Hi folks,

Just quick query to see if anyone has tried these?

I currently have Sportrac 3's with a V-tread directional pattern and have found them to be good in both wet, dry and snow on our Octy 4x4. Hence I'd like to replace with the same agan but the local Vredestein supplier is telling me they can now only get Sportrac 5's. Trouble is the 5's have a non-directional, non-V tread pattern and have reverted to a non-directional pattern with four longitudinal grooves with few cross sipes which, to my mind will be poorer at shifting water and crap in bad weather.

I'm therefore tempted to find some older Sportrac 3's via the internet (opponeo etc.) or go for the Goodyear Vector 4 seasons but I think the latter are nearly twice the price...

Any thoughts?

Cheers

according to tyre "science" the asymetrical 'long grooves' are always better at shifting water than a 'directional' pattern... (cant be arsed to try to find the video about tread designand water shifting...

) this is why most manufacturers are turning away from directional to asymetric.

here are the threes...

http://www.tyrerevie.../Sportrac-3.htm

and the fives...

http://www.tyrerevie.../Sportrac-5.htm

although they are limited reviews, the 5's score higher.....

having said that, I recently had an asymetrical tyre (kumho KU39) and it sucked compaired to the maxxis Z1 it replaced.... (directional) ...

Hmmm, thanks for the links, having had a look I've gone with the Sportrac3's again from Oponeo.

Whilst the 5's get good reviews it is only a very limited number of reviews and my personal preference from many years experience is a V-Tread directional patterm. Also, I just cannot see a tyre with longitudinal grooves and few cross sipes being any good for getting going in the bad weather we are likely to get again this year. The 3's, whilst a summer tyre, have also performed really well over the last couple of years in up to 18" of snow, to the point where I now consider them a good all rounder, and I think that is primarily due to the tread pattern. Also I already have two new low-mileage 3's on the front so at least I'll match up OK.

When I come to need a full set of new ones I may go for the Vector 4 seasons as an alternative (nearly did for the fronts a couple of months ago but was in a rush) as, despite all the science behind the 'long grooves' my experience tells me they won't be as good...

Cheers

longitudinal grooves certainly dont work on snow..... thats why conti (summers) do so badly in the winter....

each car is different to tyres too, the KU39's I mentioned earlier generally get good reviews, but suck on the fabia II vRS.....

going with your own experiances is a good idea

Get quatrac3.

You say sportrac3 are good on snow.

I tried sportrac2 on my audi 100 quattro (with proper 4 wheel drive, none of this haldex stuff) and they were absolute ****e.

I now use winters and summers but was going to get quatrac3 but when they arrived they had sent 3 15" tyres and 1 16" tyre (and these were the only and last ones in the country).

Get quatrac3.

You say sportrac3 are good on snow.

I tried sportrac2 on my audi 100 quattro (with proper 4 wheel drive, none of this haldex stuff) and they were absolute ****e.

I now use winters and summers but was going to get quatrac3 but when they arrived they had sent 3 15" tyres and 1 16" tyre (and these were the only and last ones in the country).

Sportrac2 had the longitudinal grooves I was talking about and narrow cross sipes so that so that doesn't surprise me (they were very much like the current Hitracs) - the Sportrac 3 is a full V tread pattern with no longitudinal grooves...

I have a set of sportrac 3 to go on my octavia in April.

Still pants compared to a winter tyre in snow.

I have a set of sportrac 3 to go on my octavia in April.

Still pants compared to a winter tyre in snow.

Maybe but infinitely better than a lot of tyres I've had... The only time I've failed to get out and about over the last few years with huge amounts of snow on Sportrac3's has been when the car literally ran out of ground clearance... So they'll do me!

Just get Quatrac then.....

Any thoughts?

Uniroyal Rainsport 2 might fit the bill

Uniroyal Rainsport 2 might fit the bill

Sister has those on her Mitsubishi - they're useless as the V is too narrow so seems to act like a longitudinal groove...

I got the Sportrac3's in the end off the internet and had them fitted the other week - so far no problems in snow...