My new OEM-size tires: Vredestein Quatrac 5

[Mark]

Attachment 24570
momo 4RUN m4 165/65R14
They were made in the 13th week of 2022 at the Hankook tire plant in Hungary
bought on eBay for about $315 for the set arrived in about 1 week.
All season with the sever snow rating {3 peak mountain snowflake symbol}
they are directional which is too bad. I like cross rotating to the drive wheels but I can deal with it
Maybe due to the snow rating. that is a conjecture as all my snow tires have been directional
My OE tires hade 58K miles and will need replacing by 65K I estimate.
When I get them installed I will post in the "what I did to my mirage today" thread along with a follow up somewhere about if i like them.

I look forward to your opinion of them down the road (literally).

I am still keeping my fingers crossed on my order of 165/65r14 Vredestein Quatrac 5 tires for $272.28 = $68.07/tire with free shipping (after applying an instant $100 rebate on them).

They are back up to $93.98/tire today. When I ordered mine, they were listed as backordered (no date given), & a customer service person from Tire Rack called me within 15 minutes of placing the order. They wanted to make sure I knew they were on backorder & still wanted them. I said, heck yes at that price! I will wait for them. At this point, I wouldn't use a pair until next fall/winter anyways.

If you order a Vredestein tire today, it states they will be back in stock on March 31st and delivered by April 7th. I have to believe that will apply to my earlier placed order, too. If not, I will be a bit disappointed. I look forward to trying them.

I plan on trying a pair up front to really test them out, & I will move my Nokian Nordman 7 tire to the rear axle next winter. It will be their 7th winter by that time, but they still look quite good. I don't drive as much in the winter with them, however. When it's really nasty out the Forester comes out instead.

I added cloned sensors to my Nokian snow tires a couple years ago. I wish that I had thought of having them flip the tires on the rims when they did that. It would have switched what side they go on the car, but they seem to be wearing well in spite of never being rotated to a new spot on the car.

[Dirk Diggler]

I like to use up tires, but I don't like using older tires during the winter months. I need the extra traction to get home some days.

For my FWD vehicles like my Mirage, I have used a rotation of 3 pairs of tires (space out the buying of them) in the past. I will use the newest pair up front during the winter months, & the 2nd best pair on the rear axle. During the summer months, I will pull off the best pair & use the 2 older pairs (front or back doesn't really matter to me). I take care of my tire rotations as I change tires every spring & fall. When the oldest pair of tires are used up, those rims become my next new pair of tires. That way I can use up older tires without having to use them during the winter months.

For my AWD vehicles (past CR-Vs & current Forester), I would not do this. All 4 tires should somewhat match. Thus, I have two sets of tires. Now that I have my Mirage & don't use my Forester as much, my older pair of Cooper tires are probably 8+ years old. A good majority of my 103,000+ miles are on these tires (estimate 65,000+ miles), & they should be replaced soon. They were awesome when new in the snow, but I wouldn't trust them today. Thus, my 2nd set of tires (Cooper snow tires) are used during the winter months. If I can't get somewhere with those, I should have stayed home.

I happen to have 8 steel rims for my Mirage. I picked up the last pair used (bought them from Dirk). I could have stuck with 6 rims & done what I have done in the past, too. Using Autel cloned sensors in my extra set of tires has simplified things. I changed 16 tires this fall for my two vehicles (took off 8 tires & added 8 tires). Since the wheels are all cloned to each other, my Mirage's & Forester's TPMS never knew it happened. I used to drive all winter with the TPMS dash light on. The sensors were a bit of an investment, but I can program them myself now. I bought an Autel TS408 for $122 to do a couple years ago.

Glad they're getting used!

[Wallythacker]

Maximum Inflation Pressure 51 PSI

I like that figure as well, but in the other thread I started there's already contradiction over higher PSI yielding any real benefit.

Yet some trailer tires I've been comparing require 90 !! PSI to carry their rated load. That insane pressure only nets you ~125 lb. extra capacity over a same sized tire inflated to say, 55 PSI. You'd think such a huge jump in pressure would like double your weight rating but all I can see is how hard your trailer is going to slam into the ground after driving over a bump at 70 MPH. Imagine the nastier potholes you know of now drag your fully loaded trailer over it at normal speed wait for the bone jarring slam and crunch you know is coming.

Earlier today I read Load Rating C specs a max. pressure of, surprise! 51 PSI. I wish I could find that article, it was a great read and explained really well the whole PLY rating, Load Ranges, Pressures. My takeaway from it was that higher pressures, into the 90's are making up for design limitations. There's no way in heck I would ever use a tire with 90 PSI requirement. No way. The thought of it terrifies me. In fact, if the only tire for my trailer required 90 PSI I would stop towing a trailer.

[Wallythacker]

I never heard of the MOMO 4run tires before. So I had to check them out a bit. Sounds like they are designed in Italy.

That's interesting, I was casually looking for new tires for my Vue, I'm planning to go as narrow as I can within practical and appearance reasons and MOMO 4run was a brand that popped up. The price was great for a larger tire, IIRC something like $414 for the set less a rebate of $80 less 5% for a coupon I registered for and didn't use, bringing my total down to $78.33 which I think is great! They're on backorder with a 30-60 day window to get them. 60 days is a little earlier than I planned to start rebuilding my VUE so perhaps I'll order the tires in late Feb. I think they will look great on my factory Saturn allows.

[Mark]

I like that figure as well, but in the other thread I started there's already contradiction over higher PSI yielding any real benefit.

Yet some trailer tires I've been comparing require 90 !! PSI to carry their rated load. That insane pressure only nets you ~125 lb. extra capacity over a same sized tire inflated to say, 55 PSI. You'd think such a huge jump in pressure would like double your weight rating but all I can see is how hard your trailer is going to slam into the ground after driving over a bump at 70 MPH. Imagine the nastier potholes you know of now drag your fully loaded trailer over it at normal speed wait for the bone jarring slam and crunch you know is coming.

Earlier today I read Load Rating C specs a max. pressure of, surprise! 51 PSI. I wish I could find that article, it was a great read and explained really well the whole PLY rating, Load Ranges, Pressures. My takeaway from it was that higher pressures, into the 90's are making up for design limitations. There's no way in heck I would ever use a tire with 90 PSI requirement. No way. The thought of it terrifies me. In fact, if the only tire for my trailer required 90 PSI I would stop towing a trailer.

Different tires have different maximum psi ratings. All of my Mirage tires (pairs) are 165/65r14, but they don't all have the same maximum psi rating.

Dunlop Enasave 01 A/S = 44 psi (still have a worn out pair on factory steel rims)
Kumho Solus TA31 = 44 psi
Nokian Nordman 7 = 47 psi
Nexen N'Priz AH5 = 51 psi
Vredestein Quatrac = 51 psi (on order & will replace the Enasave tires above next winter)

I am guilty of ignoring the recommended psi for my vehicles. I prefer inflating above the recommended amount, but stay a bit under the maximum tire ratings at the same time. It's just personal preference for me. I would most likely go 40, 42, & 46 psi for my Mirage tires listed above. None of this is due to my concern about load capacity, however.

I haul heavy loads with my small 4' x 8' steel trailer at times. I will buy a yard of gravel quite often & haul it home with my trailer. A yard of gravel could be anywhere from 2,400-2,900 pounds (well over a ton). My compact 4WD diesel tractor with a mower or rototiller on the back is a load, too. I know that I am beyond the capacity of my trailer, but I have dealt with that by buying/using trailer tires with more plies.

If you're tugging a trailer with a Mirage, you shouldn't have any trailer tire concerns (because it shouldn't be loaded with much weight to begin with).

Most of our hay wagons & chopper box/forage wagons on the farm had worn out airplane tires on them. That was a common practice many years ago. I don't remember how many plies they had, but they handled huge loads with ease. They could look bald, & they still had a lot of life in them for wagon use.

[Dark Magenta]

I too ordered Vredestein Quatrac from TireRack a few months ago and recently got communication that they still weren't available. When I took off my Enasaves to put on my Winter Maxx, I realized that the Enasaves weren't quite to their wear bars yet, so I could run them another warm season and get old LRR tire mileage before switching them to Vredesteins.

[Mark]

I too ordered Vredestein Quatrac from TireRack a few months ago and recently got communication that they still weren't available. When I took off my Enasaves to put on my Winter Maxx, I realized that the Enasaves weren't quite to their wear bars yet, so I could run them another warm season and get old LRR tire mileage before switching them to Vredesteins.

I am keeping my fingers crossed, & I hope to get them for the ordered price of $68.07/tire.

This is how they currently list them for my zip code.

Additional inventory due 03/31/23
Delivery by Monday, 04/10 to 53581.

The Enasave tires lasted longer than I expected. If they aren't down to the wear bars, I would use them during the summer months, too!

[7milesout]

I would love to see some documented proof of the value of the Enasaves LRR, compared to well, any tire, but specifically the Vredestein Quatracs. I would want to see scientific data when the tires are brand new, half worn, and at the wear bars.

Surely it's not much a of difference (but it could be, and don't call me Shirley).

If only Toyota would let me have access to their proving grounds in AZ...

[Basic]

I would love to see some documented proof of the value of the Enasaves LRR, compared to well, any tire, but specifically the Vredestein Quatracs. I would want to see scientific data when the tires are brand new, half worn, and at the wear bars.

Surely it's not much a of difference (but it could be, and don't call me Shirley).

If only Toyota would let me have access to their proving grounds in AZ...

You already know the value Mr. Former Automotive Engineer... ULRR, lightweight and cheap as chips... done.

[Mark]

I would love to see some documented proof of the value of the Enasaves LRR, compared to well, any tire, but specifically the Vredestein Quatracs. I would want to see scientific data when the tires are brand new, half worn, and at the wear bars.

Surely it's not much a of difference (but it could be, and don't call me Shirley).

If only Toyota would let me have access to their proving grounds in AZ...

I have zero interest in LRR tires, & I am not interested in the Vredestein Quatrac 5 tire for that reason.

The Quatrac 5 is an asymmetrical all-weather (vs all-season) that I want to try during the winter months starting next year. If I lived in the south like you, I would have zero interest in this tire. If I lived in your area, the 165/65r14 Kumho Solus TA31 (500AA/60,000 mile warranty) would be my tire of choice (because Walmart has been selling them for under $70/tire most of this winter).

The 165/65r14 Nexen N'Priz AH5 has been a really good tire for me so far, too. The Nexen tires are priced higher most of the time, & its ratings (460AA/50,000 miles warranty) are lower. Both of these tires seem superior to my Dunlop Enasave & Federal SS657 tires I have worn out.

I know you have a personal problem with Korean tires, but I feel more confident buying these two brands over Chinese brands I have no experience with. Plus, their ratings & warranties are good for 165/65r14 tires (which we all know gives us limited options). The Vredestein is a European tire by the way.

Having shared all that - I have no doubt that a worn down Dunlop Enasave especially has very low rolling resistance, but I would have said the same about my cheap Federal SS657 tires at the time, too. I can't really give anyone an accurate measure of comparison, because I haven't run 4 identical on my Mirage since the summer of 2018. When I had a Enasave sidewall blow out, I bought a pair of Federal tires (@ $40/tire back then) & replaced two tires at the same time. I've been using different combinations of tires ever since.

Nokian Nordman 7 (6th winter up front) & Kumho Solus TA31 (rear axle) - currently this winter.

Kumho Solus TA31 & slightly older Nexen N'Priz tires will be my upcoming summer tires.

Next winter I plan on moving my older Nokian Nordman 7 tires (purchased December/2017) to the rear axle. I still have a worn out pair of Dunlop tires on factory rims. I will have a new pair of the Quatrac 5 tires mounted on those rims and give them a shot up front. My area is great for testing snow tires. Once I leave my driveway, I am climbing a small snow covered hill road immediately.

My interest in the Vredestein Quatrac 5 is related to winter traction. Will these be a tire that holds its own during the winter months. If so, I may have found the tire I am looking for. Something that will climb hills when relatively new. As they get older, they can be used as summer tires. Having 8 steel rims for my Mirage, I can keep a steady rotation quite easily. I have done that with 6 steel rims for other FWD cars for years.

Even though I have zero interest in LRR tires (Dunlop tires @ $188/tires kills it), I will say this about the Vredestein tire. The Vredestein tire (12 lbs) is listed as a lighter tire than the Dunlop (13 lbs). Since the Vredestein is listed as 51 psi maximum (vs the Dunlop 44 psi), I will run the Vredestein a bit higher psi. The max load ratings of both tires are identical.

I live in the Driftless area of SW Wisconsin, and the Quatrac 5 tires interest me. If I lived in a warmer climate, I would pick something else. I think the Quatrac 5 will wear faster than the Kumho & Nexen tires I listed above, & winter traction is not really important for some areas. Some refer to the Quatrac 5 as just an all-season tire. They are more an all-weather tire in my opinion, because they have the three-peak mountain snowflake on them.

Mysteries of the Driftless area -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn_DOPumFkU