Technical Tyres for camper van

[JonMac46]

Just bought a 1999 Dethleffs on a Ducato base with 2.8 idTD engine.
The front tyres are 225/70R15C and the rear are 215/70R15C.
Am I right in thinking they should all be 215/70?
Any opinions on the best brand of tyres?
I've usually bought Michelins.
Also, are the CP tyres an improvement?
Thanks.

 

[mikey72]

I don't think the 215/225 is critical, what size is the spare?

I'd be inclined to replace in pairs when you need to end up with 5 of the same.

Michelin CP are a higher load carrying tyre, I've heard they are good tyres, but currently have Continental vanco tyres on mine.
I didn't go for vanco CP, as the load index is ok on normal vancos for my use.
I checked the vin plate, and took the highest axle weight, and was well within.
I can't remember the exact number, I think it was 106 I went for, or 950kg per tyre, so 1900kg per axle, could even have been 104, which is 900kg, or 1800kg per axle. Well within for my van, even when heavily loaded.

The wider tyres tend to have a higher load index, but then it would have made sense for yours to be on the back.

The only other point to bear in mind is the inflation pressure, CP can hold a higher pressure, but again mine run within the limit for normal vancos.

Get metal screw in valves though when you have new tyres fitted, rubber stemmed ones are only rated to 60psi, and mine run close to that.

 

[moodrater]

Just bought a 1999 Dethleffs on a Ducato base with 2.8 idTD engine.
The front tyres are 225/70R15C and the rear are 215/70R15C.
Am I right in thinking they should all be 215/70?
Any opinions on the best brand of tyres?
I've usually bought Michelins.
Also, are the CP tyres an improvement?
Thanks.

The camper tyres are m+s so handy for getting out of grassy campsites / festivals, essential for travelling in europe in winter. Their other feature is the compound and structure is designed for longer life as campers tend to do an awful lot of sitting around and very little mileage, if you think you'll still have the tyres on at the 4-7 year mark thats probably worth considering.

With regard to the size you have theres no need to worry as long at the load rating is correct.

+1 on the valves I've had two of the standard rubber ones fail.
I replaced one myself with tr600 ones from ebay. Got the rest swapped at the tyre center, better safe than sorry.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o....Xtr600+valve&_nkw=tr600+valves&_sacat=131090

 

[JonMac46]

I was looking at the Michelin website and noticed that the Agilis camping tyres have different fuel economy ratings:

215/70R15 rated E
225/70R15 rated C.

Surely the wider/heavier tyre doesn't result in lower fuel consumption??

Thanks.

 

[moodrater]

I was looking at the Michelin website and noticed that the Agilis camping tyres have different fuel economy ratings:

215/70R15 rated E
225/70R15 rated C.

Surely the wider/heavier tyre doesn't result in lower fuel consumption??

Thanks.

Doesn't make sense unless the 225 has a much stiffer sidewall, compound maybe going from 109 load to 112 load they have added a ply or something.

The 225 is slightly taller so you'd have less engine revs for a given speed which might increase economy very slightly or at least cancel out the extra couple of mmm in width doesn't account for C to E.

 

[mikey72]

Generally, bigger truck tyres have a higher load rating.
Higher load rating means a stiffer sidewall, and less deformation, so lower rolling resistance, and improved economy.

So it makes sense.

I chose the Vanco (non CP) as that had a better review than the Michelin CP on wet grass, but that was a while ago. Never had any problem, on or off road, and used it every day for work for a few years.

I've never seen anything that states the CP's (either Continental or Michelin) are a different compound thought, to improve the standing life.
Do you have any more info on that?

 

[moodrater]

Generally, bigger truck tyres have a higher load rating.
Higher load rating means a stiffer sidewall, and less deformation, so lower rolling resistance, and improved economy.

So it makes sense.

I chose the Vanco (non CP) as that had a better review than the Michelin CP on wet grass, but that was a while ago. Never had any problem, on or off road, and used it every day for work for a few years.

I've never seen anything that states the CP's (either Continental or Michelin) are a different compound thought, to improve the standing life.
Do you have any more info on that?

The agilis camper tyres have an m+s compound standard van ones don't that means it remains flexible at low temperatures on reading their blurb again it doesn't suggest that contributes to longer standing life. Of course a softer compound means you'll be replacing the tyres sooner so they're less likely to crack

Makes sense that a flexible compound is less likely to crack while standing during the winter. I have two blizzak tyres that are over 5 years old and still very flexible, summer tyres are that age are usually like a wash board.

 

[Andy Monty]

The agilis camper tyres have an m+s compound standard van ones don't that means it remains flexible at low temperatures on reading their blurb again it doesn't suggest that contributes to longer standing life. Of course a softer compound means you'll be replacing the tyres sooner so they're less likely to crack

Makes sense that a flexible compound is less likely to crack while standing during the winter. I have two blizzak tyres that are over 5 years old and still very flexible, summer tyres are that age are usually like a wash board.

M+s marking has nothing to do with the compound. It's a manufacturers idea to do with tread spacing...... And have nothing to do with winter tyre classification winter's have the mountain and snowflake symbol

 

[moodrater]

M+s marking has nothing to do with the compound. It's a manufacturers idea to do with tread spacing...... And have nothing to do with winter tyre classification winter's have the mountain and snowflake symbol

Some m+s tyres are pattern only, lots inlcuding the adiglis camping have a different compound heres michelins own words on the agilis tyres:

"Its versatility comes from the tread pattern and the rubber. The tread includes 30% more sipes and a 20% higher void ratio than the new Michelin Agilis. The rubber compound delivers superior performance in a wide range of temperature conditions, ensuring optimal grip when occasionally used in mud or snow, on dirt tracks or in other difficult driving conditions. The Agilis Camping is currently the only campervan tyre on the market with an M+S marking."

 

[Andy Monty]

Some m+s tyres are pattern only, lots inlcuding the adiglis camping have a different compound heres michelins own words on the agilis tyres:

"Its versatility comes from the tread pattern and the rubber. The tread includes 30% more sipes and a 20% higher void ratio than the new Michelin Agilis. The rubber compound delivers superior performance in a wide range of temperature conditions, ensuring optimal grip when occasionally used in mud or snow, on dirt tracks or in other difficult driving conditions. The Agilis Camping is currently the only campervan tyre on the market with an M+S marking."

which one?

from the looks of it there are three in the range

Agilis Alpin

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rs...&ranzahl=4&nichtweiter=1&pk_campaign=tyrecomp





Agilis Camping

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rs...lz=&Cookie=froogle&ABT=&typ=R-153689&dsco=110

MICHELIN Agilis +

Cant find any on line sellers to link to..


Out of all three only the Alpine carries the Mountain and snow flake symbol ... Worth looking into if you plan visiting the likes of Germany in the "winter months"

 

[Steve928]

Higher load rating means a stiffer sidewall, and less deformation, so lower rolling resistance, and improved economy.

I think you may have that the wrong way around.
Stiffer sidewall = more resistance to deformation = higher rolling resistance.
Certainly in the bike (cycle) racing world the lowest rolling resistance tyres are those with the thinnest most supple sidewall.
Perhaps that doesn't translate to big heavy van tyres though..?

 

[mikey72]

No, it's the right way round.

Stiffer sidewall = more resistance to deformation = lower rolling resistance.

Imagine a very stiff sidewall, with no deformation at the bottom as the van sits on it.

As it rolls, the wall stays solid, so the rubber offers no resistance to the motion.

Now imagine letting the air out, so the tyre is so soft the rubber is bulging out at the bottom. As the van rolls, the rubber at the front has to be crushed down to pass under the wheel, and the amount of force required to crush it down comes from the energy that could be put into moving the van forward.

So, the best way to improve economy is to keep the tyres pumped up, and secondly to use a stiffer sidewall, as either an eco car tyre, or a higher load rating on a van tyre.

So stiffer sidewall = less rolling resistance.

The bike tyre will be at a very high psi, (over 100 at times) especially compared to the weight on it, and the sidewall will be rigid.
Let the air out so the sidewall can actually flex, and you'll see what I mean.

 

[moodrater]

Out of all three only the Alpine carries the Mountain and snow flake symbol ... Worth looking into if you plan visiting the likes of Germany in the "winter months"

You only need M+S for austria, germany don't think anyone actually requires snow tyres.