Outstanding 14" tire choice - Vredestein Comtrac- Edit :NLA

[IdahoDoug]

Continuous circumferential tread rows tend to provide better handling at speed, lower noise, longer wear and lower rolling resistance. But the lack of lateral edges indeed means those type of "highway" tread designs have poor traction on gravel, very light snow, ice or other traction challenges.

It's a testament to today's state of the art silica rubber compounds, and computer aided design that allow tires like this to have open tread blocks for traction challenges, but also achieve the low noise/rolling resistance/handling and long wear of those old fashioned tread designs.

I'm pretty pumped.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[Wildthings]

[katstan]

Happy to say my new Vredestein Comtracs came on Saturday and I was able to get them installed before camping Saturday evening. They look and feel great. I do have a strange knocking sound now when braking and turning left at the same time. Will take it back to STS where I got them installed to get it checked out. Timing couldn't have been better for getting them installed. The old Yokohoma 356 with the broken belt, that led me down the new tire road in the first place, blew literally as they were pulling the van into the bay to do the swap.

[Wildthings]

[IdahoDoug]

Yep - noodle a bit with the CV boot. Might as well do that before taking it back and having them noodle a bit and take up your time, eh?

What size did you go with?
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[katstan]

[Weezyissuperfast]

Any update on these tires from those of you running them? Are you still happy with them? I'm getting ready to buy some new 14" tires for my Syncro and it is down to these or the General Grabbers.

[dhaavers]

Any news on the US supply this spring? I'm ready to buy, but waiting for some to show up...



- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[davevickery]

There are no 14" sizes listed on their website (for quite a while now). I would take that to mean they are discontinued.

[dhaavers]

Afraid of that, but hoping for otherwise...

Link?

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[davevickery]

[IdahoDoug]

I don't think they'll be out of production any time soon. It's a large market in Europe. What you may find is they eventually won't be available here in the US.

If they ever were no longer available here, I'd consider contacting the Atlanta USA headquarters for Vredestein and letting them know you'd like to buy a set and see if they'll accommodate.

It's likely that the summer tire stock is already here in the US in containers and then it will be shipped out to tire dealers over the next couple months. Or perhaps they keep the tires at major warehouse distributors and ship when ordered. Either way, they'll open the containers, inventory what is in them and then update their stock reports for dealers to purchase out of as needed. So I'd expect to find them available but you'll need to reach out to these smaller dealers and have them check availability.

Interesting there appears to be a new version of the Comtrac All Season. It's got some siping in the tread and an updated tread compared to mine. Looks nice. I'm jealous you guys will get the update!! Heh....
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[davevickery]

[IdahoDoug]

Oh, bummer. Well, I'd be calling the USA HQ sooner then. There are often many sets of a given tire in stock somewhere in the system. A dealer in Peoria. A warehouse in NJ. Etc. I've bought 14" tires off Tire Rack that were a few years old. Likely simply an unpopular size, so they sit in dark warehouses.

HQ would have ways of find out and they're motivated to hook you up with any remaining Comtracs because they know their dealers love getting those call: "Hey Ted, you know those 14" Comtracs you've had in stock for 3 years? Well, I have a buyer - here's his information...." That way the dealer will reorder tires for stock and they're happy to make a sale. Win/win.

Doug
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[climberjohn]

Doug,

This is a very helpful thread, and I value your expertise on tires.
My Nokian WR-Cs are on their last legs, so it's about time for something new.
Thanks for keeping this thread going.

-CJ
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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

[gustavohuber]

For those who got their hopes up and found this thread.. I just spoke with a very helpful associate Jared from Vredestein North America who confirmed that no more of the 14" sizes of the Comtrac are being produced, and it looks to have been a few years since anyone ordered the 185/75 R14 size from the factory, so finding stock will be rough. Comtrac has been replaced with Comtrac 2AS (all-season) which is functionally identical, but only comes in 15" and up rim sizes. Time to get some 15" wheels i guess.

[bobbyblack]

Well, darn. Here are the 2AS options, from the north America Vredestein site:

THERE ARE 14 TIRE SIZE(S) AVAILABLE

SHOW SPECS FOR 15"

WIDTH ASPECT RATIO RIM DIAMETER LOAD INDEX SPEED RATINGS MAX SPEED
(MILES/H) TREADWEAR TRACTION TEMPERATURE
195 70 15 104/102 R 106
205 70 15 106/104 R 106
215 70 15 109/107 S 112
225 70 15 112/110 S 112

SHOW SPECS FOR 16"

WIDTH ASPECT RATIO RIM DIAMETER LOAD INDEX SPEED RATINGS MAX SPEED
(MILES/H) TREADWEAR TRACTION TEMPERATURE
185 75 16 104/102 R 106
195 75 16 107/105 R 106
195 65 16 104/102 T 118
205 65 16 107/105 T 118
205 75 16 110/108 R 106
215 75 16 116/114 R 106
215 65 16 109/107 T 118
215 60 16 103/101 T 118
225 65 16 112/110 R 106
235 65 16 115/113 R 106
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[danfromsyr]

it truly is a shame and a major loss of a good fit for our antique vehicles.

I carry much of the sense of blame for this.. as many things that I personally find great in life go away shortly after I proclaim it to be 'the greatest'.
it's honestly a terrible superpower and my friends and family shun me for it at times.
I've been noted as being able to make a bird fall from the sky by commenting on "how graceful it flies"

my apologies and condolences.
Dan the dark twin to king Midas
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[bobbyblack]

My condolences Dan:

Now I don't know, but I been told
It's hard to run with the weight of gold,
Other hand I have heard it said,
It's just as hard with the weight of lead
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[jimf909]