[neo871]

Great reviews! But these things got me thinking....I would like to change my current PS2s RFT to PS2s non RFT during spring 2010 but the reduced handling capabilities worry me! Is it really true that when changing to non rft you should really consider upgrading your ARBs? I really thought that switching to non rft will improve both handling and confort...

[dxb335d]

Just buy some proper tyres like Conti or Michelin.

[penport]

I've used Vredesteins before and was very happy with them (on an A4 Avant). I'm planning on ditching the RFTs on my E92 and popped down to my local independant tyre shop. According to them Vredesteins have recently gone up in price dramatically (apparently the company has been taken over "by the russians") and supply is patchy.
They no longer even stock them.
Looks like it's Toyo's or Eagle F1's for me.

[the_rangdo]

At mytyres the price has only gone up by about £5 per corner since June, not too bad

[the_rangdo]

Actually this thread has got me thinking about winter tyres again, particularly Vred Wintracs.

Anyone in the NW of England felt the need to go to winter tyres? This time last year I had a FWD car and that was bad enough on the handful of days we had snow.

[Skid]

Anyone near the Bromsgrove area try Jefferies tyres on 01527831829 for Vredestiens

[Alexmac10]

Originally Posted by the_rangdo

Actually this thread has got me thinking about winter tyres again, particularly Vred Wintracs.

Anyone in the NW of England felt the need to go to winter tyres? This time last year I had a FWD car and that was bad enough on the handful of days we had snow.

I'm the same, was going to replace my RFT's with normal tyres but thinking i should get winter ones instead. this is my first winter with a RWD car so not sure what to expect. Had Goodyear F1's last year on a Golf GTi and had no problems at all but this is an entirely different animal.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by neo871

Great reviews! But these things got me thinking....I would like to change my current PS2s RFT to PS2s non RFT during spring 2010 but the reduced handling capabilities worry me! Is it really true that when changing to non rft you should really consider upgrading your ARBs? I really thought that switching to non rft will improve both handling and confort...

If you are after a bit more comfort you have to trade something. The differences in the two tyres should not make more than a subtle difference to day to day handling. I'd certainly not want to change ARBs, there is a lot of poor handling cars due to getting ARBs too firm and unbalanced to the car. BMW do a pretty good balance for road driving.

I come from the angle that too hard, too stiff, too little roll, can make a car slower, even less predictable. (The RFT drive quality debate illustrates this). Many feel makes a car feel more sporty, but not necessarily a faster car, or have as much grip as a slightly softer drive.

I came off 17" Bridgestone RFTs to a 'softer' Goodyear F1 tyre. My car became sure footed, planted, grip improved and point to point speed in real day to day conditions, was faster with much more confidence.

I'm currently trying Falken 452s, these are even softer walled than the F1 GS-D3s and the car is even better to drive. I prefer to give away an edge of turn-in, to gain a sure footed drive over less than perfect road surfaces.

If we are driving on billiard table smooth roads then yes, we can see how the harder walled tyres are an advantage, but not for most of us where we want a good tyre contact patch over all kinds of hardtop, then a bit of give, reaps big gains.

HighlandPete

[rupesjoel]

I had Vredestein QUATRAC 2s on my Audi A4 Avant and was extremely impressed with them.
I have used QUATRAC 3s RFT M&S rating tyres on my BMW E91 for the last 2 years and they have been excellent; the prices are still quite reasonable with camskill and with tyremen.
Vredestein make fantastic tyres, I cant believe they are not more popular in the UK!

[neo871]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

If we are driving on billiard table smooth roads then yes, we can see how the harder walled tyres are an advantage, but not for most of us where we want a good tyre contact patch over all kinds of hardtop, then a bit of give, reaps big gains.

HighlandPete

You're more than right!