Winter studded tire. The main features declared by the manufacturer:

• provide confident driving when maneuvering on icy surfaces,
• improve directional stability when driving in a rut,
• provide confident grip during acceleration and braking both on ice and on dry surfaces,
• non-directional asymmetrical design helps the tread to clear moisture and slush.

Special development for Russian winter conditions.

Test results 195/65 R15 "Behind the wheel" 2018

821 points, .
Number of spikes: 119.
Tire weight: 8.95 kg.
The protrusion of the spikes after the test: 1.4 ... 1.7 mm.

Satisfactory handling.
+ Good permeability.
+ Acceptable ride.

These tires are economical, provide average level comfort ... and the last place on the pavement.

Expert review "Autoreview" 2016: 185/65 R15

8.1 points, .
Number of spikes: 115.
Tire weight: 8.5 kg.
Spike protrusion: 1.4 mm.
Tread depth: 9 mm.

Pros:
• longitudinal grip on ice,
• ease of handling in the snow.

Disadvantages:
• traction on asphalt
• low hydroplaning resistance,
• loss of spikes.

The Nitto brand is owned by the Japanese company Toyo Tires. And this is not the second, but rather a parallel line.

Nitto tires are distinguished by a catchy, extraordinary design. Here it is in the stack winter tires the eye immediately clings to them - for the asymmetric pattern, for the diamond-shaped studding scheme.

And such a scheme works: according to the coupling property on Ice Nitto in the top three! But on the handling track, these tires endow the car with a tendency to skid: in sharp turns good, but there are breakdowns on the running arcs rear axle out of place.

On the snow, the performance is average, but on the asphalt, the grip properties leave much to be desired, just like the resistance to aquafilling. But even worse, by the end of the tests on one of the tires, we missed ten spikes. Yes, and in the rest, one or two empty holes.

Good tires for winter surfaces, but aggressive driving on asphalt is contraindicated for them.

The most affordable is Cordiant Snow Cross. Completely domestic (both development and manufacture) tire, upgraded last year. A little more expensive is another model of last season -.

Four more tires that can be called inexpensive by today's standards are Nitto Therma Spike (the second brand of the Japanese company Toyo), the South Korean Kumho WinterCraft Ice, which is in demand by Formula Ice (developed by Pirelli, and produced in Russia) and the Malaysian "Japanese" popular on the market. Assembly” Toyo Observe G3‑Ice.

Of the representatives of the second echelon - new models with German and Finnish ancestry, but produced in Russia: Gislaved Nord Frost 200 with a protector copied from the first generation ContiIceContact, and Nordman 7 with a "face" Hakkapeliitta tires 7.

And finally, the leaders of our past: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic and Continental IceContact 2. As well as a hot new product from Nokian - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 model.

Tires in the north

We have already carried out tests outside of Russia and consider this one very positive. This time we decided to go to the Pirelli winter range. It is located in the northern part of Sweden, in the province of Norrbotten, near the town of Elvsbyn. Ice tracks are laid on the frozen lake Lilkorstresk (Small Cross Swamp), and snow tracks are along its banks.

In early February, pre-run tires were delivered there, and at the end of the month we carried out all the snow and ice tests. The temperature during the tests ranged from -1 to -15 ºС, but at first the Swedish north made me very nervous. On the first day of our work, a warm atmospheric front came to the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia - and the air temperature rose to plus seven degrees! Snow and ice were melting before our eyes. The locals said that they never remember such warmth in February in their entire lives. Only on the third day, in the evening, it froze, the melted lake ice got stronger again and a day later it already held the car. Let's start testing on ice!

We saddle the new one hatchback Kia Rio and refine our own "toolkit". This time, in all the exercises, the experts give an assessment not in whole points, but in increments of half a point - for greater correctness of the results.

On thin ice

First - an assessment of the longitudinal coupling properties. Using the VBOX device, we fix the acceleration time from standstill to 30 km/h and immediately after that we brake, determining the value from 30 to 5 km/h. The length of the "track" allows you to make four measurements in one direction. Then four more back - and we calculate the average value. We roll the base tire every three test ones; at the end of the measurements, we recalculate all the results, taking into account how the results of the “stove” have changed.

The best acceleration, 6.5 seconds, Rio showed on Continental tires, the second result - on Nokian: 6.8 seconds. No one doubted that tires with 185-186 spikes would be ahead. However, they are closely followed by Cordiant, Goodyear and Nordman, who each have 110 studs, this trio shows a result of 6.9 seconds. The longest acceleration - at Kumho: 9.7 seconds.

In braking, the Nokian outperforms the Continental just a little - 16.4 meters against sixteen and a half, and the third result, 16.7 meters, shows Goodyear. Closing again was Kumho: 23.7 meters.

Pit at zero

We evaluate the controllability on the track of a closed configuration. This is a "path" about a kilometer long with turns of different radii and a long straight. And most importantly, the ice here is very slippery, polished by the wind. We evaluate together, on each set of tires we drive three laps each, then change.

Heck! Incredibly slippery! To switch places, I had to literally crawl from one side to the other, without taking my hands off the car.

Nokian tires deserved the highest score in this exercise: clear responses and good information content “on the steering wheel” are complemented by a soft, predictable start of the car’s slips and stable grip, regardless of the degree of slippage.

Rio behaved a little worse, shod in Nitto. In the first case, I liked the good balance of longitudinal and lateral grip, the clear moment of transition to sliding. The rating was slightly lowered due to slight delays in reactions. On the Nitto, the car conquered with good handling even in slips and with a tight, “understandable” steering at large turning angles. However, there were small complaints about the information content of the steering wheel at small angles - in the initial phase of the turn. The tire manufacturers refer to this effect as hole in zero.

The lowest scores were given by Gislaved, Goodyear and Formula. On these tires, the driver is forced to increase the steering angles, there are delays in reactions. In addition, Rio on Gislaved tires slides for a long time in a turn, and then the grip is sharply restored, which provokes a whiplash effect - a sharp skid in the opposite direction.

Goodyear did not like the imbalance of longitudinal and transverse grip: the car holds the turning arc much worse than it accelerates and slows down. On Formula - low information content "on the steering wheel" in turns, which provokes its twisting and subsequent skidding.

The ice circle is the most unpleasant exercise for the driver. It is necessary to find the maximum speed on the verge of slipping, show the best time (it is registered by VBOX) and confirm it. In this case, you have to go in one direction, counterclockwise. With a good grip, a decent lateral force rolls the body and head - you constantly strain all the muscles. You have to constantly look from the "road" to the instruments and back. Laps after fifty begins to feel dizzy.

Continental and Nokian turned out to be faster than the rest on the circle - 19.9 seconds per full turn. Only one tenth (20.0 s) Cordiant lagged behind them. The slowest tires - Kumho: the best achievement - 22.5 seconds.

How many laps did you have to do on each set to achieve the best results and repeat them? Ten to fifteen! The only tires that required more attention and skill were Goodyear: the car shod in them strove all the time to break into a skid, and had to cut 19 laps. And in total, taking into account the repeated races on the base tires, our Rio had to wind up more than two hundred revolutions!

Let's move on to snow

Snow fell exactly the next day after the completion of all ice tests. A handling test track is easier to prepare than a longitudinal grip test plateau. Therefore, we start with more creative and interesting work.

In one turn, the track lies on a hillside, therefore it has short, but rather steep ascents and descents. This is a "feature" of local tracks for assessing handling - most tire manufacturers use mostly flat tracks. Climbing and descending load and unload the suspension by changing the vertical forces acting on the wheels. It is especially interesting when the wheel is unloaded in a corner: the downforce decreases, the tire starts to slip.

Fresh snow fell on the cold ice - and shifted as the car slid through the corners. The result was a mixed coating: snow in some places, ice in some places - real!

Here, in terms of handling, I liked Nokian tires more than others: very soft, but confident cat habits, predictable behavior of the car. Rio on these tires does not require the driver - he just turns. The maximum speed is limited by a soft skid that helps to register a turn, requiring almost no adjustment.

Experts presented the greatest claims to the next three participants. it strains with an unexpected skid with a sharp, unpredictable stall, a long slip and the same sharp clutch recovery, which provokes a “shooting off” skid in the opposite direction. On Gislaved tires, the steering wheel becomes unpleasantly empty and uninformative - you have to turn it at excessively large angles, which leads to an unexpected sharp breakdown into a skid and deep slips. Kumho tires were not liked due to noticeable delays in reactions, significant steering angles, long slips and deep skidding in an arc, requiring immediate adjustment from the driver.

The “rearrangement” exercise was only partially performed due to excessively soft snow - they were only able to evaluate the behavior of the car during extreme maneuvering, and from the definition top speed successful execution of the maneuver refused.

Here, as well as on the handling track, Nokian tires earned the highest score thanks to the most precise reactions, soft and predictable behavior and easy self-healing skidding at top speed. I liked Dunlop least of all: on these tires, the Rio shows not only noticeable delays in reactions, but also an unstable, wide steering balance: from significant drift of the front axle on the first jerk of the steering wheel to skidding of the rear wheels when trying to stabilize the car on the lane change lane.

And here is a well-trodden snow straight line - you can start measuring the acceleration and braking times. As in similar ice exercises, we combine acceleration with deceleration, repeating the exercises eight to ten times. Moreover, the acceleration time from 0 to 40 km/h on snow was evaluated twice - with and without the TCS traction control system turned on. Braking from 40 to 5 km/h - only with ABS.

So, overclocking in normal mode, when TCS prevents tire slip. The best results are on Continental, Goodyear and Nokian tires. On them, Rio is gaining 40 km / h in exactly six seconds. The worst performance is from Kumho. As on ice, they accelerate slowly, losing more than 11% to the leaders.

Turn off the electronic "collar" and repeat the measurements. It turns out faster! Goodyear holds the leading position: 40 km / h from a standstill is submitted in 5.2 seconds. Acceleration lasts only one tenth longer on Continental and Nokian tires. Kumho tires also show the most modest result in this mode.

Braking wins the leading pair - Continental and Nokian, who showed the same result: 14.8 meters. The last ones this time are the relatives of Nitto and Toyo.

Final exercises - assessment of directional stability on a snowy track and patency in deep snow. At high speed, it follows the set course better than others and rebuilds most clearly, Rio, shod in Nokian. Additionally, we note the high information content of the steering: the driver drives the car in a straight line intuitively, without concentrating.

The worst scores - have four participants. On Cordiant and Gislaved tires, when changing lanes, the Rio has an unpleasant rear axle steer, turning into a skid. Trying to correct course on Dunlop and Kumho tires is fraught with a skid that requires immediate action even with mild lane changes.

Goodyear tires are more confident than others in rowing - Rio is ready to conquer any snowdrift on them. But on Kumho and Toyo tires, you can only drive well. It is extremely difficult to start in the snow: the slightest slip - and the wheels slip, digging deeper and deeper.

What's with the spikes?

We were pleasantly surprised. On all tires, after running in, the spikes protruded above the tread within reasonable limits. The maximum, by 1.41 mm, is for Cordiant, the minimum, less than 0.9 mm, is for Formula, Gislaved and Nokian tires. But Nokian has 185 studs on each tire, while Formula and Gislaved have only 110. And such a number with such a small performance is clearly not enough to ensure good grip on ice.

Recall that the regulated spike protrusion on new tires is no more than 1.2 mm. We know from experience that after running in, this value can increase to 1.3–1.4 mm.

It is gratifying that tire manufacturers have stopped abusing the increased protrusion of the “studs”. After all, strongly protruding spikes “saw” the asphalt, on which deep ruts appear. And for the first time in our tests, not a single tire lost a single stud, confirming the postulate that the reliability of holding studs in rubber is inversely proportional to their protrusion. You stick out less - you sit tighter!

On asphalt

In Togliatti, at the AvtoVAZ test site, we again had to wait for the weather. Dry roads and calm conditions are the conditions for obtaining reliable results on rolling resistance. The asphalt part of the tests could only be completed in the first half of May. I had to work at night to keep within the permissible temperature for winter tires +5…+7 ºC.

The procedure for evaluating the economy is the same as in the case of . We start by warming them up, making a full circle around the high-speed ring (10 km) at a speed of 110–120 km/h. Along the way, we evaluate how much the car deviates from the set course under the influence of external forces (crosswind, slope), and also smoothly maneuver, simulating a soft detour of an obstacle or changing lanes for overtaking. At the same time, the tester carefully monitors the reactions and behavior of the car, and also evaluates how convenient and understandable (read: safe) it is to drive. The wider the "zero" and the greater the steering angles to which the car does not respond, and the lower the information content (the rate of increase in steering effort with an increase in the angle of rotation) - the worse the score.

Experts gave Formula Ice tires the highest mark for directional stability: the clarity of course keeping and the reactions of a car shod in them can be the envy of some summer tires! The complete opposite is Dunlop tires. The main disadvantages in the behavior of the car on these tires: a wide "zero", an empty steering wheel, delays in reactions when adjusting the course.

After a circle around the ring on a two-kilometer straight line, we estimate the amount of run-out from the maximum permitted "urban" and "suburban" speeds. We carry out measurements in opposite directions, repeat from three to five times, depending on the results obtained. At the same time, the driver accumulates impressions of noise and smoothness at different speeds. Nokian tires turned out to be the greenest, that is, economical.

Before changing tires to refine its comfort rating, Rio makes a circle, moving along service roads with cracks and crevices. We found Gislaved, Toyo and Nitto tires to be the quietest, while Continental and Nokian tires were the softest.

The next exercise is to measure the braking distance on dry and wet surfaces. The initial braking speeds for winter tires are reduced by 20 km/h compared to summer tires - up to 80 km/h on dry roads and up to 60 km/h on wet roads. Continental tires looked better than others when braking on wet pavement, Nokian tires on dry pavement. Nitto had the weakest results, regardless of the condition of the pavement, and on dry pavement Nitto was led by Cordiant.

Summarizing

The winner of the test, gaining the highest number (936) points, were new tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9. Second place with a total of 914 points Continental Ice Contact 2. We classify both tires as excellent tires and recommend them to riders of all levels.

On the third step of our pedestal - Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, which earned a total of 898 points, just two points short of the Excellent Tire title. His element is uncleaned winter roads and even virgin snow.

On the fourth position with 888 points is located nordman seventh generation. Very good tires for the Russian winter, they will give confidence in any conditions.

All listed tires are located in our ranking table in accordance with the price ranking. Either they have a price that is adequate to the characteristics and properties, which, in fact, is one and the same. And starting from the fifth place, small distortions begin in one direction or another.

For example, Cordiant Snow Cross earned 871 points, which allowed him to gain a foothold in the category "very good tires" and take fifth place in the final test result. They will not save on any road, unless they require a long distance on dry pavement due to modest traction, and also unhurried movement on a snowy road. You can buy them for 2500 rubles apiece.

Tires with 852 points (sixth place) open the good tire category. A decent product with average performance in almost all disciplines. Not without weaknesses, among which are modest lateral grip on ice, poor directional stability on snowy roads and asphalt, and a low level of comfort. But it is sold for the same money as the Cordiant Snow Cross: the price is 2550 rubles.

Even more expensive tires are located on the seventh and eighth steps - Toyo Observe G3‑Ice And Nitto Therma Spike, practically brothers both “by blood” and by properties. They scored 847 points each and settled in the "good tires" category. Liked the low noise level. The Toyo brand is well known in our market, and Nitto has appeared quite recently, therefore it is a little cheaper.

The ninth and tenth places are shared by and , who earned 841 points each. These tires still fall into the good category. Gislaved, more even in terms of objective indicators, “failed” in handling and directional stability on snow. The Formula has somewhat unbalanced characteristics: it is weak in longitudinal grip on ice, but behaves more confidently on asphalt, close to the best results in dry braking and provides a clear course keeping. But the difference in prices is tangible: Formula is three hundred rubles cheaper, so a set of four pieces will save more than a thousand. However, there is one technical nuance that unites both tires: the protrusion of the studs is insufficient - less than a millimeter after testing. We believe that a failure occurred during the installation of the spikes.

Seven or eight years ago, together with Continental, we investigated and obtained the following pattern: one tenth of their performance is equivalent to three percent of the braking distance on ice. Increasing the protrusion of the "studs" to the legally allowed 1.2 mm on the new tires will allow Gislaved and Formula to improve the longitudinal grip by about 10% - that's where the hidden reserves are hiding!

On the eleventh line - tires Kumho WinterCraft Ice who scored 803 points. Weak for modern spikes, but natural, since in most exercises these tires show modest results. Considering not the lowest price, it is hardly possible to call them a bargain.

Count your money

In our chart, the tested tires are ranked from left to right in ascending price, with the height of the bars corresponding to the number of points scored. The small bars at the bottom of the chart show the ratio of quality and price and show how many points the tire scores for every thousand rubles paid for it.

If, however, you put the price at the forefront and scrupulously calculate each ruble, pay attention to another group of columns: the more points a tire earns for every thousand rubles of the price, the more profitable the purchase! The rating is headed Cordiant tires Snow Cross, and the test leader Hakkapeliitta 9 is in last place - expensive tires! Kumho WinterCraft Ice tires are in the middle, which is why many people buy them.

By comparing all the results of our test and prices, you will be able to make the right choice. Wish you a good road!

Test results

	11th place	9th–10th place	9th–10th place	7th–8th place
brand, model
Country of manufacture	Korea	Russia	Russia	Malaysia
Load and speed index
	9,1–10,0	9,2–9,4	9,1–9,7	8,5–8,9
	61–62		55–56	60–61
Number of spikes, pcs.
	1,35	0,93	0,93	1,43
Tire weight, kg
	2800	3140	2850	2900
Quality/price*	0,29	0,27	0,30	0,29
The amount of points awarded	803	841	841	847
pros	Satisfactory grip on asphalt. Stable handling on the "Russian road"	Satisfactory handling during extreme maneuvering and cross-country ability. Least noisy	Better directional stability and good braking on asphalt. Clear handling during extreme maneuvering on snow	Satisfactory handling and directional stability. Low internal noise level
Minuses	Worst traction on ice. The weakest acceleration on snow. Difficult handling during extreme maneuvering on snow and directional stability. Notes on handling on ice. Limited permeability. Low level of comfort	Low economy at high speed. Difficult handling on ice and directional stability. Notes on handling on the "Russian road"	Weak longitudinal grip and difficult handling on ice. Notes on directional stability on snow. Noisy. Low level of ride	The weakest braking properties on snow. High fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km/h. Average permeability. Rigid

* Obtained by dividing the total points by the retail price. The higher the score, the better the purchase.

	7th–8th place	6th place	5th place	4th place
brand, model
Country of manufacture	Malaysia	Thailand	Russia	Russia
Load and speed index
Drawing depth in width, mm	8,9–9,1	9,1–9,4	9,8–10,1	9,2–9,4
Shore hardness of rubber, units	61–62	59–61	56–57	52–53
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm	1,21	1,32	1,51	1,17
Tire weight, kg
average price in online stores at the time of preparation of the material, rub.	2710	2550	2500	3200
Quality/price*	0,31	0,33	0,35	0,28
The amount of points awarded	847	852	871	888
pros	Understandable control. Good permeability. Good directional stability on snow. Least noisy	Understandable handling on the "Russian road". Attractive price	Good grip on ice. Confident traction in deep snow	High braking properties on snow. Confident acceleration on ice. Low fuel consumption. Reliable handling. Stable directional stability on snow. Good cross
Minuses	The lowest braking properties on snow and asphalt. Low economy at high speed. Notes on directional stability on asphalt and ride	Low lateral grip on ice. High fuel consumption. Difficult directional stability on snow, problematic - on asphalt. Notes on handling during extreme maneuvering on snow. The toughest and noisiest	Weak braking on dry pavement. Low economy. Difficult course stability. Remarks about handling on the "Russian road". Very noisy. Harsh

In the next big test"studded" we collected six sets of 15-inch tires from Western and Eastern manufacturers. Some of the trump cards - experience and the latest technology, others - the will to win and affordable prices. Whose will take?

This time we have chosen one of the most popular sizes - 195/65 R15, which suits many small and cheap cars. Different markets, different understanding of the product, different design schools. What distinguishes tires from East and West from each other, what are their strengths and weak sides and what should the Russian buyer pay attention to?

Fresh model Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 is the most expensive in the eastern team (price 3650 rubles), but cheaper than European giants.

Another novelty, Hankook Winter i*Pike RS 2, is a tire with an increased number of studs and an updated tread pattern. It replaces the Winter i*Pike RS model. This year it will appear in Russia in 57 dimensions - from 155/65R 13 to 255/40 R19.

The new Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer replaces the Observe G3-Ice and will be available on the market this autumn in 16 sizes from 14 to 19 inches. The rubber compound contains silicon dioxide for flexibility in cold weather and walnut shell microparticles for extra grip on ice.

Another model with Japanese roots, now produced in Russia, is the Firestone Ice Cruiser 7. Previously, this tire had the 7000 index and belonged to the Bridgestone brand line.

The next player from Japan is Nitto Therma Spike, a "relative" of the Touo brand. These tires are taking part in our tests for the second time and are characterized as inexpensive, with modest performance.

The new GT Radial IcePro 3, which replaces the GT Radial Champiro IcePro, has been developed in-house in Hannover R&D. And the GT Radial brand is owned by the growing international company Giti, based in Singapore. The novelty is available in 22 dimensions - from 175/65 R14 to 225/60 R17.

The tires in the test are made in China.

West

There are no new products in the western team, but the players are incredibly strong, since most of these tires are renewed by manufacturers every year.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9, the most expensive tire on the domestic market, is the only one in the world to have two different types of studs.

Continental IceContact 2 is also one and only: its “carnations” are glued into the tread, and therefore they are held very firmly in it.

Of the cheaper tires - Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, which won prizes in our tests more than once, and Pirelli Ice zero.

The Western team is closed by two direct competitors, representatives of the second echelon of Continental and Nokian companies - the Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 and Nordman 7 models, respectively.

On the ice handling evaluation track, after each set of tires, the “brush” cleans the surface of ice chips. The clearer the ice, the more accurate the evaluation results.

cat house

The roulette that annually determines the location of our winter tire tests, this time pointed to the test site Continental. It is located in Sweden, next to a small town with a purring-rumbling name Arvidsjaur - just some kind of "cat's house".

Mindful of last year's weather apocalypse in Sweden with a sudden February warming, we decided to start the tests early - in mid-January.

And the weather did not disappoint: during the tests, there were frosts from -7 to -14 ° С.

Two hatchbacks helped us in the tests Volkswagen Golf. We assigned the main part of the routine work to the black one - it crawled over ice and snow, fixing the acceleration time and the braking distance with the built-in VBOX equipment. Red performed more creative tasks, participating in the assessment of handling and directional stability, since it was possible to completely disable the stabilization system using a special program on it.

Menial job for driving

The first to work is the black Golf, which has both anti-lock braking and traction control. We start by accelerating and braking on ice on a small frozen lake, repeating races eight to ten times for each set of tires. After two or three test sets - measurements on the base (reference, as the tire manufacturers say) tires: you can’t do without them.

Measurements on different surfaces differ in the "upper" speed limit, which serves as the maximum speed value during acceleration and the initial value during braking. On ice, this value is 20 km / h, and on snow - 40 km / h, since the modest ice area is much smaller than the snow one. Recalculating the results, taking into account the corrections determined using the reference tires, we get leaders and outsiders in these exercises.

The real surprise came from Napcook, which tore apart the traditional leaders. Incredibly, on these tires the Golf accelerates and brakes on ice even better than on the Continental and Nokian. To accelerate from standstill to 20 km / h, the Golf on Hankook tires took only 4.1 seconds, and braking distances from 20 to 5 km / h was 6.6 meters. The longest acceleration was on Gislaved tires: 5.9 seconds. A close result, 5.8 seconds, was obtained on GT Radial and Firestone tires. The Golf slowed down the worst on the GT Radial tires, stopping at 8.7 meters.

The fastest acceleration on snow up to 40 km / h was provided by Continental tires with a figure of 5.9 seconds, and Hankook lost only one tenth to them! The slowest of all are GT Radial tires.

In braking on snow, Hankook took the lead. To slow down the Golf from 40 to 5 km / h, these tires had 16.9 meters. Second place - Gislaved: 17.2 meters. Last in braking were Firestone and GT Radial: 19.1 and 19.0 meters, respectively.

We complete a series of tests on ice by measuring the lap time, which characterizes lateral grip. Continental kept the lead with a record lap time of 15.6 seconds. The closest rivals - and these are Hankook, Nokian and Gislaved - took half a second more. The slowest - in 18.0 seconds - the car lapped on Bridgestone tires.

Rating of the best winter studded tires 2018

The tires released after measurements take their place on the red Golf - we will evaluate the handling on snow and ice.

The test track is great: turns of various radii, from running to stubs, straight lines that allow you to reach the speedometer needle up to 80 km / h, ups and downs, then unloading the wheels, then pressing them to the “road”.

Due to the modest size of the frozen lake, we estimate acceleration on ice to a speed of 20 km/h, and braking from 20 to 5 km/h.

12 Firestone Ice Cruiser 7

Country of manufacture
Load and speed indices
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Number of spikes, pcs.
Tire weight, kg
Quality/price, score/R

The level of braking properties on dry pavement is average

11 GT Radial Ice Pro 3

Country of manufacture
Load and speed indices
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р*
Quality/price, score/R

Stable following the course on snow;

Not noisy;

Satisfactory running smoothness

Poor traction on ice and snow;

Difficult control;

Limited patency

10 NittoTherma Spike

Country of manufacture
Load and speed indices
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р*
Quality/price, score/R

Satisfactory handling;

Good cross;

Acceptable ride

Low braking properties on wet asphalt and on ice;

Difficult handling when performing extreme maneuvers on snow and directional stability on asphalt;

9 Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer

Country of manufacture	Malaysia
Load and speed indices
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р*
Quality/price, score/R

Good directional stability on snow;

Stable handling on ice and snow

Weak braking properties on ice and on dry pavement;

High fuel consumption at 90 km/h

8 Bridgestone BLizzak Spike-02

Country of manufacture
Load and speed indices
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р*
Quality/price, score/R

Confident flotation and satisfactory handling during normal driving on snow

Weak braking on dry pavement and lateral grip on ice;

Low profitability;

Difficult handling during active driving on snow;

Notes on directional stability on asphalt and comfort

7 Gislaved Nord*Frost 200

Country of manufacture	Germany
Load and speed indices
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р*
Quality/price, score/R	The best braking properties and excellent directional stability on asphalt; Confident lateral grip and clear handling on ice Weak longitudinal grip on ice; High fuel consumption at any speed; Difficult handling when performing extreme maneuvers on snow; Small complaints about the smoothness of the ride 6 Nokian Nordman 7 Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Drawing depth in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, units Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р* Quality/price, score/R Confident acceleration on ice; Good cross-country ability, directional stability on snow and asphalt 5 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Drawing depth in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, units Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р* Quality/price, score/R Phenomenal flotation in deep snow; High braking performance on both wet and dry pavement Small claims to directional stability on asphalt and handling on ice, as well as during active driving and extreme maneuvering on snow; Not the best comfort. 4 Pirelli Ice Zero Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Drawing depth in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, units Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р* Quality/price, score/R Excellent course stability; Reliable acceleration on ice and snow; Clear handling on snow during normal driving; Confident patency Light remarks about handling on snow during active driving and during extreme maneuvering; noisy; low running smoothness 2/3 Hankook Winter i*Pike RS 2 Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Drawing depth in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, units Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р* Quality/price, score/R Better longitudinal and high lateral grip on ice; Better braking and confident acceleration on snow; Clear handling on ice and during normal driving on snow; Weak braking on asphalt; Claims to controllability on snow during active driving and during extreme maneuvering, as well as road holding on asphalt and comfort 2/3 Continental Ice Contact 2 Country of manufacture Germany Load and speed indices Drawing depth in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, units Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р* Quality/price, score/R Better transverse and high longitudinal 49 grip on ice; Better acceleration and confident braking on snow; Clear handling on ice and snow; Good cross-country ability and following the course on snow Minor complaints about handling on snow with active driving, as well as directional stability on asphalt; Notes on comfort 1 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Drawing depth in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, units Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of spikes after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р* Quality/price, score/R Outstanding fuel efficiency; Excellent handling on ice and snow; High traction on ice; Excellent flotation in deep snow; Clearly following the course Light comments on noise and ride The idea was born to evaluate tires in two different driving modes. The first is to go fast, but limit the speed in the corners to the initial slip phase. The results of driving in this style will certainly interest most drivers. The second mode is for those who like to slip: almost do not slow down before turns, refueling the car into a turn sideways. We have previously evaluated the behavior of tires in both modes, only the assessment was averaged. We turn off the electronics in order to catch the features of the car's behavior on different tires. In normal mode, the testers were pleased with the handling of the Golf on Nokian and Pirelli tires. The experts, finding no reason for comments and noting clear reactions, gave them eight points. Continental, Hankook, Nordman, taking into account small remarks, received 7.5 points each. It is noteworthy that the Golf, shod in Hankook tires and Nordman, slight delays in reactions and insufficient steering informational content occur when the steering wheel is turned at angles up to 90 degrees, but with increasing reaction angles, informational content improves, and vice versa with Continental tires. In tire testing, team spirit is as important as in competition. Therefore, we change wheels almost as quickly as mechanics in formula boxes. Firestone's "studs" collected more complaints than others: significant delays in reactions, unstable behavior. The driver can only set the approximate direction of movement, but not the exact trajectory. Six points is the maximum. With an active driving style, almost half of the subjects noted a slight slowdown in reactions and a deterioration in the information content of the steering when switching to slips, which reduced the score by half a point. Eight points were awarded only to Nokian tires, which retained the clarity of reactions even in deep slides. Acceptable reaction stability was demonstrated by Gislaved, Nordman and Tooo - they are not afraid to slightly go over with speed in a slippery turn. It's easiest to slip on Firestone tires. You have to literally throw the Golf into the turn, performing a set of “magical” actions with the steering wheel and gas. It is extremely difficult to drive actively, since you need to constantly turn the steering wheel in different directions, since in slips the reactions to steering actions practically disappear. I didn’t like to drive actively either at Bridgestone (lowered by 1 point) and, oddly enough, at Pirelli (lowered by one and a half points). On both tires, the Golf showed a deterioration in information content and reactions, forcing much more active steering, and on the Pirelli, it also showed ragged, unstable behavior. It's strange, because the early models of winter tires from this company have always served both for us and for many tire manufacturers as the standard of handling. I liked the ice track no less than the snowy one. It is not horizontal, but is located at an angle, since it is flooded on a slope. Because on one half you move with unloaded rear wheels, provoking skidding, and on the other - with underloaded front ones, initiating demolition. This helps to better understand the behavior of certain tires. Nokian deserved the highest score on ice: the car steers without problems in any mode. Small blots are noted on tires Continental, Gislaved, Hankook and Nordman, so their scores are reduced to 7.5 points. Shod in GR Radial tires, the Golf moves like it's weightless - as if there were no horizontal forces acting. It slips very early, although it slides to the side smoothly (this is the only plus), and floats for a very long time, not reacting to the steering. Firestone keeps the driver even more stressed: maximum adrenaline is produced even with the stabilization system turned on. Breaks in sliding occur unexpectedly, the car slides for an extremely long time ... There is a feeling that the clutch has disappeared altogether. Caution - Yeti! The snow plateau is a huge rectangle, about four hundred by one hundred meters, divided by a snow parapet into two independent narrow and long straight lines. They are enough to accelerate to 100 km / h and evaluate the directional stability and behavior of the car with a soft lane change. And the width is enough to check the handling when performing a rearrangement. From the first day, we fenced off with cones along the central barrier a strip three meters wide, forbidding it to be cleaned. A week later, a layer of snow about 20 centimeters deep accumulated on it - what is needed to assess the patency. A couple of hours after the red Golf with the stabilization system turned off went to the test track, Frank Degonier (the Continental engineer in charge of measurements and measuring equipment) suddenly approached us and asked with a completely serious face: “Do you know that the yeti has appeared here? Right in front of the red Golf jumped out! But Anton managed to dodge him, only the snow on the hood remained. Go see!" It turns out that during the course stability assessment on the Firestone tires, the Golf spun so that it broke through the snowy parapet and flew into the adjacent lane. And the testers of the Continental call any incident on the tests, ending in contact with snow, a “yeti”. In general, Firestone earned the lowest score for directional stability on snow: when you try to smoothly change lanes or avoid obstacles, a sharp skid occurs and a dangerously long slip to the side without the ability to correct the trajectory. The Yeti was not tempted by other tires. And better than others straight in the snow at high speed Golf held on tires Nokian and Pirelli. Rearrangement, or a sharp lane change, is a maneuver traditional for Russian drivers. When performing a rearrangement, we evaluate how the Golf reacts to sharp steering turns and how predictable it behaves. In this exercise, the experts gave the Nokian tires the highest score: a small, well-understood, soft skid at top speed, requiring minor adjustments to keep the car on the desired trajectory. Firestone tires turned out to be the worst here too: they are unsuitable for dangerous maneuvers. With sharp actions by the steering wheel, the case ends with a demolition, straightening the trajectory. With smoother operation of the steering wheel, the front wheels have time to catch on the snow, but the rear wheels abruptly break into a long side slip, spinning the car. patency The patency test is relevant both for the Russian hinterland and for large cities. We evaluate not only the ability of tires to row in the snow - it is important how easily a driver without special off-road riding skills can overcome a snow barrier. In deep snow, Goodyear tires are unrivaled: they row either forward or backward, you just need to press the gas pedal. Nokian are half a point behind: rowing is not like a tractor, but still good. Eight points each earn Continental and Nordman. The most unfortunate tire for deep snow is the GT Radial. On them, the Golf moves uncertainly, scours from side to side, reluctantly maneuvers and reluctantly moves in reverse. Winter Hero 2018 The leader in snow and ice tests is the tire from the East - Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2. It not only outperformed all fellow countrymen in the winter disciplines, but also moved the "Westerners" - even such giants as Continental and Nokian, who won in the "white" tests only second and third places respectively. Pirelli is in fourth place, followed by Nordman and Goodyear, and Gislaved is in seventh position. They are followed by other tires from the East: Bridgestone, Toyo, Nitto, as well as Firestone and GT Radial, which showed the weakest results. Delay until spring In mid-April, the snow completely disappeared from the asphalt of the high-speed road of the VAZ test site near Tolyatti. Having chosen calm weather, we continued to test the "studs" - now on the pavement. First of all, we assessed the impact of tires on the economy of the Golf, combining these measurements with an assessment of directional stability and comfort. We started with a ten-kilometer warm-up lap on the expressway at a speed of 130 km/h (the maximum allowed on our roads). The measurements were carried out on a two-kilometer horizontal straight section of the expressway. In calm weather, the measurement results "fall" almost one to one - with no more than 0.1%, which is twenty times less than the two percent generally accepted in tire tests. But after every three tested sets, you have to repeat the races on the base tire. Rolling resistance is significantly affected by asphalt temperature. The results obtained on the reference tire help to determine the "reference points", and already on them we refine the data obtained and, if necessary, recalculate. On pavement, the Golf steers best on Gislaved and Pirelli tires: the reactions are clear, almost like summer tires. Worse than the rest are the "eastern guests" Bridgestone, Nitto and Firestone. On the “bridge” at the Golf, the steering wheel became heavy, viscous and uninformative. The behavior of the car on Nitto and Firestone is similar: in the near-zero zone, low information content appears, when adjusting the course, the steering wheel has to be turned at significant angles. When leaving the near-zero - the left zone, the reactions become unpleasantly sharp - with low information content, this is fraught with twisting of the steering wheel, which can provoke a skid. Nokian tires won the title of the most economical: the Golf, shod with them, showed the best results at city and country speeds. Better braking and comfort on asphalt We continue the assessment of comfort on the secondary roads of the polygon, which practically do not differ from many Russian roads: pits, swollen cracks, seams. The GT Radial, Hankook and Nokian tires were the quietest of all, and the noisiest was the Firestone, which buzzes like a gear rolling on asphalt. In terms of smoothness, the same GT Radial and Hankook are ahead, and Nitto made up the company for them. The toughest is again Firestone, which transmits vibrations from road bumps to the floor of the body and even to the driver's seat in detail. The final exercises are the assessment of braking properties on dry and wet pavement. We pre-clean the tracks with a dozen braking on non-scoring tires. We brake on each set of test tires four to six times: on dry asphalt - from 80 km / h, on wet asphalt - from 60 km / h, in order to save the tread from damage. The test speed, up to which the VBOX measuring complex measures the braking distance, is 5 km / h - at a lower ABS, it allows short-term blocking of the wheels, which adversely affects the accuracy of the results. On dry pavement, the shortest braking distance, 30.3 meters, turned out on Gislaved tires, the longest - on the "bridge": 33.5 meters. The difference is 10.5%. In the wet, Gislaved is again ahead of everyone with a score of 17.8 meters, and the last one is Nitto with a score of 21.7 meters, which is almost 20% weaker. "Black" tests On asphalt, the Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 confidently won. European Pirelli tires, Nokian and Goodyear. The East only made it to the fifth position, and the GT Radial IcePro 3 took it. The last pair from the European team follows: Continental took sixth place in the "asphalt" list, directly ahead of the average Nordman. The leader of the "white" list of Hankook on asphalt, alas, could not rise above the tenth place. Closing the "black" rating Bridgestone and Nitto. TOP-13 final scores So, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 tires won with a score of 915 points. They are the most balanced - they will appeal to all drivers in any conditions, regardless of training and driving style. The second and third places were shared by Hankook Winter i*Pike RS 2 and Continental IceContact 2 with 905 points each. Well, what about Korean tires? Best result both on snow and on ice, the most comfortable, economical, but - the surrender of positions on the pavement. We recommend them to those who use mostly "white" roads. Continental showed the second result in the "white" tests, but in other nominations it performed in the middle. Their best qualities will show up on snowy and icy roads. The fourth place in our ranking is occupied by the Pirelli Ice Zero - 888 total points mean that these are very good tires. They are strong on asphalt, will not let you down on snow and ice, and will help save fuel. Is that the ride comfort leaves much to be desired. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic (877 points) performed better on asphalt than in ice and snow disciplines. These tires still have the right to be called very good, but they are slowly losing ground - they dropped to fifth place, and for several years they occupied third. But if you need all-terrain tires - this is the best choice. For the brand of the second echelon, the sixth place (874 points) of Nordman 7 tires and the title of very good can be considered excellent result. Universal mid-range tires for all conditions, and on snow they can please even drifters. The Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 was just four points behind its direct competitor Nordman. The indicators on the "white" roads are average, but on the asphalt Gislaved is in the lead. It is the best choice for city roads cleared of snow and ice. True, they do not shine with economy and comfort. From the eighth place, the entire eastern territory begins. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 scored 847 points in the test - according to our classification, these are good tires. On snow and ice, they look average, but they won’t allow you to be mischievous. In terms of comfort and fuel efficiency, they are comparable to the "little brother" Firestone Ice Cruiser 7, and even a little weaker on asphalt. In ninth position are the new Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer tires with 840 points. The undoubted pluses are the stability of the results on different surfaces and a decent level of comfort. Nitto Therma Spike closes the top ten with a final score of 821 points. The same modest place - in the "white" rating. These tires are economical, provide average comfort levels... and last place on the pavement. The GT Radial tires scored 811 points. And they ended up on the last line of the rating compiled on “white” roads. On snow and ice, it is permissible to move on them without haste, and only on cars equipped with electronic assistants. But on asphalt roads, these tires will allow you to drive confidently and provide a high level of comfort. Twelfth place and only 788 points - tires Firestone Ice Cruiser 7. By modern standards, these are very weak tires for winter roads, not recommended for cars without ABS and stabilization systems. You should ride them very carefully, without trying to slip at least a little. But on dry pavement, they slow down better than the related Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02, and can compete with it in comfort and economy. With an eye on the wallet Good tires cost a lot of money. How to find optimal balance between the most important features and price? You can focus on the "cost" of each point scored by a particular tire. In this parameter, the GT Radial IcePro 3 is in the lead: each thousand rubles spent on this tire will result in 312 final points. Slightly less profitable purchase - Nitto Therma Spike and Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer. Tires Nordman 7 and Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 are in the middle of the list. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02, Continental IceContact 2 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 close the “price of quality” rating. WEST INVINCIBLE? In our test, European tires were stronger than Eastern ones. Apart from Hankuk, none of the Eastern tires made it into the first half of the white results. Why? In the countries of the East, the use of studded tires is prohibited - manufacturers create them for foreign markets. There is no rich own experience in operating such tires. Hankook, on the other hand, took an unconventional path - it attracted experienced specialists from successful Western tire companies to create new products. After all, winter tires are an extremely complex product, balanced for completely different surfaces (ice, snow, dry and wet asphalt), which require conflicting technical solutions. Eastern tire manufacturers will be able to compete with Western ones only when they understand this and put this understanding into practice. Hankook is a prime example of this. In the meantime, the "east" can attract buyers only with sweet prices.

Owners of crossovers, especially all-wheel drive, often refer to the seasonal change of staff summer tires for winter without enthusiasm. After all, almost all native tires are marked with the M + S index, which de jure allows you to drive them in winter. The main thing is that the residual tread depth should be at least 4 mm (otherwise - 500 rubles fine). But you need to understand that the M + S marking absolutely does not oblige the manufacturer to anything! For marking, no tests or certificates are required confirming the suitability of tires for winter, and therefore, more and more often it can be seen on frankly summer, moreover, “asphalt” tires, which incidentally indicates the devaluation of not only the letter S (snow, “snow”), but also M (mud, "mud"). So we don’t look at the letters, but at the tread, and if we don’t see a lot of small slots-lamellas, then we conclude: it’s dangerous to ride on such in winter. And even better, when there is a “Snowflake” stamp on the sidewall in the form of three mountain peaks with a snowflake, these models really passed the test on a snowy track. The participants in our test are all with this marking: these are 14 sets with spikes and nine without.

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 by conducting additional races on the "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 more than a year. Both in acceleration and in braking, the studless Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV lost not only to its principal competitors, but even to the tires of its own "second line" - Nordman RS2 SUV tires! The testers of the Nokian company working in the neighborhood were alarmed, they repeated the measurements themselves ... An official investigation showed that the failed tires were produced at a plant near St. Petersburg at the end of 2016, more precisely on 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 they assured that the defective batch did not go on sale. Although according to outward signs everything is in order, and even the hardness of the tread rubber is the same as on the tires released in the 41st week of 2016 (their results were taken into account), but the difference in traction on ice reaches eight percent.

After measurements in the hangar, we get out into the hardening frost - and once again we notice that as the temperature drops friction tires they begin to catch up and even overtake the spikes. At minus twenty, the ice becomes so hard that the studs cannot scratch it, and the tread rubber of most studded tires is harder - in the cold, friction tires are more elastic, they have a longer total length of slots-lamellae.

We, again, take into account changing conditions and adjust the results, but if all tests were carried out in light frost, 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.

This time it was possible to support the cross-country ability assessments with instrumental measurements - acceleration time in deep snow with the traction control system turned off. It is curious that they topped and closed the rating Russian tires: the best - Cordiant, and the most helpless in the virgin lands - Viatti tires manufactured by the Nizhnekamsk Tire Plant.

The asphalt part of the tests is especially relevant for residents of large cities, where 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 in passing, we note that this time there were no tires littered 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 the 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 threaten incomparably large costs.

Studded tire rating

Dimension	215/65 R16
(55 sizes available from 215/65 R16 to 315/40 R21)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
	9,8
	49
Number of spikes	172
	1,05/1,54
Producing country	Finland

Hakkapeliitta with index 9 is the novelty of the season: two types of spikes are used here for the first time. Those in the middle part of the tread have transversely oriented carbide inserts: they are responsible for the longitudinal grip, and at the edges of the tread rise some sort of trefoils that work effectively in corners. And this is not a marketing trick: a clear superiority over competitors both on the handling track and in braking on ice. And in other types of winter tests, the tires are on top. On asphalt, grip is moderate, and the main problem is noise at speeds from 70 to 90 km / h.

The best tires for harsh winter conditions!

Dimension	215/65 R16
(2 sizes available 205/55 R16 and 215/65 R16)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	11,2
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Number of spikes	170
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,52/1,47
Producing country	South Korea

This year, Hankook officially opened its polar test site in Ivalo, Finland: the routes and test approaches are in many ways similar to those used by Nokian Tires. This also applies to the features of the tires themselves: the number of star spikes was increased, which ensured decent test results on ice. But in deep snow, tires do not shine, as well as on asphalt, and besides, they make a lot of noise. But it’s easy for them to forgive: 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)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,4
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	54
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,03/1,25
Producing country	Russia

Tires made in Voronezh are flavored with powerful studs-brackets - and work smartly on ice during acceleration and braking. But in corners - sharp breakdowns in sliding, so without a stabilization system you have to be on the alert. But - a good balance of grip 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)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,6
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	54
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,37/1,41
Producing country	Russia

Tires are produced at the Russian plant Continental near Kaluga. The Gislaved brand is owned by Continental - and the Nord*Frost 200 model copies the asymmetric tread pattern of the first generation ContiIceContact tires, but the studs are simpler in shape and without thermochemical fixation. However, they also work well - especially in the transverse direction.

In general, these are well-balanced tires for use both in large cities and beyond.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(37 sizes available from 155/70 R13 to 225/55 R18)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
Tread depth, mm	9,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	54
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,63/1,62
Producing 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 a lawsuit. But Cordiant managed to justify itself - and increase production volumes, including by expanding the range of dimensions. Decent tires for the money, but they don’t like asphalt roads: they don’t 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 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 275/50 R22)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	12,2
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	57
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,08/1,16
Producing country	Finland

Nordman tires are the "second line" of Nokian Tires, and molds of obsolete models are used for production. Nokian tires. The novelty of the Nordman 7 SUV season is the reincarnation of the Hakkapeliitta 7 SUV, produced from 2010 to 2017. Good grip on ice and snow, and on asphalt even better than the current "mother" model. Including acoustic comfort: there are fewer spikes.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 sizes available from 175/65 R15 to 245/45 R19)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,2
Tread depth, mm	10,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,26/1,39
Producing 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 corners they sharply break into slips. On the snow, including virgin lands, everything is much better. But on the pavement, the aggressive pattern generates an obsessive low-frequency rumble from 30 km / h.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(58 sizes available from 175/65 R14 to 265/40 R20)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,3
Tread depth, mm	9,3
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Number of spikes	104
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,05/1,09
Producing country	Russia

Michelin with the X-Ice North 3 tire continues to bend the line to comply with European studding regulations: no more than 50 studs per linear meter of tread. And the spikes themselves are simple, round in section. This led to an unimportant hold on the ice. On packed snow, the picture is better, but getting out of a snowdrift is a problem: the tread is to blame.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(23 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 245/45 R17)
Speed ​​index	Q (160 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	51
Number of spikes	100
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,87/1,06
Producing 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 is a pity that there are also few spikes, they are round, excessively recessed, and as a result, mediocre behavior on ice.

On snow, including on virgin soil, the situation is better. 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 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 265/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,9
Tread depth, mm	9,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,85/0,94
Producing country	Russia

Formula is the "second line" of Pirelli. In last year's tests at Lada Vesta, tires took fifth place, but now the figures are more modest. Especially on ice. Even after break-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 packed snow, the results are better, although we do not recommend climbing into snowdrifts. They hold up well on asphalt.

A good budget tire option for urban use.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(122 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 285/45 R22)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	12,2
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	55
Number of spikes	125
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,18/1,37
Producing country	Japan

For many, the Made in Japan brand is a sign of quality. But with winter Toyo tires Something went wrong. It seems that the spikes 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 response of the car to control is well balanced.

On asphalt - far from best comfort and grip properties.

Joy - a low price, which is consistent with the quality of tires.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(19 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 265/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	11,5
Tread depth, mm	9,3
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	59
Number of spikes	120
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,93/1,03
Producing country	Russia

Under the "Italian" name - tires produced in Nizhnekamsk using off-take technology. The design and manufacturing process is the product of an engineering firm run by a former Continental executive. However, grip on ice and snow is mediocre, and most of all upset that winter tires, “designed by European specialists specifically for Russian roads”, were helpless in deep snow. Also, they are noisy and harsh. Not an option - even considering the low price.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(96 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 275/50 R22)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	12,1
Tread depth, mm	9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	53
Number of spikes	128
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,57/0,73
Producing country	Russia

One could immediately assume that the ice tests of the Yokohama Ice Guard 55 tire would fail. Instead of the prescribed 1.2 mm, the spikes protrude an average of 0.57 mm - and do not work. And the buyer expects Japanese quality- even though the tires are made in Lipetsk.

There are also complaints about the tread: on rolled snow - the maximum braking distance, and on virgin soil - the worst traction abilities. For Russian conditions, other tires are needed, and they already exist: sales of the new Yokohama IG65 model with an increased number of “curly” spikes begin this season. More details about new tires - in one of the next issues of Autoreview.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 235/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,7
Tread depth, mm	9,4
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	61
Number of spikes	128
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,79/1,0
Producing country	South Korea

Interestingly, duplicated in the name win - is it from the word "win" or from the word "winter"? Better fit, for example, wintry ("cold", "unfriendly") or winch ("winch"). What kind of winter or victory can we talk about if studded tires are inferior on ice to most friction tires, and on the handling track Nexen is the slowest in the overall standings? Tread rubber is clearly not designed to work at low temperatures, as evidenced by its increased hardness.

Of the positive emotions, only relatively quiet (for tires with spikes) rolling remains.

Rating of non-studded tires

Dimension	215/65 R16
(61 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 295/40 R21)
Speed ​​index	R (170 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,4
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	53
Producing country	Russia

Off-road tires, with the SUV index, have sidewalls reinforced with aramid fiber, which is reminiscent of the Aramid Sidewalls brand. So with impact resistance, unlike the "passenger" tires of the same name, there should be no problems.

In severe frost, Nokian friction tires provide excellent grip on ice, behave well on snow, and small complaints appear only on asphalt.

Excellent winter tires for use in the city and beyond.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(97 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 275/45 R20)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
Tread depth, mm	8
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	52
Producing country	Germany

Leapfrog. The year before last, we liked the ContiVikingContact 6 tires on asphalt, but they didn’t work well on ice, last year the situation reversed, this year it’s better on asphalt again ... Of course, the dimensions are different, but the reason must be sought in the composition of the rubber compound : Last year the tread rubber on the ContiVikingContact 6 tires was noticeably softer.

Now we are taking into account the latest version of these tires manufactured at the end of 2016. Not ideal on ice and snow (especially deep), but they work perfectly on asphalt.

Good winter tires for urban use. And the most comfortable!

Dimension	215/65 R16
(57 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 255/45 R19)
Speed ​​index	S (180 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,7
Tread depth, mm	8,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	46
Producing country	Japan

Since studs are banned in Japan, local manufacturers are focusing on friction winter tires. So we will assume that it is natural that

Speed ​​index T (190 km/h) Load index 98 (750 kg) Weight, kg 8,9 Tread depth, mm 8,4 Shore hardness of tread rubber, units 56 Producing country Germany

Lightweight tires with soft, quiet rolling. But at the same time, there is an imbalance of “winter” grip properties in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and sharp breakdowns in sliding seem to be provoked by sidewalls that are soft for a heavy crossover. Indeed, in the range of Goodyear winter tires there is a model specifically for crossovers and SUVs - UltraGrip Ice SUV, but these tires are not available in size 215/65 R16. However, if the car is equipped with a stabilization system, then Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 tires are a good choice.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(16 sizes available from 215/65 R16 to 255/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	R (170 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,2
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Producing country	Russia

The tread pattern is exactly like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires, but the materials are simpler. Another option to extend the life cycle of molds. And - given the price - a very good option. Moreover, in certain disciplines, Nordman RS2 SUV tires are even more preferable: the braking distance on ice is shorter!

Weight, kg 11,4 Tread depth, mm 8,7 Shore hardness of tread rubber, units 50 Producing 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 the handling is harsh on the track and rowing is mediocre in deep snow.

Grip properties on asphalt are above average, there are no problems with comfort either, which means that these tires are relevant for large cities.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 sizes available from 155/65 R14 to 255/50 R19)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	10,6
Tread depth, mm	9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	51
Producing country	Slovakia

The Gislaved brand continues to lose authenticity. So the “new” Gislaved Soft*Frost 200 is nothing more than ContiVikingContact tires of the year before last, the third generation. Fortunately, these are balanced tires - safe, comfortable, not very expensive - and therefore we safely recommend them for urban use, although an accidental drive into a snowdrift may delay the planned trip.

54 Producing country China

The Marshal brand belongs to the Korean Kumho Tire, however, according to the tread pattern and even the rare R speed index, these tires copy the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires - and some sellers play on this similarity. By the way, on snow and asphalt friction tires Marshal and Nokian are close, but on ice the loss of the copy is already obvious. It is also one of the noisiest and toughest friction tires available.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(37 sizes available from 175/65 R14 to 245/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	Q (160 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	12,4
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	49
Producing country	Japan

Winter tires Nitto (brand owned by Toyo Tires) appeared in Russia recently. The Therma Spike model managed to please us with traction on ice, but it lost the most spikes on asphalt. And the Nitto Winter SN2 friction tires immediately showed their helplessness on ice and in snowdrifts. And the more surprising is the failure of these tires even on asphalt.

Something is wrong with these Nittos...

Trying to gain a foothold in the US market, Japanese company Toyo Tire created the Nitto brand in 1995. The company's products were intended exclusively for powerful premium sedans, sports cars and SUVs. Gradually sales started in Europe and Russia.

The company's line has different types tires. Among drivers, the winter model Nitto Therma Spike is in great demand. Reviews of the rubber presented in most cases are only positive.

Production and design

The model was created with the active use of various technological innovations. For example, the tread design was designed using digital simulation techniques. After creating a prototype, engineers began testing at the Toyo test site. Only after bringing the model to perfection under these conditions, tires were put into series. ISO-certified multi-level quality control eliminates the risk of retail buying defective Nitto Therma Spike tires. Feedback from motorists indicates that the quality of tires is consistently high.

Tread design

It is worth mentioning here that the concern has departed from the accepted canons in the field of winter tire design. Tires received a revolutionary asymmetric tread pattern. The outer part is rather large, consisting of large quadrangular blocks. Massive elements retain their resistance under sharp deformation loads. As a result, the vehicle remains stable during cornering and braking.

During the tests of Nitto Therma Spike, it turned out that the presented tire sample allows the motorist to maintain a phenomenally high speed of maneuvering. The wheels respond quickly to any change in steering.

The inner part gives stability in a straight line. The vehicle holds the road well, there are no drifts when accelerating in principle.

Two compounds

The outer and inner parts of Nitto Therma Spike winter tires differ not only in design, but also in the type of rubber compound. In the first case, a more rigid composition is used. It is he who allows you to maintain the desired maneuverability and quality of movement. In the second case, manufacturers increased the proportion of elastomers in the compound. As a result, the tires behave more smoothly, do not provoke high shaking in the cabin when moving on poor road surfaces.

The use of special connections allows you to expand the temperature regime of operation. Tires retain their elasticity even in hard frost. In reviews of the Nitto Therma Spike, drivers claim that this class of rubber can withstand extremely low temperatures.

behavior on ice

During trial tests, Nitto Therma Spike tires showed almost perfect behavior on ice. The grip quality is high thanks to important technical solutions.

1. First, the spikes are arranged in 14 rows. This prevents the formation of a rut effect. The car retains its maneuverability even on icy roads.
2. Secondly, the stud head has a variable section. This unusual approach allows you to maintain the stability of cornering and braking. Demolitions are absent in principle.
3. Thirdly, special small notches are applied to the tread blocks. As a result, the rigidity of all elements increases, the total number of clutch edges increases.

Snow and water removal

In reviews of the Nitto Therma Spike, drivers also note the stability of driving on wet roads. The negative effect of hydroplaning, which is formed due to the formation of a microfilm of water between the tire and the road, is completely absent. This is being done through a range of measures. For example, Nitto Therma Spike tires received a developed drainage system. Liquid quickly enters the longitudinal channels, then it is redistributed throughout the tire and removed from the contact patch. An increased proportion of silicon dioxide used in the preparation of the compound also allows to improve the quality of adhesion.

The dimensions of the drainage channels allow the tires to quickly remove snow adhering to the tread. It simply slides off the tread depth under its own weight.

Durability

In reviews of the Nitto Therma Spike, drivers also note a fairly high mileage. Tires can withstand about 75 thousand kilometers. Naturally, the final figure largely depends on the driving style of the motorist. After installing the wheels, it is necessary to overcome about 1 thousand km in the most gentle mode. The driver must avoid high speeds and sudden braking. This will allow the studs to lock more tightly into place and prevent premature loss.

The use of a nylon-reinforced frame also helps to increase reliability. The metal threads are bound with an elastic polymer. As a result, it is possible to more fully redistribute the external deformation loads. The risk of bumps and hernias is reduced to zero.

Nitto Therma Spike tires are made from carbon black. The presented connection reduces the rate of mechanical abrasion.

Optimized external pressure distribution leads to uniform tire wear. There is no emphasis on the central part or the outer.