Vredestein SE Road Tires

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="005b85a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Big Ring Adventure Team</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Big Ring Adventure Team"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="black_spire_bash_guard.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Black Spire Bash Guard">Black Spire Bash Guard</A>   |   <A HREF="speed_king.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Continental Speed King MTB Tires">Continental Speed King MTB Tires</A>   |   <A HREF="garmin_edge_305.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Garmin Edge 305">Garmin Edge 305</A>   |   <A HREF="managing_book.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IMBAs Managing Mountain Biking Book">IMBA's Managing Mountain Biking Book</A>   |   <A HREF="ink_well_tattoo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ink Well Tattoo">Ink Well Tattoo</A>   |   <A HREF="neuvation_wheels.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Neuvation R 28 SL 2">Neuvation R 28 SL 2</A>   |   <A HREF="ritchey_fork.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ritchey Comp Carbon Road Fork">Ritchey Comp Carbon Road Fork</A>   |   <B>Vredestein SE Road Tires</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="006d2b83.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="23eafa00.gif" border=0 width="175" height="160" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I><B>Serious cyclists having serious fun!</B></I></div> <div> Big Ring Adventure Team</div> <div> A Division of 53T, Inc.</div> <div> P.O. 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These tires are no longer in the company's online catalog, but the Web site gives general information. And although the tires are not shown on the Web site, they're still widely available.</div> <div> <B>Date of Review:</B> June 1, 2005.</div> <div> <B>Updated:</B> August 6, 2005, April 4, 2007.</div> <div> <B>Reviewed by:</B> Rich Ries.</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="604" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 38 ><NOBR><div> Ratings</div> <div> (1 is lowest, 5 is highest)</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="400"><div> Comments</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="107"><div> Grip</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="71"><div> 3</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="400"><div> Today's “3” is the “5” of a few years ago</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="107"><div> Wet grip</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="71"><div> 3</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="400"><div> Adequate with predictable handling</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="107"><div> Comfort</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="71"><div> 4-5</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="400"><div> Depending on pressure</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="107"><div> Wear</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="71"><div> 3</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="400"><div> Average for a good training tire</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="107"><div> Puncture resistance</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="71"><div> 5</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="400"><div> Has Vredestein's PRS design (see their site for more info)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="107"><div> Cost</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="71"><div> 5</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Find `em on sale for the best tire value going</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>Recommended?:</B> Yes.</div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="054c2230.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="291" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Handmade in Holland, Vredestein tires enjoy a good reputation among Euro roadies.</B> Based on my experience with these Fortezza SE tires, it's a reputation that's well deserved.</div> <div> Finding the SE version of the Vredestein Fortezza bicycle road tire can be a bit tricky. I'm assuming “SE” is “Special Edition,” maybe an OEM version where only occasional overruns are made available to the public. I sent an e-mail to Vredestein's U.S. distributor, Veltec Sports, asking for confirmation or clarification, but got no response.</div> <div> How closely does the SE follow the design standards of other models in the Fortezza lineup? Like the Road version, the SE is a dual-compound tire. Like the Road and the TriComp, it has Vredestein's PRS (Puncture Resistance System). Where other manufacturers use Kevlar or an equivalent to provide puncture resistance, Vredestein vulcanizes a layer of high-durometer (hard) rubber under the tread. With several hundred miles on cinder-strewn roads, I've not yet had a flat.</div> <div> The SE is somewhat heavy. The Vredestein site claims 235 grams for the Road and 240 g for the TriComp. The SE is not listed on the Vredestein site, but the Performance site claims 262 grams for the SE. Mine measured 270 g. That's a trifle porky for tires in this price and performance category, and you feel it when you're riding. The tires are slightly sluggish on acceleration.</div> <div> The SE's also have a higher maximum pressure, 160 psi compared to 145 psi for the Road and TriComp versions. I was reluctant to jack up the pressure right away, so my first few rides were at my typical road tire pressure of around 110 psi. My first impression was that the SE's were the most comfortable, the most supple tires I've ever ridden. My time on tubulars is too low to matter, but the SE's felt like the ride quality I remember from my limited experience on sew-ups.</div> <div> I was curious what the SE's would feel like closer to their max rating, though, so I laid on the Joe Blow Pro until I got 145 psi in them. I virtually never run tires at their highest rating, so this 91 percent of max is typical of my setup preferences. At the higher pressure, the ride was noticeably stiffer. Still more supple than most other road tires, but not as compliant as they were with 35 fewer psi in them.</div> <div> Regardless of pressure, the Fortezzas hooked up well. I don't push corners like I used to, but the few times I got a little reckless I could feel the Fortezzas yielding predictably, with no sudden loss of grip. They seem to have a slight traction edge over other brands in sand, cinders, and gravel. On wet roads the Fortezzas seemed to lose none of their composure.</div> <div> Overall, I would rate the Vredestein Fortezza SE road bike tire at or above average in overall performance. The ease of mounting, durability, flat resistance and traction are comparable to Michelin Axial Carbon tire, but I think the ride quality is better. The SE's are somewhat better in every respect than the Maxxis Detonator tires that they replaced, except possibly for wear. The Detonators hung on for a long, long time.</div> <div> Buy the SE's if you're looking for dependable, predictable training tires. Buy the SE's if comfort is paramount for you. Buy the SE's if you can find them on sale; they offer better performance at typical street prices than almost any other tire. But if you're stuck paying full retail, there are many other tires with comparable performance and lower weight in that price range.</div> <div> <B>Update August 6, 2005</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04ec2d50.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="213" ALT="Casing failure." ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I just replaced the rear tire because it developed a knot, apparently due to thread failure in the casing. (I didn't do a biopsy, but the bulge is typical of broken threads. See photo.) For some reason I didn't log the install date, but I know the tire had at least 2,000 miles on it, maybe 3,000 miles. The crown was gone from the tread and the tire's profile was definitely becoming square, but I would not have replaced it yet for wear alone. So the thread failure led to earlier replacement than should have been required.</div> <div> The tires are rated for 160 psi. I've had them to 145 once or twice, but never above. Most of the time I ran them at 120 to 130 psi. It's doubtful that the casing failed because of over inflation, nor did it likely fail due to impact with a sharp-edged road irregularity while the tire was under inflated. I have to assume the failure was due to a defect.</div> <div> Although the failure became apparent just recently, and although the pronounced failure occurred suddenly, I've had a thump-thump-thump from that wheel almost since the tire was installed. There was no visible symptom of tire failure at that time. In fact, I went so far as to put the wheel in the truing stand looking for a hop because the tire looked fine. I now realize that the thumping was an early indication of eventual failure.</div> <div> I still like the SE's, and I want to believe that the failure was an isolated incident. So far the front tire has given me no troubles. I'll know more after I get a few thousand miles on the replacement tire.</div> <div> I also noticed cracks in the sidewall of the tires, although these didn't lead to failure. I think the cracks and the casing failure may have been related to running 145 psi, even though this was well below the manufacturer's recommended maximum of 160 psi. Running lower pressure (120-130 psi) provides a more comfortable ride and may reduce the likelihood of these problems.</div> <div> Despite some problems I was able to run the Vredesteins until the crown was worn flat, as shown in the photo. You can also see in that picture that the tread had dozens of cinders embedded in it, yet the tire remained stubbornly flat-resistant.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="050902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="052c12c0.jpg" border=0 width="193" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> </tr></table></body>