Is it necessary to install studded tires on an SUV? Off-road tires in winter. Do I need to change them to winter spikes? Favorable design for adhesion in all conditions

Of course, cars in the SUV segment are subject to much more intense mechanical loads than conventional passenger cars. Especially if you regularly have to drive on snowy and icy roads. But even specialized specialists cannot give you a clear answer to the question: which is better? The fact is that the best adhesion to the coating is determined not only by the presence of “thorns”, their number and placement along the rim, but also by others. Composition also plays a key role rubber compound and its resistance to temperature changes. After all, if the tire hardens in the cold, it will lose its tenacity properties and will be useless when maneuvering. Among other things, the tread pattern and special moisture-purifying grooves are of particular importance, which, in fact, provide informative steering, minimizing the deviation of the chassis from the trajectory. Therefore, even if you have to drive strictly through snowdrifts, crust and ice crust, it is not a fact that spikes will always help.

As you know, “thorns” make the tire heavier, and with aggressive “pedaling” they can easily bury the wheels in the snow, landing the car on its belly. But what can I say - in the absence of experience, they will not save you even in a skid, sending a hefty car into. We are no longer talking about the increased noise level that almost all studded tires suffer from. No, of course, this does not mean that Velcro takes a clearly advantageous position, but in some cases it may turn out to be more effective.

Moreover, tire technology does not stand still and with each new model. To remember what rubber was like 7-10 years ago, and what it is now, if you compare it with products that have left the market - these are completely different products. To put it simply: heaven and earth. Of course, the developers systematically carry out comprehensive tests, laboratory studies and other checks. As a result, today we get tires that can not only significantly reduce braking distance or getting a car out of snow captivity, but also essential. By the way, Japanese engineers boasted of one of these new products, launching specially modeled winter tires for crossovers and SUVs. We are talking about a studless model, main feature which is the special composition of the rubber mixture. Using Multi-Cell Compound technology, the Japanese have created rubber with a hydrophilic coating with absorbent properties and microscopic pores that effectively absorb moisture from the contact patch (be it snow, ice chips or a film of water). Not least important, of course, are microgrooves that facilitate rapid water drainage.

The directional tread pattern and three-dimensional sipes deserve special attention, which together provide the most rigid grip on the surface and, as practice has shown, more than . Taking into account the fact that off-road vehicles experience serious dynamic loads and changes during their service, specialists designed the shoulder blocks of the tire so that, evenly distributing pressure and weight, they maintain an ideal gap between the sipes. Simply put, they contributed to the most effective removal of snow and ice slush. And additional ones guarantee the smallest cavities in the lamellas and a large number of jumpers. All in all, friction tires Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2, which demonstrated excellent performance in multiple consumer tests ride quality, are

A fairly common myth is the idea that jeeps and other large cars safer in winter conditions. In fact, SUVs are the main risk group, and therefore they definitely need to change their shoes before it snows and the thermometer drops below zero degrees.

You shouldn’t flatter yourself with hopes that an all-wheel drive SUV will by default protect you from an emergency on a snowy road. As practice shows, winter tires for SUVs are even more important than for ordinary cars, and when buying winter tires in Kyiv you need to be extremely careful. This is due to the fact that cars with a 4x4 formula only accelerate faster than front- or rear-wheel drive ones, but this does not affect the quality of braking and the length of the braking distance. Therefore, it is naive to believe that not re-shod in correct option rubber jeep will withstand the test of slippery roads. In addition, SUVs are characterized by a large ground clearance, and this is an additional risk factor on a snowy or icy road. On slippery road cars with high ground clearance less stable, their aerodynamics are much worse than conventional cars, and they also have increased windage.

SUV manufacturers adapt them as much as possible to off-road conditions, but they are not intended for use in icy conditions. The fact that a powerful SUV can easily cover any distance over difficult rough terrain does not mean that it will also cope brilliantly with a straight section of road covered with packed snow or ice. Heavy SUVs tend to have longer braking distances when driving on slippery roads, which can cause an accident. Therefore, such cars are usually equipped with the highest quality winter tires that can provide maximum wheel grip on the road surface. For SUVs, experts recommend using tires with a combined tread pattern, where part of the wheel has longitudinal lines and part has transverse lines. A deep aggressive tread pattern and the presence of studs are welcome.

Thus, if you are planning to purchase an SUV or are already the proud owner four-wheel drive vehicle, then you should know that it is not suitable for driving on snowy and icy roads, and therefore requires the use of a special version of tires. SUV tires are made from special rubber chemical composition, have a deep, specific tread pattern and are often equipped with studs that improve traction between the wheel and the road.

Do you know the difference between motorists and utility workers? For the former, winter does not come UNEXPECTEDLY.

Most drivers are so used to their cars that they drive them all year round. That’s why they “change their shoes” not at minus 20, but when the first morning frost appears on the asphalt. However, for this you need to have a set of winter tires. It’s more difficult for jeep owners, because... these machines are a special caste.

1 are they needed?

A large and strong car gives the driver confidence. The main thing is to make sure that it does not develop into SELF-confidence. And this is exactly what happens quite often to jeep owners.

There are still drivers who DO NOT “re-shoe” such cars for the winter. They say that the SUV itself is heavy, plus all-wheel drive - it will get out of any snowdrift. You can’t argue with that - he’ll get out, but is that the only thing? Winter tires for SUVs are, first of all, about road safety, and only then the ability to cope with snowdrifts.

It turns out that drivers do not change tires because they are confident in their car? Not really.

Manufacturers often include all-season tires with SUVs. This is an excellent reason not to buy winter tires for jeeps, but to drive on the same tires all year round. Of course, this option has a right to life - it all depends on the specific operating conditions of the vehicle.

But speaking in general, then all season tires- it's like a universal football player. It seems that he can play in any position, but those who have a narrow specialization are weaker.

So are all-season tires: they are worse than summer tires in the warm season and inferior to winter tires in the cold season.

Although, again it is worth noting that much depends on the region and the severity of winter.

In addition, winter tires have a unique composition with special additives that make the rubber soft, and therefore the car is more stable on the road. Summer tires will simply freeze, becoming hard, with all the ensuing consequences.

2 Studded SUV tires: both yes and no

Of course, in conditions Russian winter Studded tires for SUVs look preferable. But there are some nuances.

Pros of spikes:

• Excellent traction on the road in icy conditions and slushy snow
• High directional stability
• Reduced acceleration time (approximately 10% faster than studless counterparts)
• Shortened braking distance.

Sounds good. But! If suddenly at the end of January the utility services come to their senses and clear the road, then all the advantages of studded tires turn into disadvantages.

Because of the studs, the contact area of ​​the wheels with the asphalt is reduced, therefore the braking distance increases and the stability of the car decreases. And the studded tire itself quickly wears out in case of prolonged contact with asphalt, which it also destroys. Therefore, if the route of an SUV in winter is standard (home-work-home) and the car drives on the roads of a metropolis, whose authorities monitor timely snow removal, then studded winter tires should not be recommended.

Some car enthusiasts act cunningly: they go to a tire shop, where studs are “soldered” into all-season tires. Yes, there is such a method. True, in most cases the thorns fall off within a week at best. You need to have confidence in the tire service staff to carry out such an operation. But even if this is so, being the owner of a massive SUV and saving on buying normal studded wheels... Somehow this is not respectable.

If you still choose this option, then reviews of SUV tires show the popularity of oval studs. Both drivers and experts consider them an ideal option.

By the way, there is another precedent. In European countries (the exception is the Scandinavian region) studded tires are prohibited. Those who like to travel in a jeep in winter should take this into account.

Given the cataclysms that are tearing Europe apart recent years, maybe something will change, but for now the ban is in force.

3 Winter tires for jeeps: distinctive features

In general, all winter tires are characterized by their tread pattern. It can be European and Scandinavian. Interestingly, SUV tires have their own special pattern. It features free-standing rectangular or diamond-shaped elements.

So, here are the parameters by which you need to buy tires for SUVs:

• 1

  Tread width. In the dimension marking this is the first number. The smaller this parameter is for the selected SUV tires, the better;

• 2

  Profile (height). The second number in the marking. The relationship is the opposite - the larger value has priority. This parameter shows how the car will feel on a snowy road or surface consisting of water and snow. Low-profile tires make it easier to get out of snowy debris without damaging the tires;

• 3

  Load capacity index. Are the tires suitable in size, quality, price, etc.? There's no need to rush. A parameter such as the load capacity index requires attention. In no case should it be lower than that recommended by the manufacturer. Otherwise, the tires may collapse, which affects safety.

How to choose winter tires
for SUVs?

• 1

  It is necessary to cooperate only with professionals. Otherwise, they may advise something like this... There have been situations when studs were installed on summer wheels.

• 2
• 3

Winter tires can have different tread patterns. In Russia, what can be called winter off-road tires are more popular. These are tires with a large tread pattern. Often, the pattern of such tires is herringbone, but not necessarily. A car with such wheels will grip the snow tightly. Therefore, you will not get stuck in the parking lot and will successfully overcome the road that you did not have time or did not want to clear of snow. If your tires have studs, then you won’t be afraid of ice. Soft rubber and numerous sipes improve grip on any surface.

The disadvantage of such tires is their behavior on clean asphalt. A large tread is sure to make noise. The spikes also add their own noise. And they make noise and domestic tires, and famous brands. Expensive and hyped Nokia tires are considered noisy. But as soon as snow falls, the noise subsides, but excellent traction remains. It is believed that steel studs impair braking on asphalt. Of course, they make it worse, but the grip on ice will be even worse. November is not the best month to buy tires: the demand is huge, and there is no choice in stores. If you want to save money, you should buy winter tires in September, October or March, April.

Off-road tires designed for driving on mud. These are tires with a large pattern. The large tread allows these tires to grip soft ground and mud well. At the same time, the tires themselves clean themselves of dirt. Off-road tires can also be used on paved roads in warm weather. But it is worth recognizing that such tires will not provide additional grip on hard surfaces, and they will definitely make noise.

Is it possible to drive on snow in winter on off-road tires? Of course you can! A large tread will cling well to loose or compacted snow. The cross-country ability of such tires, in forest or country road, will be even better than winter tires.
But everything changes if you go out on ice. Off-road tires are still summer tires. Their rubber will harden in winter. There are also no small soft lamellas on these wheels. SUV tires are no better suited for driving on ice than summer city tires.

However, many SUV owners are convinced that they do not need special winter tires. What's the matter? This opinion is based on experience. Even in winter, driving around the city is mostly on hard asphalt. And any tires are suitable for this coating. When city roads are covered with snow, of course, off-road tires will have an advantage. Such treacherous types of road surfaces as ice and snow on ice remain. It’s worth admitting honestly, no spikes provide a guarantee on such a coating. Off-road tires will slide on such a surface. But we don’t need tires by themselves; the tires included with the car are important. And all-wheel drive gives the car stability even when braking. It turns out that a car with all-wheel drive and off-road tires, it is unlikely to be inferior in handling to a front-wheel drive car with winter studded tires.

So should you change your off-road tires to winter ones? If your safety is important to you, and you drive mainly around the city, then yes, you should. But if you drive in winter on summer off-road tires, in a car with all-wheel drive and ABS, then you will be safer than the driver of a front- or rear-wheel drive car on summer city wheels.

Good luck on the roads!