Michilin tyres again

[oily]

Just been looking for Continental Vanco II on the net. I'm more convinced than ever that the manufactures are ripping me off.
There is a vanco 2 camping tyre which is at least £11 more than the standard vanco 2. Same size, speed rating and even load rating.
Please tell me I'm not paranoid

 

[Boxerman]

Mine are not "camping" tyres. I had the choice of two types 6 ply rating and 8 ply, mine are the 8 ply ones.

Frank

 

[oily]

Mine are not "camping" tyres. I had the choice of two types 6 ply rating and 8 ply, mine are the 8 ply ones.

Frank

My point exactly. Same ply, speed rating and load rating. £11 more per tyre because they've got "camping" on the side wall. I'm pretty sure they are not going to use a different compound just for the few "camping" tyres they sell. I feel like they are trying to shaft me again
The more I read about tyres the more convinced I am that we are being ripped off royaly. Except for the odd few bad makes that start slipping and sliding as soon as a cloud comes over the horizon, There doesent seem to be a huge amount between them from what I've been reading. It seems that the tyre wall cracking isn't only a Michilin problem. Let me add, I'm not looking for budget tyres, I'm looking for good all round tyres that are value for money and not wishing to be ripped off by the tyre industry and pay there huge mark up's. When I used to buy a lot of coach tyre's, a few years ago, ALL the suppliers would offer me 60% discount BEFORE we started negotiating, so what was the mark up on car tyres?
I still think I need more information on the Barum's(made by Continental). Anybody?

 

[derekfaeberwick]

Barums

I bought 2 Barums for my last van, an Autoquest 270, and the sidewalls only lasted 3 years. The van was my only vehicle at the time and was used at least once a week.

Not impressed!

 

[oily]

I bought 2 Barums for my last van, an Autoquest 270, and the sidewalls only lasted 3 years. The van was my only vehicle at the time and was used at least once a week.

Not impressed!

OK, so Barums suffer the same fate as the big names. Dissapointing BUT, you can get two sets for the price of one set of the big named brands
Still no closer to deciding, I think the vanco's have just got a small lead. Could do with a few more recomendations guys and girls. What tyres would you definatly NOT buy too?

 

[Boxerman]

Are Barum made in the Conti factory or are Contis made in the Barum Factory?
My rear two Contis are made in Germany but the front pair are made in South Africa. Neither is Czechoslovakia, the home of Barum. Do Conti have their own factory or are they made to contract by whichever company can supply the goods?

Frank

 

[shortcircuit]

Is the date stamped in a code as I can find nothing that resembles a date?

 

[oily]

Are Barum made in the Conti factory or are Contis made in the Barum Factory?
My rear two Contis are made in Germany but the front pair are made in South Africa. Neither is Czechoslovakia, the home of Barum. Do Conti have their own factory or are they made to contract by whichever company can supply the goods?

Frank

so you've got four conti's made in two countrys, you've got to smile
Don't dig too deep into the tyre manufacturing world as you'll end up crying
When you consider that the tyre manufactures can't even get it right at the top of the tree, i.e. formula 1, what chance have we lowley campers got of finding a reasonable tyre at a reasonable price?
See, I'm nearly in tears already, seeing how much money I'm going to spend for a product that will will probably be scrap long before it wears out.
And the worst bit is.... we let them get away with it because we have no alternative

Rant Over

 

[Deleted member 3057]

I purchased 2 Goodyear tyres (made in Germany) for my car. I needed 2 more 1 year later same make / model & the second pair were made in China

I did buy 2 Barum 195/70/15 RF tyres for my last camper (VW T4) from tyre shopper online and they seemed fine @ £80 a pair.

 

[Deleted member 5816]

Hi Alf
Some experts tend to talk down to people, in an earlier post you said that the rep told you that it was paraffin wax which came to the surface. Paraffin wax is normally used as a process aid rather than an "active ingredient" - i.e. it makes the processing of the compound (mixing, moulding , extruding or whatever) easier or more efficient. Anti ozonants are largely wax based (there's water in beer but beer isn't water and water isn't beer). If your tyres were cracking up and had not been subject to UV exposure then there was something sadly wrong with the compound, this is probably why they were replaced FOC.

I would never call myself an expert at anything, but I do have 40+ years experience working in the rubber industry from mixing to technical.

As my van gets used as daily transport my tyres don't get the chance to die of old age either, but I would take the age thing with a pinch of salt. ( and I'm fussy about my tyres)

Frank

Hi Frank
My vehicles safety relies on brakes and tyres
If I want expert tyre advice I speak and listen to the tyre people
if they talk down to me I find someone else

my next door neighbour has worked in the rubber industry all her life she worked a super seal in Barnsley she knew nought about tyres though
they made hot water bottles and various rubber goods but She were an EXPERT.

Alf

 

[Boxerman]

OK Alf
I can take a hint, I'll keep me gob shut in future.

Frank

 

[jogguk]

Just to put a different twist on things

The tyres on my 3.9GVW campervan have the original tyres they are in great shape with perfect sidewalls, they are also Michelins and nearly 9 years old

The van is usually garaged so no sun burning down on it when parked idle (UV stability).

However, these are not Michelin camping tyres. They are American manufactured Michelin All Season M+S truck tyres size LT245 X 75 X 16" Not a common size in the UK for van tyres more popular with 4 X 4 types but the LT load range is hard to get on 4 X 4's tyres in In UK.

Anyway, these tyres are huge compared to the average M/H tyre, consequently they run on lowish tyre pressures about 43psi front and 51-56 psi rear (correct for the load). so not exactly over stressed

Will be changing them soon as the fronts are getting a bit low, unfortunately these are not available in the UK

John

 

[Channa]

I have a contact in the tyre industry who swears by Hangkooks, No idea whether available in Cmper type sizes but perhaps worth researching.

They are fitted OE by Ford on cars and more to the point seem sensibly priced when compared with the better known brands

Channa.

 

[lebesset]

hankook is a publicly quoted company on the korean market
although michelin have no control of the company they have been purchasing shares in the market and will no doubt try and take over the company in the future

 

[lescombes]

see my reply to boxerman
I hav heard that Barum tyres perform quite well and apprently are made by conti. Can anyone confirm?

Yes that's right .....I have Barum Vanis...... made in the same factory as Conti Vanco and Barum are part of the same group..... Vanis are about £15-£20 cheaper dependent on outlet, I got mine from a "we come to you" Tyre firm, top job and about 10 mm of tread too

 

[Deleted member 8180]

Have a look at Gislaved... they wear well and have a good guarantee.

 

[Tco]

I'm pretty sure they are not going to use a different compound just for the few "camping" tyres they sell.

FYI There are several different compounds used in a single tyre. The tread will be one, the sidewalls will be another, and the bead area will be yet another. Some tyres may use even more compounds.

Why the difference? because each part of the tyre has a different job to do. This was certainly the case in the tyre factory owned by the company for whom I worked.

Every rubber product has a finite life. Left alone anything made of rubber would ultimately crumble. The vulcanising agent is almost always the last part of the recipe added to the mix. It starts working straight away, it's actions are accelerated by the heat applied during the vulcanising process but as rubber is a living polymer, the composition of the product is forever changing. There comes a point at which the manufacturers cannot be assured that the integrity is still intact, hence the shelf life given to (for example) tyres. This is particularly true of safety critical items.

Motorhome use is one of the hardest applications for tyres. Usually loaded to very near their maximum rate for most of their life, and left standing for long periods in all sorts of weather. If you want any rubber item to last, store it in a cool dark place and you will extend it's life considerably - but you might not get much use out of it!

I don't know what compound differences are used in the Michelin Camping tyre, but I do know that an internationally famous manufacturer is aware if it's responsibilities to ensure the safety of the users of their product. They would not for example attempt to decieve by simply stamping a C on a standard tyre as a "con".

BTW, I never worked for Michelin is case you were wondering.

Tco

 

[jogguk]

Never had a road holding problem with Michelin as some have suggested.
Maybe it is because I drive as a commercial vehicle and not a racing car
Each to their own

Driving style don't come into it

You cannot predict an emergency braking situation on a wet road or motorway From a 50mph stop your van with Conti's will stop in X metres. While your van on Michelin's is still doing 29mph It has been tested and proved (not on your van, but on a laden M/H)

Can you give us your driving style tips to get us off a bit of damp grass

John

 

[Classicarta]

I recently needed new tyres, although NOT worn, I wanted to follow the advice of changing them after 5 years. I tried buying in Italy, France and Belgium, but nobody wanted to give me a good deal.
I was seeking New Michelins or HAWCO (Korean).
I found that the best deals were from UK, mail order, but I needed them fitted. Local suppliers in East London /Essex only wanted to supply Michelin at list. eventuially I found a local independent tyre fitting company in Barkinside, essex who offered me the BEST PRICE on Michelinand an even better deal on CONTINENTALS (Camper)-
The Hawco? tyre has proved great on my Hyundai for he past 5 years, and I wanted to buy this brand for my Rollerteam. UK suppliers do not rate them as Camper tyres, but looking through French and Italian magazines they have excellent reviews.

 

[derekfaeberwick]

Need to get a set now courtesy of a yob with a knife.

Know who he is and his time will come!