New Tyres

demag · Post by **demag** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:07 pm

Sorry not quite Bx. But just ordered 2 tyres for the Xm. Vredestein Sportrac 3. Anyone tried them?

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 3:02 pm

Vredstein are ace, i dont have that particular model, but i believe they dont make a crap tyre regardless of the model.

You'll only wish you'd bought 4 rather than the 2, as your other 2 will probably not be as good.

I hope you are going to put the new one's on the rear rather than the front, otherwise you could be in for a nasty surprise handling/grip wise.

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 3:28 pm

Seconded, I've been very impressed with Vredestein tyres too. Let us know what you think of them when they arrive...

demag · Post by **demag** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:31 pm

Err on the front Mulley! But most of the time I'm in traffic anyway so they'll have plenty of time to scrub in. I thought they were good tyres. Had a look at the website and very impressive. However, I rang Tyre Services and was told "Vredesteins mate. Proper ditch finders they are, I wouldn't even put them on a rim!" He then tried to sell me an Excelera (?!) for 49 quid each. Obviously a quality tyre they are, I'm sure!

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 6:02 pm

demag wrote:I thought they were good tyres. Had a look at the website and very impressive. However, I rang Tyre Services and was told "Vredesteins mate. Proper ditch finders they are, I wouldn't even put them on a rim!" He then tried to sell me an Excelera (?!) for 49 quid each. Obviously a quality tyre they are, I'm sure!

It's strange how the tyres they have in stock are always superb, whereas the ones you request are invaribly either 'shite' or a 'waste of money'. This is the point where you have to fight the urge to tell them to go f@ck themselves...

A friend who was about to buy some tyres asked me what brand was best, and I told them that Michelin have a good reputation and tend to last well. He later informed me that they didn't have Michelin, but had some that were 'like Michelins': Sava. They were 'like Michelins' in that they were black and round, but that I'm afraid was were the simularities ended. I did point out that the fact that their name alluded to how cheap they were didn't bode terribly well with regard to other (secondary I'm sure) factors, like grip for example...

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:11 pm

Well if they think Vredestein's are ditch finders, then that must be most tyre brands then

Obviously talking bollocks, what they meant to say is that they dont stock them as they cant make that much profit on each tyre. Research on the internet usually is the place to find out some info on what real motorists think about tyres.

I'd still swap them over, as its not exactly safe having tyres on the front which have massive grip compared to the rears, so instead of understeer you will suffer from the rear losing it before the fronts & it'll snap quickly rather than sedately into oversteer, ok if you're used to that of course.

I never mix tyres, all my cars have 4 matching tyres, predictable grip, & handling in all weather conditions, i never take the risk.

Go on, you know you want a matching set

demag · Post by **demag** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:24 pm

Can't afford 4. They're costing me £180 now with tracking!

. Its got 2 good Pirelli's on the back anyway.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:29 am

Different tread patterns, construction & compounds, ok in the dry although still not ideal, not so good in the wet, make sure you take it steady in crap conditions.

What i've noticed which is a right royal pain, you'll buy 4 matching tyres, & if you dont periodically switch them round. The fronts will wear out & need replacing, rears will be ok, but by the time that happens they wont make that bleedin tyre anymore, they'll make the latest equivalent, guaranteed to have a different tread pattern

You can get around this by looking on the internet, as the older tread patterned ones will still be knocking about. How come you didnt try & get some matching pirellis?

I'm not having a go by the way, your money, your tyres & of course your choice.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:54 am

Whilst the advice normally is always to put the good tyres on the back axle (for good reason) I've never found the need to do this.

My BX at the moment has 4 completely mismatched tyres on it with random amounts of tread all round. Still handles fine. Granted, it might handle better if it had 4 matched tyres on it, but then I could get even better handling if I was driving a 405.

... or I could be driving a Talbot Horizon again, which even with 4 brand new very high quality tyres on it still handled like a wayward shopping trolley.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:11 pm

4 different tyres with different tread depths, you risk taker you

In all seriousness, as long as you arent driving quick, never have to do a sudden high speed manouver or slam on the anchors, yup no problem, on the other hand

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:16 pm

MULLEY wrote:as long as you arent driving quick, never have to do a sudden high speed manouver or slam on the anchors

You've never seen me drive have you....

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:24 pm

Well, you made it to and from my place safely last year - in weather conditions that were, erm, less than ideal...and with an engine in the boot!

I must say I prefer matched tyres all round - but I wonder how much if it is physcological, and whether you would be able to tell if you didn't know. I think it's more important on my bike - the tyres make a huge difference. then.

Aerodynamica · Post by **Aerodynamica** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:54 pm

I have a set of Vredestein 'Sprint Classics' on the front of the CX and compared to the outgoing set of el cheepo tyres they are the bizniz. They not only feel better but look better too - almost like the genuine Michelin MXV thingies the S1 CX is supposed to have. They also (and this is quite sad) smell really good!

My BX came fitted with a set of Michelin energy tyres - the closest thing to the now obsolete original spec BX S1 tyres?

But so far in my limited experience, I'd recommend the Vredestein tyres

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:55 pm

Nope never seen you drive David, so presume you drive at the legal speed limit on most occasions

Graeme, must admit i've got some michelin xt1or 2's? energy 175/65's on the Gti, turbo & the txd (swapped them from car to car), & to be honest i thought they were crap on all of them. Ok ish in the dry, but in the wet they were ditchfinders. They do last a long time though, thats the only positive i can say about michelins.

The 175/60's that were fitted to my clio did seem ok, but apart from getting some alternative ditchfinders fitted, i didnt have a direct comparison to judge them, so felt they were ok. Perhaps they were a more modern version than the bx's had been fitted with, still wasnt convinced they were that great in the wet though. Fronts lasted 40k, & thats with me thrashing the life out of them, so that was impressive.

Post by **docchevron** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:25 am

Aerodynamica wrote: They also (and this is quite sad) smell really good!

Are you into Gimp masks by chance??!!!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!!??!

I've seen and heard David drive.
Leaving the farm one afternoon he overtook some prat in a Vauxhall I think it was, nowt special in that, except he was in the C25D!
I was still chuckling 3 junctions later on the M5!
Totally safe and all, just surreal to see a big blue van overtake a car like!

I also heard David drive my valver, which is the only time I've heard my car when I'm not in it.
Sounded lovely from I was, which was some large number of yards from where the car was!