The SporTrac3s on the wifes vRS and on my Toledo 110 never smelt when I was pressing on and I really have given the vRS a good solid run (without the wife in the car!) without issue

This is getting a bit silly, I mean smelling tyres, come on.

Getting back on topic, I read on the last page Auto-Express has done a tyre test recently. Has anyone got the mag, what are the results? How did the Toyo T1-Rs do (if tested) and which Goodyears did they test. I know Vredesteins always win or come close in there tests.

7th place but to be honest, I'm suprised they got that hig. The "old" T1R was excellent, then came the T1S which was better, then they changed back to the T1R then back to the T1S then came out with the current T1R which is utterly appaling by comparison. Perhaps other tyres have moved on or they've just lost their way a bit but I drove a set about 76 months back on a mates toyota Supra and nearly killed myself. I thought they had very low grip levels in the dry and when close to the limit, they "squirmed" horribly and stopped transmitting what was actually going on with the contact patch so badly that when they DID go, it was a snap.......****, opposite lock **** etc.

I had Khumo's on the front of my Punto HGT and they were pretty good but the Vreds are soooooo much better both wet and dry. A bit noisier mind you but not hugely so.

BTW, be careful comparing Sportrac's and Sessenta's - totally different tyres

You can read the full test here; Tyre Guide Winners | Auto Express

Its not got the Ultrac Sessantas tested but the Sportrac 3 as they used a smaller size. The Ultrac Sessanta was in the 2007 Evo tyre test (send me PM with your e-mail address for further info).

That's the 2007 test results online. I have the (2007) mag in front of me. They have done a test this year and published in the 9-15 September 2009 issue. I think Continental won this year.

I would love some Ultrac Sessantas but they don't do anything smaller then 17 inches, no good for my Furby. It's the same problem with the new Goodyears F1s.

Edited 7 October, 200916 yr by Jim H

That's the 2007 test results online. I have the (2007) mag in front of me. They have done a test this year and published in the 9-15 September 2009 issue. I think Continental won this year.

I would love some Ultrac Sessantas but they don't do anything smaller then 17 inches, no good for my Furby. It's the same problem with the new Goodyears F1s.

Then look at the SporTrac3s. This is what I run on the wifes car and they are superb

Did anyone else immediately think what i thought on reading that sentence

What a job that would be

Carl:thumbup:

Suppose it would be, depends really.......but im not going to go there.

I've enough coping with the smell alone from the tyres when i get out of the car after a hooning.

That's the 2007 test results online. I have the (2007) mag in front of me. They have done a test this year and published in the 9-15 September 2009 issue. I think Continental won this year.

I would love some Ultrac Sessantas but they don't do anything smaller then 17 inches, no good for my Furby. It's the same problem with the new Goodyears F1s.

Oops; sorry. Thought the link was to the Tyre Test of a couple of weeks ago.

I've got a copy of the mag (9-15 Sept 2009) in front of me;

1st - Continental Premium Contact 2 - 100%

2nd - Goodyear OptiGrip - 99.7%

3rd - Vredestein Sportrac 3 - 99.2%

PM me for further details.

Ok, now I’ve read that these look like good tyres but I need to ask as my front set have about another 1-2k left before I change them. I have the original set of Michelin pilot with 23k and at sub £100 the vredsteins look good against the £145 Michelin but as I don’t corner like I’m at silverstone and I care more for tyre wear will these last 20K plus or as I read here they replaced (vredsteins) the front at 18k which is not what I’m really hoping to achieve. I dont mind paying the price if i get good distance out of them.

Ok, now I’ve read that these look like good tyres but I need to ask as my front set have about another 1-2k left before I change them. I have the original set of Michelin pilot with 23k and at sub £100 the vredsteins look good against the £145 Michelin but as I don’t corner like I’m at silverstone and I care more for tyre wear will these last 20K plus or as I read here they replaced (vredsteins) the front at 18k which is not what I’m really hoping to achieve. I dont mind paying the price if i get good distance out of them.

But why ?

£88 is 60.7% of the £145 of the Michelins, but 18K miles is 78.3 of the 23K miles of the Michelins (or 72% if you use 25K for the Michelins), so surely whichever way you look at it it's a no-brainer, AND you get the roadholding to boot (no pun intended)

Most of the time I can smell the brakes before the tyres, reassuring when the tyres are nice and warm

I dont get alot of brake smoke. I've usually got to the bend before you make any decent pace in a PD105 lol.

Ok, now I’ve read that these look like good tyres but I need to ask as my front set have about another 1-2k left before I change them. I have the original set of Michelin pilot with 23k and at sub £100 the vredsteins look good against the £145 Michelin but as I don’t corner like I’m at silverstone and I care more for tyre wear will these last 20K plus or as I read here they replaced (vredsteins) the front at 18k which is not what I’m really hoping to achieve. I dont mind paying the price if i get good distance out of them.

I have used both Michelin Pilot Exalto 2s (OE fitment) and the Vredesteins and on a ££ per mile basis they come out about equal but the Vreds are much better in the wet and arguably the more supple ride.

You choose!

PS> When you buy your new pair (whatever you buy) be sure to put them on the rear and the part worn rear tyres on the front. This will give you better grip at the rear to help minimise oversteer or a spin and will set up a pattern that you then only replace a pair of tyres at one time (smooths out the cashflow).

I have used both Michelin Pilot Exalto 2s (OE fitment) and the Vredesteins and on a ££ per mile basis they come out about equal but the Vreds are much better in the wet and arguably the more supple ride.

You choose!

PS> When you buy your new pair (whatever you buy) be sure to put them on the rear and the part worn rear tyres on the front. This will give you better grip at the rear to help minimise oversteer or a spin and will set up a pattern that you then only replace a pair of tyres at one time (smooths out the cashflow).

I ordered 2 for my wifes A3 from camskill yesterday and they've arrived already

She's currently on Michelin Pilot Sport 2's but I ain't paying £122.38 per corner!

Its only the 140 2.0TDI engine (which I still haven't remapped :thumbdwn:) so I think the Vredesteins are good enough for her and at £85 a corner you can't go wrong!!

I'll deffo be putting these on my VRS when it needs them, the previous owner had it on cheapo Indian yokes that are lasting an eternity (2 months ) and they make a hell of a lot of noise :(

Are they 225/45/17 for your wife's A3 Zippy? As that doesn't sound too bad a price for PS2s!

Steve

Are they 225/45/17 for your wife's A3 Zippy? As that doesn't sound too bad a price for PS2s!

Steve

No thats a good price for PS2's but its still too much for someone who won't use them to their full potential

They're 225/40/18 on the A3.

She's got original RS6's on it, I must post up a pic so you can all cry when you see what she's done to the kerbside ones :rotz:

I dont get alot of brake smoke. I've usually got to the bend before you make any decent pace in a PD105 lol.

Funny you should say that, jumped in dads PD105 Passat today, scared the hell out of me going into a corner, kind of forgot being used to my Passat and carried a bit too much speed into the corner lol

Well, few more miles on the clock now and the weather is getting a bit greasier.

I'm glad to report the tyres still hold up well in the wet!

I've never been as impressed with a set of tyres before, all i can say is i need some more on the rear axle.

Well, few more miles on the clock now and the weather is getting a bit greasier.

I'm glad to report the tyres still hold up well in the wet!

I've never been as impressed with a set of tyres before, all i can say is i need some more on the rear axle.

Get them and flog the old ones as part worns.

What size wheels you on Browny?

Steve

What size wheels you on Browny?

Steve

Says 18s on his signature.

Jeez I hate to say "I told you so!

Mine are now worn in and I had to nip to Haywards Heath during my lunch and there are lots of nice twisty bits. I basically drove it like a 5yr old and came back from lunch grinning like a loon! SO much grip and SO progressive when it does let go. These are the best tyres bar none for less than £140 a corner.

That said, they are a bit noisy...........

Jeez I hate to say "I told you so!

Mine are now worn in and I had to nip to Haywards Heath during my lunch and there are lots of nice twisty bits. I basically drove it like a 5yr old and came back from lunch grinning like a loon! SO much grip and SO progressive when it does let go. These are the best tyres bar none for less than £140 a corner.

That said, they are a bit noisy...........

.....yep but no more so than the dunlop sportmax i had on the rears before the vreds....mine a week old and so far so good but not thrashed it and will wait for the benefit of having a set on the front esecially in the wet. The nexen rubbish that came on the front of mine are awful on these greasy roads. ...reckon a shopping trolley could do me away from the line.

All i need to do is get some on the back, as the rear ones are stepping out in the wet.

I've just done a little experimenting with them on the way home, i started off by progressively steering around a medium sized roundabout which i may add was wet but also was near enough flat the whole away around (slight curve for run off water) aswell as empty at the time.

Feeding in the speed gently with the ASR off, i was anticipating the rear end leaving me first. Keeping a tidy line without any sudden movement of the steering. As i picked up a little more pace i could start to feel the back end going light, considering it wasn't exactly slow neither a stupid speed.

Just fed a little throttle in and straightened up for the exit and pulled it back straight.

I just cant believe how much grip there is that its allowing for oversteer whilst feeding the throttle in steady!

I am running Kuhmo 712's on the rear which are aload of cak IMO!

All i can say is, that im having some for the back very soon! (C'mon payday!)

What size wheels you on Browny?

Steve

225/40/R18 on 8" RS4 Replica's there not exactly light wheels either :(

Get them and flog the old ones as part worns.

If someone wants to even buy brand new Kuhmo 712's then i would tell em to steer clear of them, there ok in the dry. But on a car of this size there no good in the wet (i was always weary of them breaking traction even from new).

Never mind sell them as part worns!

Maybe they would be better on a lighter car, i dont know.

Infact earlier on in the year with around 4mm of tread on the fronts in a downpour i was aquaplaning on a dual carriageway on the way up towards York. Scared the hell out of me as its the first time in my 5yrs of driving that i've ever aquaplaned!