Well it was time for new tires for the Supra so I decided to take a chance and try something different. Unfortunately because of the giant 315/35/17 back tires, my choices are somewhat limited. In the past, I've pretty much tried every ultra high performance tires on the market on various cars. Goodyears, Toyos, Yokohamas..you name it, I've likely tried it. My current set of tires, BF Goodrich T/A KDs were so-so. The traction was decent once the tires got some heat into them..but they seemed to take quite some time to get there. In anything under 70=75 degree weather they were hard as nails. Wet traction seemed OK, ride was OK...I guess everything was just OK. Not blown away or impressed really by any aspect of these tires. So I started shopping....
I first noticed the ad in the magazine 0-60. I was intrigued by the tread design, which I later found out was designed by Giugiaro Design...the legendary design house responsible for some of Italy's hottest car shapes (among other things). Well...I thought because a design house did them, they'd be just for looks. But I kept on researching them...which was a bit difficult since this tire is primarily a Euro tire (tyre?
) They are just now in the process of trying to crack the US market..which accounts for the ad in the US magazine.
So I visit their website, and read up. Sound very interesting and cutting edge..but I figure this is just advertising BS. I want real world tests! Before long, I find several tests in which the Ultrac Sessanta has (shockingly) won and put it to the biggest performance tires on the market. Of all the tests I read, the worst finish is third...and there are firsts. Some are web-site tests, others are magazine tests like EVO, European Car and PowerCar. Cool. Looking VERY positive!
Then I found out the Z06 guys have fallen in love with these, so I cruise over to their site. For whatever reason Z06 owners must be big sissies. Apparently, at even the slightest drop of rain on the road, they just don't drive their cars because..well I don't know way. They claim the tires are bad. But my drive in a Z06 found that the factory traction control was amazing, and probably the best one I've tried on a performance car. While my traction control works very well indeed (just ask Snowman who felt comfortable enough with it to wail on the Supra in the wet), the Supra's traction control is more of a "Save my A$$" type affair, whereas I'd consider the Z06 one a genuine performance enhancer. So it should work rather well in the the wet...but anyways..they've started to test these tires in the wet, at the strip and at the racetrack..and they are in love. They are gushing. While I don't really understand how the tire can work so incredible given the odd way the treads go (see pics), the Z06 guys say they are heaven on earth, and those that tracking their cars on the weekends are mighty, mighty impressed. I have faith in what they say...the C6 Z06 has torque on par with what the Supra makes..so if these tires can hold down the Vette, they'll work on the Supra. So I ordered a set...I even ordered from the same place the Vette guys got their. And this is the best part of the story. The price. Given what I read, I figured these things would cost a fortune. But they don't. (I figure Vredestein is selling them cheap just to break into the market). For the entire set, I paid a mere $660 delivered!! That's 255/40 front and 315/35 rear. Great price!!
I should have the tires on shortly..hopefully by this Friday, so I be sure to give me review. In the mean time, check out the pics!
HOMEPAGE
http://www.vredestein.com/Banden_Bandtypes.asp?BandgroepID=1&BandtypeID=3&UserSessionID=37400019VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyWMTiXPbLQ
