Recently, more and more motorists pay attention to Nokian tires. AT model range The company has a variety of winter tires, which attracts buyers. However, many of them are wondering if it is better to buy tires from another manufacturer? To answer this question, compare Winter tires Nokian with models from other brands.
Nokian or Goodyear
Nokian's top winter model is Hakapelita 8. Goodyear's is Ultra Grip Ice Arctic. On winter Russian roads Hakkapeliitta tires 8 feels perfect, as it was designed for such conditions.
On the surface of the rubber spikes are located in an increased number. Paired with a modified tread pattern, they contribute to a significant improvement in traction in difficult conditions.
They are resistant to the hydroplaning effect, as they have a drainage system through the grooves of which moisture and snow are removed. They have improved wear resistance, ideal grip on ice and snow, and also provide minimal braking distances.
However, in a rut, tires behave unstable, while they are characterized by high cost.
Goodyear also fit for harsh winters, suitable for off-road. Due to the change in the composition of the rubber, they have an increased resource. Advantages of this model:
- directional stability will be maintained at high speed,
- hydroplaning resistant.
But when hitting a track, they can go into a skid.
If you compare Nokian and Goodyear, then it is impossible to give an exact answer. Nokian has better traction and passable properties, but the cost of these tires is higher. If financial possibilities allow, then it is best to purchase Nokian, if not, then Goodyear, since they also have acceptable performance.
Nokian or Cordiant
At Cordiant best model– Snowcross. Its cost is about the same as that of Hakkapeliitta 8, so the comparison conditions are close. Cordiant improves vehicle dynamics and prevents slippage on snow and ice. Handling in such conditions is excellent.
The directional stability of the tires is at a decent level. However, on asphalt pavement, the braking distance increases, and at high speed fuel consumption increases significantly. Among other things, due to the tread pattern, additional noise arises.
Hakapelita 8 has no such shortcomings. There is only one - weak resistance to rutting. However, compared with the minuses, Cordiant is only a minor flaw. As you can see, Nokian is noticeably in the lead in comparison with Cordiant and is suitable for any operating conditions.
Nokian or Hankook
When choosing winter tires, many motorists face a choice: Hankook or Nokian? To answer this difficult question, consider the Hankook WinterI Pike RSW419 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 models. Both models are equipped with studs and are presented in the same class - for cars.
Nokian have the following advantages:
- increased resource,
- perfect grip and flotation in harsh conditions,
- minimum stopping distance.
However, its disadvantages - when hitting a track, there is a risk of skidding, and the cost of tires is quite high. Hankook tires perform slightly worse, but grip is almost the same due to the increased number of studs.
The cost is much lower. That is why it is better to choose between these two models in accordance with financial capabilities.
As it turned out, Nokian is noticeably in the lead compared to Cordiant. However, with Hankook and Goodyear, it is approximately on a par. Therefore, when choosing, it is best to take into account individual preferences and the allocated budget.
Every motorist is faced with the problem of choosing high-quality rubber for his car. Today, this has become much more difficult. The car market offers a huge range of tires from various manufacturers. And most of them are of very high quality.
How to choose the right tires
To do right choice, it is necessary to take into account several important points. First of all, it concerns the cost. Sometimes the price of rubber is quite acceptable, while the quality corresponds to the wheels produced by a well-known manufacturer. That is, you can always choose a budget option.
Of course, the life of expensive tires is long. They have a wide tread that quickly removes water. In addition, they reduce the braking distance on an icy road.
When choosing rubber, regardless of its price, you need to focus on important nuances:
- Tires must match vehicle. The appropriate size can be found in its technical manual.
- Maximum speed.
- rubber category.
- Seasonality.
- Possibility of braking on ice surface.
It is very important that the value of the speed and maximum load coincide with the dimensions of the tire. Failure to do so may result in damage to the suspension.
Yokohama or Dunlop
The cost of these tires is about the same. However, before making a choice, it is worth getting to know them. technical specifications. Find out what advantages each model has.
Yokohama
For manufacturing, the manufacturer uses computer technology. Therefore, the tire fully meets international standards.
New tires reduce stopping distance.
Winter wheels are equipped with metal spikes of the original design. They provide reliable grip on icy roads. Car drift is completely excluded. The studded tire increases the safety of the trip, makes it more comfortable.
Especially for the summer season, the wheels are made of rubber, which does not begin to melt when high temperature.
The universal (all-weather) tire is made of two-layer rubber. It can remain flexible very coldy and not melt in extreme heat.
There are models that have special semicircular holes on the tread. Due to them, tires repel snow, dirt and water, quickly self-cleaning. Longitudinal grooves prevent wheel slippage while maintaining lateral stability cars.
Rubber is designed for long-term use. Sometimes this period exceeds 10 years.
Each wheel is thoroughly tested. Samples with the slightest deviation from the norm are rejected. Therefore, the company guarantees 100% quality of its products.
Dunlop
The wheels have a wide tread. The design of the drawing and its calculation was performed using computer graphics. Rubber adheres tightly to the road surface, ensuring complete safety of the trip.
The protector has a non-directional symmetrical pattern. The car never skids on wet or very slippery roads.
When driving over potholes and pits in the car, no shocks are felt.
Tires provide minimal stopping distance. This is very important for driving on city streets.
Winter models are equipped with steel spikes that provide excellent grip on the track. On such rubber, the car never leaves the deposit.
Summer tires are made of special rubber. It eliminates melting at high temperatures.
All-weather are made of several layers. As a result, the wheels do not freeze in severe frosts and do not melt in the heat.
Dunlop can be used for a long time. If properly maintained, they will last more than 10 years.
The characteristics of both tires are almost the same. Motorists speak of them only in a positive way. At a low cost, each model is characterized by increased quality characteristics.
According to car owners, Yokohama is more suitable for slippery roads. If you install Dunlop, you should use all-season options. They are showing excellent results in winter cold and summer heat.
Of course, when choosing a tire, you must also take into account its parameters and characteristics. Wheels with different parameters often behave differently.
Yokohama or Nokian
World famous Nokian wheels are produced in Finland. In our country, they are made in Vsevolzhsk. The products are certified according to ISO 9001.
A feature of Nokian tires is the wear indicator. With it, you can easily measure the tread depth. Finnish tires guarantee powerful grip on any road surface, regardless of its surface. The ride is comfortable both on wet pavement and on icy roads.
According to experts, the quality of Nokian tires is slightly higher than Yokohama, so if possible, it is better to install Finnish tires.
Yokohama or Hankook
AT South Korea Hankook tires are considered the best for the winter. Many global car manufacturers such as Volvo and Volkswagen produce their vehicles with Hankook tires.
They have become very popular in our country due to their high quality and low cost. Motorists note several positive qualities:
- Low price.
- Excellent stability.
- Softness.
- Doesn't make any extra noise.
- Small stopping distance.
- Long service life.
Hankook are more suitable for general use. If it's about sports cars, the best are Yokohama.
Pirelli or Yokohama
The Italians produce Pirelli models:
highway
Road wheels for driving on asphalt. Not designed for winter use.
Snow
Special winter tires. They feature full grip on ice or snow-covered roads thanks to the original tread pattern. Rubber is able to withstand severe frosts.
Flaws:
- Bad handling.
- Lots of noise when driving on dry pavement.
- Increased tread wear.
All Season
All season tires. Can be used on snowy roads. Provide good grip on icy surfaces. Tread wear is kept to a minimum.
Performance
Special tires for high-speed driving. They have a strong grip on the road, make driving easier. Rated for high temperatures.
Flaws:
- Create discomfort when moving.
- Too fast wear.
All season performance
All-weather, for high-speed driving. Can be used all year round. The car remains stable on an icy road, shows nice results on dry pavement.
Both Pirelli and Yokohama are of impeccable quality. They have proven their reliability in any kind of driving. It is very difficult to give preference to any product. The choice will depend on the individual approach, as well as the driving style of the car.
Deserved the title of the best new tire"Nokian-Hakkapelita 8" in the performance of an SUV: it has 943 points. Excellent grip on ice, excellent on snow, high cross-country ability, clear handling, a clear course on any road are combined with high fuel efficiency. Of the shortcomings - the average braking properties on dry pavement. In my opinion, among the tires for crossovers, Hakka stands out with the most balanced properties. True, the price bites: 6310 rubles (all prices are given as of August 2014, when the article was being prepared for publication. - Ed.) per piece!
In second place was the Goodyear-UltraGrip Ice Arctic tire. The "Arctic" tire scored 933 points, only slightly behind the leader. It demonstrated the best grip on ice, combined with good braking properties on wet pavement and fantastic flotation in deep snow, turning the crossover into a hovercraft. And Goodyear did not reach the first place due to insufficient braking properties on dry pavement and a low level of comfort: these tires hum noticeably in motion. Another weakness- thin sidewall, which explains the record low weight of 10 kg: such a tire is easily damaged on potholes. However, in terms of price-quality ratio, Goodyear (5.24) is noticeably more attractive than Nokian (6.69).
Having earned 906 points, Pirelli-Ice Zero tires made in Russia fit into third place. They are balanced better than Goodyear and show even grip on any surface; high cross-country ability coexists with a clear directional stability on asphalt. Cons: Low level of comfort. Acceptable price: 4830 rubles apiece.
Slightly behind, the novelty of the second tier of the Nokian company, the Nordman 5 SUV model, took the fourth or fifth position. The characteristics of behavior on ice, snow and asphalt are average, except that the transverse grip on ice and snow is above average. Our experts appreciated the excellent directional stability on asphalt and clear, like summer tires, reactions. However, handling on snow and ice is only satisfactory. As a result, 899 points.
"KontiAysKontakt" fought with "Nordman" to the end and scored the same points as the competitor - 899. The difference between the models is that they are balanced in different ways. The strengths of the Conti are impressive performance on snow and ice, reliable stud retention: these are the only tires in which the protrusion of the cores over the rubber has not changed during the break-in and tests. At the same time, they are reluctant to slow down on dry pavement and do not like snowdrifts. And the price is 6000 rubles. Expensive, and in terms of price-quality ratio (6.62), Continental is closest to the test winner.
Having earned 896 points, Gislaved-Nord Frost 100 SUV moved up to the sixth line of the final protocol. Like Nordman, these tires differ from the leaders in their more modest performance on ice and snow. Acceleration on the Gislaved turns out to be weak, in addition, it does not have a very confident lateral grip. But the "Swede" can boast of excellent braking on asphalt (on wet - the best), understandable handling and clear course following on any road. The price is quite reasonable - 4570 rubles, but still higher than that of Nordman, which took fourth place.
Seventh place and 881 points - the result of the Hankook-Winter I-Pike RS tires. Persistent Koreans relentlessly, step by step, improve their “studs”. In South Korea, as in Japan, studded tires are prohibited, so Hankook works for Russia and Scandinavia. In terms of performance on ice and snow, the Hankook is close to the Gislaved and Nordman, slightly inferior to them in braking on ice. Braking on dry pavement let us down: compared to the leader, the braking distance is 8% longer. However, among the expert assessments there is not a single failure: everything is not lower than 7, and road holding on asphalt is rated even higher - at 8 points. A small drawback is the increased protrusion of the spikes. Some stick out by almost 2.5 mm, they can fly out. You can buy such tires for 3930 rubles apiece, and this is a bargain: the price / quality ratio is 4.46.
Domestic "Cordiant-Snow Cross" was able to score 865 points and take the eighth position. Among the budget options (price 3660 rubles) - perhaps the best choice. Braking on ice is better than that of the Gislaved and Nordman, along with the Koreans and Japanese, - however, due to the protrusion of the spikes increased to 2.2 mm. On snow, these tires also provide short braking distances. And on asphalt, Snow Cross loses 10% to the leaders of the exercises - apparently, excessively protruding spikes interfere. On any road, be it a winter road or clean asphalt, you should not rush: when adjusting the direction, you will have to turn the steering wheel at large angles and take into account steering rear axle. The tires do not indulge in comfort: they buzz a lot and are overly rigid on bumps.
Formula Ice tires are in ninth place: created by Pirelli, but produced in Russia. Grip on snow is weak, on ice it is also “not ice” - 23% lose to the leader in braking. But on wet pavement they show a record result (on a par with Gislaved) and stop well on dry pavement. Alas, they cannot boast of a smooth ride, and they also categorically refuse to move in deep snow. As a result, "Ice" scored 858 points. Price - 3720 rubles.
Bridgestone-Blizzack Spike 01 in tenth place with 857 points. In the asset - average grip on snow and above average on ice, tolerable handling and directional stability on asphalt. In the passive - the worst braking on asphalt, increased consumption fuel, unwillingness to drive in deep snow and low comfort level with a particularly annoying loud rumble of the tread and spikes. And the price is not bargain - 4460 rubles.
On the eleventh position (847 points) - Japanese tires "Toyo-Observe G3 Ice". They are weaker than the Bridge in snow and ice disciplines and even in braking on wet pavement. True, in the dry they slow down a little better than a fellow countryman. And they occupy an average position in terms of fuel consumption. They are not so noisy and harsh, but they do not have a clear directional stability on any winter road and do not favor snowdrifts. The price of 4380 rubles is considered too high.
TEST RESULTS
(Maximum 120 points)
(Maximum 100 points)
(Maximum 40 points)
(Maximum 110 points)
(Maximum 90 points)
(Maximum 30 points)
(Maximum 100 points)
(Maximum 90 points)
(Maximum 40 points)
(Maximum 30 points)
(Score/Points)
Expert opinions on each tire are presented below.
| Place | Tire | Expert opinion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Place of manufacture: Finland Tread pattern: directed 9,6-10,0 Number of spikes, pcs.: 172 1,1-1,6/1,6-1,9 Tire weight, kg: 12.1 6310 Price / quality: 6.69
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: The most balanced, safe on any roads and off-road. |
||||
| 2 |
|
Place of manufacture: Germany Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 10,5-10,8 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 56 Number of spikes, pcs.: 130 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,5-1,9/1,6-2,0 Tire weight, kg: 10.0 Average price in online stores, rub.: 4890 Price / quality: 5.24
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For any winter roads, with the exception of dry asphalt. Best of all overcome off-road. |
||||
| 3 |
|
Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 9,6-9,7 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 55 Number of spikes, pcs.: 130 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,5-1,7/1,7-2,0 Tire weight, kg: 10.8 Average price in online stores, rub.: 4830 Price / quality: 5.33
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For all winter roads and off-road. Not badly balanced - serious remarks only for comfort. |
||||
| 4 |
|
Place of manufacture: Finland Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 9,6-9,9 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 57 Number of spikes, pcs.: 128 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,4-1,6/1,5-1,6 Tire weight, kg: 11.6 Average price in online stores, rub.: 4500 Price/quality: 5.01
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For any winter roads, they don’t save on impassability. |
||||
| 4 |
|
Place of manufacture: Germany Tread pattern: asymmetric Tread depth in width, mm: 9,2-9,4 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 51 Number of spikes, pcs.: 128 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,5-1,8/1,5-1,8 Tire weight, kg: 11.2 Average price in online stores, rub.: 5950 Price / quality: 6.62
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For any winter roads, dry asphalt and deep snow do not favor. |
||||
| 6 |
|
Place of manufacture: Germany Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 8,9-9,2 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 57 Number of spikes, pcs.: 112 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,3-1,8/1,6-2,0 Tire weight, kg: 12.6 Average price in online stores, rub.: 4570 Price/quality: 5.10
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For any winter roads, good off-road. One of the most comfortable. |
||||
| 7 |
|
Place of manufacture: South Korea Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 9,2-9,7 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 55 Number of spikes, pcs.: 120 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,8-2,4/1,9-2,4 Tire weight, kg: 12.2 Average price in online stores, rub.: 3930 Price / quality: 4.46
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For snowy and icy roads. On dry pavement - with caution. Help out in deep snow. |
||||
| 8 |
|
Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 9,6-9,9 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 53 Number of spikes, pcs.: 130 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,6-2,2/1,7-2,2 Tire weight, kg: 12.0 Average price in online stores, rub.: 3660 Price / quality: 4.23
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For snowy and icy roads. On pavement, be careful. Help in the snowdrifts. |
||||
| 9 |
|
Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 9,4-9,5 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 57 Number of spikes, pcs.: 130 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,4-1,6/1,5-1,7 Tire weight, kg: 11.2 Average price in online stores, rub.: 3720 Price / quality: 4.34
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For careful driving on snowy and icy roads. Their best properties will be revealed on asphalt. |
||||
| 10 |
|
Place of manufacture: Japan Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 9,6-9,8 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 55 Number of spikes, pcs.: 130 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,4-1,8/1,6-2,0 Tire weight, kg: 11.6 Average price in online stores, rub.: 4460 Price/quality: 5.20
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For careful driving on icy and snowy roads. |
||||
| 11 |
|
Place of manufacture: Japan Tread pattern: directed Tread depth in width, mm: 9,8-10,0 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 51 Number of spikes, pcs.: 105 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,4-1,6/1,7-1,9 Tire weight, kg: 12.2 Average price in online stores, rub.: 4380 Price / quality: 5.17
|
||
|
Sergey Mishin: For a leisurely ride on slightly icy roads. |
||||
This test will allow you to enjoy extreme tests and clearly see the advantages and disadvantages of a number of basic models of winter studded tires. For comparison, ten tires from various leading global manufacturers were selected, all of which are leaders in their industry. These tires are Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, Continental ContiIceContact, Gislaved Nord Frost 100, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Michelin X-Ice North 2, Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, Dunlop Ice Touch, Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000, Hankook Winter i*Pike and domestic Kama Euro-519.
The number of studs - road care or driver safety?
When comparing models of winter studded tires, it is necessary to separately highlight the problem of the number of studs themselves installed in the tire. Talk about tightening the rules for the use of studs has been going on in the Scandinavian countries for a long time, and the reason is the increased wear of the roadway. The "greens" began to argue that asphalt dust is also carcinogenic, that is, it causes cancer. And in 2009, a new standard was promulgated - up to 50 spikes per linear meter, regardless of the tread width or tire diameter. At the same time, the previous restrictions remained in force: the protrusion of the spikes above the tread surface should not exceed 1.2 mm.
But what about security? After all, the more spikes, the better, all other things being equal, the “hook” for the ice will be better ... The tire manufacturers have left a loophole! It turns out that you can install more studs, but then you have to prove that denser studding will not increase the destructive effect on the road. As a result, on the basis of the Finnish test center Test World, a method was developed for in-situ assessment of the impact of studded tires on pavement. In a nutshell, after a certain number of passages on a granite tile, the mass of this tile should not decrease more than after the same impact of reference tires with a "legal" number of studs.
However, there was no rush demand for such tests. For example, Michelin decided that this was not an entirely fair way to get around the new restrictions - and threw all their efforts into improving tires with a reduced number of studs. So did the developers of the new Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires. And the rest?
The rest have fully loaded their production capacities in order to produce as many tires as possible, studded according to the old rules (no more than 130 studs for 16-inch tires). After all, the ban that came into force on July 1 applies specifically to the production, but not to sales of tires with the "wrong" studding!
And only Nokian Tires went its own way: the number of studs on the tires of the new Hakkapeliitta 8 model not only did not decrease, but increased one and a half times! Naturally, the mentioned test was passed, and, as we know, it was carried out not at the Test World test site, but in our own test center near the town of Nokia. It turns out that it is possible and so - under the supervision of an official observer from the agency for transport security Trafi. Competitors, of course, raised a fuss - they say, with so many spikes it is impossible to successfully pass the test!
Ice tests
The test team is set to do their hard work. One by one, sets of tires are subjected to the toughest tests in the most icy conditions. Finally, the last, tenth set of studded tires was tested for "acceleration-braking" - and ... The first sensation! The smallest braking distance on the account of tires ContiIceContact. They also provided the car with better acceleration dynamics. And let the advantage over the "bristled" Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires is quite small, but it is there! That is, 190 spikes lined up in 18 rows work no better on ice than 130 spikes distributed over 12 rows. In any case, in 14-degree frost. Why? Yes, because in order to reduce the harmful effects on the roadway, the Finns really had to change the design of the studs: they are not only lighter, but also smaller - in height and in diameter - than those used in Continental tires. And those that were previously used in Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires. And the carbide insert of the "small" studs is not so powerful.
Two of the favorites are on the heels of the new Pirelli Winter Ice Zero tires.
Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires promise to be another bright novelty of this season. There are already 96 "legitimate" spikes here - and they provide quite decent braking on ice, although during acceleration - only the eighth result. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic and Dunlop Ice Touch and Michelin X-Ice North 2 tires, familiar to us from last year's tests, turned out to be ahead. By the way, why is Michelin represented by X-Ice North tires of the second, and not the third generation? The company decided that before the official launch of the new model on the market, it would be better not to give these tires to anyone for comparative tests.
New to winter season prepared by the Bridgestone company, but also refused to provide them before the official premiere. Therefore, in the overall standings - Bridgestone tires Ice Cruiser 7000, which will also be actively sold on our market this coming winter.
Korean school represented Hankook tires Winter i*Pike, and the Russian one with Kama Euro-519 tires. On ice, the results of both are very modest. But so far we are talking only about grip in the longitudinal direction.
The handling evaluation began with driving on the ice circle at the maximum possible speed, and continued on a winding track, where both the lap time and the subjective assessment of the convenience and reliability of control were taken into account. In these exercises Nokian tires Hakkapeliitta 8 are already winning a convincing victory. Perfectly keep the movement in corners, excellent control over the car on the track! Also, they can be safely recommended to those who go to amateur ice races: "removing" a couple of seconds from the circle is not a problem!
Tires Continental - in second place, and close behind them - and this is the second, albeit small, but still a sensation - Gislaved tires. They made it possible to drive the car very confidently along a winding track.
Another surprise was the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires. With them, the car slows down and accelerates well, but it doesn’t hold well in corners and even “jumped off” an icy track a couple of times. Fortunately, there are not meter-long snowdrifts around, but safety lanes with a ten-centimeter layer of fluffy snow.
snow element
The next day the frost dropped from fourteen degrees to minus seven. The testers have at their disposal a 600-meter track with perfectly rolled snow. The work will be monotonous: acceleration to 50 km / h, braking, accelerating again, braking again ... But if earlier the driver was required to work with pedals to eliminate unnecessary wheel slip at the start and blocking during braking, now electronics monitor this - Traction Control and ABS. And soon, it seems, it will be completely possible to do without a driver.
Let's look at the results of manual tests on snow. It is easy to see that they are very close when braking: the difference between the best tires(Dunlop Ice Touch) and the worst (Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000) is less than three meters, which is ten percent. When accelerating, the spread is a little more, about 20 percent, and the favorites here are already different - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires. That is, the Finns conjured not only with the spikes, but also with the tread - after all, it is not so much the spikes that are important on the snow as the tread.
And on a handling track winding around fir trees and snow-covered boulders, Nokian tires are the quietest: fast responses and fully controlled slides. Moreover, it is better not to slow down in slips, otherwise the stabilization system turned off by the button will “wake up” and the pace will decrease. Another indicator: if on Nokian tires the stabilization system was "woken up" only once, then on other tires it was activated much more often - due to errors caused by stretched slips (they especially upset the Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 and Kama Euro-519 tires) .
Driving on asphalt
In early spring, winter tests were supplemented by a cycle of "asphalt" tests. First, we looked at how the tires behave in sludge - a snow-water porridge that covered the asphalt with an even layer. The depth of this layer is only 3.5 cm, and Hankook tires already float at a speed of 19.4 km/h. However, Bridgestone's best tires in this type of testing are not far away - their limit is 21.2 km / h. And on wet pavement, without any admixture of snow, Gislaved tires have the shortest braking distance, and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 has the worst.
On wet pavement, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires worked rather poorly, but on dry pavement they showed one of the best results when braking. By the way, this is a reason to remind again that modern studded tires work on asphalt no worse, and sometimes even better than non-studded tires. scandinavian type- those that are popularly called Velcro. This is due to the stiffer rubber, which is necessary for reliable fixation of the spikes. Still in use is the myth that a studded tire rolls on asphalt, relying more on studs than on rubber. But in fact, the spikes, in contact with the asphalt, sink into the body of the tread, practically without reducing the contact patch of the rubber with the road. However, it all depends on what goals the manufacturer sets when creating a specific tire model. By changing the tread pattern, hardness and chemical composition of rubber, it is possible to shift the balance of qualities, giving preference either to behavior on slippery winter surfaces (ice, snow) or on asphalt.
The Dunlop Ice Touch tire model has this balance clearly shifted towards asphalt: the Audi A3 brakes confidently and responds best to sharp steering turns. But on ContiIceContact tires, the braking distance on both dry and wet pavement is a couple of meters longer, that is, preference is given to "winter" qualities.
Where studded tires always lose to non-studded tires is in acoustic comfort. There is clearly more noise from them, especially if there are as many as 190 spikes in the tread, like Nokian tires. However, even with fewer studs, Kama Euro, Pirelli, Continental and Bridgestone tires sound about the same. And the quietest tires are Michelin X-Ice 2. Along with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires, they are also the softest.
How will such soft tires behave when they hit a hole or hit a ledge of asphalt? A team of testers subjected winter tires to a similar experiment. At a speed of 40 km / h, the car runs into a steel channel set at an angle of 30 degrees - a piece of a U-shaped beam. If the tire held, the attempt is repeated already at a speed of 45 km / h. And so on until the tire "expires". In order not to damage the suspension of the brand new Audi A3, it was replaced by a beat-up Mercedes-Benz C 180.
Bridgestone tires withstood the most blows: they managed to break through only at a speed of 70 km / h! And this is no coincidence: when developing their tires, the Japanese take into account the specifics of bad roads, strengthen the structure and test it themselves with crash tests.
Decently hold the blow and Continental tires- They surrendered at a speed of 60 km / h. The bulk of the tires were finished off at a speed of 50 km / h, but the Michelin tires, which were initially liked so much by their softness, were pierced in the very first race, at a speed of 40 km / h. It was even decided to repeat the experiment - what if it was an accident? As a result, the second Michelin X-Ice North 2 tire with a through hole is sent to the landfill. Again, everything is understandable: the French company is paying more and more attention to reducing rolling resistance, for which the sidewall is becoming thinner (at the same time, the so-called hysteresis losses are reduced - the energy consumption for heating due to deformation).
The tires were also tested for rolling resistance using a running drum. And it turned out that Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires roll easier than others, and not Michelin X-Ice North 2. But this is without studs, since studded tires would damage the calibrated surface of the drum. It is not a fact that this rating will not change with spikes. However, in terms of fuel consumption, the difference is still small - the bulk of the tires share 0.2-0.3 l / 100 km. And the difference between the most "economical" and the most "gluttonous" tires (they were expected to be Bridgestone tires) is 0.6 l / 100 km. And yet, since the experiment was conducted without spikes, its results were not taken into account when deriving the final scores.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
Overall rating: 9.0
- Handling on ice and snow
- Braking properties on dry asphalt
- Noisiness
- High price
With such a number of spikes, a victory over competitors, especially in ice disciplines, should be simply devastating! But the matter was limited to a simple victory, without defeat. On the track, handling is the best time, driving a car is a pleasure. But the advantage over ContiIceContact tires, which have 60 fewer studs, is negligible, and in terms of accelerating dynamics, Continental tires are even better. Because there are a lot of spikes in the tread of Finnish tires, but they are small: the diameter, the height of the spike, the width of the carbide insert - everything here is smaller than that of Continental tires. Perhaps, at a higher temperature, on "soft" ice, the effectiveness of "small" spikes would be higher, but our tests took place in 14-degree frost.
Nokian tires are traditionally good on snow: accurate and timely reactions to the steering wheel and gas.
But on asphalt, the behavior is unstable. If on dry surfaces Nokian tires provide good deceleration, then on wet surfaces they provide the longest braking distance. And the expected drawback was the "itchy" sound from the spikes, which did not leave the cabin in the entire speed range.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (62 sizes available - from 175/70 R13 to 255/35 R20) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,2 |
| 9,0 | |
| 48 | |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 190/18 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 1,2 |
| Producing country | Finland |
| Catalog of winter tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 » | |
Continental ContiIceContact
Overall rating: 9.0
- Traction on ice and snow
- Handling on ice and snow
- impact strength
- Traction on wet pavement
On ice, the ContiIceContact tires are great. Acceleration and braking are the best in the test, and the balance of drift and skid on the ice handling track is as if you are driving not in a front-wheel drive car, but in an all-wheel drive car. I let off the gas a little at the entrance to the turn - and then you drive the car along an arc in a controlled sliding with four wheels!
On snow, the tires are also good, and only the slight tendency to skid the rear axle, which is not always appropriate, did not allow us to give the highest score for "handling reliability".
On the pavement, the grip is average, although the "Rearrangement" maneuver was done very well. The car reacts sluggishly to the first impulse, but then the tires “compress” and hold lateral overloads well. It's a pity that the soundtrack during such maneuvers is already very intrusive - the Continental tires howl pretty much even on the straight, and the rumble intensifies in turns.
These tires hold up well. And the spikes in them hold on to the last: in order to pull out the spike planted on the glue, you need to apply a force 2-2.5 times higher compared to other tires.
I wonder if the ContiIceContact tires will retain the same high performance on ice after switching to a lightweight stud? Such tires with the HD index, produced after July 1, 2013, have already appeared at Russian dealers.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (42 sizes available - from 155/80 R13 to 245/40 R18) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,8 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 49 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 130/12 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 1,3 |
| Producing country | Germany |
| Buy winter tires Continental ContiIceContact » | |
Gislaved Nord Frost 100
Overall rating: 9.0
- Traction and handling on ice
- Traction on snow
- Traction on asphalt
- Moderate snow handling
"Not by number, but by skill!" The Gislaved Nord Frost 100 has only 96 standard offset studs in its tread, but on ice these tires are better than many tires that have 130 studs. On the handling track - the third time, but behind the leader, who has almost twice as many spikes, less than a second! It is not for nothing that German tire manufacturers (Gislaved today are 100 percent a product Continental) worked on a new tread and new "triangular" studs! The slides are small and easy to control.
And on the snow, decent behavior, although on the track the handling is hindered by harsh slips.
But on wet pavement - the minimum braking distance! At the same time, the tires make little noise and gently “swallow” bumps.
In general, they are well-balanced winter tires: they work confidently on country roads and are almost ideal for urban use. And the price looks reasonable.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (38 sizes available - from 155/70 R13 to 245/40 R18) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 8,8 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,4 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 48 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 96/14 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 1,3 |
| Producing country | Germany |
| Winter tires Gislaved Nord Frost 100 in our online store » | |
Pirelli Winter Ice Zero
Overall rating: 8.7
- Traction on ice
- Moderate handling performance on ice and snow
- Noisiness
These tires got to our test a month and a half before the official premiere (AR No. 17, 2013) - we didn’t even know the real name of the model, since there was no marking on the smooth sidewall. But both the tread and the spikes new design were already "commodity" - now both the insert and the body of the spike have a complex trapezoidal shape.
In terms of longitudinal dynamics on ice, the Pirelli tires are almost on par with the test leaders. But on the control track, there were sharp breakdowns in side slips. However, Pirelli tires, whether winter or summer, have always endowed the car with sharper, sportier responses.
A similar behavior is observed on snow, but here the adhesion properties in the longitudinal direction turned out to be at an average level.
Here on the pavement - a good deceleration, both on dry and wet.
Ride is good, but a lot of noise - the rumble is audible even when driving on packed snow.
Albeit with reservations, we also recommend these tires - first of all, to those who drive in winter mainly on city streets cleared of snow.
| Dimension | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,1 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 50 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 130/16 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 1,2 |
| Producing country | Germany |
| Sale of winter tires Pirelli Winter Ice Zero » | |
Michelin X-Ice North 2
Overall rating: 8.5
- Comfort
- Traction on wet and dry pavement
- Insufficient resistance to slashplaning
- Low impact strength
When we ran this test with the Michelin X-Ice North 2 tires in early February, we received an invitation to the official premiere of the next tire. generation-X-Ice North 3. But all attempts to get new tires for the test failed! However, in Russia, the novelty will not appear in all dimensions, and half of the sales of Michelin studded tires will fall on the X-Ice North 2 model.
Decent tires, and with a pronounced family feature of Michelin tires - this is high stability on slippery roads and soft, understandable transients. Too bad the slides themselves last a little longer than we'd like.
This also manifested itself on the pavement: stretched slides prevented the “rearrangement” at high speed. But there are no problems with braking, and the level of comfort is beyond praise: these are the softest and quietest tires in our test!
They would have had a stronger sidewall, otherwise, when hitting an "obstacle", thin rubber is already torn at a speed of 40 km / h, although most tires hold up to 50 km / h, and some remain intact even at higher speeds.
In general, very comfortable winter tires that are best used on the streets of large cities.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (29 sizes available - from 205/55 R16 to 295/35 R21) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 9,3 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,4 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 52 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 118/12 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 1,0 |
| Producing country | Russia |
| Winter tires Michelin X-Ice North 2 - all sizes in our store » | |
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
Overall rating: 8.4
- Braking performance on ice and snow
- Traction on wet and dry pavement
- impact strength
- Handling on ice
- Traction on snow
Introduced last year, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ace Arctic immediately topped our tests, but this year's performance has been less impressive. The reason could be the changed weather conditions, the progress of competitors, but it seems that the matter is in a lower quality studding. The cocked studs themselves have not changed, but most of them turned out to be excessively recessed into the tread - the offset averages 0.9 mm against 1.2-1.3 mm for competing tires. Here you need to look for the reason for lagging behind the leaders of the test both in acceleration and in braking on ice. And on the handling track, the lag is already beyond the bounds of decency: the Audi A3 on Goodyear tires covers an 800-meter track ten seconds longer than on Nokian tires! We noted last year that Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires work better in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction, and now the imbalance has worsened - the car keeps very poorly on the arc!
On snow, the handling situation is better, but there are problems with acceleration. On the pavement - at the level of the middle peasants. It is curious that the clatter of the spikes is almost inaudible, but the tread itself howls in the entire speed range.
That's what these tires definitely pleased with, so it's resistance to impact: in this discipline - the third place.
With normal studding quality, these tires would certainly be able to compete with the leaders, but according to the results of our test, we would not recommend using these tires on machines without electronic systems stabilization.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (25 sizes available - from 175/70 R13 to 225/55 R17) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,3 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,8 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 55 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 130/14 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 0,9 |
| Producing country | Poland |
| Goodyear UltraGrip Ace Arctic Winter Tire Catalog » | |
Dunlop Ice Touch
Overall rating: 8.3
- Braking performance on snow
- Handling on ice and snow
- Smooth running
In the final score, Dunlop tires are only 0.1 points behind Goodyear tires. No wonder: the Dunlop brand is now three-quarters owned by Goodyear, and the Dunlop Ice Touch and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires were developed by the same engineering team. The tread patterns are different, but everything else - the depth of the grooves, the hardness of the rubber and the studs - is the same. Unfortunately, the quality of the studding is the same: the studs in the Dunlop tires also turned out to be planted deeper than they should. By the way, tires are made at the same factory in Poland.
The problems with handling on ice are similar: in the transverse direction, Dunlop tires hold noticeably worse than in the longitudinal direction. It is difficult to drive a car along a winding track due to sharp, unexpected breakdowns in sliding.
But on the snow - the minimum braking distance! At the same time, acceleration and handling performance are as “sluggish” as on ice.
But on a dry surface - the minimum braking distance and maximum speed performing a "rearrangement". The car clearly and quickly responds to steering wheel turns, which is a rarity for winter tires! True, there are side effect- increased rigidity when passing small irregularities.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (16 sizes available - from 175/65 R14 to 225/55 R17) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 94 (670 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,1 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,8 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 55 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 130/14 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 0,9 |
| Producing country | Poland |
| Order Dunlop Ice Touch winter tires in our online store » | |
Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000
Overall rating: 7.5
- High impact strength
- High resistance to slashplaning
- Traction and handling on asphalt
- Traction on ice and snow
- Comfort
- Handling on ice and snow
Aggressive tread cut with a small network of wavy sipes - and spikes lined up in 14 lines. But the spikes are ordinary - with cylindrical inserts, and the tread rubber is not as "tenacious" as that of competitors, as indirectly evidenced by its increased hardness - 20% more compared to Nokian tires. And as a result - very modest traction properties both on ice and on snow. Handling also leaves much to be desired (speed in turns is limited by unpleasant sliding of the front axle).
Here on the snow-water porridge, Bridgestone tires emerge later than others. Yes, and they work perfectly on asphalt: on the “rearrangement” the reactions are so fast and accurate, as if the car is “shod” not in winter, but in all-season tires. And most of all I was pleased with the impenetrable sidewalls. But here, too, there is a compromise: a stronger sidewall is also more rigid, so Bridgestone tires do not have the best effect on ride smoothness.
Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 tires will surely find their poor buyer, especially in the outback - where tires are often changed not because of tread wear, but because of "holes" received in the pits. However, dealers will offer an alternative this fall. tires Ice Cruiser 7000- new model Blizzak Spike-01 (details - in the next issues of Autoreview), but evaluate the improvements within comparative test we can only next year.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (37 sizes available - from 175/70 R13 to 245/50 R20) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,6 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,7 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 59 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 130/14 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 1,0 |
| Producing country | Japan |
| Buy winter tires Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 of the right size » | |
Hankook Winter i*Pike
Overall rating: 7.5
- Traction and handling on dry pavement
- Traction on ice and snow
- Low resistance to slashplaning
- Traction on wet pavement
Even at the stage of "static" measurements, we assumed that the Hankook tires in this test are superfluous: most of the spikes barely protrude above the tread level. There are those that rise only 0.3 mm! On ice, such spikes, of course, do not work - the car slips menacingly both when braking and when cornering. But at the same time, it gets a decent mark for the reliability of control: yes, the car slides and therefore drives slowly, but the limit in traction is felt well, the breakdowns are soft, there is a good balance of drift and skid. It also happens.
However, the Hankook tires could not shine on the snow, where the studs no longer play a big role. The tread does not cope well with drainage functions - on sludge (snow-water mixture), Hankook tires emerge earlier than others. They also work poorly on wet pavement (the braking distance is too long) - and only on dry pavement everything is more or less in order. But this is not enough to recommend Hankook Winter i*Pike tires as winter tires. True, there is an argument that for many sounds stronger than safety arguments: Hankook tires are exactly two times cheaper than Nokian tires.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (64 sizes available - from 155/65 R13 to 245/45 R18) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,0 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,74 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 57 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 130/12 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 0,7 |
| Producing country | South Korea |
| Sales catalog of winter tires Hankook Winter i*Pike W409 » | |
| Sales catalog of winter tires Hankook Winter i*Pike W419 » | |
Kama Euro-519
Overall rating: 7.1
- Braking performance on snow
- Traction on ice
- Handling on ice and snow
- Low level of comfort
Despite the tread pattern, which is very reminiscent of Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 tires, Russian Kama Euro-519 tires cannot yet compete on equal terms with imported counterparts. Longitudinal traction on snow is encouraging, but on the handling track, all hopes disappear. It is difficult to “refuel” the car into a turn, and therefore, before each of them, you need to slow down more than in the case of other tires.
A sad picture on the ice: slips are just as poorly predictable and poorly controlled. And there are problems with braking on ice. The reason seems to be the same as in the case of Hankook tires: insufficient protrusion of the studs above the tread surface. On average - 0.8 mm: such a departure is not enough for a good "hook" on ice.
On asphalt, the tires perform at an average level. When performing sharp maneuvers, the reactions to the steering wheel are "smeared". And let the spikes slightly annoy with a clatter, the tread buzzes pretty. And on bumps, these tires are some of the toughest.
Yes, the Kama Euro-519 took last place in our test. But if you keep in mind the price and the stellar composition of the participants, then this is not just the last, but an honorable last place. And if the manufacturer establishes control over the quality of the studding, then, you see, it will be possible to claim higher and no less honorable places.
| Dimension | 205/55 R16 (16 sizes available - from 175/70 R13 to 215/60 R16) |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 91 (615 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,3 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,0 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 59 |
| Number of spikes/studding lines | 136/14 |
| Protrusion of spikes, mm | 0,8 |
| Producing country | Russia |
| Buy winter tires Kama Euro-519 in our store » | |
| Test results | Tire models | ||||||||||
| Options | Impact on overall score | Bridgestone | Continental | Dunlop | Gislaved | good year | Hankook | Kama Euro | Michelin | Nokian | Pirelli |
| Ice | 35% | ||||||||||
| Braking properties | 15% | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Accelerating dynamics | 5% | 6 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Transverse grip properties | 5% | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Handling (lap time) | 5% | 6 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Control Reliability | 5% | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Snow | 25% | ||||||||||
| Braking properties | 10% | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Accelerating dynamics | 5% | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Handling (lap time) | 5% | 5 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
| Control Reliability | 5% | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Slashplaning resistance | 5% | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Wet asphalt | 10% | ||||||||||
| Braking properties | 10% | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| dry asphalt | 10% | ||||||||||
| Braking properties | 5% | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Emergency (obstacle avoidance) | 5% | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| impact strength | 5% | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | Autoreview||||