It was the winter non-studded tires Vredestein Nord-Trac Xtreme that became the first practical result of the cooperation between the Dutch tire manufacturer and the Italian design studio Giugiaro Design. At the same time, being a design product, this model is intended for the widest range of car owners. Such an unequivocal conclusion can be drawn by looking at the range of sizes in which this tire is offered. It is counted in dozens of sizes for wheels with a diameter of 15 to 20 inches. There is no doubt that among such a variety, you can find a suitable option for any modern passenger car.

W-shaped tread design

Not every tire manufacturer dares to go as far in the design of the tread pattern as the Dutch Vrederstein has managed to do. This time, the company's specialists were helped by designers from the Giugiaro Design studio. Together, they came up with a unique tread pattern with a W-shaped arrangement of elements. At the same time, they managed to get by with just four longitudinal ribs, as opposed to five, like most other tire manufacturers.

The W-shaped design is formed mainly due to the central part of the tread pattern. It consists of two longitudinal ribs, each of which consists of a multitude of arrow-shaped blocks. Thanks to this structure, the Dutch tire makers were able to provide the tire with a whole range of important qualities. First and foremost, these are excellent directional stability indicators, especially when moving on slippery surfaces. In addition, the massive sizes of the two central ribs made it possible to significantly reduce the tire's response time to steering wheel turns, making them, in fact, lightning-fast.

Silica-containing rubber compound

Among other key features of this winter model Vredestein Nord-Trac Xtreme, it is worth noting the rubber compound, the composition of which was selected based on the specifics of tire operation in winter and the need to make the tread wear-resistant. This was achieved thanks to the Optimum Silica Processing technology. As part of its application, special silica-containing components were added to the rubber compound. With their help, the tire, or rather its tread, was able to acquire excellent elasticity in a very wide temperature range, as well as become more resistant to abrasive wear. In addition, the Optimum Silica Processing technology includes certain measures during the preparation of the rubber compound aimed at evenly distributing silica throughout the tread.

Flat profile

In addition to the rubber compound, the Dutch specialists took a number of other measures to ensure the tire has the longest possible service life. One of them was the profile shape, which they tried to make as flat and resistant to dynamic deformation as possible, which occurs during movement. At the same time, most of the technical solutions were applied under the tread layer - the Dutch added several additional layers to the breaker, giving it even greater stiffness. As a result, the tire became not only more resistant to uneven tread wear but also much faster in responding to steering wheel control, making handling more accurate and predictable.

Main features of Vredestein Nord-Trac Xtreme

- a unique W-shaped tread pattern developed in cooperation with Italian specialists from Giugiaro Design;
- aggressive exterior design thanks to the massiveness of the tread elements;
- a large number of straight lamellas in the central part of the tread, located in various directions, provide reliable traction properties in any winter conditions;
- zigzag-shaped lamellas in the shoulder zones form additional traction edges, increasing the stiffness of this part of the tread, thanks to which the tire demonstrates excellent stability in turns;
- the Optimum Silica Processing technology provides the tire with excellent traction on snowy and wet surfaces, as well as increased resistance to abrasive wear;
- a flat profile, a breaker layer of increased stiffness significantly increased the tire's resistance to uneven wear, improving handling at the same time;
- a wide range of sizes, including tires with Run Flat technology.