Hi Guys

I am the proud owner of a 2006 Ducato Maxi 2.3 JTD (not the new shape, Ducato II I think it's referred to).

It came with Continental Vanco tyres in 205/75 16. Two are still ok, two are knackered and need replacing ASAP.

I've been trying to find out what those were originally fitted with, when they came out of the factory, but I can't find that info. The logic was that they do such a lot of road testing prior to launch, that the OEM tyres might be the best bet for any particular model. By the same logic my father has always stuck with Michelin Agilis on his MB Vito since new, because they were considered the best for that particular model.

So I was wondering if the Vanco 2 (as they are now) are the way to go, or does anyone have any other suggestions found to be good on the Maxi?

Cheers!

Hi
There seemed to be 3 different OEM brands fitted to the 244 Ducato models (02-06)
Michelin XC camping
Continental Vanco
Firestone CV3000 ?
From my personal experience the pick of the lot was the Michelin XC which what were fitted to our 244 from new which we got over 70,000 Kilometers out of & would have got more if not for a wheel alignment problem. The XC Camping are no longer available being replaced by the Michelin Agilis.
The Firestone CV3000s I have not much feedback on but all reports say they are no way near as good as the XCs.
With the Vanco there is a lot of feedback - all bad, & these are being fitted to the X250 from new as well with reports that people are getting less than 20,000 Kilometers out of them (maybe without doing a rotation), there are various models of Vancos so maybe there are better mileage versions out now, but on reports from X250 owners alone I would not buy the Vancos, the Agilis being the pick & if I was buying a new X250 would demand it was fitted with the Michelin Agilis & would not have the Vancos.
Hope that helps
Cheers

FreeSpirit said:

OEM brands fitted to the 244 Ducato models (02-06) ... Firestone CV3000 ?
The Firestone CV3000s I have not much feedback on but all reports say they are no way near as good as the XCs.

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I have the CV3000 fitted and they are coming up to 70,000 km now (68,000). They have been excellent and continue to have plenty of tread left. I do have them all balanced and I rotate the tyres and I expect this helps get the best out of them.

Hi Peter
I thought I read on one of your posts that you had at least one blowout presumeably with the CV3000s ?? or did it have rubber valve stems fitted ? - why I don't know if that is the case - our 244 has the metal valve stems, as a friend has a Jayco 26' Tandum axle AL-KO chassis & is fitted with rubber stems as well maybe because they are alloy wheels??
I know of a couple of people that have had a blowout with their CV3000s even though they are load rated - 116 against the 113 of the XCs on the 244s. Maybe they were fitted with the rubber stems? Have also heard good mileage reports on Hankooks on Transits.
Cheers

FreeSpirit said:

With the Vanco there is a lot of feedback - all bad, & these are being fitted to the X250 from new as well with reports that people are getting less than 20,000 Kilometers out of them (maybe without doing a rotation), there are various models of Vancos so maybe there are better mileage versions out now, but on reports from X250 owners alone I would not buy the Vancos, the Agilis being the pick & if I was buying a new X250 would demand it was fitted with the Michelin Agilis & would not have the Vancos.
Hope that helps
Cheers

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Interesting though, I've heard nothing but good feedback about the Vancos over here (in Finland). For example, a local company running small buses that insists on them for all their vehicles, won't have anything else, siting mileage and economy. Also my Fiat freak friend (also my mechanic, which is partly why I bought a Ducato!) who has nothing but Fiat/Lancia/Ferrari/Iveco in his stable. He also has a Ducato 2.3 (not Maxi), which he's had since new. According to him and his circle of people, which includes people who do a lot of mileage, Continentals on the whole go on longer than Finnish Nokian tyres, at least in winter tyres. He also favours them in summer tyres. For my friend this is a particularly big thing to admit, because in anything he buys (vehicles, bicycles, clothes, anything!) it's either Italian or Finnish, so to favour another company over Nokian is saying something!

Regarding the mileage one can expect from Vancos, one tyre guy reckoned 40-50,000 km depending on driving style. He's the guy who supplies the aforementioned minibus company, and was of course trying to sell me some tyres... I'm assuming mine might be the original tyres. The van had done 79,000km when I bought it recently, and it's on winter tyres at the moment. So some of those 79k have been on studded winter tyres, not half the time but realistically min. 3 months a year (legal requirement), up to 5 months a year depending on the weather conditions. And two of the Vancos need replacing. So if they are originals, they've done fairly well, probably over 40,000km. On the other hand, for all I know they could be the third set on that van

While we're on the subject and if anyone is interested, what are your views on which end you should have your better tyres? I've heard both - front end, that's where your drive and steering is, but also some say that back end, because you can't control it like you can the front so you really don't want to lose the back end. When I buy a pair, I have to decide where the new ones go!

I understand that if you have a motorhome then you MUST use Camping rated tyres (though the Michelins are no longer marked "Camping") because of the special side-wall construction.

BarrieAvis said:

I understand that if you have a motorhome then you MUST use Camping rated tyres (though the Michelins are no longer marked "Camping") because of the special side-wall construction.

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Yes, I've heard that too, that they're reinforced due to the fact that motorhomes tend to stand for long periods. In my case we're talking normal panel van in regular use, so that doesn't apply to me

FreeSpirit said:

I thought I read on one of your posts that you had at least one blowout presumeably with the CV3000s ?? or did it have rubber valve stems fitted ? -

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Rubber valve stems. Three have failed, one causing a spectacular blowout due to overheating of the tyre. I mentioned this here some time ago and was told that the valve stems fitted to some Ducatos around 2006 were bad.

Can't blame the tyres for the valve stems.

I will consider Hanooks when I change tyres soon - they are getting old.

BTW my tyres are 215/75R16C. I am told that 225/75R16C would fit the rims, give me higher load rating, and more choice in brands and treads. Has anyone here made such a change?

PeterM said:

I have the CV3000 fitted and they are coming up to 70,000 km now (68,000). They have been excellent and continue to have plenty of tread left.

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Well, now 95,000 km on the Firestone CV3000 tyres and soon time to replace. No sign of ozone deterioration. Another valve stem failed. I lost track of which were the good ones and whether there was still an old one left.

Any recommendations for a reasonable cost brand of tyre to fit the 244?

Regarding the valve stems; both my last two vans (230 & 244) had metal valve stems which are fixed in place by a threaded nut. I don't know though whether these were original fittings or were after market additions.

I believe these should be fitted if the tyre runs above a certain pressure(70-75 PSI?)

Crossingkeeper said:

both my last two vans (230 & 244) had metal valve stems which are fixed in place by a threaded nut.

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Thanks for the reply.

I asked the tyre people I trust, today. They said they prefer rubber - the threaded nut for the metal ones supposedly works loose.

You can get high pressure rubber ones, I fitted these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-X-HIGH-...tyres_trims_Valve_Caps_ET&hash=item3cd097cc17

I also see these now:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGH-PRES...CommercialVehicleParts_SM&hash=item338672dc2b

Thanks. Great to know.

At 39000 miles I changed the front VANCO tyres not because they had worn but due to age. When the fitter started to fix rubber valves I said prefer steel ones, which at the time they had non in stock so put the old ones back with new innards. There are two types of VANCO tyres available they have different load ratings.