Test budget winter tires. Pleasant surprise from "Belshina"

Replenish all new types of tires supplied by completely different branded manufacturers. The material below discusses only the most popular models that any motorist can purchase in 2018. It is worth noting that the choice is made according to the ratio of price and quality, and not according to the popularity of the manufacturer or the price of the tire. It is important to take into account the fact that the rubber considered in the list was checked according to dozens of criteria, the technical features of absolutely each model were measured by special equipment. In addition, the personal feelings of motorists, who were able to test the properties and capabilities of the considered samples in practice, were taken into account. Of course, many motorists may be surprised by such a set of tires, since the presented tires have a lot of differences, first of all, in terms of cost. However, the options considered were deliberately selected from different price categories, which will allow a car enthusiast with any budget to choose the best option for themselves.

Rules for choosing the best non-studded tires

It is rather difficult to choose the best ones, since the goods offered in a wide range belong to completely different manufacturers. In addition, the optimal choice should take into account not only the region in which a particular motorist lives, but also weather conditions. Naturally, some regions can "please" the motorist with a harsh snowy winter, while in other regions rainy weather and slush prevail. If only Scandinavian-type tires are suitable for a harsh climate, then for slush - European ones. Of course, not all car markets can find these models, however, in more or less large cities, buying any type of tire will not be a problem for a motorist.

Of course, every motorist should know how to choose winter studless tires. According to the advice of experts, you should choose only from well-known models that have been successfully operated by thousands of motorists for more than one year. Of course, among domestic manufacturers there are several relatively acceptable companies whose product can be considered as an alternative. True, the opinion has not yet been eradicated that it is better to abandon the purchase of Russian, as well as Chinese tires in favor of more reliable ones.

Not all car owners have the opportunity to purchase, however, it is better to completely refuse to buy a used product. You should not make a purchase even if the tread is not worn out, it is likely that these tires have been idle for a long time, which has aged the rubber, led to a deterioration in its properties. Any tire is able to meet the characteristics declared by the manufacturer only for a certain period of time, until its critical wear occurs. The same rule should apply to retreaded tires that are considered dangerous and unreliable.

If a motorist is interested in which non-studded winter tires are better, the 2019 rating will help find the answer to this question. The list contains models that have different tread patterns. It should be noted that this indicator is extremely important when choosing the most optimal model. The tread will help determine the rubber that takes into account the weather conditions of the region. In particular, with heavy rains and constant slush, you should buy rubber with the ability to drain water. Aggressive patterns are designed to handle snowy, icy trails. The diamond-shaped tread that Scandinavian tires are equipped with easily copes with paving the way through the snow crust.

Tires must also take into account the temperature range. Some manufacturers produce tires that lose their properties over time, in winter such models become soft, and in summer, on the contrary, more rigid. In turn, on the market you can find options that are resistant to sudden changes in temperature. Whatever the reason, he can get acquainted with the rating of the best winter non-studded tires, which for some reason outperformed other models, and also showed good qualities when used on domestic roads.

Rating of non-studded winter tires 2019

Motorists are accustomed to calling non-studded tires Velcro, while specialists call them friction tires. This type of rubber is not equipped with metal spikes. The tread pattern has a unique shape, it provides recesses that can get rid of excessive amounts of moisture and snow. Thanks to these properties, grip with the road surface is improved, while the tread is freed from snow without accumulating it. This type of tires is ideal for those regions where winter is moderate, and the thermometer rarely drops below -15 - -20 degrees. Friction tires, as a rule, are purchased by Europeans.

The top 10 winter non-studded tires are opened by a new friction model from the famous German company. We can say that this tire is ideally adapted for harsh winter conditions. The special composition of the rubber compound with increased softness provides this tire with excellent grip on icy or snowy road surfaces, even in temperatures below ten degrees.

The tread is equipped with a system of deep drainage grooves, which, unlike the previous model with an asymmetric pattern, form a single network, which contributes to faster removal of snow and ice chips from the contact patch. The lamellas present on the tread blocks provide good grip on the winter road.

According to the tests, this rubber, created for the Scandinavian countries and the northern regions of Russia, is 8% superior to ContiVikingContact 6 in terms of handling. The entire range of the model, which is 112 articles in the R14-R21 range, is designed for a maximum speed of 190 km / h. Excellent low-temperature tread characteristics, including elasticity, are provided by the addition of rapeseed oil to the silica.

Some sizes of VikingContact 7 are equipped with the ContiSeal system, which provides sealing of punctures up to 0.5 cm in diameter. There are also tires with the SSR Runflat system (the so-called accident-free driving technology) in the tire line of this model, as well as with the ContiSilent system, which reduces tire noise.

The oldest tire brand has prepared for the market of the Russian Federation and CIS countries its new development - a non-studded winter tire WM02 with an asymmetric tread pattern. The second place in the list of the best non-studded tires for winter of this model ensured its versatility - it copes with snow crust, icy roadway and wet asphalt with equal success.

The uniqueness of the design of the tread pattern lies in the presence of sharp edges in the blocks, which improve the grip properties of the tire on slippery ice surfaces, while wide drainage grooves, which partially pass to the side edges, are responsible for the removal of water and snow crumbs.

The pattern itself is chosen so that the tire, due to the compression of snow, forms zones of improved grip with the road surface. In Winter MAXX 02, the Miura-Ori system is implemented, using zigzag geometry lamellas. It was also used in previous tire models, but here the length of the sipes was increased, which contributed to the increase in the number of sharp edges.

The upgraded MegaNano Fit Rubber composition, which is more elastic, also contributes to the improvement of the grip properties of rubber. Its distinctive feature can be called the inclusion of a component made from biomass, due to which the performance of the tire is maintained throughout the entire period of its use. A total of 36 Dunlop WM02 sizes are available in the R13-R19 bore diameter range.

French tires are well known to the Russian consumer, but mainly due to summer / all-season tires. The XI3 model is included in the 2019 ranking of the best non-studded winter tires due to one of the best combinations of cost / quality: the smallest size tire costs from 3400 rubles.

The unique feature of this model is the M-Chip rubber compound structure, which has a lot of absorbent bubbles. When the tire contacts a slippery surface, these bubbles are on the surface, and due to the concave shape, they effectively remove the water film formed on the icy road (approximately the same technology is used in Yokohama iceGuard tires).

Due to this, the effect of rubber slippage on ice is minimized, significantly reducing the braking distance.

We also note that the X-ICE 3 shoulder blocks have micropumps - holes in the form of elongated cylinders, the action of which is similar to the M-Chip: they “dry” the ice crust and help remove the water film. The second positive aspect of their use is the improvement in tire handling due to the increase in the rigidity of the shoulder blocks.

The most significant drawback of the model is that it has a slippery surface with significant tread wear, but this is a common disease of practically friction Velcro.

Although this model was first introduced by the Finnish manufacturer at the beginning of 2018, it quickly managed to gain popularity, entering the most independent ratings of non-studded winter tires. The distinctive Nordic tire concept is based on the in-house developed Arctic Sense Grip technology, which provides precise and easy control on slippery surfaces by improving the tyre's traction. When developing the tread geometry, computer modeling was used. As a result, the mutual arrangement of grooves, sipes and slots is optimized in such a way as to ensure efficient operation of rubber in winter conditions, regardless of the condition and type of roadway.

In the central part of the symmetrical tread there are pump sipes (Nokian patented technology). Strictly speaking, they are also present in other winter models, but here their number has increased significantly. The task of such sipes is to quickly and efficiently remove water from under the wheel in order to provide reliable grip on slippery surfaces. The number of sipes in the shoulder area of ​​the tread has also been increased.

When accelerating/braking sharply, the sharp zigzag edges of the side sipes open up, helping the tire to better grip the road in the contact patch. The same goal is facilitated by the use of Cryo Crystal 3 microparticles, which improve the lateral/longitudinal grip of tires on winter roads. Worn tires do not lose their properties largely due to the presence of these microparticles, evenly distributed throughout the thickness of the rubber.

The NH R3 range consists of 68 sizes with tires from R14 to R21 and a speed index in the range of 170-190 km/h.

The engineers of the American company did everything possible and impossible so that the Nordic Velcro UGI2 surpassed its predecessor, the UltraGrip Ice + model, in terms of its performance. And they did it - since 2015, Ice 2 has been almost constantly included in the ratings of the best winter tires. So if you are in doubt which winter non-studded tires are better to choose for your car, you can recommend this particular model as a potential candidate that has already proven itself.

Excellent handling on ice and snow-covered tracks is ensured by the use of ActiveGrip technology. It is based on the use of hybrid sipes in combination with cryo-adaptive components that make up the rubber compound.

The upper tread layer has increased elasticity, which allows the soft tire to confidently hold the road in frosts down to minus 25 degrees. But the base compound is more solid - it starts working already at zero or positive temperature indicators.

As for the tread pattern, it is divided into three zones - the central one with V-shaped sipes and the side ones with mesh sipes. Thanks to this tread design, UltraGrip Ice 2 has good resistance to such unpleasant effects as slashplaning and aquaplaning. Side sawtooth blocks together with deep lateral grooves provide excellent behavior of tires in deep snow and are responsible for the rapid removal of water and snow from the contact patch.

This novelty, which appeared on the shelves in the second half of 2018, pleases with its winter characteristics. There is nothing to be surprised here - the use of spikes is prohibited on Japanese roads, so Bridgestone specializes in Velcro - there are a lot of them in the company's assortment.

Why is this model good, since we included it in the top 10 best winter non-studded tires? Compared to its predecessor, the Blizzak VRX, these tires offer 10% shorter braking distances, 23% longer tire life and 30% less noise. These impressive successes were achieved thanks to the innovative tread pattern and the consistent improvement of the company's Active Multicell Compound technology.

The uniqueness of the tire compound lies in the addition of many other components to the silica, which, being distributed in the rubber compound evenly throughout the volume, ensure the ability of Blizzak Ice to effectively remove a layer of water from the grooves. Sulfur and polymer components are used to maintain the elasticity of rubber at low temperatures, increasing the coefficient of adhesion on slippery surfaces.

It is impossible not to note the asymmetric tread pattern, which includes deep three-dimensional sipes and a network of grooves, the relative position of which forms a complex geometric pattern. The tires have a pronounced edge effect, which increases the coefficient of friction during active braking on ice. Rigid shoulder tread blocks are responsible for comfortable handling on snow.

Although this model cannot be called new (the development date is 2017), when choosing winter studless tires, it is preferred by those motorists who prefer an active and even aggressive driving style. It is no coincidence that WinterContact TS 860S tires are used on sports car models such as the BMW Series M, Porsche, Audi Sport and AMG from Mercedes-Benz.

The main advantage of this tire should be considered SSR technology. This is a kind of emergency protection that allows you to move another 50-80 km at a speed of up to 75-80 km / h in case of a tire puncture. Its essence lies in the strengthening of the sidewalls, which minimizes the risk of slipping rubber from the rim.

But the winter characteristics are at their best here. Reducing the braking distance on slippery surfaces is achieved due to the presence of several narrow inter-block grooves, ensuring the operation of individual blocks during emergency braking as a whole.

The enlargement of the shoulder blocks of the WinterContact TS 860S and the increase in their rigidity led to a decrease in the lateral elasticity of the tire, providing better handling in high-speed corners. And what else is needed for a tire positioned as a sports one?

The assortment of the model includes 15 sizes with a diameter of 18-21 inches and a maximum allowable speed of 270 km / h - an impressive indicator for winter tires.

There are high-speed tires for winter in the arsenal and the famous French tire company. The presented model is distinguished by predictable behavior on a snowy road, excellent maneuverability on dry pavement, as well as effective braking on wet and slippery surfaces. Introduced in 2017, Pilot Alpin 5 and two years later, in 2019, it confidently enters the ratings of the best non-studded winter tires.

A characteristic feature of the tread pattern is its symmetry - compared to its predecessor, PA4, which had an asymmetric tread, this improved the grip properties of rubber in relation to winter conditions.

The negative profile of the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 contributes to confident and calm overcoming sections of the road with a layer of snow. The change in the shape of the sipes reduced the deformability of the blocks when driving at high speeds and corners, improving the handling of cars equipped with these tires.

Alpine rubber with a proprietary composition of components, including silicic acid nSiO 2 nH 2 O and polymers, does not become stiff even in severe frosts, however, it does not suffer from “spreading” even at near-zero temperatures. Alas, the tire size starts from 17 inches - they are unlikely to fit for city B / C class sedans.

Who said Koreans can't make winter tires? The Winter i*cept Evo2 is the latest generation of UWPT (Ultra Winter Performance Tires). The presence of the word "ultra" means that if you live in a region with severe winters and do not know which non-studded winter tires to choose, here is your answer. With a load index of up to 850 kg, these tires can accelerate up to 240 km / h. True, the cost of such pleasure is quite high, and if it were not for the price factor, Winter i * cept Evo2 would certainly take a higher place.

The characteristics of the product are good in everything: the tires have excellent grip on all types of winter surfaces, they are easy to control and stable in behavior on slippery roads, wear-resistant and effectively brake.

In severe frosts, tires do not “tan” due to the use of a highly dispersed nanocomponent based on silicon dioxide. This allows you to keep the coefficient of adhesion to the roadway in a stable state. Optimizing the tire profile and improving the shape of its bearing surface helps reduce the risk of a car going into aquaplaning. The asymmetric arrangement of the lamellas and grooves ensures that the vehicle's course control is maintained when driving on wet snow.

By increasing the number of tread blocks, Korean engineers have ensured that the Winter i * cept Evo2 tire literally bites into loose snow, and three-dimensional sipes reduce block deformation, increasing tire life.

The SUV version is an evolutionary variant of the second generation of the model, with a more modern and aggressive tread design that optimizes fuel consumption, improves driving comfort and achieves more confident handling of winter roads. In our ranking of the best winter non-studded tires, this is the only model focused on the SUV class.

To make the grip edge larger, the Finnish tire manufacturers used serrated shoulder areas in the R3 SUV - this increased grip on slippery roads in the transverse plane. Compared to the version for passenger cars, the central rib here is wider - for heavy SUVs and crossovers, such reinforcement contributed to improved stability of behavior.

The anti-slip properties of the winter tire have also been improved thanks to the use of proprietary Arctic Sense Grip technology, which we have already talked about. The same purpose is served by deep sipes that cut through the tread blocks over the entire area of ​​the tire.

The use of another proprietary concept, Aramid Sidewalls (reinforcing the sidewalls of the tire with aramid fibers), has improved directional stability, including uneven country roads, and provides additional protection from impacts. The range of standard sizes of the model is quite large (65 varieties), the range of fitting diameters is R16-R21. The presence of the XL index, which marks most model sizes, means the maximum load capacity of tires.

Conclusion

The presented rating of winter non-studded tires includes those tire options that any motorist can purchase on the Russian market in 2019. It is worth noting that any of the considered models is worthy of attention. The only thing that every motorist should think about is the parameters that the preferred model should have in the first place.

The car market offers a huge range of tires, it is very difficult to choose the best ones. Therefore, to simplify the choice of motorists, independent experts compile ratings of winter tires, they indicate the advantages and disadvantages of tires of various brands.

In the winter season, drivers have a question: “to stud or not to stud tires?”. Studded products are designed for harsh winters, ensure the normal stability of the car when driving on ice or deep snow. Studless tires are not only suitable for driving on icy or snowy roads, they can be used on dry or wet road surfaces. There is an alternative option - these are the so-called "Velcro", they have a large lamella of the tread blocks, this design, in the absence of spikes, ensures the stability of the car on snow or ice. Which of these tires is better depends on the preferences of the driver and the operating conditions of the vehicle.

When choosing tires for the winter on your own, use the ratings of winter tires, when they are compiled by independent experts, the following characteristics of tires of various brands are taken into account:

• stopping distance of a car on a dry, snowy, slushy, ice-covered road;
• maximum acceleration of the car;
• fuel consumption;
• rubber noise;
• driving comfort.

Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of rubber from different brands allows you to identify leaders in the manufacture of high-quality tires.

Leaders and outsiders of budget classes of studded tires

First place

Tire Sava Eskimo Stud

The tire is designed for extreme winter conditions, it occupies a leading position among models of budget tire classes. It consists of a silicon-containing polymer, which provides the elastic properties of products at a sufficiently low ambient temperature.

Advantages:

• low noise;
• vehicle stability on ice, snow, dry and wet asphalt;
• average course stability.

Disadvantages: average handling, directional stability when tested on a wet road surface.

Second place

Tire Matador MP30 Sibir Ice 2

Tires are designed in compliance with world standards and taking into account the peculiarities of the Russian climate. The composition of rubber provides elasticity, resistance of products to low-temperature operating conditions.

Advantages:

• wear resistance;
• low weight due to the use of aluminum spikes;
• good acceleration on winter roads;
• short braking distance on wet and dry road surfaces;
• average grip on ice and snow.

Drawbacks:

• average directional stability and handling on roads covered with ice;
• noisy.

Third place

Tires Cordiant Snow Cross

These tires are designed for harsh Russian winters. The resistance of products to wear is ensured by the presence of silicon in the composition of rubber. These tires proved to be excellent when driving on packed snow, in some respects they even surpassed middle-class tires.

Advantages:

• average braking on the road covered with ice;
• good acceleration on packed snow and icy road surfaces;
• average exchange rate stability among test participants.

Disadvantages:

• not the shortest braking on dry and wet paved surfaces;
• spikes protrude strongly, creating additional noise while driving;
• increase in fuel consumption when moving the car at high speeds;
• there is a chance of getting stuck when driving on loose snow.

Fourth place

Rubber Kama Euro 519

Structurally tires consist of two layers of rubber. One makes the studs resistant to falling out, the second makes the tires flexible at very low temperatures.

Advantages:

• fast braking on snow and dry pavement;
• average cross-country ability on winter roads;

Drawbacks:

• increased braking on icy roads and wet pavement;
• tires respond slowly to steering commands;
• low stability on snowy, icy roads.

Fifth place

Tire Viatti Brina Nordico V-522

The products have an asymmetric tread pattern that provides traction with the road surface. The outer part of the tread ensures the stability of the machine during cornering.

Advantages:

• good directional stability of the car on a snow-covered road;
• elasticity.

Disadvantages:

• for all types of testing, tires showed low results;
• increased braking on any type of road surface;
• a small patch of rubber contact with the surface when driving on ice.

Leaders and outsiders of the middle class of studded tires

First place

Tire Hankook W419 iPike RS

These tires have a unique composition of the rubber compound, which provides increased rubber elasticity at fairly low temperatures. The silicon which is a part of rubber increases resistance of products to wear.

Advantages:

• good braking performance on winter roads;
• excellent tire grip with the road surface when driving on packed snow or a road covered with a shallow snow layer;
• provide directional stability of the car when driving on asphalt;
• help reduce fuel consumption;
• high wear resistance.

Disadvantages:

• poor cross-country ability while driving on slush or road surface covered with snow porridge;
• unpredictability of tires when performing maneuvers on dry pavement;
• not the quietest tyre.

Second place

Tires Gislaved Nord Frost 200

Rubber developed by a Swedish company using new technologies. The improvement in the performance of these tires when tested on a snowy road is provided by a large number of small tread blocks. The tread lamellas have a different design, providing greater grip of rubber with the road surface.

Advantages:

• provide confident movement of the car on a snow-covered or snow-covered road;
• good braking performance on asphalt;
• Tires make virtually no noise.

Drawbacks:

• tires respond to steering commands with a slight delay;
• poor handling on icy ruts.

Third place

Tire Nordman 5

The tire is designed with a special tread that provides good grip of tires on the road surface. The design feature of the tread is the location in its central part of the longitudinal rib, which has edges in the form of zigzags - this improves the directional stability of the car.

Advantages:

• light spikes that reduce the weight of the product;
• good braking performance on snowy or icy road surfaces;
• help reduce fuel consumption.

Disadvantages:

• in comparison with competitors, manageability is not the highest;
• poor braking performance on dry asphalt pavement;
• weak lateral part of the tread is often damaged;
• noisy.

Fourth place

TireYokohama IceGuard Stud IG55

Designed with a special tread design that provides good grip of rubber with the road surface. The spikes are located on the surface of the product in such a way as to reduce the amount of noise while driving.

Advantages:

• good indicator of directional stability and controllability;
• spikes rarely fly out due to their deep seating in rubber;
• practically silent.

Drawbacks:

• the braking performance on an icy or snowy road is not the highest among competitors;
• poor patency on a surface with icy ruts;
• average directional stability while driving on an asphalt road surface.

Fifth place

Tire Kumho WinterCraft ice WI31

The tire tread is covered with a large number of sipes to ensure a good grip of tires with the road surface. The aramid fibers that make up the tires give them rigidity and serve as micro-studs.

Advantages:

• excellent performance when driving on dry and wet asphalt;
• deep-set studs reduce rubber noise;
• good performance on packed snow.

Disadvantages:

• weak braking on ice;
• slipping on a slurry of snow;
• poor handling on snowy roads.

Conclusion

Winter tire ratings determine the top best manufacturers, allow you to choose the most suitable tire option for a specific car and its operating conditions. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the winner does not always fit the characteristics of the operating conditions of the vehicle, and outsiders, in most cases, behave well when driving around the city.

Also take into account the tire sizes recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, and the matching of tires and wheels. As a rule, you can install larger diameter wheels and lower profile tires, for example, wheels with a radius of R14 can be replaced with R15 or R16, choosing the appropriate rubber.

It is not worth comparing the results of studded and non-studded tires, since they were tested on different days, in different weather conditions, and the ratio of the grip properties of those and other tires depends very much on the weather. At one temperature, “thorns” are in front, at another, soft “Velcros”. We figured this out a few years ago: ZR, 2009, No. 1

Now let's introduce the participants.

15" NON-STUDDED

The most expensive tires are Nokian at 4150 rubles, but they are also the best - Hakkapeliitta R (made in Russia) together with Michelin X-Ice 2 shared the first place. Price / quality ratio - 4.5.

A little cheaper, for 4100 rubles, you can buy ContiVikingContact 5. Our results suggest that these tires are in their place. True, in terms of price / quality ratio (4.6), this purchase is slightly less profitable.

But the Michelin X-Ice 2 in the price competition is in the best position: 3900 rubles. The price/quality ratio of 4.2 is the most attractive in the top three. We believe that the cost of this tire is underestimated on purpose, since there is already a new model on the market - the third generation Michelin X-Ice. It was officially presented last winter outside of Russia, postponing the official presentation of new items with us for almost a year.

In fourth place is Goodyear UltraGrip Ice + at 3560 rubles. per piece (we believe the price is too high - a fee for a high brand). Price / quality ratio - 4.1.

The fifth in the financial rating is Bridgestone Blizzak Revo GZ - 3520 rubles. The tire is a little cheaper. With a score of 892 in our tests, it came in fourth place with an even more attractive price/performance ratio of 4.0.

Very close in price (3500 rubles), but already in sixth place is the next tire - Pirelli Winter IceControl. In the final table, he also occupies the sixth place with 846 points. We believe that it should be sold a little cheaper: now the price / quality index is 4.1 - like that of the stronger Goodyear.

Yokohama iceGUARD iG35 for 3400 rubles. in seventh place, although in the test she showed the eighth result, gaining only 820 points. Since they buy, then there are those who are willing to pay for the inscription Made in Japan.

Nizhnekamsk Viatti Brina scored 816 points and took the ninth place. A tire with a foreign name at a price of only 2600 rubles. a piece should sell well, local marketers believe. We wish them good luck.

The cheapest tire is Cordiant Polar SL for 2500 re. And in the test, she took seventh place, even ahead of the Japanese product. In our opinion, 826 points with a price/quality ratio of 3.0 is a noteworthy result.

All tables open in full size on a mouse click.

16" SPIDERS

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 for 6600 rubles. ahead of the planet. Expensive but well deserved as these are the best tires in our test: 929 points. The price / quality ratio is also "leading" - 7.1.

In second place is ContiIceContact. The difference with the winner is 200 rubles. (“Konti” costs 6400 rubles) and 4 points give a decrease in the price / quality index to 6.9.

Third place is occupied by the new Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, which is fair, since the tire is clearly one of the leaders. You can buy it already for 5500 rubles.

Michelin X-Ice North 2 is sold a little cheaper - for 5400 rubles. The cost is even slightly underestimated, because in our tests XIN 2 scored 923 points, the price / quality ratio is the most attractive in the leading three of the test: 5.9.

Another 100 rubles. cheaper than Gislaved NordFrost 5 (5300 rubles). According to the results of the test, the tire scored 905 points, taking sixth place. The price / quality ratio of 5.9 is equivalent to Michelin. “Gislaved” loves our people, and therefore does not spare money.

In sixth place is the Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 for 5250 rubles. In our tests, this model was able to take only eighth place, gaining 855 points. The price / quality ratio is 6.1 - more than that of Michelin and Gislaved.

On the seventh position Pirelli Winter Carving Edge, which can be bought for 5200 rubles. We recommend these tires as they came in fourth place in the tests with 918 points. And with such a cost, the price / quality indicator is the most attractive in the first six of the test: 5.7.

Following Yokohama iceGUARD iG35 - and, as usual, with a small gap in price with the "bridge": sold for 5100 rubles. The place in the price list is close to the one taken in our test, but the price / quality ratio is too high: 6.1.

In a completely different price category (4500 rubles), they sell the new Hankook i-Pike RS. A decent tire that took a big step up from the previous model and scored 886 points. Almost came close to the 900 mark, which distinguishes very good tires from others. The price / quality index is 5.1 - worth a closer look.

Nearby, the no less worthy Russian-made Nordman 4 is offered for only 4400 rubles, that is, for two-thirds of the price of the leading older brother. Meanwhile, in our final list, Nordman occupies the fifth (!) position. The price / quality ratio and beckons - 4.8. Good suggestion.

For 4000 rubles. you will find Cordiant Polar 2. The place in the price rating corresponds to the alignment we received, although the price / quality ratio (5.0) is less attractive than that of Nordman.

Closes the parade of popular tires "Kama-Euro 519": only 3500 rubles, - the last place in our test. Buying a tire with a price / quality ratio of 4.3 will not be ruinous for the most modest budget.

FRICTION TIRES RATING 195/65R15

1–9_no_copyright

They were born in 2010, they participate in our test for the first time.

Weak on ice in all directions - in acceleration, in turns and braking. They are more accommodating on the snow: they hold turns worse than others, accelerate weakly, but brake well - on a par with Nokian! Course stability on a snowy road leaves much to be desired: the car roams noticeably, requiring steering. Keeping the right direction is hindered by low information content - the steering wheel is almost empty by force. In fast corners, the first reaction is good, although the corners of the steering wheel are a bit big. The transition to sliding is soft, the given trajectory is kept, however, even here the driver will be upset by an unnecessarily light, empty steering wheel.

They do not like snowdrifts - if necessary, it is better to overcome them on the move, without turns and stops. They refuse to change direction, starting is possible only with a pull. When slipping, they strive to dig in, they are reluctant to get back. On an asphalt straight line, the car goes smoothly only when accelerating. It floats at a constant speed, requiring relentless adjustments, to which it reacts with unpleasant steering of the rear axle.

Braking on a dry road is weak, on a wet road - the worst. Uncomfortable: loudly noisy, with increasing speed more and more. They transmit shocks from medium and large road bumps, vibrate on small ones. Fuel consumption is average at any speed.

2–9_no_copyright

3–8_no_copyright

Created in 2008, it appeared on our market in 2009, but it takes part in the ZR test for the first time.

On ice, lateral grip and acceleration are the weakest. Braking is average, and it pleases. But on snow, both braking and acceleration are worse than those of all other test participants, although they hold the road moderately in corners. On a snow-covered straight, they scour a little, take the car away from a given direction, dragging it into deeper snow. Handling is mediocre: the car does not obey the steering wheel well and strives to straighten the trajectory, slipping out of the turn. Skid occurs only if provoked, but is well compensated.

In deep snow, it moves uncertainly, and only with a certain degree of slipping. It refuses to turn, slips into a rut or where there is less resistance. It goes smoothly on the asphalt, but when adjusting the direction, it strains. At small angles, the steering is very sluggish, but as the steering angle increases, the car abruptly changes direction at a greater angle than required.

Braking is stable on both dry and wet pavement, the stopping distance is average. Quite comfortable: quiet on any road, only slightly itchy on the comb. They transmit shudders and small tremors from small irregularities. Excess fuel is not consumed, but they do not allow saving either.

4–8_no_copyright

5–7_no_copyright

Production and sales started in 2009.

On the ice, the behavior is unbalanced - average acceleration, poor grip in corners and the weakest braking. But on the snow everything is smooth, the grip is average in all directions. On a snowy road, they seem to carry the car evenly, and the steering wheel at “zero” is tight, understandable, but the back is walking from side to side, and this does not give confidence. In turns, the behavior is unstable. In the initial phase, an unpleasant skid occurs more often, which can be compensated by adding gas. When the steering wheel is turned, its information content sharply decreases, literally falls. How it will end, no one knows - you have to fight either with demolition or skidding.

The same uncertainty and in deep snow. They move well only on the verge of slipping. Slippage at the moment of starting is especially dangerous: it leads to burying. On the other hand, maneuvers are given without tension, the car is selected confidently in reverse. On the pavement they go smoothly, the reactions when adjusting the direction are clear. But even here, the rear axle does not allow the driver to relax, taxiing after steering. This gives the car a retarded oversteer.

Braking on both dry and wet roads is weak. Quiet tires can not be called - they emit an increased rumble. They transmit shocks to the body from medium and large irregularities, vibrate on small ones. Fuel consumption is above average at any speed.

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6–6_no_copyright

Created in 2009, then it began to be sold in Russia, in 2011 it was modernized.

On ice, braking and lateral grip are average, and acceleration is weak. On snow, on the contrary, acceleration is average, braking is weak, and lateral grip is the lowest, on a par with the Viatti. They go smoothly along the snowy road, not reacting to different thicknesses of the snow blanket - Pirelli's directional stability is traditionally good. Manageability is also without comment: the steering wheel is tight, clear, the reactions are clear. The transition to sliding is soft, the trajectory can be set and corrected both by the steering wheel and the gas. There is practically no skid, at the limit the whole car begins to slide outward.

They do not want to overcome deep snow. They move forward reluctantly, even in motion they try to dig in. Well, at least they get out in reverse. On asphalt, they resemble summer tires - a tight steering wheel in the near-zero zone, excellent information content and a clear adherence to a given direction.

Braking is surprisingly weak on wet pavement and weakest on dry pavement. The noise is increased, the vibration load is high - the company pays little attention to comfort. They roll not very willingly - fuel consumption is increased at any speed.

9–6_no_copyright

7–5_no_copyright

They were born in 2009 and have been on the market since 2010.

Deservedly included in the top five. They differ from those who were left behind in a good balance: all the characteristics, if not leadership, are even on any of the surfaces that you will meet on our roads in winter. For example, on ice both in the longitudinal and transverse directions showed average results. Not so good on snow: acceleration and lateral grip are average, but weak braking is a little let down. At high speeds, they go smoothly in the snow, but there is not enough information on the steering wheel. Lacks confidence and when driving in a turn. At the entrance, a noticeable delay in reactions makes you turn the steering wheel unnecessarily. For this reason, in the initial phase of the turn, the car goes into a demolition, demanding to release the gas. And on the turning arc, it strives to break into a skid, which, fortunately, is easily parried.

They overcome snowdrifts without tension, go forward confidently, do not dig in when starting off, but do not like to skid much. On the asphalt, they scour slightly on transverse irregularities, they respond to taxiing with a slight delay. In terms of noise, there are no complaints, even on rough pavement they roll quietly. But on convex bumps, they decently shake the car and transmit vibrations from seams, cracks and micro-roughnesses of the road.

They brake moderately, showing no preference for dry or wet surfaces. At a speed of 60 km / h they help save fuel, at 90 km / h they look average from this point of view.

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11–4_no_copyright

The model is the same age as Goodyear, created in 2009, it has been sold on our market since 2010.

Good on ice in acceleration, braking properties and lateral grip are only average. On snow, acceleration and lateral grip are average, and braking is weak. Only Yokohama stops worse. On the snowy road go smoothly. The experts noted not only the confident direction keeping, but also the informative rudder, as well as immediate reactions to course corrections. In fast corners, the speed is limited by the soft drift of the front axle, which is eliminated by turning the steering wheel or a slight decrease in speed. The information content of the bagel is high.

Snowdrifts are reluctant to overcome, move forward uncertainly, turn poorly. Reverse move more confidently, allow you to get out of the snow trap. On the asphalt they go almost smoothly, they scour a little on transverse irregularities, and when adjusting the direction they are a little late.

They brake well on wet surfaces, and on dry surfaces they stop best of all. They are quite comfortable - they walk on any surface softly and quietly, except for a little hiss on a snowy road. Fuel consumption is average at 60 km/h and higher at 90 km/h.

13–4_no_copyright

12–3_no_copyright

They have been produced since 2008, at the same time they began to be sold on the Russian market.

During this time, the mixture has been modernized more than once. On ice, they show average results in braking and lateral grip, and they accelerate well. But they cling to the snow better than anyone: they were in the lead in the corresponding exercises. But the exchange rate stability let us down a little: slight difficulties appear when trying to adjust the direction of movement. With each small turn of the steering wheel, the driver is a little strained by the delayed reaction and a shallow, but prolonged skid. In fast turns, delays in reactions and low information content of the steering wheel interfere, which leads to an increasing skid with prolonged stabilization.

In deep snow they turn the car into a tractor. They move, move and maneuver very confidently in any mode, without fear of slipping. On the pavement, they float slightly, are affected by crosswinds, and are noticeably late for corrective actions by the steering wheel. They transmit vibrations from small irregularities, pass road joints hard, causing the car to shudder. They make noise, unpleasantly crunch and buzz in slippery turns when they find something to cling to.

Brake on wet pavement is the best. And on dry show good results. At a speed of 60 km / h, the most economical (along with Goodyear, Michelin and Nokian), at 90 km / h, they also do not require too much.

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15–2_no_copyright

Created in 2008 and sold ever since.

A good balance of grip properties on all surfaces that can be found on a winter road. On ice, the grip properties are even, regardless of actions and modes - in a turn, during acceleration, during braking. On snow, lateral grip and acceleration are good, but braking is average. They go straight in a straight line, without a hint of a desire to evade from a given direction, they accurately react to the steering wheel when adjusting the course. In corners they behave clearly, without problems and surprises. Turns are clearly prescribed, they allow you to adjust the radius with the steering wheel or by changing the fuel supply.

In the snowdrifts feel at home. Feelings are similar to those you get from the "Continental". Confidently row, get under way in any mode, maneuver without difficulty. On the pavement they go smoothly, they bribe with clear reactions comparable to the behavior of summer tires.

They brake well, regardless of whether the pavement is dry or wet. Comfortable: only slightly voice the tractor trail and rough ice. There are no comments about the smoothness of the ride either. Economical at city speeds, do not abuse fuel even at 90 km / h.

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16–1_no_copyright

Created in 2008, since then they have been modernized almost every year.

On the ice, grip properties inaccessible to rivals in the test in all disciplines: in braking, during acceleration and on a circle. On snow, grip is very good: when accelerating and turning, it is the best, on a par with the Continental, in braking efficiency it is slightly inferior to it - the second result. On a straight "white" road they go smoothly, without requiring adjustment. In terms of handling, they are similar to Bridgestone and Pirelli: equally clear reactions, the car just as obediently changes its trajectory when manipulating the steering wheel or gas. The same good stabilization after slips provoked by the driver.

Deep snow is best overcome by sinking the gas pedal to the floor. True, in this mode you run the risk of climbing into such a snowdrift, from where you cannot get out without a shovel or outside help. Although during the tests it was not needed - the car always drove in reverse. They go smoothly on asphalt, but experts noted slight delays in course correction.

Braking is good on wet pavement and average on dry pavement. As for comfort, there are small comments - the noise level on rough roads is slightly increased, vibrations from small bumps are transmitted. At any speed, fuel consumption is the lowest in the test.

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RANKING OF STUD TIRES 205/55R16

19–11_no_copyright

Established in 2008, since then sold. In 2010, the composition of the rubber compound was modernized.

Nevertheless, against the background of other winter tires, Kama-Euro 519 looks weak. On ice, the grip properties are very low, only Cordiant has worse. On snow, grip is also more than modest. The only consolation is that the balance of grip properties is quite even in all directions: it slows down, accelerates and holds the road weakly in corners. On a snowy road, it is better to drive slowly: the car scours from side to side. In a slippery turn, the behavior is torn: the car breaks into a demolition, then into a skid. More or less obeys the steering wheel only on rolled snow. On ice, even at low speed it breaks into a skid. Slides on any surface for a long time. Very large steering angles and significant delays in reactions interfere with keeping the car under control.

In deep snow, it does not move quite confidently. At the time of starting, it is better not to slip. With the wheels turned out to the side, it starts off better than straight. Reverse is selected without problems. On asphalt, it scours a lot along the road. Very large steering angles, significant delay and low information content, as well as unpleasant steering of the rear axle, interfere with correcting the direction.

Braking on wet pavement is weak, on dry pavement - the weakest. On ice and asphalt, the tread howls loudly. Very rigid - they transmit shocks from medium irregularities and vibrations from small ones.

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20–10_no_copyright

They saw the light in 2009, but appeared in our test for the first time.

Excessively deep spikes make the tire practically helpless on ice - neither accelerate, nor turn, nor stop. Holds a little better in the snow. Lateral grip is closer to average, although acceleration is weak and braking is the weakest. The course on the snow is quite even, there are only slight yaws with a change in depth. On ice, grip properties are subjectively assessed as very poor. Do not turn the steering wheel sharply, otherwise the car refuses to turn. If you still managed to turn, a skid awaits on the arc. On snow, speed is limited by a sharp stall into a skid. To fend it off is the lack of information content of the steering wheel and small delays in reactions.

In deep snow they move not quite confidently. There are no pronounced preferences in driving modes, they pull the car well with little slipping. They walk backwards with confidence. They go smoothly on the asphalt, but when adjusting the direction, easy steering of the rear axle and insufficient information content of the steering wheel interfere.

Braking is average on both dry and wet roads. They don’t indulge in comfort: they buzz annoyingly loudly, shake the body on convex bumps, push on medium ones, transmit vibrations on small ones. Fuel consumption at 60 km/h is higher than average at 90 km/h. The spikes are not held very securely: during the tests, the protrusion value has changed by three “tens”.

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21–9_no_copyright

Quite fresh tires, created in 2010, have been sold in Russia since that time.

But in our test they lit up for the first time. On ice, traction in all directions is average. They behave less confidently on snow: braking and lateral grip are weak, acceleration is the most sluggish, on a par with the Bridgestone. On a snowy road, they scour a little. In corners, insufficiently high coupling properties affect - the car completely slides outward.

Snowdrifts are not for these tires: they get stuck in deep snow, as they say, out of the blue. When starting, they fail, strive to dig in. Reverse move uncertainly. They drive smoothly on ideal asphalt, but this is not often found on our roads. Therefore, constant directional correction is required, which is complicated by delays in reactions and unpleasant steer of the rear axle.

On a dry road, the car stops reluctantly, and braking on wet roads is the weakest. Very hard: shocks from bumps are transmitted to the floor and seat, vibrations occur on the steering wheel. They make loud noise and buzz with spikes. Fuel consumption is average at any speed. The spikes hold securely, there are no losses, but the size of the protrusion is more than modest: they will not be able to reliably hook on ice and dense snow with such spikes.

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25–8_no_copyright

Created in 2009, but appeared on the Russian market belatedly, in 2010.

On ice grip properties: average and in braking, and in turns, and in acceleration. They ride less confidently on snow than on ice. Braking is weak, acceleration is the most sluggish, like in Yokohama, lateral grip is also the lowest. On a snowy road, they scour a little, but do not leave the trajectory. Slow reactions to steering. In fast corners, speed is limited by long drift. In sliding the front axle, the car does not respond to steering turns.

In deep snow confidently starts and moves, but only tight. As soon as the wheels turn a little, traction is lost and the car immediately stops. On the asphalt they go smoothly, keep the set course. But when it is necessary to correct the direction of movement, the driver is strained by the steering of the rear axle and the insufficiently informative steering wheel.

When measuring the braking distance, the “Yokohama” blew again. Like hers, braking is weak on both dry and wet surfaces. Not comfortable enough: they transmit shocks from bumps to the body, make loud noise with the tread and spikes, even at high speed. Fuel consumption at 60 km/h is higher than average at 90 km/h. The protrusion of the spines and the rate of protrusion increase are normal. There are no losses during the test.

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26–7_no_copyright

New on the Russian market. As they say, piping hot.

On ice, the grip is high, the balance is reasonable. Braking and lateral grip are good, acceleration is average. They are pretty strong on snow too. Longitudinal grip is good, transverse - medium. On a snowy road, they scour a little, but do not leave the trajectory. Insufficient information content of the steering wheel and a slight delay in correcting the direction of movement were noted. Slips are harsh in corners, the car slides longer than we would like, but traction recovery is soft and smooth.

In deep snow, they move not quite confidently; when slipping at the time of launch, they show a tendency to self-burrow. They walk backwards with confidence. On asphalt, they make the car float along the lane. A wide “zero”, delays in reactions, steering of the rear axle and insufficient information content interfere.

They brake weakly, both on dry pavement and on wet. Comfort notes: small vibrations from small bumps and increased overall noise typical of studded tires. At a speed of 60 km / h, fuel consumption is below average, at 90 km / h - the most economical. The amount of protrusion of the spines and the rate of protrusion increase are normal. During the test, there was no loss of spikes.

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27–6_no_copyright

The "oldest" tires in our test.

Produced since 2006, from the same time sold in Russia. On the ice, they can boast of a good balance: they brake and turn well, they accelerate moderately. On snow, traction in any direction is average - also good. On a snow-covered straight they go smoothly, without requiring taxiing. In turns on ice and packed snow, they delight with clear reactions and a very soft transition to slips. However, on loose snow, a sharp skid occurs on the arc, requiring clear parrying actions from the driver.

They do not favor deep snow, they confidently move only on freshly fallen powder. If the snow is a little denser, packed, you can only drive in tension, without slipping. The car goes smoothly along the asphalt straight line, the reactions to the course change are immediate, except that the information content on the steering wheel is almost not enough.

Braking is just brilliant: both on wet and dry pavement, the tires stop perfectly. The noise background is increased, like most "studs", but there are no complaints about the smoothness of the ride - all road bumps are well smoothed out. The most voracious at any speed. The amount of protrusion of the spikes and the rate of its growth during the tests are optimal. Lost a couple of spikes from the front wheels.

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31–5_no_copyright

Produced since 2009, sold since the same time.

The tread pattern is the legacy of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 tire. They differ from it in the composition of the mixture and round-core studs. In our tests participate for the first time. On ice, braking and lateral grip are average, acceleration is good. On snow, the behavior is more confident: the longitudinal grip is good, and the lateral grip is the most reliable. On a snow-covered straight line, they scour both the front axle and the rear, reacting to the density of snow. At small angles of rotation of the steering wheel, its insufficient information content was noted. You can drive fast in corners - the reactions are clear, the behavior is understandable. The speed is limited to a slight skid, which is easily compensated by the steering wheel or the addition of gas.

They are not afraid of snowdrifts: it is enough to add gas, and the car will go where the steering wheel is turned. Reverse is selected without problems. They go smoothly on asphalt, but when adjusting the course, there is a noticeable delay in reactions and an empty steering wheel.

They brake on dry pavement moderately, on wet pavement - well. They make a loud noise with the tread and spikes, especially from 40 to 60 km / h. The smoothness of the ride can be called good, do not be small vibrations from small irregularities. Fuel consumption is average at any speed. The amount of protrusion of the spikes and its growth during the tests are close to the optimum. There are no missing spikes.

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32–4_no_copyright

They were born in 2007. Since 2008 they have been sold in Russia.

Periodically, they update the design, spikes and composition of the mixture, leaving the "face" unchanged. Recent innovations have allowed Carving to join the leading group. On ice, longitudinal traction is average, and lateral traction is the highest. On snow, traction is good in all directions. On a snowy road, they hold their course perfectly. The car goes like an arrow and reacts sensitively even to small turns of a dense, highly informative steering wheel. Turns are prescribed with a twinkle. Clear, understandable control, sensitive reactions to the slightest turn of the steering wheel. At the limit, the speed is limited to a soft and smooth skid, which can be extinguished by a small addition of gas or turning the steering wheel. The glide is fast but gently stabilizes.

Snowdrifts are easily overcome, they do not dig in at the start, they drive both under tension and with slipping, they easily maneuver. On asphalt they go smoothly, a clear “zero” helps to correct the direction.

Wet braking is average, dry is good. Traditionally, they do not indulge in comfort: they make noise, as if the plane is flying by, shake on any irregularities, as if pumped over. Most likely, the low level of comfort is a kind of payment for the pleasure of driving a car on a winter road. Fuel consumption is average at any speed. The amount of protrusion of the spikes and the rate of their growth during the tests are optimal. There are no losses.

35–4_no_copyright

33–3_no_copyright

Offered on the Russian market since 2009.

The only leaders today use round-core pimples. On the ice, the longitudinal grip is average, the transverse grip is good. On the snow, the alignment is slightly different: the longitudinal grip is good, and the transverse grip is average. On a snow-covered road, the car is carried smoothly and stably. Reactions during course correction - no remarks. In turns, the behavior is clear and understandable. The speed is most often limited to a soft drift, but the car responds well to turning the steering wheel and tries to keep the given trajectory.

Even in slips, it does not get out of control of the driver. You can not only pierce snowdrifts through and through, but also easily maneuver in them, stop and start off again. If you stopped the car - just backed up and drove on. It is always possible to get out in reverse. On the pavement, the directional stability is good, the “zero” is clear, the steering wheel is tight - the tires are almost like summer tires.

They brake well on dry pavement, moderately on wet pavement. The noise level is increased, on a hard surface, the rumble of spikes is clearly audible, especially in the range of 60-90 km / h. Smooth running without remarks - well extinguish any irregularities. Fuel is saved in all speed modes - both at 60 and at 90 km / h. The protrusion of the spines and the rate of change in the magnitude of the protrusion are normal. During the break-in and tests, not a single spike was lost.

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37–2_no_copyright

Relatively recent model, introduced in 2010.

Since the same year, it has been sold in Russia. Differs from other tires in the "diamond" shape of the spikes. On ice, traction is good in all directions. On the snow, the same thing - both longitudinal and lateral grip are at a high level. On a snowy road, they allow you to drive quickly, carry the car smoothly. But the information content on the steering wheel is insufficient. In turns, the drift of the front axle prevails. Skid, if any, appears softly and smoothly and is eliminated without much difficulty.

In deep snow they go well only with intensive slipping, but this mode is uninformative. You dig in - and the reverse gear will not help. They go smoothly on the asphalt, the steering wheel is tight, the “zero” is clear, the reactions when adjusting the direction are immediate.

They brake on wet pavement better than others, on dry pavement they show average results, on a par with Gislaved. They make a loud noise with spikes on a hard surface - both on ice and on asphalt, especially loudly from 70 to 90 km / h. Pretty tough: they transmit vibrations from road bumps to the body floor, seat and steering wheel. Fuel consumption is average at any speed. Protrusion of spikes within the optimal value. The spikes are held in rubber very securely.

40–2_no_copyright

38–1_no_copyright

Introduced at the end of 2008, sold since 2009.

They are constantly updated, which allows them to stay in the lead. On ice, they demonstrated the best longitudinal grip properties, transverse - medium. On snow - the best acceleration, good braking and grip in corners. On the snow-covered road they go smoothly, without remarks. The steering wheel is tight, the reactions are clear. In corners, speed is limited to a gentle, assisting skid that is most easily remedied with a little throttle. Even in slips, the car is obedient to the driver's commands, restores the trajectory gently and smoothly.

In deep snow they move confidently, maneuver well, start off without the desire to dig in. Any mode: from professional movement of tightness, without turning the wheels, to “blonde” “gas to the floor”. Very well selected in reverse. On asphalt, the movement is smooth, but when adjusting, the rear axle taxis unpleasantly.

Braking on dry pavement is weak, on wet pavement - average. Comfort is not perfect: the distinct noise of spikes on asphalt and smooth ice, jolts from road bumps, primarily convex ones. Economical at all speeds. The protrusion of the spikes is close to the reasonable limit. However, the average protrusion during testing has changed by only 0.1 mm, which means that the spikes in the rubber hold securely.

41–1_no_copyright

39–0_no_copyright

A novelty, preparing for sale this year.

We could not calculate the final scores, because in snow braking Ice Arctic beat the best serial tire, which we took as the “base” in the calculations. On the ice, there are high longitudinal traction properties, and transverse ones are medium. On snow - super braking, very good acceleration and medium lateral grip. On a snowy road, they scour slightly, reacting with a delay to a direction correction. In fast corners, the behavior is ambiguous. In the initial phase, at the stage of entering the turn, there is a noticeable delay in reactions, leading to the drift of the front axle. After the clutch is restored, already on the arc, there is a high probability of skidding, which has to be compensated by both the steering wheel and the addition of gas at the same time. After sliding, the recovery of adhesion occurs quite abruptly, provoking a shooting skid in the other direction.

The concept of "deep snow" for these tires does not exist. The help of the car to get out of the snow captivity was never needed. On asphalt, they noticeably float from side to side, requiring constant adjustment. Very wide "zero", delays in steering actions.

They brake well on wet pavement, averagely on dry pavement. They push on average irregularities, they buzz strongly with a tread and spikes. The amount of protrusion of the spikes is at the limit. However, the change in protrusion during the tests by only one “ten” indicates that the spikes are fixed firmly.

42–0_no_copyright

You can learn more about the designations and classification of tires

Vadim KORABLEV, Yuri KUROCHKIN, Evgeny LARIN,

Anton MISHIN, Andrey OBRAZUMOV,

Valery PAVLOV and Dmitry TESTOV.

Thank you for the technical support of the employees of the AVTOVAZ test site,

Togliatti company "Volgashintorg",

as well as tire manufacturers,

submitted their products for testing.

Tires are the most important attribute of any car. It is they who provide the degree of reliability of the behavior of the car on the road. Tires are an essential accessory to any car. The seasonality of tires is an equally important factor. Widely advertised by all means, all-season tires can never perform equally well in all weather conditions. After all, in summer, one property is required from a tire, and in winter, others. Their indicators are always average and never shine with outstanding results.

Therefore, changing shoes depending on the season is still necessary. In winter, strictly winter tires must be installed on the car, but in summer - always summer tires. However, that's not all! The degree of safety on the road, depending on rubber, is determined not only by this. In the unpredictable weather conditions of the Russian winter at a particular second, different tire characteristics play a decisive role. If ice acts as a coating, the grip properties of the wheels on ice are important, if the winter is warm and the road is wet asphalt, then you need a winter tire with outstanding behavior on asphalt, but if the car drives on packed snow, then the priority indicator is the behavior of the tire on snow .

But it often happens that during the season the weather changes more than once, and you have to drive a car everywhere. And then you need a universal tire. The eternal question of any person when buying a set of winter tires - what to choose studs or Velcro? It seems that there is no single answer to this question, but in fact it is not. If you know for sure and are one hundred percent sure that throughout the winter you will never go out of town, then you can safely buy non-studded winter tires, while you definitely need to choose a modern model from a trusted manufacturer and always remember that a non-studded tire performs worse on ice than studded tires, but is better controlled on pavement. If you admit that during the winter you still have to leave the city on the highway or on the highway, then spikes are vital. Indeed, quite often it happens in the countryside that they didn’t wash it here, they didn’t clean it, they didn’t clean it here. Therefore, snow, and ice, and asphalt, and mixed are found on the country road - under such circumstances, spikes play a crucial role. But in any case, when choosing rubber, it is best to rely on specialized car tire tests, which were prepared by professionals in automotive publications with the expectation of motorists.

Tire speed indexes
Index	Max. Speedkm/h

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 - winter studded tires

The studded winter tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is no longer a novelty, but still one of the standards of all existing winter tires. This model is great for the Russian winter. It's equally great on ice and snow, and it's acceptably good on tarmac. The tire passed the results of expert tests with a solid five! Braking, acceleration and handling on ice - the best results everywhere! The multifaceted design of the stud ensures the confident behavior of the car in both longitudinal and transverse slides. On the snow, too, without remarks - everything is wonderful! But on asphalt Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is no longer the standard. The car, shod with Finnish tires, reacts precisely but sluggishly to turns, brakes not badly, but not perfectly, and makes more noise than competitors, even despite the use of special air damper technology next to the spikes.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is a great choice for those who often drive on snow and ice in winter, and not the best choice for residents of large metropolitan areas who spend the winter on asphalt. For urban winter driving on asphalt, it is better to choose a different model.

Continental ContiIceContact - winter studded tires

The German winter tire Continental ContiIceContact is very close in performance to the Hakkapeliitta 7. Nokian is still better on ice, and the difference in performance on snow and asphalt between the two tire models is minimal. A driver without special equipment is unlikely to feel the difference in the behavior of cars. But the fact that Continental is noticeably quieter than Nokian is noticeable even without instruments.

Continental ContiIceContact are really good tires that can keep your car safe in the winter. Moreover, the resource indicators of Continental tires promise to be better than those of competitors thanks to a special technology for increasing the strength of the studs. Continental is so far the only company that produces "civilian" tires with glued spikes.

Michelin X-Ice North 2 - winter studded tires

The second generation of the Michelin X-Ice North studded winter tires perform skilfully in winter conditions. Unlike leaders in their design, there are no newfangled technologies such as multifaceted spikes or holes in the tread. However, Michelin tires are only slightly behind the leaders. One of the strengths of the Michelin X-Ice North2 tires is road handling. When driving on an ordinary winter road, they give excellent comfort: the tires remarkably ignore the longitudinal ruts and the “notch” left by snowplows. Acoustic comfort is also good for this rubber model, and in terms of rolling resistance, these tires are the best in their class.

Pirelli Winter Carving Edge - winter studded tires

Pirelli Winter Carving Edge tires are leaders in terms of slushplaning resistance. (hydroplaning in winter) The car with these tires resists well mixed in the contact patch.

In addition, a car shod with these tires acquires sharp reactions, both on asphalt and on ice and snow. This comes across as very poignant! If you go too far with speed when entering a turn, the driver encounters a sharp and unexpected skidding of the rear axle. Therefore, when driving cars with Pirelli tires, you need to be alert and always in control of the situation.

Goodyear UltraGrip Extreme - studded winter tires

Goodyear UltraGrip Extreme - good winter tires! They did not fail in any of the disciplines, showing decent results in each. At first glance, the Goodyear tire tread looks much simpler than the leaders. However, the UltraGrip Extreme design uses special invisible threads that stiffen the tread under load. This is the merit of prismatic lamellas.

Goodyear UltraGrip Extreme tires perform equally well on snow, on ice, on asphalt, and on mixed! Brilliant all-round winter tires that will suit drivers who spend most of their time in the city, but occasionally go out on the highway.

Gislaved Nord Frost 5 - winter studded tires

Gislaved Nord Frost 5 tires are market veterans. But to this day they remain a worthy option, satisfying with their performance the requirements for the behavior of a car on ice and snow.

However, Gislaved Nord Frost 5 is not suitable for the city. In an emergency, deep skids occur on a car with these tires, and on a mix that often happens in the city, Nord Frost 5 pops up unexpectedly early.

Yokohama Ice Guard 35 - winter studded tires

Yokohama Ice Guard 35 is last year's novelty in the tire market. Press releases from the Japanese company promised excellent performance in any situation. But in reality, alas, everything looks different. For example, on snow, and especially on ice, the IG35 tires noticeably lag behind the leaders. But on asphalt, Yokohama tires are one of the best. They are great for winter operation in Moscow or in other large cities, where more often than snow and ice, porridge from the reagent is on the road.

In addition to the above models, a number of other models are in demand on the Russian tire market. However, interest in them is caused only by their moderate value. Tires Hankook Winter i'Pike, Sava Eskimo Ice, Cordiant Sno-Max and other similar options are disappointing in their behavior in all respects, which, under certain circumstances, threatens an emergency.

Non-studded winter tires for passenger cars:

Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice+ - non-studded winter tires

Tires Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice + were made for the specifics of European operation. The tire has a directional tread pattern, which makes it highly resistant to slushplaning.

And in other disciplines, the Goodyear rubber has shown itself well: it behaves well on ice and snow and rides well on asphalt. One of the best non-studded winter tires!

Continental ContiVikingContact 5 - non-studded winter tires

Surprisingly, the studless Continental ContiVikingContact 5 tires don't shine on asphalt. On the contrary, her true element is snow and ice. On the ice - a noticeably shorter braking distance, on the handling track - a pleasant neutral steering, which allows you to drive the car on bare ice without any tension. These are good non-studded tires for the northern regions, but not for urban conditions.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R - non-studded winter tires

The non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tire, made in Russia, shows good grip on ice. In the snow, the same alignment. The slush planing resistance of this rubber is also not bad, but still weaker than that of the Continental.

At the same time, Nokian, like Continental, demonstrate the same weaknesses: their behavior on the pavement is not stable ... Not a standard for the city.

Michelin X-Ice 2 - non-studded winter tires

Michelin X-Ice 2 tires are equally well suited for driving on asphalt and for driving on ice. However, on ice, you need to watch your speed. He went too far - and flew off the trajectory. On snow, the car is more stable, but the grip is more modest. Snow-water porridge Michelin X-Ice 2 also resists no matter.

But in the category of driving on asphalt, the Michelin X-Ice 2 is close to the leader among non-studded tires. Good all purpose winter tire.

Yokohama Ice Guard 30 - non-studded winter tires

"Velcro" of the Japanese company Yokohama does not shine in any of the categories. She behaves mediocrely on snow, and on ice, and on asphalt. The only strong point of this tire is its resistance to slushplaning. Not the best tyres.

Dunlop Graspic DS-3 - non-studded winter tires

Dunlop Graspic DS-3 - a novelty of last year's season. Press releases claim that the tire, thanks to special fibers, clings perfectly to the ice. However, in reality, everything looks different. On ice - the average level of grip. There is some margin on the track, but after overcoming it, the car abruptly breaks into a slip. On snow, the situation is similar: mediocre traction and sharp, poorly predictable slips. Also on asphalt. In addition, these tires make more noise than other Velcros.

Text: Roman Kharitonov

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Testing summer tires for SUV crossovers - season 2012

Test of summer tires in size 205/55 R16 and 235/55 R17 in which the following models took part: Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport, Continental ContiCrossContact UHP, Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV, Hankook Dynapro HP RA23, Pirelli Scorpion Verde, Sava Intensa SUV, Vredestein Sportrac 3, Barum Bravuris 4X4, Kumho Ecsta SPT KU31, Nankang N-605, Nokian Z G2, Pirelli Scorpion Verde and Toyo Proxes CF1 SUV.

Finnish tires have always been famous for their quality. So the tires immediately took the lead, showing the best results in 13 out of 16 indicators in the tests conducted by "Behind the Wheel". Compared to last year's Hakkapeliitta 7 wheels, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 has an almost 50% increase in the number of anti-skid studs, as well as a change in their location on the tread, as a result of which no stud overlaps the next one. In addition, the new stud shape avoids strong stud deflection under load, providing maximum traction. Thanks to this, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires make it possible to achieve the highest level of traction on both ice and snow. In addition, Hakkapeliitta 8 tires guarantee excellent crossover flotation and easy handling on pavement.

Another newcomer to the market that came from Finland is the tires that won in. These tires are based on an innovative rubber compound with an abundance of crystalline polyhedral particles with a deep layer of occurrence, as a result of which the grip quality of tires with the road surface does not decrease as the tread wears out. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 tires are great for winter, avoid unnecessary fuel consumption and provide high acoustic comfort while driving. Of the weak points of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, one can single out the average braking performance on open pavement.

Tires are another bright representative in a series of new products for the upcoming winter season 2013-2014. These tires have been built almost from the ground up using a range of new design and manufacturing techniques to take tire quality to the next level. First of all, we note the use of new, overload-resistant cross-shaped spikes Cross-Edge Pin with the function of self-cleaning of the lamellas from snow and ice dust. Also on the Blizzak Spike-01, a new tread pattern was applied with cross grooves with expanded intersections, and shoulder grooves were added to increase the off-road qualities of the tires.

Tires are no less technologically advanced, although they belong to the class of non-studded winter tires. An improved Multi-Cell Compound rubber compound was used to create them, and the tread was developed using a new generation of design software. Blizzak VRX tires were conceived primarily as an effective means of dealing with snow, and therefore the tread received two specialized tread patterns - an arrow-shaped tread for uniform traction and specially shaped cross grooves that provide a strong grip on snowy surfaces. Both patterns are located asymmetrically relative to each other, which greatly improves the off-road performance of the Blizzak VRX tires.

The tires (which “for some reason” did not take part in the “Behind the Wheel” test) are one of the few specially designed for harsh and frosty winter conditions with roads constantly covered with ice or snow. The new shape of the studs, as well as their improved fixation, provide reliable traction on both snow and ice. In addition, Michelin X-Ice North 3 tires are excellent at resisting possible vehicle skids, while not adversely affecting handling and directional stability. The third generation of these tires combines many new Michelin innovations (the Smart Stud System includes a new thermoactive rubber compound in the tread of the tire ThermoActive Tread Compound, as well as the technology of removing ice chips (Ice Powder Remover) and Michelin conical spike). The result is a 10% reduction in braking distance on ice and a 25% improvement in stud retention… well, the stronger sidewall in the new generation Michelin X-Ice North provides more safety for a longer period of operation.

Another studded novelty for the 2013-2014 season is. This rubber features the all-new Pirelli Dual Stud stud technology, which features a double extended tungsten carbide core, a flat outer surface to prevent premature wear, and a wide multi-directional base at the base of the stud to optimize load distribution and reduce mobility. The stud of the Pirelli Ice Zero tires itself has a bi-directional “double claw” shape, which allows you to more effectively “bite” into the icy road surface, providing a high level of flotation even with a dense and high snow layer.

The new tires are designed to provide unsurpassed traction on icy roads and effective braking on snowy surfaces. Their new lightweight aluminum studs with a hexagonal high-strength core and a reinforced base provide excellent G-force handling while also providing the right amount of traction for snowy off-road riding. Formula Ice winter tires use a more frequent stud pattern than a standard winter tyre, making the new product better in terms of emergency braking on winter roads. The new directional tread pattern with wide lateral grooves and a bi-directional central rib provides excellent handling on any surface, as well as fast removal of snow or water from the tire-to-road contact zone.

We conclude our review of the new products for the upcoming winter season with Swedish tires, designed in collaboration with the German company Continental and positioned as premium tires. An interesting fact is that in Nord Frost 100 tires, the developers were forced not to increase, but to reduce the number of studs due to new EU requirements. As a result, advanced technology for the production of "three-beam" spikes "Tikka Spikes" with a reinforced base structure was born. In addition, the layout of the studs on the tread and their orientation relative to each other have changed. As a result, Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires demonstrate simply impressive braking reliability on snow or ice covered roads, as well as provide excellent maneuverability and vehicle directional stability in winter road conditions. True, we note that you will have to pay for this with slightly increased fuel consumption. The tread pattern of the Nord Frost 100 tires has also undergone a significant transformation: the central rib with oblique grooves is made of a harder rubber compound, which guarantees stability on the road, and the side zones are equipped with a large number of specially shaped diagonal grooves for more efficient removal of wet snow.

So, we got acquainted with the list of the main novelties of winter tires for the 2013/2014 season on the Russian market, now it's time to decide on a rating based on the results of in-depth testing conducted by the specialists of the Za Rulem magazine. We will not go into technical details and talk about testing methods, you can familiarize yourself with these data in the September issue of the magazine "Behind the Rulem". We will give the final rating, dividing it separately into studded and non-studded tires (R14 175/65 tires were tested).

The best studded winter tires 2013-2014 (according to the results of tests "Behind the Wheel"):

1. Continental ContiIceContact
2. Michelin X-Ice North 2
3. Gislaved NordFrost 100
4. Norman 4
5. Kama Euro 519*
6. Cordiant Polar 2
7. Amtel Nordmaster ST

* New Kama Euro 519 winter tires were tested outside the official standings, as they represent an experimental batch of tires from a well-known Russian manufacturer and, at the time of testing, have not yet been available for retail sale.

The best non-studded winter tires 2013-2014 (based on tests "Behind the Wheel"):

1. Michelin X Ice 3
2. Continental CVC5
3. Nordman RS
4. Bridgestone Bizzak Revo GZ
5. Pirelli Winter Ice Control
6. Cordiant Winter Drive
7. Yokohama iceGUARD IG50

In conclusion, we remind you once again that you can find detailed information about the testing methods and the exact results of this rating of winter tires in the September issue of the Za Rulem magazine.