Tyre labelling

[skippymoss]

Tyre labelling started about a week ago and I'm interested in comparing the quoted figures before I buy a full set.
I found this on the Continental website which is very useful and gives the information on their Vanco 2 which seems to be held in quite high regard by some members.
http://www.conti-online.com/generator/w ... iewer.html
At a rating of C for wet braking and efficiency and 71dB for noise it seems reasonably ok.
I wonder if this is actually great for a small van tyre, but can anyone suggest better?

[California Dreamin]

All season tyres are a compromise by their very nature, 'Jack of all trades' and master of none in every sense. The ideal scenario (if it were legal) would be three or even four sets of completely different tyres to best suit the very varied conditions that they are driven in.
Soft slicks for perfectly dry tarmac days.
Soft slightly grooved for tarmac loose/damp
Soft grooved for wet
studs & heavy knobles for snow & mud

The point is....where does the manufacturer pitch his 'All season tyre'....slightly more agressive tread pattern with a slightly softer compound will give better grip in the slippy loose stuff but will be noisier and wear out quicker.

A more minimalist pattern with a softer compound might be better on the dryer days but wears quickly and doesn't clear the water well when raining.
etc etc etc

When you say can anyone suggest better...BETTER FOR WHAT? the Vanco 2 is a very good ALL ROUND option but will be bettered by an M&S Michellin 'winter' tyre in the slippy stuff, just like it will be bettered by a Pirelli Summer tyre on a nice dry day on tarmac.

Perhaps the best compromise is a set of M&S tyres on a set of ratty steels for the winter...and a set of Continental/Pirelli/Michellin/Dunlop 'Summers' come the spring time.
Or just go for a compromise 'All Season' tyre of your choice.

Martin

[AdrianC]

Camskill are a good source for comparisons of what's available in any given size, since their website's really lowtech... They're also listing the ratings where they're available.

http://camskill.co.uk/m90b0s96p0/Van_Ty ... _14_185R14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So, yep, the Contis are a good blend, it seems. I'm happy with the set we got a couple of weeks back. They felt a little "squirelly" at first, but that soon seems to have disappeared.

[skippymoss]

Perhaps the best compromise is a set of M&S tyres on a set of ratty steels for the winter...and a set of Continental/Pirelli/Michellin/Dunlop 'Summers' come the spring time.
Or just go for a compromise 'All Season' tyre of your choice.

Martin

Our van is strictly a camping vehicle rather than a daily so probably doesn't get used as much in the winter.
Summer tyres here we come...?

[AdrianC]

Our van is strictly a camping vehicle rather than a daily so probably doesn't get used as much in the winter.
Summer tyres here we come...?

"Summer" tyres are what we in the UK buy 99% of the time. "All seasons" are pretty much unknown in the UK. A lot of cheap no-name teflon rubbish is M+S marked, but that's different - it just means there's a certain percentage of "open space" in the tread pattern. Proper "all season" and "winter" tyres are a different rubber compound.

[CovKid]

Solved. Simply rotate for required wheels.

[kevtherev]

simple explanatory site

http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-article/al ... mmer-tyres" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;