Vredestein Sprint Classic - Anyone had Problems ?
Discussion
A friend of mine has recently fitted Sprint Classics to his Mk2 Jaguar. He has probably driven it less than 300 miles since fitting them.
When we had the car on a ramp we noticed that all four tyres had deformation on the tyre walls.
This appears as grooves or valleys on the wall running radially. Some of these grooves are quite deep and give the appearance that the wall casing has collapsed inwards slightly. Rather strange as I would have thought it would have come outwards.
Anyway I have the same tyres on my own Mk2, also quite new. I checked them carefully at the time and could see no sign of deformation.
I've recently done a few miles and yesterday I was checking the tyre pressures and noted that these same grooves are now starting to appear on two of my tyres.
Naturally we will be going back to the suppliers, but I wondered if anyone else has experienced this problem. I can't believe it's only us.
You may not notice it without close inspection but the grooving is bad enough that it can be easily felt by hand and when viewed from above the tyre is very noticeable.
Any feedback appreciated.
When we had the car on a ramp we noticed that all four tyres had deformation on the tyre walls.
This appears as grooves or valleys on the wall running radially. Some of these grooves are quite deep and give the appearance that the wall casing has collapsed inwards slightly. Rather strange as I would have thought it would have come outwards.
Anyway I have the same tyres on my own Mk2, also quite new. I checked them carefully at the time and could see no sign of deformation.
I've recently done a few miles and yesterday I was checking the tyre pressures and noted that these same grooves are now starting to appear on two of my tyres.
Naturally we will be going back to the suppliers, but I wondered if anyone else has experienced this problem. I can't believe it's only us.
You may not notice it without close inspection but the grooving is bad enough that it can be easily felt by hand and when viewed from above the tyre is very noticeable.
Any feedback appreciated.
Edited by mph on Sunday 10th June 09:49
Funnily enough I read a Citroen restorer's blog yesterday that was saying they've seen sidewall deformation on Vreds. Link here:
http://citroenclassics.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/fe...
I'm going for a set of Michelin XAS (and selling a kidney
)
http://citroenclassics.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/fe...
I'm going for a set of Michelin XAS (and selling a kidney
)I must admit I used to swear by Vredestein's Snow Tyres for use on Historic Road Rally Cars (as did a lot of my fellow competitors), but of late I've had a lot of Sidewall failures, 4 or 5 at least. OK I'm abusing them and a couple were caused by the sidewall contacting the end of Anti Roll Bar drop link, but still I've had at least two I can't explain and even had one pierced by a small Thorn.
These have been on Snowtrack rather than Classics and so far the Quadtracs I have have survived, but it's knocked my confidence in Vreds a bit.
These have been on Snowtrack rather than Classics and so far the Quadtracs I have have survived, but it's knocked my confidence in Vreds a bit.
I have a pair of Sprint Classics ready to fit to my MG. I shall be watching them closely!I'm a bit surprised that there hasn't been more response to this given the number of Vredesteins I see in use on classic cars.
Anyway an update. I checked my XK140 Special which is also fitted with Vredesteins and found it had similar grooving on the sidewalls, but very minor.
Also passed the info on to friends of mine and they've found a customers XK120 with the same problem.
So far every car checked has this issue on one or more of the tyres.
My concern on my Mk2 is that although the grooving is relatively minor, the tyres are quite new and what comeback will I have in a year or two if they deteriorate further?
As stated my friends Mk2 is much worse and personally I wouldn't accept it.
Anyway an update. I checked my XK140 Special which is also fitted with Vredesteins and found it had similar grooving on the sidewalls, but very minor.
Also passed the info on to friends of mine and they've found a customers XK120 with the same problem.
So far every car checked has this issue on one or more of the tyres.
My concern on my Mk2 is that although the grooving is relatively minor, the tyres are quite new and what comeback will I have in a year or two if they deteriorate further?
As stated my friends Mk2 is much worse and personally I wouldn't accept it.
benjj said:
From my research (notwithstanding the sidewall deformation issues mentioned above) it was a combination of price, sizes available, availability, tread pattern and look.
Pretty much the same. I needed 14" tyres for my MGB GT and these seemed to have a good mix of performance and price. They also look good. I was considering the XAS but it is a lot more expensive and I'm not sure that my driving habits (I don't do any road rallies etc. 
) warranted the extra.Notice the past tense in all of that because I have a pair of sprint classics waiting to be fitted when my wheels come back from being powder coated. I am wondering if I have made a mistake...
Anyway, I have them and they'll be going on. Hopefully they'll work out ok as I need to replace the other two. I have also been looking at Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas for my daily driver Volvo as they are the tyres that people on Volvo forums always recommends.
benjj said:
From my research (notwithstanding the sidewall deformation issues mentioned above) it was a combination of price, sizes available, availability, tread pattern and look.
thanks. it wasn't a loaded question - honest! i understand the lack of options at some sizes (eg. 165/80r14), i was just thought they must have a significant performance advantage to warrant £110 a tyre.
they do look good, i'll say that.
I paid considerably less than £110 for mine (165/80R14) from mytyres.co.uk
If they were £110 I have to say I would probably have spent the extra and got the Michelins.
EDIT-
I wonder if the Jag and Citroen wheels are both the 185/80 R15 H tyres and there is a problem with that size? I can't find anything else on the internet about problems with the sidewalls.
If they were £110 I have to say I would probably have spent the extra and got the Michelins.
EDIT-
I wonder if the Jag and Citroen wheels are both the 185/80 R15 H tyres and there is a problem with that size? I can't find anything else on the internet about problems with the sidewalls.
Edited by williredale on Thursday 14th June 20:21
I've had Vredestein Sprint Classics (in 640x13 size but still radials) fitted for a few months now and noticed the same issue. I went back to Vintage Tyres who have now received this from Vredestein.
---
The indentations are related to ply splice or carcuss splice. The carcuss construction and the sidewall material of thin-walled radial tyres can lead to slightly tighter cords in some areas around the sidewall. May I suggest that you explain to your customer that there is no suggestion of cord break being involved here and that the mentioned Tight cords are perfectly suitable for use.
Kind Regards
Mark Kearns
Technical coordinator.
Vredestein UK
---
I'm happy with that answer. (At least until someone here tells me I shouldn't be !)
---
The indentations are related to ply splice or carcuss splice. The carcuss construction and the sidewall material of thin-walled radial tyres can lead to slightly tighter cords in some areas around the sidewall. May I suggest that you explain to your customer that there is no suggestion of cord break being involved here and that the mentioned Tight cords are perfectly suitable for use.
Kind Regards
Mark Kearns
Technical coordinator.
Vredestein UK
---
I'm happy with that answer. (At least until someone here tells me I shouldn't be !)
When my XAS's turned into slicks I decided to keep my kidneys and go for a set of Blockley 185/15's for the E-type. The first thing I noticed was that it suddenly seemed as if someone had fitted power steering so light it had become, and the second was a bit of tyre noise at low speed quickly drowned out by wind noise as I went faster. I've had them two years and as far as I am concerned they are, for the price, absolutely fine both in the dry and the wet.My Michelins lasted many a year and I have no idea of the longevity of the Blockleys of course, but I'm quite happy to recommend them if you don't mind the low speed noise.
DippedHeadlights said:
I've had Vredestein Sprint Classics (in 640x13 size but still radials) fitted for a few months now and noticed the same issue. I went back to Vintage Tyres who have now received this from Vredestein.
---
The indentations are related to ply splice or carcuss splice. The carcuss construction and the sidewall material of thin-walled radial tyres can lead to slightly tighter cords in some areas around the sidewall. May I suggest that you explain to your customer that there is no suggestion of cord break being involved here and that the mentioned Tight cords are perfectly suitable for use.
Kind Regards
Mark Kearns
Technical coordinator.
Vredestein UK
---
I'm happy with that answer. (At least until someone here tells me I shouldn't be !)
I've seen indentations like that on many contemporary tyres on modern cars. My mothers Passat has them for a start - 205/60 R15 Dunlop Sport 01. I don't think there's any safety issue but I will say it looks a bit unsightly.---
The indentations are related to ply splice or carcuss splice. The carcuss construction and the sidewall material of thin-walled radial tyres can lead to slightly tighter cords in some areas around the sidewall. May I suggest that you explain to your customer that there is no suggestion of cord break being involved here and that the mentioned Tight cords are perfectly suitable for use.
Kind Regards
Mark Kearns
Technical coordinator.
Vredestein UK
---
I'm happy with that answer. (At least until someone here tells me I shouldn't be !)
Last week the inner tyre wall split open on the Vredestein Sportac 5 on my Sunbeam Tiger on the M25, which was scary. I think this was partly caused by the handbrake cable rubbing. However my my wife has just had a puncture on her Nissan Micra with Vredestein Trac 2 tyres and the tyre has split down the inner wall. it looks like there is an entry hole in the edge of the tread but worrying that the sidewall has spllt. This tyre has hardly any wear and less than a year old. Trying to find the receipt as they are supposed to have a lifetime guarantee, obviously that does not include a basic puncture but the wall should not split.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff