I am looking to replace my two front tyres shortly & have done a search on the various threads about 'which tyres' are best on the 18's (it's got the original Conti's on all round at the moment). I've checked out all the opinions & prices, reports/tests etc...and I am about to settle on a pair of Vredstein Ultrac Sessanta's, which I can get from a local garage for £95 + vat + balance etc, so about £225 the pair...does that sound like a good deal or does anyone have any other options I shouldn't discount before I do the deal?

Also...the other question is...do I fit them front or back, as the opinion seems divided on which method is best/safer.

P.s I am not a mad high speed driver (but do like to boot it occasionally)...but use a mix of country/motorway & town roads in a various states of repair/surfaces etc...& now only do about 10k a year.

They look cheap enough and people will tell you to put them on the back.

Me, I would fit them on the front because I prefer traction to understeer

These tyres are getting good reports. Seems to be a sound buy and good wet weather performance. I would be tempted to put them on the front also since the the fronts have to work harder to clear standing water. Dont know what winter performance would be like though as they are classed as a "summer tyre"

Interesting comment...I had thought about buying a pair of 'winters' just for the front & swapping them over (on the existing alloys) every 6 months...we did this with a V5 Bora we had a few years ago (worked well)...however I was put off by some comments I'd read on here about having to fit a full set of winters, rather than just 2? Any thoughts.

I guess it sort of spreads the cost of tyres, if I buy a 'cheapish' pair of winters & rotate with the Vred's on the front???

Vredestein reccomend winter tyres for all the months with an "R" in them....

Very good tyre, i used to sell loads of them

Phil

I have just put 2 Pirelli P-Zero Rossos on my vRS, same size - £230 all in, so similar money.

I have put the Pirellis on the back, and put the half worn Contis on to the front.

I had always put new tyres onto the front of the car, thinking that I preferred the traction and reduced understeer, until I went and spun a car (Honda Accord Type S) in the wet because the rears were not as good as the fronts.

The thing was that I had no warning at all as the fronts were not understeering at all, and then the back just let go.

With the Honda I had Bridgestones on the front and Yokohamas on the back. After the spin I put the Yokos on the front and did my best to wear them out so I could get rid of them

I too run my Vrs mk1 on 225 40 18`s...Pirelli Rossos are my fave good grip wet and dry and run quiet on the car

Phil

5th gear did a test on the front/back fitting , new tyres go on the back .

even sat through vicki butler henderson , squeaking and snorting through it , to the end, always put new tyres on the front myself but they showed they work better on the back

I use Ultrac Sessantas as my 'winter' tyres, but that is only for the damp/cool conditions we get here in the South East; they are pretty good for this and better than Michelin Pilot Exaltos.

For 'winter' tyres proper, I would really only commend fitting a set of four and in that event I'd get them on 17s or 16s (not 18s).

As far as supply goes check these guys out to provide them mail-order to you, and you will then need to pay c.£10 per wheel to have them fitted & balanced;-

Mocom Racing - Performance car and trackday products phone them for their best price or

Bridgetones Tyres, Pirelli Tyres, Michelin Tyres, Dunlop Tyres, Goodyear Tyres, Toyo Tyres, Yokohama Tyres and more...

Good Luck.

Supply of Vredestein tyre to independant retailers here in Scotland is Very good. I believe that many folk have to fall back on web ordering further south.

I aggree that if you want winter tyres then they should be fitted as a set of 4. Aberdeenshire seems to have had a lot more snow the past few years compared with Perthshire, but if snow became an issue I would put them on a set of (cheaper) alloys and swap them over when the white stuff closes in.

Thanks for all the replies & links folks. I'll continue to check out the options, I hadn't appreciated the Vredstein Ultrac Sessanta's were a 'winter tyre'..maybe the Pirelli'S are the better option, if a similar price...will investigate further before making the decision. Unlikely I'd go down the route of fitting 4 other smaller rims c/w winter tyres, although I do appreciate the reasons.

I hadn't appreciated the Vredstein Ultrac Sessanta's were a 'winter tyre'..

They are not; its just that I use them in the 'winter' on 17s as they give better wet/cool grip and a more forgiving handling response than my Pilot Exalto 2s on 18s.

Vredestein's Wintrac is a proper winter tyre if you go that route (set of 4 of course).

I recalled there was a recent Auto Express test where the Vredstein Ultrac Sessanta finished a close 2nd to the Pirelli (Nero?) but offered better VFM (which is why I planned to go for it)...now I can't find that report in the mags or online...the Sportrac 3 seems to be the one that pops up in recent reports when Vredstein gets a mention.

My front tyres are around 3mm & while I'd probably get another 2000?miles out of them at a push (done 14k on them already)...given the time of year & the scrabbling the car already does moving off at junctions...it's probably a sensible shout to get them swapped now.

Evo tyre test 2007 has the Ultrac Sessanta 2nd to Goodyear's Eagle F1 Asymmetric - see headline result here;- 2007 evo tyre test reviews - tyre reviews, ratings and road tests for all car, bike and trackday performance tyres

Please send me a PM if you'd like further info.

AFAIK the Sportrac 3 is available in 55 and 50 profile, whereas the Ultrac Sessanta is available in 45 and 40 profile; so to be used on the vRS.

Thanks for that & the link...I may have a look at the Goodyears too...you can tell I am a bit new to all this !

The Goodyears have a good write-up, but there are varying reports on how quickly they wear. That's why I went for the Pirellis.

The Goodyears have a good write-up, but there are varying reports on how quickly they wear. That's why I went for the Pirellis.

I've got Goodyear F1 asy. on the front of mine, done 10k miles so far and still plenty left on them.

Ok, decision made...read all the reviews etc & settled on the Vredstein Ultrac Sessanta's (£95 + fitting)...going to order them this weekend & have them fitted next week...before it starts snowing up here !!!!

Thanks for all your help (again !)