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TireRack's curiously gushing Vredestein Quatrac 5 ratings

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by ChapmanF, Jul 16, 2018.

  1. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Currently topping TireRack's grand-touring all-season list, even ahead of the Michelin Premier, is this thing called a Vredestein Quatrac 5.

    Have you heard of it? Me either. From the TireRack ratings, seems like it flies, climbs mountains, and butters toast.

    There's a vredestein.com web site, but their dealer locator function is either really broken, or they really don't have dealers anywhere near me.

    Then there's this odd 1999-updated-in-2012 article in TireBusiness suggesting Vredestein wanted to expand in the US as a way to build a more upmarket image where their name was less known, compared to "Europe, where the company is trying to raise the brand's image from a lower market perception." The article actually has the managing director saying it's going to be "a company led by marketing, not by engineers." (Direct quote from the article, but probably a paraphrase of what the director said; in the article it wasn't in quotes.)

    I can't see anything in the article that says what part of it was "updated" 13 years later.

    And this outfit is now supplying TireRack with a product that seems to top their ratings in a field of > 70 GT-AS tires from prominent brands?

    I hardly know what to think. Has anyone tried them?

    -Chap
     
    #1 ChapmanF, Jul 16, 2018
  2. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Interesting.

    Maybe the rating can be explained by the "miles reported." The Vredestein's have a grand total of 206,000 miles, which means about four people gave a rating. Given the company background your sleuthing uncovered, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the four people that ranked the tires were Vredestein employees.

    In comparison, the next tire ranked had 4.6 million miles reported. The ranking of the Vredestein's is from a tiny sample and very suspect.
     
    #2 Johnny Cakes, Jul 16, 2018
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Well, the next one ranked has about 22 times the miles reported as the Vredestein; the sample isn't tiny as in a hundredth or a thousandth of the miles, and the next one ranked is a Michelin, 800 pound gorilla. Any competitor has to start somewhere. There are some Sumitomos and Bridgestones in there with similar miles reported (and some with fewer, like Riken, but I haven't heard of them either, so never mind).

    There were some recent favorable comments from earlier this year about the Quatrac 5 over at Bob is the Oil Guy....

    -Chap
     
    #3 ChapmanF, Jul 16, 2018
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    They don't come in 215/45R17, our size, oh well. I zeroed in on the reviews; nobody seems to have a lot of miles on them yet. Yeah the ratings are maybe just a small sample, will trend lower after a while??

    The snowflake/mountain symbol, without being a full-blown snow tire, sounds like Nokian with their "all-weather" tires.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Jul 16, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2018
  5. teddytelco

    teddytelco Junior Member

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    I just put them on the wifes Rogue so far so good. I just put toyo celsius on the prius. Not more than 1K so far. Consumers reports gave them a good rating. Toyo were on special...
     
    #5 teddytelco, Jul 17, 2018
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  6. torquelover

    torquelover New Member

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    My father has these on his RWD BMW 540i. Says they're great in the snow, however he doesn't usually drive that car in the snow so take it with a grain of salt.
     
    #6 torquelover, Jul 27, 2018
  7. wile-e

    wile-e Junior Member

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    The number of reviews and miles driven is due to the tire being so new. The tire has the new silica addition to the rubber which allows it to gain the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) rating. That is why the "gushing" review. Increased noise seems to be the downside of the tire. The tire is so new that I can't even find local dealers and will likely purchase it through Tire Rack and have an independent dealer install them.

    It has been my experience that when companies pad results they pad in volume. Four responses is nothing. That points to real customers. Look for the simple answer and that is usually the reality.
     
    #7 wile-e, Sep 15, 2018
  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I was searching for winter tires for my car recently, and did come across Vredestein Quatrac 5 at TireRack site. From what little I read on internet, it is from a Dutch company and recognized more in Europe. What interesting is that it bears mountain logo for Winter snow drive similar to Nokian WRG. In fact at TireRack site, if you filter for Severe Snow Service Rated you get Quatrac5 and Michelin CrossClimate, but Quatrac 5 is much reasonably priced. As many European tires, it comes with no tread wear warrenty and tread wear rating is only 400 compared to Michelin CrossClimate 600. I have been thinking of trying Nokian WRG3 for my car for a while to get both winter and summer dual use out of only one set of tires. However, I ended up purchasing Michelin Xice3 which I liked a lot on my previous Gen3 as dedicated winter use. That said, when my current OEM all season Dunlop on PRIME wears out, I might give a try for this All Weather tire.
     
    #8 Salamander_King, Sep 15, 2018
  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    You'll be trying a set then? I'll be looking forward to your report.

    "Increased noise" is not perfect ... I've been really enjoying the quiet of the Premier A/S compared to what they replaced. But it looks like I'm on track to get only about 40k from them of the 60k advertised, so I already need to be thinking about what's next.

    -Chap
     
    #9 ChapmanF, Sep 15, 2018
  10. Danny3xd ()

    Danny3xd () Member

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    How do you like the Celesius, Teddy? I have just found them and am leaning towards a set.
     
    #10 Danny3xd (), Oct 4, 2018
  11. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    #11 KennyGS, Oct 4, 2018
  12. wile-e

    wile-e Junior Member

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    I can confirm that the tires work as rated. I have had excellent results this winter. No sliding on the ice - full traction when climbing icy hills. Complete control at all times. I am incredibly impressed with these tires. Driving my Prius around multiple spin-outs on an icy road I never lost traction. That says a lot for these tires.
     
    #12 wile-e, Mar 18, 2019
  13. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Thanks for the update. Can you comment on any drop on mpg after switching?
     
    #13 Salamander_King, Mar 18, 2019
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