Vredestein Tyres launches high performance tyres for SUVs

Vredestein Tyres has made two new additions to its India lineup with the introduction of the Vredestein Pinza HT and the Vredestein Ultrac Vorti I. The Dutch brand, although relatively unknown in India, has been in business since 1909 and recently celebrated its 115th anniversary. Apollo Tyres acquired Vredestein in 2009 and introduced the premium tyre brand to India in 2013 as imports. With government restrictions on tyre imports coming into play, Apollo began manufacturing Vredestein tyres in its Indian factories.

Starting with the introduction of Vredestein Ultrac and Ultrac Vorti in 2021, the brand later added the Pinza AT and Centauro two-wheeler tyre. Vredestein is now diversifying its portfolio to include the Pinza HT and Ultrac Vorti I, which are aimed at premium SUVs and ultra-high-performance SUVs respectively. Vredestein invited us to experience the Pinza HT on an off-road trail in the hills of Ooty and the Ultrac Vorti I at the CoASTT High Performance Centre in Coimbatore.

Vredestein Pinza HT 

Vredestein launched the all-terrain version of the Pinza early last year to rave reviews. However, given that most SUV owners spend the majority of their time on the pavement, the brand acknowledged the need for a less aggressive alternative. Enter the Vredestein Pinza HT, the road-biased alternative. These tyres are available in a variety of sizes from 16 to 18 inches and should be direct replacements for vehicles such as the Toyota Fortuner, Tata Safari, and Mahindra Scorpio.

The Pinza HT features a special tread compound designed to provide superior all-weather grip on tarmac. Additionally, large tread blocks with a generous amount of pass-throughs and sipes allow for water evacuation while maintaining superb cornering grip. The tyres are also engineered to be safe, comfortable, and durable, although the press release makes no claims about their off-road performance.

Surprisingly, Vredestein chose to let us experience the Pinza HT on a particularly challenging off-road trail in Ooty. Five SUVs, including a Toyota Fortuner, Hilux, and three Isuzu V-Crosses shod with Pinza HTs, were ready and waiting to hit the trails. I chose the Hilux. The rocky trail led us down a mountain via a series of hairpins before looping back to return to the top. The trail itself was not curated in any way, with several rocks, deep ruts, and tight hairpins making life difficult.

The Pinza HT made light work of the downhill stretch and even excelled in a small section of slush. The sidewalls of the HT have more give compared to their AT counterparts, which allows the tyres to mould themselves to the rocks despite running at stock pressures. On the way back up, the special compound provided incredible amounts of grip on the rocky surface; however, despite spending more than a couple of days tackling this trail, the tyres showed no cuts or wear, giving us a hint of their durability. Perhaps the most surprising aspect was the jolt-free ride the tyres were able to provide despite the surface beneath. This should translate to an absorbent ride quality on the street too. The following day, we had a chance to experience the Pinza HT in their natural habitat — on the highway. While the ride quality and stability were solid as expected, the standout characteristic was the lack of tyre noise. The main event, however, was the experience at the CoASTT High Performance Centre in Coimbatore.

Vredestein Ultrac Vorti I 

Vredestein already offers the Ultrac and the Ultrac Vorti in India; however, they are focused on premium hatchbacks and luxury sedans respectively. With the Ultrac Vorti I, Vredestein is targeting the ultra-high-performance SUV market, populated by the likes of the Porsche Cayenne, Lamborghini Urus, and the Bentley Bentayga. These vehicles weigh in excess of 2.5 tonnes and produce enough power to make supercars blush, therefore putting them through tremendous stress.

Vredestein gathered a Mercedes-Benz GLS, a BMW X5, and a wild-looking Mercedes-AMG G 63. We sampled the BMW X5, and while it's not possible to give a definitive verdict while driving on a new track with no benchmark for comparison, initial impressions were very promising. The tyres provided excellent lateral grip, superb stopping power and a decent amount of feedback. Once again, the lack of tyre noise was immediately noticeable. While no tyre can turn the OG G-Wagen into a sports car, the tyres did hold up remarkably well after an entire day at the track.

While waiting for the brakes to cool, we also had a chance to admire the tyre sidewalls that have been designed in collaboration with legendary automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. Overall, both tyres left us impressed with their performance. The Pinza HT offers excellent road manners while still allowing for occasional off-roading, and the Ultrac Vorti I finally gives UHP SUV owners an option for a made-in-India high-performance tyre.

The Pinza HTs are priced between ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 per tyre, while the Ultrac Vorti I is priced between ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 per tyre (prices vary depending on size). At that price point, both tyres are at the premium end of the spectrum; however, they are not exorbitantly priced, especially considering the performance on offer.