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I often have to park my Berlingo just through field gateways, I'm after new tyres now, are there any sorts that are better in mud? I'm guessing all seasons, but anything to look out for specifically for mud? I'm down south and we don't really get any snow where I live.
Thanks
SNow is irrelevent really all season tyres are still vastly superior to regular compound straight grooved tires in soft ground conditions with the added bonus of being a generally better tyre 7-8 months of the year in the uk conditions.
I would assume that all-terrain tyres would be better than all-season (if available in the correct size). However, there would be a significant handling and sound penalty – but, assuming your vehicle is front-wheel drive, the benefit wouldn't be that great anyway (the tyres on the two non-drive wheels would have no benefit). I'd just speak to my local independent tyre fitter for advice on the best all-season set-up for the circumstances.
Do you have a compressor and tyre deflator? Might be easier to just drop a few psi if/when you're on mud? Is it that often? Cheaper than a full set of new tyres. My exp of AT's is yeah, bit noisier (brand depending). You'll also lose a bit of traction when the roads are wet/greasy compared to "standard" car tyres. I don't think the juice is worth the squeeze. Not for just driving a few metres into a field.
all terrains have downsides in warm wet weather grip far in excess of those experienced by all seasons.
yes they are better in mud - are they ideal for a mostly road going vehicle - no.
Deflating tires only works to an extent if your starting with a tyre that has only straight treads and minimal siping - its not going to grip you'll just have a flatter tyre spinning in the mud
but, assuming your vehicle is front-wheel drive, the benefit wouldn't be that great anyway
The bennifit on the drive axles is massive ..... ive got all terrains on our camper and with the old conti van contacts the thing got stuck on our driveway ( grass)
with proper M+S(not all are) All terrains - its happy in fields/ditches/forrestry tracks and gets off the drive..
but 75% of the benifits with minimal downsides could be had with all seasons and just not driving into the worst fields.
Thanks for the replies
Yeah I usually avoid the really muddy fields, or if it's been mega wet. Just sometimes I get into the field and have been stuck by a slight muddy undulation on the ground. I'd park on the road if I could, but most of the fields have no space and I need to leave the gateway clear for other machinery access. My Berlingo did come with mud and snow tyres, the old spare is a Michelin latitude tour, but I wasn't using it in fields until after they wore out. It also has some traction control dial for mud, sand and snow settings.
I'll probably try some all seasons, the cross climates and hankook kinergy seem to have wider tread block spacing and less of the fine snow sipes cut into them, would these be a better option in the all season range?
It also has some traction control dial for mud, sand and snow settings.
is it a berlingo trek with the LSD ? if not the best thing to do with the TC is turn it off. (i have a berlingo also ... and the TC is shocking - its like its designed to get you stuck) - just cuts power on the spinning wheel - till the other spins up then cuts that too... till you lose all momentum.
Redneck difflock FTW
my conti cross climates do quite well in mud i found. that's on a fwd Volvo V90
Buy some traction boards for the odd time you actually get stuck?
I've got some Avon AX7s on my Vitara - they are way better than the Conti road tyres it came with for any venturing off-road, plus the occasional snow and ice we get here. They have additional puncture protection so manage the occasional fire road jaunt too. Slightly noisier on the road, but still handle quite well on tarmac.
I put the de-rigueur STW answer of Michelin Cross Climates onto my AWD Ford Kuga about a year or so ago, exactly for this sort of thing (parking on muddy verges up small.lanes, or in fields at events etc where a waterlogged field usually means caeage and 3 hours stuck waiting for the T6 five cars in front to be hauled out by a farmer in a tractor.
Definitely a big step up vs the summer tyres on before. Obvs the AWD helps too vs 2wd (only phoney 4wd, no diff locks etx, not real like on a G-wagon or old real Land Rover). But I'm defo happy with them. + as I went for a 97 speed rating (as needed for the car) rather than the previous 101XL rating, the ride when on normal roads is actually better - less harsh and or as noisy.
Only downside was the £168 tag per corner even after shopping around - and that was over a year ago.
I have Wildpeak AT3WA on my van. They do a great job of towing across sloppy grass fields and rough gravel incline.
I have exactly the same van at work (except it's an auto) with road tyres and it can't claw itself more than a metre over a damp grass verge without getting stuck.
The Wildpeaks are still predominantly a road tyre so you don't get the howl and piss poor handling/braking associated with knobbly mud tyres.
I'm guessing all seasons, but anything to look out for specifically for mud? I'm down south and we don't really get any snow where I live.
really - just look at the tyres. If you're not going to go full A/T tyre then with any all season or winter tyre options for your make/model just look at the tread - some you can just see will offer more grip on soft ground. 'Summer tyres' tend to have tread designed to clear water and be quiet, look at winter options that give more grooves across the tyre. Thats all you need really
Your options to go full swamper can be a bit limited with berlingos. (you don't say which year/model) Becuase they're a small van trying to maximise internal space - particualry between the wheel arches so they can take a pallet - theres not very much room between the wheel arch and the back of they tyre. Stick your hand in there and you'll see you can hardly get your fingers down the back. So chunkier tyres might not be an option. But standard size winters will still give you more tread depth than a normal tyre without increasing the width
I've seen older Berlingo's with A/T tyres, it looked kinda cute 🤣 like someone's younger brother that really wanted to go play with the big boys.
but, assuming your vehicle is front-wheel drive, the benefit wouldn't be that great anyway (the tyres on the two non-drive wheels would have no benefit).
Yes, but I wouldn't be tempted to mismatch. The Berlingo has the worst understeer of any car I've ever driven, you could provoke it just driving normally in traffic round a roundabout! You don't want to accentuate that with even worse tyres on the front.
Buy some traction boards for the odd time you actually get stuck?
This and/or some blankets would probably be a better suggestion if it's literally just getting in and out the occasional gate.
The Berlingo has the worst understeer of any car I've ever driven, you could provoke it just driving normally in traffic round a roundabout
What high quality tires were those. None of mine have been noticeably bad. At understeer.
Oh and.... Once your stuck. I love jacking up in mud to get boards under drive wheels. It's shit even when your out playing in the mud prepared to get muddy. It's shit when it's unplanned and unnecessary
I've seen older Berlingo's with A/T tyres
Berlingo porn!
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