Braking performance was evaluated on snow, ice, wet and dry pavement. The tests were carried out at various temperatures, and the average result was determined after 15-20 races. On ice, the car was stopped from 50 km/h, on snow and wet surfaces - from 80 km/h. Tests on snowy and icy surfaces were carried out both outdoors and indoors, where temperature and humidity control allows you to eliminate the influence of the weather.
Traction on snow and ice was evaluated using the fastest possible acceleration from 5 to 35 and from 5 to 20 km/h, respectively. Tests were also carried out at various temperatures on the track and in the indoor complex.
Handling was rated based on lap times, and in addition, several drivers provided feedback on how the tires accelerated, braked, and cornered on various surfaces. The tests were carried out blind, meaning the drivers did not know which tires were fitted to the car. In the same way, directional stability was evaluated, that is, the ability of the tires to maintain the direction of movement without the need for steer.
In the noise level test, the pilots also made subjective assessments by making several runs on uneven surfaces. Finally, the rolling resistance was measured as follows - the car rolled freely, decelerating from 80 to 40 km / h, on a flat surface without the influence of wind. The tests were carried out at two different temperatures, after which the percentage increase in consumption was calculated compared to the most economical tires.
Test World emphasized that all tires were purchased freely from various stores. If the tires were not yet available on the market, they were sent by the manufacturer, but after the start of sales, the results of these tires were additionally checked.B.
Existing regulations in Scandinavia do not limit the number of studs in tires. More precisely, there are no restrictions for manufacturers whose new tires have been tested by an independent organization, which confirmed that the effect of studs on road wear does not exceed acceptable values. If the tests are successful, the manufacturer has the discretion to choose the type of studs and their number.
Another option is to abandon these tests and reduce the number of studs to the maximum allowed, that is, 50 pieces per linear meter of tread - in the amount of 205/55 R16, which means that there should be less than a hundred studs. Of the 12 participants in this test, only three manufacturers decided to go this route.
Increasing the number of studs improves traction on ice. This is a logical consequence, and the test results almost always confirm it. Be that as it may, a large number of spikes alone does not guarantee success in the entire test, although on ice it does give a certain advantage.
The more spikes, the more noise, as a rule, which can be quite annoying while driving. When driving on asphalt, studs can also negatively affect handling, stability, and even braking performance.
Additional grip on icy surfaces is provided by the penetration of the stud into the ice surface. In order for the spike to “grab” the ice, a certain amount of energy is required. The more studs, the less pressure there will be on one individual stud, and if you drive on hard ice in cold weather, tires with fewer studs may have better grip.
Nokian shook up the studded tire market a couple of years ago by introducing tires with 190 studs, 50-100% more than other tires on the market at the time. After that, Nokian tires won one test after another, but their advantage is gradually decreasing.
This year Continental tires also equipped with 190 spikes. It's easy to guess who they were targeting when they determined this number, but be that as it may, the results are still excellent.
In third place in terms of the number of spikes are Hankook, which have 170 of them. The Korean manufacturer is actively investing in research and development, and experts noted that it is good to see good winter tires starting to come from Asia. As a representative of one of the manufacturers said, 10 years ago, the characteristics of Korean tires were an occasion for jokes for many in the industry, but now they are no longer laughed at even in large European companies.
A large group of test participants installed 130 studs in tires. Goodyear, Bridgestone and Pirelli are well-known manufacturers, so it was logical to take their tires to the test. Tires from second-tier brands include Sava, Dunlop and the former Nokian, which are now offered as Nordman. All of them are inexpensive and less high-tech alternatives to tires from premium brands.
Michelin, Gislaved and China's Linglong have less than 100 studs, meaning they didn't pass the wear test. pavement. The first two models belong to the premium class, however, apparently, other parameters cannot compensate for the lack of grip on ice compared to tires with a lot of studs. As for Linglong, the company's tires have already participated in the Finnish tests, proving to be one of the best winter tires from China.
Developers friction tires there is no need to worry about the number of spikes, but their absence must be compensated for in one way or another, and this creates a whole host of other problems. There is a limited set of tools available to increase traction on non-studded tires on ice, and mostly engineers use new materials and improved tread patterns while making the compound as soft as possible. However, if you overdo it with the softness of the rubber compound, other problems can arise, the worst of which are weak grip on wet pavement, unstable handling and low wear resistance.
In recent years, Nokian and Continental have occupied the top spots in friction tire tests. Even without studs, their tires provide impressive grip on ice, but buyers will have to put up with sluggish steering responses on pavement or opt for other tires that again offer less grip.
Goodyear's friction tires focused on handling on pavement, which only slightly worsened traction in winter conditions, while Michelin has always preferred to create a balance of performance without any obvious drawbacks. Pirelli and Bridgestone are old proven brands, but their models in this test are different from those tested before.
Two tires from a lower price segment were added to the list - Nordman from Nokian and Nankang from a Taiwanese manufacturer, which is known for its rather successful summer tires. This test showed whether their winter tires could compete with products from European companies.
The tire business is full of all sorts of information about how different types of winter tires wear and how wear affects their grip. Someone says that friction tires wear out twice as fast as studded ones, and someone is convinced that due to the wear of the studs, after a couple of years, the grip of studded tires will be weaker than that of non-studded ones.
Test World chose six tire models from last year - four studded, two friction - and tested their wear by driving them on asphalt roads in cold weather for 15,000 km, which is roughly equivalent to operating for two winter seasons. The route was mostly motorway, but each tire was subjected to 100 braking and accelerating at low speeds to simulate urban traffic conditions.
The tests used three cars that followed the same route in the same conditions. Two tires of each model were taken, which were rearranged from the front axle to the rear. Thus, at the end of the test, all tires covered the same distance on the front and rear axles, and in addition, the drivers also changed cars to avoid affecting their driving style.
The tires were tested for braking performance on ice before the start of the test, after which the same tests were carried out every 5,000 km. It is noteworthy that both types of tires lost grip about the same, and after 15,000 km, its level decreased by about 20%. In addition, grip deterioration was the same for tires of different brands, and the alignment of forces did not change during the entire test. This suggests that the results of tests of new tires allow us to judge how certain tires will behave in a worn condition.
Be that as it may, in terms of durability, the tires differed from each other. The table shows how many kilometers they can go before their tread depth drops to 3mm. Michelins are historically known as tires with particularly good wear resistance, and tests on the chosen model once again confirmed this reputation. It is worth noting that the results will always depend on the car, the quality of the roads and the driving style.
With the exception of the Michelin, all other tires in both categories wear about the same, and after the test, their tread depth decreased by 2 mm. Friction Continentals had wear of only 1.5 mm, but, as in the case of Michelin, due to the relatively small initial tread depth of up to 3 mm, they would wear out faster. It must be recalled that high wear resistance can negatively affect grip, and the buyer must decide for himself which parameter is more important to him.
Test World notes that while the differences between the tested tires may look minor on paper, they can actually be more than obvious in everyday life, and this applies not only to braking performance, but also to cornering grip and steering responses. . According to experts, the worst tires in the test practically do not allow you to control the car on slippery surfaces, so Test World reminds you that when choosing winter tires, you should not focus only on price and buy cheap tires. Tests by various organizations year after year show that budget Asian tires do not provide the optimum level of safety, and an accident will be much more costly, not to mention other, more serious risks.
TEST RESULTS
Left: Ice braking(Braking distance from 50 to 0 km/h, m)
Right: Acceleration on ice(Acceleration time from 5 to 20 km/h, s)
Left: Handling on ice(Lap time, s)
Right: Handling on ice(Subjective assessments, points)
Left: Snow braking
Right: Acceleration on snow(Acceleration time from 5 to 35 km/h, s)
Left: Snow handling(Lap time, s)
Right: Snow handling(Subjective assessments, points)
Left: Wet handling(Lap time, s)
Right: Wet handling(Subjective assessments, points)
Left: Braking on dry pavement(Braking distance from 80 km/h, m)
Right: Handling on dry pavement(Points)
Left: Noise(Points)
Right: Rolling resistance(Difference in fuel consumption, %)
Expert opinions on each tire are presented below.
Studded tires:
| Place | Tire | Expert opinion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 3/2015 Producing country: Finland Nokian received top marks in all disciplines on the ice where they have a short braking distances and high lateral grip, clearly aided by the presence of 190 studs. On snow, the tires were also among the best, and they showed their weaknesses in tests for braking performance and handling on wet pavement. Experts noted that this is a normal situation if maximum grip on ice is the top priority when creating tires.
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| 2 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 4/2015 Producing country: Germany The Continentals also performed well in the ice tests, although they were still slightly behind the Nokian in terms of braking and acceleration performance. At the same time, the pilots awarded them 10 points for behavior that was stable and predictable. On the snowy track, the Continentals were also among the leaders, and they are clearly better than the Nokian in the wet. In other words, these are tires that can optimally cope with any conditions and do not have any obvious shortcomings.
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| 2 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 2/2015 Producing country: South Korea Hankook is taking a place on the podium, so the Korean brand is likely to become one of the leading players in the harsh winter tire market. The Hankook has short stopping distances and high traction on both snow and ice, and on a twisty track it was one of the fastest tires out there, which speaks to its ability to hold traction in a variety of situations. On wet pavement, Hankook also stops the car quickly, but at the same time they can go into a skid too quickly, and they do not have very good information content.
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| 4 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 43/2014 Producing country: Poland Goodyear has arguably outperformed all other studded tires this time around in terms of balance of performance on various surfaces. They are quite a bit behind best tires on snow and ice, where they have short braking distances and good handling. The only weakness is the relatively low grip on wet pavement, but the pilots noted that the tires behave consistently and safely.
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| 4 |
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Load/Speed Index: 91T Date of manufacture: 48/2014 Producing country: Germany Another good result for Pirelli. On ice, the tires behave confidently and reliably, without presenting unpleasant surprises, and on snow, Pirelli has a relatively long braking distance, but good traction and high lateral grip. In addition to this, the Pirelli proved to be one of the best studded tires on wet pavement, where they also have very stable handling. The downside is that Pirelli noise is louder than most other tires.
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| 6 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 43/2014 Producing country: Poland The Dunlops were able to earn a large number of points, not least because they were among the best on wet and dry pavement. On snow and ice, they also performed quite well, but not as consistently as the leaders. Acceleration and braking on ice are fine, as is car deceleration on snow. At the same time, lateral stability on a snowy track could be higher.
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| 7 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 6/2015 Producing country: Germany Gislaved is Continental's second-tier brand, and tire performance is also less impressive. In the snow by the tires excellent results in terms of braking and handling. On icy surfaces, the Gislaved, with only 96 studs, lag behind some other tires, but despite this, they earned praise for good stability and lateral grip, which made pilots feel more confident. exchange rate stability- excellent, but Gislaved has high rolling resistance.
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| 8 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 37/2014 Producing country: Russia Unlike most other studded Michelin tires not as much geared towards enhancing traction on ice, and besides, they gave way to other tires on snowy surfaces. The only positive thing is that the tires performed very evenly in all disciplines. On dry and wet pavement Michelins feel better than many other studded tires, and they have reduced noise levels. In addition, as shown by a separate test, Michelin can please with very high wear resistance.
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| 9 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 12/2014 Producing country: Japan On the ice, the Bridgestne received high subjective marks, as the pilots liked the character of their handling. At the same time, on a snowy track, Bridgestone took fairly low places in all disciplines, that is, the grip on the snow still needs to be worked on. On wet and dry pavement, Bridgestones stop the car quickly enough, but they can lose traction too quickly in a corner, and they have slow steering responses. In addition, Bridgestone will increase fuel consumption due to high rolling resistance.
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| 9 |
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Load/Speed Index: 91T Date of manufacture: 4/2014 Producing country: Poland Sava is inexpensive tires, which would have shown good results on ice, if not for the too long braking distance. At the same time, on snow, they are inferior to other studded tires in terms of both braking performance and traction, and skidding can start too abruptly. On dry pavement, the Sava ranks among the best tires.
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| 11 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 48/2014 Producing country: Russia The budget Nordman are made by Nokian, but in terms of their characteristics, they are very far from the tires of the Hakkapeliitta line. On ice they have relatively weak traction and a long braking distance, on snow they were a little better, but on wet pavement the tires again showed not the best results. It is worth adding that the tires behave predictably, without unpleasant surprises.
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| 12 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 41/2014 Producing country: China Don't be fooled by the Winter Max Grip name - the Linglong actually has very little traction on snow and ice, and in fact, on icy surfaces, it even outperforms some non-studded tires. The only pleasant moment is a short braking distance on snow. At the same time, the Linglongs performed very well in the wet and dry pavement tests, and they also have excellent directional stability.
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Non-studded tires:
| Place | Tire | Expert opinion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Load/Speed Index: 94R Producing country: Finland When creating your own friction Nokian tires it also definitely strives to outperform all competitors on ice, and in this year's test, the Finnish brand's tires showed the best braking performance, handling and lateral grip on icy surfaces. Experts noted that even after losing grip, Nokian allows you to maintain control over the car. On dry and wet pavement, the soft Nokian is expected bad grip and long stopping distance.
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| 2 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Producing country: Poland Goodyear accelerates and brakes quickly on snow and ice, but they have some lateral stability issues that can cause the tires to skid too hard at the grip limit - however, it is easy enough to maintain control. On dry and wet pavement, the Goodyear proved to be one of the best, as they have very effective braking and precise reactions during emergency maneuvers. All in all, Goodyear has to be credited, as their tires performed quite well on all types of surface.
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| 2 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Producing country: Spain Michelin also performed well in almost all disciplines. The tires have short braking distances on both snow and ice, as well as stable behavior in most emergency situations. At the same time, Michelin can still lose traction on the front axle. On wet and dry pavement, the Michelins showed good braking performance and lateral grip, though not as high as the best tyres.
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| 2 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Producing country: Russia On the ice Pirelli became one of the best non-studded tires, and their performance on snow was even better, as the tires are very confident when making emergency maneuvers. The Pirellis also have excellent wet performance, where they bring the car to a quick stop and provide optimum agility. In this case, on a dry surface, traction may be lost too sharply. The noise level is low.
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| 5 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Producing country: Germany Continental can also be considered one of the best friction tires due to short braking distance, high lateral grip and good control on ice. On snow, the Continentals also performed well, although they can skid at high steering angles. On dry and wet pavement, the tires have relatively good braking performance, but they feel too soft, which can interfere with emergency.
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| 6 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94R Producing country: Russia The Nordman are somewhat behind the leaders in their category, as on ice they have relatively poor acceleration and braking performance, and the front wheels can lose traction too easily during a sharp maneuver. On snow, the performance is noticeably better, especially in terms of lateral stability and stability of behavior. On wet and dry pavement, the Nordman has poor grip and slow steering responses, but at least they won't skid sharply.
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| 7 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94T Producing country: Japan Bridgestone's main weaknesses have been shown on the ice, where they have long braking distances, slow acceleration, and also lose traction too easily in corners, especially on the front axle. On snow, the tires are more reliable thanks to the high lateral force and braking performance of the best tyres, so it's a bit surprising that the Bridgestone performed very poorly on wet pavement. On dry surfaces, the grip is much higher and the tires handle emergency maneuvers well.
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| 8 |
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Load/Speed Index: 94Q Producing country: China Nankang dropped to the bottom in most disciplines. On ice, they have poor longitudinal and lateral grip, and on snow, the situation was in many ways just as deplorable. Lateral stability is low, so you can’t feel safe. On wet pavement, the tires also lagged behind the rest, and in general Nankang simply cannot match the really good quality winter tires.
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In the USA, closer to the north of Detroit (about 300 miles from Detroit) - various winter tests were carried out, popular tires model range 2013-2014. The ship brought 11 pairs of different winter tires - and six of them with spikes, and five without any spikes, Velcro in everyday life. For subsequent testing, a standard Hyundai Sonata was used, the wheel sizes of which are 215/55 R17 (R16 in the factory version). During the tests, the well-known race car driver Richard May, who had previously tested winter tires for SUVs and station wagons, was behind the wheel of this car during the tests.
Read also:
Tires tested:
Tests conducted out of competition:
Before testing, all tires were checked and weighed, as well as checking the hardness of the rubber, comparing the speed index and measuring the entire stud offset. We checked the strength and all the seemingly unimportant details of the tires, since the tests are not easy, and some are even very dangerous.
Testing was done on ice as it The best way check and evaluate the braking distance and acceleration dynamics. Eight races had to be driven on each test tire. The best test results, as you might have guessed, showed studded tires! - Everyone expected this and it did not surprise anyone, but the following indicators are truly amazing ...
Surprisingly and shockingly, the Yokohama and Hankook brands, given all the test conditions, showed the worst result. - After that, repeated testing was carried out, which showed that brands should find a place for themselves in back rows test result. - The results leave much to be desired...
Some of the most popular tires in the Far East are Toyo and Dunlop. These tires do not have spikes, which are commonly called Velcro. - However, during testing, they did not show themselves as Velcro, and despite the fact that all the tests were carried out at a temperature of minus 9 degrees, they simply had no chance.
Later, the next day of testing, when the thermometer showed only one degree above zero, and all tests for tires with numb studs - were repeated. The tires slipped... The best result was 34.7 meters, and on the last day of testing, the results reached only 16-19 meters. Acceleration speed increased by 2 times! The reason for such misunderstandings turned out to be water, which on the first day of testing was formed at the point of contact of the tires with ice. Finally, Japanese technologies were able to truly show themselves and an excellent result was obtained - which is really amazing! Dunlop tires showed good results, and toyo tires could not show the best result, even after testing was repeated at a temperature of 1 degree below zero.
It is also necessary to separately highlight the Michelin X-lce 2 tires, which showed good results regardless of weather conditions. This is a universal type of tire that is recommended for everyday driving today.
So, the three test leaders who showed the best results: Nokian, Continental, Michelin. Unfortunately, and even to great surprise, the best result of the Michelin X-lce 2 tire was not shown. Many were surprised by this, because they made a big bet. From here the conclusion followed that these tires perform better in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. And the use of Michelin X-lce 2 in the transverse direction is not recommended by many specialists and experts who also did not expect such results from this brand.
The track on which all tests took place was periodically checked and some changes were made. It was easier and simpler to determine the results of snow tire testing. The snow cover was stable, the area was much larger, which is why each brand of tires needed 12-14 races. Michelin tires showed the best results, which are considered to be one of the best tires for snow. When accelerating, the non-studded X-Ice 2 turned out to be the best. When braking, the studded X-lce North tires showed the best results. Testing showed that nothing depends on the spikes at the training ground!
The testers were amazed by the result of the Sonata, which had automatic box programs and showed their results, which already spoke for themselves. It turned out that the tires move freely and quickly in the snow, and at the same time the driver gets great pleasure!
But the tires Continental ContilceContact and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 - proved to be indispensable for traction on icy and slippery roads.
Michelin tires showed what it is the best choice for urban, everyday driving, showing reliable control.
Also, after all the testing, we conducted another test on the loss of spikes. It turned out that not a single brand has lost a single one during the entire testing period, which actually amazed many journalists who watched the whole process.
This testing dispelled the myth that studded tires perform worse than non-studded tires on asphalt.
The last test was slashplaning resistance. A special Volkswagen Transporter is involved in this test. The car must drive onto asphalt covered with 3.5 cm thick snow, and accelerate until it loses absolute contact with a generally solid surface. In this test, only the speed was important, and it was considered the speed of the start of the slashpleng. Continental СontiVikingСontaсt 5 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 - showed best result in this testing. No one expected that these two brands would be the most resistant in this test.
All tests were evaluated on a ten-point scale and here they are the test winners:
The best studded tires turned out to be Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7, with a very small gap behind the following tires: Michelin X-lce North 2 and Continental СontilсeContact, which are almost also winners!
The best non-studded tires were tires - ContiVikingContact 5. Then comes the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R, which was only 0.05 points behind the winner - ContiVikingContact 5.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
- The winner of the tests "Behind the wheel" and "Autoreview"
- New directional and symmetrical pattern
- New scheme and concept of Nokian Eco Stud 8 studding.
- Noisiness at the level of non-studded tires
Nokian Hakapelita 8 price in Moscow
R14 from 3700 rubR15 from 4400 rubles
R16 from 6950 rubles
R17 from 8900 rubles
R18 from 11000 rub
Price Michelin X-Ice North XIN3 in Moscow
R14 not available
R15 from 4600 rubles
R16 from 5500 rub
R17 from 8900 rubles
R18 from 9900 rubles
Price Gislaved NordFrost 100 in Moscow
Price in Moscow:
R14 from 2400 rub
R15 from 3000 rub
R16 from 4300 rubles
R17 from 6500 rubles
R18 from 8400 rubles
Continental Conti4x4IceContact
Price Continental Conti4x4IceContact in Moscow
R14 not available
R15 from 5500 rub
R16 from 6000 rub
R17 from 8400 rubles
R18 from 9900 rubles
The ADAC club offered the audience the results of measurements of friction (non-studded) tires for European-style winters, which are poorly suited to Russian conditions. However, to complete the picture, it would be useful to see their results.
A selection of Finns from Tuulilasi turned out to be much more relevant. They assembled eight sets of studded winter tires scandinavian type. That is, tires designed primarily for snow and ice, but at the same time appropriate on cold pavement. Snow and ice tests were carried out in Ivalo (Finland) in the first week of March. The temperature fluctuated around zero degrees. The carriers of winter tires are Volvo sedan S60 and station wagon volvo V70. Most of the measurements were carried out using V-Box equipment. Auxiliary systems ABS and ESC were included - in the latter case, the Sport mode was used, which allows for slight slippage. Races on dry and wet asphalt were carried out in the Finnish Tampere.
Tuulilasi experts accelerated and braked on ice, evaluated handling on slippery surfaces, tested the same parameters on snow, that is, they tested the tires in primordially winter conditions. At the same time, they did not forget about dry and wet asphalt, as well as about the resistance to slashplaning (a parameter showing the speed at which a car emerges on snow and water slush. An analogue of aquaplaning in summer). Finnish experts also evaluated the rolling resistance, and hence the fuel consumption.
ADAC club tire test (non-studded winter tires of the Central European type. Designed exclusively for mild winters) -
Continental ContiWinterContact TS850
German tires Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 became the leader of the German test. After passing all the disciplines, the experts came to the conclusion that the main advantage of this model is a well-balanced balance. Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 behaves equally confidently in all cases, of course, adjusted for the class. Velcro of the Scandinavian type ContiVikingContact 5 feels much better on ice, not to mention the studded model Continental ContiIceContact. But for winter tires The performance of the ContiWinterContact TS850 on wet pavement and ice is unbeatable for the Central European type.
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001
Winter tires Japanese brands usually do not shine with talent against rivals. But this is only in the case when models for severe cold are compared with each other. But Japanese tires for mild winters feel much better in the circle of competitors. This was also confirmed by the test of the ADAC club. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 passed all types of tests of the German Institute, keeping within each of them in a favorable green zone.
In mild winter conditions, the ADAC Dunlop Winter Response 2 performed well. The car feels especially good in these tires on snow and wet pavement. The experts also positively assessed the low rolling resistance, which affects fuel consumption, albeit not very significantly.
Dunlop's other Central European winter tires, the SP Winter Sport 4D, performed exactly as well as the Winter Response 2. ADAC praised them primarily for their balance, as did the top-ranked Continental ContiWinterContact TS850, which is quite revealing.
In the tire industry, Michelin is the name. From the French company definitely do not expect weak performance. At the same time, Michelin tires rarely get to the very top of the podium. tire tests different publications, from year to year ending up somewhere in the middle of the list. This year's ADAC test was no exception. Experts of the German Automobile Club praised them for their behavior on ice and snow, as well as work on wet pavement. But the results on dry surfaces are worse, and the Germans recorded this aspect as a disadvantage of the French tire, as well as increased noise.
Another model of the French tire giant, the Michelin Alpin A4, performed more confidently than its relative in the ADAC tests. German experts noted a good balance and focused on a huge resource. You're more likely to puncture this tire than wear out the tread pattern. At the same time, it behaves equally safely on dry or wet asphalt and ice.
The Central European "Velcro" of the Korean company Hankook performed satisfactorily in the ADAC measurements. If a summer tires Korean companies have already approached the level of world leaders, which is especially evident in the Ventus Prime 2 model, but in the case of winter tires, the level of Korean tires is still average. ADAC Hankook Winter i*cept RS W442 experts liked it on dry pavement, but disappointed on snow and wet pavement.
Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3
Within the segment, the Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3 proved to be surprisingly strong on ice and snow. They did not let us down on wet pavement, but did not please on dry. In addition, despite the lack of studs, the Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3 proved to be a noisy model. All in all, it only drew a satisfactory assessment of the ADAC club.
The family trait of Vredestein tires is the tread pattern. The company stubbornly uses the herringbone pattern. In part, this affects the properties of tires. In the ADAC test, they performed well on ice and snow, but were loud and relatively weak on wet pavement.
Tuulilasi magazine tire test(Scandinavian type studded winter tires. Good for Russian winters) – (http://www.tuulilasi.fi)
If in the German test the German tire won, then in the Finnish one - the Finnish one. Last year's novelty is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 with a huge number of spikes (there are 190 of them in the 205/55R16 dimension). On ice, this is truly a royal tire. On the snow, too, everything is extremely convincing and only on asphalt there are minor errors, which is quite normal for such a generous studding. However, despite this, Tuulilasi journalists noticed that the eighth "hakkapeliitta" steers well in the rain and brakes well on dry pavement. At the same time, it does not critically resist rolling and does not make too loud noise.
Unlike the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, German Continental ContiIceContact tires have been around for a long time. There are even rumors on the sidelines that this tire is about to be replaced by a successor, but so far it is still in service and shows great ability in winter conditions. These tires handle and brake well on ice, and they perform just as well on snow-packed roads. Performance on dry and wet pavement is not outstanding, but decent. The resistance to slushplaning (ascent on snow-water porridge) is not the best, but at the same time it is at a safe level.
Bronze in the Tuulilasi test was pulled out by studded Pirelli Ice zero. On the ice, they do not feel much worse than the leaders. Although breakdowns rear axle slips are more pronounced here, which makes the driver constantly be concentrated and tense. In addition, after the ice races, some of the spikes loosened up and began to protrude more strongly. In real life, this means that after a couple of seasons there will definitely be fewer spikes, which cannot be said, for example, about Continental ContiIceContact, where the “claws” are planted on a special glue. No misses in the snow. But the resistance to slushplaning is unimportant here. On the slush, Pirelli Ice Zeros pop up a bit early. Not everything is smooth on the pavement, both wet and dry. On wet pavement, the tire brakes well, but in corners it loses its tenacity. On dry pavement, braking is also unimportant. The rolling resistance is low, but the noise level is high. The third place was ensured by the priority of the ice, on which the studded Pirellis are fine.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic was outperformed by Pirelli in terms of points, but in terms of the totality of indicators, they are definitely no worse. Although the priorities here are somewhat shifted. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic grips the pavement brilliantly. On wet pavement and slush, they are favorites, which will be in place in Moscow, which is abundantly flooded with reagents. On a dry road, there are no misses either, although the reactions are somewhat smeared. At the same time, everything is also not bad on ice and snow, although it does not quite reach the level of leaders. Braking and accelerating on ice in the zone good result. On snow, the behavior is a little worse. Analyzing the above, it can be noted that Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic are perfect for wintering in big cities, where under the wheels is mostly asphalt, but at the same time snow or ice is not excluded.
Due to the low temperature in many regions of our country, winter tires are a must. The main feature of winter tires is softness and the ability to tenaciously hold on to the snowy road surface. good rubber provides reliable grip on frozen surfaces, allows you to maintain maneuverability and smoothness in any frost, ensures safety and control accuracy. Happy shift summer tires for winter is November 15th. It is up to this date that it is advisable to replace the summer tires of the car with winter tires in order to avoid later possible problems controllability of the vehicle and reduce the risk of an accident.
Every year, at the height of the hot summer, experts study car tires from a variety of manufacturers, making up ranking of the best winter tires. We bring to your attention the rating of the best winter studded tires 2014-2015. The rating is based on an analysis of winter tire tests conducted by the editors of Za Rulem, Auto Bild, Avtorevyu and ADAC for 2014.
Rating of the best winter tires in 2014-2015 based on the analysis of winter tire tests
Below we briefly describe test results for studded tires 205-55-R16
10th place - .
Winter studded Yokohama tires Ice Guard IG35 with directional tread pattern. Tires provide safety in the most dangerous conditions on icy and snowy roads. Tires show very good performance on ice and snow, Lugs around the bore help secure cleat retention, consistent lateral grooves improve lateral stability, prevent shifting and slipping. Significantly improved removal of snow, slush and water from the contact patch due to the design. The new Ice Guard compound prevents deformation not only in the tread part, but also in the stud bore.
9th place - .
provide the highest performance in the most severe winter conditions. In the production of the tire, a new “DUAL STUD” tire studding technology was used, which increases resistance, reduces mobility, optimizes load distribution, improves stud penetration on icy roads, reduces core wear, and maintains stable performance on ice.
8th place - .
These are tires for harsh winters that provide excellent handling on a difficult winter road: on ice, slush and packed snow. The tire is made using the same technology as the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic.
7th place -
New studded Bridgestone tires combined all the advanced technologies developed through extensive research and testing, showcasing many innovations, including the new cross-shaped spike "Cross-Edge Pin". The main advantages of Blizzak Spike-01 tires: excellent grip on ice, maximum performance on snow, reliable retention of spikes, durability.
6th place -
Durable and stable winter tire for all road conditions providing good traction on ice, safety in slush and stable handling
5th place -
Manufacturers guarantee high grip and short braking distances. Tires can withstand heavy loads without problems. The zigzag grooves quickly absorb and compact the snow while maintaining tire grip. In the slush, they perfectly remove dirt and water.
4th place - .
Features: balanced grip characteristics, excellent driving stability, good traction on snow. The directional stud optimizes road contact for maximum traction.
3rd place -
25% improvement in stud retention and 10% reduction in braking distance on ice in percentage terms compared to the previous generation. This significantly increases the level of safety, and driving on winter roads becomes less stressful. A special role in this is played by the innovative Smart Stud System.
2nd place - . Excellent grip and handling on ice
MultiControl Ice technology-based design that increases the contact patch of the stud with the road surface, which provides high-performance traction and control of the car when driving on ice. Benefits: Shorter braking distance on ice, better handling on snow, good performance on wet roads.
The UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires are highly efficient on wet and melting snow or ice roads. Hydrodynamic grooves on the tread quickly remove water from the tire surface, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. Special silicon polymer improves grip and braking on wet roads.
1st place -
The unique pattern of the new V-shaped tread provides excellent performance characteristics. The optimized stud pattern contributes to confident traction in the toughest winter conditions. The new Eco Stud 8 Concept aims to improve safety and handling in extreme situations. The layout of each stud has been optimized using computer simulations to ensure maximum traction in all situations. Cap & Base's two-ply tread design ensures effective stud retention through a tougher tread compound. The unique composition of the Cryo-silane Gen 2 outer rubber compound with silica, rapeseed oil and natural rubber provides the tread with excellent elasticity, strength, wear resistance and environmental friendliness. The new rubber compound and tread pattern ensured the Hakkapeliitta 8 low rolling resistance. The toothed pattern of the brake boosters located at the rear of the tread blocks contributes to effective braking on snow.
Among the winter tires described above, there are proposals from previous years, but many experts believe, and we agree with them, that these tires should be in ranking of the best winter tires 2014-2015. Obviously, the tires listed above are tires from expensive manufacturers, the production of which uses the latest innovations and best technology, allowing these tires to show excellent results in all tests. The only, but very significant drawback of such car tires is their price, which is not available to everyone.
A year earlier, Roman Kharitonov did a review of winter tire tests for one of the federal sites. The material has not lost its relevance over this time, many brands of tires can be found in various car dealerships in Russia and the CIS countries. Let's take a look at this post.
The tire is a significant attribute of the integral structure of the car. This unpretentious-looking gum is responsible for comfort and handling, safety and feedback.
And if some parameters vary so slightly that they are caught only by professional measuring equipment, then such a thing as braking distance varies much more depending on the tires, and, most importantly, is often the decisive factor in an emergency on the road.
When to change tires? The question is subtle, and there is no one hundred percent correct answer to it. Formally, it is recommended to switch to winter tires when the average daily air temperature drops to five to seven degrees Celsius. Firstly, the composition of the rubber compound of summer tires in such weather conditions noticeably hardens, which affects driving properties, and, secondly, this approach minimizes the risk of an unexpected onset of cold.
But an excessively early transition to winter tires is also wrong. Especially when it comes to studded models, and also about friction (non-studded) tires of the Scandinavian type, in general, too. Both those and others are sharpened primarily for primordially winter disciplines like snow and ice. Velcro for mild winters of the Central European type tolerate cold asphalt much better, but on ice and snow they become absolutely helpless, and therefore even manufacturers recommend using them only in the south of Russia.
Every year, the expert community conducts tests of automotive rubber. On the eve of summer, the society receives information about summer tires. Before the start of winter - about winter. In our review, we will rely on foreign car clubs and publications, or rather, consider the results of tests of winter tires by the German ADAC authority and the Finnish magazine Tuulilasi (http://www.tuulilasi.fi)
The ADAC club offered the audience the results of measurements of friction (non-studded) tires for European-style winters, which are poorly suited to Russian conditions. However, to complete the picture, it would be useful to see their results.
A selection of Finns from Tuulilasi turned out to be much more relevant. They assembled eight sets of Scandinavian-type studded winter tires. That is, tires designed primarily for snow and ice, but at the same time appropriate on cold pavement. Snow and ice tests were carried out in Ivalo (Finland) in the first week of March. The temperature fluctuated around zero degrees. Winter tires were worn by the Volvo S60 sedan and the Volvo V70 station wagon. Most of the measurements were carried out using V-Box equipment. Auxiliary systems ABS and ESC were included - in the latter case, the Sport mode was used, which allows for slight slippage. Races on dry and wet asphalt were carried out in the Finnish Tampere.
Tuulilasi experts accelerated and braked on ice, evaluated handling on slippery surfaces, tested the same parameters on snow, that is, they tested the tires in primordially winter conditions. At the same time, they did not forget about dry and wet asphalt, as well as about the resistance to slashplaning (a parameter showing the speed at which a car emerges on snow and water slush. An analogue of aquaplaning in summer). Finnish experts also evaluated the rolling resistance, and hence the fuel consumption.
ADAC club tire test (non-studded winter tires of the Central European type. Designed exclusively for mild winters) -
German tires Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 became the leader of the German test. After passing all the disciplines, the experts came to the conclusion that the main advantage of this model is a well-balanced balance. Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 behaves equally confidently in all cases, of course, adjusted for the class. Velcro of the Scandinavian type ContiVikingContact 5 feels much better on ice, not to mention the studded model Continental ContiIceContact. But for a winter tire of the Central European type, the performance of the ContiWinterContact TS850 on wet pavement and ice is unrivaled.
Winter tires of Japanese brands usually do not shine with talent against rivals. But this is only in the case when models for severe cold are compared with each other. But Japanese tires for mild winters feel much better in the circle of competitors. This was also confirmed by the test of the ADAC club. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 passed all types of tests of the German Institute, keeping within each of them in a favorable green zone.
In mild winter conditions, the ADAC Dunlop Winter Response 2 performed well. The car feels especially good in these tires on snow and wet pavement. The experts also positively assessed the low rolling resistance, which affects fuel consumption, albeit not very significantly.
Dunlop's other Central European winter tires, the SP Winter Sport 4D, performed exactly as well as the Winter Response 2. ADAC praised them primarily for their balance, as did the top-ranked Continental ContiWinterContact TS850, which is quite revealing.
In the tire industry, Michelin is the name. From the French company definitely do not expect weak performance. At the same time, Michelin tires rarely get to the very top of the tire test podium of various publications, year after year being somewhere in the middle of the list. This year's ADAC test was no exception. Experts of the German Automobile Club praised them for their behavior on ice and snow, as well as work on wet pavement. But the results on dry surfaces are worse, and the Germans recorded this aspect as a disadvantage of the French tire, as well as increased noise.
Another model of the French tire giant, the Michelin Alpin A4, performed more confidently than its relative in the ADAC tests. German experts noted a good balance and focused on a huge resource. You're more likely to puncture this tire than wear out the tread pattern. At the same time, it behaves equally safely on dry or wet asphalt and ice.
The Central European "Velcro" of the Korean company Hankook performed satisfactorily in the ADAC measurements. If the summer tires of the Korean company have already approached the level of world leaders, which is especially evident in the Ventus Prime 2 model, then in the case of winter tires, the level of Korean tires is still average. ADAC Hankook Winter i*cept RS W442 experts liked it on dry pavement, but disappointed on snow and wet pavement.
Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3
Within the segment, the Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3 proved to be surprisingly strong on ice and snow. They did not let us down on wet pavement, but did not please on dry. In addition, despite the lack of studs, the Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3 proved to be a noisy model. All in all, it only drew a satisfactory assessment of the ADAC club.
The family trait of Vredestein tires is the tread pattern. The company stubbornly uses the herringbone pattern. In part, this affects the properties of tires. In the ADAC test, they performed well on ice and snow, but were loud and relatively weak on wet pavement.
Tuulilasi magazine tire test(Scandinavian type studded winter tires. Good for Russian winters) – (http://www.tuulilasi.fi)
If in the German test the German tire won, then in the Finnish one - the Finnish one. Last year's novelty is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 with a huge number of spikes (there are 190 of them in the 205/55R16 dimension). On ice, this is truly a royal tire. On the snow, too, everything is extremely convincing and only on asphalt there are minor errors, which is quite normal for such a generous studding. However, despite this, Tuulilasi journalists noticed that the eighth "hakkapeliitta" steers well in the rain and brakes well on dry pavement. At the same time, it does not critically resist rolling and does not make too loud noise.
Unlike the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, German Continental ContiIceContact tires have been around for a long time. There are even rumors on the sidelines that this tire is about to be replaced by a successor, but so far it is still in service and shows great ability in winter conditions. These tires handle and brake well on ice, and they perform just as well on snow-packed roads. Performance on dry and wet pavement is not outstanding, but decent. The resistance to slushplaning (ascent on snow-water porridge) is not the best, but at the same time it is at a safe level.
Bronze in the Tuulilasi test was pulled out by the studded Pirelli Ice Zero. On the ice, they do not feel much worse than the leaders. Although the rear axle slips are more pronounced here, which makes the driver constantly be concentrated and tense. In addition, after the ice races, some of the spikes loosened up and began to protrude more strongly. In real life, this means that after a couple of seasons there will definitely be fewer spikes, which cannot be said, for example, about Continental ContiIceContact, where the “claws” are planted on a special glue. No misses in the snow. But the resistance to slushplaning is unimportant here. On the slush, Pirelli Ice Zeros pop up a bit early. Not everything is smooth on the pavement, both wet and dry. On wet pavement, the tire brakes well, but in corners it loses its tenacity. On dry pavement, braking is also unimportant. The rolling resistance is low, but the noise level is high. The third place was ensured by the priority of the ice, on which the studded Pirellis are fine.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic was outperformed by Pirelli in terms of points, but in terms of the totality of indicators, they are definitely no worse. Although the priorities here are somewhat shifted. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic grips the pavement brilliantly. On wet pavement and slush, they are favorites, which will be in place in Moscow, which is abundantly flooded with reagents. On a dry road, there are no misses either, although the reactions are somewhat smeared. At the same time, everything is also not bad on ice and snow, although it does not quite reach the level of leaders. Braking and acceleration on ice in the zone of good results. On snow, the behavior is a little worse. Analyzing the above, it can be noted that the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic is perfect for wintering in big cities, where the wheels are mostly asphalt, but at the same time snow or ice is not ruled out.
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419
New; against the background of its predecessor, the number of spikes has increased. Instead of 128, there are now 180. Braking and acceleration on ice are average, but handling is close to ideal. The icy lap times are the best of any tire. Although the reactions still feel blurry. Snow disciplines were given to Hankook easily and without mistakes. On asphalt, everything is also worthy. In the segment of winter tires Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419 seriously improved the image of the Korean company.
Michelin X-Ice North 3
As in the class of frictional winter tires of the Central European type, in the segment of Scandinavian winter tires, Michelin performed average. They have fewer spikes than the competition. Acceleration and braking on ice are rather weak. The speed of the passage of the ice track, too. Acceleration on snow is solid, but braking is not. Snowy turns knock the car off course. Slush is no problem for Michelins, and on dry pavement they have the shortest braking distance from 100 km/h. The emergency behavior is stable, but the noise is relatively high.
Dunlop Ice Touch
Dunlop Ice Touch is a close relative of the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic. Ice acceleration on Dunlop winter tires is stunted, but ice braking is significantly better. From the point of view of controllability, the concern is the early and sharp breakdown of the car into a skid. On snow, acceleration and braking performance is better than on ice, and the behavior is about the same - with a tendency to abrupt loss of traction even at low speeds. The braking distance on wet pavement is quite short, and in general the Dunlop will behave confidently in the rain. At the same time, they respond very quickly to steering turns on dry surfaces, where they cope well with emergency maneuvers.
Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01
Among winter tires of the Scandinavian type, Japanese Bridgestone tires turned out to be outsiders. They accelerate well on ice, but slow down badly on it. Stopping distance on snow is much better and handling is average. Bridgestones have shown excellent slushplaning resistance, but they have relatively long braking distances on wet pavement. In addition, the tires also have vague steering responses on dry pavement. The noise is relatively low, but the rolling resistance is too high.
Friction (non-studded) Scandinavian-type winter tires
To date, there are no actual tests of Velcro of the Scandinavian type yet. But based on past years, we can distinguish models worthy of purchase. These are: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, Pirelli Winter Icecontrol, Continental ContiVikingContact 5.