Most Affordable - Cordiant Snow cross... Completely domestic (both development and manufacture) tire, upgraded last year. Another model of the last season is a little more expensive -.
Four more tires that can be called inexpensive by today's standards are the Nitto Therma Spike (the second brand Japanese company Toyo), South Korean Kumho WinterCraft Ice, popular Formula Ice (developed by Pirelli, and Russian production) and popular on the market "Japanese" Malaysian "assembly" Toyo Observe G3 ‑ Ice.
From the representatives of the second echelon - new models with German and Finnish ancestry, but produced in Russia: Gislaved nord Frost 200 with tread copied from the first generation ContiIceContact, and Nordman 7 with "face" Hakkapeliitta tires 7.
Finally, the leaders of our past: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice arctic and Continental IceContact 2. As well as a hot new product from Nokian - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
Tires in the north
We have already conducted tests outside of Russia and we consider this very positive. This time we decided to go to the Pirelli winter training ground. It is located in the northern part of Sweden, in the province of Norrbotten, near the town of Elvsbün. Ice tracks are laid on the frozen lake Lilkorstresk (Small Krestovoye swamp), and snow runs along its shores.
At the beginning of February, the pre-run tires were delivered there, and at the end of the month we carried out all the snow and ice tests. The temperature during the tests ranged from -1 to -15 ºС, but at first the Swedish north made me very nervous. On the first day of our work, a warm atmospheric front came to the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia - and the air temperature rose to plus seven degrees! Snow and ice melted before our eyes. The locals said that they didn’t remember such warmth in February in their entire lives. Only on the third day, in the evening, did it freeze, the thawed lake ice got stronger again and a day later was already holding the car. Let's start testing on ice!
We saddle the brand new Kia Rio hatchback and refine our own "toolbox". This time, in all exercises, experts give an assessment not in whole points, but in half-point increments - for more correct results.
On thin ice
First, an assessment of the longitudinal adhesion properties. Using the VBOX device, we record the acceleration time from zero to 30 km / h and immediately after that we brake, determining the value from 30 to 5 km / h. The length of the "track" allows you to take four measurements in one direction. Then four more back - and calculate the average. We roll the base tire every three test ones; at the end of the measurements, we recalculate all the results taking into account how the results of the "stove" have changed.The best acceleration, 6.5 seconds, was shown by Rio on Continental tires, second on Nokian tires: 6.8 seconds. No one doubted that the tires with 185-186 studs would be ahead. However, Cordiant, Goodyear and Nordman are stepping on their heels with 110 studs each in 6.9 seconds. The longest acceleration - Kumho: 9.7 seconds.
In braking, Nokian outperforms Continental just a little - 16.4 meters against sixteen and a half, and the third result, 16.7 meters, shows Goodyear. The last one was again Kumho: 23.7 meters.
Pit at zero
The controllability is estimated on the track of a closed configuration. This "path" is about a kilometer long with bends of different radii and a long straight line. And the main thing is that the ice here is very slippery, polished by the wind. We carry out the assessment together, on each set of tires we ride three laps each, then we change.
Heck! Incredibly slippery! To change places, I literally had to crawl from one side to the other, without taking my hands off the car.
Nokian tires earned the highest score in this exercise: clear reactions and good steering information are complemented by a soft, predictable start of the car's sliding and stable grip regardless of the degree of slippage.
Rio behaved a little worse, shod in and Nitto. In the first case, I liked the good balance of longitudinal and lateral grip, an understandable moment of transition to sliding. The score was lowered slightly due to small delays in reactions. On Nitto, the car conquered with good handling even in sliding and a tight, "understandable" steering wheel at large angles of rotation. However, there were some small complaints about the information content of the steering wheel at small angles - in the initial phase of the turn. Shinniks call this effect hole in zero.
The lowest scores were reported by Gislaved, Goodyear and Formula. On these tires, the driver is forced to increase the steering angles, there are delays in reactions. In addition, the Rio on Gislaved tires slips for a long time in the corner, and then the grip is sharply restored, which provokes the whip effect - a sharp skid in the opposite direction.
Goodyear did not like the imbalance of the longitudinal and lateral clutch: the car holds the curve much worse than accelerates and brakes. On Formula - low information content "on the steering wheel" in the corners, which provokes twisting and subsequent skidding.
The ice circle is the most unpleasant exercise for the driver. It is necessary to grope for the maximum speed on the verge of sliding, show the best time (it is recorded by VBOX) and confirm it. In this case, you have to go in one direction, counterclockwise. With good grip, a decent lateral force rolls over the body and head - you constantly strain all the muscles. All the time you have to look from the "road" to the devices and back. After fifty circles, my head begins to spin.
The Continental and Nokian were the fastest on the lap - 19.9 seconds per full revolution. Only one tenth (20.0 s) lagged behind them Cordiant. Slowest tires - Kumho: best achievement - 22.5 seconds.
How many laps did you have to do on each set to get the best results and repeat them? Ten to fifteen! The only tires that required more attention and skill were Goodyear: the car shod in them all the time strove to fall into a skid, I had to cut 19 laps. And in total, taking into account the repeated races on the basic tires, our Rio had to wind up more than two hundred revolutions!
Moving on to snow procedures
Snow fell exactly the next day after the completion of all ice tests. It is easier to prepare a track for assessing handling than a plateau for measuring longitudinal grip. Therefore, we start with more creative and interesting work.
In one bend, the track lies on a hillside, therefore it has short, but rather steep ascents and descents. This is a "feature" of local tracks for assessing handling - most tire manufacturers use mostly flat tracks. The climbs and descents load and unload the suspension by altering the vertical forces acting on the wheels. It is especially interesting when the wheel is unloaded in a corner: downforce decreases, the tire starts to slip.
Fresh snow fell on the cold ice - and shifted as the car slid in corners. The result is a mixed coverage: in some places snow, in some places ice - real!
Here, in terms of handling, I liked the Nokian tires more than others: very soft but confident cat habits, predictable car behavior. Rio on these tires does not require the driver - he just turns. The top speed is limited by a gentle skid that helps to prescribe a turn, requiring little or no adjustment.
The experts presented the greatest claims to the next three participants. annoying with an unexpectedly arising skid with a sharp, unpredictable stall, long sliding and the same sharp recovery of adhesion, which provokes a "shooting" skid in the opposite direction. On Gislaved tires, the steering wheel becomes unpleasantly empty and uninformative - you have to turn it at excessively large angles, which leads to an unexpected sharp break into a skid and deep slips. I didn’t like the Kumho tires because of the noticeable delays in reactions, significant steering angles, long slips and deep skid on the arc, requiring the driver to make immediate adjustments.
Exercise "rearrangement" due to excessively soft snow was performed only partially - they were able to assess only the behavior of the machine during extreme maneuvering, and they refused to determine the maximum speed of successful execution of the maneuver.
Here, as on the handling track, Nokian tires earned the most points thanks to the sharpest responses, soft and predictable behavior and easy self-healing skidding at top speed. Dunlop liked the least of all: on these tires, the Rio shows not only noticeable delays in reactions, but also an unstable, wide steering balance: from significant drift of the front axle at the first jerk of the steering wheel to skidding of the rear wheels when trying to stabilize the car in the change lane.
And here is a well-trodden snow straight - you can take measurements of the acceleration time and braking distance. As in similar ice exercises, we combine acceleration with deceleration, repeating the exercises eight to ten times. Moreover, the acceleration time from 0 to 40 km / h on snow was evaluated twice - with and without the TCS traction control system. Braking from 40 to 5 km / h - only with ABS.
So, acceleration is normal, when TCS prevents the tires from slipping. Best results with Continental, Goodyear and Nokian tires. On them, the Rio is gaining 40 km / h in exactly six seconds. Kumho has the worst performance. Like on the ice, they accelerate slowly, losing over 11% to the leaders.
Disconnect the electronic collar and repeat the measurements. It turns out faster! Goodyear holds the leading position: 40 km / h from a standstill are subdued in 5.2 seconds. Acceleration is only one-tenth longer on Continental and Nokian tires. Kumho tires show the most modest result in this mode.
Braking is won by the leading pair - Continental and Nokian, showing the same result: 14.8 meters. At the closing this time - relatives Nitto and Toyo.
Final exercises - assessment of directional stability on a snow-covered track and cross-country ability in deep snow. At high speed, the Rio is the best at following the set course and most clearly rebuilt, shod in Nokian. In addition, we note the high information content of the steering: the driver drives the car in a straight line intuitively, without concentrating.
The worst marks were given to four participants. On Cordiant and Gislaved tires, when changing lanes, the Rio has an unpleasant steering of the rear axle, which turns into a skid. Attempting to correct course on Dunlop and Kumho tires is fraught with skidding, requiring immediate action, even with soft lane changes.
More confident than others in rowing Goodyear tires - on them Rio is ready to conquer any snowdrift. But on Kumho and Toyo tires, you can only ride a good ride. Getting under way in the snow is daunting: the slightest slip - and the wheels slip, digging deeper and deeper.
What's with the thorns?
We were pleasantly surprised. On all tires, after running-in, the spikes protruded above the tread within reasonable limits. The maximum is 1.41 mm for the Cordiant, the minimum is less than 0.9 mm for the Formula, Gislaved and Nokian tires. Only the Nokian has 185 studs on each tire, while the Formula and Gislaved have only 110. And this number with such a small protrusion is clearly not enough to provide good grip on ice.
As a reminder, the regulated stud protrusion on new tires is no more than 1.2 mm. We know from experience that after running in, this value can increase to 1.3–1.4 mm.
It is gratifying that tire manufacturers have stopped abusing the increased stud protrusion. After all, strongly protruding spikes "saw" the asphalt, on which deep ruts appear. And for the first time during our tests, not a single tire lost a single spike, confirming the postulate that the reliability of the retention of the spikes in the rubber is inversely proportional to the amount of their protrusion. The less you stick out, the harder you sit!
On the asphalt
In Togliatti, at the AVTOVAZ test site, we again had to wait for the weather. Dry roads and calm weather are the conditions for reliable rolling resistance results. The asphalt part of the tests could be performed only in the first half of May. I had to work at night in order to keep within the admissible temperature for winter tires + 5… + 7 ºC.
The procedure for evaluating the economy is the same as in the case of p. We start by warming them up by doing full circle along the high-speed ring (10 km) at a speed of 110–120 km / h. Along the way, we estimate how much the car deviates from the set course under the influence of external forces (side wind, slope), and also smoothly maneuver, simulating a soft detour around an obstacle or changing lane for overtaking. At the same time, the tester carefully monitors the reactions and behavior of the car, and also evaluates how convenient and understandable (read: safe) it is to drive it. The wider the "zero" and the greater the steering wheel turning angles, to which the car does not react, and the lower the information content (the rate of increase in steering effort with increasing steering angle), the worse the assessment.
Experts gave Formula Ice tires the highest mark for directional stability: some summer tires can envy the clarity of course holding and the reactions of the car shod in them! The complete opposite is Dunlop tires. The main disadvantages in the behavior of the car on these tires: wide "zero", empty steering wheel, delays in reactions when adjusting the course.
After a circle around the ring on a two-kilometer straight line, we estimate the amount of run-out from the maximum permitted "urban" and "suburban" speeds. Measurements are carried out in opposite directions, we repeat from three to five times, depending on the results obtained. At the same time, the driver gains impressions of the noise and smoothness of the ride at different speeds. The greenest, that is, the most economical ones, were the Nokian tires.
Before changing tires, the Rio makes a lap on service roads with cracks and cracks to determine the comfort rating. We found the quietest tires Gislaved, Toyo and Nitto, and the softest - Continental and Nokian.
The next exercise is to measure the stopping distance on a dry surface and on a wet surface. The initial braking speeds for winter tires are reduced compared to summer ones by 20 km / h - up to 80 km / h on a dry road and up to 60 km / h on a wet one. Better than others when braking on wet asphalt tires looked Continental, on dry - Nokian. The weakest results were with Nitto, regardless of the condition of the pavement, and on dry asphalt, Cordiant was the Nitto company.
Summarizing
The new tires won the test with the highest score (936) Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9... The second place with a total of 914 points took Continental IceContact 2... We categorize both tires as excellent and recommend to drivers of all skill levels.
On the third step of our pedestal - Goodyear ultragrip ice arctic, who earned 898 total points, just two points short of the excellent tire title. Its element is unclean winter roads and even virgin snow.
The fourth position with 888 points is occupied by Nordman seventh generation. Very good tires for the Russian winter, will give confidence in any conditions.
All of the tires listed are ranked in our table according to the price ranking. Or they have a price that is adequate to the characteristics and properties, which, in fact, are one and the same. And starting from the fifth place, small distortions begin in one direction or another.
For example, Cordiant Snow Cross earned 871 points, which allowed him to gain a foothold in the "very good tires" category and take the fifth line in the final test result. They will not give up on any road, unless they require a long distance on dry asphalt due to modest adhesion properties, and also unhurried movement on a snowy road. You can buy them for 2500 rubles apiece.
Tires scoring 852 points (sixth place) open the category of good tires. Decent product with averages across nearly all disciplines. Not without weaknesses, among which are modest lateral grip on ice, poor directional stability on a snowy road and asphalt, and a low level of comfort. But it is sold for the same money as the Cordiant Snow Cross: the price is 2550 rubles.
On the seventh and eighth steps, there are even more expensive tires - Toyo Observe G3 ‑ Ice and Nitto Therma Spike, practically brothers both "by blood" and by properties. They scored 847 points each and settled in the good tires category. Liked the low noise level. The Toyo brand is well known in our market, and Nitto appeared quite recently, therefore it is a little cheaper.
The ninth and tenth places are shared by and, who earned 841 points. These tires still fall into the good category. Gislaved, smoother in terms of objective indicators, "failed" in handling and directional stability on the snow. The Formula has slightly unbalanced characteristics: it is weak in longitudinal grip on ice, but it behaves more confidently on asphalt, is close to the best results in dry braking and provides a clear course hold. But the difference in prices is noticeable: Formula is three hundred rubles cheaper, so a set of four will save more than a thousand. However, there is one technical nuance that unites both tires: the protrusion of the studs is insufficient - less than a millimeter after the tests. We believe there was a failure during the installation of the spikes.
Seven or eight years ago, together with Continental, we investigated and obtained the following pattern: one tenth of their performance is equivalent to three percent of the stopping distance on ice. Increasing the protrusion of "studs" to 1.2 mm allowed by the law on new tires will allow Gislaved and Formula to improve longitudinal grip by about 10% - this is where the hidden reserves are hidden!
On the eleventh line - tires Kumho wintercraft ice who scored 803 points. It is rather weak for modern spikes, but it is natural, since in most exercises these tires show modest results. Given their not the lowest price, they can hardly be called a bargain.
Count your money
In our diagram, the tires tested are ranked from left to right in ascending order of price, and the height of the bars corresponds to the number of points scored. Small columns at the bottom of the diagram show the ratio of quality and price and show how many points a tire is gaining for every thousand rubles given for it.
If you put the price at the forefront and scrupulously calculate each ruble, pay attention to another group of columns: the more points a tire earned for every thousand rubles of the price, the more profitable the purchase! The rating is topped by Cordiant Snow Cross tires, and the test leader Hakkapeliitta 9 is in last place - expensive tires! Kumho WinterCraft Ice tires are in the middle, which is why many people buy them.
By comparing all our test results and prices, you will be able to make the right choice. Have a good trip!
Test results
| 11th place | 9-10 place | 9-10 place | 7-8 place |
|
| brand, model | ||||
| Country of manufacture | Korea | Russia | Russia | Malaysia |
| Load and speed index | ||||
| 9,1–10,0 | 9,2–9,4 | 9,1–9,7 | 8,5–8,9 |
|
| 61–62 | 55–56 | 60–61 |
||
| Number of spikes, pcs. | ||||
| 1,35 | 0,93 | 0,93 | 1,43 |
|
| Tire weight, kg | ||||
| 2800 | 3140 | 2850 | 2900 |
|
| Quality / price * | 0,29 | 0,27 | 0,30 | 0,29 |
| The amount of points awarded | 803 | 841 | 841 | 847 |
| pros | Satisfactory grip on asphalt. Stable handling on the "Russian road" | Satisfactory handling during extreme maneuvering and cross-country ability. Least noisy | Better road holding and good braking on asphalt. Comprehensible handling for extreme snow maneuvers | Satisfactory handling and directional stability. Low internal noise |
| Minuses | Poor grip on ice. Weakest acceleration on snow. Difficult handling during extreme maneuvering on snow and directional stability. Notes on handling on ice. Limited cross-country ability. Low level of comfort | Low efficiency at high speed. Difficult handling on ice and directional stability. Notes on handling on the "Russian road" | Poor longitudinal grip and difficult handling on ice. Notes on road holding on snow. Noisy. Low level of ride comfort | Weakest braking performance on snow. High fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km / h. Mediocre cross-country ability. Hard |
* Obtained by dividing the total points by the retail price. The higher the score, the more profitable the purchase.
| 7-8 place | 6th place | 5th place | 4th place |
|
| brand, model | ||||
| Country of manufacture | Malaysia | Thailand | Russia | Russia |
| Load and speed index | ||||
| Depth of the pattern in width, mm | 8,9–9,1 | 9,1–9,4 | 9,8–10,1 | 9,2–9,4 |
| Shore hardness of rubber, unit | 61–62 | 59–61 | 56–57 | 52–53 |
| Number of spikes, pcs. | ||||
| Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm | 1,21 | 1,32 | 1,51 | 1,17 |
| Tire weight, kg | ||||
| Average price in online stores at the time of preparation of the material, rubles. | 2710 | 2550 | 2500 | 3200 |
| Quality / price * | 0,31 | 0,33 | 0,35 | 0,28 |
| The amount of points awarded | 847 | 852 | 871 | 888 |
| pros | Clear handling. Good cross-country ability. Good directional stability in the snow. Least noisy | Clear handling on the "Russian road". Attractive price | Good grip on ice. Confident cross-country ability in deep snow | High braking properties on snow. Confident acceleration on ice. Low fuel consumption. Reliable handling. Stable directional stability on snow. Good cross-country ability |
| Minuses | Lowest braking performance on snow and asphalt. Low efficiency at high speed. Notes on directional stability on asphalt and ride smoothness | Low lateral grip on ice. High fuel consumption. Difficult directional stability on snow, problematic - on asphalt. Notes on handling during extreme maneuvering on snow. The toughest and noisiest | Poor braking on dry asphalt. Low efficiency. Complex exchange rate stability. Remarks about handling on the "Russian road". Very noisy. Harsh |
03.10.2016
Please note that a mistake was made in the calculation of the spike tire test results in the Auto Review (18/2016). Since the organizer of the tests, Oleg Rastegaev, confirmed the presence of an error in the new issue of the magazine, an edited version of the test is posted on our website.
Autoreview magazine experts have tested winter tires for the 2016-2017 season. This time, for testing, they selected popular models of tires of standard size 185/65 R15, which are installed on LADA Vesta, Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio cars. The participants were 12 studded tires and 7 velcro tires of various price segments.
Test Participants
Studded tires:
- Continental IceContact 2
- Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02
- Gislaved Nord * Frost 200
- Nitto Therma Spike
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
- Nokian nordman 5
Friction tires (Velcro):
- Continental ContiVikingContact 6
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2
- Nokian Nordman RS2
Testing
Autoreview has long been conducting its tests of winter tires at the polar Finnish testing ground "White Hell". Winter tire test 185/65 R15 is no exception. It is curious that deer have always lived in these parts, but the Autoreview specialists met them for the first time on the control track of the test site. According to Autoreview, not a single deer was injured during the test.
Two Lada Vestas were chosen as vehicles for testing tires. They proved themselves worthy, having passed all the tests. Their only drawback was the jamming of door handles at low temperatures.
Before testing, experts measured stud protrusion on all tire models: according to technical regulations RF from January 1, 2016, it should fluctuate within 0.9-1.5 mm, in addition, handling on ice directly depends on it. The tire pressure was also measured and, if necessary, adjusted - 2.1 bar for all tires.
The test methodology by the Autoreview publication remains the same every year: to take into account the influence of weather conditions and eliminate errors, each test is alternated with races on "basic" tires and repeated 10-12 times. In case of snowfall, longitudinal dynamics testing is carried out on a closed track. As a result, ice tests were carried out there. But the blizzard that started on time made it possible to test the tires for cross-country ability in real conditions. Since most of the tests were conducted in warm weather at just below freezing temperatures, the difference in grip between studded and friction tires was enormous.
At the end of the test, the tires were tested on dry and wet roads, as well as on impact resistance. An old Mercedes, already "experienced" in this business, was used as a vehicle for strength testing. It was used to measure the maximum speed that the tire of each model could withstand until a through-breakdown of the sidewall appeared when hitting a 94 mm curb at an angle of 45 degrees.
Test results
Click on the image to enlarge
Test results
Click on images to enlarge
General test results for studded tires
General Friction Tire Test Results
Analysis of results *
Studded tires
| A place | Tire | Advantages | disadvantages |
| 1 | Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8  |
Excellent performance on ice, good handling, high cross-country ability on snowy roads |
Medium grip on asphalt, high noise, high price |
| 2 |
|
Excellent longitudinal grip on icy roads, high handling on snow, efficient water drainage |
Medium handling on ice, high noise |
| 3
| Continental ContiIceContact 2  |
Reliable stud retention, excellent grip and handling on icy roads, high handling on snow, effective drainage system |
Poor permeability in deep snow |
| 4 | Nokian nordman 5  |
Excellent grip and handling on snowy and icy roads, good cross-country ability |
Medium grip on asphalt, poor stud retention |
| 5 | Formula Ice  |
Excellent performance on ice, dry and wet roads, impact resistance |
Not the highest level of grip and handling on snow |
| 6 | Gislaved Nord * Frost 200  |
Good grip and handling on snow and asphalt, high level of comfort |
Poor performance on icy roads |
| 7 | Michelin X-Ice North 3  |
High grip on snow and asphalt, low noise, strong carcass |
Average performance on ice, passability |
| 8
| Nitto Therma Spike  |
High grip on icy roads, medium grip and good handling on snow |
Medium grip on asphalt, poor drainage, poor stud retention |
| 9
| Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02  |
Good grip and handling on icy roads, fast acceleration and high cross-country ability on snow |
Poor grip on asphalt, high noise level |
| 10
| GT Radial Champiro IcePro  |
Excellent water management, average performance on ice and asphalt, easy handling on ice |
Low grip and handling on snowy roads, high noise levels |
| 11 | Marshal WinterCraft Ice Wi31  |
Excellent braking properties on dry asphalt, average grip on icy roads |
Poor handling on snow, difficult handling on ice |
| 12 | Nexen WinGuard WinSpike  |
Medium performance when driving on asphalt, efficient drainage of water and snow. |
Poor grip and handling on ice and snow, high noise effect. |
Friction tires
| A place | Tire | Advantages | disadvantages |
| 1 | Continental ContiVikingContact 6  |
Excellent performance characteristics on snowy roads, excellent cross-country ability in deep snow, high acoustic comfort |
Not the best handling on ice, not very effective braking on wet roads, low impact strength |
| 2 | Goodyear ultragrip ice 2  |
Excellent grip, braking, handling and cross-country ability on snow, efficient drainage system and good grip on wet roads, high acoustic comfort |
Poor performance on icy roads, low impact strength |
| 3 | Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2  |
High level of performance on snowy roads and dry asphalt |
Weak impact strength, poor braking and handling on ice |
| 4 | Nokian Nordman RS2  |
Good grip, acceleration and handling on snowy roads and asphalt, excellent cross-country ability in deep snow |
Poor impact strength, poor handling on ice |
| 5 | Pirelli Ice Zero FR  |
Excellent cross-country ability, braking and acceleration on snowy roads, effective protection against aquaplaning, good impact resistance |
Low braking and handling on ice, poor braking performance on dry asphalt |
| 6 | Michelin x-ice 3  |
High level of performance when driving on snowy and wet roads, maximum acoustic comfort and a smooth ride |
Poor braking and impact resistance on dry asphalt, poor handling on ice |
| 7 | Tigar Winter 1  |
The most efficient tires when driving on wet roads, a high level of braking and cross-country ability on snow. |
Weakest characteristics on ice, weak impact resistance. |
* Please note that comparison tests are subjective. We recommend that you treat the tire test results as one of the possible points of view, especially given the scandal caused by the disclosure of fraud in independent comparative tests. Our specialists in specialized tire hypermarkets "Koleso" will always help you choose the best option tires, taking into account your preferences, your driving style and the technical characteristics of your vehicle.
This year we have compared premium and middle segment tires of the most popular dimension - 185 / 65R15. Such tires are suitable, for example, on Kia Rio, Hyundai Solaris and Lada Vesta.
Leaving on the ice of the test tunnel. I start to warm up the brakes, and from the sound I hear - the wheels are blocked. Lada Vesta should be equipped with ABS from the factory, as well as a stabilization system and traction control. For some reason, electronic assistants do not work! And this is when every minute counts. If we had not had a spare Vesta, you would never have known which studded tires to take in the dimension 185/65 R15.
In the comments to last year's material, readers were asked to compare Asian tires with European ones. Therefore, to the novelties of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 and Nokian Nordman 7 season, we have added Yokohama iceGuard Stud IG55, Hankook Winter I’Pike RS and another novelty Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02. They were accompanied by proven European models: Michelin X-Ice North 3, Pirelli Ice zero and Gislaved Nord Frost 200.
Get ready, you will find a huge amount of information that will help you make the right choice for the winter. But if you don’t want to dig into tables, numbers and points, we will immediately summarize the tests. So, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9, Pirelli Ice Zero and Nokian Nordman 7 performed better than others. The ninth Hakkapeliitta won, which on slippery surfaces did not leave the opponents a chance. But this tire also costs almost 1.5 times more (4800 rubles). Pirelli and Nordman 7 are more profitable in terms of price / quality ratio. At the same time Ice Zero is durable and safe, but noisy tire. "Nordman" upset with grip on the asphalt and a weak sidewall. But this tire has good cross-country ability and it rides confidently on the ice.
Acceleration and braking on snow
This time we had a straight line longer (800 m) than last year. This helped to get more data on each set, accelerating to 45 km / h and then emergency braking.
Outcome:
The difference in braking turned out to be small - the Yokohama iceGuard Stud iG55 slows down worst of all, and Michelin X-Ice North 3 best of all.
Resistance to skidding on a snowy road during gas discharge
The second most important aspect after braking is the car's resistance to skidding in the event of a driver error: with a sharp drop of gas in a corner at 75 km / h. This can happen if a person saw danger ahead or was afraid of a turn. This is the most common case of loss of vehicle control while cornering. The higher the score, the longer the tire resists turning.
Outcome:
The most predictable ones are Pirelli Ice Zero and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9. The driver has time to take action to prevent skidding or turning. And with the Yokohama iceGuard Stud iG55 and Gislaved Nord Frost 200, you need to be on the lookout: a light release of gas, and the car is already driving in a skid, and the U-turn comes instantly and unexpectedly - such tires require a stabilization system.
Stability and handling on snow
On snowy trails, we looked at lap times as a composite measure of grip, but we also measured tire behavior. Does she forgive mistakes in the form of twisting the steering wheel, too high speed at the entrance to the turn.
Outcome:
Pirelli Ice Zero showed the best time. However, in the limit, the front axle is torn off sharply. The Hakkapeliitta 9s are forgiving, and the Nordman 7 still sweeps the rear axle a little more than the average driver needs. The Bridgestone Spike-02, Hankook i'Pike RS and Gislaved 200 break into drifts and drifts, requiring delicate and fast taxiing. You don't know what to expect from the Yokohama iceGuard Stud iG55: skid or stability in the same corner at the same speed.
Passability
This time we were lucky - a lot of snow fell. The depth of the cover was 19 cm! Such rubble occurs at least once a year in many Russian cities, when the entrances and exits to the courtyard are filled up. The Vesta's ground clearance allowed me to take measurements in such deep snow and not get stuck.
Outcome:
Michelin X-Ice and Nordman 7, without straining, plowed virgin snow. At Bridgestone and Hankook, Vesta got stuck a couple of times and had to go back. The Hakkapeliitta 9, with the shallowest tread (8.9 mm), also rowed not too confidently.
Acceleration and braking on ice
A thick layer of snow on the roof of the test tunnel did not allow the use of the Racelogic satellite for measurements, so we had to switch to the Datron optical complex. Indoor testing achieves reproducible results that are unaffected by wind, sun and temperature fluctuations.
Outcome:
The Yokohama iG55 brakes worst of all, they lose to most tires about 7 meters from only 25 km / h. Note the poor result of the Hankook Winter i'Pike RS - they stop on average 3 meters farther than the rest.
Cross-grip on ice
Compared to the previous year, an ice circle has been added to the traditional tests. The driver, gradually accelerating, drives in a circle with a diameter of 270 meters with the ESP turned on until it is triggered, thereby reducing the human factor during measurements, and the lateral grip of tires on ice comes to the fore.
Outcome:
The new Hakkapeliitta 9 with two types of studs (for lateral and longitudinal grip) have gone into another dimension. The speed difference is such that Nokian will catch up with Yokohama iceGuard IG55 in 5 laps! Pirelli and Michelin did well. The Bridgestone Spike-02 showed poor lateral grip on slippery surfaces.
Stability on ice
The track with different corners helped to answer the question about the complex grip on ice, as well as how predictably for the average driver the tire will slip into a skid. We noted the lap times and put points for stability - the more, the better.
Outcome:
After the Hakkapeliitta 9, it seems like the other tires don't have studs, so much the difference in grip on ice. Note that Bridgestone, despite the worst lap times, is more predictable than Hankook, Gislaved and Yokohama. We downgraded them for the fact that after a slip into a slip, stabilization, despite all the driver's actions, takes a very long time.
Braking on wet asphalt
In winter, wet asphalt is a typical phenomenon in cities. On each set of tires, we accelerated to 93 km / h and urgently braked for 6 attempts.
Outcome:
For the first time in generations, the Hakkapeliitta is among the leaders in wet braking distances. The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 also performed well. Yokohama brakes four meters worse on wet asphalt - this is equivalent to the length of the car.
Resistant to wet road
We tested the wet lateral grip on an irrigated track. And, as in the winter disciplines, we especially carefully monitored the behavior of the car in a corner - whether there would be an unexpected skid.
Outcome:
As with braking, the Hakkapeliitta 9 has the best time and safer handling. The Gislaved also performed well. The Yokohama iG55 and Bridgestone Spike-02 have a tendency to skid on wet pavement.
Dry braking
In cities with a population of over one million, dry asphalt in winter is also becoming commonplace. On each set, we brake from 93 km / h, and the braking distance from 90 km / h to 5 is taken into account in order to neutralize the response time of the braking system.
Bottom line: The worst result - Nordman 7. The Hankook i'Pike RS and Bridgestone Spike-02 also performed poorly. And the shortest braking distance was shown by Yokohama iG55, which failed all tests on snow, ice and wet asphalt.
Acoustic comfort
Noise was assessed using an expert method (the higher the score, the quieter the tire). After all, a hum, which is less in decibels, can be perceived by a person as unpleasant, intrusive. The measurements were taken on asphalt. It is important to understand that the higher the class of the car, the less you will be disturbed by the noise of the spikes. And in "Vesta" it is loud in any case.
The quietest were Gislaved and Hankook. And the most uncomfortable - Pirelli. Nokian and Bridgestone are also loud, but slightly less annoying.
Smooth running
Smoothness was assessed on snowy and asphalt roads in the driver's and rear passenger seats.
Outcome:
Hankook Winter i'Pike RS and Gislaved Nord Frost 200 in dimensions 185 / 65R15 showed themselves in two ways: small irregularities are conveyed in detail to the interior, and large ones softly shock absorb. The most pleasant were the Michelin X-Ice North 3 with a soft sidewall, and the most uncomfortable were the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 and Yokohama iG55.
Side cut resistance
Lateral breakdown usually cannot be repaired; the tire must be replaced. Moreover, one tire, for safety reasons, cannot be dispensed with. As in the previous year, we used a 92 mm high bar as an obstacle. Each time they started accelerating from the same place, and each time they turned the tire so that the blow fell into a new zone. Not only the final tire breakdown was noted, but also intermediate deterioration of the condition, starting at 40 km / h and with a step of 5 km / h. Unfortunately, the failed "carrier" Mercedes-Benz C-class did not allow testing to be completed. Therefore, we do not include data on the strength of the sidewall in the final table and provide them for reference.
Outcome:
Pirelli Ice Zero has the strongest sidewall, and Bridgestone also resisted breakdown for a long time. Nokian Nordman grabbed a hernia at 45 and 50 km / h before ejaculating at 55 km / h. The Michelin kept up to 55 km / h without hernias, after which there was a small cut without damaging the cord. During the first ride on the heaviest Yokohama iG55 tire at 40 km / h, the lower arm of the car's suspension could not stand.
Effort to pull out a thorn
The effectiveness of a studded tire is directly related to the number of studs. Over time, they fall out, the grip decreases. The higher the stud pulling force, the better it sits in the tire. We armed ourselves with a dynamometer, tongs and began to rip out "nails": an average of 6 pieces from different places of the tread.
Outcome:
After a couple of ripped out studs from Bridgestone, we took a break - a grueling exercise. But the "nails" Gislaved and Nokian jumped out of their places easily.
Output
Premium and mid-range tires generally performed well, with no spike loss. Each model has its own focus on the type of coverage, so read the summary for each tire below.
Please note that if a store has noticed a new symbol or letter in the name of a tire, then this is a different model with its own advantages and disadvantages!
1st place Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
On snow, the Hakkapeliita 9 resembles the old G8, exhibiting soft transient glide modes. And on the ice, the tire plays in a different league compared to its competitors. At the same time, while driving, you do not feel excess grip, but if you change to another tire, everything becomes clear - Hakkapeliita 9 is the undisputed leader on slippery surfaces.
Hakkapeliita 9 got rid of the shortcomings of the "eight": weak grip on dry and wet asphalt. This is probably the first Hakkapeliitta that can be recommended for an urban environment. Most of the questions are related to the noise and poor fixation of the studs, which do not have an adhesive base, as in the Continental IceContact 2. But a pleasant bonus is the unlimited extended warranty for penetration.
Strengths: high grip on any slippery roads, excellent grip on dry and wet asphalt, safe handling on all types of surfaces.
Weaknesses: poor stud retention, high price, noise.
2nd place Pirelli Ice Zero
The Italians should call their tire Snow Zero - Pirelli behaves so well on snow: better lap time on a snow track, better acceleration, better skid resistance when throttle is thrown off in a corner.
Good grip on dry and wet asphalt is accompanied by intrusive stud noise. On budget car, which is Lada Vesta, driving on the asphalt is uncomfortable. On the other hand, Ice Zero is not afraid of Russian roads - the sidewall is very strong. Pirelli has an extended come-through warranty for one year from the date of purchase. A universal tire (noise aside) for city and country roads.
Strengths: safe handling on slippery and asphalt surfaces, strong sidewall, good stud retention.
Weaknesses: Noisy
3rd place Nokian Nordman 7
It is interesting that the Nordman 7 has not lost the drive, which the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and 9 are already deprived of - the car in the "seven" turns under the throttle and behaves more playfully. Although for an inexperienced driver, this is rather a disadvantage.
The Nordman 7 has the same advantages as the Hakkapeliita 7 - excellent off-road ability, good snow and ice behavior. But on wet asphalt you need to be careful.
The tire has already received a breakdown at 50 km / h. Half the price of a tire under an extended warranty (for one year from the date of purchase) - little compensation for an unreliable sidewall.
Strengths: good cross-country ability, confident grip on snow and ice.
Weaknesses: weak grip on dry and wet asphalt, weak sidewall for breakdown.
4th place Michelin X-ice North 3
Designed, how to put it mildly, for a beginner. On a person who often twists the steering wheel in winter, not knowing at what angle to turn the wheels. An ordinary driver will think that he is being held for a simpleton: in a straight line, the car simply does not react to a slight deviation of the steering wheel. In corners where most tires had to turn the steering wheel by a quarter, the Michelin had to turn 180 degrees. The steering wheel has to be intercepted frequently. And if a skid does happen, then it would be nice to have counter-emergency training to deal with them.
The performance on the snow is not bad (it is a pity, according to subjective sensations, there is not much grip). Despite the small number of studs - 94, the tire performed well on the ice thanks to the large protrusion of "nails" (1.26 mm upon purchase and 1.65 mm after the end of measurements). The extended warranty is only valid when purchased from Tyreplus tire centers for a year, replacement or repair is also only there.
Strengths: comfort when driving over irregularities, good digital indicators on all types of surfaces.
Weaknesses: weak sidewall for breakdown, weak fixation of the spike, large steering angles for maneuvers, in case of a skid, you need to turn the steering wheel quickly and a lot.
5th place Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The asymmetric tread pattern of the Nord Frost 200 is the same as that of the Continental ContiIceContact HD (BD). The problems remained the same: greater sensitivity to ruts, a sharp break into a skid. On the Skid Resistance exercise, Lada Vesta deployed the fastest on Gislaved.
Nord Frost 200 is a relatively quiet tire among studs, with good grip on wet asphalt. Suitable for asphalt life in a million-plus city.
Vehicle stability control (ESP) is recommended when purchasing these tires.
Strengths: Quiet, good grip on wet pavement.
Weaknesses: Sensitive to ruts, poor stud retention, sharp breaks into a skid on a slippery road.
6th Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02
The Bridgestone Spike-02 looked promising before the test: a powerful cleat, an interesting V-pattern. In practice, it turned out that the studs work on ice only during acceleration and braking: as soon as the steering wheel of the car turns, the hook disappears. The worst time on the ice track, one of the worst on the ice circle, where the speed was limited by the car electronics (ESP). Perhaps this is due to the sidewall that is too hard (for winter tires).
But the sensations are not so bad, the car responds well to steering. The most important thing is to maneuver smoothly, secondary hesitation can easily send the car into a ditch, as can a sudden throttle release in a corner, which will result in an instant U-turn.
On the other hand, the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 has a good stud retention and a strong, puncture-resistant sidewall. The Stability Program (ESP) is recommended with the purchase of this kit.
Bridgestone has an extended blow-through warranty for one year from the date of purchase, but only at an authorized retailer.
Strengths: good stud retention, strong sidewall.
Weaknesses: general weak adhesion on slippery surfaces (ice and snow), requires stable counter-emergency skills on any surfaces, noise.
7th Hankook Winter i'Pike RS
Hankook is releasing the i'Pike RS + version with an increased number of studs in the two most popular dimensions for comparison tests 205/55 R16 and 215/65 R16. And in all the rest, including our 185 / 65R16, with the usual 110 spikes.
And the regular i'Pike RS model (no plus) produced average results. Even Hankook's extended blow-through warranty is valid for a year only from a 16-inch bore, and therefore, the Vesta with R15 was left without insurance.
On ice and snow, i'Pike RS tires scare you with lingering slides, which the driver has to extinguish for a long time and persistently. When braking on slippery surfaces, the tire rolls further than most tires. Low performance on slippery surfaces is not least associated with the high tread hardness (58 Shore) versus 50-54 for competitors.
On asphalt, the behavior is slightly better, the tire rolls quietly and has an average ride.
Strengths: Quiet, moderate ride.
Weaknesses: Prolonged sliding on slippery surfaces, poor grip on ice, moderate grip on snow.
8th place Yokohama iceGuard Stud iG55
There are no thorns - the protrusion from the factory is only 0.6 mm! By the way, according to the legislation of the Customs Union, the spike protrusion is 1.2 +/- 0.3 mm. Unsurprisingly, the tire took the last place in all ice tests and even lost to the friction tires that we tested in parallel. On wet asphalt, Yokohama continued to yield 3-4 meters when braking from 90 km / h.
Comfort is also a problem - irregularities are transmitted to the salon, high noise.
The heaviest tire proved to be ruthless to the suspension of the old Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which we used in our sidewall tests. Already at 40 km / h when driving through a bar, the lower suspension arm broke.
We look forward to the new iceGuard iG65 next year, which will hopefully replace the outdated iG55 model. We do not recommend buying the current model.
Strengths: braking on dry asphalt, good stud retention.
Weaknesses: poor ride comfort, lack of grip on ice, poor grip on snow and wet asphalt, unpredictable handling requiring emergency driving skills, noise.
In the last article of "Autocentre" we introduced you to the results in the countries of Central Europe. That is, in Ukraine, such tires are more suitable for the southern regions.
This article presents a tire test for the harsher winters found in the rest of our country. Among the subjects - both the models we have already tested in the previous tire tests, and the new ones. A total of nine tire models with different premium levels were tested. And once again we were convinced that the premium quality of the brand directly affects the characteristics of tires, and not only their cost.
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The first place was shared by two tires: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 and Continental ContiVikingContact 6. But with the same final rating, the Finnish tire showed itself somewhat better on ice, and the German one - on asphalt. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, as in previous years, demonstrated excellent grip on ice and snow, excellent consumer characteristics (provided level of comfort and economy), although some weaknesses were noticeable on the asphalt. Continental ContiVikingContact 6 has a very balanced performance. She demonstrated good properties in most of the tests, which allowed her to tied for first place with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2.
A recent innovation, the Continental Conti VikingContact 6 has good ice properties and is only slightly inferior to the Hakkapeliitta R2. On the other hand, on asphalt, the Conti demonstrates better grip and provides excellent handling on wet surfaces and predictably behaves on dry asphalt.
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Handling on wet asphalt;
+
Traction on ice;
+
Braking properties on dry asphalt;
–
Braking properties on snow.
Autocenter score - 8.8
Where can I buy
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 remains the best on the ice, delivering predictable behavior in all situations, short braking distances and confident acceleration. R2 has a similar behavior on snow. On the asphalt, the tire proved to be very comfortable, with sharp maneuvers, large rolls are felt.
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Adhesion properties on ice and snow;
+
Handling on ice and snow;
+
Rolling resistance;
–
Braking properties on wet asphalt.
Autocenter score - 8.8
Where can I buy
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TOP service https://shiny-diski.com.ua |
The second place in this test was taken, perhaps, by the oldest (since the presentation of the model) premium tire Michelin X-Ice 3. According to the final assessment, it lost only 0.1 points to the two winners. X-Ice 3 has excellent grip on ice and provides short braking distances and good handling on dry asphalt.
The Michelin X-Ice 3 tire has excellent braking and acceleration on ice. Abrupt maneuvers on a snowy track can provoke drifts. On wet surfaces, during sharp maneuvers, slight drifts are possible. On dry pavement, abrupt maneuvers on this tire can be accompanied by slight drifts, but the tire moves very smoothly.
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Braking properties on ice;
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Handling on dry and wet asphalt;
–
No obvious shortcomings were found.
Autocenter score - 8.7
Where can I buy
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Online store "Autoshini.com" | |
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TOP service Online store "Tires-Disks" https://shiny-diski.com.ua Official importer |
The testers were impressed by the medium-class tire Gislaved Soft Frost 200, which, due to its balanced characteristics, took the third position in the test. It lagged somewhat behind the leaders on ice and snow, but compensated for this with properties on wet and dry asphalt. As a result, the Gislaved Soft Frost 200 tire and the other aforementioned models received four stars, maximum in this test, in the safety rating.
The Gislaved Soft Frost 200 tire generally holds well on ice. When maneuvering on this surface, the tendency to side slip is slightly higher than that of the leaders. On wet asphalt, the tire brakes well, during maneuvers it tenaciously holds onto the road and behaves very stable. On dry pavement - understeer.
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Braking properties on wet asphalt;
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Balanced characteristics;
–
There are no obvious disadvantages.
Autocenter rating - 8.4
The Hankook Winter I * cept IZ2 tire, despite being slightly more slippery than the leaders on the ice, leaves you with the ability to drive even if it slips. On the snow, in comparison with the leaders, the tendency to drift and drift is more pronounced. On wet asphalt - a typical average, however, as well as on dry surfaces.
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Rolling resistance;
+
Braking properties on snow;
–
Noise and comfort.
Autocenter score - 7.9
Where can I buy
The Nexen Winguard Ice tire accelerates well on ice, but when maneuvering it is difficult to catch the moment when side slip starts. On wet pavement, it provides stable behavior of the car during maneuvers, but requires a lower speed. Braking performance on dry asphalt is weak, but the car handles very well.
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Acceleration on ice;
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Handling on dry asphalt;
–
Braking properties on dry and wet asphalt;
–
Ice handling.
Autocenter rating - 7.0
Where can I buy
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Online store "Autoshini.com" | |
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TOP service Online store "Tires-Disks" https://shiny-diski.com.ua Official importer |
The Viatti Brina V521 tire during sharp maneuvers on ice can imperceptibly go into a deep skid, although it keeps the car well on the arc. On dry asphalt, the steering response is very inaccurate, accompanied by the car swinging and possibly the beginning of a skid. On wet pavement, this tire behaves a little better, but still there are problems with handling.
+
Tractive effort on snow;
–
Handling on asphalt;
–
Rolling resistance.
Autocenter score - 6.9
Where can I buy
An outsider this test tires became the Marshal KW31-Izen model. Its tread pattern is very similar to that of the first generation of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tire (the first generation of "Erki"). But, unlike the Finnish tire, which has excellent grip on icy roads, the Marshal KW31-Izen on ice is among the worst. This is another example of the fact that winter tires, like summer ones, cannot be chosen solely for the peculiarities of the tread pattern.
The Marshal KW31-Izen is among the worst on ice, especially in handling. The car blows away every time you try to turn, so you need to drive very slowly. Moreover, sliding is difficult to stop. The situation is similar on asphalt, where steering responses are very slow and drift is strong. Although this tire brakes well on asphalt.
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Braking properties on asphalt;
–
Handling on ice, snow and asphalt;
–
Transverse grip on ice and wet asphalt.
Autocenter rating - 6.6
Where can I buy
At the end of the list was the Federal Himalaya ICEO tire. It has very low grip on ice, so the braking distance is very long. And to get under way, you need to have excellent winter driving skills.
The Federal Himalaya ICEO tire has low grip on ice, so the braking distance is long here, and in order to control the machine, the speed must be noticeably lower than on the leading tires. On wet asphalt this tire slows down well, but when maneuvering the car goes into big drifts. On dry asphalt, on the other hand, the front axle wheel drifts appear.
+
Braking properties on snow;
+
Resistant to aquaplaning;
–
Braking properties on ice;
–
Comfort, noise.
Autocenter score - 6.9
Changing seasons is a process that cannot be avoided (unless you live at the equator, of course), and following the seasons, car owners are forced to think about changing the type of tires on their iron horse. And if 20 years ago the choice was small, but now the market has just a mind-boggling number of different brands. The pangs of choice are aggravated by the presence of a large number of models from each manufacturer, which are also divided into separate types (in accordance with the technology of the tire structure).
Of course, there is always an option to just “score” and drive as it is. However, as practice shows, the difference in the characteristics of winter and summer tires really colossal.
And the laws regulating the seasonality of car tires are tightened from year to year both in Europe and in Russia. Therefore, you should not neglect the need to change tires.
Whatever one may say, but not a single ordinary driver can independently test all available tire models, and no one believes in advertising for a long time. That is why numerous publications annually conduct their own tests of tires of different manufacturers and models.
Until now, no one has invented any standards (for example, by analogy with EuroNCAP), so everyone does it as he sees fit. We will try to collect all the information together.
In general, the set of tests for different communities is often similar and includes testing for braking, handling and stability on different surfaces, as well as the level of rubber noise.
Expert publications
Teknikens Varld Is a Swedish magazine that has regularly tested tires for the past 15 years. In order to cover all possible winter road conditions (dry and wet asphalt, ice and snow), the Swedes compared all three types of tires (studded, non-studded Scandinian and non-studded European tires). Seat Leon was taken as a test bench for 205/55 R16 wheels.
Auto Zeitung, together with the German Technical Supervision Organization GTU, tested the non-studded winter tires 205/55 R16 installed on the Volkswagen Golf. Among other things, the experts took into account the fuel consumption for each model, which made its own adjustments to the final result.
Finnish Tuulilasi compared exclusively studded winter tires with dimensions 205/55 R16 (taking into account the peculiarities of the national climate). Separate points, "hot guys" were credited for overclocking on an icy surface, the time of entry to a snow-covered hill, etc. In general, the Finnish tests are geared more towards “out of town” conditions, where roads are rarely dry and clean in winter.
All-German Automobile Club ADAC conducted several tests for different types of tires. First, they tested the increasingly popular all-season model of 16-inch tires (dimension 205/55). Given the high culture of road services, not every self-respecting European has to leave roads cleared of snow and ice in winter, and this option may well turn out to be a profitable acquisition within Europe.
Then the models of compact dimension 185/65 R15 for cars of the budget segment were tested. As expected. the smaller width (and as a result the contact patch) negatively affects the rubber tenacity, which is why even the top models showed not the most outstanding results in races on the Renault Clio.
At the same time, the severity of the tests of the German ADAC did not bring any special laurels to expensive tires of a higher segment with dimensions of 225/45 R17. Most of the subjects were able to achieve only the result "Satisfactory", and the owner of the first position received the mark "Good".
TestWorld is another Finnish edition that has tested a wide range of models, dividing them by type: studded and non-studded Scandinavian type tires. To demonstrate the difference in behavior of the European type "suction cups" Continental model ContiWinterContact TS850. The main emphasis of the testers was made on ice tests, taking into account the specifics of the local climate.
In contrast to the European experts, the Korean experts, in collaboration with AutoView and JoongAng Libo... The 17-inch 225/45 wheels have been tested in icy and snowy conditions, on dry and wet roads. And all this despite the fact that even sub-zero temperatures are rare in Korea.
Of course, we could not ignore the results of Russian tests.
Edition AutoMail. ru set itself the task of testing cheap models of non-studded winter tires with dimensions 205/55 R16. As a reference, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 was used, the price of which is on average twice the price of the tested wheels. Testing included acceleration, braking and stability on packed snow and ice, flotation in loose snow, braking and stability on wet and dry asphalt. As a bonus, the ride was tested on chipped pavement as well as side cut resistance.
Behind the wheel, meanwhile, has tested the most popular segment of winter tires in our country: 15-inch spike tires with dimensions 195/65 of the lowest price segment. For clarity, both cheap and branded models were taken, and half of the tested tires are produced in our country. At the end of the tests, the testers also measured the residual number of spikes, based on this, making a conclusion about the survivability of a particular model.
What types of winter tires are there?
But let's get down to business. First you need to figure out what is the difference between Velcro and Spike and what they are.
At the moment, the most common are 3 types of winter rubber tread: studded, non-studded Scandinavian and non-studded Central European type.
Tires with metal spikes have long been known to all car owners. For a long time, similar rubber was used in rally competitions, and then it got to civilian use. These tires are originally designed for driving on snow and ice. Due to the "gnawing" into the surface of the ice crust, studded tires cope better with braking on slippery surfaces, but this also has negative consequences. Firstly, such tires make a lot of noise, and secondly, on dry, clean asphalt, steel needles turn into small "skates", which makes the rubber more "slippery". Although technology does not stand still, there is no escaping this fact. Yes, and the roadbed "spike" spoils much more, which is why in many countries driving in the summer on winter tires is subject to fines.
An alternative is to use frictionless studless tires. They are divided into two subtypes.
"Velcro" of the Scandinavian type, as well as "spikes" are focused on driving on snow and ice. They have very soft rubber and a well-developed tread (often with side sipes). This allows you to increase the contact patch and, as a result, adhesion to the surface. Such tires can be recommended for the vastness of our vast country, where the roads are hidden most of the time in winter.
Well, for megalopolises, studless tires of the Central European type are more suitable. They are originally created for a milder climate and cleaner roads. They hold on to snow and ice worse, but feel great on the asphalt. They have fewer soft elements and better drain water from under the wheels.
Do not forget about the existence of "all-season" tires. These are still installed from the factory on domestic cars and assume year-round operation. However, universal in any situation are worse than specialized ones, especially in the conditions of the Russian climate with its large temperature difference and road conditions.
UNINPRESSEDRUBBER
Continental WinterContact TS 860 -winternon-studdedtires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Tires Continental The WinterContact TS860 is the second generation of a directional tread pattern for mild European conditions (M + S), focused on ice traction. In the WinterContact TS860 tires, Continental specialists have applied a new principle of water drainage from the contact patch: not abduction with the help of grooves, but pushing from the contact patch, plus a larger number of sipes and, as a result, more free space (inner cavities of the sipes) for snow disposal. This allows the tire to effectively cope with the removal of moisture and slush.
Test results
Continental WinterContact TS 860 this season they replaced the 850th model, which in recent years held a leading position in the tests. The update also did not disappoint: in the Teknikens Varld tests, this tire took the third line of the rating, and Auto Zeitung ranked Continental in first place in terms of the aggregate characteristics.
The main positive qualities of the Continental WinterContact TS 860 are excellent grip on asphalt in winter conditions... The tire is not very susceptible to aquaplaning, keeps its course during sharp maneuvers, is quite quiet and has an average efficiency indicator. WinterContact has one of the best braking results on dry and wet asphalt, but relatively poorly copes with ice and loose snow. In general, the Continental WinterContact TS 860 is suitable for use in the city and on cleaned country roads
Goodyear UltraGrip 9
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Goodyear UltraGrip 9- winter tire, has a directional V-shaped tread pattern with aggressive appearance... Well suited for driving not only on wet roads, but also in rather deep snow conditions. Thanks to the proprietary 3D-BIS technology, this model has a reduced braking distance, as well as a good response to all driver actions. To create a tire, a rubber compound with a special composition is used, which includes vegetable oils and special resins. The new rubber compound has a high degree of elasticity, making Goodyear UltraGrip 9 effective in a wide range of temperatures.
TEST RESULTS
Friction tires Goodyear UltraGrip 9 were tested in two dimensions at once: Auto Zeitung tested 16-inch 205/55 tires, while ADAC tested the budget version 185/65 R15. In both cases, German experts praised the performance of the model, in particular the braking performance and "grip" on loose snow and wet asphalt. In addition, the Goodyear UltraGrip 9 demonstrated high fuel efficiency and noise comfort, but it was not without its drawbacks. The soft non-studded tire on dry asphalt behaves rather "roll", reacting slowly to steering turns, and in the snow, there is a noticeable tendency to understeer.
Michelin CrossClimate- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
A summer tire that can be used in sudden snow conditions. Strong directional tread pattern with deep drainage channels reduces the risk of aquaplaning. The large number of Michelin CrossClimate tread sectors, complemented by sharp edges on one side, allow the tire to work efficiently on snow. And the smooth edges of the blocks on the other hand, reduce deformation and increase the reliability of grip on dry surfaces
Compound rubber compound used in Michelin CrossClimate(silica, functional polymers, new plasticizers) improves traction on different surfaces (wet and dry roads, snow), increases wear resistance and fuel efficiency.
TEST RESULTS
Michelin CrossClimate- the only all-season tires in this rating. Despite its wide purpose, this model was able to compete with its highly specialized opponents, primarily due to its excellent performance in dry and wet conditions. Auto Zeitung has put in its CrossClimate rating one step with the non-studded winter tires Goodyear UltraGrip 9, which already shows a high indicator. However, on snow-covered areas, "all-season", as expected, proved to be worse than many. It should be noted that in none of the tests Michelin did not take the last place, thus surpassing even some winter models of competitors in handling and grip on the snow. If the operation of the car is limited to the snowless roads of the metropolis, the Michelin CrossClimate can be a good alternative to two sets of wheels.
Nokian WR D4- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
The new winter tires Nokian WR D4 are specially designed for Central European countries. Unique innovations guarantee safe and balanced driving in variable weather conditions, on wet or snowy roads. The Nokian WR D4 tire is specially designed for countries with mild winter climates and has excellent grip on wet surfaces. The Nokian WR D4 is the world's first winter passenger car tire with EU wet grip level A. Special innovations - Nokian Block Optimized Siping technology and Nokian Twin Trac Silica rubber compound - offer controlled handling and confident grip. In Russia, Nokian WR D4 tires are recommended for use only in the Southern Federal District.
TEST RESULTS
Studded winter tires Nokian WR D4 were able to participate in three tests of different standard sizes. Auto Zeitung gave second place to tires with dimensions 205/55 R16, ADAC gave an honorable third place to 15 wheels 185/65, but relative to 17-inch tires with a wide profile (225/45 R17) Nokian WR D4 turned out to be a complete average m place in the standings. Overall, the Nokian achieved good results in handling on snow and braking distances on dry surfaces, but the wet test turned out to be too tough for the WR D4, and tire wear is relatively high.
Dunlop Winter Sport 5- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
The increased number of blocks has increased the number of sipes, improving handling and grip in winter conditions. The lamellas in the central part of the steel are parallel to the edges of the blocks, and the grooves of the steel are 6-10% deeper, which reduces the risk of aquaplaning. The frame structure has been optimized to keep weight down, resulting in lower fuel consumption.
TEST RESULTS
Dunlop Winter Sport 5- American friction tire tested by Auto Zeitung magazine. According to German experts, Dunlop, with all its advantages in the form of a short braking distance on snow and dry surfaces, high resistance to lateral aquaplaning and high efficiency took only 7th place in the rating. Such a low position was justified by the tendency to drift of the front axle in snowy conditions, low braking efficiency on wet surfaces, as well as the "roll" of the wheels during sharp maneuvering.
The performance of the 17-inch version of the Dunlop Winter Sport 5 (225 mm wide, profile height 45% of the width) turned out to be much better. Perhaps the larger contact patch contributed to all the flaws of the younger model, thanks to which the rubber acquired a more balanced performance. The 17-inch Winter Sport 5 earned first place in the ADAC rating due to its balance (good results both on wet surfaces and snow, as well as on dry asphalt and icy conditions) and high fuel efficiency.
HankookWinteri* ceptevo2 W320 - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
The Winter I’cept evo tire with its polar bear print provides excellent traction, which significantly improves the tire's performance on snowy, wet and dry roads. The use of an advanced silicon compound, three-dimensional sipes and an asymmetric tread pattern enhance the performance of this winter tire, suitable for sports sedans and premium sedans.
TEST RESULTS
Hankook Winter i * cept evo2 W320 replaced Hankook Winter i * cept evo W310 and are a fairly new model. Hankook was able to demonstrate better handling on dry asphalt, where experts say it performed on par with an all-season tire, however, in tests on snow and ice, the tires were not able to achieve good results. As a result: 5th place in the 17-inch rubber tests conducted by ADAC and Auto View.
Pirelli Cinturato Winter- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Pirelli Cinturato Winter- touring winter tires for city cars of the middle class, as well as compact SUVs. In the absence of spikes, anti-skid devices provide a high level of reliability in all winter conditions. They are also characterized by a long service life and good resistance to aquaplaning and slash planning.
TEST RESULTS
The Pirelli have done well for non-studded winter tires. Germany's ADAC and AutoZeitung reported strong performance on snow and ice. The test cars retained their information content and grip even on wet surfaces, but the test results on dry asphalt were poor. This model should definitely not be considered as an option for operation in megacities.
MichelinAlpin 5 - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Redesigned tread pattern contributes to confident grip on snowy roads MichelinAlpin 5 with 17% increased negative profile, more sectors and directional pattern with high tread depth1. Thanks to the large number of grooves and the special configuration of the blocks, a "gear effect" is created and the traction force of the tire on the snow-covered surface is increased. And with the re-positioning of the lateral grooves, water dispersion has also been improved and the risk of aquaplaning has been reduced.
For the first time in a rubber compound MichelinAlpin 5 added functional elastomers. The purpose of these elastomers is to improve the homogeneity of the rubber compound while increasing the proportion of silica required to increase grip on cold wet roads. Thus, it was possible to improve safety in winter conditions while maintaining a high level of energy efficiency.
TEST RESULTS
Non studded rubber MichelinAlpin 5 got on tests in a single dimension 205/55 R16. Experts from Teknikens Varls and Auto Zeitung noted a sufficiently high tractive effort that these tires are able to develop on a snowy road, and the handling on wet asphalt left positive reviews... However, the decisive factor for the Swedish publication was the inability to quickly brake the car on snow, hence the ninth line in the ranking.
HankookWinteri* ceptRs2 W452 - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
The Hankook Winter i * Сept RS2 W452 tires have been developed using 3D Technology, which has been specially developed for this range, helping to provide them with the highest performance, safety and grip on snow.
The use of the most advanced technologies in their design has led to the fact that the Hong Kong Winter I Sept RS 2 B 452 tires have an increased surface of grooves and a large contact spot. This helps vehicles equipped with these tires to be stable on snow and successfully resist slipping that occurs on wet road surfaces.
The Hankook Winter i * Сept RS2 W452 rubber has a reinforced lower cord and side panels, resulting in efficient driving on all roads and adequate cornering control.
TEST RESULTS
Hankook Winter i * cept RS2 W452- friction model with a long name from a Korean manufacturer. Auto Zeitung tests have shown excellent aquaplaning resistance, low noise levels as well as high traction, predictable behavior and short braking distances. But the tires were let down by their too "roll" behavior and the inability to brake the car quickly enough on a damp road. And in terms of noise, Hankook turned out to be not the best companion on a long journey.
MichelinX- iceXi3 - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Stable tire performance on all types of surfaces, improved grip and shorter braking distances on ice are achieved through the use of a unique combination of three structural elements in MICHELIN X-Ice 3: micro-pumps - sipes - sawtooth edges. Micropumps are small cylindrical holes located on the top edge of the outer tread block. They are designed to reduce the negative effect of the water film that forms on the ice surface and significantly impairs the tire's grip.
The highly silica-rich Flex-Ice compound ideally complements the new MICHELIN X-Ice 3 tread configuration. This compound retains high elasticity at low temperatures and sufficient stiffness at elevated temperatures, which improves traction on all types of winter roads. Flex-Ice offers high wear resistance and improved wet grip.
TEST RESULTS
The Michelin can be said to be a really good tire that will perform well in all conditions. While they lack grip to keep up with the top-ranked tires, on snow and Michelin ice behaved confidently and logically. However, experts noted that there is a clear need to increase the number of spikes.
In AutoView tests, the X-ice Xi3 ranked first in overclocking efficiency and performed well in most other tests, however poor results on dry pavement resulted in relatively none of the bottom line results.
BridgestoneBlizzakLM001 - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Bridgestone Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 - friction winter tires for passenger cars, which, according to the manufacturer, are designed to provide safety in absolutely any winter conditions. Designed for winter operation in Central European countries.
Element Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 - snowy roads. The tread, due to its tenacity even in the absence of anti-skid studs, reliably bites into the snow. Good tractive effort and effective braking on packed and loose snow provides a directional multi-block design with multiple sipes. It will also help you easily drive up a snow slide, provided your car has an engine with sufficient traction to overcome the hill with acceleration.
TEST RESULTS
BridgestoneBlizzakLM001 , like many of the tested tires, showed a fairly high result on the snow, which at first would not be expected from friction rubber. However, the fact remains, and this can be confirmed by both the Swedish Tekniken Varld and the German association ADAC. However, most often the winter turns out to be not so monotonous, and sooner or later the snow is replaced by rain, and frosts dry up the track to the state of "clean asphalt". This is why Bridgestone was judged by poor performance in all conditions except snow. Such an imbalance in performance can mislead any car owner and lead to tragic consequences.
Goodyear ultragrip ice 2 - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Optimized road contact: ActiveGrip technology maintains optimal contact with extremely slippery road surfaces. Combined with cryo-adaptive materials, ActiveGrip technology provides excellent performance on ice.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 achieves confidence in deep snow due to: Open side grooves combined with flanged sawtooth blocks improve melt snow and water drainage and improve tire performance in deep snow.
Excellent braking on ice in Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 is achieved by: active notches on the blocks that increase lateral force transfer during maneuvers, providing excellent braking distance on ice and improving performance.
Test results.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 took the lead in its class (Scandinavian type friction tires) in the Teknikens Varld and TestWorld tests. This model was able to achieve relatively high results thanks to good longitudinal and lateral grip on ice. While the tires generally behave in a fairly predictable manner on ice, including during high-speed maneuvers, sometimes grip is lost too quickly. This was the reason for the low position in the overall standings compared to other types of rubber. In the rain, UltraGrip Ice 2 was the best according to TestWorld magazine.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Modern friction winter tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 Suitable for drivers looking for absolute driving comfort, markedly reduced fuel consumption and technology for producing studless winter tires with the best safety characteristics.
Added to the rubber compound, the smallest particles, shaped like polyhedral crystals, gnaw into the road surface, provide traction while driving and improve longitudinal and lateral grip on ice.
TEST RESULTS
Velcro Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 has been rated as effective in winter conditions by Teknikens Varld and TestWorld magazines. And although on the ice they were not among the absolute leaders, they had good handling and control even after the start of the skid. On the snow, the Nokian received high marks for both braking performance and behavior during emergency maneuvers.
The Nokian has serious problems with grip on wet asphalt, and on dry surfaces it can also be difficult, as during a sharp maneuver, traction on the rear axle can be lost. At the same time, acoustic comfort and efficiency are at an acceptable level.
FirestoneWinterhawk 3 - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
The optimized design of the Firestone Winterhawk 3 features an increased number of tread blocks and thicker sipes, which have increased the overall number of grip edges for better grip on snow and ice. The tread depth, constant from shoulder to shoulder, in combination with zigzag lateral and longitudinal grooves, contributes to the Winterhawk 3's resistance to aqua and slash planning.
The specially engineered groove shape allows the tire to provide first-class grip throughout its entire operating life.
TEST RESULTS
Rubber FirestoneWinterhawk 3 during testing by the German community, ADAC has shown an amazing set of characteristics. On the one hand, these tires demonstrated good handling qualities both on dry asphalt and on snowy and icy areas. The results of the experiment on fuel efficiency and wheel noise turned out to be high, but the tires did not manage to win high positions. And the reason for this was the frankly disastrous results of testing on a wet track. It turned out to be especially difficult to keep the car on the trajectory, since the handling suffered seriously when the car drove out into damp areas.
UniroyalMSplus 77 - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
The volumetric, multi-level tread pattern allows the Uniroyal MS plus 77 tires to easily shed water and adhere perfectly on slippery, wet surfaces, and adhere well to asphalt. The special composition of the thermoplastic resin (compound) allows the tires to easily cope with any road surface, even an unpleasant, rough road surface. The special tread pattern on the tire edges reduces tire deformation, prolonging the rubber life.
The increased number and width of the sipes also allows water to be removed from the road surface and ensures that the Uniroyal MS plus 77 tires adhere directly to the road surface, or snow, rather than a water film. This is a guarantee of reliability and safety of driving in any weather and at any time of the year.
TEST RESULTS
UniroyalMSplus 77 - this is another “snow” non-studded tire. ADAC tested two tire sizes, 185/65 R15 and 225/45 R17, but in both cases the results were similar to each other. "Juniroyal" successfully copes with snow obstacles, and wet asphalt does not cause any difficulties in car control. But the ability to stay on the road quickly passes as soon as the wheels of the car hit dry, even asphalt or ice. As for the durability and economy of Uniroyal MS plus 77, the result here was not worse than most competitors.
VredesteinWintracXtremeS- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
The next step in the development of the Wintrac xtreme series, the new Wintrac xtreme S tires are designed to withstand tough operating conditions at the lowest temperatures. With superior traction and high steering precision, Wintrac xtreme S tires offer exceptional safety when driving on snow, ice or slush, and on wet or dry cold surfaces. Internal Groove Locking Technology (ISLT) provides exceptional performance for Wintrac xtreme S tires, which contributes to improved stability on maximum speeds driving speed, and thanks to the Y speed index, these tires can be used on the fastest cars in the world (up to 300 km / h). In addition to excellent snow and slush performance and high speed capability, these winter tires, developed in collaboration with Giugiaro, are characterized by superb styling.
TEST RESULTS
Tire characteristics VredesteinWintracXtremeS according to the test results, they are knocked out of the big picture. These wheels turned out to be very stable on dry and wet asphalt, and in fact they were not afraid of ice. Although Auto Zeitung noted too long braking distances on wet asphalt, the tires' biggest problems arose on snow tests. Moreover, the wide profile of the tires (225/45 R17) tested by ADAC did not have a positive effect on the performance, and the result completely repeated the tests of 16 wheels by the Temets Auto Zeitung.
In addition, the Germans noted a strong susceptibility to rubber wear and high rolling resistance, which negatively affects fuel consumption.
VikingSnowTechII- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Viking SnowTech II - non-studded winter tire designed for use in difficult winter conditions in Europe and North America. To achieve high safety performance and directional stability, engineers have designed an original directional tread pattern, which has a large number of engagement edges, which are formed due to abundant siping of the tread blocks. This design guarantees excellent self-cleaning properties of the tread, which allows you to move confidently in deep snow.
TEST RESULTS
VikingSnowTechII belong to the budget category of studless winter tires. Despite this, the Vikings demonstrated high performance in handling and braking on the snow. Unfortunately, in all other characteristics, these wheels turned out to be not so good at all, and this is especially true for wet asphalt conditions. And the noise of the rubber leaves much to be desired.
Sava Eskimo Ice- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Small radius multi-radius recess in Sava Eskimo Ice Provides ideal contact patch on icy road for improved handling. Creates a long and wide contact patch with an even pressure distribution between the tire and the road. Reinforced lower tread layer improves dry handling. A harder, special polymer bottom tread layer delivers more power while riding.
Increased mileage potential - longer service life - saving money over the entire life cycle. Extra rubber tread for extended tire life.
TEST RESULTS
For its price category Sava Eskimo Ice Accelerate and brake fairly well on ice. However, according to TestWorld experts, these tires have poor lateral stability, which makes it difficult to control the car. The front wheels can easily lose traction. On snow the situation is better and the Sava is able to provide good control and grip.
On wet pavement, the Sava has long stopping distances and erratic behavior, which is generally typical of this class of tires. Fortunately, traction is higher on the rear axle than on the front, so it is relatively easy to drive.
Among other things, Teknikens Varld appreciated the acceptable level of comfort and economy of this rubber.
Pirelli IceZero FR- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
It is an excellent choice for those who value driving comfort, high level of stability and control on the road in harsh winter conditions. Pirelli... ICE ZERO FR is the alternative to the studded tire in the Pirelli ICE ZERO collection: performance and control at a high level. The tire is specially designed for owners of city cars, premium sedans and crossovers.
TEST RESULTS
Studded Pirelli IceZero FR Predictably poorly accelerated and slowed down on icy conditions, which, according to TestWorld, may cause difficulties in entering and descending hills. The situation is aggravated by the extremely weak lateral stability, from which it can be concluded that driving the Pirelli on icy roads can be difficult. On snow, things are much better, and controllability is good enough, although there is a danger of a sudden loss of traction on the rear axle.
On asphalt, the Pirelli IceZero FRs react slowly to steering turns, and during a dry maneuver, the rear wheels can slip. The negative picture is complemented by the result of the Teknikens Varls tests, which noted the poor resistance of the tires to aquaplaning.
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80- winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Tires Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 are manufactured with the latest technology, using an improved rubber compound, and have a modern tread pattern. Manufactured using electronic control quality of finished products. Provide optimal vehicle behavior on the road.
TEST RESULTS
Despite very good grip on ice and confident handling on snow, Teknikens Varld and TestWorld delivered Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 to very low positions. This is due to poor tire balance and difficult handling on dry and wet asphalt. Blizzak is poorly resistant to aquaplaning, and in general, damp conditions can cause a lot of inconvenience to the car owner. Collectively, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is no match for other premium tires.
Yokohama iceGUARD iG50 plus - winter studless tires, test
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Inner part of the protector Yokohama iceGUARD iG50 plus has an increased contact area and a larger number of sipes, due to which the grip and edge effect on the ice surface are improved. The outer tread has more grooves for superior edging and snow traction. Three-dimensional sipes in the center of the tire allow for a larger contact patch, thereby contributing to stable handling on any winter surface.
TEST RESULTS
As shown by tests TestWorld and Teknikes Varld, Japanese winter tires Yokohama iceGUARD iG50 plus poorly suited for Russian conditions. Perhaps the main problem for Yokohama was the weak grip on the ice. Tires are generally predictable, but the lack of grip makes them difficult to ride. Poor lateral stability impairs handling and prevents traction from being restored after skidding both on ice and in snow. Longitudinal grip is slightly higher, which allows more confident acceleration and braking, but only along a straight path.
In wet weather and wet asphalt Yokohama iceGUARD iG50 plus easily lose traction on the rear axle when turning the steering wheel quickly. On a dry surface, the characteristics of the tires are slightly better, and although the rubber has a rather "roll" temperament, the wheels still behave logically and do not present unpleasant surprises. In addition, Yokohama has a fairly short braking distance on dry surfaces.
conclusions
There is simply no unequivocal conclusion about which tires are better and which ones are worse. Each tire type and model is better suited for some conditions and worse for others. Famous NokianHakkapeliitta 8 , and Continental IceContact 2 showed outstanding qualities on snowy and icy roads, taking first places in many tests. However, when it comes to dry and wet conditions, soft tires with a lot of metal studs fall short of even significantly cheaper competitors. And this is not surprising, because these tires are designed for northern climatic zones with their frosty snowy winters and icy tracks.
Meanwhile, most of the domestic vehicle fleet spends the winter in more "civilized conditions" of cleaned city roads and winter thaws, and here they come to the rescue friction tires Continental WinterContact or Goodyear UltraGrip 9. Of course, they are inferior to “spikes” in cross-country ability in snow and “tenacity” on ice, but they hold dry or wet asphalt much better.
Well, in the southern regions with their near-zero or even above-zero temperatures, too harsh winter tires can generally be dangerous, given its "roll" at high temperatures and poor behavior in the rain.
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