Vredestein Ultrac Cento Reviews - Page 2

Given 97% while driving a Renault Megane (205/55 R16 V) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Good tyres!
Helpful 17 - tyre reviewed on November 20, 2010
Given 76% while driving a Volkswagen Tdi 4 motion (225/45 R17 W) on mostly country roads for 3,000 average miles
The Vredestein Cento does what it says; a very good all round tyre.
I replaced the Continental Sportcontact 3 which where on the car with these tyres.
The Conti Sport 3 is a very good tyre for handling and braking in both the dry and wet. However, it has a few drawbacks:-
Expensive
Poor wear rate
Increased fuel consumption; around 2 MPG less.
Tram lining
Tyres aged and went soft causing an acceleration lag

The Cento is virtually as go as the Conti Sport 3 for handling in the dry and wet.
Like the Conti, it is one of the few tyres which can cope with the Golf's torque in the wet.

Cento plus points:-
An all rounder.
Good handling in dry and wet.
Refined and comfortable, for a directional reinforced high performance tyre.
Strong tyre so very little acceleration lag.
Sit well on narrower width rims.
Reduced fuel consumption.
Reinforced tyre in 225/45 R17 is standard.
Very good value for money.

Cento lesser points:-
Feedback is acceptable, however, room for improvement.
Braking is good, just not excellent like the Conti Sport 3.
Limited availability.

Will I choose the Vredestein or Conti next time?
It would mainly come down to cost.
The Conti is the slightly better performer; just not worth the premium price, and then some more for the reinforced option.
Helpful 19 - tyre reviewed on April 16, 2010
Given 67% while driving a Saab Automobile 9 3 SE Turbo (205/50 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 2,000 spirited miles
I've replaced the front set of Vredestein Sportrac 3 with these new Ultrac Centos on my SAAB 9-3 Turbo. These new tyres offer exceptional refinement and low road noise something which makes them ideal for long distance highway driving. Keeping up with the Vredestein tradition, the Ultrac Cento offers respectable grip in the wet which translates into a reassuring and sure-footed handling in adverse weather conditions.

The downside that comes at the cost of refinement is reduced feedback and average dry grip. Specifically, under hard acceleration in 1st and 2nd gear my car torque-steered excessively, something which was almost completely absent with the Sportrac 3. The same can be said for the roadholding which, although progressive, is nowhere near as good as before.

Overall, the Ultrac Cento seems an ideal choice for someone looking for a refined, quiet and sure-footed tyre. Any spirited driving will not be rewarded accordingly with this tyre.
Helpful 16 - tyre reviewed on March 19, 2010
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Given 77% while driving a Audi A4 (205/55 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 4,000 spirited miles
I have had these tyres for a few months now and the tyres are awesome for motorway cruising...and excellent rain grip and awesome on handling and cornering...We've had some crazy snow and ice and they are bad, probably the worse in snow and ice i've ever had i think its due to the tread pattern...but overall i am happy with them...hence i have noticed my fuel consumption to have increased... but i dont think i would buy them again...probably try something different...dunno yet
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on January 8, 2010
Given 68% while driving a Mercedes Benz E Class Estate (225/55 R16 W) on a combination of roads for 3,000 easy going miles
Fitted these tyres as replacements for Continental Premium Contacts which were on the car and half worn when I bought it.
I immediately noticed how smooth and quiet they were compared to the worn-out Contis.
My only issue with them is the fuel consumption. Part of the reason for buying them was their low rolling resistance claim. I have found that my fuel consumption has been worse since they were fitted which is disappointing.


Helpful 11 - tyre reviewed on January 6, 2010
Given 83% while driving a MG ZR (205/45 R17 W) on a combination of roads for 600 average miles
I haven't driven many miles with these yet but so far i'm reasonably impressed with them. I've gone from Uniroyal Rainsport 2's (which i still have on another set of alloys) as i wanted a smoother ride over the amazingly sporty Rainsport 2's.
These Centos' are unbelievably quite.
It's a very smooth ride even in a MG ZR 160.
I'm not 100% confident of them in the wet (again, my only comparison are the rainsport 2's): i think there straight line characteristics are very good but i'm not yet so sure about cornering/handling characteristics. BUT, i need to do more miles.
So far i would say these are worth a punt: vredestein have a good reputation and this is a flagship product for them and so far i can see why. It's not, in my opinion, a sports tyre, more a saloon executive tyre. I could easily see these on Mercs & BMW's with lots of straight line speed, smooth cornering but not out & out sports cornering & aggressive driving. A pleasant compromise between smoothness & quite versus grip & handling (not that i've had a problem with either).
Will post more feedback after a few more thousand miles. Costs ?95 a corner.
Helpful 10 - tyre reviewed on September 9, 2009