These days, ruthless tire marketing alters the state of mind of untrained customers much faster than a skilled hypnotist. Millions of dollars invested in the promotion of already established and completely new brands have prepared for us a huge number of simple and correct decisions that do not require, at first glance, proofs.
Choice the best option Is not an easy task
The novelties of the season, created exclusively through innovation, are pouring down on us like a cornucopia. The perfect tread shape, a completely new rubber compound, fuel economy, improved grip performance and even an abstract argument like tire design is advertised as a great reason to buy. But what is behind these words? Are they really synonymous with quality, reliability and comfort? Well, well, let's try to figure it out and put everything on the shelves.
Dexterity and a bit of fraud
It's not a secret for anyone that in an effort to justify the need to purchase a particular product, the manufacturer often does not use some tricks. Even such a simple parameter as test temperature can play a cruel joke when choosing a rubber. If you test tires at 15 degrees in cloudy weather and at 25 degrees in sunny weather, the results can change significantly.
And it is worth remembering the nuances of the road surface, a wide range of tire dimensions, the ability of rubber to age and the state of the tread, so you immediately lose heart. In fact, the manufacturer's declared increased safety and shorter braking distances can only be achieved under certain conditions, which can only have a mediocre relationship to your real life.
Buyer's cheat sheet
Judge for yourself, if in St. Petersburg the average temperature from April to October is 11.6 degrees, an average of 62 mm of precipitation falls, and potholes formed after winter are not so uncommon, then in Rome - 20 degrees, no frost and 2 times less. So will we get the coveted security of premium European tires, and is it worth paying for?
The situation for tire buyers is, of course, difficult, but not as hopeless as it might seem. In order to triumph in the "enemy territory" of ruthless marketing, we arm ourselves with basic knowledge of types summer tires and take the test results of Russian and European publications as allies. Then we will invite their majesty logic, statistics and the Internet and try to draw unbiased conclusions.
Some basic knowledge
A summer tire differs from a winter tire not only in the tread pattern, but also in the chemical composition of the rubber used. Since the latter is a trade secret of the manufacturer, it is easier for an ordinary buyer to use such a formulation as firmness. For summer tires, it always exceeds 60 Shore units, and for winter tires it is 48-55 units. In fact, hardness indirectly indicates temperature Range tire application, and the drop-down range of 55-60 units falls on the segment of all-season tires.
Use Winter tires in summer it is economically unjustified due to high wear and low adhesion properties at temperatures above 15 degrees. Of course, for low speeds, cautious driving style and tiny mileage in cold summer conditions, using studless tire options can logically be justified, but the cost of such savings can be too high. This situation well illustrated in Autoreview test results, where expensive winter tires were worse than most budget summer options.
Summer tire tread patterns
If we exclude special-purpose tires from the review, which are not used on ordinary passenger cars, then formally four tread groups remain:
Tread patterns
- Classic protector the most widespread and versatile: has an average noise level, does not depend on the direction of rotation. Typically, this pattern is used on budget tire models and does not impose special requirements on the direction of rotation when installed on a car.
- Directional symmetrical always marked on the outer side with direction of rotation. This type The tread removes water well from the contact area and has increased resistance to aquaplaning.
- Directional asymmetric the figure is also marked "Rotation" and is sometimes additionally marked with the words "Inner" and "Outer" to indicate the inside and outside.
- Asymmetric non-directional tires usually designed for extreme traffic conditions, as they allow for sharper changes of lanes. They are marked in the same way as directional asymmetric, i.e. for them there are markings on the inside and outside.
Seasonality
The following types of tires are suitable for summer use:
- all-season,
- summer.
All-season - is it worth it?
All-season necessarily contain the ALL SEASON marking and sometimes M + S, such tires have many transverse straight grooves or curved sipes designed to displace water from the contact area. They are more passable on dirt roads, able to provide good grip on snowy and wet roads, but are more noisy than summer road tires. At temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius or above +25 degrees, the effectiveness of such tires begins to decrease.
Operator's usual driver a car on the territory of the post-Soviet space in 99% of cases I am interested in summer road tires only... Summer SUV Tires off-road(marking All Terrain or Mud Terrain), sports track or slicks for dredging are needed by units, and the requirements there are more specific. In our review, we will build on the needs of most drivers, therefore, road tires are relevant for us.
These tires are designed for driving on hard surfaces, whether it is dry or wet. They necessarily have longitudinal wide grooves, the number of which determines the stability of rectilinear motion and the ability to drain water from the contact patch at high speeds.
If such a tire is additionally marked by the manufacturer as HIGHWAY, then it demonstrates its best performance on highways, but in winter or transitional periods in the presence of snow, mud or ice, operation of this type is tantamount to suicide.
High-speed tires with the PERFORMANCE marking behave in a similar way, differing from the previous type by greater resistance to overheating and allowing to move, respectively, with higher speed and loads.
Rubber "All Weather"
Tires with a pronounced V-shaped tread pattern are sometimes called rain tires, because this shape allows water to be very efficiently diverted from the contact area. If the tread, in addition to longitudinal grooves, has a large number of transverse grooves, then such tires are sometimes marked as "All weather", i.e. all-weather. This is a step towards all-season tires, since their tread is practically identical, however, since the composition of the rubber remains a mystery to us, it is still not worth using such tires in sub-zero temperatures.
These tires are ideal for drivers with increased safety requirements on wet road and those who do not want to skid on the road to the dacha on the first hillock with mud or wet grass.
Summer tire test results 2014-2015
So, we got acquainted with the theory, now we turn to practice. This is where things get a lot more confusing than it seemed when studying information about the types of tread. We are helped by tests from such authoritative sources as the General German Automobile Club (abbreviated as ADAC - Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club), Russian automobile magazines "Za Rulem", "Auto Review", as well as a selection of tests from independent European Internet publications.
It is immediately striking that in recent years the leaders of the tire world ratings have remained unchanged. Like five years ago, the top lines are consistently occupied by products from brands such as Nokian, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli and Dunlop, which is not surprising given the very high price category. Perhaps the main feature here is the emergence and growth of production of some brands, for example Nokian, in the territory of the Russian Federation.
Rubber parameters
A very interesting event is the growth of the quality of tires of the Korean manufacturer Hankook, which, despite the middle price segment, is not inferior to the leaders in many respects. An interesting trend is observed in the lower price segment, where Chinese and Russian manufacturers are deeply rooted. And if China continues to cause distrust, then such new domestic brands as Nordman and Cordiant, on the contrary, have become strong middle peasants in quality while remaining affordable.
Optimal solution
Economy class
Buying four tires requires a serious financial sacrifice from the family budget, but if your religion allows you not to idealize tire gods, then you should not change traditions. The budget segment has always been a compromise; it has never had and never will have perfect solutions.
Although if you remember what inexpensive summer tires were like fifteen years ago, then, as they say, this is "heaven and earth." So what are the best summer tires?
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Our selection of summer tires |
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| Cordiant Sport 3 (Russia) | Formula Energy (Russia) |
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| Where can I buy: | Where can I buy: |
| Price: 2700 r (for 205/55 r16) | Price: 2699 rub (for 205/55 r16) |
Middle price segment
As they say, " optimal combination prices and quality ”, and it is difficult to add anything to this statement. When braking on dry surfaces, Hancook beat half of the much more expensive tires, while on wet he became the new tire deity. Nordman was slightly inferior in terms of grip characteristics, but saved money, besides, as they say in the market: “Nordman invented and made Nokian to sell the same tires cheaper!”.
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Our selection of summer tires |
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| Hankook Ventus Prime2 (Hungary) | Nordman SX (Russia) |
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| Where can I buy: | Where can I buy: |
| Price: 3190 r (for 205/55 r16) | Price: 2900 r (for 205/55 r16) |
Segment of expensive tires
For those who do not like to save on their safety, Michelin will excellent option... In almost all tests of various editions, this tire takes the first place in 2015, and its only drawback is the price. If you still don't like the Michelin brand or have problems with the availability of tires, then Nokian is an excellent choice.
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Our selection of summer tires |
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| Michelin Primacy 3 (Germany) | Nokian Hakka Blue (Russia) |
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| Where can I buy: | Where can I buy: |
| Price: 3800 r (for 205/55 r16) | Price: 3890 r (for 205/55 r16) |
All season tire segment
Neither manufacturers, nor sellers on the market, nor employees of a tire workshop like the all-season. Just think, while normal people buy two sets of tires and change them every five years due to natural aging, someone manages to buy one.
From a marketing point of view, this is a blatant injustice, and it would be easier for everyone to forget about this type of tire, but bad luck, demand always generates supply and marketing forces are powerless here. German club ADAC states: there is an all-season that slows down better than some budget tires- both in winter and summer. Testers clarify: good all season tires slow down only 5% worse than the average summer or winter, and in the off-season this is ideal!
Well, well, the choice is yours, and ours are the best options:
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Our selection of summer tires |
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| Goodyear Vector 4Seasons (USA) | Hankook Optimo 4S (Korea) |
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| Where can I buy: | Where can I buy: |
| Price: 5740 r (for 205/55 r16) | Price: 4816 rub (for 205/55 r16) |
Recently, more and more motorists are paying attention to Nokian tires. There are many winter tires in the company's lineup, which attracts buyers. However, many of them are wondering whether it is better to purchase tires from another manufacturer? To answer this question, let's compare Nokian winter tires with models from other brands.
Nokian or Goodyear
Nokian's top winter model is Hakapelita 8. Goodyear's is the Ultra Grip Ice Arctic. On winter Russian tracks, the Hakkapeliitta 8 tires feel perfect, as they were developed specifically for such conditions.
On the surface of the rubber there are spikes in an increased number. Paired with a redesigned tread pattern, they significantly improve traction in difficult conditions.
They are resistant to the effect of aquaplaning, as they have a drainage system through the grooves of which moisture and snow are removed. They have improved wear resistance, ideal grip on ice and snow, and also provide a minimum braking distance.
However, in a rut, tires behave unstable, while being characterized by a high cost.
Goodyear is also suited for harsh winters and off-road. Due to the change in the composition of the rubber, they have an increased resource. The advantages of this model:
- directional stability will remain at high speed,
- resistant to the effect of aquaplaning.
But when hitting a track, they can go into a skid.
If we compare Nokian and Goodyear, then it is impossible to give an exact answer. Nokian has better grip and passable properties, but the cost of these tires is higher. If financial possibilities allow, then it is best to buy Nokian, if not, then - Goodyear, since they also have acceptable indicators.
Nokian or Cordiant
The company has Cordiant is the best model - Snow cross... Its cost is about the same as that of Hakkapeliitta 8, so the comparison conditions are approximated. Cordiant improves vehicle dynamics and prevents slipping on snow and ice. Controllability in such conditions is excellent.
The directional stability of the tires is at a decent level. However, on asphalt pavement, the braking distance increases, and at high speeds, fuel consumption increases significantly. Among other things, additional noise is generated due to the tread pattern.
Hakapelita 8 has no such disadvantages. There is only one - a weak resistance to rutting. However, compared to the minuses, Cordiant is only a minor flaw. As you can understand, Nokian is a noticeable leader in comparison with Cordiant and is suitable for any operating conditions.
Nokian or Hankuk
When choosing winter tires, many motorists face a choice: Hankuk or Nokian? To answer this difficult question, consider the Hankook WinterI Pike RSW419 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. Both models are equipped with studs and are presented in the same class - for passenger cars.
Nokian has the following advantages:
- increased resource,
- perfect grip and flotation in harsh conditions,
- minimum braking distance.
However, its disadvantages - when you run into a track, there is a risk of skidding, and the cost of tires is quite high. The Hankook tires have slightly worse performance, but the grip is almost the same due to the increased number of studs.
The cost is much lower. That is why it is better to choose between these two models in accordance with financial capabilities.
As it turned out, Nokian is clearly in the lead compared to Cordiant. However, she is on a par with Hankuk and Goodyear. Therefore, when choosing, it is best to take into account individual preferences and the allocated budget.
There is a lot of competition in the tire market. In addition to domestic and European manufacturers, there is also a wide selection of Asian companies. And in search of the ideal option from oriental manufacturers, potential buyers are often faced with a choice between two market giants - Toyo and Hankuk. So which tires are the best?
Japanese heritage
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Toyo Tires is an internationally renowned tire manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. In addition, the company is also engaged in the production of various building materials, but still the main profit comes precisely from the sale of tires.
The history of the company began back in 1943.
Since the 1980s, Toyo has developed close partnerships with other companies in the American and Chinese markets.
Since 2004, the Japanese manufacturer has opened new plant in the USA, from where there is a huge supply of tires to the local market.
The company claims that in the production process, engineers use the best technologies that allow them to adhere to the latest quality standards. Due to its high competitiveness, Japanese rubber can be purchased in more than 100 countries around the world.
These tires are always used on cars of local auto companies: Lexus, Mitsubishi, Mazda.
Reply from Korea
The Korean company Hankook Tire is one of the best in the car tire market.
The history of the company began in 1941. Starting in the 80s, the holding began to develop rapidly, and this is how the first plant in the United States appeared.
Since 1996, Hankook has a large presence in the European market: the first factory was opened in France. Now there are branches of Koreans in almost all European countries, in addition, in Germany and China there are even their own research centers.
"Opel", "Volkswagen", "Ford", "Volvo" - this is not the whole list of automobile companies that put Korean tires on their cars.
At the moment, Hankuk is the exclusive supplier of tires for the DTM, Formula 3 series.
Features of tires
Generally speaking, drivers who use Japanese rubber note that it has a number of advantages. For example, these tires have excellent wet grip. In the rain, Toyo is generally considered the best option.
To the disadvantages Toyo tire traditionally attributed to their low noise.
The Hankook is often characterized by excellent handling, but compared to Toyo, the Korean tires hold the road a little worse. Hankook is considered a more acceptable option for city driving.
Summer test
If we compare in more detail the tires of these two manufacturers, we can draw an analogy between the two premium models. Traditionally the best options Considered the summer models Hankook Ventus V12 evo K110 and Toyo Proxes T1-R. These tires are not cheap, but there really is this perfect combination of price / quality.
The Ventus V12 is one of the most popular options in the segment. There are over 80 available sizes, and there are quite a few rims ranging from 15 "to 21".
In the manufacture, the engineers used a double cord made of nylon, which makes it possible to significantly increase the tire's life. The tire has excellent directional stability, and all thanks to the new tread with a V-shaped pattern.
If we talk about the advantages of this tire:
- clear controllability;
- high strength;
- good adhesion to the road surface;
- softness, and accordingly driving comfort.
There are, however, several disadvantages:
- v sharp turns can break into sliding;
- does not feel very confident on wet asphalt, in this aspect the Japanese are clearly better.
A little about Toyo Proxes T1-R
The Japanese state that this model was created in the conditions of computer simulation on the basis of many tests on various coatings. As a result, the engineers managed to create an interesting variant that has excellent grip properties, which is reflected in high handling on any type of surface.
Experienced drivers note that this model is perfect for active driving. The tire has reinforced shoulder zones, which makes it easy to enter any bends.
So, the main advantages:
- high level of controllability;
- excellent road holding, which allows you to ride at high speeds;
- thanks to the V-shaped symmetrical pattern ("herringbone") it has excellent resistance to aquaplaning.
Of the main disadvantages:
- erases quickly;
- at low profile, noise is present.
Features of winter tires
And now for the winter options.
The Japanese company produces studded and non-studded tires. According to the engineers, they include winter tires there is silicon and silicone, which increases the elasticity of the tread and makes it possible to confidently hold on to the wet road surface.
Thus, Toyo was able to achieve additional security when driving on an icy and snowy road.
Hankook focuses on studless tires. The main feature of Korean winter tires is the excellent sipe system that covers the tread. The newest design makes it possible to quickly remove snow, and thus avoid aquaplaning. V winter conditions, Hankuk pleases with its stability, in addition, the tires are really very soft.
What's the price
When it comes to cost, there isn't much of a difference between these two competitors.
As you know, the cost of rubber largely depends on the radius and season of use.
For example, a summer budget model Toyo Garit G4 R13 will cost about 1200 rubles. R15 will cost about 2700 rubles, and for R18 you will have to pay about 7000 rubles.
Winter tires will be more expensive. For example, the G3 Ice model, depending on the size, will cost from 2300 to 16 thousand rubles.
If we compare with Koreans, then the price of Hankook winter tires also starts at 2200 rubles and ends at 12 thousand.
Output
As a result, we can say that both companies produce really high quality and reliable tires. As noted earlier, Japanese Toyo are perfect for drivers with an active driving style, these tires are ideal option for driving outside the city. The Hankook is better suited for getting around the city.
Based on these characteristics, each driver will choose his ideal option.
This test will allow you to enjoy extreme testing and to clearly see the advantages and disadvantages of a number of main models of winter studded tires. For comparison, ten tires from various leading global manufacturers were selected, all of which are industry leaders. These tires are Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, Continental ContiIceContact, Gislaved Nord frost 100, Pirelli winter Ice zero, Michelin X-Ice North 2, Goodyear ultragrip Ice Arctic, Dunlop Ice Touch, Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000, Hankook Winter i * Pike and domestic Kama Euro-519.
Number of studs - road care or driver safety?
When comparing models of winter studded tires, it is necessary to separately highlight the problem of the number of studs themselves installed in the tire. Talks about toughening the rules for using studs have been going on in the Scandinavian countries for a long time, and the reason is the increased wear of the roadway. The "greens" began to argue that asphalt dust is also carcinogenic, that is, it causes cancer. And in 2009, a new norm was promulgated - up to 50 studs per linear meter, and regardless of the tread width or the rim diameter of the tire. At the same time, the previous restrictions remained in force: the protrusion of the studs above the tread surface should not exceed 1.2 mm.
What about security? After all, the more spikes, the better, all other things being equal, the "hook" on the ice will be better ... Shinniks have left a loophole! It turns out that you can install more studs, but then you have to prove that a denser stud will not increase the destructive effect on the road. As a result, on the basis of the Finnish testing center Test World, a method was developed for the full-scale assessment of the impact of studded tires on the road surface. In a nutshell, after a certain number of drives on a granite tile, the mass of this tile should not decrease more than after the same exposure to reference tires with a "legal" number of spikes.
However, the rush demand for such tests did not follow. For example, Michelin decided that this was not a completely fair way to get around the new restrictions - and threw all their efforts into improving tires with a reduced number of studs. The developers of the new Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires did the same. What about the rest?
The rest have fully loaded their production capacity in order to release as much as possible more tires studded according to the old rules (no more than 130 studs for 16-inch tires). After all, the ban that came into force on July 1 concerns the production, but not the sales of tires with the "wrong" studding!
And only Nokian Tires went its own way: the number of studs on the tires of the new Hakkapeliitta 8 not only did not decrease, but increased by one and a half times! Naturally, the aforementioned test was passed, and, as we learned, it was carried out not at the Test World test site, but in its own test center near the town of Nokia. It turns out that you can do that - under the supervision of an official observer from the Trafi transport security agency. Competitors, of course, raised a fuss - they say, with so many spikes, it is impossible to pass the test successfully!
Ice tests
The testing team takes on their hard work. One by one, the tire sets are subjected to the most rigorous tests in the most icy conditions. Finally, the last, tenth set of studded tires was tested for "acceleration-deceleration" - and ... The first sensation! The smallest braking distance on account of the ContiIceContact tires. They also provided the car with better acceleration dynamics. Although the advantage over the "bristling" Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires is quite small, but it is! That is, 190 studs lined up in 18 rows perform no better on ice than 130 studs spread across 12 rows. In any case, in 14-degree frost. Why? Yes, because for the decline harmful effects On the roadway, the Finns really had to change the design of the studs: they are not only lighter, but also smaller - in height and in diameter - than those used in Continental tires. And those that were previously used in Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires. And the carbide insert in the "small" studs is not so powerful.
Two favorites are stepping on the heels of the new Pirelli Winter Ice Zero tires.
Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires promise to become another striking novelty of this season. There are already 96 "legal" studs - and they provide quite decent braking on ice, although during acceleration - only the eighth result. Ahead were also the familiar Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic and Dunlop Ice Touch and Michelin X-Ice North 2 tires from last year's tests. By the way, why is Michelin presented? with X-Ice tires North of the second, not the third generation? The company decided that it was better not to give these tires to anyone for comparative tests until the official launch of a new model on the market.
New items for winter season prepared and Bridgestone, but also refused to provide them before the official premiere. Therefore, in the overall standings - Bridgestone tires Ice Cruiser 7000, which in the coming winter will also be actively sold in our market.
The Korean school is represented by Hankook Winter i * Pike tires, and the Russian school is represented by Kama Euro-519 tires. On the ice, the results of both those and others are very modest. But so far we are talking only about the grip properties in the longitudinal direction.
The controllability assessment began with driving on an ice circle at the maximum possible speed, and continued on a winding track, which took into account both the lap time and a subjective assessment of the convenience and reliability of control. In these exercises, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires have already achieved a convincing victory. Perfectly keep the movement in turns, excellent control over the car on the track! They can also be safely recommended to those who go to amateur ice races: "taking off" a couple of seconds from the circle is not a problem!
Continental tires are in second place, and right behind them - and this is the second, albeit small, but still sensation - the Gislaved tires. They made it possible to very confidently drive the car along a winding road.
Another surprise was the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires. With them, the car slows down and accelerates well, but in turns it keeps poorly and even "jumped" off the icy track a couple of times. Fortunately, there are not meter-long snowdrifts around, but safety strips with a ten-centimeter layer of fluffy snow.
Snow element
The next day, the frost subsided from fourteen degrees to minus seven. Testers have at their disposal a 600-meter track with perfectly packed snow. The work will be monotonous: acceleration to 50 km / h, braking, acceleration again, braking again ... But if earlier the driver was required to work with the pedals in order to exclude unnecessary wheel slip at the start and blocking during braking, now this is monitored by the electronics - Traction Control and ABS. And soon it seems that it will be possible to do without a driver altogether.
Let's take a look at the results of the manual snow tests. It is easy to see that when braking, they are very close: the difference between the best tires(Dunlop Ice Touch) and the worst (Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000) is less than three meters, which is ten percent. During acceleration, the spread is a little more, about 20 percent, and the favorites here are already different - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires. That is, the Finns have conjured up not only with spikes, but also with the tread - after all, on the snow, it is not so much the spikes that are important as the tread.
And on the handling trail winding around trees and snow-strewn boulders, Nokian tires are quieter: quick reactions and fully controlled sliding. Moreover, in sliding it is better not to slow down, otherwise the stabilization system disabled by the button will "wake up" and the pace will decrease. Another indicator: if on Nokian tires the stabilization system was "awakened" only once, on other tires it was activated much more often - due to errors caused by stretched slips (they were especially upset by the Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 and Kama Euro-519 tires) ...
Driving on asphalt
At the beginning of spring, the winter tests were supplemented with a cycle of "asphalt" tests. First, we looked at how the tires behave on sludge - a snow-water slurry that covered the asphalt with an even layer. This layer is only 3.5 cm deep, and the Hankook tires already float at a speed of 19.4 km / h. However, the best Bridgestone tires in this type of testing are not far behind - their limit is 21.2 km / h. And on wet asphalt, already without admixture of snow, the shortest braking distances are on account of the Gislaved tires, and the worst is on the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8.
On wet asphalt, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires worked rather poorly, but on dry surfaces they showed one of the better results... By the way, this is a reason to remind again that modern studded tires work on asphalt no worse, and sometimes even better than non-studded Scandinavian-type tires - those that are commonly called Velcro. This is due to the stiffer rubber, which is needed to secure the cleats in place. There is still a popular myth that a studded tire rolls on the asphalt, leaning more on the spikes than on the rubber. But in fact, the studs, in contact with the asphalt, are sunk into the body of the tread, practically not reducing the contact spots of the rubber with the road. However, it all depends on what goals the manufacturer sets when creating a specific tire model. By changing the tread pattern, hardness and chemical composition of rubber, you can shift the balance of qualities, giving preference to either behavior on slippery winter surfaces (ice, snow), or on asphalt.
With the Dunlop Ice Touch tires, this balance is clearly shifted towards the asphalt: the Audi A3 brakes confidently and responds best to sharp turns of the steering wheel. But on ContiIceContact tires the braking distance on both dry and wet asphalt is a couple of meters longer, that is, preference is given to "winter" qualities.
This is where spike tires always lose out to non-studded ones, because it is in acoustic comfort. There is clearly more noise from them, especially if there are as many as 190 studs in the tread, as in Nokian tire... However, with fewer studs, the Kama Euro, Pirelli, Continental and Bridgestone tires clink in much the same way. And the quietest tires are Michelin X-Ice 2. They are the softest along with Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires.
How are such soft tires will behave, hitting a hole or bumping into an asphalt ledge? The testing team did a similar experiment winter tires... At a speed of 40 km / h, the car runs into a steel channel set at an angle of 30 degrees - a piece of a U-shaped beam. If the tire withstands, the attempt is repeated already at a speed of 45 km / h. And so on until the tire "expires". In order not to damage the suspension of the brand new Audi A3, it was replaced with a well-worn Mercedes-Benz C 180.
Bridgestone tires withstood the most impacts: they managed to break through only at a speed of 70 km / h! And this is no coincidence: when developing their tires, the Japanese take into account the specifics bad roads, reinforce the structure and check it themselves with crash tests.
They hold the blow with dignity and Continental tires- they surrendered at a speed of 60 km / h. The bulk of the tires was finished at a speed of 50 km / h, but the Michelin tires, which they liked so much for their softness, were punched in the very first race, at a speed of 40 km / h. It was even decided to repeat the experiment - what if it was an accident? As a result, the second Michelin X-Ice North 2 tire with a through hole is sent to landfill. Again, everything is understandable: the French company pays more and more attention to reducing rolling resistance, for the sake of which the sidewall is getting thinner (thus reducing the so-called hysteresis losses - energy consumption for heating due to deformation).
The tires were also tested for rolling resistance using a treadmill drum. And it turned out that Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires roll easier than others, and not Michelin X-Ice North 2. But this is without studs, since studded tires would damage the calibrated drum surface. It is not a fact that this rating will not change with spikes. However, in terms of fuel consumption, the difference is still small - the bulk of the tires are separated by 0.2-0.3 l / 100 km. And the difference between the most "economical" and the most "voracious" tires (they were expected to be Bridgestone tires) is 0.6 l / 100 km. And yet, since the experiment was carried out without thorns, its results were not taken into account in the derivation of the final estimates.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
Overall rating: 9.0
- Handling on ice and snow
- Braking properties on dry asphalt
- Noisiness
- High price
With so many pimples, a victory over competitors, especially in ice disciplines, should be simply devastating! But the matter was limited to simply victory, without defeat. On the handling track - the best time, it is a pleasure to drive a car. But the advantage over the ContiIceContact tires, which have 60 fewer studs, is negligible, and the Continental tires are even better in acceleration dynamics. Because there are many spikes in the tread of Finnish tires, but they are small: the diameter, the height of the spike, the width of the carbide insert - everything here is smaller than that of Continental tires. Perhaps, at a higher temperature, on "soft" ice, the effectiveness of "small" thorns would have been higher, but our tests took place in 14-degree frost.
On snow, Nokian tires are traditionally good: accurate and timely responses to the steering wheel and gas.
But on asphalt the behavior is unstable. While Nokian tires provide good deceleration on dry surfaces, they have the longest braking distances on wet surfaces. And the expected disadvantage was the "itchy" sound from the spikes, which did not leave the cabin in the entire speed range.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (62 standard sizes are available - from 175/70 R13 to 255/35 R20) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,2 |
| 9,0 | |
| 48 | |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 190/18 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,2 |
| Manufacturer country | Finland |
| Catalog of winter tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 " | |
Continental ContiIceContact
Overall rating: 9.0
- Adhesion properties on ice and snow
- Handling on ice and snow
- Impact strength
- Adhesion on wet asphalt
On ice, the ContiIceContact tires are great. Acceleration and braking are the best in the test, and the balance of drift and drift on the ice handling track is such as if you were driving not on the front, but on four-wheel drive car... I slightly threw off the gas at the entrance to the turn - and then you drive the car in an arc in controlled sliding with four wheels!
On the snow, the tires are also good, and only the not always appropriate slight tendency to skid the rear axle did not allow to give the highest point for "reliability of handling".
On asphalt, the grip is average, although the "Change" maneuver was done very well. The car reacts sluggishly to the first impulse, but then the tires are "squeezed" and hold lateral overloads well. It's a pity that the soundtrack during such maneuvers is already very intrusive - the Continental tires whine on a straight line, and the rumble increases in corners.
These tires have excellent impact resistance. And the thorns in them hold to the last: in order to pull out a thorn planted on glue, you need to apply an effort 2-2.5 times higher compared to other tires.
I wonder if the ContiIceContact tires will continue to perform as well on ice after switching to a lightweight stud? Such tires with the HD index, produced after July 1, 2013, have already appeared at Russian dealers.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (42 standard sizes are available - from 155/80 R13 to 245/40 R18) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,8 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 49 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 130/12 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,3 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
| Buy winter tires Continental ContiIceContact " | |
Gislaved Nord Frost 100
Overall rating: 9.0
- Ice grip and handling
- Snow grip
- Adhesion properties on asphalt
- Moderate handling on snow
"Not by number, but by skill!" The tread of the Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires has a total of 96 studs with standard departure but on ice these tires are better than many tires with 130 studs. On the handling track - the third time, but the lag behind the leader, who has almost twice as many studs, is less than a second! No wonder the German tire workers (Gislaved today is 100 percent a product of Continental) worked on a new tread and new "triangular" studs! Slides are small and easy to control.
And on the snow, decent behavior, although on the track, handling is hampered by sharp breaks in sliding.
But on wet asphalt - the minimum braking distance! At the same time, the tires do not make much noise and gently "swallow" irregularities.
In general, well balanced winter tires: they work confidently on country roads and are almost ideal for urban use. And the price looks reasonable.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (38 standard sizes are available - from 155/70 R13 to 245/40 R18) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 8,8 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,4 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 48 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 96/14 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,3 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
| Winter tires Gislaved Nord Frost 100 in our online store " | |
Pirelli Winter Ice Zero
Overall rating: 8.7
- Adhesion properties on ice
- Moderate handling on ice and snow
- Noisiness
These tires came to our test a month and a half before the official premiere (AR # 17, 2013) - we did not even know the real name of the model, since there was no marking on the smooth sidewall. But both the protector and the new design spikes were already "commercial" - now both the insert and the spike body have a complex trapezoidal shape.
In terms of longitudinal dynamics on ice, the Pirelli tires are almost on par with the leaders in the test. But on the handling track, there were sharp breaks in side slip. However, Pirelli tires, whether winter or summer, have always endowed the car with sharper, sportier reactions.
A similar behavior is observed on snow, but here the grip properties in the longitudinal direction were at an average level.
Here on the asphalt - good deceleration, both dry and wet.
The ride is good, but there is a lot of noise - the rumble is heard even when driving on packed snow.
Albeit with reservations, but we also recommend these tires - primarily to those who drive in winter mainly on city streets cleared of snow.
| Dimension | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,1 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 50 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 130/16 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,2 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
| Sale of winter tires Pirelli Winter Ice Zero " | |
Michelin X-Ice North 2
Overall rating: 8.5
- Comfort
- Adhesion properties on wet and dry asphalt
- Insufficient resistance to slashplaning
- Low impact strength
When we ran this test with Michelin X-Ice North 2 tires in early February, we received an invitation to the official premiere of the next generation X-Ice North 3 tires. But all attempts to get new tires for the test failed! However, in Russia, the novelty will not appear in all dimensions and half of the sales volume of Michelin studded tires will come from model X-Ice North 2.
Decent tires, and with a pronounced family feature of Michelin tires - this is high resistance to slippery road and soft, understandable transients. It's bad that the slides themselves last a little longer than we would like.
This also manifested itself on the asphalt: the stretched sliding prevented the high speed "changeover". But there are no problems with braking, and the level of comfort is beyond praise: these are the softest and quietest tires in our test!
They would have a stronger sidewall, otherwise when hitting an "obstacle" thin rubber breaks at a speed of 40 km / h, although most tires hold up to 50 km / h, and some remain intact and at a higher speed.
In general, very comfortable winter tires, which are best used on the streets of large cities.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (29 standard sizes are available - from 205/55 R16 to 295/35 R21) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,3 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,4 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 52 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 118/12 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,0 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
| Winter tires Michelin X-Ice North 2 - all sizes in our store " | |
Goodyear ultragrip ice arctic
Overall rating: 8.4
- Braking properties on ice and snow
- Adhesion properties on wet and dry asphalt
- Impact strength
- Handling on ice
- Traction ability on snow
Introduced last year, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ace Arctic tires were immediately among the leaders in our tests, but this year they were not so impressive. The reason could be the changed weather conditions, the progress of competitors, but it seems that the matter is in the lower quality studding. The cocked hat spikes themselves did not change, but most of them turned out to be overly sunk into the tread - the projection averaged 0.9 mm versus 1.2-1.3 mm for competing tires. Here we need to look for the reason for lagging behind the leaders of the test both in acceleration and in braking on ice. And on the handling track, the lag is already beyond the bounds of decency: the Audi A3 on Goodyear tires covers an 800-meter track ten seconds longer than on Nokian tires! We also noted last year that Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires perform better in the longitudinal direction than in the lateral direction, and now the imbalance has worsened - the car holds very badly on the arc!
On snow, the handling situation is better, but there are problems with acceleration. On the asphalt - at the level of the average. It is curious that the clatter of the spikes is almost inaudible, but the tread itself howls in the entire speed range.
What these tires definitely pleased with was their impact resistance: in this discipline - the third place.
With normal studding quality, these tires would certainly be able to compete with the leaders, but according to the results of our test, we would not recommend using these tires on cars without electronic systems stabilization.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (25 standard sizes are available - from 175/70 R13 to 225/55 R17) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,3 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,8 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 55 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 130/14 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 0,9 |
| Manufacturer country | Poland |
| Goodyear UltraGrip Ace Arctic winter tires catalog | |
Dunlop ice touch
Overall rating: 8.3
- Braking properties on snow
- Handling on ice and snow
- Smooth running
According to the final assessment Dunlop tires only 0.1 points inferior Goodyear tires... No surprise: the Dunlop brand today is three-quarters owned by Goodyear, and the Dunlop Ice Touch and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires were developed by the same engineering team. The tread patterns are different, but everything else - groove depth, rubber hardness and studs - is the same. Unfortunately, the quality of studding is the same: the studs in Dunlop tires also turned out to be deeper than necessary. By the way, the tires were made at the same plant in Poland.
The problems with handling on ice are similar: in the lateral direction, the Dunlop tires hold much worse than in the longitudinal direction. It is difficult to drive on a winding track because of the sudden, unexpected slippage.
But on the snow - the minimum braking distance! At the same time, acceleration and handling indicators are the same "sluggish" as on ice.
But on a dry surface - the minimum braking distance and maximum speed performing the "rearrangement". The car responds clearly and quickly to steering movements, which is a rarity for winter tires! True, there is also a side effect - increased rigidity when passing through small irregularities.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (16 standard sizes are available - from 175/65 R14 to 225/55 R17) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,1 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,8 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 55 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 130/14 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 0,9 |
| Manufacturer country | Poland |
| Order winter tires Dunlop Ice Touch in our online store " | |
Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000
Overall rating: 7.5
- High impact resistance
- High slash resistance
- Traction and handling on asphalt
- Adhesion properties on ice and snow
- Comfort
- Handling on ice and snow
Aggressive tread cut by a fine network of wavy lamellas - and spikes lined up in 14 lines. But the studs are ordinary - with cylindrical inserts, and the tread rubber is not as "tenacious" as that of competitors, which is indirectly evidenced by its increased hardness - 20% more compared to Nokian tires. And as a result - very modest grip properties both on ice and on snow. The handling also leaves much to be desired (cornering speed is limited by unpleasant sliding of the front axle).
Bridgestone tires float up later than others on a snow-water slurry. And on the asphalt they work perfectly: on the "rearrangement" the reactions are so fast and accurate, as if the car is "shod" not in winter, but in all-season tires. And most of all we were pleased with the impenetrable sidewalls. But there is a trade-off here too: a stronger sidewall is also stiffer, so Bridgestone tires do not have the best effect on ride comfort.
Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 tires will surely find their poor buyer, especially in the outback - where tires are often changed not because of tread wear, but because of "holes" received in the pits. However, already this fall dealers will offer an alternative to the Ice Cruiser 7000 tires - new model Blizzak Spike-01 (details - in the next issues of Auto Review), but evaluate improvements in the framework comparative test we can only do it next year.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (37 standard sizes are available - from 175/70 R13 to 245/50 R20) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,6 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,7 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 59 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 130/14 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,0 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
| Buy winter tires Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 of the required size " | |
Hankook Winter i * Pike
Overall rating: 7.5
- Dry grip and handling
- Adhesion properties on ice and snow
- Low slash resistance
- Adhesion on wet asphalt
Even at the stage of "static" measurements, we assumed that the Hankook tires were superfluous in this test: most of the studs barely protrude above the tread level. There are some that rise only 0.3 mm! On ice, such spikes, of course, do not work - the car slides menacingly both when braking and cornering. But at the same time it receives a decent rating for the reliability of control: yes, the car slides and therefore drives slowly, but the limit in adhesion properties is felt well, the breakdowns are soft, there is a good balance of drift and skid. It also happens.
However, the Hankook tires failed to shine in the snow, where the studs no longer play a big role. The tread copes poorly with drainage functions - on the sludge (snow-water mixture), Hankook tires float up earlier than others. They also work poorly on wet asphalt (the braking distance is too long) - and only on dry asphalt everything is more or less in order. But this is not enough to recommend the Hankook Winter i * Pike as a winter tire. True, there is an argument that for many sounds stronger than arguments about safety: Hankook tires are exactly half the price of Nokian tires.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (64 standard sizes are available - from 155/65 R13 to 245/45 R18) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,0 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,74 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 57 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 130/12 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 0,7 |
| Manufacturer country | South Korea |
| Sales catalog of winter tires Hankook Winter i * Pike W409 » | |
| Sales catalog of winter tires Hankook Winter i * Pike W419 » | |
Kama Euro-519
Overall rating: 7.1
- Braking properties on snow
- Adhesion properties on ice
- Handling on ice and snow
- Low level comfort
Despite the tread pattern, which is very much reminiscent of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 tires, the Russian Kama Euro-519 tires cannot yet compete on equal terms with imported counterparts. Longitudinal grip on snow is encouraging, but on the handling track, all hopes disappear. It is difficult to "fill" the car into a turn, and therefore before each of them you need to slow down more than in the case of other tires.
The picture is also sad on the ice: the slides are just as poorly predictable and poorly controlled. And there are problems with braking on ice. The reason seems to be the same as in the case of the Hankook tires: insufficient protrusion of the studs above the tread surface. On average - 0.8 mm: such a departure is not enough for a good "grip" on the ice.
On asphalt, the tires perform at an average level. When performing sharp maneuvers, the reactions to the steering wheel are "smeared". And let the thorns slightly annoy with a clatter, the protector hums fairly. And on bumps, these tires are one of the toughest.
Yes, the Kama Euro-519 tires came in last in our test. But if you keep in mind the price and the stellar composition of the participants, then this is not just the last, but the honorable last place. And if the manufacturer establishes control over the quality of studding, then, you see, it will be possible to apply for higher and no less honorable places.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (16 standard sizes are available - from 175/70 R13 to 215/60 R16) |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,3 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,0 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 59 |
| Number of studs / studding lines | 136/14 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 0,8 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
| Buy winter tires Kama Euro-519 in our store " | |
| Test results | Tire Models | ||||||||||
| Options | Impact on overall grade | Bridgestone | Continental | Dunlop | Gislaved | Goodyear | Hankook | Kama euro | Michelin | Nokian | Pirelli |
| Ice | 35% | ||||||||||
| Braking properties | 15% | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Accelerating dynamics | 5% | 6 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Transverse adhesion properties | 5% | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Handling (lap time) | 5% | 6 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Reliability of management | 5% | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Snow | 25% | ||||||||||
| Braking properties | 10% | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Accelerating dynamics | 5% | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Handling (lap time) | 5% | 5 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
| Reliability of management | 5% | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Slash Planning Resistance | 5% | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Wet asphalt | 10% | ||||||||||
| Braking properties | 10% | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| Dry asphalt | 10% | ||||||||||
| Braking properties | 5% | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Emergency (avoidance of an obstacle) | 5% | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Impact strength | 5% | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | Autoreview||||
