To change tyres or not...

[Jonny]

Just to throw an idea out there @Polzeylad. I run Contivans all round. I've hit 15000 miles in 5 months with constant towing and heavy loads. Just checked my depths and still have over 5mm on the fronts and 8mm on the rear. These seem to be the best I have had so far.

 

[Montecha]

Which Nokians did you have?

Z-Line

 

[former member]

I'm having a bit of a rant at VW on FB - two replies so far.
No issues with the tyre wear but they are churning out vans with totally incorrect alignment that causes premature wear, we have to pay.

 

[ZipcodeUK]

I've got 11k out of the kumho tyres that came with my van from new. Fronts are down to the wear indicators and the rears have 3-4mm left.
I've bought four new uniroyal rainsports to replace but can't decide if I should just replace the fronts and then replace the rears in a few months, or go with four new tires on at the same time.

 

[former member]

I always match tyres - doesn't have to be exact but at least the same type (Summers, Winters, All weathers) otherwise front and rear end grip will be too different and could lead more easily to a spin if you skid.

Plus if you don't replace them all, you always have uneven wear. More relevant with 4WD but still applies to FWD and RWD.

 

[T6 Dave]

4wd, you need to try and keep same depth on the axle, as otherwise can cause diff problems in the long run, this also goes for transfer box, I.e don't run nearly bald and new together...

 

[former member]

4wd, you need to try and keep same depth on the axle, as otherwise can cause diff problems in the long run, this also goes for transfer box, I.e don't run nearly bald and new together...

Only really with a centre mechanical diff (which our Subaru has but a 4Motion van doesn't); The Haldex AWD on 4Motion is never fully FWD as it used to be (at least 10% goes to the rear) but it's still heavily front biased and electronically controlled.

 

[chriscroft]

Z-Line

ah, the Zlines are 3db more noisy than the Nokian Weatherproofs I have, which seem to be pretty quiet. It looks like the Nokians are going to do 30k miles (and that will still be 3mm left); we'll have to wait and see.

 

[former member]

ah, the Zlines are 3db more noisy than the Nokian Weatherproofs I have, which seem to be pretty quiet. It looks like the Nokians are going to do 30k miles (and that will still be 3mm left); we'll have to wait and see.

I did ask about them but no one had any available!

I'm looking forward to having more purposeful tyres; these poncy sports tyres are just wrong on a van.

 

[chriscroft]

Had my 4 wheel alignment carried out a couple of months ago (first time), no real signs of uneven wearing, but was passing by and had a spare 1/2 an hour.
the toe was adjusted on the front right, but he couldn't do much with front caster (can't recall why).
So I guess mine wasn't too far out from new.

 

[YESBOY]

Just to throw an idea out there @Polzeylad. I run Contivans all round. I've hit 15000 miles in 5 months with constant towing and heavy loads. Just checked my depths and still have over 5mm on the fronts and 8mm on the rear. These seem to be the best I have had so far.

Ha
Do you only drive in straight lines
4K down and my two front conti tyres look well worn already 255/45/18 !!!

 

[Jonny]

Ha
Do you only drive in straight lines
4K down and my two front conti tyres look well worn already 255/45/18 !!!

That's a poor result! I'm off road, country lanes, motorways...the lot.

 

[former member]

They're on, I'm £710 lighter, tracking/alignment was all over the place (now sorted), I think they look COOL



Proper 4wd van tyres.
No increase in noise that I can notice, handling is fine. Ideal.

 

[ei-aprilia]

They're on, I'm £710 lighter, tracking/alignment was all over the place (now sorted), I think they look COOL

View attachment 10700

Proper 4wd van tyres.
No increase in noise that I can notice, handling is fine. Ideal.

You won't be disappointed with those Polzeylad. My 4motion Kombi came with those from new, now done 23000 miles and have 4mm on the rear 3mm on the front. Over winter in the snow and ice they were brilliant, we had some pretty heavy snow to deal with at times too. My van is laden with tools and materials so probably similar weight to your Cali if not heavier. I'll be fitting a fresh set come winter. I ran Nokians on my 5.1 and only got 15,000 out of them .

Ian

 

[former member]

You won't be disappointed with those Polzeylad. My 4motion Kombi came with those from new, now done 23000 miles and have 4mm on the rear 3mm on the front. Over winter in the snow and ice they were brilliant, we had some pretty heavy snow to deal with at times too. My van is laden with tools and materials so probably similar weight to your Cali if not heavier. I'll be fitting a fresh set come winter. I ran Nokians on my 5.1 and only got 15,000 out of them .

Ian

That's great to hear; thanks Ian!

 

[chriscroft]

You won't be disappointed with those Polzeylad. My 4motion Kombi came with those from new, now done 23000 miles and have 4mm on the rear 3mm on the front. Over winter in the snow and ice they were brilliant, we had some pretty heavy snow to deal with at times too. My van is laden with tools and materials so probably similar weight to your Cali if not heavier. I'll be fitting a fresh set come winter. I ran Nokians on my 5.1 and only got 15,000 out of them .

Ian

Which Nokians, I'm at 16k on mine and hardly touched?

 

[chriscroft]

One issue I had with an All terrain tyre (General Grabber AT), it started of very quiet for an AT, but as the tyre wore the noise level increased, to the point that I had to swap them with 5mm of tread still left.

 

[former member]

One issue I had with an All terrain tyre (General Grabber AT), it started of very quiet for an AT, but as the tyre wore the noise level increased, to the point that I had to swap them with 5mm of tread still left.

GGs are quite full on though; more of an outright 4x4 tyre than an All Season car/van tyre.

 

[chriscroft]

GGs are quite full on though; more of an outright 4x4 tyre than an All Season car/van tyre.

certainly more aggressive than an all-season; all-weather tyre

 

[chriscroft]

They're on, I'm £710 lighter, tracking/alignment was all over the place (now sorted), I think they look COOL

View attachment 10700

Proper 4wd van tyres.
No increase in noise that I can notice, handling is fine. Ideal.

The tread really does look like it will perform in all weathers - all terrains; and certainly make a 4mo. look like it is ready for action