New Dunlop winter tires: a spike on Baikal. One step up: the second generation of the Dunlop SP Winter Ice Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 - About tires

“The results of the work exceeded our expectations!” - with these words, the Managing Director of Sumitimo Rubber Industries, Minoru Nishi, began the presentation of Dunlop's new studded products. Intrigued by Nishi-san...

Bridges between shoulder and center tread provide rigidity

Judging by the indices, then SP winter ice 02 (tire for cars) and Grandtrek Ice02 (off-road tire) are a modification of the previous model - SP Winter Ice01, which debuted on the market back in 2008 and had good sales figures. “The SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 models will demonstrate high quality, comfort and affordability,” Minoru Nishi continued. “But at the same time, both models are completely new products.” And in this Minoru did not sin against the truth. It should be added that SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 are twin brothers in terms of design, physical parameters, and composition. rubber compound. Differences are only in the lines of standard sizes. And now in more detail about the tires themselves. Outwardly, according to the design of the tread, the novelty is strikingly different from its predecessor. Moreover, the design is really very original: the directional protector is all cut up by sharp blocks of various sizes. But in this seeming chaos, everything is "shelved". The central edge creates a series of unconnected triangular blocks. This design is designed to provide directional stability of the tire in a straight line. But the checkers of the peripheral zone of the central rib are more focused on ensuring the stability of the tire during maneuvering - the tire should not “float” due to the displacement of the tread blocks, since the blocks of this part of the central rib are connected by jumpers with the checkers of the shoulder zone. And this scheme works: when rearranging both on a snowy surface and on an icy surface covered with snow, the behavior of SP Winter Ice02 is clear and predictable, without surprises. But the main part of the tire presentation took place directly on Lake Baikal, in conditions of snow and ice cover and an almost perfect winter. But what about our regions, where most of the winter period we drive on snowy slush? Numerous and fairly wide transverse grooves (if not channels) are designed to cope with this scourge, providing a fairly effective removal of moisture from the contact patch. And yet, in winter, we are most concerned about the level of grip of tires with snow and ice. Speaking of the tread, Dunlop spoke proudly about the unique 3D sipes of the tread blocks that contribute to that grip. The original shape of the edges of rather long sipes provides additional rigidity to the tread blocks, which positively affects both handling and uniform tread wear. And this technology was developed ... by the Japanese astrophysicist Kore Miura, in whose honor the Miura-ori was named.

So 16 rows of studding work on the ice surface

New original spike and "branded" hole for fixing it

Today, the debate among motorists about which tires are preferable is no longer so active - much is determined by the wide choice of tires and the environment in which they are used. At the same time, Dunlop marketers believe that studded tires are the most sought after product. And therefore, another, and perhaps the main, innovation of SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 was a new stud design. In an aluminum case with an enlarged base for better fixation, a rectangular, four-sided core is installed, made of durable and heat-resistant tungsten carbide. The holes in the tread blocks fix a strictly oriented spike as efficiently as possible. Studded SP Winter Ice02 and Grand trek Ice02 fully comply with the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union, which comes into force in January 2016 and regulates the number of studs per linear meter of the tire - no more than 60 pieces. I asked Minoru Nishi if the developers were not tempted to increase the number of spikes and test to prove that such a model complies with environmental standards? Nishi-san just shrugged, “What for? Our scheme provides 16 rows of studding and we are quite satisfied with the performance in this tire specification.” On icy surfaces, the SP Winter Ice02 tires are really good at both braking and acceleration. Compared to the previous model, braking and acceleration on ice are 13% and 25% better, respectively. By the way, the performance on snow became better (7% and 10% respectively). And this is already the merit of the tread design, coupled with the composition of the rubber compound from which it is made. The tire, traditionally for winter studded models, uses a two-layer tread. The rigid lower part not only provides the tire with stability in terms of handling, but also improves the fixation of the stud (for which an original hole was developed in the tread layer). And the top, softer compound with a high content of silica, contributes to reliable traction on snow and ice surfaces. And here is another know-how - the technology of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd, called 4D Nano Design, which allows you to simulate options at the molecular level at the development stage. Thus, the developers managed to ensure optimally strong chemical bonds in the material from which the tread layer is made, and to provide the very compromise between tire grip and handling. And the last. To be honest, when choosing tires, we pay attention to the country of origin. Say, is it possible, say, in the southern latitudes, to develop a decent tire for the Russian winter? The SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 models, which were developed at the headquarters of the technical department of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd, which is located in the Japanese city of Kobe, were tested both at the northern proving grounds of Japan and at the proving ground in Elvsbin, Sweden, and, as mentioned above, , on our lake Baikal. As for the choice, the SP Winter Ice02 model on our market is presented in 46 sizes with bore diameters from 13 to 20 inches and with profiles in the range from 35 to 70, while the Grandtrek Ice02 model has 42 sizes with bore diameters from 15 to 21 inches and with profiles from 35 to 75.

It would seem that it is impossible to come up with something radically new with winter tires. After all, the optimal number of studs per square centimeter, the chemical composition of tires, the tread pattern have already been calculated a long time ago ... And all these assurances from manufacturers that, they say, “we have reduced the braking distance, increased efficiency, achieved noise reduction, increased wear resistance” are more like marketing ploy than the truth. However, having been on a test drive of a new winter tires from Dunlop, we have to admit that modern technology really allows tire manufacturers to evolve with each new season.

Two modifications were presented at the test: tires for passenger cars Dunlop SP Winter ICE 03, installed on the Audi A3, and "shoes" for crossovers and SUVs Dunlop Grandtrek ICE 03, which were equipped with Toyota Land Cruiser 200. The tests took place on a huge ice track, where it was possible to use rubber at various speeds and types of coverage.

60% more

What is the first thing that distinguishes the new generation ICE 03 from what was on store shelves last year? The number of spikes is immediately striking: the new product has 60% more of them than in the old ICE 02 model. And the shape of the spike is quite different from what we are used to seeing.

Nailed…

The company's engineers have created, in fact, a new "nail" for their tires, and with a number of unique properties. First, the spike became directional and was called Anti-Tilt (which can be translated as "anti-tilt"). Thanks to this, when entering a turn, even at a decent speed, it bites into the icy road surface better and the car goes as if on rails. In addition, the so-called spike heel has been enlarged (the part that is hidden from our eyes and is located inside the tread). This decision made it possible to increase the reliability of fixation in the seat, which means not only to extend the life of the studs in the rubber, but also to improve traction.

The spike on the ICE 03 is aluminum with a tungsten carbide core. It seems to be nothing revolutionary. However, the designers decided to make the carbide insert beveled. This made it possible to significantly reduce the noise level and ensure that the hard-alloy core bites into the ice more easily almost perpendicularly. In addition, pointed lateral edges appeared on the stud, enhancing lateral grip in corners, and in any other maneuvers.

At the same time, despite the fact that there were significantly more spikes in the rubber, this did not affect the weight of the product in any way, since the new “teeth” are more compact and lighter than theirs. previous version. For lovers of exact numbers, let's say that one spike weighs only 0.8 grams, while on ICE 02 its mass was 1.1 grams.

Computer games

Creating new models SP Winter ICE 03 and Grandtrek ICE 03, Dunlop specialists tried to adapt them as much as possible to the Russian realities of operation. After all, we often have a hard frost in the morning followed by a thaw, and the tire should work equally well both on ice and in slush. Also, high wear resistance of rubber is desirable. And so, in order to achieve the optimal chemical composition of the tire, which would show equally good performance both in severe cold and in spring floods, using 4D NANO computer technology, chemists started modeling the composition at the molecular level.

As a result, artificial intelligence has brought out the perfect combination of silicon dioxide (it is responsible for tire stiffness and durability) and a high-molecular polymer (its task is to provide sufficient softness and elasticity of rubber).

Thus, an optimal balance of wear resistance, rigidity and elasticity was obtained for the best grip on snow, ice, wet and dry asphalt. According to the manufacturer, this model rubber will last much longer than its predecessors on the factory floor.

It doesn't get rounder

A bit strange wording, but nevertheless, Dunlop representatives called the "zero third" Winter ICE the most ... round tire. Of course, we are not talking about the fact that some other rubber has the shape of a brick or a hexagon. The thing is, thanks to the latest equipment, which produces Dunlop tires, and modern technologies, the manufacturer has achieved absolute geometric accuracy of the tire.

The structure of the carcass using the Equilibrium technology (Balance) and the arrangement of the elements of the internal structure of the tire allows you to maintain the shape of the contact patch and evenly distribute the pressure in it under various types of load: acceleration and deceleration, lateral overloads, uniform movement. This feature helps maintain a secure grip in various driving conditions while maintaining smoothness and comfort. Simply put, Dunlop's novelty remains a perfectly round tire in all conditions.

Of course, perfect roundness, balanced chemical composition and high-tech studs are not enough for a winter tire to perform well. After all, the protector plays an important role. As on the ICE 02 (I remind you, this is a 2015 Dunlop model), the tread remained directional on the novelty of the season. The space between closely spaced tread blocks is formed into long winding grooves similar to a river bed.

This natural shape helps to instantly remove water, slush and mud from the contact patch, which significantly reduces the risk of hydroplaning and increases traction on wet roads. Judging by the annotations to the rubber, such a pattern allows you to output up to 20 liters of fluid per second at a speed of 80 km / h. A very worthy score.

The correct cut

Another one interesting feature- V-shaped arrangement and structure of the tread blocks, which, according to the developers, should ensure good contact of the car on the snow and thereby increase its cross-country ability. From myself I will add that on the “skating rinks” Dunlop Grandtrek ICE 03, Land cruiser The 200 really does a great job of rowing on the virgin snow.

It would seem that there is only one number in the index - but how many differences. The Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 has almost nothing left of the first generation model. The tread pattern, laid out from neat rows of small checkers, is now a thing of the past. The new blocks of the central zone are more like sharp pieces of ice with many gripping edges bristling in all directions - no matter how far you turn the steering wheel, there will always be edges with the most effective grip. There are no previous four longitudinal drainage grooves, but if you look closely, you can see that the free space between the checkers is a wide Y-shaped lines - "ticks", and through these drainage channels, water from the contact patch, as conceived by engineers, should rapidly fly out to the side . I confess that I did not dare to accelerate to the speed of gliding, but in the usual leisurely country mode, I did not “surface” in any of the many puddles.

Sufficiently soft rubber and a large negative profile usually generate typical disease"Arctic" tires - damped reactions to the steering wheel and roll in corners, especially on a snowless road. But both SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 on dry pavement proved to be quite tolerable and even made it possible to get a little crazy. I must say that at the same time I looked more closely at the off-road model, since soft rubber here it is necessary to add a high center of gravity and a relatively large mass of the machine. But the tire did not cause any particular complaints. And there is an explanation for this - bridge-like jumpers between the blocks of the shoulder zone and the checkers of the central part closest to them help to improve stability in turns. These kind of spacers do not allow the blocks to break under lateral acceleration. And, of course, there were interpenetrating protrusions on the walls of long, full-length blocks, lamellae. The design of the walls and protrusions of the 3D slats received its own name "Miura-Ori".

Another radical innovation is the directional spike with a rectangular core, which replaced the round spike. The long side of the core is provided with three vertical recesses on both sides, which forms additional coupling faces. The wide side of each stud is perpendicular to the road, and this in theory should provide confident acceleration and braking on ice, and less pronounced lateral grip. In practice, this has turned out to be the case. A direct comparison with a sharp start and braking "to the floor" on an icy surface revealed a noticeable superiority of the novelty over the first generation model. On the slalom between the cones and the ice circle, where the resistance to lateral acceleration was evaluated, the "zero-second" was also better, but here the difference was not so noticeable.

Experimenting with the shape of the core of the developers prompted a lot Technical regulation Customs Union, limiting the number of spikes to 60pcs. per running metre. Involuntarily, you will make the core more toothy. The body of the stud received an enlarged lower flange, at the same time the seat was improved, which fits the stud very tightly. To make the fit even more reliable, the developers resorted to a proven method - they made the tread two-ply, where a hard layer is responsible for holding the lower flange, and a soft top layer of rubber with a high silica content provides traction on ice and snow.

In general, both new items can be described as good-quality middle peasants, but in the premium class. This means reliable and confident movement, but within the existing rules and speed limits. And what else do you need in the city crowd with its eternal acceleration and deceleration or direct Russian highways - even with slides, even without? And if you want to light up on winding roads somewhere in Karelia - this is for rubber to the Scandinavians ...

Of the closest potential competitors, the Dunlop SP Winter Ice02, according to my feelings, is closer than other competitors to another "Japanese" Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01. One gets the feeling that it was his developers who took it as a starting point. In many disciplines, absentee rivals are literally head to head, but the newer Dunlop is still slightly ahead, especially on ice. However, at urban speeds, not everyone will feel it.

The number of standard sizes for the Russian market is impressive. These are 46 sizes of SP Winter Ice02: from 155/70 R13 to 275/35 R20. SUVs are also not offended - 44 sizes: from 205/70 R15 to 265/45 R21.

Arranging a test drive for journalists is a troublesome business, but it can be solved. The main thing is to choose a location, plot a route, and then it all depends on what your imagination is enough for. It is much more difficult to organize a test of your products for a tire company. And the point here is not at all that for accurate measurements of quality you need special equipment and all other tests are purely subjective. The specificity of this segment has a seasonal demand. At the end of summer - beginning of autumn, people actively buy products for winter, and in winter - spring they begin to think about summer tires Oh. Therefore, for each season there should already be reviews of new products, but where to find snow in summer and sun in winter? So rubber manufacturers have to look for unusual locations around the world in order to reverse the usual climatic conditions.

When the first spring sun had already appeared in Moscow, and passers-by began to think about light windbreakers and make plans for a summer vacation, we went to Irkutsk. Passers-by still wrap themselves in warm down jackets and snowdrifts lie on the streets. Although even here the approach of spring is already felt, and the sun begins to bake. In the metropolis itself, to test a new line of winter tires Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 the company did not, but sent representatives of automotive publications to the ice of Lake Baikal. There is probably no better place for a spring winter tire test. The entire surface of the lake is covered with an even layer of many meters of ice, smooth as glass, and very slippery. Each step on such a surface is difficult, and we are invited to go to the surface of the lake in cars shod with a new product from Dunlop, and check how the rubber works on slippery surfaces. If the rubber behaves well here, then on the track in real road conditions you can rely on it one hundred percent.

Before heading to the ice, a little theoretical material. The new Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 tires feature a unique tread design from the outgoing model. It is easily recognizable, and its powerful blocks indicate that this tire is intended for harsh winters with large drifts and icy sections of roads. The sidewall design with ice peaks and snowflakes emphasizes the tire's purpose for winter conditions. The special directional pattern of the central part of the tread in the form of triangles significantly improves the removal of water and snow mass, and also increases the stability of control. The unique design of the drainage grooves that extend into the central part of the tread also helps to more effectively remove water and snow from the contact patch area. In the shoulder area, the tread blocks of Dunlop winter studded tires are connected to each other by bridge jumpers, which increases the stability of control on all types of surfaces. Larger grooves and chamfered tread blocks effectively pack the snow for improved flotation on loose snow.

Winter tires have special cuts in the tread blocks called sipes, which is their essential difference from summer tires. They help the tread blocks to cling to the bumps that are in the tire's contact patch.

The new tires use an exclusive technology - 3D Miura-Ori sipes with special edges that prevent the tread blocks from breaking, maintaining their characteristics and ensuring uniform wear. Longer zigzag sipes improve tire grip on snow and ice surfaces, further providing faster steering response.

Directional studs with a rectangular corrugated core are the main secret of the excellent traction of the new Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 winter tires on ice. The special shape and size of the core (2.8mm x 2mm) and the large base of the stud (9mm x 8mm) provide increased penetration and stable performance on ice. The core is made of tungsten carbide, a material that is hard and resistant to overheating. The body of the spike is made of aluminum alloy, which allows it to be significantly lighter than previous models.

The seat, specially designed for the size and shape of the spike, significantly increases the reliability of fastening and significantly reduces the risk of losing it. New tire has a directional tread pattern, on which new spikes are installed in a certain way. The use of a spike of a new shape made it possible to increase the number of faces of contact between the surface and the core of the spike to four. This technology has improved the grip of the new tires during acceleration and braking on icy surfaces.

Sumitomo Rubber Industries has also optimized the contact patch of the Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 tires with the road surface to improve handling performance, provide more even tire wear and increase tire life. This was achieved through the use of a two-layer tread.

The top layer, consisting of a soft rubber compound specially adapted for studded tires, provides improved grip on snowy or ice surfaces. The stiffer base layer is responsible for keeping the studs intact and further enhances the handling characteristics.

The Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 studded winter tires have a regular round profile that reduces the deformation stress of the tire in the area from the shoulder to the sidewall. This improves both fuel economy and handling as well as ride comfort.

Theoretical information, of course, is great, but I want to understand how the new winter tire works in real conditions. Several special stages were built especially for the test. First of all, we go to the area where you can estimate the length stopping distance. Looking at a flat ice surface, one gets the feeling that the car will not be able to move, let alone slow down in the allotted corridor. But visual sensations are deceiving. We press the gas pedal, the spike sticks into the ice surface, and now we have already accelerated to the required speed. We drive up to the corridor for braking, and the car, biting into the surface, stops in the allotted space. This means that the declared technologies work, and in case of emergency braking on bare ice, the driver can easily avoid a collision.

We change the exercise and go to the paved track with a lot of turns and the possibility of acceleration. And in these conditions, new tires demonstrate good performance. When entering a turn, the car, although it receives a slight demolition, is quite within the acceptable range. So even if your route goes through winter road with a lot of twists and turns, you will feel confident.

The fact that the tires demonstrate excellent grip on an icy surface, we saw with our own eyes, but for residents of megacities, it is important how studded tires behave on asphalt. Therefore, we leave the surface of the lake and go to a high hill, from where a panoramic view of the local beauty opens. At first, the road goes on cold asphalt with a slight touch of water. The surface is very similar to what we meet on the streets of our cities. The Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 perform quite well here as well, but most importantly, we don't get any extra noise into the cabin. Asphalt ends and we find ourselves on dirt road. The coverage in this area is not simple: hard snow is mixed with porridge, which has already begun to thaw in the sun, and sometimes thawed patches appear on the way. Add to this that the road goes uphill, and then you can understand the complexity of the proposed route. Test cars firmly hold on to such a difficult surface and climb to the point we need.

It is clear that for an accurate assessment of all the qualities of the new Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 winter tires declared by the manufacturer, special equipment, a team of professionals and a testing ground are needed. But based on my subjective opinion, I can say that during the time spent on Baikal, the novelty seemed to me very comfortable and quiet. And on a winter road, the most important thing is that the tire shows excellent grip and with that question Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 are doing great.

New Winter tires Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 and Grandtrek Ice02 for cars and SUVs are available at Russian market since the spring of 2015. The novelty is produced in 88 standard sizes and covers a wide range of consumers on the Russian market.

The instructor, who is sitting on the right seat, shows me the path of the antenna walkie-talkie: “Take it to the left, now move along this road.” And where did he find his way here? All around us is an icy plain. Only on the right, about eight hundred meters away, the unfrozen mouth of the Angara is slightly floating. The Baikal ice is polished by the winds so that it seems that through it, as if through a lens, you can see the bottom. Only here and there is snow. And why is he holding on to this slippery surface? I follow the command and turn the steering wheel to the left - Volkswagen Tiguan, shod in Dunlop Grandtrek Ice 02 tires, without much thought, but at the same time quite gently maneuvers.

See the two lanes? You have to jump between them.

Here, polynyas are called mines, which among the hummocks an uninitiated person is not able to notice. Maneuvering between open windows half a kilometer deep, with great difficulty I suppress the urge to jump out of the car and send everything to hell. Seat belt buckled behind backrest front seat. This is the rule of the local Ministry of Emergency Situations: it is strictly forbidden to buckle up when driving on ice. The "attached" is less likely to get out if the car falls into the water.

The instructor reads my thoughts and encourages me, occasionally stopping wrong actions:

Cracks slip on the move, no need to maneuver before the fault. Pass snow crossings in hummocks at high speeds so as not to skid. I grumble soundlessly, but I manage to note that these tires do not have a tendency to slip, confidently cut through the snowdrifts.

The fact that this is not an extreme journey, but testing Dunlop Grandtrek Ice 02 tires, I remembered only on asphalt. Here they do not behave as clearly as the more expensive Nokian, Michelin or Continental tires - the crossover reactions to steering actions are a little sluggish, with a slight delay, which, however, is quite natural for medium-sized winter tires price segment. I reinforced my impressions by comparing new products with previous models - Dunlop SP Winter Ice 01 and Dunlop Grandtrek Ice 01. New tires on ice and snow feel more confident - both grip is better and behavior is clearer. In general, there is progress. We will try to include them in the list of participants in the future winter test Let's see how they compare to their competitors.

New tires have already appeared on our market. The Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02 passenger car is available in sizes from 155/70 R13 to 275/35 R20, and the Dunlop Grandtrek Ice 02 crossover model is available in sizes from 205/70 R15 to 265/45 R21. All of them are with a speed index T (190 km/h).

Spikes and lamellas

Both tires have the same tread pattern, with an aggressive directional pattern with triangular checkers in the middle and developed diagonal grooves to drain water and slush from the contact patch. Transverse volumetric ("miura-ori") sipes, which cut the checkers across the entire width of the tire, improve grip on snow and ice. On pavement, the 3D cuts are blocked and the blocks behave like a monolith, which improves braking properties and handling. The protector is made of two layers of rubber. The upper one is soft to improve the grip of the tire with snow and ice, the lower one is more rigid in order to ensure clear reactions of the tire on any surface and securely hold the studs to the base.

The spikes in the new tires are original, with an enlarged base and an aluminum body: a modern solution that reduces weight and increases corrosion resistance. The carbide core of the spike is made of tungsten carbide; thanks to its rectangular shape, as well as microwaves in the front and rear parts, it clings to the ice when braking and accelerating with all four faces. The spikes are arranged along the tread width so that they form 16 rows of "hook".