“Prepare summer tires in winter, and winter tires in summer,” this simple rule regularly helps motorists save time, money and nerve cells. Therefore, it's time to take a look at our 2017 winter tire test and choose the tires that are ideal for both weather and temperature conditions, as well as lifestyle and driving style.

Winter tire tests 2017-2018 (Behind the wheel, Autoreview, ADAC, Auto Bild)

Do not get lost in the abundance of names, brands and brands will help tests of winter and summer tires which every year are held by a number of qualified organizations. This includes:

ADAC Club

ADAC is a serious organization and has been representing the interests of German car enthusiasts for more than a century. The largest car club in Europe checks car brands for quality and safety, and also regularly tests tires. It is difficult for tire manufacturers to achieve high ratings from ADAC - their severe tests, carried out with true German thoroughness, can leave neither the bottom nor the tire from the tire. The usual results are “satisfactory”, and rarely is a tire awarded with a “good” verdict.

The oldest Russian magazine dedicated to motorists and their iron horses. He regularly tests tires that are popular and not so popular on the post-Soviet market in hot and cold weather, and also conducts interesting studies like "How temperature affects the braking distance of a car."

Car enthusiasts from more than 35 countries read licensed editions of the German magazine Auto Bild. The magazine features not only motorsport and industry news, but also comparative tests, test drives and, of course, tire testing in various interesting places - for example, in a small Finnish village above the Arctic Circle.

The popular Russian (and earlier Soviet) publication Autoreview regularly conducts comparative tests of cars at the test site, crash tests according to the European methodology with its own independent rating, and also tests automotive products, ranging from fuel to child car seats. Of course, tires are on the list too.

Rating of winter studded tires 2017-2018

Since fresh tire testing is carried out during the peak season, we took tests of tires R14, R15, R16, R17 carried out last winter as the basis for the rating. When distributing places in the list, the following were also taken into account: the popularity of the model in Russia, ratings, reviews and the cost of tires on the Yandex Market service.

Despite the differences in conditions, testing the best winter studded tires 2017-2018. carried out in a similar way:

• overclocking and braking dynamics on ice, snow, asphalt wet and dry;
• time taken to cover a certain distance different types coatings;
• an assessment is given of the level of controllability of the car, its smoothness and how noisy the tires are.

10. Gislaved Nord Frost 200

The average cost is 5,570 rubles.

Opens the rating of winter studded tires 2017-2018 new model from the Swedish company Gislaved. The main highlight of the 200 model is an asymmetric tread pattern and a new ultra-light (less than 1 gram) stud in the shape of a three-beam star. In general, the rubber is quiet, soft, with good directional stability, keeps well on any surface - however, on fresh snow and ice, it may require adjustments in driving style. On a lightly icy track on such tires, you should not accelerate more than 100 km, otherwise the car will drive.

The price, on average, is 5,982 rubles.

The very name of the tire says that its developers (the Russian company Cordiant) paid special attention to the behavior of the tire on snow. The tread pattern is directional, the center of which is a closed rib, which in theory should significantly reduce the likelihood of hydroplaning in snow. (It is interesting, by the way, that this same pattern almost exactly copies the protector of the third place in the rating.) The result is good rubber at a budget price that rides really well in the snow. True, asphalt is not given to her as well as snow.

The average price is 8,600 rubles.

A clear improvement over the ICE 01 both in terms of directional stability and noise reduction on the pavement. From rubber middle price segment it's hard to expect the responsiveness of a more expensive rubber, but the Dunlop SP Winter ICE 02 works 100%. Advantages: high cross-country ability, very strong sidewall, excellent spikes, rowing in snow porridge. True, it doesn’t feel very good on asphalt, and it makes a noticeable noise, and at speeds above 90 km / h it causes increased consumption fuel.

The cost, on average, is 6,670 rubles.

Good city tires with the ability to feel comfortable in not too deep snow. It rides well both on asphalt and on dense snow, the noise is within the normal range. It is worth noting that it is best to use this rubber in central Russia, where temperatures rarely exceed -15 degrees. But for Siberians with deep snows and prolonged frosts, it is better to think about a more hardy option.

The average cost is 2,410 rubles.

Nokian's Nordman series is a more budget-friendly version of the acclaimed Hakkapeliitta. Soft, comfortable, low-noise tires at a reasonable price, which feels good both on dry pavement and on snow. On the wet pavement Based on the reviews, it is better not to accelerate over 100 km. A good option for urban residents in the "home - work - dacha" mode. Due to the softness of the rubber, it is difficult to get out of the rut, and you should be careful with curbs, branches and other sharp objects. But overall a great option in terms of price / quality.

You can buy, on average, for 4,860 rubles.

If the previous top 10 model was mainly intended for city driving, then Continental's IceContact 2 is best off-road. It feels great at low temperatures both on snow and on crust or ice, it is able to take its owner from anywhere. A big advantage is the many spikes (there are 196 of them). No noise from these tires.

But on wet, frozen or snowy pavement, special care must be taken. Also not the best best reviews deserved the "behavior" of rubber on snow porridge, where it begins to scour.

It is offered, on average, for 10,260 rubles.

Although the 8 is a newer model in the Hakkapeliitta tire line, it is slightly less popular than its predecessor. One of the main reasons is the very soft sidewall, as a result of which you will have to carefully select the discs and, despite the excellent cross-country ability, carefully choose the places to ride. Otherwise, hernias and cuts. But this rubber is very predictable, has a large number of spikes (190 pieces) and goes well on ice and packed snow.

It is sold, on average, for 7,100 rubles.

It differs from the eighth model in a smaller number of spikes (by 30%), however, its six-sided anchor spikes are longer and heavier. They use a technology called "bear claw" that prevents the cleat from tilting, thereby improving traction. Silent, reliable, albeit expensive rubber, which, despite the generation, enjoys a high reputation among motorists. It feels good both on snow and on ice and asphalt, while being hardy and strong. However, like the eighth version, the Hakkapeliitta 7 has a very soft sidewall and this is felt when turning the steering wheel sharply.

The average price is 9,080 rubles.

And here is the new generation of the famous line. The fruit of the four-year efforts of the developers of the Finnish company, as stated, exceeds the characteristics of the "eight" by 5-10%. The biggest highlight of the new model is the two types of studs (although overall there are slightly fewer of them than its predecessor), which should improve lateral grip on snowy or icy roads. And changes in the composition of the rubber will help the tire feel better at low temperatures. So far, according to preliminary tests, the tires promise to be excellent, but they count the chickens in the fall - when mass sales of the "nine" begin.

1. Pirelli Ice Zero

On average, it costs 15,550 rubles.

Paradoxically, it turned out that the Italians know better about the production of winter studded tires than the inhabitants of snowy Scandinavia. One of the "highlights" of the model is the original double carbide stud insert, which provides the tire with excellent behavior on ice.

Other advantages: high permeability, good performance acceleration and braking on snow and ice, high directional stability. And endurance - there are chances to bring the tires to retirement with a full set of spikes. Excellent, almost universal rubber for winter conditions, feeling good both on asphalt and in the countryside. True, the noise level is quite high. Yes, and the price "bites".

Which winter tires are better to choose in the end

So which winter tires are the best? The 2017 ranking includes both "urban" rubber types and tires designed for more severe weather conditions. Perfect for frequent off-road driving Pirelli Ice Zero, Continental IceContact 2 or Dunlop SP Winter ICE 02. For a quiet city ride, choose the Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000, Nokian Nordman 5 or Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. Otherwise, when choosing tires, you should first of all take into account the temperature conditions and the surface that you have to ride on.

You can often see the following comment on materials about the choice of rubber: “It doesn’t matter what kind of rubber is - in Soviet times, in general, they only went on summer tires. And nothing! So the main thing is not the tires, but the head on the shoulders. In principle, the message is correct, since a careless rider can “get out” absolutely on any, even the most titled rubber. But there is a small nuance: good tires make driving easier, so the very likelihood of an emergency is reduced many times.

Tests on ice and snow were carried out outdoors and indoors, where, by controlling temperature and humidity, the influence of the weather can be eliminated. Acceleration dynamics on icy and snowy surfaces was determined in the same way.

Here is an example. To stop on the ice "mirror" from a speed of 50 km/h, the Continental ContiIceContact studded tires need 30 meters, and the Chinese Sunny SN3860 needs 20 meters more! No amount of caution will help here: you need to drive either twice as slowly (can you imagine a car that trudges through the city at a speed of 25 km / h?), Or have the gift of foresight in order to know when a schoolboy suddenly jumps out at a pedestrian crossing or when The traffic light will turn red. It is clear that both conditions are impossible, while buying more or less decent rubber is an absolutely real thing.

Handling was evaluated in two ways: first, the lap time was determined, and in order to show a good result, the tires needed a combination of fast acceleration, high lateral grip and effective braking, and after that the pilots gave their subjective comments. Also, separate subjective assessments were given for exchange rate stability.

Another example is the time of passage of the ice track. "I'm not a racer", you say? The fact that the test rider takes 48.1 seconds on the record-breaking Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 spikes and 71.6 seconds on the aforementioned Sunny means that the driver has to drive much slower to avoid skidding. And this is constant tension and general uncertainty on the road. Winter is already a continuous stress for the human body, and then a banal road to work will add to the experience...

The noise level was evaluated by several pilots both in the front and in the rear of the cabin. In the rolling resistance test, the car was rolled from 80 to 50 km/h on a flat surface with no wind and with the engine off. The tests were carried out at two different temperatures

Finally, one more note. The tire industry is developing fantastically fast, so tires that were the undisputed leaders in the tests a few seasons ago can now hopelessly lag behind modern competitors. Nokian Nordman 4. The legendary fourth Hakka (Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4), once beloved by rally drivers, now produced under the budget sub-brand Nordman, unexpectedly took the penultimate place! Therefore, the fact that each new generation of rubber is more expensive than the previous one should not be surprising - this is an additional payment for progress.

Test Experts world tires they always buy themselves, in ordinary stores, otherwise manufacturers can put up an improved version of tires. In cases where the novelty has not yet reached the retail network, the testers have to conduct control tests to determine if there are differences between the regular and the tire sent by the manufacturer.

On what basis do we draw these conclusions? Based on tests by Test World: these Finnish tire testers in the Arctic Circle are considered to be the true authorities in the field of tire testing, and their tire tests are published by the world's leading auto publications. This year, 25 models of winter tires - 13 studded and 12 non-studded - sized 205/55 R16, were torn apart by the Finns. We note right away that tires of premium brands took the first lines of the final protocols. But! I was pleasantly surprised by inexpensive tires, some of which were able to show very nice results.

friction tires

1-2 places: 8.2 points. good year Ultra Grip Ice 2

Country of origin: Poland

Thanks to the balanced characteristics, Goodyear showed good results in absolutely all disciplines. The UltraGrip Ice 2 performs well on snow and ice as well as wet pavement, a combination that looks like Goodyear's engineers had to work hard to achieve. In addition, the model features low level noise, therefore - a well-deserved first place.

1-2 places: 8.2 points. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2

Load and speed indices: 94R

The creators of the Hakkapeliitta R2 decided to bet on better grip on snow and ice: on these surfaces, Nokian not only proved to be the most efficient tires, but also managed to outperform (in particular in braking on slippery surfaces) some studded tires. But there were some drawbacks too: Finnish tires are weak on wet pavement. Hence the conclusion: it is impossible to be the best in all areas.

3rd-4th places: 7.8 points. Continental ContiVikingContact 6

Load and speed indices: 94T
Country of origin: Germany

The novelty from Continental immediately hit the podium, only slightly losing to the two best tires. The Continental performs well on snow, but lags behind others on wet pavement - in critical situations, reactions can be too slow and inaccurate. But experts noted good behavior on dry surfaces, low noise level and low rolling resistance.

3rd-4th places: 7.8 points. Michelin X-ice Xi3

Load and speed indices: 94H
Country of origin: Spain

Michelins have proven to be one of the best non-studded tires on snow and ice. However, on the pavement, the tires from the French tire manufacturers performed somewhat weaker than the others, although - regardless of the situation - the X-ice Xi3 provide safe driving without unpleasant surprises. Noise tires slightly, but the rolling resistance was high.

5th place: 7.7 points. Maxxis SP02 ArcticTrekker

Load and speed indices: 94T
Country of origin: China

Exactly Maxxis tires for the first time denied that tires from China will necessarily be bad. While not the best on slippery surfaces, the SP02 ArcticTrekker showed very even results in all exercises. And no nasty surprises! In doing so, the Maxxis outperformed many other non-studded tires in snow and wet conditions. Rolling resistance and noise level are average. In general, this is a very decent rubber at an attractive price.

6th place: 7.3 points. Bridgestone Blizzak WS70

Load and speed indices: 94T
Country of origin: Japan

Until recently, Bridgestone was one of the leaders among non-studded tires, but now the Blizzak WS70 is only an average. They have effective braking on snow and ice, but lateral grip is average. But most of all, the pilots were alerted by sharp skids on wet pavement. Noise level is low, rolling resistance is high.

7th-8th places: 7.2 points. Pirelli Winter Ice Control

Load and speed indices: 94T
Country of origin: China

7th-8th places: 7.2 points. Sailun Ice Blazer WSL2

Country of origin: China

Another cheap one Chinese tires who were able to furnish products much more famous brands. The results on ice were average, but on snow the Sailun were among the best. On wet pavement, too, although the experts noted some nervousness at the grip limit, and on both surfaces. The rolling resistance is low and the noise level is high.

9th place: 6.8 points. Dunlop SP Ice Sport

Country of origin: Germany

Friction Dunlop surprised me with weak grip on ice, although the studded model of this brand became one of the leaders in this exercise! Moreover, experts complained about braking, acceleration, and handling ... On snow, the behavior is better, and on wet pavement Dunlops are very good. Road holding is good, but the SP Ice Sport is louder than the rest.

10th place: 6.7 points. Vredestein Nord-Trac 2

Load and speed indices: 94T

11th-12th places: 7.1 points. Kumho I*ZEN KW31

Load and speed indices: 91R

Kumho behave decently only on wet pavement, which is clearly not enough for harsh winter conditions. On ice, the I*ZEN KW31s take too long to accelerate, on snow they show only average results ... Plus loud noise, mediocre directional stability and high rolling resistance.

12th place: 7.1 points. Sunny SnowMaster SN3830

Load and speed indices: 91H
Country of origin: China

The Sunny tires, which have become the worst among the friction models, will be suitable for winter conditions in Central Europe, but not for the northern winter. They have terrible results on snow and ice, although the SnowMaster SN3830 feels good in the wet.

Table 1

*How to use the table? In it, experts put marks, which are divided into 5 categories (“ice”, “snow”, “wet asphalt”, etc.). The final score was not obtained by simple summation - the scores for each exercise are multiplied by the weight factor before being added (second column). Let's explain with an example: Goodyear earned 8 points for braking on ice - we multiply this result by 15%, for acceleration on ice we got 7 points - we multiply this indicator by 10% ... We sum up the results of such a multiplication for each exercise and get the same final grade .

Studded tires

1st place: 8.8 points. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 190
Country of origin: Finland

Studded Nokian received excellent marks in all disciplines. In difficult winter conditions, tires demonstrate extremely efficient braking and a high level of safety. True, in wet braking exercises and directional stability, the Hakkapeliitta 8 lagged behind the leaders a little, but this miss did not prevent the Finnish rubber from becoming the best.

2-3 places: 8.6 points. Continental ContiIceContact

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 130
Country of origin: Germany

On ice, the Continental tires performed admirably, both in terms of braking performance and in terms of handling. But on the snow, the ContiIceContact turned out to be only slightly weaker than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. Because of this, it is only in second place. And tires from Germany (despite fewer spikes) are quite loud.

2-3 places: 8.6 points. Pirelli Ice Zero

Load and speed indices: 91T
Number of spikes: 130
Country of origin: Germany

Pirelli will also not present unpleasant surprises on winter - moreover, of any quality - roads: these "studs" are distinguished by very good stability on rough roads. The main drawback of the Ice Zero model is the relatively long path on wet surfaces. In addition, the tires of the Italian brand could be quieter.

4th place: 8.4 points. Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 130
Country of origin: Poland

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic model should be recognized as a very balanced winter tire for all conditions - the tires do not have obvious shortcomings in terms of behavior on wet and dry pavement, plus excellent results on snow and ice surfaces. However, in the "purely winter" disciplines, Goodyear loses a little to their rivals.

5th place: 8.3 points. Gislaved Nord*Frost 100

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 95
Country of origin: Germany

The Gislaveds have earned a lot of good marks, especially on the snow. On ice, the Nord*Frost 100 is slightly inferior to the leaders, but the model is good on wet pavement. The disadvantages include a relatively long braking distance on dry pavement and high rolling resistance.

6th place: 8.1 points. Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 170
Country of origin: South Korea

On the Ice Hankook it takes a little more distance to stop the car than the best tires, but in the snow comes satisfaction: in most snow tests, the Winter i*Pike RS W419 performed well. Although the testers noted that the Hankook behave a little nervously in the snow. On wet pavement, the Hankook received high marks for predictability and ease of handling.

7th place: 8.0 points. Dunlop ice touch

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 130
Country of origin: Poland

On the ice Dunlop could not boast of a confident grip, so the car often skidded. However, on wet pavement Ice tires Touch proved to be one of the best, but tests on dry surfaces again turned into sudden skids.

8th place: 7.9 points. Michelin X-Ice North 3

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 95
Country of origin: Russia

In the snow tests, the Michelins performed smoothly, but on ice, the performance was somewhat worse than the leaders showed, although the X-Ice North 3 did not present any unpleasant surprises. On dry and wet pavement, Michelins are clear leaders, and, moreover, the quietest among studded tires.

9th place: 7.7 points. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 130
Country of origin: Japan

In most snow disciplines Bridgestone earned 9 points out of 10, so these tires are especially effective on snow. On ice, the Blizzak Spike-01 brakes well, but the rest of the tests on slippery surfaces were average. The directional stability also leaves much to be desired... Only excellent performance on dry pavement will be weak consolation.

10th place: 7.5 points. Vredestein Arctrac

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 130
Country of origin: Netherlands

Vredestein has only average results on the ice. On snow, the Arctrac brakes very effectively, but in terms of handling, its behavior does not inspire confidence. On wet pavement, also only a "satisfactory" rating. To top it off, experts noted insufficiently good exchange rate stability.

11th-12th places: 7.1 points. Jinyu YW53

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 114
Country of origin: China

Cheap Jinyu from China provide very little grip on ice! On the snow, however, the situation is slightly better, but the pilots believe that winter tires should behave much more confidently. On wet pavement, the results are not bad, but the directional stability is not good enough. Plus, the YW53s are louder than most studded rivals.

12th place: 7.1 points. Nokian Nordman 4

Load and speed indices: 94T
Number of spikes: 130
Country of origin: Russia

Alas, Nordman tires Russian production on the ice they turned out to be even worse than the Chinese Jinyu, so we cannot recommend them. In the snow tests, the results were noticeably better, although the test drivers again did not feel completely confident behind the wheel. Complementing the list of shortcomings Nordman 4 poor results on wet pavement.

13th place: 5.9 points. Sunny SN3860

Load and speed indices: 91H
Number of spikes: 130
Country of origin: China

Sunny tires confidently settled on the last line of the standings. In many of their characteristics, “studded tires” from the Middle Kingdom resemble non-studded tires for the Central European winter: the SN3860 was distinguished by high grip and good handling on asphalt, but performed disgustingly on snow and ice. For northern winter conditions, Chinese tires can hardly be considered a good choice.

table 2

*How to use the table? In it, experts put marks, which are divided into 5 categories (“ice”, “snow”, “wet asphalt”, etc.). The final score was not obtained by simple summation - the scores for each exercise are multiplied by the weight factor before being added (second column). Let's explain with an example: Nokian earned 10 points for braking on ice - this result is multiplied by 15%, for acceleration on ice he received 10 points - this indicator is multiplied by 10% ... We summarize the results of such a multiplication for each exercise and get the same final grade .

Alexey Kovanov
Photo Test World and manufacturing companies

Owners of crossovers, especially all-wheel drive ones, are often not enthusiastic about the seasonal change of regular summer tires to winter ones. After all, almost all native tires are marked with the M + S index, which de jure allows you to drive them in winter. The main thing is that the residual tread depth should be at least 4 mm (otherwise - 500 rubles fine). But you need to understand that the M + S marking absolutely does not oblige the manufacturer to anything! For marking, no tests or certificates are required confirming the suitability of tires for winter, and therefore, more and more often it can be seen on frankly summer, moreover, “asphalt” tires, which incidentally indicates the devaluation of not only the letter S (snow, “snow”), but also M (mud, "mud"). So we don’t look at the letters, but at the tread, and if we don’t see a lot of small slots-lamellas, then we conclude: it’s dangerous to ride on such in winter. And even better, when there is a “Snowflake” stamp on the sidewall in the form of three mountain peaks with a snowflake, these models really passed the test on a snowy track. The participants in our test are all with this marking: these are 14 sets with spikes and nine without.

The test program is standard, all the tracks of the White Hell test site near the Finnish town of Ivalo are well known to us - and most importantly, to be lucky with the weather. Almost lucky: there was no snowfall, although the temperature danced from 5 to 23 degrees of frost, so its influence had to be taken into account by conducting additional races on the "reference" tires. But the measurements of the longitudinal dynamics took place in a closed hangar with a more stable temperature.

This is where the embarrassment happened with Nokian tires, and with a model that has been produced for more than a year. Both in acceleration and in braking, the non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV lost not only to its principal competitors, but even to the tires of their own "second line" - Nordman RS2 SUV tires! The testers of the Nokian company working in the neighborhood were alarmed, they repeated the measurements themselves ... An official investigation showed that the failed tires were produced at a plant near St. Petersburg at the end of 2016, more precisely on the 48th week. Then there was a failure in the technological cycle. They did not share details with us (apparently, there were deviations either in the duration or in the temperature of vulcanization), but they assured that the defective batch did not go on sale. Although on the outside everything is in order, and even the hardness of the tread rubber is the same as on the tires released in the 41st week of 2016 (their results were taken into account), but the difference in traction on ice reaches eight percent.

After measurements in the hangar, we get out into the hardening frost - and once again we notice that as the temperature drops friction tires they begin to catch up and even overtake the spikes. At minus twenty, the ice becomes so hard that the studs cannot scratch it, and the tread rubber of most studded tires is harder - in the cold, friction tires are more elastic, they have a longer total length of slots-lamellae.

We, again, take into account changing conditions and adjust the results, but if all tests were carried out in light frost, friction tires would roll back to the bottom lines of the protocols.

Handling tests were carried out on the ice of the polar lake Tammijärvi

And in the snow, frost plays into the hands of friction models: while maintaining the elasticity of the tread, they better cling to the snow shagreen.

This time we managed to back up the passability estimates with instrumental measurements - acceleration time in deep snow with the traction control. It is curious that they topped and closed the rating Russian tires: the best - Cordiant, and the most helpless in the virgin lands - Viatti tires manufactured by the Nizhnekamsk Tire Plant.

The asphalt part of the tests is especially relevant for residents of large cities, where the streets are cleared of snow and ice for most of the winter.

The final part of the tests is already in April, on "summer" surfaces. And in passing, we note that this time there were no tires littered with spikes.

At the top of the final ranking are the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV tires. Expected result: if the model of the previous generation regularly won in our tests, then the new one, and even with two types of studs, easily outperformed the competitors.

Expensive? Then we carefully look at the points, at the main advantages and disadvantages of other tires - and choose the best option for your pocket. And yet we avoid buying outsider tires - such savings threaten incomparably large costs.

Studded tire rating

Hakkapeliitta with index 9 is the novelty of the season: two types of spikes are used here for the first time. Those in the middle part of the tread have transversely oriented carbide inserts: they are responsible for the longitudinal grip, and at the edges of the tread rise some sort of trefoils that work effectively in corners. And this is not a marketing trick: a clear superiority over competitors both on the handling track and in braking on ice. Yes, and in other forms winter tests tires are top notch. On asphalt, grip is moderate, and the main problem is noise at speeds from 70 to 90 km / h.

The best tires for harsh winter conditions!

This year, Hankook officially opened its polar test site in Ivalo, Finland: the routes and test approaches are in many ways similar to those used by Nokian Tires. This also applies to the features of the tires themselves: the number of star spikes was increased, which ensured decent test results on ice. But in deep snow, tires do not shine, as well as on asphalt, and besides, they make a lot of noise. But it’s easy for them to forgive: Hankook Winter i * Pike RS + tires are one and a half times cheaper than the Finnish novelty.

Tires made in Voronezh are flavored with powerful studs-brackets - and work smartly on ice during acceleration and braking. But in corners - sharp breakdowns in sliding, so without a stabilization system you have to be on the alert. But - a good balance of grip on slippery roads and on asphalt, and therefore they can be safely recommended for winter operation in large cities. If you do not make high demands on acoustic comfort.

Tires are produced at the Russian plant Continental near Kaluga. The Gislaved brand is owned by Continental - and the Nord*Frost 200 model copies the asymmetric tread pattern of the first generation ContiIceContact tires, but the studs are simpler in shape and without thermochemical fixation. However, they also work well - especially in the transverse direction.

In general, these are well-balanced tires for use both in large cities and beyond.

The tires were produced at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant and the tread pattern suspiciously resembles the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires, which even became a reason for a lawsuit. But Cordiant managed to justify itself - and increase production volumes, including by expanding the range of dimensions. Decent tires for the money, but they don’t like asphalt roads: they don’t hold very well, and rolling is accompanied by a loud and unpleasant rumble of the tread. Tires are not for the city.

Nordman tires are the "second line" of Nokian Tires, and for production, molds of obsolete Nokian tire models are used. The novelty of the Nordman 7 SUV season is the reincarnation of the Hakkapeliitta 7 SUV, produced from 2010 to 2017. Good grip on ice and snow, and on asphalt even better than the current "mother" model. Including acoustic comfort: there are fewer spikes.

The model was introduced in 2012 and has not yet received a replacement. On ice, the tires work well in the longitudinal direction, but in corners they sharply break into slips. On the snow, including virgin lands, everything is much better. But on the pavement, the aggressive pattern generates an obsessive low-frequency rumble from 30 km / h.

Michelin with the X-Ice North 3 tire continues to bend the line to comply with European studding regulations: no more than 50 studs per linear meter of tread. And the spikes themselves are simple, round in section. This led to an unimportant hold on the ice. On packed snow, the picture is better, but getting out of a snowdrift is a problem: the tread is to blame.

BFGoodrich tires are Michelin's "second line", they are produced at the same plant in Davydovo near Moscow as Michelin X-Ice North 3 tires. But the tread is its own, original. It is a pity that there are also few spikes, they are round, excessively recessed, and as a result, mediocre behavior on ice.

On snow, including on virgin soil, the situation is better. And even better - on asphalt, although you need to remember that the permissible speed is 160 km / h, although studded competitors have 190.

Formula - "second line" Pirelli. In last year's tests at Lada Vesta, tires took fifth place, but now the figures are more modest. Especially on ice. Even after break-in, the protrusion of the studs above the tread surface is less than a millimeter (last year we recorded 1.1 mm on new tires). On packed snow, the results are better, although we do not recommend climbing into snowdrifts. They hold up well on asphalt.

A good budget tire option for urban use.

For many, the Made in Japan brand is a sign of quality. But something went wrong with Toyo winter tires. It seems that the spikes are not simple - with cruciform inserts, and the studding is of high quality, but on ice the grip properties are moderate, as well as on snow. However, the response of the car to control is well balanced.

On asphalt - far from the best comfort and grip.

Joy - a low price, which is consistent with the quality of tires.

Under the "Italian" name - tires produced in Nizhnekamsk using off-take technology. The design and manufacturing process is the product of an engineering firm run by a former Continental executive. However, grip on ice and snow is mediocre, and most of all upset that winter tires, “designed by European specialists specifically for Russian roads”, were helpless in deep snow. Also, they are noisy and harsh. Not an option - even considering the low price.

One could immediately assume that the ice tests of the Yokohama Ice Guard 55 tire would fail. Instead of the prescribed 1.2 mm, the spikes protrude an average of 0.57 mm - and do not work. And the buyer expects Japanese quality- even though the tires are made in Lipetsk.

There are also complaints about the tread: on rolled snow - the maximum braking distance, and on virgin soil - the worst traction abilities. For Russian conditions, other tires are needed, and they already exist: this season, sales of a new Yokohama models IG65 with an increased number of "curly" spikes. More details about new tires - in one of the next issues of Autoreview.

Interestingly, duplicated in the name win - is it from the word "win" or from the word "winter"? Better fit, for example, wintry ("cold", "unfriendly") or winch ("winch"). What kind of winter or victory can we talk about if studded tires are inferior on ice to most friction tires, and on the handling track Nexen is the slowest in the overall standings? Tread rubber is clearly not designed to work at low temperatures, as evidenced by its increased hardness.

Of the positive emotions, only relatively quiet (for tires with spikes) rolling remains.

Rating of non-studded tires

Off-road tires, with the SUV index, have sidewalls reinforced with aramid fiber, which is reminiscent of the Aramid Sidewalls brand. So with impact resistance, unlike the "passenger" tires of the same name, there should be no problems.

In severe frost, Nokian friction tires provide excellent grip on ice, behave well on snow, and small complaints appear only on asphalt.

Excellent winter tires for use in the city and beyond.

Leapfrog. The year before last, we liked the ContiVikingContact 6 tires on asphalt, but they didn’t work well on ice, last year the situation reversed, this year it’s better on asphalt again ... Of course, the dimensions are different, but the reason must be sought in the composition of the rubber compound : Last year the tread rubber on the ContiVikingContact 6 tires was noticeably softer.

Now we are taking into account the latest version of these tires manufactured at the end of 2016. Not ideal on ice and snow (especially deep), but they work perfectly on asphalt.

Good winter tires for urban use. And the most comfortable!

Since studs are banned in Japan, local manufacturers are focusing on friction winter tires. So we will assume that it is natural that

Lightweight tires with soft, quiet rolling. But at the same time, there is an imbalance of “winter” grip properties in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and sharp breakdowns in sliding seem to be provoked by sidewalls that are soft for a heavy crossover. Indeed, in the range of Goodyear winter tires there is a model specifically for crossovers and SUVs - UltraGrip Ice SUV, but these tires are not available in size 215/65 R16. However, if the car is equipped with a stabilization system, then Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 tires are a good choice.

The tread pattern is exactly like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires, but the materials are simpler. Another option to extend the life cycle of molds. And - given the price - a very good option. Moreover, in certain disciplines, Nordman RS2 SUV tires are even more preferable: the braking distance on ice is shorter!

Quality tires for a reasonable price. On ice, they are almost as good as the leaders among tires without studs, and on snow they have even better grip in the longitudinal direction. Although the handling is harsh on the track and rowing is mediocre in deep snow.

Grip properties on asphalt are above average, there are no problems with comfort either, which means that these tires are relevant for large cities.

The Gislaved brand continues to lose authenticity. So the “new” Gislaved Soft*Frost 200 is nothing more than ContiVikingContact tires of the year before last, the third generation. Fortunately, these are balanced tires - safe, comfortable, not very expensive - and therefore we safely recommend them for urban use, although an accidental drive into a snowdrift may delay the planned trip.

The Marshal brand belongs to the Korean company Kumho Tire, however, according to the tread pattern and even the rare R speed index, these tires copy the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires - and some sellers play on this similarity. By the way, on snow and asphalt friction tires Marshal and Nokian are close, but on ice the loss of the copy is already obvious. It is also one of the noisiest and toughest friction tires available.

Winter tires Nitto (brand owned by Toyo Tires) appeared in Russia recently. The Therma Spike model managed to please us with traction on ice, but it lost the most spikes on asphalt. And the Nitto Winter SN2 friction tires immediately showed their helplessness on ice and in snowdrifts. And the more surprising is the failure of these tires even on asphalt.

Something is wrong with these Nittos...

This season we will consider six sources that have tested non-studded winter tires. This is a test conducted by the Association of the Automobile Club of Europe (ACE) and the German Society for Technical Supervision (GTÜ), the expert findings of the Finnish test center Test World, the Russian magazine Za Rulem, the German edition of Auto Zeitung, as well as two materials from the ADAC club (also German ), which tested tires of two dimensions at once - 165 / 70R14 and 205 / 55R16.

How did experts test non-studded winter tires?

ACE/GTU

The ACE/GTU alliance tests were carried out in the mountain snows of Switzerland and the asphalt of the Contidrom test site in Germany. The carrier car was a red BMW 320i. Braking distances tires were calculated when decelerating from 50 to 5 km/h on snow, from 80 to 1 km/h on wet and from 100 to 1 km/h on dry surfaces. Traction on snow was assessed during acceleration from 0 to 20 km / h, and points for handling were awarded for the lap time and subjective ratings of the pilots. In the same way, the handling rating was formed on dry and wet surfaces. On wet pavement, tests were carried out for lateral grip and resistance to longitudinal and transverse aquaplaning. Noise was evaluated at a speed of 80 km/h, and the rolling resistance was determined on the machine with a force of 5,886 N and an air pressure of 2.5 bar.

test world

Test World experts measured braking performance on snow, ice, wet and dry pavement. However, as always. The tests were carried out at various temperatures, after which the average result was calculated based on the results of 15-20 races on each set. Ice braking was evaluated by driving the vehicle from 50 km/h to zero, and snow and wet deceleration by braking from 80 km/h to a complete stop.

Tests on a snowy and icy road were carried out on the street and inside a covered range, which allows simulating any conditions necessary for measurements. Traction on snow and ice was measured by accelerating as fast as possible from 5 to 35 and from 5 to 20 km/h, respectively.

Handling points depended on the time it took the "third" Ford Focus to complete a circle in test tires. In addition, the subjective opinion of experts regarding acceleration, braking and cornering on various surfaces also had some influence on the estimates. However, the decisive influence on final results still provided objective readings of the measuring equipment. It is noteworthy that during the races, the pilots did not know the models of the tested tires, the organizers replaced them with numbers in order to exclude the influence of the brand on perception.

In the same way, directional stability was evaluated, that is, the stability of movement in a straight line. In the noise level test, the pilots also made subjective assessments by making several runs on uneven surfaces. And rolling resistance was measured by free rolling the car, on a flat surface without the influence of wind. The tests were carried out at two different temperatures, after which the percentage increase in consumption was calculated compared to the most economical tires.

Quite curious - a study by Test World experts on the resource of winter tires. To understand this issue, Finnish experts took out six sets from the warehouse winter tires, which participated in tire testing last season. They were four studded models and two friction models. On each set, the testers ran over 15,000 km.

The route mainly ran along motorways. At the same time, 100 braking and accelerating at low speeds were carried out on each tire to simulate urban traffic conditions.

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

Every 5,000 km, experts carried out control measurements of the car's behavior in test tires in all disciplines: braking / accelerating on ice, snow and asphalt ...

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

Test World notes that on paper the differences between the tested tires may look minor, but in reality they can be more obvious, and this applies not only to braking performance, but also to grip in corners and steering responses. According to experts, the worst tires in the test practically do not allow you to control the car on slippery surfaces, so when choosing winter tires, you should not focus only on price and buy cheap tires. Tests by various organizations year after year show that budget Asian tires do not provide the optimum level of safety.

All tires for the Test World test were bought in regular stores and pre-run.

Experts from the Russian magazine "Behind the wheel" also ran each set. The test itself was carried out in Togliatti, at the test site of AvtoVAZ OJSC. The carrier vehicle in this test was the VAZ Kalina with ABS.

According to the assurances of the experts of the publication, 300 km is enough to run in non-studded tires, popularly referred to as "Velcro". And the driving style should be more aggressive than in the case of studded tires, since in this case the primary task of running in is different - to completely remove from the tread lamellae the remnants of the lubricant that was applied to the mold (lubrication is needed in order to prevent damage to the tread with 3D cuts when removing a freshly welded tire from a mold). In addition, on these tires, you need to remove a thin surface layer of rubber, which, after baking, is slightly harder than the core. You don’t have to worry about the wear of the sharp edges of the lamellas: modern models they are designed in such a way that they self-sharpen with mutual friction. This ensures the stability of the characteristics of non-studded tires throughout their service life.

Auto Zeitung

Auto Zeitung conducted tire tests for fifteen days at several test sites located in Germany, Finland and France. But even if in other tests the carriers were middle-class cars, then in the case of Auto Zeitung, the tires were worn by a more compact Opel Corsa. Therefore, the dimension of the tested tires is 185/65R15. In all other respects, the measurement approach was comparable to the measurement model of other experts, as, indeed, in the case of the ADAC club.

Test of non-studded winter tires 2015-2016

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The new winter friction tires Continental ContiVikingContact 6, designed specifically for the Scandinavian and Russian winters, will replace this autumn Russian market, predecessor - Continental ContiVikingContact 5. They are also designed to replace the model produced since 2007 and designed for installation on SUVs and crossovers Continental Conti CrossContactViking

A few words about its predecessors, the Continental ContiVikingContact 5 model was very successful and for more than 5 years has occupied leading positions in the tests of Russian and foreign publications. But the German developers set themselves the task of surpassing it in terms of performance. Factory tests show that they have successfully coped with it. The main goal of the new development was to improve the grip of the new premium winter tires, which in turn would improve driving safety on snow-covered and ice-covered sections of the road.

This was done through the use of new technologies in Continental ContiVikingContact 6.

• The Continental ContiVikingContact 6 uses an asymmetric tread pattern concept to position the functional elements in such a way that they are most effective. For this, the technology of a separate tread was used, the main idea of ​​​​which is that under different driving modes, the main contribution to grip with the surface is played by different parts of the tread. When designing, it is assumed that:
• The layout of the outer blocks is responsible for dry performance and lateral grip.
• The layout of the central part is responsible for the performance on ice.
• The shape and arrangement of the indoor units is responsible for the performance on snow.
• Therefore, functionally, the protector is made asymmetrical and is divided into three parts. It is designed so that when cornering, the areas that take the most load on the edges of the tread, with the help of reinforced double blocks, provide improved grip. These blocks support each other and allow you to achieve increased resistance to loads in corners.
• The Continental ContiVikingContact 6 tread's mid-pattern, with a special pattern and specially positioned sipes, provides exceptionally reliable traction on icy roads. At the same time, the lamellas form a large number of adhesion edges, which, when they hit the road, do an excellent job with a layer of liquid and snow porridge. The sipes act like windscreen wiper blades and thus prevent the tire from "hydroplaning".
• Even distribution of pressure in the contact patch of Continental ContiVikingContact 6 ensures efficient removal of moisture.
• For excellent traction on snow, the Continental ContiVikingContact 6 has large inwardly curved blocks on the inside of the contact patch. These blocks are separated by narrow, longitudinal grooves, which are connected by small bridges. When driving on snow-covered roads, they act like snow chains and, thanks to the friction of snow on snow (waffle effect), provide additional traction.
• Another trick of the developers from Germany is the numerous stepped lamellas, in which there are small jumpers. These webs prevent the lamellas from sticking together under load, thanks to which they can be efficiently filled with snow and provide additional traction on snow-covered sections of the road. In this case, the tire, in addition to traction on snow, also receives additional stability when braking.
• The composition of the rubber compound was also optimized, more precisely, for the novelty, a new rubber compound was created with improved grip characteristics on dry and wet road surfaces. At the same time, rubber with a low solidification temperature was used, which retains the elasticity of the tread at low temperatures. In order to reduce the rolling resistance that inevitably increases with the use of soft compounds, the designers used a rigid carcass compound to increase structural rigidity and improve handling and rolling resistance characteristics.
• You can also add the presence of protrusions and notches on the side surface of the tire. They are designed to increase traction when the car gets into snow or mud ruts.

The new Continental ContiVikingContact 6 will go on sale this fall, with around 80 sizes planned for 13" to 20" rims to offer as many motorists in Scandinavia and Russia the opportunity to upgrade to the new, even safer premium winter tires. -class.

TEST RESULTS

Continental is unquestionably one of the leaders in the tire industry. However, the non-studded tire Continental ContiVikingContact 6 scandinavian type neither the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 nor the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 managed to win this season. However, if we consider the behavior of the ContiVikingContact 6 in the context of disciplines, it turns out that the Continental have approximately the same proportions as the Nokian. On the snow, the Continentals performed well, although they can skid at high steering angles. On ice, braking and handling are solid, and on asphalt, the tires have relatively good braking performance, although they are perceived as soft, which can interfere in an emergency.

- winter non-studded Scandinavian tires, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Goodyear refers to technology when explaining the advantages of its tires. According to them, ActiveGrip technology maintains optimal contact with extremely slippery road surfaces. Combined with cryo-adaptive materials, ActiveGrip technology provides excellent performance on ice. Active block serrations increase the transfer of lateral forces during maneuvers, providing excellent stopping distance on ice and increasing performance. Side-open grooves combined with shouldered sawtooth blocks improve snow and water evacuation and improve tire performance in deep snow.

TEST RESULTS

This year good year tires The UltraGrip Ice 2 was able to beat many of the bigger names. Continental ContiVikingContact 6 received a lower place both in the Test World table and in the final standings of the Russian magazine Za Rulem. Just a little bit more and Goodyear would have overtaken even Nokian, which took first place in each of the tests. Yes, the Hakkapeliitta R2 rides a little better on ice, but Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 tires are preferable in the complex. They show equally good behavior on ice, on packed snow, and on asphalt. Perhaps the most optimum tire among friction tires of the Scandinavian type.

- winter non-studded Scandinavian tires, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The new Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 studless winter tire is designed to withstand the most severe winter conditions. It works great both in the city and in the countryside. The manufacturer promises improved grip and steering precision not only for a couple of seasons, but also as the tire wears out. Innovation has helped achieve this.

• Nokian Cryo Crystal Concept
  Excellent grip in winter, responsive steering. The smallest particles added to the rubber compound, shaped like polyhedral crystals, bite into the road surface, working like tires and significantly improving grip on ice. The traction properties of such a tread compound are retained for a long time, even if the tread groove depth approaches the minimum limit of 4 mm. Such rubber compound operates safely over a wide temperature range while improving tire wear resistance.
• New cryosilane rubber compound with silica
  The new rubber compound is not afraid of wet or icy roads. Rapeseed oil (a type of rapeseed) optimizes the interaction between silica and natural rubber. As in a mixture of new studded Nokian tires Hakkapeliitta 8, as well as in the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 friction compound, the amount of natural rubber has been increased.
• Natural rubber works as a stabilizer over a wide range of temperatures. The tread compound of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 remains flexible in all conditions. The sipes in the tread blocks work actively, despite the level of grip and temperature changes. The rapeseed oil improves the tire's tear strength and improves grip on snow and ice.
• Frequent lamella, partially enlarged lamellae.
  The aggressive design of the projector is covered with a grid of frequent lamellas. Wider sipes in the central part of the tread increase the grip area of ​​the tire, especially when its level on wet ice is minimal, which indirectly guarantees high grip on heavy winter roads.
• In addition, special pump sipes improve traction on wet surfaces. They are built into the shoulder blocks of the tire and pump water out of the contact patch with the road, providing reliable grip.
• The teeth between the blocks increase the quality of grip on icy and snowy surfaces. Located between checkered blocks, improve grip during braking and acceleration, especially on snow and ice.
• And special sipe reinforcements improve traction on ice and snow. They are located in the shoulder areas of the tread and activate the activity of the sipes on the most slippery surfaces, due to which a wider sipe opens up a narrow one, improving the functionality of the tread.
• Claws against slush
  They resist planning on sludge. The claws are located between the checkered blocks in the shoulder areas. Designed to break snow and water porridge, biting into it with sharp edges. The claws prevent the accumulation of slush between the tread blocks, which, according to the manufacturer, increases the safety of riding in the off-season.
• New directional tread pattern with rigid central rib improves directional stability. The united central part of the tread increases safety, provides its more uniform wear during long-term operation of the tire.
• The multi-layer tread structure, designed specifically for friction tires, works in combination with rubber compounds. In terms of directional stability, this combination brings the new Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 to a level that surpasses conventional friction tires. The tire does not move off course, but stubbornly moves forward with any changes in winter weather. Sensitive handling helps the driver to notice changes in the level of grip, which makes it possible to respond in time to changes in the traffic situation.
• The tread wear indicator (DSI - Driving Safety Indicator) is located in the central part of the tread and shows residual depth tread grooves in millimeters. As the tire is used, the numbers are erased in descending order. The snowflake-shaped winter wear indicator remains until the tread groove wears down to a depth of 4 mm. Beyond this limit, tires are considered unsafe for winter use and are recommended to be replaced.
• Updated info section on the sidewall - you can make notes about the recommended tire pressure and their location, you can enter the tightening torque of the wheel bolts.
• 56 sizes from 13 to 20 inches. The speed index of the novelty, like that of the previous model, is 170 km / h.

TEST RESULTS

Last year's novelty of the season in the segment of non-studded tires, which replaced model range Nokian Hakkapeliitta R. No wonder the new flagship model Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 has shown more than good results. In the Test World ranking, this tire took first place. On ice, she feels almost more confident than some studded tires, although she does not reach the most perfect "studded" tires. And this applies not only to the braking distance, but also to acceleration, as well as lateral grip in corners, that is, handling in icy turns. However, on the pavement, the Finnish Velcro Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 does not work too confidently. Some competitors on a clean road behave objectively better. The braking distance on dry and wet pavement seemed long to the experts, especially for a tire that claims to be the best in the segment. However, due to exemplary performance in snow and ice disciplines, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 also won first place in the test of the magazine "Behind the Wheel". The pros and cons of the tire, identified by Russian experts, turned out to be the same.

- winter non-studded Scandinavian tires, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

"Secret traction properties Nokian Nordman RS tires for their excellent performance in winter conditions. A durable and stable friction tire retains braking and acceleration properties in snow and slush, on ice and wet surfaces - all this is promised on the official website of Nokian tires in Russia.

Means of achievement - toothed lamellae, forming a dense network and increasing the effectiveness of grip properties during braking. The original wedge-shaped siping improves ride stability, while the low rolling resistance reduces fuel consumption and makes the tire economical to run. The wear indicator (DSI) shows the remaining depth of the tread grooves in millimeters, allowing you to monitor safety.

TEST RESULTS

Nokian Nordman RS, a non-studded winter tire produced at the company's Russian plant, this time was included not only in the "Behind the wheel" test, but also in the Finnish testing program. The sixth line in the Test World shortlist and the fourth in "Behind the wheel". Finnish experts praised the Nokian Nordman RS for its traction on snowy roads. On such low-cost surfaces, Nokian offers safe braking and reliable handling. However, on ice, these tires do not feel so confident. Yes, and on the pavement Nokian Nordman RS can only offer silence. Everything else is weak. In the “Behind the wheel” test, they even showed the worst results during braking on wet pavement.

- winter non-studded Scandinavian tires, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Toyo Observe GSi-5 Official Materials Promise Incredible Technology! Judge for yourself.

Thanks to advances in technology, Toyo Tires is releasing a new product that takes winter driving to a new level - now the winter road is completely conquered by your car.

• The new Toyo Observe GSi-5 studless tire combines the performance of studded tires with the comfort of a quiet ride. The unique composition of the rubber compound includes micro-particles of walnut shell, which increases the coefficient of grip on snow and ice, and a moisture absorbent based on a powder obtained from bamboo charcoal, which absorbs water formed when the tire rubs against snow or ice.
• Toyo Observe GSi-5 provides optimal handling in all winter conditions: snow, ice, slush, slippery roads, and at the same time is characterized by increased wear resistance.
• Moisture absorbent based on bamboo charcoal powder
• Moisture absorbent powder based on bamboo charcoal will remove a thin layer of water from the icy surface, providing the best traction. Improved ice contact Improved handling and braking performance
• Microthorns (Walnut shell microparticles)
• Black walnut shell microparticles, which are part of the tread rubber compound, reliably cling to the road surface (like micro-studs). Walnut shell is a natural component, one of the hardest in nature! Improved grip on ice and snow
• Improved braking on ice and snow
• Multi-contour slats
• Increase the rigidity of the block and provide a stable contact patch.
• Improve braking on ice, snow and wet surfaces.
• The composition of the rubber compound
• The special compound of the rubber compound allows the tread to remain flexible even at low temperatures, which provides improved grip and braking in any, even the most severe winter conditions.
• Wide longitudinal grooves
• They help to remove snow porridge and water from the contact patch, which improves traction.
• Continuous center rib with wavy sipes Central rib provides straight-line stability and wavy sipes improve traction on ice in all directions
• Large tread blocks with serrated edges Improve traction when braking or accelerating in snow and slush
• Technology "Spider lamella"
• Improved multi-directional spider sipes Provide maximum traction when cornering Improved traction when accelerating or braking
• "Arrow-shaped lamellas" of the shoulder area
• Improve traction when driving on snowy roads

TEST RESULTS

Past snow, ice and asphalt in the tests "Behind the wheel" and "Autoreview" winter toyo tires Observe GSi-5 proved to be the most helpless on the ice. From that it is very surprising that the author of the test "Behind the wheel" - Sergey Mishin put them in fifth place. Meanwhile, the newspaper "Autoreview" recorded Japanese tires as outsiders in their rating.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Rubber compound Bridgestone tires The Blizzak LM001 includes a higher proportion of silica, which the manufacturer claims increases traction on wet and snowy roads. The tire's tread pattern includes massive lugs, and the placement and design of the sipes provides extra grip on slippery surfaces. The horn-shaped tread grooves effectively and quickly remove water and slush from the contact patch, while the rounded corners of the tread blocks improve water movement, thus enhancing contact with the road and traction.

TEST RESULTS

The Japanese “friction” Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 was tested only by the German ADAC, which released two tests of non-studded winter tires of the Central European type. The first considered tires for compact cars with a dimension of 165 / 70R14, in the second - mid-size tires for today 205 / 55R16. Regardless of the size Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 took fifth place, being in the middle. German experts noted the brilliant behavior on the snow and complaisant character on the pavement. The poor performance on the ice prevented the Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 from approaching the leaders.

- winter non-studded tires of the Central European type, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The official website of Continental, describing the friction tire ContiWinterContact TS 850, promises impeccable safety. At the same time, the text frankly says that this model is designed for a mild European winter, which may be typical for the south of Russia.

When used in the right conditions, the Continental ContiWinterContact TS 850 is designed to provide unparalleled safety thanks to a host of innovative technologies. According to the company, the tire offers better grip on European winter roads, shorter braking distances on wet pavement, longer tire life and higher fuel efficiency. In order to make the tire as safe as possible, the German engineers at Continental paid close attention to every detail, resulting in a real work of technical art.

TEST RESULTS

German friction tires of the Central European type became the best in the test of the German magazine Auto Zeitung. In addition to these, tires of the same model have passed two ADAC tests, as well as combined tests by the Automobile Club of Europe and the German Society for Technical Supervision (GTÜ). In the last instance, the Continental ContiWinterContact TS 850 also took first place, but in the ADAC report, they only took the lead in the larger size 205/55R16. In the smaller dimension 165 / 70R14, the Continental is better than five models, including the Goodyear UltraGrip 9, Michelin Alpin A4, Dunlop Winter Response 2, Fulda Kristall Montero 3 and Bridgestone Blizzak LM001. In the small size the German tires performed poorly on ice, while in the larger race the experts were delighted with the performance on any type of road surface (adjusted for the Central European type, of course).

Dunlop Winter Response 2 - winter studless tires of the Central European type, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The manufacturer claims that Dunlop SP WINTER RESPONSE is specially designed for middle class cars and combines reliability with efficiency and high comfort. The latest compound allows the tire to maintain elasticity at extremely low temperatures. The latest double sipe technology in the shoulder area is responsible for high longitudinal traction, while multiple sipes in the middle region support lateral grip. proprietary technology The Rollwidesstand tread used in the Dunlop Winter Response 2 contributes to fuel economy and reduces pollution.

The Dunlop SP WINTER RESPONSE tire uses innovative MRT multi-radius tread technology. Ten different tread radii ensure a more even and tight pressure in the contact patch. The effect is a clearer trajectory in a straight line and in turns. A special rib contributes to better handling and guarantees precise feedback from the road. Asymmetrical tread pitch significantly reduces hydroplaning. The use of a seamless cord guarantees reduced circumferential deformation at high speed.

TEST RESULTS

Dunlop Winter Response 2 are the heroes of the ADAC (R14) and Auto Zeitung tests. In the first instance, they deserved an honorary bronze, and in the second - they opened the rating of the middle peasants, standing right behind the laureates of the podium. Both expert communities found the tire to be very balanced. It works well on snow and wet surfaces, and saves some fuel. At ADAC Dunlop tire Winter Response 2 was named the most economical they tested.

- winter non-studded tires, Central European type

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Goodyear UltraGrip 9 is new for last season. Like the tires above, it is designed for use in mild winters.

According to the manufacturer, in appropriate weather, Goodyear UltraGrip 9 will provide confident and safe driving on snowy roads thanks to the proven 3D-BIS technology, a new tread pattern, as well as an improved rubber compound.

Goodyear sellers highlight the following positive features of the new model: a high level of siping and a large tire tread depth ensures confident movement and maneuvering on a snowy road; an optimized tread pattern is needed for hydroplaning resistance; new rubber compound provides improved performance on ice and snow; tire tread wear indicator.

TEST RESULTS

The Goodyear UltraGrip 9, like most of the Central European drag winter tires we reviewed, made it to ADAC and Auto Zeitung, both performing well. In ADAC, first (R14) and third (R16) places. The opinion of Auto Zeitung is also the third line. Excellent balance of all characteristics!

- winter non-studded tires of the Central European type, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The manufacturer says that Michelin tires Alpin 5 are manufactured according to the latest technologies, using an improved rubber compound, have a modern tread pattern. Manufactured using electronic quality control of finished products. All this is designed to ensure the safe behavior of the car in mild winter conditions. Is it really?

TEST RESULTS

The Union of the Automobile Club of Europe and the German Society for Technical Supervision (GTÜ) put the Michelin Alpin 5 in fifth place out of eight in its ranking list. However, all, with the exception of three tires, were rated recommended (very recommended by Continental and Goodyear, conditionally recommended by Vredestein). In the ADAC test, the 205/55R16 Michelin tire earned a leash

Test car: Ford Focus.

Currently, the number of studs in a tire is not legally limited. More precisely, there are no restrictions if the product is tested by an independent testing organization, which confirmed that the damage caused by the tire to the roadway does not exceed the permissible limit. If the test is passed successfully, then the manufacturer has the right to determine the type of spikes and their number.

Another option is to refuse to conduct the test and use the maximum allowable number of spikes, that is, 50 pieces per 1 meter of circumference; for the size used in this test, the number of spikes is just under a hundred. Only three of the twelve manufacturers whose products participated in the test chose this option.

Increasing the number of studs improves traction on ice. This is a logical conclusion, which is confirmed by the test results almost without exception. However, a lot of studs does not guarantee success in the test, it only creates additional grip on the ice.
More studs usually means more noise, and this is one of the most annoying features of a tire. When driving on asphalt, studs can impair handling, stability and braking.

Traction on ice is created by the fact that the tire pierces the surface of the ice. This requires a certain amount of pressure on the ice. More spikes create less pressure on each spike individually. In cold weather, when the ice gets harder, a tire with fewer studs creates better traction.

Studded tires.

A few years ago, Nokian Tires amazed everyone by introducing a tire with 190 studs, which was 50-100% more than what the then tire market was used to. Since then Nokian has won one ice test after another; be that as it may, its gap from competitors is gradually shrinking.

This year, Continental also introduced a tire with the maximum number of studs - 190. It's not hard to guess where the German tire manufacturers turned to for inspiration when it came to the number of studs, but the result was excellent.

Hankook ranks third in the number of studs with 170. The South Korean manufacturer has spent years on research and development, and it's nice to see the result of his work - good winter tires from Asia. 10 years ago, Korean tires only received a sympathetic smile, but now Hankook has wiped the smirk off even the biggest European competitors.

A large group of manufacturers chose to use around 130 studs. Goodyear, Bridgestone and Pirelli are well-known manufacturers and it is clear that their tires will be selected for the test. As an alternative to flagship products, smaller brands Sava and Dunlop were included in the test, as well as the old Nokian brand, which has always been a great success, Nordman.

Michelin, Gislaved and China's Lin¬glong decided to use less than 100 studs, meaning they didn't have to take a road test. The first two are premium tyres, but other features don't seem to make up for the poor grip on ice caused by the low number of studs.

Linglong has participated in Tekniikan Maailma tests before, it is one of the most successful winter models Chinese production.

Non-studded tires take on the challenge.

Non-studded tires don't need to worry about the number of studs, but the lack of studs has to be compensated for in some other way. Which creates a whole host of other problems. The set of tools for creating reliable grip on ice is very limited. In most cases it involves developing new materials to make the rubber compound as soft as possible and improving the tread pattern.

But if the rubber compound is too soft, it will lead to new problems, the most serious of which are poor grip on wet roads, unstable handling and low wear resistance.

In recent years, Nokian and Continental have taken the lead in non-studded tire tests. Even without studs, their tires have amazing grip on ice, but back side This medal is that buyers have to put up with sluggish handling on asphalt or choose tires from other manufacturers.

Goodyear's non-studded tires have focused on handling on pavement, making minimal compromises to improve performance on snow and ice. Michelin, on the other hand, always chooses balanced characteristics, without outstanding sides, but also without obvious problems. Pirelli and Bridgestone are old brands that have long been known to consumers, but the properties of their models vary from test to test.

We included two lower-priced products in this test: Nokian's junior brand, Nordman, and tires from Nankang, a Taiwanese manufacturer known for producing good summer tires. Let's see if the winter tires of this brand can compare with their European competitors.

In this year's test twelve models of different price categories, and some of them showed certain flaws in some areas. Some tires were obviously designed for harsh winters, which forced manufacturers to sacrifice handling on asphalt. Others have chosen to create a product that is equally good under all conditions, but not perfect under any. Of course, a tire that can't handle at least one test is a bad choice, especially if you can find something better for the same price.

Do winter tires wear out?

The tire environment is full of a wide variety of information about how quickly tires wear out. different types winter tires and how this affects their grip. Some say that non-studded tires wear twice as fast as studded ones. Others claim that due to the wear of the studs, after a couple of years, studded tires lose grip much faster than non-studded ones.

For the endurance test, we selected six different brands from the last four years, four studded and two non-studded. During this test, the tires had to travel 15,000 kilometers on clean asphalt in cold weather. This is roughly equivalent to two winter seasons. Much of the route was on public roads, and the test included hundreds of controlled stops, braking and accelerating at city speeds to replicate driving conditions in an urban environment.

For the test, three cars were used, which moved in a column along the same route, under the same conditions, with a constant change of drivers. Two tires of each model were taken, the front and rear wheels were rotated every day. Thus, by the end of the test, each model covered an equal distance on the front and on rear axle, and was driven by each of the three drivers. In this way, the same conditions were ensured for all tires, and differences between cars, driving conditions and the characters of the drivers did not affect the result.

In addition, the tires were tested for braking on ice at the very beginning of the test and every 5,000 kilometers. These tests were carried out on indoor ice rinks under the same conditions. An interesting result - for both studded and non-studded tires, the grip decreased evenly throughout the test, and after 15,000 kilometers it was 80% of the original. Grip decreased about the same for all brands, and according to this indicator, the tires retained their original positions relative to each other.
This is good news because it confirms that the results tire tests applicable not only to new tires, but also to worn tires.

Of course, all test participants had some differences in wear resistance. The table below shows the tread depth and estimated tire life, up to a tread depth of 3mm.

Michelin has historically had a reputation for being the most durable tyre, and that reputation seems to have lived up to this test. It should be noted that the tire life given in this test is an estimate; that is, it may differ from the real one, taking into account the difference in cars, road and driving style.

It should also be noted that all tires, with the exception of Michelin and Goodyear, both studded and non-studded, wore about the same, about 2 mm each. Only the non-studded Continental wore 1.5mm of tread like the Michelin, but given the lower initial tread depth, this model reached the minimum 3mm depth faster.

The reverse side of wear resistance is grip, or rather, its lack. And the choice in this case remains with the buyer: whether he wants to buy the best clutch more often or the worst clutch less often.

Results on snow and ice.

Behavior on asphalt, economy, comfort.

Information on the sticker

Test results.

Studded tires

	Driving on ice and snow: this Nokian model is the best ice tire currently on the market. Grip during acceleration and braking is excellent, the tires do not get out of control even in extreme conditions. Among other things, this model offers reliable grip and handling on snow. Driving on asphalt: on a clean road, it becomes noticeable that this tire is designed for winter. It lacks traction when braking and maneuvering, but by its very nature, this tire has a calm character, so it will not give you an unpleasant surprise in the form of a sudden loss of traction. Economy and comfort: this model is no more noisy than any average studded tire, although you will have to hear the sound of the studs. Rolling resistance is good for a studded tire. Behind: Grip on ice Reliable handling for winter road Against : mediocre results on asphalt Grade: ★★★★★ 8.8 points
	Driving on ice and snow: Continental has balanced driving performance. It has good grip on ice and good lateral grip makes it easy to handle. It works just as well in the snow and responds quickly to steering inputs. Driving on asphalt: the developers have not forgotten about the driving performance for warm weather. This tire has above average wet grip and good handling. On dry roads, steering is a bit slower than most winter tyres, but this model won't surprise the driver by skidding hard. Economy and comfort: noise level and rolling resistance are average for a studded tire of this class. Behind: Grip on ice and snow Reliable handling in all winter conditions Against: Average braking on ice Grade:★★★★ 8.6 points
	Driving on ice and snow: At Hankook good grip on ice, these tires give a feeling of safe driving even in the most difficult conditions and in extreme situations. On snow, the tire behaves logically, providing a smooth transfer of steering effort. Although this model has not previously held high positions in the tests, it pleases with a balanced behavior on the winter road. Driving on asphalt: good braking on wet roads, but nevertheless, the tire feels too soft, it reacts slowly to course changes. Luckily, the rear tires always retain traction, so there are no surprises with this model. Economy and comfort: tread and stud noise is average for a tire of this class. Hankook earned special praise for having the lowest rolling resistance of any studded tire tested. Behind: Grip on snow and ice rolling resistance Against: handling on asphalt Grade:★★★★ 8.6 points
	Driving on ice and snow: goodyear manufactures quality tires, although they do not always take first place in the tests. This model has good braking on ice and especially on snow, but lateral grip is not quite optimal. However, the tires always remain in control, even under extreme conditions. On the snow, this model behaves very calmly. Driving on asphalt: On pavement the Goodyear performs better than most studded winter tires. Good braking and precise handling allow you to feel confident when maneuvering. Economy and comfort : both noise level and rolling resistance on par with most studded tires. Behind: Braking and traction on snow. Balanced behaviour. Against: Braking on wet pavement. Grade:★★★★ 8.5 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: Pirelli excellent grip on ice, easy and precise transfer of steering effort. The rear tires sometimes lose traction quite easily, but then regain control of the road just as quickly and easily. The Pirelli also performs well in the snow, although here its traction is slightly worse than most studded tires. Driving on asphalt: in the wet, Pirelli is one of the best studded tires on the market. When maneuvering, it maintains reliable grip and responds quickly to steering turns. On dry roads, it also demonstrates excellent handling, but the braking distance becomes too long. Economy and comfort : The rolling resistance is average, but the noise from the studs is quite noticeable. Behind: grip on ice; Handling in winter weather. Against: Noise. Grade:★★★★ 8.5 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: short braking distance on ice, fairly good traction. This model has sufficient lateral grip, although the handling is not too confident, especially in extreme conditions. Sometimes the rear tires lose traction in the snow too easily. However, they regain control of the road fairly quickly. Driving on asphalt: on pavement, this tire proved to be one of the best. It demonstrates stable and easy handling and a clear transfer of steering effort. Economy and comfort: Rolling resistance is good, and for a studded model, this tire is very quiet. Behind: Behavior on asphalt; Noise level. Against: Uncertain behavior under certain conditions. Grade:★★★★ 8.4 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: this tire has amazing snow grip and good steering feel. It behaves calmly and provides confident handling even in extreme conditions. On ice, this tire lacks traction and has a long braking distance. When maneuvering, the grip limit is also quickly reached. Driving on asphalt: good grip when braking on wet roads. When manoeuvring, the tire feels a little soft, yet the handling remains logical and predictable thanks to the firm grip. On dry roads, the Gislaved is your typical slow winter tire, but the grip is still solid. Economy and comfort: the small number of studs makes the Gislaved a fairly quiet tire. But the rolling resistance is one of the highest in this test. Behind: Driving performance on snow; Wet grip. Against: Ice grip is pretty mediocre for a premium tire. Grade:★★★★ 8.3 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: This Michelin model behaves exceptionally calmly on the winter road. Unfortunately, the front tires don't have enough grip on ice, which makes the braking distance quite long. In addition, when maneuvering, the tire often lacks lateral grip. Snow grip is slightly better, but still not up to par best tires. Driving on asphalt: braking distance on clean asphalt is short. This model demonstrates confident maneuvering on asphalt, while its rear tires maintain grip even in the most difficult conditions. However, the steering power transmission is too slow. Economy and comfort: the rolling resistance is about the highest in the test, but thanks to the small number of studs, the noise level is quite low. Behind: Quiet handling under any conditions; Low noise level. Against: Grip on ice is worse than most premium tires. Grade:★★★ 7.9 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: when accelerating and braking on ice, grip is good, the tire behaves calmly in extreme conditions, although at times it lacks longitudinal grip. Grip on snow is mediocre, but the quiet nature of the tire does not allow the driver to lose control of the road. Driving on asphalt: grip on dry and wet roads is rather mediocre. Good braking grip. When maneuvering quickly, the tire behaves rather sluggishly, the reaction to steering turns is slow. Economy and comfort: average noise levels that do not cause any particular complaints. This tire has the highest rolling resistance of any tire tested. Behind: Good grip on ice. Against: Mediocre grip on dry and wet roads; rolling resistance. Grade:★★★ 7.8 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: traction on ice is at an acceptable level, the tire has a fairly short braking distance and good lap times. In extreme conditions, a lack of grip can suddenly show up, especially on the rear wheels. On snow, the tire behaves quite unpredictably, sometimes it is difficult to control it. Driving on asphalt: on pavement the Sava works well. The braking distance is short, the tire responds quickly to steering wheel turns. Unfortunately, in the handling test, this model sometimes behaved quite unpredictably. Economy and comfort: rolling resistance and noise are average. Stud noise is noticeable, but not higher than most other studded models. Behind: Wet braking. Against: Snow grip; snow handling. Grade:★★★ 7.8 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: Nokian's previous successful model demonstrates how much technology has advanced. The Nordman is still a roadworthy winter tire, although it can't keep up with the new releases in terms of grip. On slippery roads, the tire behaves calmly, although you should not expect too much from it. Driving on asphalt: stopping distance on pavement is longer than average. The tire feels quite soft and handling is quite sluggish, but overall it is easy to keep under control. Economy and comfort: The rolling resistance is quite low for a studded tire, but the noise level is one of the highest in the test. Behind: Good driving performance on snow and ice. Against: Noise. Grade:★★ 7.7 points.
	Driving on ice and snow A: This model didn't do well in the test. Grip on snow and ice was the weakest of all studded tires, the tire was quite difficult to manage. Weak grip resulted in slower steering power, with the rear wheels losing contact with the road quickly in extreme conditions. The behavior of this tire was full of unpleasant surprises. Driving on asphalt: on a clean road, she felt much better. Here she was able to show good directional stability, precise handling and effective braking. On a dry road, she showed the best result. Economy and comfort: noise level and rolling resistance are average. Behind: Driving performance on asphalt. Against: Grip on winter road; handling on winter roads. Grade:★ 7.2 points.

Non-studded tires

	Driving on ice and snow: the best non-studded tire on snowy and icy roads. Good grip during acceleration and deceleration, but the best thing about this tire is that it maintains control of the road even in extreme conditions when the grip limit is reached. She behaves logically and predictably under any circumstances. Driving on asphalt: the rubber is quite soft, the tire has too long a braking distance. Despite the slow handling, this Nokian model will not present any unpleasant surprises to the driver. Economy and comfort: this tire is very quiet and has the lowest rolling resistance of all the testers. Behind: behavior on snow and ice; rolling resistance. Against: grip on asphalt. Grade: ★★★ 7.7 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: good grip during acceleration and braking. However, in extreme conditions the tire lacks longitudinal grip and the front tires can suddenly lose traction, especially on snow. Driving on asphalt: on wet roads, this is the best non-studded tire. Great for non-studded winter tires braking and handling on wet roads. Dry grip is also very good, and although the steering response is slightly slower, the tire feels calm and confident even when making the most difficult maneuvers. Economy and comfort: very quiet tire, rolling resistance is one of the lowest in the test. Behind: short braking distance on snow and ice; driving performance on asphalt. Against: mediocre lateral grip on snow and ice. Grade:★★ 7.6 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: The Michelin is calm on snow and ice and has good braking grip. However, on slippery roads, the grip limit of the front tires is very limited, and the vehicle may skid if the steering wheel is turned hard. The rear wheels have excellent grip, and there are no problems with them even in the most difficult situations. Driving on asphalt: on a clean road, this model is reliable. When maneuvering, it behaves slowly but confidently and does not lose grip even in extreme conditions. The Michelin has a clear tendency to understeer even on clean pavement, with the front wheels losing traction before the rears. Economy and comfort: it is a quiet tire, rolling resistance is average for non-studded tyres. Behind: braking on snow and ice; reliable behavior in any weather. Against: mediocre wet grip. Grade:★★ 7.6 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: good grip on ice, although not the best. This tire is easy to steer, but when maneuvering very quickly, the rear wheels lose traction. Clear handling on snow, balanced, reliable behavior. Driving on asphalt: pretty good grip and short braking distance. Clear steering transmission, although it feels rather slow, especially on dry roads. This is typical of soft, non-studded tires that were designed primarily for snow and ice. Economy and comfort: quiet tire, good rolling resistance. Behind: grip on snow and ice; wet grip; Against: handling on dry roads. Grade:★★ 7.6 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: good grip on ice, short braking distances and precise handling. On snow, the traction limit is low, especially when cornering. But the tire easily and quickly regains control of the road. Driving on asphalt: quite a short stopping distance. But the tire feels rather soft and behaves rather sluggishly. Slow transmission of steering force should be taken into account when maneuvering. Economy and comfort: very quiet tire with very low rolling resistance. Behind: grip on ice and snow; rolling resistance. Against: asphalt handling. Grade:★★ 7.5 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: traction on ice is one or two steps behind the best tires in this test. This model can still be used, but the grip limit is low, and in extreme conditions it can be difficult to regain control of the road. On the snow, it behaves calmly and balanced, although it still lacks traction. Driving on asphalt: on pavement, it behaves like a typical non-studded tire. Slower steering power transmission - equally on dry and wet roads - but overall the tire behaves logically and predictably. This model will not surprise the driver with a sudden loss of contact with the road when maneuvering. Economy and comfort: quiet tire with fairly low rolling resistance. Behind: snow grip; rolling resistance. Against: grip on ice. Grade:★ 7.0 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: traction on ice is quite modest, at least compared to the best models. The front wheels lose traction quite easily. Thanks to good lateral grip, handling on snow is very good. Grip during acceleration and braking on snow is also at a high level. Driving on asphalt: on wet roads, the tire behaves sluggishly and unreliably. When maneuvering, it shows a slow transfer of steering force, and due to poor grip and indistinct handling, it is difficult to control. On dry pavement behaves acceptable. Economy and comfort: like most non-studded premium tires, this model has a fairly low noise level. But it has the highest rolling resistance in the test. Behind: grip on snow and dry pavement. Against: grip on ice and on wet roads; rolling resistance. Grade:★ 6.9 points.
	Driving on ice and snow: Nankang did very poorly on the test. Her biggest problem was the lack of grip on ice during acceleration and braking. Good lateral grip improved her position a little, but, nevertheless, the overall impression was extremely unfavorable. On snow, this tire skids too easily. Driving on asphalt: on wet roads, it behaves extremely unreliably. She has a slower transfer of steering force when maneuvering, and the rear tires are very easy to lose contact with the road. The braking distance on both dry and wet roads is very long. The tire lacks traction even on dry roads, making it very difficult to keep control when maneuvering. Economy and comfort: rolling resistance is perhaps the highest among non-studded tires. The noise level is noticeable, but not unnecessarily disturbing. Behind: good lateral grip on ice. Against: handling on ice and snow; asphalt handling. Grade: 6.7 points.

How the test was done.

Braking test: was carried out on ice, snow, dry and wet asphalt. The tests were carried out at various temperatures. In this case, the ABS system was used. On ice, the speed at the time of the start of braking was 50 km/h, on snow and asphalt - 80 km/h. Snow and ice braking tests are usually carried out on an open track, under the same conditions (particularly at the same temperature).

Overclocking test: was carried out to measure the traction of tires on snow, ice and wet pavement. In this test, acceleration was measured on ice (5-20 km/h), on snow and asphalt (5-35 km/h). As with other stages of the test, it was carried out at different temperatures, its results may differ from the results of other tests. This test was conducted both outdoors and on indoor tracks.

Handling test: in this part of the test, the speed of the track was taken into account. The result could vary depending on which driver was driving. The tests were carried out on ice, on snow and on wet roads. Dry lap times are usually not measured in tire testing.

Subjective assessment of controllability: in this part of the test, the handling of the tires on ice, snow, dry and wet roads was evaluated according to the impressions of the drivers and complemented the main stage of the handling test. The final score is the arithmetic average of the scores of all drivers. The main criterion for high marks was safe and predictable handling.

Noise level : evaluated subjectively from inside the machine. During this part of the test, the driver listened to the noise while the car was coasting from 100 to 40 km/h. No measuring instruments were used in this part of the test.