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Tyres for T6 Beach (18 plate)

G

GeorgeandAnne

VIP Member
Messages
50
Location
East Midlands
Vehicle
T6 Beach 150
Which tyres are the best to replace the original set on a T6 Beach, in your opinions?

They are currently 215/65R16 106/104T

So far, I have the quotes below, but I’m seeing talk on here of some Michelins as well. (Bridgestones look to be a bad idea).

If the difference is huge, we’ll pay for whichever, but I’m keen not to waste money fitting tyres that might actually reduce my enjoyment. Van is used all year round, mostly on roads and grass/gravel parking areas. No European winter motoring as yet. Winter Peak District this year hopefully.

So far, we’ve had quotes for Hankook (£646.67), Bridgestone (£783.91), and Goodyear (£740.71). And Sumitomo (£480) and Falken (£560).

This is for all 4 tyres and incl tracking and balancing for the first 3 (which are at Kwikfit).

They’re all coming to the end of their lifetimes and we haven’t got the time to traipse back and forth to the tyre fitters as each one goes below legal depth, or gets yet another puncture.

We’d be so grateful for some help and insight.


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Last edited:
GeorgeandAnne said:
Which tyres are the best to replace the original set on a T6 Beach, in your opinions?

If the difference is huge, we’ll pay for whichever, but I’m keen not to waste money fitting tyres that might actually reduce my enjoyment. Van is used all year round, mostly on roads and grass/gravel parking areas.

So far, we’ve had quotes for Hankook (£646.67), Bridgestone (£783.91), and Goodyear (£740.71). And Sumitomo (£480) and Falken (£560).

This is for all 4 tyres and incl tracking and balancing for the first 3 (which are at Kwikfit).

They’re all coming to the end of their lifetimes and we haven’t got the time to traipse back and forth to the tyre fitters as each one goes below legal depth, or gets yet another puncture.

We’d be so grateful for some help and insight.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Firstly, you don't say which size/make tyres you have at present.
Many Forum members fit all season tyres for all year round use. The favoured makes are Michelin Cross climate or Goodyear 4 seasons.
VW recommended sizes are on a sticker on the Drivers door B pillar.
215 width tyres run at a higher pressure than 235 and can give a harsher ride.
The major requirements when you have decided on make and size for your wheels is that they should have a minimum Load Rating of 103 or greater and a minimum speed rating of H or above.
I have run 235 x 55 x 17 x 103 x H tyres for the last 8 yrs and 120,000 miles , Goodyear 4 seasons initially and Michelin Crossclimate for the last 3 sets. I'll be sticking with Michelin.
 
WelshGas said:
Firstly, you don't say which size/make tyres you have at present.
Many Forum members fit all season tyres for all year round use. The favoured makes are Michelin Cross climate or Goodyear 4 seasons.
VW recommended sizes are on a sticker on the Drivers door B pillar.
215 width tyres run at a higher pressure than 235 and can give a harsher ride.
The major requirements when you have decided on make and size for your wheels is that they should have a minimum Load Rating of 103 or greater and a minimum speed rating of H or above.
I have run 235 x 55 x 17 x 103 x H tyres for the last 8 yrs and 120,000 miles , Goodyear 4 seasons initially and Michelin Crossclimate for the last 3 sets. I'll be sticking with Michelin.
Click to expand...

Just realised I was short on detail. I’m just going to adjust.. Thanks for pointing it out.


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WelshGas said:
Firstly, you don't say which size/make tyres you have at present.
Many Forum members fit all season tyres for all year round use. The favoured makes are Michelin Cross climate or Goodyear 4 seasons.
VW recommended sizes are on a sticker on the Drivers door B pillar.
215 width tyres run at a higher pressure than 235 and can give a harsher ride.
The major requirements when you have decided on make and size for your wheels is that they should have a minimum Load Rating of 103 or greater and a minimum speed rating of H or above.
I have run 235 x 55 x 17 x 103 x H tyres for the last 8 yrs and 120,000 miles , Goodyear 4 seasons initially and Michelin Crossclimate for the last 3 sets. I'll be sticking with Michelin.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much. This is an incredibly useful reply. I’m very grateful. This is my first ever luxury car, and I’ve become keenly aware of how crucial the upkeep aspects are.


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Absolutely, buy a set of delivery miles wheels / tyres instead for less than 4 new tyres. The 16 inch ones go for peanuts.
 
GeorgeandAnne said:
Thank you so much. This is an incredibly useful reply. I’m very grateful. This is my first ever luxury car, and I’ve become keenly aware of how crucial the upkeep aspects are.


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Click to expand...
Your present tyres are more van related than Campervan/SUV . 235 wide, as detailed on the tyre size sticker will give a more comfortable experience, but both will do the job.
VW fit both sizes and it's the luck of the draw which you get, unless you select the option of All Season tyres. .
 
A good bench Mark website is Black Circles etc , you can either choose to have them fitted locally or delivery only.
if you use Black Circles as a guide you should be able to negotiate a better deal via any other supplier / fitter.
 
I've only ever had 235/55 tyres on my Beach and like @WelshGas said, they seem to be the preferred 17" choice for Cali owners over 215/65. FYI the vast majority Davenports on EBay come with 215/65 tyres.
 
We have Michelin Agilis Cross Climates and are very happy. Others like the straight Cross Climates. As Welsh Gas says make sure the load and speed ratings are appropriate. Michelin have been having a £100 off promotion - it might still be running.
 
Have you tried Uniroyal Rainsports? I've run them for several years, on my beach and car, never had any problems and they seem to last a reasonable mileage.
I did have a brief run with bridgestone all seasons, on my car, wouldn't recommend them for car or van.
 
RoB5urf said:
I've only ever had 235/55 tyres on my Beach and like @WelshGas said, they seem to be the preferred 17" choice for Cali owners over 215/65. FYI the vast majority Davenports on EBay come with 215/65 tyres.
Click to expand...
I was in the same position as the OP. Our Beach cam with 16 inch wheels, but I actually managed to buy a brand new set of Devonports with 235 tyres from the classifieds on here for £500. They even had the centre caps still in the plastic bag. A set of four new wheels for less than the price of new tyres… and the van looks a whole lot nicer with them :)
 
GeorgeandAnne said:
Which tyres are the best to replace the original set on a T6 Beach, in your opinions?

They are currently 215/65R16 106/104T
Click to expand...
I would narrow down your options to:
1. Replace tyres with Michelin Agilis Crossclimate. These have been recommended by a few on this thread.
2. Purchase a new set of Devonport wheels off here or eBay, which should set you back about £450-550. People often have these fitted to new vans and then swap them out for larger wheels. As one person commented they may come with the narrower 215 tyres, but you can use them and replace with 235s at a later date once worn out.

I was in your position with 16 inch wheels. A set of new Devonports came up on here and I swapped them out. I recently replaced the fronts with Michelin Crossclimate 2 tyres, which I think are excellent.
 
Could someone please confirm, am I right in assuming it is ok to swap my original (2008 vintage) wheels including 215 65 R 16 tyres for Davenport wheels with 235 55 R17 tyres?
 
pete&gill said:
Could someone please confirm, am I right in assuming it is ok to swap my original (2008 vintage) wheels including 215 65 R 16 tyres for Davenport wheels with 235 55 R17 tyres?
Click to expand...
Yes
 
Thank you everyone for your comments and insights. It was incredibly useful to have multiple points of view.

Due to the urgency of really bad wear on one of the tyres in particular, and not wanting to ground the van as we really want to use it at the moment, we opted for replacement tyres for our existing 16" wheels with 215s, but we'll definitely look at the 17" Devonport option in future, as that sounds interesting.

Thanks also for the tip about using Black Circles. Our preferred fitter was registered with Black Circles, so we went for the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate with them and headed out to the Lincolnshire Wolds and the seaside this weekend. The ride and grip, especially on the corners, seemed really good. :thumb
 
GeorgeandAnne said:
Thank you everyone for your comments and insights. It was incredibly useful to have multiple points of view.

Due to the urgency of really bad wear on one of the tyres in particular, and not wanting to ground the van as we really want to use it at the moment, we opted for replacement tyres for our existing 16" wheels with 215s, but we'll definitely look at the 17" Devonport option in future, as that sounds interesting.

Thanks also for the tip about using Black Circles. Our preferred fitter was registered with Black Circles, so we went for the Michelin Agilis CrossClimate with them and headed out to the Lincolnshire Wolds and the seaside this weekend. The ride and grip, especially on the corners, seemed really good. :thumb
Click to expand...
It's Davenport not Devonport which can make a difference if searching online.

I got mine from Blackcircles and the Garage Guy was muttering about only getting £10 per tyre to cover fitting. Blackcircles had the profit on the tyres.
 
Nope, it’s definitely Devonport. Check the configurator..

IMG_2550.jpeg
 
Kayleigh said:
Nope, it’s definitely Devonport. Check the configurator..

View attachment 109679
Click to expand...
Yes as you say but sure that was Davenport at one point but they get advertised as every permutation.

Devonport, Devenport, Devanport, Davenport etc.

Virtually none with 235 tyres now only 215's
 
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