what tyres?

[sparks_E39]

I had the E39 tracked on a Hunter machine for £60. Well worth it, it's like a different car.

[Basil Brush]

These would be worth a look. I run the previous Sessanta version on my Tuscan and really rate them.

http://www.clickontyres.com/Vredestein/20540_ZR17_...

[Jaguar steve]

JamesL said:

moanthebairns said:

bds just found a puncture on one of my tyres with decent tread. hopefully it can be saved.

I know they balance tyres when fitted but do they align them? guess the answer is no as I could do with that getting done.

Most tyre places will do your tracking for a fee which I'm pretty sure just adjusts toe in/out on the front wheels. In my experience most places are pretty poor at it.

You say you could do with it, are you getting uneven tyre wear? Personally I'd recommend getting a proper 4 wheel laser alignment done somewhere with a proper Hunter machince. They adjust toe, castor and camber of all 4 wheels as much as your particular car allows for. Sorted my uneven tyre wear and tramlining issues with mine and overall completely transformed the way the car drove.

Agree but Hunter machines are only as good as the operator and my local guys are hopeless. The other point worth bearing in mind is a Hunter or any other alignment set up is static. It makes no allowances for worn suspension components and it's possible to show alignment set up correctly with completely knackered bushes and ball joints whilst the car is standing still yet you'll still have alignment issues when it's driving as all the joints cannot control the suspension geometry accurately enough. Unless you're 100% sure all the suspension components are sound it's not worth doing IMO.

[R1gtr]

Basil Brush said:

These would be worth a look. I run the previous Sessanta version on my Tuscan and really rate them.

http://www.clickontyres.com/Vredestein/20540_ZR17_...

Yeah I bought some Vredestein Sportrac 3's from clickontyres, service is superb, good prices,check them out. As far as the tyres go I guess you would call them mid range but they feel superb,lots of dry and wet grip, way way better than the previous Falkens, the Sportracs will be going on the missus's car too come replacement time.

[andyscole]

This is an excellent tyre review. Goodyear eagles on top.
http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2012-Auto-Bil...

[Dan Friel]

R1gtr said:

Yeah I bought some Vredestein Sportrac 3's from clickontyres, service is superb, good prices,check them out. As far as the tyres go I guess you would call them mid range but they feel superb,lots of dry and wet grip, way way better than the previous Falkens, the Sportracs will be going on the missus's car too come replacement time.

I use Sportrac 3's on the 100HP, and can't fault them. On my second set now and will continue to use them as long as they are available. Not available in 205/40/17 though. Rainsport 2 is the other option (never seen a bad review), perfect for UK conditions and cheaper..

[moanthebairns]

Right I need to get 4 new tyres now after I found two nails in my good one.

so are Vredestein as good as Michelin SP3's? or nearly on a par?

at £75 a tyre its £300 for each corner or £450 for 4 Michelin thats a big saving!

But I dont want to go to floor it in the wet and end up in a wall. SO can I trust these?

If this was the bike I wouldnt even be asking id have the michelins.

[R1gtr]

moanthebairns said:

Right I need to get 4 new tyres now after I found two nails in my good one.

so are Vredestein as good as Michelin SP3's? or nearly on a par?

at £75 a tyre its £300 for each corner or £450 for 4 Michelin thats a big saving!

But I dont want to go to floor it in the wet and end up in a wall. SO can I trust these?

If this was the bike I wouldnt even be asking id have the michelins.

Yeah for the bike it would prob be Michelins for me too mate,nothing but the best but I reckon the Vredesteins are worth a pop, I first heard about them when looking for winter tyres and bought the Vredestein Snowtrac's from Click on Tyres, the tyres were superb, even better than I hoped, fwd Clio was getting up hills that X5's with normal tyres couldnt. So decided to try a set of summer tyres hence the Sportrac 3, we looked at Maxxis and Toyo's T1-R which looked good but plumped for the Vred's.
Really happy with them, good grip, good in the wet, not too noisy and wearing well. Don't get me wrong more expensive tyres may be better but are they worth the extra cost plus unless they were on a seriously high performance motor I dont think you would notice the difference.
For the record I find Camskills to be good on price along with clickontyres(my usual supplier) but have a look at Mytyres first as they have a massive range and each tyre has reviews to the right side from all the big mags/german mags, both the Vredestein and Michelins score really well.

I would say take a punt on the Vred's but you could speak to Jon from Tyre reviews, he uses these forums http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0... he is a top bloke, tell him R1gtr sent you his way and he will keep you right

[moanthebairns]

Well after HOURS and I mean HOURS of reading reviews I went for Vredestein ultrac sessanta (ya thank fk I ordered them online and not on the phone). I dont know why but I spend hours thinking about my next tyres. Id go as far to say as im getting a bit to carried away with them.

After recommendations from phers on this and reading lots and lots of reviews I had to go for them.

I have to say If I was just needing two tyres I would have went for michelin sp3's.

But I simply couldnt afford £450 for 4 tyres + wheel alignment, I just replaced discs and pads on the car. Also I have the dreaded MOT and service next month. On top of that a bike service, new bathroom and a custom painted helmet. Add in the fact Im looking to trade it in and it was the only choice. My wrists hurt from getting my wallet out so much this month.

I surprised people havent been asking me if Im dying the way im spending money, its simply not like me.

anyway, from what I read they arent as good as the sp3's but they are very close and when you consider they are a 3/4 of the price I guess that might make it acceptable to opt for them.

I was torn between them and the uni royal 2's both seemed to be on a par but it came down to price in the end and ultrac's were slightly cheaper.

Hopefully ill get them thursday and get some reviews up once they are broken in.

Thanks everyone.

[moanthebairns]

well Vredestein's have just been put on the motor, tracking has been done.

I obviously cant say how they are just now but once they are scrubbed in i shall.

[zygalski]

Bonefish Blues said:

natureboy8891 said:

moanthebairns said:

in response to falkster, I see your point but I really need a wet weather tyre as I'm only really in the car when it rains heavy due to having a bike.

How about Uniroyal Rainsport 2 I have them and they are great and they are highly recommended.

These, without a doubt, if much of your driving is in wet conditions - and far from shabby in the dry.

Uniroyal RS2's for me too.
As good in the dry as Tr-1's & much better in the wet. About the same price too.

[moanthebairns]

Well a few weeks on, they have been sort of scrubbed in and to be honest, no drama.

Not asked much of them yet but the odd blast around a B road they seem to be all the tyre you really need for road use. they seem to really grip well.

I havent had a go with them in the wet driving at speed yet so ill need see what they are like when it rains.

only slight complaint and it might not even be the tyre, possibly too low pressures or poor wheel alignment is that the steering feels a bit heavier.

Feel a difference when making a slight movement with the steering wheel from centre to left or right. Seems to be a little bit more resistance compared to my goodyears. Might be all in the head though.

[moanthebairns]

well thats them well scrubbed now.

so far ive found them to be pretty damn good to be honest.

Ok alot of my driving is just to the shops and around town.

But when I do open the car up on a nice road they have dealt with everything Ive thrown at them.

In the dry they grip as well as anything Ive had before.

And its the same again in the wet.

Even when I was pushing it in the wet to see how good they were there was plenty of feedback from them before they send you into a world of understeer.

Sure we have all been there and done it. New tyres, its wet, big double empty roundabout and stupid entry speeds. Normally results in the oh bugger lift off oversteer or bugger understeer round this 50 p piece roundabout.

I honestly dont think on my type of car I would see a noticeable difference with a set of michelin sp3's.

so rather happy ive saved over a hundred quid. oh and the ride seems to be quietier taht is a huge plus!

Thanks everyone

[moanthebairns]

final update

getting a few mm close to needing to change these, probably getting around 10-12k on the fronts which isnt bad but isnt great. s

in the dry as ive said they are fine, on the road you wouldnt notice much difference between these and the gsd3's

in the wet there is a noticeable difference, they just arent as good as the f1s. the tyre is more prone to understeer on the car compared to the f1s

now the temperatures have dropped you notice the difference between the goodyears and these.
less grip in dry and wet, the tyre just doesnt handle the drop in temperature as well as the goodyears

still not a bad tyre and id probably buy again, you make allowances for your tyre and know what its capable of and for a car to get me from a to b, albeit quickly thats all i need.

so in conclusion not as good as the goodyears but somewhere between mid range and premium tyre.