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Technical Replacement 4x4 TA tyres

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Technical Replacement 4x4 TA tyres

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babbo_umbro

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My 4x4 TA has clocked up 39000 miles in exactly three years. Tyre wear is exceptionally low as there's ample tread on all four wheels but I expect to change them in the autumn when we come back from our twice-yearly stay in Italy. I have nothing against the Continental Crosscontacts but wondered if anyone has experience of a similarly-specced alternative.
 
The usual go-to as an alternative is the Goodyear Vector 4 season Gen2, as they're the stock tyres on the Cross. They've also been consistently good in tests, but if you want a more summer and road oriented tyre that will also get you through a light winter, people are raving about the Michelin Crossclimate.
 
oyumurtaci said:
The usual go-to as an alternative is the Goodyear Vector 4 season Gen2, as they're the stock tyres on the Cross. They've also been consistently good in tests, but if you want a more summer and road oriented tyre that will also get you through a light winter, people are raving about the Michelin Crossclimate.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. As you say, the Goodyear gets good test reviews so I may go for that. An alternative is the Vredestein Quatrac 5, which also gets good write-ups though it's an older design, and I've been very happy with Vredesteins in the past.
 
The Pretender said:
I still wonder why the Panda 4x4 and trekking for that matter have 175/65R15" tires and the normal Panda 185/55R15" tires. ??
How is the speedo compensated with a 4.11% bigger tire. ??
Click to expand...
If you do the maths, any car's tyres 'shrink' as the tyres wear. The tread is 8mm deep when new, min 1.6mm when worn out - that's 12.8mm difference in the diameter over the life of the tyres, for which the speedo doesn't compensate... the move from 175 to 185mm width alters the diameter by less than that (only just less - 12mm exactly on a new 15" tyre)

The TA and 4x4 have 'full winter' tyres. The Cross has 'all season' -- maybe slightly less good in winter but probably a better bet overall. The Goodyears are reportedly good. But the best (in tests) all season tyre is reportedly the new Michelin CrossCliimate. This is prob what I'll be using on my 4x4 but is only available as 185/65 15 - they don't do a 175mm wide version

Pete
 
The Goodyears are great - grippy, quiet, and they look to be wearing well - although tbf I've not had much of a chance to test them in snow yet :(
 
Herts Hillhopper said:
If you do the maths, any car's tyres 'shrink' as the tyres wear. The tread is 8mm deep when new, min 1.6mm when worn out - that's 12.8mm difference in the diameter over the life of the tyres, for which the speedo doesn't compensate... the move from 175 to 185mm width alters the diameter by less than that (only just less - 12mm exactly on a new 15" tyre)

The TA and 4x4 have 'full winter' tyres. The Cross has 'all season' -- maybe slightly less good in winter but probably a better bet overall. The Goodyears are reportedly good. But the best (in tests) all season tyre is reportedly the new Michelin CrossCliimate. This is prob what I'll be using on my 4x4 but is only available as 185/65 15 - they don't do a 175mm wide version

Pete
Click to expand...

I make the difference of diameter 13mm - 2x10mmx65% - but that's splitting hairs. I assume there would be no clearance problems on the normal 4x4 as the Cross presumably doesn't have any mods under the skin from the suspension/steering viewpoint - so the Michelin sounds like a good compromise. I'll see if the local dealer has a Cross demo car to try.
 
babbo_umbro said:
I make the difference of diameter 13mm - 2x10mmx65% - but that's splitting hairs. I assume there would be no clearance problems on the normal 4x4 as the Cross presumably doesn't have any mods under the skin from the suspension/steering viewpoint - so the Michelin sounds like a good compromise. I'll see if the local dealer has a Cross demo car to try.
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The maths came from here: http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html
So far as I know there is no difference to any mechanical components, at least where the wheel are concerned, between the Cross and 4x4
 
Herts Hillhopper said:
If you do the maths, any car's tyres 'shrink' as the tyres wear. The tread is 8mm deep when new, min 1.6mm when worn out - that's 12.8mm difference in the diameter over the life of the tyres, for which the speedo doesn't compensate... the move from 175 to 185mm width alters the diameter by less than that (only just less - 12mm exactly on a new 15" tyre)...
Click to expand...
Just realised I mis-read The Pretender's post, where the reference was to 185/55 x 15 tyres on standard Panda (I read, I you probably realised, as being between 175/65 15 on 4x4 and 185/65 on Cross). I guess there is some degree of recalibration for the off-road cars, which I assume can be done via programming since the speedo and distance recorder are both electronic.
 
Since we're on the subject, I've also been contemplating purchasing a set of Crossclimates in 185 width (as like you said, they don't make a 175), but haven't as the tread on the Contis that came with the car are still very deep (the car still only has 16700km on the clock, despite being a 2012 model). What is worrying me is the age of the tyre. While there's no visible cracking or anything and they still have lots of tread depth, their age is concerning me. On the other hand, I don't want to spend so much on a new set when these still have so much tread on them...

What would forumites do under these circumstances?
 
At that age they should still be fine. Just keep an eye out for any signs of perishing, cracking etc. The Michelins on my Barchetta are twice that age, and still fine.
 
Does anyone have a Cross with a spacesaver spare? Is it the same size as the 4x4's? The handbook for the 4x4 states that the electrickery can cope with the size difference when you use a spacesaver with the 175 section tyres but the 185 would call for a bit more compensation.
 
babbo_umbro said:
Does anyone have a Cross with a spacesaver spare? Is it the same size as the 4x4's? The handbook for the 4x4 states that the electrickery can cope with the size difference when you use a spacesaver with the 175 section tyres but the 185 would call for a bit more compensation.
Click to expand...

I suspect that the electronic 'compensation' simply detects a change in rolling radius on one corner and then knows not to lock the diffs or fiddle with the brakes in the way that it would normally. I doubt that the size of that difference has the slightest impact.

FWIW, I will change to the 185/65 Goodyear 4Seasons Vector G2's when my original CrossContactWinters run out, as they are very well reviewed indeed. I had the Gen-1's on my previous 169-model 4x4 when I sold it and they were outstanding.
 
R1NGA said:
I suspect that the electronic 'compensation' simply detects a change in rolling radius on one corner and then knows not to lock the diffs or fiddle with the brakes in the way that it would normally. I doubt that the size of that difference has the slightest impact.

FWIW, I will change to the 185/65 Goodyear 4Seasons Vector G2's when my original CrossContactWinters run out, as they are very well reviewed indeed. I had the Gen-1's on my previous 169-model 4x4 when I sold it and they were outstanding.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you're right, I could just see a diff overheating or something like that. I think I'll also go for the Goodyears or perhaps Vredesteins as these are available in the original section.
 
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