Apollo Tyres-owned Dutch brand, Vredestein, has been making waves in India ever since its introduction and now the brand has further expanded its range with the launch of the Pinza HT range and larger sizes for its Ultrac Vorti I range. We were invited to try out both these new products in two opposite settings and here’s what we made of the experience.
Experiencing Pinza HT tyres on a pickup truck
Starting off with the Pinza HT, which as the name suggests, is a highway terrain tyre designed for SUVs. But before we get into the drive experience, let’s get the specifics of this new range out of the way. Vredestein already had a Pinza range on sale, but those were All Terrain (AT) tyres. While the ATs were off-road-focused, the HT’s are road-focused. But that’s not to say that they won’t take you off-road, more on that later.
The Pinza HT range is already on sale abroad and the brand claims that consumer reports have rated the range among the top three premium HT tyres in the USA. The range is said to have all-weather capability and Vredestein says they’ve been tested over four years in temperatures as low as -25-degC and as high as 60-degC, ensuring that they work as intended no matter the weather. The company has also made use of 3D sipes, which reduce the deformation of the tread blocks and retains the same performance throughout its life span. Sizes for the Pinza HT range from 235/70-R16 for models like the older Scorpio and Safari, going up to 265/65-R18 for the new Fortuner.
Speaking of the experience, I got to drive an Isuzu D-Max V-Cross shod with these tyres on a proper off-road trail in Ooty. This was done deliberately to showcase how capable the Pinza HTs are off-road, despite not being an AT tyre. The tyres had ample grip on the loose rocks and dirt, so much so that I barely experienced any wheel spin or slipping. However, the trail was completely dry and it would have been interesting to see how they would have fared on a slushy, mucky trail. And while it was good experiencing these tyres off-road, a vast majority of the buyers who will put them on their SUVs will spend most of their time on the tarmac. I did get a brief taster of how these tyres performed on the highway, and they were equally good. A stand-out point was how little tyre noise you could hear inside the cabin. They also displayed good bump absorption capabilities.
Experiencing Ultrac Vorti I range on a luxury SUV
Alongside the new Pinza HT range, Vredestein also unveiled new 21- and 22-inch tyre sizes for their existing Ultrac Vorti I range. These tyres are meant for luxury and performance SUVs, and Vredestein says they are the first to manufacture these tyre sizes in India. The new sizes start at 275/45-R21 and go up to 325/35-R22, and these will fit models like the Mercedes GLS, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, BMW X5 and more. I got to experience these ultra high-performance tyres strapped to a BMW X5 around India’s newest track—COASTT.
The grip off the line was great as I launched the car with the traction off; there were no complaints from the tyres. Lateral grip was also impressive, allowing me to tackle the long, sweeping corners on the race track confidently at high speeds. Tyre noise, too, is well contained. Interestingly, these tyres are designed by renowned car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, so they have a nice aesthetic as well.
Good lateral grip allowed for confident cornering speeds.
What’s really good, however, is the fact that both these tyre ranges are made in India, so you don’t have to import it and pay expensive duties. The tyres offer a 5 year manufacturing warranty and a 2 year road hazard protection cover. An added bonus is the fact that the company has gone ahead with the voluntary BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) star rating program for rolling resistance, and secured a full 5 stars, which will have an incremental fuel efficiency benefit.
Also see:
Feature: Vredestein tyre experience – Getting a grip
