2019 TYRE REVIEWS: VAN TYRES TESTED BY ADAC AND TCS

The ADAC in partnership with Touring Club Suisse has tested and compared 16 van tyres in the size 215/65 R16 C. The results fall short of expectations.

16 van tyres tested

Accustomed to passenger car tyre tests, for the first time in its history ADAC has tested tyres for vans. The Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC) selected 16 summer tyres developed for vans and light-trucks in the size 215/65 R16 C, suitable for vehicles such as the Ford Transit, Volkswagen T5 or T6, Renault Master or Traffic, Opel Movano or Vivaro, Nissan Interstar or Primastar and the Iveco Daily IV or V:

• Apollo Altrust
• Continental ContiVanContact 200
• Falken Linam Van01
• Fulda Conveo Tour 2
• Goodyear EfficientGrip Cargo
• Hankook Vantra LT
• Kleber Transpro
• Kumho PorTran KC53
• Maxxis Vansmart MCV3+
• Michelin Agilis+
• Nexen Rodian CT8
• Nokian cLine
• Pirelli Carrier
• Sava Trenta 2
• Semperit Van-Life 2
• Uniroyal RainMax3

The test categories were the same as those summer tyres for passenger cars were subjected to: dry roads, wet roads, comfort, fuel consumption, wear and high speed. The first two categories count for 60% of the final score.

The majority of tyres are not recommended

The ADAC and Touring Club Suisse rating method is such that tyres that show weaknesses on wet roads are automatically downgraded. And for this first van tyre review, the rating criteria gave these tyres a hard time. Tyres for utility vehicles are mainly developed with longevity in mind, so that can be used for a longer period of time. This specific characteristic means that tyre manufacturers must make concessions, especially with regard to the tyre’s performance on wet roads. All the tyres tested, with no exception, were downgraded due to this requirement. Nine tyres even obtained the “not recommended” rating.

Sava, Fulda and Michelin van tyres offer a mileage between 65,000 to 80,000 kilometres, a considerable advantage but their performance is very weak on wet roads. Even if they offer quite a high level of performance on dry roads, it is not enough to make up for their shortcomings.

Other tyres such as the Kleber Transpro or the Semperit Van-Life 2 have a lower mileage potential than their competitors and have lower safety reserves on dry and wet roads. 

If the Nexen Roadian CT8 and Hankook Vantra LT do not offer a high mileage potential and are quite weak on wet roads, they deliver good performance on dry roads.

The Falken Linam Van01 and Uniroyal RainMax 3 tyres offer a better balance with good longevity but their performance on wet roads is just not enough for them to be recommended by ADAC and TCS.

Looking for balance?

The Kumho Portran KC53 offers a slightly better performance balance. But it is unable to confirm its performance on wet roads; this is why it is simply “recommended with reservation”. The same applies to the Maxxis Vansmart MCV3+ which demonstrates its prowess in tests on dry roads and for wear.

Finally, TCS and ADAC give the “recommended” rating to five tyres. But the drivers associations still warn against their average performance on wet roads. 

The Continental ContiVanContact 200 is quite well balanced and is one of the best on wet roads. Its good wear and low fuel consumption are at the expense of its efficiency on dry roads. Slightly more efficient on this surface, the Nokian cLine delivers the same type of performance but has a longevity of 30,000 kilometres. A drawback that the Pirelli Carrier does not have since it promises 50,000 kilometres and good levels of performance. 

The Goodyear EfficientGrip Cargo is quite similar to the Pirelli Carrier with a slightly higher level of performance, particularly on dry roads. Above all, it announces a mileage potential of 60,000 kilometres.

According to ADAC and TCS, the best tyre for vans is the Apollo Altrust. It obtains the best score on dry roads and on wet roads with wear just slightly higher than the others.

Standard tyres for vans?

The ADAC and TCS review insists on safety, particularly on wet roads. This is why a standard summer tyre was subjected to the braking test to compare it with the other “van” tyres. Where the Apollo Altrust, which is the best in the category, takes 47 metres to stop, the braking distance for the summer tyre is almost 10 metres shorter.

This is why the drivers associations recommend in certain cases to compare a van tyre with passenger car tyres (in the size approved by the vehicle manufacturer) in order to improve wet performances.

Do you know the different tyre types?