Van tyre 'versus' Moho tyre

[Sdrawde]

Are there any marks on a tyre to indicate if it's a 'van tyre' versus a 'motorhome tyre' ?

I've been following a few threads on tyres and am keen to get the van tyre fitted when we actually get our Moho (approx 6 weeks), but what if they are already fitted.... How would we know?

Our aim is to travel to Portugal, Spain and France 3 or 4 times per year and throughout the UK, so we would love the comfort of a good quality van tyre, and having had a blow out a few years ago if a caravan tyre, we recognise the importance of these things.

All help appreciated. The Edwards Crew of Two.

 

[Guigsy]

I think van tyres are C (for Commercial?) and camping tyres are CP.

 

[pwilmo]

Yes .. C for Commercial and CP for Motorhome.

CP have strengthened side walls for a more stable ride and can be pressured up 80psi.

You will see the CP or C marked on the tyre wall, probably just after the size marking .. something like

225/65 R16 112R 8PR   CP​

225/65 R16 112R 8PR   C​

C are all purpose White Van Man tyres and can also be suitable for motorhomes ..different makes should be pressured according to axle weight and makers recommendation.

Although many motorhomers know their tyres and pressure them as appropiate to their preference and experience.

You are asking so you may not have a preference .. It is not a legal NOR an MOT requirement to have CP on your motorhome.
Whichever you choose must have a load rating sufficient for your vehicle.

Enjoy your new van.

 

[Badknee]

Make sure they are “all season” 10 ply rating and as for pressures it’s a minefield. As has been mentioned 80+ psi will shake the fillings out of your teeth
I run mine at 55psi front and 65psi rear and no doubt there will be knockers and nay sayers telling me I’m wrong, but guess what, I don’t care

 

[1967bowesj]

Make sure they are “all season” 10 ply rating and as for pressures it’s a minefield. As has been mentioned 80+ psi will shake the fillings out of your teeth
I run mine at 55psi front and 65psi rear and no doubt there will be knockers and nay sayers telling me I’m wrong, but guess what, I don’t care

And niether should you, plenty of tyre manufactures that state those pressures for common 16inch wheel sizes. Just replaced the cp rears and conti c rated fronts, no comparisum on noise or ride quality.
80 psi is for tyres that stand still to try and avoid flat spots.

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[Kups]

Just remember that if you drive in many of the southern French Departments in the winter, the snow affected roads now require snow tyres or chains or socks. So Cross Climate (ie all weather) tyres. Most tyre companies offer CP rated all weather tyres that comply with French law. I'm just replacing all four tyres with Michelin Cross Climate as my Michelin Agilis tyres are almost down to the legal minimum on the front.

 

[Jonno1103]

What motorhome is it?

 

[FrankNicklin]

Just put Maxxis Campro MAC2 CP on mine £106 a corner. A rated wet braking, and 71db noise. Running 65psi front and 70psi rear.

 

[Sdrawde]

Just put Maxxis Campro MAC2 CP on mine £106 a corner. A rated wet braking, and 71db noise. Running 65psi front and 70psi rear.

Thanks
How does the ride feel? The general consensus appears to be for those doing a lot of mileage, the van tyre is a more comfortable option (I think).

 

[Sdrawde]

What motorhome is it?

Hi Jonno, we've not purchased yet. Just planning ahead, but I'm keen to see / learn what tyres are on our potential Moho (purchase planned in next 6 weeks) so I can make sure they're going to work well for us.

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[Hettie's Crew]

C = Commercial
CP = Camping Pneus

Pneus is tyres in French, Michelin being the company that started it off, persuading the French government and subsequently the EU to adopt to category in ETRTO.
A good business strategy for a company that decided to make a specific tyre for motorhomes if you ask me.

 

[DDJC]

Sacked my Conti Campers for Bridgestone Duravis all season. Smoother ride, better grip, and no more buffetting from lorries as I sail past them. And same pressures.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Thanks
How does the ride feel? The general consensus appears to be for those doing a lot of mileage, the van tyre is a more comfortable option (I think).

Haven’t been any great distance yet but they feel quieter. The rear had the original Michelin Cross-climates on that were 22 years old, yes that’s correct 22 years old, date stamp 2302, when we bought the MH. Didn’t realise they were that old or that they had passed all MOTs with them. I know there is no age limit on tyres for MOT, but would have expected an advisory, but the tread was like new, only 45k on the MH, but there was no way I was going to continue travelling on 22 year old tyres. The fronts were cheap C rated van tyres, so went for CP rated all round. Being 3500kg it should be more stable with less side wall give due to the extra stiffness. Also I’m running slightly softer than recommended. MH label says 5bar 80psi all round but that’s like driving on granite. I’ve dropped front to 65psi and rears to 70psi.

 

[headlight]

I'm running 'summer' C (van tyres) on my 3,400kgs motorhome, 215/70/15 at 65psi rear and 60psi front.
They are 'budget' tyres, Rotalla rear and Matador fronts.
I've been happy with the ride, grip and fuel consumption.
On Monday I'm having new tyres fitted all round.
I've opted for van tyres again and am having Khumo Portran 4 season fitted.
Their performance according to Black Circles, who I ordered them from, is the same noise and fuel rating as the existing summer tyres but a B rating in the wet as opposed to the C rating of the present summer tyres.
As I know my axle weights, having weighed the van, I am going to initially try running them at the recommended psi for the actual axle weights as opposed to the axle plated weights.
This means the rears will be 60psi and fronts 50psi.
I'll see how these pressures perform first and can always up the pressure back to 65psi rear 60psi fronts if needs be.

 

[treblid]

The rear had the original Michelin Cross-climates on that were 22 years old

Are you sure they were CrossClimate tyres? Michelin didn't introduce them until May 2015.......

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[VXman]

Thanks
How does the ride feel? The general consensus appears to be for those doing a lot of mileage, the van tyre is a more comfortable option (I think).

I do 10,000 a year so a reasonable amount. I have Michelin CP tyres. I run rear at 79psi and front at 70. I find it perfectly comfortable.

Front wheel grip is another matter but it is a heavy vehicle with a lot of weight on the rear.

 

[FrankNicklin]

Are you sure they were CrossClimate tyres? Michelin didn't introduce them until May 2015.......

You are right my error, they were Michelin XC Camping tyres, not CrossClimate. I saw the X and assumed XClimate. They did have 80PSI pressure rating.

 

[FrankNicklin]

I'm running 'summer' C (van tyres) on my 3,400kgs motorhome, 215/70/15 at 65psi rear and 60psi front.
They are 'budget' tyres, Rotalla rear and Matador fronts.
I've been happy with the ride, grip and fuel consumption.
On Monday I'm having new tyres fitted all round.
I've opted for van tyres again and am having Khumo Portran 4 season fitted.
Their performance according to Black Circles, who I ordered them from, is the same noise and fuel rating as the existing summer tyres but a B rating in the wet as opposed to the C rating of the present summer tyres.
As I know my axle weights, having weighed the van, I am going to initially try running them at the recommended psi for the actual axle weights as opposed to the axle plated weights.
This means the rears will be 60psi and fronts 50psi.
I'll see how these pressures perform first and can always up the pressure back to 65psi rear 60psi fronts if needs be.

Those pressures seem extremly low for 3400kg MH. Thats what our is plated at with the same sized tyres and I'm running 65/70 psi front and rear respectively. I would have thought the lower pressures would increase tyre roll and instability especially on C rated tyres with less side wall support.

 

[Guigsy]

Haven’t been any great distance yet but they feel quieter. The rear had the original Michelin Cross-climates on that were 22 years old, yes that’s correct 22 years old, date stamp 2302, when we bought the MH. Didn’t realise they were that old or that they had passed all MOTs with them. I know there is no age limit on tyres for MOT, but would have expected an advisory, but the tread was like new, only 45k on the MH, but there was no way I was going to continue travelling on 22 year old tyres. The fronts were cheap C rated van tyres, so went for CP rated all round. Being 3500kg it should be more stable with less side wall give due to the extra stiffness. Also I’m running slightly softer than recommended. MH label says 5bar 80psi all round but that’s like driving on granite. I’ve dropped front to 65psi and rears to 70psi.

I switched from Michelin Agilis CP tyres to regular Continental Van tyres. I found the van handled far better, was much more comfortable and had much better traction after the swap. Agilis had side walls that were so stiff they'd shake and vibrate over even minor imperfections, which didn't help stability when you steering wheel is juddering in your hands around corners.

 

[headlight]

Those pressures seem extremly low for 3400kg MH. Thats what our is plated at with the same sized tyres and I'm running 65/70 psi front and rear respectively. I would have thought the lower pressures would increase tyre roll and instability especially on C rated tyres with less side wall support.

My plated axle weights are 1900kgs rear 1750kgs front and for those weights the recommended psi is 65 rear 60 front.
My actual axle weights are 1750kgs rear and 1450kgs front.
The recommended psi for those weights are 60 rear and 47 front.

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[Guigsy]

Those pressures seem extremly low for 3400kg MH. Thats what our is plated at with the same sized tyres and I'm running 65/70 psi front and rear respectively. I would have thought the lower pressures would increase tyre roll and instability especially on C rated tyres with less side wall support.

I've got a 3.5t van with maximum axle loads of 1850kg and 2000kg. With my Continental 4Seasons, the Continental handbook for that axle load and the tyre load rating says I can run 45psi and 48psi! I run 55psi as even then they look very saggy.

 

[headlight]

FrankNicklin I may end up with 65psi rear and 60psi front as I run now but I'm going to try 60psi rear and 50psi front to start.
I have a cordless tyre inflator in the van so by the time I've driven from the tyre fitters back to my van storage, a mix of town, dual carriageway and lanes I'll know if those pressures are OK or need increasing.