Hi all

I am planning on having some Cross Climate tyres fitted to my Skoda Fabia Estate (2003, 1.2) and wondered if anyone could help with some questions please? Three of my current tyres are: 185 - 60 - R14 - 82H. The other one is: 185 - 60 - R14 - 82T. 

1. Load Rating. The best matched Cross Climate has a load rating of 86. Is it ok to use this on my car where the existing tyres have a load rating of 82?

2. Speed Rating. Only an “H” rating is available in my size tyre. Do you think this will be ok based on the fact that I currently have a mixture? My manual doesn’t specify which is required for the car.

3. The manual for the car says that new tyres should be “run in” for the first 500km. Is this necessary for the Cross Climates? If so, what would people recommend in terms of “running in”?

4. The manual also states that winter tyres should be inflated +0.2 bar compared to standard tyres. As the Cross Climates are somewhere between the two types, what would folk recommend with regards this? 

5. For the time being, I am only putting Cross Climates on the front of the car. Someone I spoke to at a tyre fitting shop said that whilst not as effective as having them on all four wheels, it will still be a lot better than not having any at all. He also said it should be adequate for occasional winter driving where conditions are not too extreme. I wondered what people here think about this? Also, does having different tyres front and back ever affect car insurance claims?

Crikey, I'm tyred after typing all of that. (I'll get my coat....)

Many thanks
 

1. Yes. Presuming that load rating 82 is the OEM recommendation, there is no issue with using the higher rated 86.
2. Yes. Again presuming that T is the OEM recommendation there's no issue with going up one step to H.
3. That's a question for a Michelin dealer.
4.  As (3).
5. Dunno.

Thanks Ken.  

 

RE 1 and 2....  How can I find out what the OEM recommendation is?  It doesn't state in the car manual.  Anywhere else I can find it?  Or soes anyone with the same car happen to know?  

 

Mine is the  Fabia Comfort 1.2 HTP 64.

 

Cheers

1) yes can go up a rating

 

2) yes can go up, may be more expensive, but might not if more common,  possibly the lower speed rating has been discontinued so might not find the lower speed rating available anymore

 

3) when a tyre is made there is a tyre mould release agent on surface , this soon scrubs off tyre surface, 500km sounds excessive

 

4) wouldn't treat CrossClimate+ as winter tyres, so stick at standard summer pressure, and if it has XL sidewalls run at lower normal pressure (not fully laden pressure)

 

5) a lot of people do this, it will keep you moving.  The only risk is on very slippery surfaces the back end will swing out.  Ideally should be changing all 4 tyres, obviously a lot safer when at the extreme limit such as in an emergency, but in everyday driving not a lot different to the millions that don't have 4 matching tyres,  or 2 tyres with worn treads and 2 with new treads.  I suspect no one will formally confirm it in case there is an accident and you try and claim liability.

 

Edited 24 June, 20196 yr by SurreyJohn

If you're only fitting two new Cross Climates, put them on the rear. In the event of any loss of handling or traction, the rear (over which you have no control) will behave itself and leave you to cope with the fronts where you have steering and drive control.

Go to MyTyres, say, and type your registration in. For my car, I got H and V recommendations for summer, winter and all seasons tyres. I have the higher speed rating, all seasons, fitted. Usually there is no difference in cost for the common sizes and ratings.

Edited 24 June, 20196 yr by gregoir

Hi all

 

A couple of updates on this after having spoken to Michelin… 

 

1. As per the answers above, they confirmed 86 will be fine, although a bit of a harder ride.

2. He confirmed that H will be fine.

3. He said their recommendation is to run new tyres in for 500km.  However, when I asked what this entailed he said just driving normally!  So perhaps the better way to put it is to not drive like a maniac for the first 500km!  I am doing a 300 mile motorway run very soon after having them fitted.  I tend to do 80-85mph on the motorways.  He said that would be fine.

4. He said:  In summer treat them as a summer tyre, and in winter treat them as a winter tyre, all according to car manufacturer specs.  So we concluded to run them at normal pressure in summer and at +0.2bar in winter.  Yes, they do have XL side walls (and they will be the standard CCs, not the + version).

5. Michelin’s recommendation is to put them on the rear.  I think that is a general recommendation to a certain extent – i.e. always put new tyres on rear.  More to do with how they wear…  But when I asked specifically about winter performance, he stated the exact same reasoning as Rustynuts.  I’ve been reading more about it since and it seems a very divided subject and quite hotly debated!

 

On a more disappointing note, he said that they will be discontinuing this size of the tyre, likely within the next 6 months or so :(

 

Huge thanks for all the replies and input.  I'm still keen to find out what the manufacturer recommended spec is for tyres on my car but I think I'll leave that for another thread in the Fabia section rather than bury the question in here.  

 

Cheers

2 hours ago, Hawthorn654 said:

 

4. He said:  In summer treat them as a summer tyre, and in winter treat them as a winter tyre, all according to car manufacturer specs.  So we concluded to run them at normal pressure in summer and at +0.2bar in winter.  Yes, they do have XL side walls (and they will be the standard CCs, not the + version).

 

 

Standard Cross Climates have been discontinued in virtually all sizes (down to just 6 sizes), most now plus

But  your 185/60 R14 H86 is one of the remaining 6 sizes

 

Best price I can find, fully fitted is £61.55 at F1 autocentres

 

 

Edited 25 June, 20196 yr by SurreyJohn

That makes sense - I did notice when getting quotes that there were only 6 sizes available.  I guess it makes sense why now!  

 

I got the same kind of price with Kwik Fit as they were running a promotion on Friday.  

 

So do you think I am a fool to be putting on two tyres that are soon to be discontinued?  I must admit I would have thought twice had I known at the time of booking...  

1 hour ago, Hawthorn654 said:

That makes sense - I did notice when getting quotes that there were only 6 sizes available.  I guess it makes sense why now!  

 

I got the same kind of price with Kwik Fit as they were running a promotion on Friday.  

 

So do you think I am a fool to be putting on two tyres that are soon to be discontinued?  I must admit I would have thought twice had I known at the time of booking...  

Well, that is a case for putting the new tyres on the lighter loaded back wheels, and change the other 2 in 5 months or so.

5 hours ago, Hawthorn654 said:

 

But when I asked specifically about winter performance, he stated the exact same reasoning as Rustynuts.  I’ve been reading more about it since and it seems a very divided subject and quite hotly debated!

 

 

It's only hotly debated by people who have little experience of winter driving and think getting going is more important than staying on the road or being in control. Those who know will do what Michelin recommend and be in better shape when it bites.