Introduction
Let’s be honest. Tyres rarely get the limelight they deserve, especially when it comes to upgrading our cars. Headlights? Absolutely. Music system? Certainly. Even alloy wheels come to mind immediately. But as any driving enthusiast will tell you, tyres are the unsung heroes of comfort, grip, and safety. Whether you are commuting, going on road trips, or, at this time of the year, dealing with monsoon-battered roads, the right set of tyres can significantly improve your driving experience. More importantly, if your car is running on stock tyres that simply do not offer the comfort or the grip you want, switching to a premium tyre like the Vredestein Ultrac could be an immediate fix. It’s what I did.
Before I put them to the test and tell you how they perform, let’s take a close look at the Vredestein Ultrac, a premium, tubeless tyre which comes in 15 to 18-inch sizes in the mid-range segment. For this review, we will evaluate its tread design, compound tech, and most importantly, the benefits of upgrading to a high-quality tyre for your car.
Solid Upgrade for Crossovers and Compact SUVs
The Vredestein Ultrac claims to improve ride comfort, durability, and fuel efficiency; qualities that are particularly relevant to compact SUV and hatchback owners. These tyres are manufactured in India by Apollo Tyres, and as per their website, they offer a comparatively smooth ride quality thanks to their optimised sidewall design. The tyre compound comes with an expanded flex zone, and the sidewall construction has been designed specifically to absorb shocks and vibrations. The Ultrac now also claims up to 5 per cent better fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor. This is mainly due to the lower rolling resistance of these new-gen tyres. In addition, this newer design also offers improvement in wet and dry grip; the tyre cavity has been redesigned to provide a squarer footprint, increasing contact with the road for improved lateral stability.
Together, these improvements make the Vredestein Ultrac a notable upgrade over OEM tyres typically offered on popular hatchbacks and compact SUVs.
Tyre Specs
As for the specs, my car came with 175/65 R15 tyres as standard, and the Ultracs here are 195/55 R16 size. Now, the contact patch is wider by 20mm, and the profile is 6.5mm lower. The overall diameter of the wheel has gone up from 609mm to 621mm, which means there is a slight increase in unsprung weight and speedometer error. The increase in wheel diameter isn’t drastic, but enough to slightly affect the speedometer and odometer readings. The new setup has a 1.3 per cent larger diameter, which means that the speedometer is likely to under-read, and the odometer may slightly under-report the distance travelled. Nonetheless, this difference is within the generally acceptable 3 per cent variance, so it's not a deal breaker.
All in all, I am hoping to see a balanced improvement in ride comfort, grip, and the stance of my car. The 195 width is wide enough for significantly more grip levels, but not so wide that it fouls within the wheel arch. The sidewall height is now pretty much perfect because the stock tyre’s 65 aspect ratio always seemed way too high for my liking. More importantly, the Vredestein Ultrac comes with a V speed rating and a load index of 87, meaning each tyre can support 545kg and run safely up to 240kmph; tolerances well beyond the limitations of most mainstream cars.
Benefits of Upgrading Tyres on Time
Upgrading or replacing tyres in time isn’t just about performance, it’s a safety decision. In my case, there was no better time than the monsoons to upgrade to the Vredestein Ultrac. These tyres come with an asymmetrical tread pattern to disperse water efficiently. The Ultrac’s stiffer tread blocks and superior compound compared to OEM tyres also help in reducing braking distance and aquaplaning in the wet.
What’s Next?
The plan here is pretty straightforward. Now that the Vredestein Ultrac 195/55 R16 tyres are on my car, we will see how much of a difference a quality tyre upgrade can make. Over the coming weeks, I will be evaluating these tyres specifically on ride comfort, quietness, and driving feel over Mumbai’s monsoon-ravaged roads. I will also pay close attention to any changes in fuel efficiency.
If you have been wondering whether a set of premium tyres can significantly improve your car’s real-world comfort and performance, the second half of this review might just help you decide, so stay tuned.
You can purchase Vredestein’s Ultrac range of tyres directly through the Apollo Tyres website, where they are listed as a 'luxury, tubeless' tyres. On a side note, Apollo India’s website also allows you to locate nearby authorised dealers offering their entire catalogue in multiple sizes. You can check them out by clicking here.
Product Details
Make: Vredestein
Type: Tubeless Car Tyres
Model: Ultrac
Size: 195/55 R16
Price: Rs. 10,300 per tyre
Availability: Apollo Tyres' Website
Photography by: Kaustubh Gandhi
