Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta, not paired/handed?

[Balmoral Green]

Why is this then? they aren't a handed pair. The tread pattern looks great, but if it's going in the wrong direction on the offside, they won't look as good as they could do. They claim to be asymetrical, but they don't look it to me? The offside tyre in the pic is exactly the same as the nearside tyre isn't it?

[dogbucket]

We discussed this at length on Tyresmoke to the point of contacting Vredestein, who could supply no technical reasons as to how they work other than to say that picture is indeed correct.

Just cheaper to make 4 tyres the same imo

[Balmoral Green]

Hmmm, thanks for that, it's the only thing putting me off buying a set.

[Orangecurry]

what's the problem - P-zero asymmetricos have always been like this;



it's just not as pronounced or as noticable.... I prefer the look of the Sessantas as without all of those tread blocks of the Pirelli, the dry grip on the Sessantas should be excellent.

I really really want to buy some of these for my 911, but I'd like someones experience before I take the plunge, and no-one seems to be brave enough; guess it'll have to be me
And I only need the fronts; now that REALLY is asking for trouble

[Orangecurry]

euroboy said:

I have just bought a pair of these so ill let you know later in the week!

I have a set of the Ultrac (not Sessanta) on my other car, they are really great - so on the back of them I have ordered the Sessantas.

235/45/r18 at just under £150 a corner. Not too shabby

oh dear - can you cancel the order?

http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m4b0s2...

116 GBP including P&P - sorry

[Mars]

Tested my BFG Gforce Profilers on the snow yesterday and found them to be as good there as they are in the dry and in the wet. They're symmetrical

[andy665]

Just replaced a pair of these - good tyre until they started to wear down and they created a problem.

They were on the front of a Passat Syncro and once they got down to about 4mm the tread seemed to distort when taking off from rest creating a very weird (and impossible to put into words) sensation - took the car to my local garage (whom I trust implicitly) and they initially diagnosed a worn propshaft centre coupling.

Just glad I didn't give the go-ahead for the coupling to be replaced before I replaced the tyres - certainly won't be buying them again.

[Orangecurry]

andy665 said:

Just replaced a pair of these - good tyre until they started to wear down and they created a problem.

They were on the front of a Passat Syncro and once they got down to about 4mm the tread seemed to distort when taking off from rest creating a very weird (and impossible to put into words) sensation - took the car to my local garage (whom I trust implicitly) and they initially diagnosed a worn propshaft centre coupling.

Just glad I didn't give the go-ahead for the coupling to be replaced before I replaced the tyres - certainly won't be buying them again.

DOH - back to the drawing board.

So you've had a set long enough to have worn them out? How many miles did they last on the Passat please?

[Orangecurry]

thanks EB - I know about the excellent reputation of Vredestein - they always seem to be besting Goodyear in most reviews, but they are not popular with the masses; I like that

But I'm looking to get something better than N-rated tyres, so they have to excel.

[R1_NUR]

I have done 12,000 miles using Ultrac Sessanta tyres on CSL (19 inch rims) fitted to a Z4MC.

"Asymmetric = having parts that fail to correspond to one another in shape, size, or arrangement; lacking symmetry"

Pros;

Fantastic in the wet,
Totally predictable and consistent, (read great for drifting)
Quiet,
Good life,
Ride well,
Price.

Cons;

Braking distance increase,
Too tempting to drift!

On my car the front tyres are still only half worn despite having got thru 2 rear sets.

Great buy.

Edited by R1_NUR on Tuesday 8th April 08:46

Edited by R1_NUR on Tuesday 8th April 08:48

[Balmoral Green]

R1_NUR said:

"Asymmetric = having parts that fail to correspond to one another in shape, size, or arrangement; lacking symmetry"

Doh!

I see now, as far as the tread pattern across the tyre is concerned.

I still think asymmetric tyres should be paired though.

I'm no expert in fluid dynamics, but from the look of it, in the wet, the tread design for the nearside tyre is going to channel the water rearwards from the inside edge at the narrow part of the cross fan design, to the outside edge of the tyre as the cross fan gets broader. But for the offside tyre, it will do the opposite, it will force the water from the broader outer edge to the narrower inner edge and also forwards. Won't this lift the offside tyre up onto the water near to the inner edge?

Basically i'm thinking that the n's tyre will channel water backwards from the inside to the outside, while the o's tyre will channel it forward from the outside to the inside. The former will clear water, whilst the latter will build it up surely?

Edited by Balmoral Green on Tuesday 8th April 17:31

[Orangecurry]

well it didn't when EVO tested them recently.

So don't take up fluid dynamics

[R1_NUR]

Balmoral Green said:

I'm no expert in fluid dynamics, but from the look of it, in the wet, the tread design for the nearside tyre is going to channel the water rearwards from the inside edge at the narrow part of the cross fan design, to the outside edge of the tyre as the cross fan gets broader. But for the offside tyre, it will do the opposite, it will force the water from the broader outer edge to the narrower inner edge and also forwards. Won't this lift the offside tyre up onto the water near to the inner edge?

Basically i'm thinking that the n's tyre will channel water backwards from the inside to the outside, while the o's tyre will channel it forward from the outside to the inside. The former will clear water, whilst the latter will build it up surely?

I agree the look is weird but the tyres are brilliant in the wet. Somehow they work!

[Orangecurry]

R1_NUR said:

I agree the look is weird but the tyres are brilliant in the wet. Somehow they work!

Well they better had - I ordered a pair yesterday

I'm holding you personally responsible.

[Fort Jefferson]

Balmoral Green said:

Why is this then? they aren't a handed pair. The tread pattern looks great, but if it's going in the wrong direction on the offside, they won't look as good as they could do. They claim to be asymetrical, but they don't look it to me? The offside tyre in the pic is exactly the same as the nearside tyre isn't it?

I hope these are good Warren. I'm having four on the Audi tomorrow.

[Balmoral Green]

I want a set too, but they don't do them in my size yet Looks like I will have to settle for Goodyear Eagle F1-GSD3's, although I might go for Michelin Pilot Primacy or Dunlop SP Sport 9000.

Does anyone have any other recommendations as to what to put on a heavy cruiser like the Bentley? Ride and wet weather performance are important to me.

[jon-]

Orangecurry said:

thanks EB - I know about the excellent reputation of Vredestein - they always seem to be besting Goodyear in most reviews, but they are not popular with the masses; I like that

If you like driving on the 'surprising underdog' i recently put a set of Dunlop Sport Maxx GTs on the 350z and my god are these things sticky. Can't quite get my head around how good they are.

[Orangecurry]

jon- said:

Orangecurry said:

thanks EB - I know about the excellent reputation of Vredestein - they always seem to be besting Goodyear in most reviews, but they are not popular with the masses; I like that

If you like driving on the 'surprising underdog' i recently put a set of Dunlop Sport Maxx GTs on the 350z and my god are these things sticky. Can't quite get my head around how good they are.

Since Goodyear have started making their tyres in china (GSD3s in particular if you remember ), I'm afraid I won't be buying any more of their products.

FYI - I've been exploring the capabillities of the Sessantas for a while now (in 225/40/18 92Y), and so far I'm very pleased, wet or dry; the sidewalls appear very stiff giving precise steering, yet the grip is very good. They are on the front only, so I don't feel able to give a proper review. I anticipate wearing the rear Contis down this summer, so I'll have a full set of Sessantas on for when the weather turns

Edited by Orangecurry on Thursday 5th June 11:56

[jon-]

Orangecurry said:

jon- said:

Orangecurry said:

thanks EB - I know about the excellent reputation of Vredestein - they always seem to be besting Goodyear in most reviews, but they are not popular with the masses; I like that

If you like driving on the 'surprising underdog' i recently put a set of Dunlop Sport Maxx GTs on the 350z and my god are these things sticky. Can't quite get my head around how good they are.

Since Goodyear have started making their tyres in china (GSD3s in particular if you remember ), I'm afraid I won't be buying any more of their products.

FYI - I've been exploring the capabillities of the Sessantas for a while now (in 225/40/18 92Y), and so far I'm very pleased, wet or dry; the sidewalls appear very stiff giving precise steering, yet the grip is very good. They are on the front only, so I don't feel able to give a proper review. I anticipate wearing the rear Contis down this summer, so I'll have a full set of Sessantas on for when the weather turns

Edited by Orangecurry on Thursday 5th June 11:56

And Vredestein are moving manufacturing from Holland to Russia... I'm afraid it's the only way to make money. At least Goodyear Dunlop still have the factory in Brum and make most of their track day and motorsport tyres there.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Sessantas. It's probably the direction I'll move next though after the Maxx GTs dry weather performance (Dunlop call them an in-between a normal UHP tyre and a track day tyre) I fear I'll only be disappointed in outright grip, though as we both know that's not the only quality worth looking for in a tyre.

Still can't get over how odd the Sessantas look from on the car from the rear.

[Polrules]

Afternoon all,

I put a set of the Sessantas all round on my 350Z a couple of months ago - they really are miles ahead in terms of wet grip than the old Bridgestones ever were, rarely trigger the TC now. Fuel economy has dropped only a fraction - I used to average 19mpg now down to 18 according to the computer but they are noisy.

Dry grip is also good and they do give a nice sharp turn in, but I'm sensing the rear end taking a fraction longer to settle into the corner than it used to, just feels a little soft, I'm going to play about with pressures to see if it can be sorted. Overall very impressed though.

I too was concerned about the seemingly opposing tread pattern but was reassured by a few people in the know that the Sessanta is NOT a directional tyre. If you examine it you'll see that the large grooves don't actually go to the extremities of the tyre so won't be channeling the water anywhere.

They work.