A well-rounded tire for the all-around van

Philippine driving conditions can be tough, whether in the city or on provincial roads. On both roads, drivers have to brake on wet roads, endure long driving, and deal with tire-damaging debris. All could wreak havoc on any well-managed fleet. Unless, of course, these are anticipated by choosing the right tires to begin with.

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Choosing the right tires would, of course, depend on their intended use. Fortunately, there is a happy intersection where commercial vans, pickups, and light trucks can agree on a tire that delivers the comfortable ride expected of a tire on a passenger van, the durability exacted from a tire on a light truck, and the value for money of a tire designed as a tough all-arounder. 

Yes, there are tires for whether your fleet ferries passengers or light cargo. One of the most popular was the UE168, which has now given way to an upgrade, the Maxxis Vansmart MCV5. 

Being the successor to the well-received UE168 certainly sets the bar high. The upgrades offered by the Maxxis Vansmart MCV5 focus on things most important to a fleet owner: economy, safety and durability. These three factors are crucial, especially for those who want to get as much value from their vehicles while minimizing unexpected expenses like frequent tire replacement, or accidents caused by the inability of the tire to endure road conditions. 

The new pattern design on the Maxxis Vansmart MCV5 focuses on comfort and safety, while the improvements on the materials and construction design target the tire’s durability. Combining all three means fuel savings and spending less on costly maintenance and tire replacements.

One of the most visible differences is that where the UE168 is round-profiled, the Maxxis Vansmart MCV5 is square-profiled. This improves upon the UE168 in many aspects: rolling resistance (up 11%), mileage (increased by 30%), noise reduction (up by 2%), and braking distance (reduced by 6%). 

This is made possible by very well-considered design tweaks. A wider shoulder width, coupled with the new pattern and construction, increased the contact patch by 4%. This means more even wearing on the tire, making them not just durable, but the costs more predictable for business owners and managers who want their consumable expenses all laid out and neatly followed.

Costs like drill damage from getting a stone trapped in a groove are prevented by designing continuous 3D wave grooves into the Maxxis Vansmart MCV5. Together with the variable sipe design, this also achieves excellent aquaplaning resistance and safe braking even in wet road conditions. This brings an added bonus of reducing pattern noise.

Another durability tweak on the Maxxis Vansmart MCV5 is an innovative belt design using extra-fine woven composite material coupled with an advanced bead construction for heavy loading. The result is a more even distribution of structural stress on the tire, translating to reduced heat and a prolonged tire life. This material-and-construction upgrade gives 30% longer life to the tire than its predecessor.

A new compound formula further maximizes these construction design improvements. The compound used on the Maxxis Vansmart MCV5 is specially crafted to produce low heat generation, high reactiveness and high flexibility, while also increasing the life of the tire. This translates to enhanced mileage and economized short to medium heavy trips in the city.

Not bad for an all-arounder tire.