The Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme receives its clearest owner praise for snow traction, with dry grip, low noise and comfort also generally favoured. Wet grip is more often praised than criticised, but a meaningful minority report poor traction in rain, including one repeat owner whose concern persists across two end-of-life accounts. Some later-life reports support useful tread life, although 53 of 60 reviews lack a stage of use, limiting a general lifespan claim. The 60 reviews come from 54 owners, and repeat contributors do not show one shared ageing pattern. A lone end-of-life report of increasing noise does not establish a recurring change with wear.
What owners mention most counted across 58 reviews
I've used the extreme tyres originally on a Mercedes C-Class saloon from winter 2006 and kept them when changed for a C-Class Coupe, making this my 6th winter on this model of tyre - yes, I've replaced them once during this time). I've got Dunlop Winter Sport on my other car and the Vredestein seem to have slightly better grip in slippery conditions, plus wear better even though the Dunlops were a bit more expensive.
I'd recommend the xtreme's as a safe bet having never been stuck or had any bad / unpredictable moments even if I try to push it sometimes. Member of IAM.
Amazing winter tyres. A little soft at the start, but once worn in they felt absolutely fine on the car - maybe slightly softer than summers on dry, but well worth the confidence it gives on wet, dry and snow.
Before tyres (2010) winter: skidded twice whilst braking and cornering almost crashing both times. Also got stuck once while following tracks on snowy/icy path.
After tyres (2011) winter: we were in birmingham when it snowed like crazy and it was a dream!!! On fresh deep snow (about 6 inches) didn't even get a light on the dash - just no drama driving, up hills, down hills, accelerating, stopping, turning. We had to take untrodden hilly roads because the main roads were blocked due to skidding cars.
So absolutely overjoyed with the purchase. Only 2 things to bear in mind: 1) other people might not be able to stop behind you, so watch your back and consider veering to the side if emergency braking, or better still just find a clear road where no-one else dares to go! 2) deep slush on motorways were not fun - there's grip from the tyres on the top layer, but there's just slush all the way down about 3-4 inches so it gets very dodgy - don't do it at speed!
I suspect the tyres will outlast the car, so I'll be looking for a car with the same tyre size!!!
Check out how the BEST all seasons tyres perform against premium summer and winter tyres!
Excellent winter tyre. Fitted to a Skoda Yeti which takes wide tyre (never the best for snow) but these offer superb grip on cold and snowy Scottish Highland roads. Quiet too. Excellent!
Which tyres do you drive?
Researching the Vredestein Wintrac Xtreme? Rate the tyres you actually drive - and help the next buyer choose.
Got these from Reifen in GmbH delivered for around £100 a tyre. got 4 and put them on the 17 inch 5 spoke std Vaux wheels on a 3 door 1.9cdti 150 ps. took a trip out in the one day of snow this year 2012 !
the tyres are so amazing, have used 1 mm off the front in 5 months on car at 500 miles a month, and none of the back, so I guess they will last around 20'000 miles if I put the fronts on the back visa versa, year after year. they will fit a multitude of cars so will be keeping and using from Oct to march every year. cheap and saves me buying another £300 of contact sports when the wife tries to burn a set out in the bad snow in Dec 2010 ! :(
Buy them, put them on, and forget about worrying driving in the snow. people look at you like an idiot why is he driving at 30mph in the snow? its because the snow tyres drive like normal, stop, steer and accelerate as if you are on a normal tarmac road, it really is jaw dropping the performance of these tyres. get them, I seriously promise you wont be disappointed. :)
Just one word: WOW! and no i don't work for Vredestein! As i live in a remote village in Scottish Highlands, it can be an absolute nightmare driving in the snow/ice in these parts. Got these tyres fitted last week and the first thing i noticed was the ride appeared to be a lot more comfortable; it was almost as if i had new suspension fitted on my Audi A4.
Got a few inches of snow yesterday but these tyres made me feel really safe driving. No hint of slipping at all in snow and car felt like it was just travelling on a dry road in summer. No problem going through water puddles, car stays firmly planted. These tyres grip the road like mad in all conditions. I know you're not really supposed to drive with winter tyres in summer but i will do this as i really impressed with these tyres and feel 100% confident that they'll do a good job in summer as well.
Can't really comment on wear as i'v only had them for a week or so
Finally these tyres are over priced in UK...buy them from reifen.com in Germany (they deliver to UK) for less than £100 per tyre :)
I'm a bit confused here... I was looking for winter tyres for my Honda Civic 2010 and since the size 225 45 17 is expensive I started to watch out for decent used ones. Than I found these Vredestein Wintrac Extreme for a reasonable price. I started reading the reviews on this site and the opinion on these tyres were seriously possitive. So I bought them with lots of confidence.
They look great, real sporty and like they can handle a lot.
But than I put them onmy car... different story !
Even on dry roads, lots of understeer, tramlining and not the grip my summer tyres (Michelin Pilot HP) have in winter. But when It's raining things get worse... really poor grip. The car drifts easily.
So I don't understand where all these possitive reviews com from. I don't drive my car real fast. The tyres are no good, even if I drive like an old man. It's a good thing they are progressive enough to let you know when they will loose grip, but nevertheless it shouln'd be with tyres in this pricerange.
I would never buy these new, considering that these are more expensive then Michelin Alpin, wich I got on my other car, who are extremely good in any condition.
I use these on a Toyota Sienna minivan. The 1st and 2nd winter, these tires were AMAZING! Better than Nokian, Michelin, Gislaved, and other winter tires I have used, not by a margin but exceeded all brands by a wide margin. The, and now the 4th and final winter, the original stunning performance has naturally declined with wear. BUT, just tonight, which is what fiannly spurred me to write a review, I was lightly rear ended by a Subaru Legacy with OEM Bridgestone Turanza's. Then about an hour later, I passed a pack of vehicles. One 4x4 pulled out in an attempt to keep up with me. After 2 minutes, where I increased my speed to about 55-60 mph, he suddenly began to swerve back and forth, then careened into the ditch. This is with 5/32 on the front's and 4/32 on the rear. Even at the end of their service life, these tires are outperforming aforementioned brands when they were new. And I just can't believe how many SUV's and 4x4's I pass in the snow and ESPECIALLY on the ice, where these put all season's to absolute shame. My only complaint is price. Here in WI in the USA, they are harder to find and thus more expensive. That said the Wintrac Xtreme 4's are far and away some of the best tires I have ever owned. Will be hunting down new pair for next winter.
Unbelievable. I am a tyre nerd. I've had all sorts of tyres on various cars. I have run 19,000 miles on these tyres and 14 months, and aside from a bit of tyre scrub on one of my rear tyres due to a slow puncture, they hardly show any wear. I drive a Disco 3 and I do drive it hard and in all conditions. They are incredible, better than Scorpions in summer or winter for wear and handling, better than Wranglers or Grabbers. I wouldn't use anything else now.
The only time they made me nervous has been on wet ice with diesel on the road aswell, but only studded tyres would have been any use in those conditions, and even then, they would have been questionable. Previously I would have recommended Nokians, which wear very well and grip extremely well, but Vredesteins have the edge.
Fantastic winter tyres fitted November 2009 to an RS6. Kept them on all summer too. Amazing in the winter. Never missed a beat. Gripped well even when the snow was deeper than the ground clearance. No significant use of traction control on steep hills. Feels extremely safe on steep downhill sections. Great sense of satisfaction passing stuck 4x4s on M&S tyres. We live 3 miles from a main road and our road is rarely plowed. Never had a problem getting to work or back home again no matter how bad the weather. Good grip in the summer although a bit more understear on overenthusiastic cornering. tread still legal after 30,000 miles although will need changing soon. Highly recommended
Just bought my second set. 1st set lasted almost 40,000 miles (3 winters plus all of this summer as I thought they wouldn't do another winter). Great feel and excellent grip even in the coldest, snowiest conditions.
Bought mine late 2010 before first snow came. My RenaultSport Megane RS250 just couldn't cope with slushy snow, with the standard sport tyres and was undriveable. Fitted these and drove them all winter, through to end of March.
They coped with ALL snow and ice conditions encountered, including early mornings on country B-roads. Excellent for water shedding as well, with standing water on B-roads.
I WILL be buying these again and can't recommend them enough.
wanted some winter tyres for my remapped BMW 535d.
without these the car was all over the place on wet roads.
with the tyres what good fun to drive again.
