Well, we had to come to Sweden twice. The first time we sat for a week, skating the entire program of tests on snow and ice. And then, already in April, on the roads that had just been cleared of ice, they measured the braking distance on wet and dry asphalt - and assessed the acoustic comfort and ride smoothness. Well, then, using the traditional system of translating results into points, they summed up the results.
The main surprise in the studded standings is no, not the victory of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 tires. And the very high results of the Hankook Winter i * Pike RS2 tires: in the tests on winter surfaces they are the best! In order not to get into a mess, we decided to arrange a check on them. We waited until August, bought a set of tires in Moscow, and for the plane - and to Germany. And there, at the Contidrom training ground, there is an indoor ice track where winter tires are tested all year round. A series of measurements paired with the test winners, Nokian Hakkapeliittа 9 tires (we also bought them and ran them in August in Moscow, so that the tires were "with the same story"), and ... than Nokian, and by five percent, the situation with commodity tires has changed exactly the opposite: Nokian is better at braking by as much as eight percent! Despite the fact that after running in, the average protrusion of the studs on the Nokian and Hankook tires turned out to be approximately the same - 1.4 mm.
Of course, we can talk about a different quality of ice or that we could only buy a Hankook Winter i * Pike RS2 with a different load index (91 instead of 94). But neither one nor the other could radically change the braking properties on ice. Therefore, we put a red label on the Hankook Winter i * Pike RS2 tires: the commercial tires are not as good as those that took the honorable third place in our rating. By the way, there are no questions to Nokian: the set of tires produced at the Russian factory Hakkapeliitta 9 demonstrated the same properties on ice as the Finnish-made tires that we tested in March.
And we removed the Russian tires Cordiant Snow Cross 2 from the rating altogether: the pre-production tires were of too low quality. When braking on ice - the worst result! But the model of the current generation Snow Cross looked quite decent in our past tests. The tire workers of the Cordiant company, in parallel with us conducting their own tests, also fixed problems on the ice - and, in order not to lose their reputation, postponed the launch of mass production of the model Snow tire Cross 2 for at least a year. According to preliminary information, suppliers of raw materials to the Omsk Tire Plant, where Snow Cross tires are produced, are to blame. They decided to launch only four 14-inch sizes on sale - there seems to be no problem with them.
Winter tires rating 2018-2019
So, in the class of studded tires, once again the victory goes to the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 tires. Cool tires, but expensive - and designed primarily for suburban use. After all, Continental IceContact 2 and Gislaved Nord * Frost 200, which took second and fourth places with a minimum lag, behave better on asphalt.
Well, among studless tires at the top of the rating new model Continental VikingContact 7, but tires Goodyear ultragrip Ice 2, Pirelli ice Zero FR and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 are inferior to quite a bit. Again, when choosing tires, consider your habitat. If you never leave the streets of large cities, pay more attention to asphalt indicators. And if you basically have to drive on snow-covered and icy areas - on purely winter properties.
Toyo Obsreve GSi-5
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (123 sizes from 175/70 R13 to 275/40 R22) | |
| Speed index | Q (160 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10 |
| 54 | |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
According to press releases, the rubber of these tires is mixed with particles of walnut shells and absorbent in the form of soot from burnt bamboo ... But on ice, the grip properties are mediocre: stretched and poorly controlled in sliding corners. On snow, Toyo tires provide effective deceleration and paddle and slip well, but they are tricky to slide. On wet pavement - failed braking. And the comfort level is low. We do not recommend it.
Hankook Winter i * cept iZ2
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (50 standard sizes from 175/70 R13 to 255/40 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 56 |
| Manufacturer country | South Korea |
The Winter i * cept iZ2 tire is a new product from Hankook, but unlike the studded Winter i * Pike RS2 tire, it performed more than modestly. Both on ice and on packed snow there are not enough longitudinal grip properties - thanks at least that the grips are better in turns. On the asphalt, the tires are moderately comfortable, but again slippery. With the success of the latest summer tires from Hankook, we can expect much more from this model!
Bridgestone Blizzak VRX
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (57 standard sizes from 175/70 R13 to 255/45 R19) | |
| Speed index | S (180 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 53 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
Frictional Bridgestone tires they perform modestly against the background of European models. In theory, the microporous tread rubber should remove moisture from the ice surface, thereby increasing the traction coefficient. In practice, however, grip on ice is clearly lacking. The situation is better on packed snow. But if you drive out of a snowdrift with a slip, then Blizzak VRX- a bad helper. But on the asphalt, these tires work perfectly: on a dry surface, the minimum braking distance! This means that we recommend them for large cities, albeit with some reservations.
Yokohama iceGuard iG60
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (113 standard sizes from 135/80 R13 to 245/40 R20) | |
| Speed index | Q (160 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 54 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
The iceGuard iG60 friction clutch is a new model. The asymmetric tread, traditional for Japanese tires, demonstrates an average level of grip on ice, but at the same time provides good balance in corners: there is no obvious tendency to drift or skid. On the snow, we were pleased with the traction ability of the tires. But the adhesion properties on the asphalt are not enough - especially on wet ones. So Yokohama tires iceGuard iG60 is more suitable for the hinterland than for large cities. And the prices will not scare away.
Nokian Nordman RS2
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (26 standard sizes from 155/70 R13 to 225/55 R17) | |
| Speed index | R (170 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 8,7 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 55 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The materials are slightly simpler than those of Nokian, the tread pattern is borrowed from the previous model Hakkapeliitta R. But in the final ranking the Nordman RS2 is only slightly behind the “head” model Hakkapeliitta R3. Both on ice and on snow - clear reactions, predicted sliding. On asphalt, the grip is slightly worse than that of the Nokian, and bumps are felt more clearly. But the price is one and a half times lower!
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (68 standard sizes from 175/65 R14 to 245/35 R21) | |
| Speed index | R (170 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 8,3 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 54 |
| Manufacturer country | Finland |
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 tires work gorgeous on ice - when decelerating, you can even hear the characteristic rustling of rubber edges clinging to microroughness of the surface. Acceleration and braking - the best results among clutches! But on packed snow, the indicators are more modest. And on asphalt, Nokian tires are inferior to the leaders in terms of grip and comfort. So the recommendation is traditional for Nokian models: they are created primarily for suburban use.
Prelli Ice Zero FR
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (30 standard sizes from 175/65 R14 to 245/50 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 8,8 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 48 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
It is gratifying that Pirelli's Russian factories do not save on raw materials: Ice Zero FR produced in Voronezh have become a worthy competitor to the class leaders. Both on ice and on snow - good grip, but, unfortunately, abrupt breakdowns in sliding in corners. Sports character! And on the pavement, everything is worthy: Pirelli tires share the title of the quietest in our test with the Continental friction tires.
Goodyear ultragrip ice 2
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (29 standard sizes from 185/60 R15 to 245/45 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 8,7 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 55 |
| Manufacturer country | Poland |
Three years ago we recognized these tires as the best friction tires (AP # 18, 2015). And even now they are superbly on the ice: on a winding track they lost only four studded models! On snow, the directional tread works well in the longitudinal direction, but behaves a little worse in corners. But on the pavement, Goodyear is great! But in general - another worthy option for winter tires, appropriate both in the city and beyond.
Continental VicingContact 7
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (109 standard sizes from 155/65 R14 to 295/40 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 50 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
The directional tread pattern in a neat diamond pattern looks beautiful and works great. Yes, the icy results are slightly worse than those of the main competitors. But what a gorgeous balance between performance on ice, snow and asphalt! Not a single puncture in the results. This means that these tires are ideal for urban winter use. We especially recommend them to connoisseurs of comfort: the softest and quietest tires in our test.
GT Radial IcePro 3
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (17 standard sizes from 175/70 R14 to 225/55 R17) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 63 |
| Number of thorns | 128 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,12/1,27 |
| Manufacturer country | China |
Headquartered in Singapore, Giti Tire is one of a dozen tire manufacturers worldwide. The main factories of the company are located in China, but the development of tires under the Giti and GT Radial brands is carried out in Germany and the USA. However, IcePro 3 studded tires are the last century of the tire industry. The tread is as if welded from summer rubber grades: it does not cling to ice and snow at all. And it's scary to drive along the handling track: the loss to the leaders of the test from a kilometer reached 24 seconds!
Firestone ice cruiser 7
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (19 standard sizes from 175/70 R13 to 235/65 R17) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 60 |
| Number of thorns | 115 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 0,83/1,02 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Firestone Ice Cruiser 7 tires are a replica produced in Ulyanovsk budget tires Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 model 2010. It is clear that they do not have enough stars from the winter skies: poor grip on slippery surfaces require extremely careful driving - especially in corners. Many tires without studs make you feel more confident!
On asphalt, the situation is somewhat better. But in general, we do not recommend it.
Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (16 standard sizes from 175/70 R14 to 265/55 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 56 |
| Number of thorns | 115 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,09/1,19 |
| Manufacturer country | Malaysia |
The novelty of the Toyo Tires company seems to have a modern tread pattern, and spikes with a figured core, and the rubber contains crushed walnut shells. But somehow the nuts do not help: the grip on ice is mediocre, making the car turn is not easy. In the snow, the situation is about the same.
But you can ride on asphalt on these tires: the grip properties are good and there is less noise compared to other studs.
Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (43 sizes from 175/70 R13 to 245/50 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 61 |
| Number of thorns | 115 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,25/1,62 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
A feature of the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 tires is a noticeable increase in stud outreach as they run and tested. At the end of the tests, some towered over the tread by 1.8 mm! But they held on tightly - not a single empty hole even after a series of braking "to the floor" on dry asphalt. The main driving advantage is its excellent braking properties on ice. However, there are no achievements in the rest of the winter disciplines, and on the handling tracks there is a constant struggle with the drifts of the front axle. And on the asphalt, the grip and comfort indicators, alas, leave much to be desired.
Yokohama iceGuard iG65
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (29 standard sizes from 205/55 R16 to 285/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 53 |
| Number of thorns | 172 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 0,68/0,94 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The new Yokohama iceGuard iG65 studded tires have been developed by Japanese tire makers in cooperation with Arctic Falls. Progress is evident, but the protrusion of the pimples is not enough, and the characteristics are poorly balanced. For example, the Golf on these tires accelerates well on ice, but slows down very mediocre. And in corners it rides like a rear-wheel drive car - all the time in a skid!
But on the asphalt these tires are one of the best! Including acoustic comfort. In the city, the very thing - if your car has a stabilization system.
Pirelli ice zero
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (45 standard sizes from 175/65 R14 to 275/35 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,1 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 56 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 0,83/1,09 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Pirelli Ice Zero tires Russian production this season they did not perform as confidently as a year ago (AR # 17, 2017). The reason for this may be not so high-quality studding: many studs protruded above the tread by less than a millimeter before running in. And after the break-in, these tires lacked aggression on the ice - especially in corners.
The situation is better in the snow. But on the asphalt, the main problem of Pirelli Ice Zero tires is a low-frequency hum in the speed range of 60-100 km / h.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (37 standard sizes from 175/65 R15 to 245/45 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 55 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,11/1,34 |
| Manufacturer country | Poland |
And again, we did not wait for a change in generations of Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctiс tires, presented in 2012. Instead, the budget Goodyear UltraGrip 600 tires are launched to play the role of a "second plan" model. And the aging flagship of the winter line from Goodyear continues to delight us with its tractor characteristics on virgin soil, excellent grip on packed snow. But the handling characteristics - especially on ice - are still weak, and the characteristic hum of the tread makes life worse when driving on asphalt.
Nokian nordman 7
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (34 standard sizes from 155/80 R13 to 235/55 R17) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 58 |
| Number of thorns | 128 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,04/1,2 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The Nordman 7 tires are the "second life" of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires. They are produced on the same equipment as Nokian tires, but from cheaper raw materials. On ice, Nordman 7 tires, with fewer spikes, are inferior to the leaders of the test, but on snow they behave excellently - they row even better on loose powder than Hakkapeliitta 9. But on asphalt they work mediocre.
A good option for affordable studded tires for out-of-town use. By the way, Nordman tires are covered by a guarantee: in case of unintentional damage, the dealer will provide the same tire at half price.
Gislaved Nord * Frost 200
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (75 standard sizes from 155/70 R13 to 275/40 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 54 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 0,8/1,1 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
Mimicking the tread of the first generation ContiIceContact tires, the Gislaved Nord * Frost 200 tires represent perfect option urban studs: they are quite quiet in the "toothy" class and have a good balance of ice and asphalt grip properties. At the same time, Gislaved tires are among the best on the snow. A reasonable (read - inexpensive) version of winter tires, not only for urban, but also for suburban use.
Hankook Winter i * Pike RS2
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (28 standard sizes from 175/70 R13 to 255/40 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 8,9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 54 |
| Number of thorns | 189 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,2/1,4 |
| Manufacturer country | South Korea |
Pre-production samples of the new Hankook RS2 tires, tested by us even before the start of official sales, in terms of snow and ice indicators, left Continental and Nokian behind - at a price one and a half times lower! Unfortunately, additional tests on the Hankook Winter i * Pike RS2 commercial tires have dispelled the myth of their magical properties. So for now, we will refrain from recommendations - we will wait for the manufacturer's explanation and the results of the next tests, which will involve Hankook tires purchased through the retail network.
Continental IceContact 2
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (78 standard sizes from 155/70 R13 to 245/35 R21) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,3 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 51 |
| Number of thorns | 190 |
| Spike protrusion, mm | 1,1/1,3 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
The Continental IceContact 2 tires provide the shortest stopping distances on ice, but the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 allows you to go faster on the twisty track. But on the asphalt, Continental tires are quieter, and the spikes in them have additional fixation - the unique technology of hot vulcanization has not yet been mastered by any of the competing companies. Considering the price, IceContact 2 tires are a great choice! And the third generation of this model is on its way: next year the new IceContact 3 tires with rubber studs will go into the series.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 |
|---|---|
| (54 standard sizes from 175/65 R14 to 275/35 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 8,9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 53 |
| Number of thorns | 190 |
| Spike protrusion *, mm | 1,01/1,25 |
| Manufacturer country | Finland |
| * Before / after tests | |
The Hakkapeliitta 9, with its dual-studded tread, works great on ice and snow - but on asphalt it gives the car a sluggish steering response and a lot of noise. So for the townspeople, Hakkapeliitta is still not the best fit. But you shouldn't pay attention to where the Nokian tires are produced - in Russia or Finland: both factories produce high quality tires, it has been checked. You can find out the best price for this tire in your city.
Non-studded, or non-studded, tires (they are also frictional or "Velcro") bear the studless mark on the sidewall, which translates from English as "without studs". They are divided into two categories: for harsh northern winters ("Scandinavian") and for warm Central European ("Europeans"). The former are focused on snow and ice, because their tread is made of softer rubber (from 55 to 50 Shore units and even slightly lower). And the latter are primarily aimed at wet asphalt and, in addition to a harder compound, have developed grooves that more actively remove snow slurry and water from the contact patch, that is, they fight aquaplaning and slashplaning (sliding on a snow slurry) more effectively.
In Russia, with its frosty and snowy winters, "Scandinavians" are more popular from friction tires. Central European ones are sold in limited quantities - they are bought by those who spend the winter only in the metropolis, on streets cleared of snow and ice, constantly watered with chemicals.
For the tests, we selected the most popular Scandinavian models on the Russian market at a price of 6530 to 9650 rubles. The choice began with the representatives of the “big five” tires well-known on the market. These are Bridgestone Blizzak VRX, Michelin X-Ice 3, Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, Continental ContiVikingContact 6 and the new tire of the season.
We have not forgotten about the leader of many of our tests - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 tire, the most expensive in the sample. In addition, less expensive tires were included in the work: new Dunlop models Winter Maxx WM01 and the well-known and most affordable Toyo Observe GSi-5 tire.
Racing in hell
Tests on "white" roads - as tire workers call snow and ice tests - we carried out in March this year at one of the northernmost tire ranges White Hell, owned by Nokian. They say that this name was given to him by analogy with the "Green Hell", as the famous race track "Nürburgring" was nicknamed.
"White Hell" is located on Lake Tammijärvi and includes about ten different ice tracks, laid along the frozen water surface and the surrounding shores. And the same number of snow paths are rolled along the perimeter of this huge ice rink. The landfill is maintained from early morning until late at night. perfect condition motorized cocking of a variety of special equipment - from large snow groomers and machines for pouring ice to small Multicars with brushes. A tire test paradise!
Volkswagen Golf GTi was appointed as the tire carrier: its native size is 225/45 R17. ESP is not disabled. However, this can be done using a scanner, but we decided to leave everything as prescribed by the manufacturer. After all, everyone drives like that. We even left the ASR traction control on during the measurements - with it, the results are more accurate. But during the expert assessment of directional stability, handling and cross-country ability, the ASR was still turned off in order to have full control over traction - without electronic intervention.
The air temperature during the tests varied from -2 to -18 ºС.
Approach with the device
Friction tires on ice are very sensitive to the cleanliness of the surface and the condition of ... the sky. Even a light snowball, slightly dusting the "ice rink", or a bright sun, slightly submerging the ice, can greatly distort the results. In "White Hell" the conditions for measuring the acceleration and deceleration times are almost ideal, since the long ice straight is protected from snow, wind and sun by a huge awning. You can test your tires regardless of the weather conditions. Moreover, time is saved: four measurements are enough to obtain reliable results (on open ice, measurements have to be repeated six to eight times for greater accuracy).
Only here in the "tent" for measurements instead of the usual VBOX complex based on GPS data, you have to use an ancient Dutron with an optical sensor, since a layer of snow on the tent completely blocks access to satellites. True, the optics sometimes make mistakes at low speeds - for example, the movement of snowflakes in a light breeze of wind Dutron can mistake for the movement of a car. Therefore, the acceleration measurements are carried out from 5 km / h, and not from scratch, as when working with the VBOX measuring complex.
The Golf accelerates the fastest on Dunlop tires - it takes just six seconds to reach 30 km / h. On Nokian tires, the loss is only one tenth of a second. And the most unhurried acceleration of the Golf was demonstrated on the tires of Hankook and Bridgestone.
It took a little more than 15 meters for the Golf, wearing Nokian tires, to slow down from 30 to 5 km / h - this is the best result. Slightly worse performance on Continental tires. In the laggards - Bridgestone and Pirelli: they needed 17.5 meters to complete the exercise. Bridgestone, frankly, surprised: usually the longitudinal grip of these tires is always good. Competitors have made significant progress!
Lateral friction is evaluated on the ice circle. It is located in the open air, so we are waiting for cloudy weather, when the sun disappears behind the clouds - in such conditions, the results are much more stable. We wind eight to ten circles and choose the best result, which we managed to repeat at least three times.
The Continental tires are the most tenacious, with the Golf able to complete a lap in 26 seconds. Nokian has the second result - 0.6 seconds worse. The outsiders were Toyo tires: 28.8 seconds.
Snow measurements can be carried out in any weather, except for heavy snowfall: fresh flakes are usually very slippery. To assess the longitudinal grip, we use a long platform, on which we accelerate from standstill to 40 km / h, and then decelerate to 5 km / h. For each measurement, we use a fresh strip of snow, and when there are no such snow left, we launch a snowcat with wide tracks. The recovered surface resembles velveteen on prepared ski slopes.
On snow, the fastest acceleration was achieved on Hankook and Pirelli tires, and the slowest on Bridgestone and Dunlop tires. Continental and Pirelli were the best in braking, while Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin were the worst. However, the difference between the first and last results is about 4%, so there are no losers in this exercise - there are losers.
We were unable to perform our traditional exercise "rearrangement": in the whole "White Hell" we did not find compacted snow. The lack of this exercise was compensated by an assessment of handling on special ice and snow tracks.
Fifth point
Not everything can be measured. For example, we assess the handling and passability subjectively - by setting expert assessments, clearly formulating comments and taking into account their weight, the impact on the behavior of the car.
We start with directional stability in the snow. The Golf is most stable at high speeds and follows the wheel faster on soft lanes with Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook and Nokian tires. Remarks to the rest of the contestants are insignificant.
The handling was evaluated on a track with a set of turns of different radii. Here the speed is lower than when assessing directional stability, but the steering wheel has to be rotated at greater angles, and in some “hairpins” - even to intercept.
The most understandable behavior was provided by Hankook, Nokian and Toyo tires. And on Bridgestone and Dunlop tires, it is difficult to control it even for experienced experts: low information content and delays in reactions force the steering wheel to twist, which leads to a skid. In sliding, the car unpredictably goes into demolition, then into a skid, floats sideways for a long time, not reacting to steering turns, until the speed drops.
When assessing the cross-country ability in deep snow, Volkswagen on Nokian and Pirelli tires feels like a fish in water - it easily starts and maneuvers, reversing without problems if it is no longer possible to move forward. And riding on Bridgestone, Goodyear, Michelin and Toyo tires in the same snowdrifts requires special skills from the driver - you can only get under way, any slip provokes self-burying. The car is very reluctant to maneuver and backwards.
We estimate handling on ice on the frozen lake Tammijärvi. Here Michelin conquered everyone: perfected, downright asphalt reactions and an amazing feeling of the initial phase of sliding make it possible to ride on the “mirror” extremely reliably. Not so flawless, but no less confident, the Continental, Nokian and Pirelli tires allow you to drive the Golf. The rest of the tires also performed well - the experts had only minor comments.
Black roads
Tests on asphalt were carried out in April - May at the AVTOVAZ test site at temperatures from +4 to +7 ºС. The first exercise is evaluating economy. The best results regardless of speed were shown by Hankook and Nokian. The worst are the Dunlop and Toyo tires. Although the difference between them is penny, only a glass of gasoline (200 ml) per 100 km.
Even during the warm-up lap before measuring a dozen kilometers, we move at a speed of 110 to 130 km / h. It's time to assess directional stability on asphalt. Michelin provides very clear directional stability and an understandable, informative steering effort - almost like in a warm season on summer tires! Dunlop, Goodyear and Pirelli lost a bit. Complaints arose about the Hankook and Toyo tires: the Golf shod in them surprises with an empty, uninformative steering wheel, delays in reactions when adjusting the direction of travel and an unpleasant “catching up” steering of the rear axle on an arc.
We estimate the noise and smoothness of the ride on a good surface here, on the high-speed oval. Then we add service roads with cracks, gaps and potholes. We get that the right to be called the most comfortable tires deserve Continental - in terms of noise comfort and ride smoothness they have the maximum marks. By the way, Goodyear tires are just as quiet. The toughest and grumpiest are the Dunlop, Toyo… and Michelin tires. Pirelli has a similar ride quality. The main remarks for this four are the same: sharp jolts on medium and large bumps, vibrations on small ones and the feeling of over-inflated tires.
The final exercises are braking on dry and wet asphalt. We brake one track at a time on a narrow strip of asphalt sandwiched by cones - more precisely. And do not forget to cool the brakes with a leisurely "run" after each measurement.
On dry surfaces, the shortest braking distance with Goodyear tires: 28.8 meters. The Golf rides a meter more on Continental and Michelin tires. Toyo has the worst result: 33.1 meters.
On wet asphalt better braking Provides Continental: 19.7 meters. Goodyear shows the second result, losing half a meter to the leader. In the tail - again Toyo: the braking distance on these tires is more than six meters.
Total
Tires took the leading position in our test ContiVikingContact 6 who scored 924 points. In second place, only nine points behind, - Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2... Both models are excellent tires with excellent characteristics and differ from each other only in nuances: Conti pleases with better grip and a high level of comfort, while Nokian impresses with clear, predictable behavior and provides little fuel economy.
Honorable third place - for tires Goodyear ultragrip ice 2(899 points). They will be a good choice in large cities where the streets are clear of snow and ice, as they provide very good grip on both dry and wet asphalt.
And together with the model Goodyear ultragrip ice 2 fit into the category of very good tires: the final result is over 870 points. Michelin tires are not comfortable enough, but conquer with excellent handling on ice and high directional stability on asphalt.
The Pirelli and Hankook are especially good on snowy roads. It is also extremely important that Hankook tires were the best in terms of value for money.
And they are practically equal (864 and 866 points) and have reached the level of strong middle peasants. They differ in nuances that an ordinary driver is unlikely to catch. The Dunlop, for example, is slightly less comfortable, but provides higher directional stability on asphalt. Bridgestone is significantly more expensive.
Toyo Observe GSi-5 can be called a budget option both in terms of characteristics (primarily due to the modest grip properties on asphalt), and in price.
By the way, Toyo tires were distinguished by an excellent ratio of price to the number of points scored - 7.78. And the best result was for Hankook tires: 7.71. This means that these tires are not so much worse than those that took higher places, as much as they are cheaper.
SPINNING DISCSIn tire tests, in addition to tires, we also test wheels. Now we are undergoing a multi-stage test for strength of LS 285 discs. Unfortunately, it was not possible to test them in the cold in Finland, but they passed the tests on the asphalt in Togliatti with flying colors. But assessing the behavior of a car at high speed and braking on dry and wet surfaces is a serious test for the wheels. Inspection after winter tests confirms the verdict made after the first summer tests: there are no serious comments to the wheels. They are in excellent condition; no warpage was found on the surfaces adjacent to the hubs; in the attachment points (around the holes for the fastening bolts), the metal did not stretch. The discs are pleasing to the eye with an almost pristine appearance: no chips, no chippings. We continue to check - summer tests are ahead. |
| 9th place | 8th place | 7th place |
|
| brand, model | |||
| Country of manufacture | |||
| Load and speed index | |||
| Depth of the pattern in width, mm | |||
| Shore hardness of rubber, unit | |||
| Tire weight, kg | |||
| Price quality* | |||
| The amount of points awarded | |||
| pros | Medium longitudinal grip on snow and ice; good handling on snow | Average braking properties on asphalt; clear course following on a snowy road | Best acceleration on ice; braking properties on asphalt; clear course following on asphalt |
| Minuses | Poor lateral grip on ice and braking properties on asphalt, increased fuel consumption; poor cross-country ability in snow, difficulty keeping a course on asphalt; low level of comfort | Poor longitudinal grip on ice and snow; increased fuel consumption at a speed of 60 km / h; difficult handling on snow, low cross-country ability | Low lateral grip on ice; weak acceleration in the snow; difficult handling on snow; noisy and tough; increased fuel consumption |
| 6th place | 5th place | 4th place |
|
| brand, model | |||
| Country of manufacture | South Korea | ||
| Load and speed index | |||
| Depth of the pattern in width, mm | |||
| Shore hardness of rubber, unit | |||
| Tire weight, kg | |||
| Average price in online stores at the time of preparation of the material, rubles. | |||
| Price quality* | |||
| The amount of points awarded | |||
| pros | Excellent longitudinal grip on snow; economical at any speed; stable directional stability and precise handling on snow | Excellent braking properties on dry asphalt; excellent handling on ice and directional stability on asphalt | Better longitudinal grip on snow; good handling on ice and cross-country ability in deep snow; clear course following on asphalt |
| Minuses | Weak acceleration on ice; difficult directional stability on asphalt | Limited cross-country ability in deep snow; low level of comfort | Weak longitudinal grip on ice; not economical enough at a speed of 60 km / h; tough |
| 3rd place | 2nd place | 1st place |
|
| brand, model |
In the next comparative test winter tires of the popular "crossover" dimension 215/65 R16 23 models have converged - an absolute record of mass production in the entire history of Autoreview tests! Not only did we manage to grasp the immensity, so along the way we also stopped the shipment of one of the consignments of Nokian tires ...
Owners of crossovers, especially four-wheel drive ones, often relate to the seasonal change of regular summer tires to winter ones without enthusiasm. After all, almost all native tires are marked with the M + S index, which de jure allows them to ride in winter. The main thing is that the residual tread depth is at least 4 mm (otherwise - a fine of 500 rubles). But you must understand that the M + S marking does not oblige the manufacturer to anything at all! Marking does not require any tests or certificates confirming the suitability of tires for winter, and therefore more and more often it can be seen on frankly summer, and "asphalt" tires, which incidentally speaks of the devaluation of not only the letter S (snow, "snow"), but also M (mud). So we look not at the letters, but at the tread, and if we do not see many small slits-lamellas, then we conclude: it is dangerous to ride on such ones in winter. And even better, when on the sidewall there is a “Snowflake” mark in the form of three mountain peaks with a snowflake - these models really passed the exam on a snow track. The participants in our test are all marked with the following markings: these are 14 sets with spikes and nine without.
Test methodology Autoreview
The test program is standard, all the tracks of the White Hell test site near the Finnish town of Ivalo are well known to us - and most importantly, to be lucky with the weather. Almost lucky: there was no snowfall, although the temperature danced from 5 to 23 degrees of frost, so its influence had to be taken into account when conducting additional races on "reference" tires. But the measurements of the longitudinal dynamics took place in a closed hangar with a more stable temperature.
This is where the embarrassment happened with Nokian tires, and with a model that has been produced for several years. Both in acceleration and in braking, the non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV yielded not only to principal competitors, but even to the tires of their own "second line" - the Nordman RS2 SUV tires! Nokian testers working in the neighborhood were alarmed, they themselves repeated the measurements ... An official investigation showed that the failed tires were produced at a plant near St. Petersburg at the end of 2016, more precisely in the 48th week. Then there was a failure in the technological cycle. They did not share the details with us (apparently, there were deviations either in the duration or in the temperature of vulcanization), but we were assured that the defective batch did not go on sale. Although outwardly everything is in order, and even the hardness of the tread rubber is the same as on tires produced in the 41st week of 2016 (their results were taken into account), but the difference in grip on ice reaches eight percent.
After measurements in the hangar, we get out into the growing frost - and once again we notice that as the temperature drops, the friction tires begin to catch up and even overtake the “spikes”. At minus twenty, the ice becomes so hard that the spikes cannot scratch it, and the tread rubber of most studded tires is harder - in the cold the friction tires are more elastic, they have a larger overall length of the sipes.
We, I repeat, take into account the changing conditions and adjust the results, but if all tests were carried out in a light frost, the friction tires would roll back to the bottom lines of the protocols.
Handling tests were carried out on the ice of the polar lake Tammijärvi
And in the snow, frost plays into the hands of friction models: while maintaining the elasticity of the tread, they better cling to the snow shagreen.
Compiling a rating of winter tires
This time, the estimates of the passability were supported by instrumental measurements - the acceleration time in deep snow with the traction control system... It is curious that Russian tires topped and closed the rating: the best - Cordiant, and the most helpless on the virgin soil - Viatti tires produced by the Nizhnekamsk tire plant.
The asphalt part of the tests is especially relevant for residents of large cities, in which the streets are cleared of snow and ice for most of the winter.
The final part of the tests is already in April, on "summer" surfaces. And along the way, we note that this time there were no tires littering with spikes.
At the top of the final ranking are the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV tires. Expected result: if the model of the previous generation regularly won in our tests, then the new one, and even with two types of studs, easily outperformed its competitors.
Expensive? Then we carefully look at the points, at the main advantages and disadvantages of other tires - and choose the best option for your pocket. And yet, we avoid buying outsider tires - such savings are fraught with incomparably high costs.
Winter studded tire rating 2017
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (55 sizes available from 215/65 R16 to 315/40 R21) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,9 |
| 9,8 | |
| 49 | |
| Number of thorns | 172 |
| 1,05/1,54 | |
| Manufacturer country | Finland |
Hakkapeliitta with index 9 is a novelty of the season: here for the first time two types of cleats were used. Those in the middle part of the tread have transversely oriented carbide inserts: they are responsible for longitudinal grip properties, and at the edges above the tread there are such trefoils that work effectively in turns. And this is not a marketing gimmick: an unequivocal superiority over competitors both on the handling track and in braking on ice. And in other types of winter tests, the tires are at height. On asphalt, the grip is moderate, and the main problem is noise at speeds from 70 to 90 km / h.
The best tires for tough winter conditions!
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (2 standard sizes 205/55 R16 and 215/65 R16 are available) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 56 |
| Number of thorns | 170 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 1,52/1,47 |
| Manufacturer country | South Korea |
This year, Hankook officially opened its polar training ground in Ivalo, Finland: the tracks and testing approaches are very similar to those used by Nokian Tires. This also applies to the peculiarities of the tires themselves: the number of spikes-stars was increased, which ensured decent test results on ice. But in deep snow, the tires do not shine, as well as on the asphalt, and besides, they make a lot of noise. But it is easy for them to forgive: the Hankook Winter i * Pike RS + tires are one and a half times cheaper than the Finnish novelty.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (91 sizes available from 175/70 R14 to 275/40 R22) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,4 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 54 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 1,03/1,25 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The tires produced in Voronezh are laced with powerful brace spikes - and they work gorgeous on ice during acceleration and braking. But in corners there are sharp breaks in sliding, so without a stabilization system you will have to be on the lookout. On the other hand, there is a good balance of grip properties on slippery roads and on asphalt, and therefore they can be safely recommended for winter operation in large cities. If you do not make high demands on acoustic comfort.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (75 sizes available from 155/70 R13 to 275/40 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,6 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 54 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 1,37/1,41 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The tires are manufactured at the Russian Continental plant near Kaluga. The Gislaved brand is owned by Continental - and the Nord * Frost 200 replicates the asymmetrical tread pattern of the first generation ContiIceContact tires, but with simpler studs and no thermochemical retention. However, they also work well - especially in the lateral direction.
In general, these are well-balanced tires for use in large cities and beyond.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (37 standard sizes are available from 155/70 R13 to 225/55 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,9 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 54 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 1,63/1,62 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The tires were produced at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant and the tread pattern suspiciously resembles the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires, which even became a reason for litigation. But the Cordiant company managed to justify itself - and to increase production volumes, including by expanding the range of dimensions. Decent tires for their money, but they do not like asphalt roads: they do not hold very well, and rolling is accompanied by a loud and unpleasant rumble of the tread. Tires are not for the city.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (42 standard sizes are available from 205/70 R15 to 275/50 R22) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 12,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 57 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 1,08/1,16 |
| Manufacturer country | Finland |
Nordman tires are Nokian Tires' second line, and the production uses molds from outdated Nokian tires. New for the Nordman 7 SUV season is the reincarnation of the Hakkapeliitta 7 SUV, produced from 2010 to 2017. Quite good grip on ice and snow, and on asphalt even better than the current "parent" model. Including in terms of acoustic comfort: there are fewer spikes.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (38 standard sizes are available from 175/65 R15 to 245/45 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 10,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 56 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 1,26/1,39 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
The model was introduced in 2012 and has not yet received a replacement. On ice, the tires work well in the longitudinal direction, but in turns they suddenly break into sliding. Everything is much better on the snow, including on virgin soil. But on the pavement, the aggressive pattern generates an obsessive low-frequency rumble already from 30 km / h.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (58 standard sizes are available from 175/65 R14 to 265/40 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,3 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,3 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 56 |
| Number of thorns | 104 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 1,05/1,09 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Michelin continues to bend the line to comply with European studding rules: no more than 50 studs per running meter of tread. And the spikes themselves are simple, round in cross section. This led to an unimportant hold on the ice. The picture is better on rolled snow, but getting out of the snow is a problem: the tread is to blame.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (23 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 245/45 R17) | |
| Speed index | Q (160 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 51 |
| Number of thorns | 100 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 0,87/1,06 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
BFGoodrich tires are Michelin's "second line", they are produced at the same plant in Davydovo near Moscow as Michelin X-Ice North 3 tires. But the tread is its own, original. It's a pity that there are also few pimples, they are round, overly recessed - and as a result, mediocre behavior on the ice.
The situation is better on snow, including virgin soil. And even better - on asphalt, although you need to remember that the permissible speed is 160 km / h, although studded competitors have 190.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (35 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 265/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,9 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 56 |
| Number of thorns | 130 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 0,85/0,94 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Formula is Pirelli's second line. In last year's tests on Lada Vesta, the tires took fifth place, but now the indicators are more modest. Especially on ice. Even after running in, the protrusion of the studs above the tread surface is less than a millimeter (last year we recorded 1.1 mm on new tires). On rolled snow, the results are better, although we do not recommend climbing into snowdrifts. On the asphalt they are excellent.
Not a bad budget tire option for urban use.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (122 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 285/45 R22) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 12,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 55 |
| Number of thorns | 125 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 1,18/1,37 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
For many, the Made in Japan brand is a quality mark. But something went wrong with Toyo winter tires. It seems that the studs are not simple - with cruciform inserts, and the studding is of high quality, but on ice the grip properties are moderate, as well as on snow. However, the car's response to driving is well balanced.
On asphalt, comfort and grip are far from being the best.
The joy is the low price, which is quite consistent with the quality of the tires.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (19 standard sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 265/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,5 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,3 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 59 |
| Number of thorns | 120 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 0,93/1,03 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Under the "Italian" name - tires produced in Nizhnekamsk using off-take technology. The design and production technology is the product of an engineering firm managed by one of the former top managers of Continental. However, the grip on ice and on snow is mediocre, and most of all upset that winter tires, "developed by European specialists specifically for Russian roads," were helpless in deep snow. They are also noisy and tough. Not an option - even given the low price.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (96 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 275/50 R22) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 12,1 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 53 |
| Number of thorns | 128 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 0,57/0,73 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
One could immediately assume that these tires will fail on ice. Instead of the prescribed 1.2 mm, the spikes protrude by an average of 0.57 mm - and do not work. And the buyer is counting on Japanese quality, even though the tires are produced in Lipetsk.
There are also complaints about the tread: on packed snow - the maximum braking distance, and on virgin soil - the worst traction ability. For Russian conditions, other tires are needed, and they already exist: this season, sales of the new Yokohama IG65 model with an increased number of "curly" studs begin. More details about new tires - in one of the next issues of Autoreview.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (38 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 235/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,7 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,4 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 61 |
| Number of thorns | 128 |
| Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm | 0,79/1,0 |
| Manufacturer country | South Korea |
Interestingly, duplicated in the name win - is it from the word "win" or from the word "winter"? For example, wintry ("cold", "unwelcoming") or winch ("winch") are better suited. What kind of winter or victory can we talk about when studded tires are inferior to most friction tires on ice, and on the Nexen handling track they are the slowest in the overall standings? The tread rubber is clearly not designed to work at low temperatures, as evidenced by its increased hardness.
Of the positive emotions, only a relatively quiet (for tires with spikes) rolling remains.
Click on the picture to open it in a higher resolution
Rating of non-studded winter tires 2017
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (61 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 295/40 R21) | |
| Speed index | R (170 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,4 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8,9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 53 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The SUV-indexed off-road tires have sidewalls reinforced with aramid fiber, which is reminiscent of the Aramid Sidewalls brand. So there should be no problems with impact resistance, in contrast to the "passenger" tires of the same name.
In severe frost, Nokian friction tires provide excellent grip on ice, behave well on snow, and small claims appear only on asphalt.
Excellent Winter tires for use both in the city and beyond.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (97 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 275/45 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,9 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 52 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
Leapfrog. The year before last, we liked the ContiVikingContact 6 tires on asphalt, but they did not work well on ice, last year the situation changed to the opposite, this year it is better again on asphalt ... The dimensions, of course, are different, but the reason must be sought in the composition of the rubber compound : The tread rubber on the ContiVikingContact 6 was noticeably softer last year.
We are now taking into account the latest version of these tires from the end of 2016. Not ideal on ice and snow (especially deep), but great on asphalt.
Good winter tires for urban use. And the most comfortable ones!
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (57 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 255/45 R19) | |
| Speed index | S (180 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,7 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 46 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
Since studs are illegal in Japan, local manufacturers focus on friction winter tires. So we will consider it natural that Bridgestone Blizzak VRX entered the top three. And they were prevented from climbing higher by insufficient cross-country ability and grip on wet asphalt.
Lightweight tires with soft, quiet rolling. But at the same time - an imbalance of "winter" grip properties in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and abrupt breakdowns in sliding, it seems, are provoked by the sidewalls that are soft for a heavy crossover. Indeed, in the Goodyear range of winter tires there is a model specifically for crossovers and SUVs - UltraGrip Ice SUV, but in the size 215/65 R16 these tires are not available. However, if the car is equipped with a stabilization system, then Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 tires are a good choice.
102 (850 kg)
The tread pattern is exactly the same as that of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires, but the materials are simpler. Another option for extending the life cycle of molds. And - considering the price - a very good option. Moreover, in some disciplines, the Nordman RS2 SUV tires are even preferable: the braking distance on ice is shorter!
So why pay more for Nokian? Apparently realizing that many consumers will want to save money, marketers limit the range of sizes of Nordman RS2 SUV tires to only 16 sizes, while Nokian Hakkapeliitta RS2 SUV tires have 61 of them.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (45 standard sizes are available from 175/65 R14 to 285/50 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,4 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8,7 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 50 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Quality tires for a reasonable price. On ice, they are almost as good as the leaders among tires without studs, and on snow they have even better grip in the longitudinal direction. Although on the track the handling is rather harsh and in deep snow they row mediocre.
The grip properties on asphalt are above average, there are no problems with comfort either, which means that these tires are relevant for large cities.
The Gislaved brand continues to lose its authenticity. So the "new" Gislaved Soft * Frost 200 is nothing more than the ContiVikingContact tires of the previous, third generation. Fortunately, these are balanced tires - safe, comfortable, not very expensive - and therefore we safely recommend them for urban use, although an accidental arrival in a snowdrift can postpone the planned trip.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (49 standard sizes are available from 155/70 R13 to 235/35 R19) | |
| Speed index | R (170 km / h) |
| Lifting capacity index | 102 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 12,1 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit | 54 |
| Manufacturer country | China |
The Marshal brand belongs to the Korean company Kumho Tire, but these tires copy the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires in terms of the tread pattern and even the rare R speed index - and some sellers play on this similarity. By the way, on snow and on asphalt friction tires Marshal and Nokian are close, but on ice the loss of the copy is already obvious. They are also some of the noisiest and toughest friction tires around.
Winter tires Nitto (brand owned by Toyo Tires) appeared in Russia recently. The Therma Spike managed to please us with grip on ice, but lost the studs on asphalt the most. And friction tires Nitto Winter SN2 immediately signed their helplessness on the ice and in the snow. And all the more surprising is the failure of these tires even on asphalt.
Something is wrong with these Nitto ...
Comfortable and soft friction tires do not annoy with the crunch and rumble of spikes on the asphalt, on which in winter it is sometimes necessary to drive more often than on ice or snow. And in order to choose the best among them in terms of characteristics, we tested tires of the dimension 205/55 R16, which fit almost all golf-class cars.
Friction tires are a complex product; not every manufacturer manages to balance traction on snow, ice and asphalt, which in addition can be dry and wet. No "nails" - all just due to the composition of the rubber compound and the tread pattern. Here one cannot do without advanced technologies and experience in the manufacture of complex molds for ZB-lamellas. Therefore, we decided not to take tires for less than four thousand rubles: they always slip on at least one of the aforementioned surfaces. We swam - we know.
The cheapest in our test (4130 rubles) is the Winter i * cept iZ2 model of the rapidly progressing Korean company Hankook. One and a half hundred more expensive - Japanese Nitto SN2, which has just appeared on our market. Next comes the "Finn" of Russian origin, Nordman RS2, which is very popular among our motorists, and close to four and a half thousand there is another purebred "Japanese" in steady demand - Touo Observe GSi-5.
The famous Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 and Blizzak Revo GZ from Bridgestone, famous for their strong, indestructible sidewall, cost about five thousand.
Pirelli Ice Zero FR (5245 rubles) are sold even more expensively. And of course, the leaders of our previous tests should have taken part in the tests - German quality Continental ContiVikingContact 6 tires, the price of which is close to six thousand, and expensive Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 tires (6435 rubles). It is not the first year that they have been “butting” with each other for leadership and will not allow other rivals to relax.
Spring again?
This time, for a snow-ice "battle", we gathered rivals in Sweden, at the Pirelli training ground. The ring was a small frozen lake near the northern town of Elvsbün and its banks, covered with a blanket of snow. We gathered there in a completely winter month - February. However, out of nowhere, the warm front that came from warmed up the air to a positive temperature and melted all the snow and ice in the area. And when the heat receded, the lake quickly returned to the state of a skating rink. On it, we began the tests, somewhat violating our traditional order of exercises due to force majeure.
During the tests, the air temperature dropped to -1 .. -15 ° C.
The tire carrier was Volkswagen golf The seventh generation, used by almost all tire manufacturers in internal testing, is a car with classic front-wheel drive handling and transparent behavior.
Battle on the Ice
The first track was ready for "battle" to assess handling on ice. Bends of different radii and a straight line, which allows you to accelerate to about 80 km / h, are quite enough to assess how flexible the Volkswagen Golf is on slippery surfaces, shod in the tested tires. The assessment is carried out by two experts, replacing each other. Together with the behavior of the machine, they evaluate how easy and reliable it is to operate it. Moreover, from the position of an ordinary driver who has no special training. Therefore, in addition to "professional" driving, they imitate the typical mistakes of beginners: when accelerating and braking, they act sharply in turns, like on asphalt.
To improve the accuracy of the estimates, we decided to use halves when assigning points - to dilute the results of competitors. Highest grade (nine
points) in the first discipline Nokian tires earned: clear reactions, understandable, predictable behavior even in sliding. No difficulties in driving, while fully understanding what is happening under your "feet". This test did not reveal weaklings: the minimum score was seven points for three participants, for the rest it was higher.
Driving track on the ice of a frozen lake. It's hard to believe, but just a couple of days ago there was “spring” here - the water surface was surrounded by those freed from snowthe coast.
Next exercise: We measure the acceleration and stopping distance on the ice plateau. We do not turn off the anti-skid system ASR and ABS. Start from a spot. The VBOX measuring complex records the time taken to reach a speed of 30 km / h, then the braking distance from 30 to 5 km / h. It's good that the sky is overcast. The bright sun melts the ice and the results begin to drift away. But even in cloudy weather, friction tires on open ice are less stable than spikes, so we repeat measurements with each set of tires 10-12 times. Moreover, every two test kits we change the Golf's shoes into base tires in order to assess how the coating condition has changed. After recalculating the results, taking into account the behavior of the car on the base tires, it turned out that on ice it accelerates fastest on Goodyear and Nokian tires. Nordman and Touo degrade the record by one tenth of a second. The longest acceleration is on Pirelli tires, the difference with the leader is almost 20%. 
The shortest braking distances are on Nokian and Touo tires (15.5 m), ten centimeters behind them are Goodyear and Hankook, and the trailing ones are Bridgestone and Pirelli (17.3 m).
We estimate the time of passing the ice circle - the less it is, the higher the lateral (lateral) grip. The driver tries to drive the circle as quickly as possible, making from 20 to 35 "revolutions" - it is not easy to find the edge of maximum grip on the friction tires on the ice. The scheme for changing wheels is the same as when measuring longitudinal grip: after every two test sets, change to the base one. After the exercise, we figured out how many circles our tester had wound, and were horrified - more than four hundred! Anyone who thinks tire testing is a romantic job is deeply mistaken. It's a hell of a job.
In this test, Continental beat everyone: the lap was completed in 15.9 seconds. Nokian, the closest contender, was three tenths behind. Bridgestone closes the list - it was not possible to show time less than 18 seconds on these tires.
Snow Battles Behind the Wheel
At the beginning of the second week, it snowed, and we got the opportunity to evaluate the "snow" characteristics. The first test is an assessment of controllability. We used not only a set of “flat” turns of different radii, including running ones, where the speedometer needle sometimes reached the “100” mark, but also an interesting hairpin on the hillside, the entrance of which falls on the ascent and the exit on the descent. In some corners, the snow was “rubbed off” to the icy base of the track due to the Golf's side slides. We christened it "the Russian road": snow interspersed with ice is a characteristic picture for our conditions.
Here we liked the Nokian and Touo tires the most. 
Impressions from them are similar: good reactions and information content, understandable and predictable behavior. The speed on the turn arc is limited by a soft skid, as if driving the car into a turn, which does not require steering correction or throttle release. After consulting, they decided not to put the nine (they threw off half a point) because of minor flaws in the steering - the required steering angles seemed a little more than we would like. The leaders in terms of the number of complaints were Bridgestone and Nitto. The Golf, shod in the Blizzak Revo GZ, significantly increases the steering angles, there is a skid on the arc, which requires compensation, and the grip in the slides decreases. On the Nitto SN2, the car behaves unstably, the turning arc is jerky, as if along the perimeter of a polyhedron, rather abruptly breaks into a skid and just as sharply recovers after sliding.
Course stability was assessed on a long rectangular plateau, accelerating to 90-100 km / h. We checked how clearly the car keeps a given direction and how it responds to soft maneuvering with small steering angles, imitating lane changes to overtake or avoid an obstacle.
Pirelli tires follow the driver's commands more clearly than others: good reactions, tight, informative “steering wheel”. Nitto tires upset: when driving in a straight line, you feel wide, incomprehensible due to the low information content of the steering wheel at small cornering angles "zero". The car prowls from side to side, the driver has a feeling of uncertainty. Delays in reactions and lagging steering of the rear axle were noted, requiring additional correction.
On the same site, the controllability was assessed during extreme maneuvering - during rearrangement, that is, an abrupt change of lane, and due to an insufficiently rigid track, measurements of the maximum speed were dispensed with. The clearest behavior of the car is provided by Nokian tires: when the maximum speed is reached, a soft steering of the rear axle occurs, smoothly turning into a skid that does not require compensation. The Nitto tires earned the lowest rating: delays in the first reactions and increased steering angles are complemented by a sharp skid when leveling the car in the second corridor, and with a shooting effect.
we finish the "snow" tests by checking the passability. Experts estimate in deep snow (the thickness of the snow cover is slightly more than the ground clearance) the ability of the tires to "carry" the car in motion, get under way, turn, "move back". Particular attention is paid to how slip affects traction. If the tires are ready to perform all the maneuvers only in tension (the traction control system ASR is disabled), and the traction drops when slipping, then the rating is reduced. If at the same time the wheels are buried, we reduce it further.
In the snowdrifts best experience produced Nokian tires: confident forward and backward movement with any degree of slippage, ease of maneuvering. The laggards are Touo. On these tires, you can get under way and move only vnatyag, with the slightest slip, the traction disappears, and the tires are buried. The car maneuvers and backs up uncertainly and reluctantly.
We go on instruments
It remains to measure the longitudinal grip on the snow. Fortunately, the snow plateau for measurements was well trampled so that the snow would not move off the ice.
The work is practically the same as on the ice straight - acceleration and deceleration, but with minor adjustments. Since the traction coefficient is higher on snow than on ice, the speed of the end of acceleration and the beginning of braking is increased here to 40 km / h. Especially for creative drivers, we measure acceleration in two modes - standard, with traction control, and "creative", by turning it off. We brake, of course, with ABS, we measure the stopping distance from 40 to 5 km / h. Do not forget about measurements on the base tires every three sets of test subjects.
The best acceleration under the supervision of the electronics of the Golf is provided by Continental: 6.1 seconds. Two tenths are behind Bridgestone, Goodyear and Nokian. The weakest in overclocking are Nitto and Touo.
The acceleration time on the snow was measured in two modes: with the traction control system on and off. Experienced experiencel maintains the optimum degree of slip more precisely than electronics.
With traction control disabled, the car accelerates faster. For example, on Continental tires - in 5.6 seconds, and they again lead. The closest rivals are Goodyear, Hankook, Nokian, which are only one "ten" behind. And Bridgestone ended up in the back, spending 6.2 seconds on acceleration - the difference with the leader is almost 11%. It is noteworthy that on these tires, acceleration with the electronic limiter disabled improved by only one tenth of a second, which means that the grip on the snow practically does not depend on the degree of slipping. While the rest of the test participants, without electronic intervention, accelerate faster by 0.5-1.0 seconds (by 8-14%).
The results of the braking performance tests on snow were pleasantly surprised. There are, of course, leaders in this exercise - these are Goodyear, Nokian and Pirelli with the same result of 14.7 meters. But all the rest are no more than half a meter behind - there were no weaklings in this discipline!
Finals on home asphalt
Tests on asphalt according to the already worked out scheme were carried out in May in Togliatti, at the AVTOVAZ test site - a territory neutral for tire workers.
We start by assessing the rolling resistance. One full circle (10 kilometers) along the speed ring at a speed of 120-130 km / h is enough for the temperature of the tires and oil in the gearbox to stabilize. During this time, the expert manages to assess the directional stability of the car on a straight line, as well as its reactions and behavior during soft changes from one lane to another.
The most important thing during measurements is to move back and forth in the same lane, without maneuvering, with the steering wheel locked in the "straight" position, in order to exclude the possibility of lateral forces that could negatively affect the results. By the way, "there" and "back" is one measurement, not two. In this way, measurement errors due to deviations in the horizontal road surface and wind direction are eliminated. Three or four measurements, and the result is ready. However, it is not yet final: after two or three sets of tested tires, you have to repeat the "oven" - measurements on the basic set, taking into account which the final results are recalculated.
At a speed of 90 km / h (suburban limit) the troika Continental, Nokian and Nordman are in the lead. The Golf is most reluctant to roll on Bridgestone, Goodyear and Pirelli tires. Although the difference between them and the "green" leaders is small - 0.3 l / 100 km. At the "city" speed (60 km / h), the "green" troika retained its positions, but Hankook got into the company. Bridgestone tires have the worst performance in this driving mode: 0.4 l / 100 km more than the leaders.
The highest marks for directional stability were given to Hankook and Pirelli. The reactions of a Golf shod in these tires are similar to those seen on summer tires. Bridgestone and Touo deserve the least compliments. The Golf on the "bridge" has a wide "zero" and insufficient information content of the steering wheel; on tires Touo is also indistinct, wide "zero" and also rubber, that is, delayed, reactions to thrusters. When trying to correct the course, the car begins to yaw from side to side.
Earlier impressions of the noise and smoothness of the ride remain to be clarified by the additional passage on service roads with traditional irregularities - pits, potholes, cracks and cracks. The results were somewhat surprising. The quietest of all are Bridgestone tires, although they are also the toughest: the Golf itches and shakes on small and medium bumps, as if pumped up to three atmospheres.
Goodyear tires are unexpectedly the loudest and most booming, while the tires of this brand are usually quiet. And the experts recognized the tires Touo as the softest.
Final exercises - evaluation of braking properties on dry asphalt and wet. We brake in the corridor clamped by the cones so that the tires roll along the same "cleaned-up" trajectory before measuring - track to track. Cool the brakes after each braking. The speed of the beginning of braking is lower than in the summer tests - this way we will protect the soft protector of the friction clutches from destruction.
On wet asphalt we brake from 60 km / h, and on dry - from 80 km / h.
On average, on one set, we brake six times in each case. In these exercises, the "base tire" does not need to be repeated, since a change in the temperature of the tread by several degrees during measurements of the braking properties does not affect the grip in any way.
properties - tested by many years of experience.
The shortest braking distance on dry asphalt is provided by Bridgestone (28.6 m). Then, in the interval of 29.0-29.2 m, five tires follow with a difference of less than one percent. And only two tires "left" for thirty meters - these are Nitto and Touo with results 7% worse than the leader's.
On wet pavement, the spread is greater: here Continental is in the lead with a result of 17.4 meters, and Nitto and Touo together show the last result - 21.6 meters, which is a quarter more than the leader's.
Final parade
As he writes in 2017, the first place with a decent margin from the rest is taken by the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 model, which scored 939 points. These are excellent clutches for any winter road - everyone will love it. They are especially good on ice, and will also delight with handling, cross-country ability and economy. There is only one drawback - the high price.
Continental ContiVikingContact 6 occupies the second line of our rating with 912 points. A decent choice for drivers of all skill levels - from advanced to beginner. Pleased with excellent lateral grip on ice, "grip" on the snow, braking on wet asphalt and economy. When checking the cross-country ability and directional stability on the asphalt, they gave a little slack.
The third step of our podium went to the Hankook Winter i * cept iZ2 tires with very smooth properties: 909 points - an excellent result. And these are the cheapest tires in the test! The only caveat is tough.
The Excellent Tire category includes the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 and Nordman RS2 models, each scoring 907 points and tied for fourth and fifth positions. Both are equally strong, so we recommend them without restrictions. Differ in nuances
that only advanced drivers will catch. Goodyear has several extremes: very good in longitudinal grip on snow and ice, but disappointing in comfort and economy. Nordman is close to Hankuk in character - just as well balanced in all properties.
The sixth and seventh lines are occupied by Pirelli Ice Zero FR and Toyo Observe GSi-5, which received no 888 points. In our grading, these are very good tires, as their final results fall in the forks from 870 to 899 points. Each has small weaknesses. Pirelli does not favor ice (weak longitudinal grip), preferring snow and asphalt. Touo, on the other hand, demonstrates good longitudinal grip on ice surfaces and handling on snow, but weak in deep snow, as well as on asphalt - both in grip and directional stability.
Another pair - Bridgestone and Nitto - took the eighth and ninth steps. In the test they
scored 860 points each, confirming the right to be called good tires(This title corresponds to the range from 840 to 869 total points). The level is the same, both are purebred "Japanese", but their characters are different: Nitto clings more confidently to the ice, Bridgestone - to the asphalt.
And on the snow - parity. According to the results of the expert assessment, there is no fundamental difference between them. Perhaps in comfort. Bridgestone is the quietest, but also the toughest.
Now let's correlate the results with prices. The undisputed leader in this coordinate system is Hankook: third place overall at the lowest price. In second position is Nordman, followed by Nitto and Touo. Famous products in this list have taken a modest position. And two leaders close it. So choose - wisely, but also taking into account the thickness of the wallet.
8th and 9th place (840 points): Nitto SN2
Pros: Good cross-country ability in deep snow. v Satisfactory handling on ice. Moderate noise level Minuses: Poor braking performance on asphalt and acceleration on snow. Difficult handling during extreme maneuvering on snow. Small remarks about handling on the Russian road ”and directional stability. Low level of ride comfort.
8th and 9th place (840 points): Bridgestone Blizzak Revo GZ
Pros: Best braking on dry asphalt. v Satisfactory handling on ice and directional stability on snow. The quietest.
Minuses: Poor grip on ice and snow. Mediocre cross-country ability. Fuzzy course following on asphalt. Small claims to handling on the "Russian road" and during extreme maneuvering in the snow. The worst efficiency and smooth running.
7th and 6th place (888 points): Toyo Observe GSi-5
Pros: Outstanding longitudinal grip on ice. Reliable handling on ice and "Russian road". Better ride quality. Low noise level.
Minuses: Worst braking and difficult directional stability w on asphalt. Limited cross-country ability in deep snow.
7th and 6th place (888 points): Pirelli Ice Zero FR
Pros: Excellent braking properties on v snow. Excellent directional stability. Comprehensible handling for extreme snow maneuvers
Minuses: Poor longitudinal ice grip. w Low fuel efficiency at 90 km / h. Ride Notes
5th and 4th place (907 points): Nordman RS2
Pros: Allows you to confidently accelerate and slow down on ice. High efficiency, stable handling on ice and directional stability on asphalt.
Minuses: Minor remarks on handling w on the "Russian road" and during extreme maneuvering on snow, on cross-country ability, as well as directional stability on snow. Harsh and noisy.
5th and 4th place (907 points): Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 
Pros: Outstanding longitudinal grip on ice and snow. Clear handling on ice and "Russian road".
Minuses: Low cross-country ability. Small comments on directional stability and handling during extreme maneuvering on snow. High fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km / h. Noisy and tough.
3rd place (909 points): Hankook Winter i * cept iZ2
Pros: Excellent braking properties on ice. v Reliable manageability. Good directional stability. Attractive price. High efficiency.
Minuses: Ride notes. w Light remarks about patency. Increased noise level in the cabin.
2nd place (912 points): Continental ContiVikingContact 6
Pros: Best lateral grip on ice, acceleration on snow and braking on wet pavement. Stable handling on ice and directional stability on snow. Low fuel consumption.
Minuses: Mediocre cross-country ability. Minor claims to handling on the "Russian road" and during extreme maneuvering on snow, as well as to directional stability on asphalt and comfort.
1st place (912 points): Continental ContiVikingContact 6 
Pros: Excellent grip on ice and snow. Excellent handling. Strict adherence to the course. Excellent cross-country ability in deep snow. High efficiency.
Minuses: Minor notes on ride. Increased noise level. High price.
We were surprised by the test results among top, medium and budget tires. In each of these groups, the difference between competitors in the final results did not exceed two percent. It seems that the companies were spying on each other and issued a "matched" product.
In the "Top" category, ahead of all the model "Nokian-Hakkapelita R2", developed in Finland and made in Russia (920 points). Leading grip on ice and snow, slightly diluted with medium braking on asphalt, shows that this is an excellent winter tire. Understandable handling, enviable cross-country ability and clear course following on a snowy road. But our meticulous experts commented on the ride comfort of the Nokian tires and their ability to keep course on asphalt. You can buy Hakkapelita R2 for 5830 rubles.
The second position was taken by the novelty of the Continental firm - "ContiVikingContact" of the sixth generation (914 points). The difference with "Nokian" is minimal, and the balance is shifted towards snowy roads: directional stability on the winter road is ideal. The price to pay for this is mediocre cross-country ability and not the clearest course on asphalt. The latter is explained by a very soft tread compound: 47 Shore units is a kind of record. Braking on dry asphalt is slightly better than that of the "Russian Finn". Price - 5700 rubles.
162–163
The far from new Michelin X-Ice 3 scored 906 points, which allowed him to stay on the podium. Smooth tire in all characteristics: expert assessments do not fall below 7 points. At a price of 5190 rubles, Michelin X-Ice 3 looks more attractive than the two leaders in terms of price-quality ratio (5.73).
The top four tires with 905 points are closed by the novelty of Goodyear - the Ultra Grip Ice 2 model. The emphasis of the main characteristics is shifted to braking properties: it is the leader in the tests on snow and on asphalt. Tires "Ultra Grip Ice 2" are good at acceleration, do not fail in lateral grip, but they gave slack in cross-country ability and sagged in the level of comfort: the experts did not like the loud sound of road irregularities and strong vibrations that make the upholstery "talk". One more weakness- a thin sidewall that can be easily damaged by rubbing against the curb. For "Ice 2" they ask for 5100 rubles.
This is followed by a group of middle peasants: the new Bridgestone-Blizzak VRX tire (874 points) settled in the fifth position. It is inferior to top tires in grip on ice and snow, but good braking on dry asphalt. On the one hand, there is a clear course on the asphalt and clear handling on a winter road, on the other, increased fuel consumption and low comfort levels. Picky experts noted noticeable vibrations in the passenger compartment and on the controls, increased rolling noise and booming tire slaps over bumps. Price - 4700 rubles apiece.
The new Nordman-RS is on the sixth line, earning 871 points. (Surely "Nokian" is preparing a replacement on its "second line". It is high time to roll out the updated frictional "Nordman".) He has the protector of his outdated "Hakkapelity R", nevertheless it is the most balanced of the good guys: all indicators are average and not a single failure ... There are remarks about directional stability on asphalt: the steering information content is low, the rear axle walks slightly with a soft lane change. They sell at 4020 rubles apiece, and the price-quality ratio is 4.62.
The seventh place is taken by the Pirelli-Ice Control tire with 869 points. By all characteristics, it is slightly stronger than the previous two middle peasants, but rather weak in the "human factor": on any road it scours from side to side, forcing the driver to constantly adjust the course (and the steering wheel is empty and uninformative). Does not like drifts, makes noise, buzzes and shakes on any road. Sold for 4500 rubles - a little expensive.
The Japanese winter studless tire Toyo-Observ GSi-5 is in eighth place with 867 points. The difference with Bridgestone is only 7 points (less than 1%). The grip properties of these tires on snow and on ice are comparable, but in braking on dry asphalt "Toyo" loses a couple of meters to a fellow countryman. Expert assessments of all parameters are satisfactory, except for the smoothness of the ride: due to itching from the road, transmitted to the body and seats, the rating was reduced to 6 points. Overall, this is a fairly well balanced tire. And the price is not exorbitant - 3990 rubles.
In the budget segment, Cordiant-Winter Drive was ahead - 846 points. He is rather weak on ice and snow, and on asphalt - among the laggards. Weak directional stability and low level comfort can only be opposed by good cross-country ability and satisfactory handling. But the price warms the soul: only 3370 rubles apiece.
The South Korean tire "Kumho Ai-Zen KW31" (831 points) closes the top ten. Weakest of all on snow and ice, and the handling is awful. But on asphalt, these tires excelled: they demonstrated good braking properties and the ability to keep a course clearly. The price does not bite - 3670 rubles apiece.
WARM-COLD
A little about the test conditions. We test tires at the AVTOVAZ test site - in the Volga region, on the border of the Samara and Ulyanovsk regions, near the village of Sosnovka. Winter trials are from late January to early May.
The most severe frost (-23 ... -27 ºС) fell on the exercise "rearrangement". Measurements on "white", snowy roads were carried out at -16 ... -21 ºС, and on "black", that is, asphalt, rolling resistance and braking on dry and wet roads were assessed at a temperature of +8 ... + 10 ºС.
DO YOU NEED RUNNING IN?
Definitely yes! First, it is necessary to clean the bulk protector from the lubricant that has come off the mold. Second, peel off the first thin layer of rubber to get to the compound that defines the characteristics of the tire. The best option- active driving on asphalt. The average break-in mileage is at least 300 km, but some Japanese non-studded winter tires acquire maximum grip on ice after 1,000 km.
It is better to put new "Scandinavians" on the car in autumn, when the average daily temperature drops to + 5 ... + 10 ºС, and there is no snow and ice on the roads. Already used tires after summer storage should be slightly stretched - ride 70-100 km on asphalt before going on the ice.
We would like to express our gratitude to the tire manufacturing companies that provided their products for the test, as well as to the employees of the AVTOVAZ test site and Volgashintorg Togliatti for technical support. In tire testing Sergey Mishin was assisted by Anton ANANIEV, Vadim KORABLEV, Yuri KUROCHKIN, Evgeny LARIN, Anton MISHIN, Andrey OBRAZUMOV, Valery PAVLOV and Dmitry TESTOV.
