Indeed. I ordered 2x Quatrac 3 on 15 Dec(BEFORE the cold snap) was told they would be with me by 8 Jan. Last week was told another week. I'm very patient and understand supply/demand etc but if they don't arrive this week I'll have to fit "normal" summer tyres.

Had Quatrac 3's last year and rated them very highly.

FYI I spoke to Vred about the Quatracs and they told me that while the Quatrac 2/3 have M+S markings, they don't have a snowflake symbol on them. They even sent a chap into the warehouse to check, because I asked.

If anyone who actually purchased these tyres can confirm otherwise I'm more than happy to be corrected, but as I said I asked when I was debating them or the nokians.

Interesting thread and opinions. For what it is worth, I have been running various Vredestein tyres on Subaru’s and my current Skoda 4x4 for the past 12 years.

I originally used Snowtrac on Legacy Outbacks and found them to be great all round tyres that were perfect for my job (as per username) Only comment would be that they were not as precise in handling as the original equip Bridgestone Duellers. I regularly got 26k out of a set (rotated) while OE tyres would get probably 22k if careful.

On a change of job, I ended up with a Golf and moved to Quatrac 2 with a H rating to keep the company insurers happy (could not get Snowtrac in that size with a H rating). Very grippy tyre and good wear rates and reasonable (but not performance spec) handling, still 22k on a Diesel FWD car, not bad.

Another change of job and more choice in the Co. Car dept. enabled me to choose a Skoda Octavia 2.0 4x4. OE tyres were surprisingly good but only lasted about 17k, then moved on to Quatrac 2 – based on the experience with them on the Golf and found them great moving back to about 26k per set. Second set lasted a little less than that due to worn suspension bushes (courtesy of a lot of track driving – forest roads not circuits!). Now on Quatrac 3 as they have stopped doing Quatrac 2 in the size I require. A better all round tyre but outside tread shoulder is more road bias so not quite as grippy as the “2”. (Car is 3 years old at the end of the month currently on 79k miles)

Still, the proof of the pudding they say is that they have performed well during this bout of snow but with slightly more initial slip that the “2’s”. The ideal option is to have 2 sets of tyres, I used to do that with the Subarus, mainly because the Snowtrac was more of a winter tyre and it was on all season tyres as OE. But, for those of you considering an all season tyre do not be put off if you can only afford one set. I could be considered by some as an “enthusiastic” driver and I have had no problems with using them year round.

However, a lot is down to personal preference but one thing I have never skimped on is tyres – false economy if you ask me.

Oh, I would check if they had the snowflake symbol but the car is in the garage tonight awaiting MOT tomorrow!

Interesting thread and opinions. For what it is worth, I have been running various Vredestein tyres on Subaru’s and my current Skoda 4x4 for the past 12 years.

I originally used Snowtrac on Legacy Outbacks and found them to be great all round tyres that were perfect for my job (as per username) Only comment would be that they were not as precise in handling as the original equip Bridgestone Duellers. I regularly got 26k out of a set (rotated) while OE tyres would get probably 22k if careful.

On a change of job, I ended up with a Golf and moved to Quatrac 2 with a H rating to keep the company insurers happy (could not get Snowtrac in that size with a H rating). Very grippy tyre and good wear rates and reasonable (but not performance spec) handling, still 22k on a Diesel FWD car, not bad.

Another change of job and more choice in the Co. Car dept. enabled me to choose a Skoda Octavia 2.0 4x4. OE tyres were surprisingly good but only lasted about 17k, then moved on to Quatrac 2 – based on the experience with them on the Golf and found them great moving back to about 26k per set. Second set lasted a little less than that due to worn suspension bushes (courtesy of a lot of track driving – forest roads not circuits!). Now on Quatrac 3 as they have stopped doing Quatrac 2 in the size I require. A better all round tyre but outside tread shoulder is more road bias so not quite as grippy as the “2â€. (Car is 3 years old at the end of the month currently on 79k miles)

Still, the proof of the pudding they say is that they have performed well during this bout of snow but with slightly more initial slip that the “2’sâ€. The ideal option is to have 2 sets of tyres, I used to do that with the Subarus, mainly because the Snowtrac was more of a winter tyre and it was on all season tyres as OE. But, for those of you considering an all season tyre do not be put off if you can only afford one set. I could be considered by some as an “enthusiastic†driver and I have had no problems with using them year round.

However, a lot is down to personal preference but one thing I have never skimped on is tyres – false economy if you ask me.

Oh, I would check if they had the snowflake symbol but the car is in the garage tonight awaiting MOT tomorrow!

See Vredesteins own Ifo: States bears M&S and snowflake

http://www.vredestein.com/Banden_Bandtypes.asp?BandgroepID=3&BandtoepassingID=0&BandtypeID=66&PageID=1&UserSessionID=98836482

Indeed. I ordered 2x Quatrac 3 on 15 Dec(BEFORE the cold snap) was told they would be with me by 8 Jan. Last week was told another week. I'm very patient and understand supply/demand etc but if they don't arrive this week I'll have to fit "normal" summer tyres.

Had Quatrac 3's last year and rated them very highly.

Oops. I ordered mine from mytyres.co.uk on the 21st Dec )ie just after the start of the cold snap, and they arrived in Edinburgh on Thurs 7th. I put the delay down to the holidays rather than a shortage. Mind you I ordered Nokians, maybe the Quadtracs are more popular?

See Vredesteins own Ifo: States bears M&S and snowflake

http://www.vredestein.com/Banden_Bandtypes.asp?BandgroepID=3&BandtoepassingID=0&BandtypeID=66&PageID=1&UserSessionID=98836482

Interesting, and might be a new thing from when I called a year ago.

Can anyone confirm this?

Oops. I ordered mine from mytyres.co.uk on the 21st Dec )ie just after the start of the cold snap, and they arrived in Edinburgh on Thurs 7th. I put the delay down to the holidays rather than a shortage. Mind you I ordered Nokians, maybe the Quadtracs are more popular?

Mine were ordered from the local independant tyre place which will be a pretty small volume purchaser so I am guessing that some of the larger tyre purchasers have taken priority over their order (ie pinched my tyres). Whilst i am a bit disappointed with this it is understandable so will not shout at them too much. They have been pretty good in the past and competitively priced.

Silly question do you use 4 snow tyres or can you just change the front 2

All 4.

i personally have just changed the front two, and up to now have maintained excellent traction in the snow, this morning i have been for a spirited drive in the damp and the car handled perfectly fine . the only thing i noticed was a lot of road noise.

now i know im going to get machine gunned down by people stating what the "handbook says" , "cant have two different types of tyres on the car", "check your insurance"

but i dont care it works for me!

This will be a never ending story.

Fact is, that it strongly depends on the mix you drive. The lower the profile and the higher the speed index, the worse the combination with winter tyres will be (2 by 2).

I base my judgment exclusively on this:

It is a serious mistake to only fit winter tyres to the 2 drive wheels. I am not going to state the handbook, but you should be aware that a mix two tyre types with a variation on ability of grip can result in a loss of control when subjected to sharp steering input. Whilst you might not notice this in regular driving, when it comes to emergency braking or evasive action to avoid another motorist or pedestrian, something which is quite likely in these conditions with plenty of idiots out there not watching where they are going, then the consequences could be fatal! So for the sake of an extra £150-£200 you should not compromise your own or others safety. Better to have 4 all season tyres and take it a bit more carefully than two winter and two All Season and risk losing control. Like others have pointed out in the various threads on winter tyres, your insurance excess is easily more than a full set of winter tyres, so please do think carefully about changing back to all 4 the same or buying and fitting winter tyres for the other 2 wheels.

Edited 13 January, 201016 yr by KayakJim

but i dont care it works for me!

...until your car's backend and frontend swap round on a slippery bend

I have use michelins and continentals and both were good, in the snow with a BMW its probably hard to judge. Any winter tyre will feel alot better after trying to get round on summer slicks, i couldn't belive the difference at first and it will slowly catch on in the UK if the weather persists in winters!

European equivalent autoexpress etc will do tests so some of our overseas members should be able to help. Also they seem to be harder to come by in the UK so you might be restricted on what makes you can get hold of for a reasonable price.

Adac gives a lot of advice. On this link, you'll find much information about winter tyres: http://www1.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Winterreifen/205_55_R16H_2009/default.asp?ComponentID=268441&SourcePageID=8979#. 'Alle Testergebnisse im Uberblick' gives a summary of their tests. 'Besonders empfehlenswert' means very recommended, 'empfehlenswert' is recommended, 'nicht empfehlenswert' is not recommended. You'll notice that the information is about the size 205/55 R 16 H. If you look around, you'll find other dimensions.

.

Adac gives a lot of advice. On this link, you'll find much information about winter tyres: http://www1.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Winterreifen/205_55_R16H_2009/default.asp?ComponentID=268441&SourcePageID=8979#. 'Alle Testergebnisse im Uberblick' gives a summary of their tests. 'Besonders empfehlenswert' means very recommended, 'empfehlenswert' is recommended, 'nicht empfehlenswert' is not recommended. You'll notice that the information is about the size 205/55 R 16 H. If you look around, you'll find other dimensions.

.

Interesting... so when they mention that they are not so good in the wet (which it is here more often than not) would that still be better in the wet than a summer tyre?

On the German site, the Vredestein Quatrac 3:

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?u=http%3A//www1.adac.de/Search/SearchResult/RW_HighLight.asp%3FRWDoc2Show%3D38979%26RWLang%3Dde%26RWCollectionID%3Dadac%26RWQuery%3DQUATRAC%25203%26RWURL%3Dhttp%3A//www1.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Winterreifen/195_65_R15T/default.asp%26RWCookieValue%3D589F5C6DB83ADBA41DAD47C9EEF9786D00A0001858DC88B0F6B6D84D2E9EDFA7E9C922DAFB0E0BDDBC738BD00324E2813CF6534C9B79F111B9F31A299D3EC066C34D65D403EACFEBE10C3F0413451381C90F6B400B821CA40A720F753E00FD0C8145342E92701904BB602C532D3F72499A6CF4BD3600EF6D69B232881EDD2DA46D4EA57A5E911D4FA1EAFE1D6E972535DE5391A00B73CA2D75B91F81C6A2C1A12BBE9F5976710F00D49B16EF4BEB081FADA7E517C40EF76082D040FAF77E35E3CF01F41DB9F3B13A03CEB5145F7D60A1D1DFDBBDF60F539BF6D77C210494&hl=en&langpair=auto|en&tbb=1&ie=ISO-8859-1

Interesting... so when they mention that they are not so good in the wet (which it is here more often than not) would that still be better in the wet than a summer tyre?

I think people have got to be carful in what tyres they get, are winters are wetter than the German's, Alp's, Nordic or Central Europe. Take the Goodyear Vector 4 Season, not good on wet! I know it's tempting to fit rubber that handle the ice and snow -10 in the last weeks. But the avg British winter is more wet than ice! With avg day time temps of 7 to 13C from the MetOffice.

By the way the best winter one is the: Continental Winter Contact TS830, the Vredestein Snowtrac 3 is number 8 and Nokian WRG2 is 12th! I not say not good to have but are weather is so changeable!

James.

Edited 13 January, 201016 yr by james26

By the way the best winter one is the: Continental Winter Contact TS830, the Vredestein Snowtrac 3 is number 8 and Nokian WRG2 is 12th! I not say not good to have but are weather is so changeable!

James.

By who's reckoning?

The German site of ADAC which it seems have done lots of tests on them!

http://www1.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Winterreifen/205_55_R16H_2009/continental_wintercontact_ts_830.asp?ComponentID=268457&SourcePageID=268556

And the grid so you can see you self:

http://www1.adac.de/Tests/Reifentests/Winterreifen/205_55_R16H_2009/tab.asp?ComponentID=268440&SourcePageID=268552

james.

Interesting, and might be a new thing from when I called a year ago.

Can anyone confirm this?

Yup, mine (Quatrac 3) have snowflake, rain and sun symbols. (now back from garage fully MOT'ed with no advisories!)

Yup, mine (Quatrac 3) have snowflake, rain and sun symbols. (now back from garage fully MOT'ed with no advisories!)

As you have the Quatrac 3's do you find them any nosier? or use more fuel? Than the last rubbers? Also do you plan to keep them on during the summer?

james.

Yup, mine (Quatrac 3) have snowflake, rain and sun symbols. (now back from garage fully MOT'ed with no advisories!)

Ahh yes that's cheating.

Does it have a snowflake in a mountain like this:

Ahh yes that's cheating.

Does it have a snowflake in a mountain like this:

Sorry, should have made it a bit clearer, yes it has M+S plus the snowflake in a mountain symbol and slightly further round it has the snowflake, rain and sun symbols too.

As for noise, I don't find them much noisier than the OE tyres but they might be, just not enough to annoy me. Fuel consumption in real world driving on a mix of roads and very few motorways is almost religiously 43mpg average whenever I look at the running total on the computer so no obvious disadvantage over the original tyres. I do run them year round with no problems.

A warning from another thread on multiple tyres - http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/148917-how-many-have-more-than-one-set-of-wheelstyres/page__view__findpost__p__1860511

I use the Nokian WR, it's marketed as a winter tyre in the UK but as an all-season tyre in North America. It's the same tyre though, it's got the M(ud)+S(now) symbol and even has "All Weather Plus" written on it (UK version).

I intend to run it all year round, as long as the wear is acceptable in summer. It has a wear rating of 420, which is quite reasonable even for a summer tyre!

HI are your Nokian tyrs directional? mine arrived today from mytyres and all 4 are the same.