercedes where they fitted ordinary van tyres despite all documentation and pricing being for four season, they refitted my old tyres and I went to local commercial tyre fitter, Strangs at Broxburn. They had both Continental tyres in stock, and as Lenny HB had said, the 4 season 2 was much chunkier and with the same noise rating, so ended up with a full set of those!

 

[Hettie's Crew]

Our van tyres, Continental van contact 200’s, are 3 years old, at last service it was pointed out that we had cracking on the sidewalls and would need changing in next year or so, done 24000 miles. Wanted to swap to all season tyres so had a chat with technical guys at Continental about the 2 tyres that Insider had mentioned. Their advice was to go for the VanContact 4 season, that they thought was the better option. Got them ordered today through my Mercedes Commercial garage and will be fitted next week when van is in for its first mot.

You should report the cracking tyres to Continental. I reported one after several years and they agreed a replacement and a percentage refund should manufacture fault be found. They agreed it was faulty and a percentage of the cost of replacement.