Replacement BridgeStone R410 Tyres

[Yarrara]

Hi,

The front factory tyres on my 2011 Multivan have worn after only 27k's of driving...which is disappointing. Called the service centre (who noticed the worn tyres at the first service and charged me for a wheel alignment) and they said that a bump could have done it and it would be considered part of normal wear and tear rather than a fault with the car.

....and so I am hunting for new tyres. Current tyres are Bridgestone R410's. Apparently they are now superceded by the R411. Would anyone recommend getting basically the same tyre or should I get another brand?. The guy at my local Tyre centre said that they manufacturers put in a fair amount of effort in choosing the correct tyre for their cars and so going with the same brand would be recommended.

Anyone got any advise? Is this sort of wear normal? Should I stick with/stay away from the R411's?

Thanks in advance.

Yarrara

[IN2VWS]

If the manufacturers put so much effort into choosing a tyre, why are there so many different brands on the same new vans?
Mine is a 2011 also, and it came with the Michelins, I have also seen Hancook Continentals and Dunlops on the new vans.

[Transporter]

Look in these 2 threads

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f136/215-65-r16-c-106-104-t-tyres-multivan-50882.html

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f136/t5-tyres-17-what-available-oz-50838.html

My next tyres will be Maxxis MAP1 and I will never buy GoodYear Cargo Vector 215/60R/17c, they're just noisy and the most uncomfortable tyres I've ever had.

[SnowMotion]

It is pretty normal for the tires on these vans to wear quickly. Our tire guy recommended checking tire pressures weekly (should be run up to 48psi and certainly at least 44psi, Transporter Crew Van). Also rotating the tires monthly helps the wear.
I have managed to get 35K out of the factory supplied tires (Dunlop) although the outside shoulders wear quickly, thus the higher tire pressures to reduce this.

[Sunny43.5]

I still have my brand new wheels and tyres from our new van for sale but they are 205/65 R16C Hankook,s .not quite 215's I am afraid.

[Transporter]

It is pretty normal for the tires on these vans to wear quickly. Our tire guy recommended checking tire pressures weekly (should be run up to 48psi and certainly at least 44psi, Transporter Crew Van). Also rotating the tires monthly helps the wear.
I have managed to get 35K out of the factory supplied tires (Dunlop) although the outside shoulders wear quickly, thus the higher tire pressures to reduce this.

I got around 35,000km from the original Michelin Pilot Premacy and +40,000km from the Hankook RA23 tyres pumped to 51PSI and rotated every 5,000km. But, I couldn't get more than 20,000km from the last Kumho they were just disappearing infront of my eyes.

[Diesel_vert]

The guy at my local Tyre centre said that they manufacturers put in a fair amount of effort in choosing the correct tyre for their cars...

That is certainly true. The evaluation process is a minefield for engineers who are tasked with balancing the requirements of performance, safety, cost, etc, so getting the desired compromise isn't easy.

... and so going with the same brand would be recommended.

Having said that, tyres are in a constant state of development. Newly designed tyres often incorporate simultaneous improvements on numerous fronts, which often exceed the benchmark requirements of an older tyre (no matter how advanced it was at the time).

Should I stick with/stay away from the R411's?

If there are better options on the market, there is definitely no reason to stick with OE tyres.

[bobf]

agree with transporter that the GY cargo vectors are noisy and rough, but they are tough. Driving a camper van 2800 kg loaded, over the Birdsville, Strezleki and Savannah Way they really stood up - not a chip or cut anywhere, and 30% wear at 20k. Run them at 45psi on the black top and 34 on the rough stuff.

[4wheels]

Hard to understand all you guys chewing up tyres. Are you all FWD? Maybe the 4Motion helps, but I had 70K+ out of my original Miche's, and am 35K into my Bridgestone AT's (?693) with only about 1/2 wear showing. Both mainly on bitumen, but including some substantial 'off-road' trips like Cape York. It's a Trakka camper, so similar weight to bobf, and I run the maximum pressure on the sidewall (55psi, I think), but reduce it for any extensive dirt road work. There's a lot of country cruising on the Cruise control in that (at the posted speed limits, who can afford to ignore them these days) but I usually go pretty hard in the windy bits.

Brian R

[Transporter]

Yours is most likely on 16" wheels. Also country driving and city driving where there many roundaboiuts takes its tall as well.

[Sunny43.5]

I would agree with Transporter here in S E Qld there are roundabouts in plague proportions and lots of twisty hills in the city and country etc so we find around 40.000 is the best we have achieved . But with an end explanation I am continuosly forgetful when it comes to rotation , so I am sure we could do better !!

[Sharkie]

Well on our FWD 2011 Multivan I did not even get to 25000km on the OEM Dunlops ...... I'm pedantic, so always the correct pressure as well. Was very dissapointed to say the least.

Driving mix as 10000km highway and 15000km city commute.

Replaced with new Bridgestones which apparently (according the tyre smooching salesman) will have a much longer life ......

[IN2VWS]

I got 60,000km from the original Michelin Agilis tyres.
Currently, went cheap and I am running the Nankang tyres.

[Sunny43.5]

Yeah also ran the Nankangs for a few years until two delaminated but the importers replaced them with brand newies even after they had about 30.000 on them . I had no problems with them other than that incident , last time I tried to buy them again they were out of stock in Aus and I went with Hankooks pretty good so far I'll keep tabs as they were fitted on the new van at only 600kays .