30.06.2020

Big test of winter tires: choice “Behind the Wheel”! ZR tire test group answers questions Winter tires review behind the wheel

Braking performance was assessed on snow, ice, wet and dry asphalt. The tests were carried out at different temperatures, and the average result was determined after 15-20 runs. 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 controls eliminate the effects of weather.

Traction on snow and ice was assessed using the fastest acceleration from 5 to 35 and from 5 to 20 km/h, respectively. Tests were also conducted at various temperatures on the track and in the indoor facility.

Handling scores were based on lap times, and several drivers also gave their opinions on how the tires accelerated, braked and cornered on various surfaces. The tests were carried out blind, meaning the pilots did not know what tires were installed on the car. In the same way, directional stability was assessed, that is, the ability of the tires to maintain the direction of movement without the need for steering.

In the noise level test, pilots also gave subjective ratings after making several runs on uneven surfaces. Finally, rolling resistance was measured as follows - the car rolled freely, slowing down 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 in comparison with the most economical tires.

IN Test World emphasized that all tires were purchased for free sale in various stores. If 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 further verified.B.

The 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 has confirmed that the effect of studs on road wear does not exceed acceptable values. If the tests are successful, the manufacturer can choose the type of studs and their number at his discretion.

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 size 205/55 R16 this means that there should be less than a hundred studs. Of the 12 participants in this test, only three manufacturers decided to take this path.

Increasing the number of studs improves traction on ice. This is a logical consequence, and test results almost always confirm it. Be that as it may, a large number of studs alone does not guarantee success in the entire test, although it does provide a certain advantage on ice.

The more studs there are, the more noise there will usually be, which can be quite annoying when driving. When driving on asphalt, studs can also negatively affect handling, stability and even braking performance.

Additional traction on icy surfaces is provided by the penetration of the stud into the ice surface. In order for the spike to “grab” into the ice, a certain amount of energy is required. The more studs, the less pressure will be on one individual stud, and if you drive along hard ice In cold weather, tires with fewer studs may have more grip.

Nokian shook up the studded tire market a couple of years ago by introducing tires that had 190 studs - 50-100% more than other tires on the market at the time. After this, Nokian tires won one test after another, but their advantage is gradually decreasing.

This year the Continental tires also feature 190 studs. It's not hard 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 studs are Hankook, which has 170 of them. The Korean manufacturer is actively investing in research and development, and experts noted that it is good to see that good winter tires have begun to arrive from Asia. As a representative of one of the manufacturers said, 10 years ago the characteristics of Korean tires were a joke 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 their tires. Goodyear, Bridgestone and Pirelli are well-known manufacturers, so it was logical to take their tires for testing. Tires from second-tier brands include Sava, Dunlop and 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 Chinese Linglong have less than a hundred studs, meaning these tires have not passed the road wear test. 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 large number of studs. As for Linglong, the tires of this company have already participated in Finnish tests, proving to be one of the best winter tires from China.

Friction tire designers don't have to worry about the number of studs, but their absence must be compensated for in one way or another, which creates a whole other set of problems. There are limited tools available to improve the ice grip of studless tires, and mostly engineers use new materials and improved tread patterns while keeping the compound as soft as possible. Moreover, if you overdo it with softness rubber compound, other problems may arise, the worst of which are poor grip on wet asphalt, unstable handling and low wear resistance.

In recent years, Nokian and Continental have occupied the top positions in friction tire tests. Even without studs, their tires provide impressive grip on ice, but buyers will have to put up with sluggish steering response on asphalt or choose another tire that will again have less grip.

Goodyear has focused on handling on asphalt when creating friction tires, which only slightly compromises grip in winter conditions, while Michelin has always preferred to create a balance of performance without any obvious disadvantages. Pirelli and Bridgestone are old trusted brands, but their models in this test are different from those tested before.

Two tires have been added to the list from a lower price segment- Nordman from Nokian and Nankang from a Taiwanese manufacturer, which is known for its quite successful summer tires. This test showed whether their winter tires can compete with products from European companies.

The tire business is full of all kinds of information about how winter tires wear out. various types, and how wear affects their grip. Somebody says that friction tires wear out twice as fast as studded tires, and some are convinced that due to the wear of the studs, after just a couple of years, the grip of studded tires will be weaker than that of non-studded tires.

Test World selected 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 the equivalent of two winter seasons. The route was mostly on highways, but each tire was subjected to 100 braking and accelerating runs at low speeds to simulate city traffic conditions.

The tests used three cars that followed the same route under the same conditions. Two tires of each model were taken and moved from the front to the rear axle. Thus, at the end of the test, all tires traveled the same distance on the front and rear axles, and in addition, drivers also swapped cars to avoid their driving style influencing the result.

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 tires of both types lost grip approximately equally, and after 15,000 km its level decreased by about 20%. In addition, the deterioration of grip was the same for tires of different brands, and the balance of forces did not change throughout the test. This suggests that the test results of new tires also allow us to judge how certain tires will behave in a worn condition.

Be that as it may, the tires differed from each other in terms of durability. The table shows how many kilometers they can travel before their tread depth decreases to 3 mm. Michelin has historically been known as a tire with particularly good wear resistance, and tests of the selected model again confirmed this reputation. It is worth noting that the results will always depend on the car, road quality and driving style.

With the exception of Michelin, all other tires in both categories wear about the same, and after the test their tread depth decreased by 2 mm. The Continental friction ones only had 1.5mm of wear, but as with the Michelin, due to the relatively shallow initial tread depth of up to 3mm, they will 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 tires tested may look subtle on paper, in fact in everyday life they can be more than obvious, and this applies not only to braking performance, but also to cornering grip and steering response. . 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 an optimal level of safety, and an accident will be much more costly, not to mention other, more serious risks.

TEST RESULTS

Left: Braking on ice(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: Braking on snow
Right: Acceleration on snow(Acceleration time from 5 to 35 km/h, s)

Left: Handling on snow(Lap time, s)
Right: Handling on snow(Subjective assessments, points)

Left: Handling on wet pavement(Lap time, s)
Right: Handling on wet pavement(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(The difference is fuel consumption, %)

Expert opinions on each tire are presented below

Studded tires:

Place	Tire	Expert opinion
1	Rating: 8.8	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 190 Date of manufacture: 3/2015 Country of origin: Finland Nokian received top marks in all ice disciplines where they had a short braking distance and high lateral grip, which is clearly facilitated by the presence of 190 studs. The tires were also among the best on snow, and they showed their weaknesses in tests for braking efficiency and handling on wet asphalt. Experts noted that this is a normal situation if the main priority when creating tires is maximum grip on ice. + High grip on ice + - Average performance on asphalt
1

2	Rating: 8.6	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 190 Date of manufacture: 4/2015 Country of origin: Germany The Continental also performed well in the ice tests, although in terms of braking and acceleration efficiency they were still slightly inferior to the Nokian. At the same time, the pilots awarded them 10 points for behavior that was stable and predictable. On the snowy track, the Continental was also one of 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 have no obvious disadvantages. + + Good handling in all weather conditions - Average braking performance on ice
2

2	Rating: 8.6	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 170 Date of manufacture: 2/2015 Country of origin: South Korea With Hankook taking a place on the podium, the Korean brand is likely to become one of the leading players in the harsh winter tire market. The Hankook has short braking distances and high traction on both snow and ice, and on the twisty roads they were one of the fastest tires, which speaks to their ability to hold traction in a variety of situations. On wet asphalt, the Hankooks also stop the car quickly, but they can skid too quickly and do not have very good information content. + High grip on snow and ice + Low rolling resistance -
2

4	Rating: 8.5	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 130 Date of manufacture: 43/2014 Country of origin: Poland Goodyear has probably outperformed all other studded tires this time around in terms of balancing ride characteristics on a variety of surfaces. They are quite a bit behind the best tires on snow and ice, where they have a short braking distance and good handling. The only weakness is the relatively low grip on wet pavement, but drivers noted that the tires behaved consistently and safely. + Short braking distance and high traction on snow + Good balance of characteristics - Average braking performance on wet pavement
4

4	Rating: 8.5	Load/Speed Index: 91T Number of studs: 130 Date of manufacture: 48/2014 Country of origin: Germany Another good result for Pirelli. On ice, the tires behave confidently and reliably, without presenting any unpleasant surprises, and on snow, the Pirelli, although it has a relatively long braking distance, has good traction and high lateral grip. In addition to this, Pirelli has proven to be one of the best studded tires on wet asphalt, where they also have very stable handling. The downside is that the Pirelli's noise is louder than most other tires. + High grip on ice + Good handling in winter conditions - High noise level
4

6	Rating: 8.4	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 130 Date of manufacture: 43/2014 Country of origin: Poland Dunlop were able to earn a large number of points, not least because they were one of the best on wet and dry asphalt. They also performed quite well on snow and ice, but not as consistently as the leaders. Acceleration and braking on ice are fine, as is deceleration of a car on snow. At the same time, lateral stability on a snowy track could be higher. + + Low noise level - Unstable behavior in certain winter conditions
6

7	Rating: 8.3	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 96 Date of manufacture: 6/2015 Country of origin: Germany Gislaved is a second-tier brand from Continental, and the tire performance is also less impressive. On snow, the tires have excellent results in terms of both braking and handling. On icy surfaces, the Gislaved, which only has 96 studs, lags behind some other tires, but despite this, it was praised for its good stability and lateral grip, which gave drivers greater confidence. Directional stability is excellent, but the Gislaved has high rolling resistance. + Good performance on snow + High grip on wet asphalt -
7

8	Rating: 7.9	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 96 Date of manufacture: 37/2014 Country of origin: Russia Unlike most other studded Michelin tires are not so focused on increasing traction on ice, and besides, they were inferior to other tires on snowy surfaces. The only positive thing is that the tires performed very smoothly in all disciplines. On dry and wet pavement, Michelins feel better than many other studded tires and have reduced noise levels. In addition, as a separate test showed, Michelin can be pleased with its very high wear resistance. + + Low noise level - Not enough grip on ice for a premium tire
8

9	Rating: 7.8	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 130 Date of manufacture: 12/2014 Country of origin: Japan On ice, the Bridgestne received high subjective ratings as pilots liked its handling characteristics. At the same time, on the snowy track, Bridgestone took fairly low places in all disciplines, which means they still need to work on their grip on snow. On wet or dry pavement, the Bridgestones stop the car fairly quickly, but they can lose grip too quickly in a corner and have slow steering responses. In addition, Bridgestone will increase fuel consumption due to high rolling resistance. + Good grip on ice - Average handling on dry and wet asphalt - High rolling resistance
9

9	Rating: 7.8	Load/Speed Index: 91T Number of studs: 130 Date of manufacture: 4/2014 Country of origin: Poland Sava is inexpensive tires, which would show 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 efficiency and traction, and skidding can begin too abruptly. On dry asphalt, the Sava was one of the best tires. + Short braking distance on wet asphalt - Average grip and handling on snow
9

11	Rating: 7.7	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 128 Date of manufacture: 48/2014 Country of origin: Russia Budget Nordmans are produced by Nokian, but in terms of their characteristics they are very far from the tires of the Hakkapeliitta line. On ice they have a relatively weak traction force and a long braking distance; on snow everything was a little better, but on wet asphalt the tires again did not show the best results. It is worth adding that the tires behave predictably, without unpleasant surprises. + Acceptable performance in winter conditions - Weak grip on wet asphalt - High noise level
11

12	Rating: 7.2	Load/Speed Index: 94T Number of studs: 98 Date of manufacture: 41/2014 Country of origin: China Don't be fooled by the name Winter Max Grip - in reality, the Linglong has very little grip on snow and ice, and in fact is inferior to even some studless tires on icy surfaces. The only pleasant thing is the short braking distance in the snow. At the same time, Linglong performed very strongly in tests on wet and dry asphalt, and they also have excellent directional stability. + Good performance on asphalt - Weak grip in winter conditions - Poor handling in winter conditions
12

Non-studded tires:

Place	Tire	Expert opinion
1	Rating: 7.7	Load/Speed Index: 94R Date of manufacture: 8/2015 Country of origin: Finland With its friction tires, Nokian also clearly aims to outperform all competitors on ice, and in this year's test, the Finnish brand's tires demonstrated superior braking performance, handling and lateral grip on icy surfaces. Experts noted that even after losing traction, Nokian allows you to maintain control over the car. On dry and wet asphalt, soft Nokians can expect poor grip and long braking distances. + Good performance in winter conditions + Low rolling resistance - Average grip on asphalt
1

2	Rating: 7.6	Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 31/2014 Country of origin: Poland Goodyears accelerate and brake quickly on snow and ice, but they have some problems with lateral stability, which is why the tires can skid too quickly at the limit of traction - however, maintaining control is quite easy. On dry and wet asphalt, Goodyears proved to be one of the best, as they have very effective braking and precise reactions during emergency maneuvers. In general, Goodyear must be given credit, as their tires performed quite well on all types of surfaces. + + Good performance on asphalt - Average lateral grip on snow and ice
2

2	Rating: 7.6	Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 29/2014 Country of origin: Spain Michelin also performed well in almost all disciplines. The tires have a short braking distance on both snow and ice, as well as stable behavior in most emergency situations. At the same time, Michelin may still lose traction on the front axle. On wet and dry pavement, the Michelin offered good braking performance and lateral grip, although not as good as the best tires. + Short braking distance on snow and ice + Stable handling in all conditions - Average grip on wet pavement
2

2	Rating: 7.6	Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 2/2015 Country of origin: Russia On ice Pirelli have become one of the best studless tires, and their results on snow were even better, since the tires behave very confidently when performing emergency maneuvers. The Pirelli also have excellent driving characteristics on wet pavement, where they stop the car quickly and provide optimal agility. In this case, on a dry surface, grip may be lost too quickly. Noise level is low. + High grip on snow, ice and wet asphalt - Average handling on dry asphalt
2

5	Rating: 7.5	Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 5/2015 Country of origin: Germany Continental can also be considered one of the best friction tires, thanks also to its short braking distance, high lateral grip and good controllability on ice. The Continental also performed well in snow, although it can skid at high steering angles. The tires have relatively good braking performance on dry and wet pavement, but they feel too soft, which can be a problem in an emergency. + High grip on snow and ice + Low rolling resistance - Average handling on asphalt
5

6	Rating: 7.0	Load/Speed Index: 94R Date of manufacture: 51/2014 Country of origin: Russia Nordmans fall somewhat behind the leaders in their category, as their acceleration and braking performance is relatively weak on ice, and the front wheels can too easily lose traction during sharp maneuvers. On snow, the performance is noticeably better, especially in terms of lateral stability and stable behavior. On wet and dry asphalt, the Nordman has poor grip and slow responses to steering turns, but at least they won’t suddenly go into a skid. + High grip on snow + Low rolling resistance - Average grip on ice
6

7	Rating: 6.9	Load/Speed Index: 94T Date of manufacture: 45/2014 Country of origin: Japan Bridgestone showed its main weaknesses on ice, where they have long braking distances, slow acceleration, and in addition they lose grip too easily in corners, especially on the front axle. The tires perform more reliably on snow thanks to high lateral force and braking performance on par with the best tires, so it's a little surprising that the Bridgestones performed very poorly on wet pavement. On dry surfaces the grip is much higher and the tires cope well with emergency maneuvers. + High grip on snow and dry asphalt - Average grip on ice and wet asphalt - High rolling resistance
7

8	Rating: 6.7	Load/Speed Index: 94Q Date of manufacture: 51/2014 Country of origin: China Nankang dropped to last place in most disciplines. On ice they have weak longitudinal and lateral grip, and on snow the situation was in many ways just as unfortunate. Lateral stability is low, so you can’t feel safe. The tires also fell behind the pack on wet pavement, and overall the Nankang simply can't compare to truly quality winter tires. - Average handling on ice, snow and asphalt
8

Every year, in the midst of a hot summer, experts study car tires from the most different manufacturers, making up winter tire rating.

Good tires provides reliable grip on frozen surfaces, allows you to maintain maneuverability and smoothness in any frost, and ensures safety and precision control. Today's top ten lists popular tires that meet the highest requirements.

The list is compiled based on test analysis winter tires conducted by the editors of “ ”, “ ”, “ ” and “ ” over the past year.

Japanese tires are equipped with 3G sipes, which improve handling on icy and snowy roads. For better removal of slush and snow, the surface of the tires is covered with semi-radial grooves. The special composition of the rubber mixture prevents the studs from falling out and prevents tire deformation.

The best tires of the Italian brand demonstrate new studding technology. Its multi-directional design helps reduce the mobility of the stud, and its wide base optimizes load distribution.

The tread of these tires is distinguished by a multidirectional pattern and the presence of outlet grooves. At first glance, the studs on the tires are located chaotically, but in fact, this arrangement ensures maximum contact with the road.

This series replaced the Ice Cruiser. The new product is equipped with new cross-shaped studs that provide maximum grip on icy roads. Rubber test showed a reduction in braking distance by 9% compared to the previous series.

The tires feature a wide tread and a unique reinforced steel belt, which together ensure stable performance on any road. Tires provide low level noise, as well as unsurpassed softness, thanks to the elastic pad located under each stud.

The tires are distinguished by their low weight and optimized stud head geometry. The tread pattern is divided into blocks, the edges of each of which have multidirectional angles. This pattern provides traction and precision control.

The “bear claw” technology, which has proven itself in the Hakkapeliitta series, is used in the production of tires. In the central zone, the tread pattern has integrated blocks, which make the transfer of control from the steering wheel more precise.

Michelin winter tires are annually included in the leading positions in the tire ratings. X-ICE North XIN3 is a new development of the concern, which made it possible to reduce the braking distance by 10% and improve the fixation of studs by a quarter.

The tires use an innovative shape of studs, as well as their special arrangement, aimed at increasing the contact patch and improving grip. For better handling on snowy roads, a new tread pattern was specially developed.

In the tests of the publication “Behind the Wheel” it scored 949 points out of a thousand possible, taking first place in the rating.

The tire tread has an increased number of blocks for a wider spread of studs and better grip.

Due to the low temperatures in many regions of our country, winter tires are a must. The main feature of winter tires is their softness and ability to tenaciously grip the snowy road surface. Good tires provide reliable grip on frozen surfaces, allow you to maintain maneuverability and smooth ride in any frost, and ensure safety and precision control. The day to change summer tires to winter tires is November 15th. It is before this date that it is advisable to replace summer tires car for the winter, in order to subsequently avoid possible problems with vehicle controllability and reduce the risk of accidents.

Every year, in the midst of a hot summer, experts study car tires from a variety of manufacturers, compiling rating of the best winter tires. We bring to your attention a rating of the best winter studded tires 2014-2015. The rating was compiled based on an analysis of winter tire tests conducted by the editors of “Behind the Wheel”, “Auto Bild”, “Autoreview” and “ADAC” for 2014.

Rating of the best winter tires of 2014-2015 based on analysis of winter tire tests

Below we will briefly talk about test results of studded tires 205-55-R16

10th place – .

Winter studded tires Yokohama Ice Guard IG35 with directional tread pattern. Tires provide safety in the most dangerous conditions on icy and snowy roads. Tires show very good characteristics on ice and snow, Ridges around the hole help keep the cleat securely in place, consistent side grooves improve lateral stability, prevent rearrangements and slipping. The removal of snow, slush and water from the contact patch has been significantly improved thanks to the design. The new Ice Guard composition prevents deformation not only in the tread part, but also in the mounting hole of the stud.

9th place – .

provide highest performance in the harshest winter conditions. In the production of the tire we used new technology“DUAL STUD” tire studs, which increases resistance, reduces mobility, optimizes load distribution, improves stud penetration on icy roads, reduces core wear, and allows maintaining stable performance on ice.

8th place – .

These are tires for harsh winters that provide excellent handling on heavy winter road: on ice, slush and compacted snow. The tire is made using the same technologies as Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic.

7th place –

The new Bridgestone studded tires incorporate all the advanced technologies developed through extensive research and testing, featuring many innovations, including the new “Cross-Edge Pin”. Main advantages Blizzak tires Spike-01: Excellent traction on ice, maximum performance on snow, reliable stud retention, durability.

6th place –

A durable and stable winter tire for all road conditions, providing good grip on ice, safety on slush and stability of control

5th place –

Manufacturers guarantee high grip and short braking distances. The tires can withstand heavy loads without problems. Zigzag grooves quickly absorb and compact snow, maintaining tire grip. They perfectly remove dirt and water from slush.

4th place – .

Features: balanced traction characteristics, excellent driving stability, good traction on snow. The directional stud optimizes contact with the road, which maximizes traction.

3rd place –

25% improvement in the reliability of stud fixation and a 10% reduction in braking distance on ice in percentage terms compared to the previous generation. Due to this, the level of safety is significantly increased, and driving on a winter road becomes less stressful. The innovative Smart Stud System plays a special role in this.

2nd place – . Superior grip and handling on ice

The design is based on MultiControl Ice technology, increasing the contact area of the stud with the road surface, which provides highly effective traction and controllability of the vehicle when driving on ice. advantages: shorter braking distance on ice, improved handling on snow, good performance on a wet road.

Tires UltraGrip Ice Arctic demonstrate high efficiency on wet roads or roads covered with melting snow or ice. Hydrodynamic grooves on the tread quickly remove water from the tire surface, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. A special silicon polymer improves grip and braking on wet roads.

1st place –

The unique new V-shaped tread pattern provides superior performance. The optimized stud arrangement contributes to confident traction and grip characteristics in the most difficult winter conditions. The new Eco Stud 8 Concept is aimed at improving safety and handling in extreme situations. The layout of each stud has been optimized using computer simulation to provide maximum traction in all situations. The two-layer structure of the Cap & Base tread guarantees effective stud fixation due to the more rigid composition of the inner layer of the rubber compound. The unique composition of the outer rubber compound Cryo-silane Gen 2 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 provide the Hakkapeliitta 8 with low rolling resistance. The serrated pattern of the brake boosters located at the rear of the tread blocks promotes 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 particular tires should be in ranking of the best winter tires 2014-2015. It is obvious that the tires listed above are tires from expensive manufacturers, in the production of which the latest innovations and the best technologies are used, allowing these tires to show excellent results in all tests. The only, but very significant, disadvantage of such car tires is their price, which is not affordable for everyone.

We took tires from different price groups - from 2470 to 5150 rubles per piece. The latest model is Toyo Observe GSi‑6, which rolled out to the market this season. There are two new products from last year: German Continental Viking Contact 7 and Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3. Updated last year, made in Russia.

To be fair

We placed the tires in places according to the points they scored. And now Let's see how economically profitable it is to buy certain tires. To do this, let's compare average price each model with a so-called fair price - corresponding to the level of its consumer properties, that is, the number of points earned.

The best offer was Hankook Winter i*cept iZ² with a price 23% lower than the fair price. A little less (17%) will save Viatti. When purchasing Nordman RS2 tires, Pirelli Ice Zero FR, Toyo Observe GSi‑6 or Triangle SnowLink PL01 the benefit will be from 9 to 5%.

You will have to pay extra for the rest of the test participants. A minimum overpayment of 3% awaits when purchasing Gislaved Soft*Frost 200 tires. Cost Roadstone tires WinGuard ice, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 and Sailun Ice Blazer WSL2 are 7–9% higher than fair. The ranking is completed by two distinguished test participants - the winner... and the loser. For the outsider Cachland CH-W2002 you will have to overpay 11%. It turned out to be not so cheap as it was weak. But Continental VikingContact 7, the most expensive participant, is overpriced by 15%. If you want a high-quality and balanced product, be prepared to fork out some money.

(3 votes, average: 5,00 out of 5)

Do you know what car tires will look like in literally the near future? According to leading developers in the industry, car tires will be narrow and have a large diameter. In fact, they will resemble the wheels of bygone days, only made using new technologies. And in order to increase energy-saving and environmental properties, and at the same time optimize production, the rubber components will be radically changed.

Already currently used in production vegetable oils, which replaced traditional components made from petroleum products. The result of this was the emergence of silica (i.e. silicon) from rice husks, walnut shells are added to increase the adhesion effect, and experiments are also being carried out with rubber extracted from dandelions - the search for new solutions together with the development of alternative raw materials is gaining momentum. In addition, the concept of tires itself will undergo fundamental changes. For example, the technology that automatically maintains the required pressure in a tire is already in full use; there are examples of universal tires with “studs as needed” and airless tires that generally do without air (gas) inflation, that is, we are returning to the era of pre-pneumatic tires.

Here are the small statistics for 2014, which were mentioned above, on the domestic market, which show sales on retail market winter passenger and light truck tires. Based on this, the article was built: “The best winter tires 2014/2015” and statistics show what market shares are occupied by foreign brands:

But here we need to make a small reservation, these figures show only a couple of bus segments: A and B – i.e. Premium class and middle class, and outside the scope of these statistics there is still segment C - which includes economy class winter tires. Note that C-class products include domestic, Chinese and a number of other foreign tire manufacturers, and account for almost half of market sales. It is still unknown what will happen next, because the situation in the tire market is currently extraordinary. Now let's see what Petrovich wrote to us.

Choosing the best winter tires 2014/2015

Since the entire assortment prepared by manufacturers for the winter period of 2014/2015 is almost impossible to sort out on the shelves. We decided to highlight the most popular models - new items from this season and some from last season; as an example, the prices of several sizes of tires sold on our market are indicated. In addition, for some tire models a current rating is indicated according to a 10-point scale, compiled according to customer reviews. We start with winter tire models in the so-called premium and mid-price range (A and B segments).

1. Bridgestone winter tires have been represented on our market since last year with an optimized assortment of the Blizzak family. And here the first thing is the new friction tires of the Blizzak VRX model.

The next model is new model studded tire Blizzak Spike-01.

In addition, the company has prepared for the 2014/2015 winter season a new friction model for crossovers/SUVs – Blizzak DM-V2.

2. Winter tires Continental– the company pleased car enthusiasts with the release of a new friction model – Conti Viking Contact 6. This model replaced the veteran with the number 5, which we have known since 2008.

Regarding the studded winter tires of this company, let’s say that a “lightweight” model called ContiIce Contact HD was manufactured and released onto the market. Which fully complies with the new EC requirements, its sales have already started here. Although, according to reviews from car enthusiasts, this winter the predecessor will “steer” the cars, i.e. – ContiIce Contact.

3. Dunlop Company Last year it introduced its new studded tire model - Ice Touch.

It is worth noting another new model from the last winter season, which belongs to the class of friction tires - Winter Maxx WM01 from Dunlop.

4. By Gislaved Also last season, it introduced a model of studded tires in a new generation called Nord Frost 100.

It is worth noting here that the number of studs on this tire fully complies with the new requirements for European countries (i.e. no more than fifty pieces per meter of wheel rolling). That did not stop this model from showing really excellent results while participating in comparative tests and earn wide popularity among car enthusiasts.

5. Last season another new product from Good Year company is a model called Ultra Grip Ice Arctic, which has received excellent reviews along with high ratings from car enthusiasts.

By the way, already for this winter season the Good Year company has prepared and launched a version of this model on the market, which is positioned as winter tires for crossovers. This is the Ultra Grip Ice Arctic SUV. In addition, the new generation Ultra Grip Ice 2 friction tire model has been released.

6. Again from last season by Hankook Motorists are offered new studded tires of the Winter i-Pike RS W419 model.

7. We got to Michelin, which has been offering motorists since the winter 2013/2014 season its model - X-Ice North 3 in a new generation, in which, according to the manufacturer, the sidewalls have become more durable.

This new product has become a logical addition to the third generation friction tire model already known to consumers - Michelin X-Ice 3.

8. Of course, we’ll tell you about Nokian, which presented its studded tire model - Hakkapeliitta 8. The company increased the number of studs on these tires by 1.5 times, but at the same time the tires fully comply with the new EU rules, which limit the impact of studded tires on asphalt road surfaces.

In addition, the manufacturer also offers friction tires in the new generation of the model - Hakkapeliitta R2, which received reinforced side parts.

And this season you can already get acquainted with the version of studded tires for crossovers - the Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV model, also with reinforced side parts, plus models of studded tires located in the middle price range - NordMan 5 and NordMan 5 SUV - will also enter the market.

Note that the NordMan 5 model was created on the Hakkapeliitta 5 “platform”, and it was the developers who borrowed its frame along with the tread pattern. But they used a more simplified rubber compound for the tread, and the tire received a round core rather than a multifaceted one. According to the manufacturer, the braking distance on an icy surface was reduced by approximately 7 percent compared to previous model.

What can be said about the NordMan 5 SUV model? These winter tires use multifaceted studs and a frame from the Hakkapeliitta 5 SUV model, which was removed from the assembly line, although the composition of the components for the rubber compound was left the same.

9. Pirelli company – here it should be noted that it does not often produce winter tires, especially for the “harsh conditions of the north.” But nevertheless, I would like to note the studded tire model called Ice Zero.

10. Toyo Company offers car enthusiasts a studded model of winter tires - Observe G3-Ice, which differs from other representatives in a fairly wide range of sizes - more than 100!

11. Yokohama is not far behind., presenting a new generation of already well-known studded tires – Ice Guard IG55. According to the company, the new tire, when compared with the previous model - IG35, along with the fact that it reduced the braking distance, also significantly increased the strength of the stud integration.

It is worth noting another development of the company, these are friction winter Ice tires Guard IG50, which are presented on the market in a fairly wide range of sizes - more than 90 types!

By tradition, group C (economy class tires) is represented by models from domestic manufacturers. It is worth noting that some of them have already come close to the price of mid-level tires. Among the new developments Russian companies(although you can see from the tread pattern where the “traces” lead from), you can note the studded tires of the Cordiant model Snow Cross. By the way, the company claims that these tires have a shorter braking distance on icy surfaces compared to the “prototype”.

It can be noted in the domestic market that new brand, which can be classified as budget - this is Formula, formed (created) under the “patronage” of the famous Pirelli. So, given by the company has released the current model of studded tires – Formula Ice.

It’s simply impossible to talk about economy-class winter tires without mentioning original brands from the Middle Kingdom. New names, and especially new tire models, are released almost regularly, this also applies to the segment winter tires. By the way, here manufacturers declare models that have been tested at the world-famous test site in the town of Ivalo, located in northern Finland.

Among the new products we can note winter tires from Aeolus company– this manufacturer is better known for producing tires for special and commercial vehicles. But starting in 2011, I expanded the range to include tires for passenger cars. In the new season 2014/2015, the company offers car enthusiasts studded tires of the Aeolus Ice Challenger model.

To have plenty to choose from, we’ll present you with a couple more models from China, so-called “studded”, besides, these tires are similar in tread pattern copied from the once popular tire – Gislaved NF III.

Model Sunny SN-3860

Model Triangle Group TR777

Rating of studless and studded winter tires 2014/2015

Among the leaders in winter non-studded and studded tires, it is worth noting Gislaved and Nokian, which are confidently promoting their models on the market. Japanese tire companies such as Yokohama and Bridgestone, which are also famous for their summer tire models, are not far behind them.

But in addition to these famous manufacturers, it is pleasant to see domestic companies in the top twenty best winter tires, for example, Cordiant, which is deservedly in the TOP, producing inexpensive but high-quality tire models.