Vredestein Quatrac Pro Review

The Vredestein Quatrac Pro is not just a grand touring tire, it is a leap in performance with a 3PMSF/M+S rating, promising 10% better wet traction and a 5% improvement in snow handling (compared to its predecessor). But how well it performs next to other premium grand touring counterparts? Well, let’s find out.

Available Sizes

Vredestein Quatrac Pro comes in 17 to 21 inches, with sizes having following specs.

• Speed ratings: H, V, W and Y.
• Load ratings: SL/XL, (though majority of sizes are XL).
• Weight range: 19 to 37 lbs (heaviest size is 285/40/R22, and the lightest is 205/40/R17).
• Tread depth: 10/32″ on all.
• UTQG: 400 A A.
• Treadwear warranty: 50k miles.

Also all sizes have rim protectors, and Tri Peak ratings (along with M+S).

Key Takeaway

Overall, the Quatrac Pro is a great tire when it comes to:

• Directional Traction: Excellent braking and road contact.
• Lateral Grip and Handling: Superior in turns and responsive steering.
• Wet Performance: Outstanding grip and water clearance.
• Dry Slalom: Leading performance in responsiveness.
• Ride Comfort: Low noise and good vibration dampening.

However, the tire needs improvement in:

• Aquaplaning Resistance: Better water evacuation is needed.
• Fuel Efficiency: Lower rolling resistance desired.
• Impact Comfort: Enhanced cushioning for larger bumps can help this tire here.

Overall Construction

The Vredestein Quatrac Pro comes with an asymmetric tread design.

The tire is composed of 5 total ribs, where its outer two shoulder ribs have blocks with slanted longitudinal in-groove notches.

Though they vary from one another as on one side, lugs come with a linear siping pattern, while the other side features blocks with wave-like siping.

Same is going on in the middle.

The 2 outer ribs (closer to shoulders) differ in terms of their siping designs, (besides having other subtle variants, like their lateral groove designs).

And the central most rib? Well it’s continuous-running, and comes with equipped with V shaped notches along with (similar) linear siping, though these sipes have an angle to them.

Internally, the tire features a single-ply polyester casing supporting two steel belts, and a single polyamide reinforcement cap ply on top.

Compare Vredestein Quatrac Pro With Others

• Vredestein Quatrac 5
• Kleber Quadraxer 3
• Vredestein Hypertrac All Season

Wet Performance

Overall wet performance depends on how well tire clears off water (in front of it), as it rolls, allowing its rubber to properly meet with the road.

Personally the predecessor of this tire already stood out, and really impressed me, for its remarkable wet grip, a major factor in its popularity. Now, the latest model from Vredestein which they said offers a 10% improvement in wet traction… Well, it seemed like a tall claim, initially, but my tests confirm its accuracy.

In fact in terms of overall wet performance, now the Quatrac Pro gets the highest scores in my list of top grand touring tires.

But what makes this tire so great? Well this has to do with it’s superb engineered grooves and a combination of full-depth interlocking and linear sipes that vary in angles across the tread.

While the grooves take out majority of water, allowing for decent float speeds, and resistant to hydroplaning, there’s less reliance on sipes to begin with.

And let me tell you, these sipes don’t need any help, as they are pretty great on their own. And these, coupled with thick lateral slits and in-groove notches (functioning at multiple angles), results in outstanding wet handling.

The result? The tire gets to outperform even the Goodyear Vector 4Seasons (review), previously considered the best in this category.

So is there any room for improvement? Well yes a little, in terms of aquaplaning resistance, If I become a little greedy.

I mean the tire’s lateral water evacuation is not as effective as it could be.

While its four circumferential channels efficiently expel water longitudinally, the closed-up rib design, especially around the shoulders with ridges in between, limits lateral water flow.

This aspect slightly diminishes the tire’s overall performance in terms of float speeds.

Dry Performance

When examining a tire’s effectiveness on dry roads, two critical aspects merit attention: the tire’s overall traction and its steering responsiveness.

Now traction is again two parts, directional and lateral grip, and I discussed them all below.

Directional Traction

The key to directional traction lies in the tire’s central lugs, which primarily influence braking distances. This is because the central region provides the most direct contact between the rubber and the road surface (while the tire rolls in a straight-line).

Now, the Vredestein Quatrac Pro excels in this area, like a champ.

Its standout braking performance is attributed to the intricate design of its lateral grooves and the chamfered edges on the central three ribs.

Here, its continuous-running central (most) rib ensures uninterrupted contact with the road, enhancing consistent traction.

And although the voids in the adjacent ribs reduce this consistency slightly, they still contribute to the overall grip by acting as biting edges, technically known as in-groove notches.

These “notches”, with their slanted lateral design, enhance the tire’s capability to brake and accelerate effectively.

Additionally, the chamfered edges of the lugs are also playing a huge role here.

These basically prevent lugs from pressing against each other, thereby maintaining directional stability.

To give you an idea of how the tire performed: It only lacks to Crossclimate 2 (review), by less than a feet on dry roads, which is a big deal, as Michelin’s tire here is ranked on top for its superb directional grip, (I mean, in my list of top grand touring tires).

Lateral Grip and Handling

The overall performance of a tire is significantly influenced by its lateral grip and steering feedback. And the Vredestein tire here, exemplifies an excellent balance of these two factors, thanks to its well engineered design.

The secret to its impressive lateral traction lies in the design of its shoulders.

You see, as the tire takes turn, the weight on it shifts towards its shoulders and sidewalls.

And it’s shoulders crafted with minimal tread features, are able to maximize rubber-to-road contact, enhancing overall grip.

And yes, this is also further helped by the (shoulder) lugs featuring a combination of biters, characterized by interlocking/linear sipes and in-groove notches.

In addition to its lateral traction, the Quatrac Pro offers equally remarkable steering feedback as well, where you don’t feel any lack of traction at any given time (during cornering, I mean).

As a result, Vredestein delivers top-tier handling times, and lateral traction values (measured with lateral g forces), where both surpass even the renowned competitors out there.

Slalom Performance

Slalom performance testing involves setting up cones in a straight line, with the vehicle required to navigate in and out of these cones at a consistent speed.

This test differs significantly from overall handling time assessments, typically measured on laps. While the latter evaluates the tire’s transient response, slalom testing focuses on the tire’s ability to swiftly respond to directional changes.

Having said that, in dry slalom tests, the Vredestein distinguishes itself as a leader among its competitors. However, in wet slalom scenarios, it falls slightly behind the Pirelli WeatherActive (review), which holds the top spot in this particular test.

Though, it’s worth noting that the performance gap here between both these tires is pretty low. Meaning, while the Quatrac Pro may not be the absolute best in wet slalom, it remains a strong contender with commendable performance.

Fuel Economy

Fuel efficiency in tires is influenced by various factors, including weight, composition, and tread pattern, which collectively determine rolling resistance.

Now although the newer, Quatrac Pro generates 5% less rolling resistance compared to it’s predecessor, the tire’s overall performance still needs to be improved.

And the main culprit here is its slightly softer and more adhesive rubber composition, compared to its competitors.

I mean, although the tire comes with reinforced foundations (underneath all lugs), its softer rubber is still susceptible to bending/flexing, which basically leads to energy wastage.

(This energy is particularly used up in the form of heat, and reshaping of the tread).

So you get below average overall fuel economy with these tires on, though its to nobody’s surprise, especially when you consider how much grip they offer

Overall Ride Comfort

Ride comfort coming from tires is two parts, how well they are able to dampen down the noise, and overall road imperfections.

Let’s start with noise.

On-Road Noise Reduction

Tire noise is predominantly caused by the interaction of air particles with the tire’s tread walls, with the majority of this air entering through the shoulder voids of the tread.

Now, the Quatrac Pro incorporates unique design features to address this issue.

First off, it is equipped with integrated connectors or ridges between the shoulder lugs. This design significantly reduces air penetration into the tread area, thus mitigating noise generation.

Although these shoulder ridges decrease tire’s wet performance (as discussed in hydroplaning section), they also make Vredestein tire here, one of the quietest options in its category.

So its a good trade-off, I guess.

That’s why the tire only exhibits a very low level of white background noise, along with minimal impact noise along with barely noticeable tread vibrato and cavity sounds.

And yes, one more thing, the tire also offers a good variable pitch technology, which is particularly a great improvement over its predecessor.

It has to do with varying lug geometries, so colliding air particles could generate altering frequencies, which then prevent the overall noise form getting amplified.

Vibrations Dampening

Achieving the perfect balance of absorbing road irregularities is another key area, ensuring a driving experience that is both smooth and comfortable.

And in this regard, the Vredestein Quatrac Pro is doing okay.

Though its rubber composition might not be the best at cushioning larger road imperfections compared to other all-season tires, it stands out for its stability and control on smoother surfaces.

Meaning it offers a good ability to balance firmness with cushioning makes it a reliable option for those seeking a controlled yet comfortable ride.

Snow Performance

The Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake rated Vredestein, while not excelling in winter conditions as much as it does in wet and dry settings, still holds its ground appreciably.

So what I mean by that?

Well, although the tire trails behind the Nokian SeasonProof (review) in snow braking by 9 feet and is around 5 seconds slower in snow handling tests, it remains a viable option, when considering its overall performance.

Its specialized rubber compound is designed to remain flexible even in severely cold temperatures, ensuring that the tire maintains its grip.

Another advantage is the tire’s relatively narrower section width, which enhances its ability to exert more pressure on the snow.

This pressure enables snow to be effectively trapped in the tire’s grooves, notches, and sipes, allowing for optimal snow-to-snow contact which is crucial for traction in such conditions.

Furthermore, the tire’s array of siping and notches works together, to deliver excellent traction on ice and snow, without compromising its leading handling in wet conditions.

To Sum Up

In conclusion, the Vredestein Quatrac Pro is a well-rounded tire that excels in various aspects, offering impressive performance across different road conditions.

First off, it comes as the absolute best (at least right now), in terms of overall wet performance.

While on dry roads, although it lacks behind, slightly, its overall performance here is also quite appreciable, where it demonstrates excellent lateral grip and steering responsiveness.

Ride comfort is another strong suit, with the Quatrac Pro minimizing road noise and offering effective vibration dampening, although it could be improved in absorbing larger road imperfections.

And yes the tire can also improve its overall tread/fuel economy, and winter performance.