Vredestein Snowtrac 3

Bought a cheap winter set to replace my Cup2 tires. And I did not have high hopes. A sportscar with a track set up on winter tires? But it was pretty good. The overall grip was fine, and the steering was "ok". I know winter tires are worse in pretty much every metric if compared to a tire like the cup2. But when I visited the Nurburgring in the snow I was doing very good with my mx5. Never got stuck once, had loads of grip on the snow, and even drove a 200 km/h on them. Pro's: Works amazing in the snow Works fine in the wet Has pretty oke steering feedback for a winter tire Costs (i bought them second-hand at 10 years old) still holding up very nicely Cons: - You do lose also steering feedback, I thought it would be worse but still, you lose a lot. - Dry grip, they squeal infinitely when driving a little bit too hard (what on a ps4/cup2 is normal driving). - Dry and wet breaking is a lot longer, you really feel it keeps locking the abs in order to stop. - Noise, they make a lot of it, (i think due to the thread) - Floaty feeling at higher speeds, at 120+ you can really feel the car starting to float on the tire, the steering becomes imprecise and you start bouching from line to line since a small correction in the wheel can only be felt 0,5 sec later. So you are always overcompensating. However, for my first winter tire experience, I was very surprised, it got me where I had to go I always felt safe and it drove fine. I realize I am spoiled with always driving on the cup2 and ps4, so I'm used to a lot of grip in combination with a track setup mx5. But me saying I like the tires means something.

Have had these tires fitted year-round for 4 or 5 years now (I can't remember, and I don't know their mileage -- but they are older than any sane person would have). I don't travel enough to warrant changing between summer and winter tires, but there is enough snow and ice in the winter that all-season rubber is out of the question. Don't remember how much I paid for. The wear has gotten to them in the past year, and it is evident I am going to have to replace them. I had skinnier tires on than the manufacturer recommends -- 185/60 R15. Dry grip was good throughout its lifetime, through twisty B roads, downhill, on the motorway. Wet grip wasn't phenomenal, but they always brought me home safely. Never had problems with aquaplaning, be it on the motorway or the twisties. Snow was a different story -- City slush was no problem, but when it came to actual snow, I had to take it slow, as with any other tire. I've driven a Mercedes C class (2010) with much more expensive tires and it slid around just as much as my little Note on the same snowy road. So +1 there, I suppose, but I still would not feel safe driving over two inch thick snow and ice. The response to the steering wheel is phenomenal even after all these years, but they also don't absorb many bumps in the road. You feel everything, in the hands (good) as well as in your bottom and back (not good). Noise could be lower, but with a car this light (1160 kg -- nearly no sound dampening) no tire is going to help really. In the past year, dry grip was still good, despite having very little tread left. Wet grip was abhorrent, and I'm lucky I know how to drive or else I wouldn't be writing this review today. But again, this is after 4 or 5 years of continuous torture (easily 30.000 km), over ice and snow in the Alps and through the hot weather of the Adriatic. According to the sticker, their fuel consumption is supposed to be very high (E class), but honestly I couldn't tell you if that's true as these are the first tires I ever drove with. For what it's worth, I can get an average of ~5.7L/100km if I drive patiently (official combined spec says 5.5L/100km). I would definitely buy these again, but they are not being produced any longer. I am currently eyeing up their newer brother, the Snowtrac 5, but this time with the correct 185/65 dimensions (40€ apiece). Hopefully they will be a worthy replacement.

Have this snowtrac 3 set on a 1.2 tdi fabia Skoda power chipped to 95HP and it performs as expected in mixed winter conditions. So well we did not refit the original all weather Dunlop Eco tyres. So using these exceptional Dutch winter tyres all year round.
We had prior very positive experience with the Snowtrac2 fitted on a Suzuki Alto 1.1GL, slightly upgraded in power. The humble lightweight car was handling like a mild racetrack vehicle on snow and ice. So predictable and grippy tyres that other road users where like standing obstacles. Lots of fun that was. So according to the weight balance of the car it is fitted on this tyre shines very bright indeed.

I bought these second hand for my wife's car and I've been amazed. The wet grip is really positive and far better than the 2 new winter tyres I added this year. The car has loads of grip, when it does break free it's progressive and accompanied by the noise and feedback you get from dry understeer. In the dry they are still good, they don't go spongy as you'd expect from a really soft tyre. I expect the wear will be higher and 2 of the set I bought were ruined by a tracking problem on the car they came from, make sure your suspension is up to scratch! That said they've already done more miles than the tyres her car came with new but these are winter-only use or course.

These tyres inspire confidence, the car is predictable and sure-footed, they are a bit noisy and fuel consumption seems higher but that's the price you pay for getting around in the bad weather. This is the second year they've been on and I'm 100% happy with them.

In fact I wish I'd fitted these to my car rather then the Pirelli's I've got.

Dependable tyres, good grip in the snow, the wear is normal, the noise is lower than other (more expensive) winter tyres such as Michelin Primacy Alpin, fuel consumption is around the same level as with the top rated Dunlop Bluresponse summer tyres. Recommended for value, especially if on a discount.

Made in the Nederlands (not china like a lot of "premium" brands), great grip on wet/snow and good grip in spring/autumn too!

GREAT!

Bought mine in December 2009 (4 for £235) and haven't taken them off since. It's now September 2013 and I've covered 17750 miles in my Astra. There's still 3mm left on the back and 4mm on the front - I rotated them for even wear - pretty good considering the wife thinks I drive like a nutter.
As they wear down they are becoming better summer tyres but I've lost count of the number of people rescued from abandoned cars in winter. If you can't afford two sets of tyres and aren't going to change with the seasons then be smart and opt for these.

I use these in the winter on my 4x4 panda, mainly for the snow, in which they are outstanding, could go on and on how impressed I am, (probably the best combination of car and tyre for the snow).

Very impressed. Fitted as winter tyres in October.I live in a remote rural area and need them, especially as my car is an auto. First very pleased at how quiet they are. Then noticed that the car kept complete control driving through surface water.Had to do a crash stop on cow poo (the slippiest of anything you will find!) and was further amazed at how good they are. Later in the winter we have had snow, ice and then fresh snow on top of ice. Got up the hill going to work. Everyone else had to park at the bottom except a SWB Landy and me.We ferried 12 men up to work that morning. Some of them have now got winter tyres too!
I havn't tried them at speed, no motorways or even dual carriageways around here.
During April I am going to get some performance tyres on for summer. My supplier will keep the Snowtracs, labelled as my property and swap back again in October.
These tyres are quite, and have given me a very reassuring feeling of confidence in my winter driving. Recommended.

Bought these late Dec 2012, no snow until mid Jan 2013. These are fantastic tyres in difficult conditions. Loose snow, compacted snow, slush, deep water, no problem. Makes driving in poor weather conditions easy. Braking and steering excellent, traction less than braking, but maybe designed to be like that?

Got these tyres for winter and they didn't let me down, I truly went anywhere I wanted in snow and ice. Fitted them at the end of October and took them off at the end of March and the tyres still have 7.5mm of tread left. So impressed I now have sportrac 3 fitted for my summer tyres.

This tyre is very well...highly recomended. I'm driving it on vw golf mk5 1.4 80hp. driven on all types of road, dry, wet, icy, powder, fresh snow, ice and snow, -17C in winter condition. tyre gives very good feedback on the snowy road. So far the wear rating is on maximum cuz i have only 1000km with them. HIGHLY RECOMENDED...

Had tyres on now for around 2 1/2 months on focus - moved down a size from 205/50/17 to 205/55/16 on new wheels.

Not pushed hard in dry or wet but move to higher profile and winter tyres gave a softer feel to cornering and ride. No significantly different noise - other than do appear bit noisier when cornering at slow speed - sound a bit knobbly.

Recent snow? Braking in slush, ice or snow amazingly better than normal summer tyres - can actually brake quite sharply before abs kicks in. Most impressive aspect.

Traction - good, wheels spin but gets up to speed competently

Cornering? - No problem, predictable never out of control even when pushed.

Would I recomend winter tyres, yes, buy these again yes.

Richard

Fantastic tyre in the wet, has more grip than Falken ziex 912s in the DRY.. no where near as much grip as the toyo t1rs in the dry and warm conditions, but great in cold dry conditions aswell.
The tyre has allowed me to go for "spirited drives" to the yorkshire dales all winter giving great confidence in cornering and under brakes.
Obviously as its a winter tyre you do feel quite a bit of tread movement when you first put them on which can feel like they're transitioning to oversteer, but they aren't!