Nokian or Vredestein?

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Aero94
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 As per the title, has anyone had any real world driving experience on either in the winter?

My understanding is both make excellent winter tyres but I'd appreciate hearing from someone who has had them fitted to the G.

Spider1V
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

 we saying we have a G now?

Spider1V

Aero94
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

We are saying that we are tempting fate and buying tyres for the immanent arrival... ;)

You know you'll be one of the first to know!

I'm jumping the gun a little because I think now that we're in a cold snap, there will be a run on winter stock and I'd like to have them available to fit asap.

mark
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

Unless you really want dedicated winter tyres, I wouldn't bother. A good set of All Terrains, (BF Goodrich, Coopers etc ) will give you better value all round. Many AT tyres are M&S rated and meet the minimum legal requirement for winter tyres in Scandinavia. Some of the Cooper AT tyres appear to have almost as many sipes as winter tyres, although they won't be as soft in low temperatures as winter tyres.

Done a couple of trips up north in the last few years and have been very impressed with my AT's in all conditions, soft snow and compacted snow. They are a really good "jack of all surfaces, master of none". :-)

Nothing but studded tyres are any good on ice though, especially when there's water on top of the ice. The LC in the last pic wasn't going anywhere, but i've seen skating rinks less slippery then that road.
Perfect excuse for some snow and G pics.  :-)

 I have no  experience of Nokian v Vredestein, but I know my Finnish friends would go for Nokian's. But they would say that, wouldn't they.  ;-) 

Jdring
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

Nice pics.  A G on any tyres except studded ones on ice is just 2 tons of sliding car!  At least you 'feel' safer in a G though.
In the last pic, there's a perfectly good tow-eye and looks like you are attaching the rope to the bumper :)   - wasn't there a post about doing that a week ago.

I have original (well not the original, but same brand) Semperit M&S tyres on my 460 (206R16?), and they are good for road and adequate for the south of UK.  But getting difficult to come by - they are owned by Continental now and I think are special order.

I'd rather get some chains for the occasional use or those new drive-on things like this:
http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/sncltrsy.html or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XNrV2gTUOM
(this one is still a bit fiddly)

But that's getting off the point of the post.

mark
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

 LC had winch fitted. Graham was well on the way to recoverying himself before we got to him.
We didn't have far to go on that road, so didn't bother with chains, 5 mph was too fast , the AT's on the G had twice the grip then the MT's on the Landcruiser.  2x nothing in some cases is worth having,, LOL ;-)

mgrays
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

Is that not a Prado .. not a real LC.. LC = Amazon in Euro speak?

General Grabber AT2 has lots of snipes and a snowflake. Goodrich BFG AT seems poor in wet, Cooper Discovery ATR has snipes, is M&S rated but seems a less open tread than the other two.. so a bit more compromised in deep snow/mud was my guess;

31-10.5R15 tyres;
General Grabber AT2 has snipes, open tread and side lugs, recommended £98.30 CamskillsRA
Goodrich BFG AT KO has snipes, open tread but less side lugs, poor wet performance
Cooper Discovery ATR has snipes, less open tread.. is M&S rated £96 Blackcircles
Kuhmo KL71 voted best all round tyre in Total Offroad mag
Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT 109Q snow/ice tyre not so coarse £163 Tyres Pneu online
Continental Conti Cross AT coarse, snipes £120 Tyres Pneu online
Toyo Open Country AT £116 TPonline Well liked, coarse, sipes
Kumho Road Venture AT KL78 £125 TPonline

US boys up North really like the Nokian Hakka.. but I was more worried about deep snow so ended up cheaping out with 4 new General AT2.. which have gone no where so cannot tell anything about them. I will say the old Yoko's I had did OK but really lacked the snipes and I ended up doing a similar 90 spin at 0.5mph on a nasty hill that you could not even stand up on.. fine going back up the hill but descending it was a no-no.. so chains/studs are the only way for polished ice. My "most likely to get stuck" moment is drifts over the bonnet for 200' or mud climb for 700' so I went for the coarse open tread, with snipes yet still an AT for decent road use with no nasty wet reviews..

bigblock
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

 Not sure if mgrays spell checker is the culprit but a snipe is a small Scottish game bird whereas a sipe is a small groove cut into a tyre to give it more grip in winter conditions. 

mark
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

 Yes, the AT2's are very highly regarded, think I'm going to try those next.

Prado, Bundera, LC2, LC3, LC4, LC5, all Land Cruiser "light series". 

Aero94
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

Thanks for all comments chaps.

I've had Pirelli Scorpions in the past and they were excellent but pricey. Whilst I'd be reasonably happy with good quality All-Seasons, the car currently has new summer tyres fitted; therefore, winter tyres make sense.

This time I've ordered some Nokian WR G2s. I've read some good reviews and can get them in the correct size for a fair price. As was said in this thread, the Finns know a thing or two about winter driving and friction tyres. With the G2s fitted, I figure the G will be nearly unstoppable in the UK should we get some snow. ;)

http://www.nokiantyres.com/tyre?id=11195214&group=2.01&name=Nokian+WR+G2...

John757
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

Hi all... I know this thread is a few years old.... but im looking at some tyres for my 460 and I thought I'd ressurect it.... its raining buckets outside and feels like winter already!!

I have 4 'Vredestein Wintrac Extreme' tyres on my E350 CDi Coupe (I have the Conti Summer tyres 255/30/19" swapped off November- till March)

and in the last two winters I have had no problems driving up and down steep hills covered in snow and ice (fresh and compacted) and for a rear wheel drive car.. with virtually no weight over the driving wheels.. they are simply amazing... (not even a flicker from the Traction control warning triangle!) almost like driving on a dry road... i cannot praise them highly enough.. All i did was get stuck with the summer tyres on the same hills...

Im in two minds about whether to get the same tyres for my G280 SWB 460 to use all year round.. I dont want to keep swapping tyres around like i do on the E... so they will be summer tyres as well winter .... i dont use the G daily so wear isnt an issue really..

the General Grabber AT2's  are my first choice... will they be as effective as the Vredesteins.. bearing in mind my superior transmission on the G adding to the party..?

Anyone with experience of the AT 2 in snow would be very helpful..

 

thanks

 

John

bigblock
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

John757 wrote:

Hi all... I know this thread is a few years old.... but im looking at some tyres for my 460 and I thought I'd ressurect it.... its raining buckets outside and feels like winter already!!

I have 4 'Vredestein Wintrac Extreme' tyres on my E350 CDi Coupe (I have the Conti Summer tyres 255/30/19" swapped off November- till March)

and in the last two winters I have had no problems driving up and down steep hills covered in snow and ice (fresh and compacted) and for a rear wheel drive car.. with virtually no weight over the driving wheels.. they are simply amazing... (not even a flicker from the Traction control warning triangle!) almost like driving on a dry road... i cannot praise them highly enough.. All i did was get stuck with the summer tyres on the same hills...

Im in two minds about whether to get the same tyres for my G280 SWB 460 to use all year round.. I dont want to keep swapping tyres around like i do on the E... so they will be summer tyres as well winter .... i dont use the G daily so wear isnt an issue really..

the General Grabber AT2's  are my first choice... will they be as effective as the Vredesteins.. bearing in mind my superior transmission on the G adding to the party..?

Anyone with experience of the AT 2 in snow would be very helpful..

 

thanks

 

John

 

Hi John

If your main concern is driving in snow then the Vredestein Wintrac Extreme is probably the better tyre than the AT2 for road use.

The AT2 has a large chunky tread but the compound is very hard and at low temperatures it will not grip the compacted snow as well as the softer compound Vredestein with the sipes.

I have AT2's on my Range Rover and the Wintrac  Extreme S  on my road cars and in some icy conditions I have been slightly embarrassed by my daughter  in her Golf making better progress than me smiley.

I also run the Wintracs all year round and get around 12-15,000 miles per set. The AT2 will probably last you 30-40,000 miles with normal driving. 

 

JASONGDS
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

I have read that General Grabber AT2 not that great in snow according to Land Cruiser Forum?

Go for BFG, but not too fat

John757
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

I saw some Cooper DISCOVERER AT3's which appear to have good reviews... 4.5 / 5 on snow

John757
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

this tyre review I found online was done last year and i found it very informative

 

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/2013-Auto-Bild-SUV-4x4-Winter-Tyre-...

Janscheepers
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

I swear by Michelin winter tyres. On my Porsche, Audi and G..easily available, last long and have never failed me here in Switzerland. Bear in mind it is not only dealing with snow but having a proper ride in sub zero temps and feeling like you have the same characteristics as being on summer tyres. 

Alan Holford-Walker
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Re: Nokian or Vredestein?

When I bought Tim Carnell's G years ago (some will recall he was the tech rep) there were Pirelli Scorpion M+S on.  He lived in Scotland - more snow than down here, but when it did snow we never had a problem.

If you are looking for good prices go to Oponeo.  I put the Pirelli Scorpions on my A6 Allroad at a price tyre people said they could even get close to buying them at.