Pirelli win again

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
I need new tyres before the end of the year. Anybody had experience with these Vredestein Ultrac Vortis? I see them listed alongside the Pirelli and Michelin as performance tyres for the GT sizes (20"). They seem to get good reviews and are a fair bit cheaper on the whole.

Reviews:
Pirelli P Zeros: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Pirelli/P-Zero.htm
Michelin PS4s: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Michelin/Pilot-Sport-4.htm
Vredestain Ultrac Vortis: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Vredestein/Ultrac-Vorti.htm

Vreds have surprised in reviews more than a few times. Some vendors claim they are the very top segment ( ie- premium) tyre but I think pricing indicates that probably stretches the truth..who knows. They perform better than anticipated in tests, as said. I have them on the 4200.
Rears are a tyre they do specifically for rear axles. Different carcass structure and the tread/ profile works for stability and grip ( sounds dumb. Of course grip, but because the front tends to dissipate the standing water ahead of the rears, they are able to tweak the tyre) meaning you can buy front and rears and should differentiate between axles on purchase....
My fronts are old & worn, a spent force...They are not Ultrac Vorti but Ultrac “something else”...the tyres on the rear are new Ultrac vorti
I can’t decide what to put up front. I have 18” rims so Michelin Power Sport 4S isn’t available. Power Sport 4 is but they aren’t the same tyre and I’m not sold on a decision yet. Contact Sport6? But they might embarrass the rears ..?
I like the sidewall design on the Vreds. They look sharp. They aren’t the best in the wet but you can read that for yourself...

Might just put Vreds up front too....still guessing. But they are a decent unit at the good price point. Depends what you want I guess...?
 
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rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Just been out in the Jag to pick up my lovely new fully refurbished 4200 alloy. It is 15 degrees and very wet. I can confirm that I have no confidence in the PZeros in these conditions. It isn't even that cold. They just don't feel planted and don't inspire confidence. When you have 510 PS under the bonnet that is not what you need :oops:

The E55K Estate I had previously had immense mechanical traction and loads of tyre grip from MO Continentals.
 

Delmonte

Member
Messages
878
Was hoping to move from PZeros to Michelins this time but apparently no PS4's in 245/40/19 available.
What do people think of Pilot Sport 4?

Eb

PS4 (or previously, PS3, PS2) have been by far the best tyres I’ve used as all rounders on any car. Just changed from Bridgestone/ Goodyear on the 4200 to PS4 all round, while at the same time going from 18 to 19 and lower profile (which you would expect to kill the ride) but it actually improved the ride. Not to mention grip, and most of all, quietness.
It was the same on my Alfa. It always surprises me how much of an improvement you get from Michelin.
Nowadays I wouldn’t use any other tyre on my ‘best’ car, yes a bit dearer but minimal difference to other premium brands.

I haven’t used Pirelli since the 90s so cant comment on them.

(incidentally, the next best tyres I’ve used have been Kumho and use them on my mini. Great for the money and better than many of the supposed premium brands)
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
I am currently debating what to put on the GS, at the moment its between Goodyear F1 Assy5, Vred ultrac Vorti, or Falken Fk510, but I want to go up to a 245 on the front, as the standard 235 look to much like a stretched tyre on a 'yoofs' polo, but cant believe the difference in price for an extra 10mm of width.
 

FF1078

Member
Messages
1,123
OH NO
I've just checked Michelin's web site to see what they have for a California T, my next purchase in April and they do nothing! AARRGGHH
I'm not sticking with Pirelli ever again after swapping over to Michelin
 

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
The correct P Zero tyres for modern Masers have the letters MGT on the side. Maybe some people have inadvertently had the wrong versions. It’s the only reason I can think of for people on here not liking a tyre design that consistently wins group tests of high performance tyres in both wet and dry conditions.

Not sure what tyres Matt and Zep have on their Strads instead of P Zero’s, but you can see from the videos of them leaving Wilton House that they had no grip, even in the dry ;)

Mine were on a new Ghibli that I owned. I shall assume that Maserati fitted the correct version.
Whether they win tests or not plenty of people don't like them and have had bad experiences. Maserati will only fit them because they have a deal with Pirelli, not because they're the best choice for their cars. Tests are also often sponsored, or there are close links/relationships between testers and manufacturers as they are advertisers. Cynical? Maybe. True? Yes.
 

JonW

Member
Messages
3,259
I am currently debating what to put on the GS, at the moment its between Goodyear F1 Assy5, Vred ultrac Vorti, or Falken Fk510, but I want to go up to a 245 on the front, as the standard 235 look to much like a stretched tyre on a 'yoofs' polo, but cant believe the difference in price for an extra 10mm of width.

Jasst - Good luck. I couldn’t find the Goodyear Assy5 for front and rear when I was looking a couple of months ago... I can’t remember if it was the front or the back, but for one of them could buy Assy2 or Assy3 , but not the latest Assy5.
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Jasst - Good luck. I couldn’t find the Goodyear Assy5 for front and rear when I was looking a couple of months ago... I can’t remember if it was the front or the back, but for one of them could buy Assy2 or Assy3 , but not the latest Assy5.
Thanks Jon, that is a very good point, only after fronts to start, have found that Falken, and Vred are available in F&R, but haven't looked for rears in the goodyear yet, and i do want to eventually end up with matched set, should be better than the 4 different ones I have at the moment (yes different one on each corner)!
 

Navcorr

Member
Messages
3,839
Could it be that Goodyear haven't yet released the Assy5 in the size you want? I needed to replace rears recently and was happy to wait a month or so until the size I needed became available. A call to Goodyear will confirm what's what.
 

gentlemanjordan

New Member
Messages
18
I'm just about to change all 4 tyres on my 4200, currently shod with Pzero's on the rears and Pilot Sport 3's on the front. Can't decide between Vredstein Ultrac Vortis or Michelin PS4 - the Michelin's cost approx. £100 more in total.

The car is off-road between Nov and Mar/Apr but then again, I'm in Edinburgh so there's still a fair amount of wet driving conditions involved :)

Do you think its worth the extra for the PS4s?
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
I'm just about to change all 4 tyres on my 4200, currently shod with Pzero's on the rears and Pilot Sport 3's on the front. Can't decide between Vredstein Ultrac Vortis or Michelin PS4 - the Michelin's cost approx. £100 more in total.

The car is off-road between Nov and Mar/Apr but then again, I'm in Edinburgh so there's still a fair amount of wet driving conditions involved :)

Do you think its worth the extra for the PS4s?
PS4, Vredestain are a rebrand of Pzeros, **** in the cold and stiffened sidewalls that split the shoulder over potholes. I may be wrong but the characteristics are astonishing.
 

gentlemanjordan

New Member
Messages
18
Thanks @conaero - didn't realise they were rebranded Pirellis.

Edinburgh streets are bad for potholes and it can be pretty cold, so that makes the decision much easier now!
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
I couldn't fault the PS4. I've got them on the Alfa GT and had then on another but can't remember what. Found them great in all weathers and give lots of confidence.
 

ScaldedCat

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
396
Had a set of PS4S fitted this week. Drove home in the pouring rain carefully until I 'know' the tyres better. However, drove it today in the dry it feels completely different (this may be just the new tyre feel or a psychological thing because I'm expecting them to be better than the Pirellis) but it seems less jiggly over the bumps and a lot grippier generally. Hoping this will stop the car trying to chase its own tail when the winter comes!
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Could it be that Goodyear haven't yet released the Assy5 in the size you want? I needed to replace rears recently and was happy to wait a month or so until the size I needed became available. A call to Goodyear will confirm what's what.
I've emailed Goodyear to ask if they are going to bring out the asy 5 in 265 30 19 size.
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
PS4, Vredestain are a rebrand of Pzeros, **** in the cold and stiffened sidewalls that split the shoulder over potholes. I may be wrong but the characteristics are astonishing.
Thanks for the heads up on that fact Mat, so can scrub Vreds from the list.