Vredestein vs Michelin

[Alf]

I need to invest in some new tires this spring. I have had Michelin 185HR14 MXV-P's on for the last 8 years and they have been fine although starting to feel a bit wooden now. The UK price for new Michelins is £235 each so all in close to £1000 with fitting . I have found a site selling 'Vredestein sprint classic 18 R14 90H with ridge' at less than half this price. Can someone confirm that these 2 tyres are the same size? The codes are almost the same but not quite - I don't see a '90' in the Michelin code.

Assuming they are the same size, has anyone got any comparative driving experience of the 2 tyres? I don't want to save £500+ but spoil the driving experience.

[knockmacool]

Alf
I bought Vredestein SPRINT CLASSIC 185 R14 90H (Su) in 2010 and they cost me 91.50 eur each thru delti.com. I am very happy with them. If memory serves me I think these match the original profile of the tyres when the cars were new. I think the Delti website has an explanation of all the numbers/nomenclature on a tyre.
Drew

[Larry & Norma]

I have the Vredestein also and have no problem at all with them

[Cees Klumper]

I'm running the Vredesteins and they are fine and look great on the car. I did feel they were less good for the handling than the 205 width Pirellis they replaced, but there's probably not that much of a difference.

[zoegrlh]

I have Vredesteins and they are the closest to original equipment you will find on the market.  I did a research on these tires a few years ago and left a thread  on the results at this site.  Do a search on tires, you will find lots of information on the original specs vs the Vredesteins.  If you want a true original ride from the 60s then this tire is the one grouped with new Bilstein shocks
Bob

[Tomnistuff]

This seems to be a replay of the discussions on a couple of vingage Ferrari sites held a couple of years ago.  Most of the vintage Ferrari guys seem to rate the tires for handling as Pirelli -1, Vredestein Sprint Classic - 2 and Michelin - 3.  And for look and profile originality, Michelin - 1 (the original Ferrari tires), Vredestein - 2 and Pirelli - 3+ (wrong profile for a vintage car).  And for cost, Vredestein - 1, Pirelli - 2 and Michelin - 3.

I had Michelins which I found too hard, and bought Vredestein Sprint Classics (which are speed rated).  It handled beautifully and lost no points for profile originality even though the original tires were Michelins.

I just wish the Vredesteins had the Pagoda rub strip on the sidewall.

Tom Kizer

[Larry & Norma]

My Vredesteins have the rub strip?

[Tomnistuff]

My Vredesteins have the rub strip?

I'm confused by the question mark.  Do your Vredesteins have the raised curb strip?  If so, they sound ideal.
Tom Kizer

[thelews]

I'm confused by the question mark.  Do your Vredesteins have the raised curb strip?  If so, they sound ideal.
Tom Kizer

I have the curb strip on mine

[Larry & Norma]

Yes I have the curb strip

[Tomnistuff]

A few years ago when I bought Vredesteins for a vintage Ferrari, the curb strip was not available.  Now I know what to buy when my Pagoda Michelins need changing.

ANECDOTE:  My older brother, a retired Chief Master Sgt. in the USAF, called my old tire curb strips, "SPATS".  He said that the front tire of fighter jets have them to deflect runway rainwater spray from the front tire out to the sides so it doesn't get inducted into the engine intakes.  It sounded reasonable to me at the time, but so do curb strips to protect the sidewall.  Although I can't imagine "curbing" the front tire of a fighter jet. 
Tom Kizer

[Alf]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think it will have to be the Vredesteins. The ones I have seen online are described as 'with ridge' which must mean the curbing strip. Cheers all.

[jaymanek]

Curb Strips are on one side of the tyre only... I only noticed this when i realised I had three wheels with rub strips and one without... I had simply fitted the tyre the wrong way around, which is possible as they are not directional.
I guess its done to suit tastes.