Vredestein Sprints NLA...

[stugilmour]

Checked with Coker Tire in the US for Vredestein Sprint availability as they are no longer listed on the Coker web site in either 155 or 165 HR13 sizes. Reply is not promising...

I am afraid not. Vredistein has decided to discontinue that tire and we have sold out of the last supply. Fortunately we do still have the Michelin XAS to offer, and it is in stock. You can take a look here:

https://www.cokertire.com/165hr13-michelin-xas-ff.html

Please let me know if you have further questions.

As mentioned here several times, the Michelin is OK but very spendy at over $200 a corner. Any suggestions for currently available Plus 2 stock sized 165 HR13's in the US and Canada? I am OK with a modestly priced tire.

Are the folks other side of the pond also unable to get the Vredestein Sprint?

Stu

[mbell]

A year ago I i was told by a different (cheaper) supplier that product had stopped.

I think the 165/80r13 that are easier available in the US are Nexan or similar Chinese ones. I went for a cheap 175/70r13 instead, i think discount have the nexan but don't list it on their site.

[Orsom Weels]

Hi Stu,

I couldn't Vredesteins over here a couple of years ago & needing to replace the fronts on my +2, went with Kumho's on the advice of my tyre man. Std 165/80X13, can't remember the full details, but can check when I'm with the car, but they were a good price, slightly cheaper than the Vredesteins would have been, but little in it. They have paired up well with the Vredesteins still on the rear, & so far I can't fault them. Excellent grip, both in the dry & wet & very quiet on the road. I'm not sure what availability you have on your side of the pond, but hope this is of some help to you.

Regards, Tim

[mbell]

I spent _alot_ of time looking at the tire options here for the plus two in NA. 165/80r13 availability is much worse than UK/Europe.

It is basically:
Michelin XAS
Vredesteins Sprint
Nexan and maybe one other unknown.

Now you can remove Vredesteins from that list. So your left with very expensive or very cheap. If the kumho's were absolutely here they'd be a sure fire bet.

After much investigation I went with a 175/70r13. As apart from the size difference they met all my requirements, quality, availability, know brand, good reviews, soft/summer tire etc.

[Robbie693]

Sadly with the demise of the Vredestein Sprint the only 165/80 tyre available in the correct H rating as far as I'm aware is the spendy XAS FF so otherwise we are all stuck with T rated tyres.

I do prefer tyres that look a bit classic in their design and found these, anyone heard of Federal tyres before?:

http://www.tirendo.co.uk/product/Federal/80/13/R-133729

[Fred Talmadge]

For us Elan owners and our little 145R13 Vredestein are still available for US$85 Firestone F560 for a bit less. No XAS listed. Maybe I should get some before they stop making those.

https://www.cokertire.com/catalogsearch ... n&q=145R13

[Sea Ranch]

Here's a possibility:

Nankang CX-668
http://www.tires-direct.com/cgi-bin/rsh ... ategorie=6

Anyone tried these? Good price, right size. Federal also makes the right size but I haven't found them in NA yet. Anyone else find these in NA:
http://www.federaltire.com.tw/en/produc ... tail_sn=14

[Lotus Stu]

Try Tire Rack for Kumho Solus which seem perfectly serviceable. Enjoy the ride.

[stugilmour]

Try Tire Rack for Kumho Solus which seem perfectly serviceable. Enjoy the ride.

Looks OK for the Elan (155/80/13), but not available in the Plus 2 size (165/80/13) at Tire Rack. Looks like they are available in Great Britain in 165/80/13 though.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearc ... unFlat=All

Here's a possibility:

Nankang CX-668
http://www.tires-direct.com/cgi-bin/rsh ... ategorie=6

Anyone tried these? Good price, right size. Federal also makes the right size but I haven't found them in NA yet. Anyone else find these in NA:
http://www.federaltire.com.tw/en/produc ... tail_sn=14

Randy, I also saw the Nankang's, although at a different US Interweb supplier.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direc ... lse&cs=165

Unfortunately neither of the suppliers' ship to Canada, so either a road trip or a bonded warehouse type shipping deal will be required. No personal experience, but the Nankang's look similar to the cheaper tires Ross ran on his Elan, which he was very happy with. I expect they would work fine as they are so lightly loaded on our cars anyway.

I think that is what I will go with, but probably going to wait until spring when I have to head down across the border to pick up the engine anyway and I get over the usual Christmas budget blues .

Stu

[Sea Ranch]

Hi, Stu!

Any time you want to ship to Blaine, WA, let me know. I can pick up for you.

Should be interesting to see what Mr. McCoy produces for us , , ,

Randy

[0005K]

So what are people doing in USA for 155 section tires? I don't think I want whitewall Tiger Paw tires! I saw some decent looking Kumho Solus HA31 online - (T rated) but they are only available in Canada (I think). I guess I could import them. Do I have to get Michelins? Even in 165 section there is not much choice. I have an S4 coming out of the body shop soon with stock rear springs and I'll need to get replacements for the dry-rotted Goodyear G800's.

0005K

[Sea Ranch]

For what it's worth, I purchased these this past fall for my Plus 2S, but have not driven on them yet:
https://www.discountedwheelwarehouse.co ... K-24165010

$41US each. Looks like they're still available. I read a lot of online stuff on them and they seemed reasonable, given what's out there. The company above was great to buy from.

Randy

[stugilmour]

Yo Randy. Did you just have them ordered in to a tire shop located across the line in WA? I will probably be down to Bellingham shortly and I should pick up a set of those ?China Bombs? while I am down.

Stu

[Sea Ranch]

Keeping in mind I'm 30 minutes from the US border, I ordered from that company, had them shipped to my favourite border shipping receiver (Mailboxes International) in Blaine, WA (border town) and picked them up there. Drove them the 3 minutes back to the border, made the verbal declaration (5 tires, $200US) and was waved through

I think many of these online stores will ship tires to a tire installer/retailer of your choice. I would suggest you consider Mailboxes International if you don't want them mounted right where you get them: in other words, if you're not in Bellingham with the Plus 2. If you're going to see our friend at Omnitech with the Plus 2 . . . Cool!

As for Nankang, I was pleasantly surprized when I read some background on them. Seems like a good company.

Anyway, hope you're well!! Hope the car and engine are coming along

Randy

[m750rider]

For an S4 you might be able to fit a 175/70-13, depends on the tire, without rubbing anywhere. But even in that size, the selection is not real good. I had to do some slight grinding on the rear spring perch to make mine work. Since then I've fitted with Michelin.

Michelin is the only tire in the correct 155-13 size.