Disputes between car owners, adherents winter tires with thorns, and adherents of non-studded wheels were, are and will always be. The former, for example, like to cite the example of the Scandinavian countries, where the law simply obliges to travel, as the most "killer" argument. In response, their opponents usually talk about other European countries, where driving on public roads on a spike is prohibited in principle. But if someone once objectively proved the superiority of one type of winter rubber over another, then tire manufacturers would have produced only such wheels for a long time.
This has not yet happened for one simple reason: each of these types of winter tires is more suitable for its operating conditions. Consider the main pros and cons of rubber, which the garage-sofa tire specialists authoritatively call "Velcro". The main advantage of non-studded rubber is that it holds onto wet or slushy asphalt better than studded tires. "Spike" during emergency braking in such conditions can provide the car with sliding almost like on skates. Here the effect of metal spikes protruding from the rubber surface affects - their presence reduces the contact patch. On the other hand, handling and braking on ice and packed snow is much more efficient with studs. In such conditions, the protruding spike has the ability to cling to the surface - the non-spike does not have such an option.
Winter tires, usually with a large tread pattern, are in any case noisier than summer tires. But studded, all other things being equal, sounds louder than Velcro. Simply because the metal of the spike, when hitting the road surface, behaves much louder than any rubber. Another reason for dissatisfaction with studded rubber is its ability during operation. Yes, recently tire workers have come up with more and more exotic design solutions to keep the spike better. But all the same, sooner or later, any spiked tires begin to lose their spikes. That slowly transfers it into the category of non-studded. With all the ensuing consequences. This process begins to go especially intensively in the warm season, when initially softer (compared to summer) winter tires become very elastic.
Because of this nuance, in particular, the owners of studded tires should carefully guess the moment of the seasonal wheel change. In order not to lose extra spikes on the warm asphalt, a zealous car owner should change the tires to winter tires when the average daily temperatures confidently fall into the near-zero zone. And in the spring he will have to "change shoes" as soon as it becomes clear: the probability of frost has already decreased sufficiently. The owner's seasonal tire change intervals are not so narrow.
Based on the foregoing, we can say that for trips mainly on snow-free asphalt, when the probability of being on the ice tends to zero for the whole winter, it is worth choosing non-studded wheels. If during the winter you constantly find yourself in conditions of poorly cleaned roads or regularly have to overcome areas covered with ice, the right choice will become studded rubber.
As soon as the temperature in Russia starts to drop, all conversations naturally begin to revolve around winter tires... Winter in recent years has been remembered for extremely heavy snowfalls, and motorists now know that winter tires exist in nature, but are not entirely sure which type of tires or which brand of winter tires to choose. The first step in choosing tires for the cold season is to understand what types of tires are on the market and in what specific conditions they should be used.
The first option is all season tires. All season tires designed to ride all year round, and are a kind of compromise for both normal weather conditions and snowy weather. Although they normally serve in the conditions of our country, they are not very popular, since the climate of Russia over a large territory has a clear distinction between warm and cold, with a large difference in temperature values.
The next option is winter studded tires... In order to increase the safety of the vehicle in icy conditions and icy snow, anti-skid metal spikes are used. They are mainly used in countries with very heavy snowfall. Studded tires provide excellent traction in extreme weather conditions, but you will quickly wear out a set of these winter tires if you use them on non-snowy roads.
"Pros" of studded rubber:
- Better ice performance. Less braking distance, better handling and stability.
- More reliable cross-country ability... Only thorns give a feeling of confidence - if you have driven it once, it means you will pass it the second time in similar conditions.
- Stability in a snow track, important when driving on the highway.
"Cons" of spiked rubber
- Worst behavior on asphalt. Due to the studs, the braking distance is increased, comfort and handling deteriorate.
- Risk of losing most of the studs when driving on asphalt. This is true for large cities, where the roads are not covered with snow or ice for most of the winter. With the loss of most of the studs, studded tires become worse than non-studded tires with the same degree of wear.
The last option is winter studless tires... These winter tires are designed for climates characterized by long periods of cold weather and can be used effectively in both light and heavy snowfalls. Studless winter tires are designed to work in conditions where the average temperature drops below 7 ° C for a long time. Although winter tires are not “optimized” for snow like studded tires, they are many times better than summer tires in snowy weather and provide improved grip at any temperature below 7 ° C.
"Pluses" of studless rubber
- Best behavior on asphalt and often in mud and snow. Less braking distance, handling similar to summer tires.
- Improved comfort, primarily acoustic. There is no rumble from thorns.
- Less wear on asphalt.
"Cons" studless rubber
- Worst behavior on ice. Typical Velcro brakes are 20 percent longer.
- Somewhat worse cross-country ability.
Which winter tires should I choose for my car?
Our editors have carefully studied and combined into one whole the results of the annual tests of winter tires carried out by popular British, German and European publishers, since the climatic conditions in these countries are as close as possible to ours. We recommend that you pay your attention to the following tires:
Ultra high efficiency
The Continental Winter contact TS830P tire is the latest UHP winter tire from Continental, which won first place in the Sport Auto Winter Tire Test 2009. The tire was recognized for excellent braking performance in snow, rain and dry weather and for consistently high level of grip on wet roads. and snow.
The Pirelli Sotto Zero Serie II is another winter tire with extra high performance... They received excellent user reviews on TyreReviews, and came in second in the Sport Auto Winter Tire Test 2009 with comments “very balanced and good grip. High traction and braking force in snow and rain ”.
Nokian WRG2 tires are the most popular tires among TyreReviews users. Although classified as winter tires, they have earned great reviews for their versatility and excellent dry weather performance.
High efficiency / long distance travel
Received an honorable third place in Sport Auto 2009 and AMS winter tire tests. Dunlop winter Sport 3D is a great choice for our weather conditions and our roads.
The Vredestein Snowtrac 3 is an excellent tire for small and medium vehicles that has received excellent reviews from European users.
The Bridgestone Blizzak LM30 was launched in 2009 with a focus on compact, midsize and family cars. They have speed classifications T and H speed ratings. According to experts, they can take the lead in this year's tests and certainly deserve your attention.
Tire manufacturers are the best at understanding the importance of their products in terms of safety, so they are constantly improving them. For tires, new mixtures are being developed, the shape and material of the stud, the methods of its attachment, the tread pattern are changing, which improve the characteristics of the car. In some situations best result show studded tires, in some - non-studded (they are also called "Velcro" because of the principle of the tire). Let's try to figure it out in which situation what works best.
But first, some of the features of studded tires and Velcro. In addition to, in fact, the presence of a spike in the first type of tires, there is a more rigid block in which it is installed so that it holds better and does not fall into the depths, and a multi-layer tread. Non-studded tires have a much softer rubber compound (which is why such tires wear out much faster in summer), and the tread is replete with many grooves and sipes to drain the snow slurry and the thinnest layer of water formed when the tire contacts the ice from friction.
Influence of temperature
When creating tires, manufacturers are guided by average negative temperatures from 0 to -20 ° C. In this range, on ice, tires with spikes behave better, which "bite" into the ice and hold the car. If the temperature is lower, then the ice becomes harder and acquires the properties of concrete - spikes from hooks turn into skates, and Velcro shows the best results here. But, for example, in a situation of low temperature and sun, the upper layer of ice becomes warmer and the velcro does not have time to drain water from the contact patch, losing to the thorns. For areas where winters are mild and temperatures rarely drop below freezing, Velcro is more suitable.
Surface properties
The rougher the surface, the easier it is for the Velcro to cling to bumps and the better the result compared to studded tires. This applies to broken ice, asphalt and dense snow. But as soon as the surface is covered with ice, tires with spikes feel better on it. On virgin snow, the shape of the tread plays an important role, regardless of the presence or absence of studs. Large blocks begin to act as lugs and allow the car to make its way to its intended target.
Driving style
Several parameters can be included here. The first is where the car most often drives: if outside the city, it is better to use spikes, because ice can be found anywhere. If in a city where the streets are cleaned to asphalt, then you can use Velcro. Another plus for using Velcro in cities is the active use of reagents that negatively affect the lifespan of thorns. The second is management skills: it is better for beginners to be confident in any situation and put spikes; experienced drivers understand critical situations better and react to them better - Velcro is suitable for them. And the third is driving style: when driving aggressively, it is important to be sure that the car behaves the way the driver wants, so the studded tire will be more reliable.
Acoustic comfort
One of the biggest disadvantages of studded tires is the constant noise while driving. Velcro is noticeably quieter and softer.
Life time
The advantages of a studded tire come to naught when studs fall out, which happens in a couple of seasons. After the tire has nothing to cling to with, it, due to the design features, becomes noticeably worse than Velcro. The same retains its properties until the tread is completely worn out.
Finally, you need to pay attention to the fact that these characteristics belong to the average tire, but there are tires with outstanding results both in the direction of improvement and in the direction of deterioration - even within the same brand. When choosing a specific model, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics that the manufacturer gives and the results. tire tests, which are periodically held by major automotive publications and security institutes.
For the domestic driver, the beginning of the winter season is associated not only with the first snow, the onset of cold weather, but also with turmoil. All this is due to the need to prepare the vehicle for use in the winter. Special weather conditions make you think and choose which is better: “spikes” or “Velcro”?
Currently, there are the following types of winter tires.
- Studded. It is used when driving on snow and ice surfaces, demonstrating the minimum braking distance. However, vehicle handling while driving on asphalt may vary. All models are characterized by high noise levels.
- Non-studded Scandinavian type... Designed for driving in snowy weather. Although it is less noisy, the lack of studs does not guarantee perfect handling on asphalt surfaces, which translates into longer braking distances.
- Non-studded Central European type. Used in soft winter periods and at low temperatures. It is not particularly suitable for icy surfaces, and also has an average result on a snowy road. It shows itself well on the pavement.
Basic requirements of the law
Many drivers, especially those who do not have enough driving experience, often forget or do not have time to start changing seasonal tires on their vehicle. As a result, a motorist can be stopped by a traffic police officer, as well as get into an accident, where he is found guilty, due to violation of the rules for operating the vehicle, in the event of an insured event.
Until 2015, the legislation of the Russian Federation did not provide for penalties for driving on winter tires in summer and other seasons. According to the updated norms, a new regulation was introduced, according to which it is prohibited to use summer tires in the winter months.
For car owners with tires marked with the M + S index ("all-season"), the main thing is to ensure that residual depth protectors was not less than 4 mm. Otherwise, a fine is stipulated - 500 rubles.
Characteristics of winter tires
At the time of purchase winter tires vehicle owners have to take into account many more factors than at the time of purchase summer tires... First of all, you need to take into account the operating conditions of the car. Every car owner knows that there is no universal set of tires that would fit under any weather conditions. However, with the help of many tests, you can identify their strengths and weaknesses.
Taking into account the results of such studies, the consumer can decide which option is most suitable for his case. Anyone who wants to buy winter tires should study the characteristics of products presented in the table, which have the appropriate marking.
You can find more detailed information on how to make a car in the material of our specialist.
Most modern manufacturers use the TWI (Tread Wear Indiration) marking. It serves as a tread wear indicator. A similar inscription on the wheel can also be in the form of an arrow, which indicates the minimum allowable depth.
The main characteristic of tires of this type can be considered the speed index, which is associated with the softness of the tire rubber: the lower its value, the softer the tire rubber is, and the wheels with such tires will have a higher grip coefficient on the winter road. But these tires will wear out faster on a hard surface.
Benefits of studded tires
Winter studded tires provide the desired grip when driving in snowy conditions. The tread of such tires should have a characteristic pattern, which will ensure the removal of the snow mass from the contact zone. Such products are distinguished by high adhesion characteristics due to the addition of a specific component to the rubber compound. This allows you to maintain the desired properties even at very low temperatures.
The advantages of studded tires include:
- excellent traction on ice and snow;
- good handling on slippery and snowy roads;
- short braking distance compared to other types of tires;
- confident maneuvering on slippery road(entering corners).
The disadvantages of these tires include an increased noise level while driving and increased fuel consumption.
Improving grip performance leads to a decrease in vehicle handling on dry surfaces.
Best Studded Tires
Studded winter tires are designed for use in harsh conditions with ice and snow. All this is quite relevant for our road, both in large cities and beyond. Many car owners in cities prefer not to tempt fate, but to be reinsured. For this purpose, they choose the "spike". Consider the most popular models of winter tires from this category according to Swedish experts.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
Optimally balanced parameters allowed to achieve the best-in-class performance for dry surfaces and for snowy road surfaces. The products have proven themselves well in any other application and are distinguished by the fact that they lead to a reduction in fuel consumption. Among the disadvantages, only the increased noise level can be noted.
Continental IceContact 2
Tires that have become the test leader from Finnish specialists German manufacturer They are distinguished by a long service life and excellent handling both on the street and on a snowy road.
Hankook Winter i * Pike RS + W419D
South Korean products are notable for their low prices. Despite this, the rubber showed excellent directional stability, as well as the stability of performance on all road surfaces.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
Differs in optimal dynamic characteristics for most traffic situations... The decrease in stability when changing the road surface, as well as high noise at low speed prevented us from reaching the top three in the presented test.
Pirelli ice zero
Experts agreed that the rubber has a relatively weak grip for driving on snow and ice. Despite this, the model closes the top five, which is due to the brilliant performance of test drives on wet and dry roads. By purchasing such tires, motorists will notice a significant reduction in fuel consumption and a minimum noise level in all cases.
Michelin X-Ice North 3
The product of a French company, manufactured in the Russian Federation. Distinctive features of use are predictable behavior of the vehicle, stable and safe reaction to changing conditions on the road. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the rubber from this manufacturer differs in a small number of spikes, which led to poor performance on ice.
Studding of tires
Currently, there are four types of spikes:
- Round... The simplest and cheapest type of studs found on most winter tires. The only advantage of such spikes is their low cost. The main disadvantage is the low degree of adhesion to the icy road surface.
- Oval... A more advanced type of stud that provides a larger contact area between the tire and the road surface, thus increasing traction and reducing the possibility of sliding. In addition, tires with such spikes have more low level noise than round spiked tires. Accordingly, the price tag for such rubber will be higher.
- Quadrangular. Exclusive studs designed by Nokian. These spikes have edges and sharp edges, with which they "cut" into the ice cover and provide excellent grip... The fastening of such studs is very reliable, which will allow you to use the tires for many seasons. Of course, you will have to pay a lot for quality.
- Hexagonal (diamond). These cleats are equipped with even more edges than the quadrangular ones, so they provide even better traction. The disadvantages of these spikes include the rapid abrasion of the edges and the highest price.
Most of the cleats are single flanged with one retaining element and different body shapes. There are also double-flanged pins, which are less common, but are characterized by high resistance to falling out. Such studs are equipped with an additional flange that better holds the element in the tire.
Characteristics of studless tires (velcro)
Friction (non-studded) winter models, which are called velcro, are gradually gaining popularity among car owners in large cities of the country.
In many European countries, they are considered to be the only one possible option winter tires. This is due to the fact that thorns are prohibited by law there. According to experts, on dry and wet asphalt, the characteristics of the models presented are significantly superior to studded tires.
Advantages of non-studded tires (velcro)
Non-studded tires have the following advantages compared to studded tires:
- lack of noise when driving;
- lower fuel consumption;
- better handling on wet asphalt;
- longer service life.
But despite these advantages, "Velcro" are significantly inferior to their studded "brothers" in the handling of the car on snow and ice.
TOP 5 non-studded tires
ESA Tecar Super Grip 9
The tested tires have pleasantly surprised many car enthusiasts with good performance for any surface. The product also featured reduced fuel consumption and balanced travel. A good advantage can be the cost, which is significantly lower than the products of well-known brands.
Hankook Winter i`cept RS2 W452
South Korean velcro has shown contradictory results. However, among their advantages low price and stability of indicators. Despite this, many experts agreed that the characteristics of the rubber are not sufficient to safely ride on wet snow or ice.
Fulda Kristall Control HP 2
Goodyear's Fulda has also shown rather mixed results. The rubber showed excellent performance on snow and ice. However, the test results were unsatisfactory for both wet and dry asphalt.
Hankook Winter i * cept evo2 W320
The rubber produced in Hungary is a strong "average". Despite the fact that the result of maneuvers on wet asphalt leaves much to be desired, for dry and snowy road surfaces, the characteristics are quite acceptable.
conclusions
The use of winter tires for the vehicle plays an important role. It is these tires that will provide decent grip on the road surface. Even in snowy weather with icy asphalt, this will help to hold well vehicle, increasing its controllability. The car owner can only choose which tires suit him better: studded or non-studded. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, but, in general terms, we can say the following: if in winter you only drive on city roads that are well-cleared of snow, Velcro will definitely suit you, but if in doubt, choose a good studded rubber. which will not fail in any situation.
(9
estimates, average: 4,67
out of 5)
