I Believer that Michelin new breed of All Season Tyres Michelin CC3 and Michelin CC3 Sport will come out as the very best AS tyres and will reoccupy the top spot!
Tyre Reviews uploaded a new YouTube video today comparing the CC3 (and sport) to the Pirelli (which has scored very well since release) and the Bridgestone which was one of the better ‘summer’ biased AS tyres (so good in heat and rain - rain is normally a let down for AS tyres).
Haven’t watched it yet so can’t give you the outcome.
 
Looking at getting some 18s and lowering by 50mm

Would 255/45/18 or 235/55/18 be best, latter are much cheaper and more options
 
Looking at getting some 18s and lowering by 50mm

Would 255/45/18 or 235/55/18 be best, latter are much cheaper and more options
Remember tyre widths also depend on rim widths. Plenty of tables on the internet showing best fit between the two.

Rim widths have a maximum and minimum safe tyre width.

From what I’ve seen when looking at 18” rims (something I plan to swap my 16s for in the future) 235/50 or 255/45 seem the usual suspects for 8-9 inch wide rims. Max tyre widths also depend recommended for an 8” wide rims is 245 though.

The ‘willtheyfit’ website gives you good info if you plug the numbers in.

Other thing I’ve done is look at the tyre pressure sticker on the doorpost as it gives various tyre size and rim widths that VW obviously consider acceptable for my van. My sticker shows 18x8” as the biggest rim with a 255/45 tyre (which contradict the guidelines on the table I saw online!). Not sure I’d go for anything not on the sticker just in case the insurance companies take what’s on there as gospel. Maybe I need to check the wheel width tables and see if they’re all the same. Confusing!
And remember to tell your insurance if you’re upgrading your alloys.
 
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Remember tyre widths also depend on rim widths. Plenty of tables on the internet showing best fit between the two.

Rim widths have a maximum and minimum safe tyre width.

From what I’ve seen when looking at 18” rims (something I plan to swap my 16s for in the future) 235/50 or 255/45 seem the usual suspects for 8-9 inch wide rims. Max tyre widths also depend recommended for an 8” wide rims is 245 though.

The ‘willtheyfit’ website gives you good info if you plug the numbers in.

Other thing I’ve done is look at the tyre pressure sticker on the doorpost as it gives various tyre size and rim widths that VW obviously consider acceptable for my van. My sticker shows 18x8” as the biggest rim with a 255/45 tyre (which contradict the guidelines on the table I saw online!). Not sure I’d go for anything not on the sticker just in case the insurance companies take what’s on there as gospel. Maybe I need to check the wheel width tables and see if they’re all the same. Confusing!
And remember to tell your insurance if you’re upgrading your alloys.
You are right about fitting within the recommendations provided they are generous enough and fitting outside of those recommendation may incur insurance problems following a crash and if serious enough incident will likely be picked up by other authority also. Not only that, it may be unsafe. Some with "stretched" look tyre may suffer rapid deflation and it has been reported that some suffer difficulty in reinflating their tyres following air loss because the tyre bead has difficulty in sealing against the rim.
 
Can you get the CC3 in 18s though
Michelin CrossClimate 3 are available in 18" sizes.


However additional sizes available at a later date. Like many manufacturers do not bring out all sizes at once.
 
Michelin CrossClimate 3 are available in 18" sizes.


However additional sizes available at a later date. Like many manufacturers do not bring out all sizes at once.
£100 of a set of 4 at Costco at the moment (they do load rated 255/45R18s).
 
Has anyone ever used
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 255/45 R18 Y (103)
Going round in circles trying which ones to replace my Bridgestones
 
Got them on my current van. They're decent, good roadholding and quiet. Can't tell you how long they last unfortunately but I've done 8K miles on them since I got the van (they were already on there) and they're still at 4mm tread
 
Got them on my current van. They're decent, good roadholding and quiet. Can't tell you how long they last unfortunately but I've done 8K miles on them since I got the van (they were already on there) and they're still at 4mm tread
 
So I'm currently running 255/45/18 but after reading more and more tyre threads some say 235/55/18 are a better tyre size. More comfortable and fill the arch more 🤔🤔

Even more confused now 😕
 
this may help.
From experience on my Jeep, the 235s will look better for filling out the arch as a side profile and ride softer/bouncier and sloppier in the corners (they are 15% higher and 7% thinner). It will also make the van sit a bit higher. The 255s will look beefier, slightly firmer ride and have better roadholding since more of the width of the tyre is in contact with the road and they have a lower sidewall height (look at the profile picture). They will also wear out quicker since you're doing about 4% fewer revolutions in the 235s for the same distance. Mine has 255/34R18s, pic below.
The Jeep picture highlights the difference in a similar way. Think of the yellow Jeep with 255s and the Grey with 235s. They both have the same wheel size and same suspension but you can see how the car height is raised on my grey Rubicon using a higher sidewall and thinner tyre.

Screenshot_20250709_202531_Chrome.jpg

Screenshot_20250709_202554_Chrome.jpg

20240627_185501.jpg

20210917_151635.jpg
 
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So I'm currently running 255/45/18 but after reading more and more tyre threads some say 235/55/18 are a better tyre size. More comfortable and fill the arch more 🤔🤔

Even more confused now 😕
I've decided I'll be going with 235 55 18 on an 8j rim. Much better tyre choices available and I think they look better too
 
Im in the same predicament and decided to stick with what's spec'ed on the van and the current set up, 255/45/18 103T. Its running sportine wheels anyway and as people have said earlier, could/maybe be an insurance issue.

20250709_204553.webp
 
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