Owners of crossovers, especially all-wheel drive, often refer to the seasonal change of staff summer tires for winter without enthusiasm. 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 that residual depth tread was not less than 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, studless Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV yielded not only to 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 it was possible to support the cross-country ability estimates with instrumental measurements - the acceleration time in deep snow with disabled traction control. It is curious that Russian tires topped and closed the rating: the best are Cordiant, and the most helpless in the virgin lands are 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 previous generation regularly won in our tests, then the new one, and even with two types of spikes, 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

Dimension	215/65 R16
(55 sizes available from 215/65 R16 to 315/40 R21)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
	9,8
	49
Number of spikes	172
	1,05/1,54
Manufacturer country	Finland

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. And in other types of winter tests, the tires are on top. 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!

Dimension	215/65 R16
(2 sizes available 205/55 R16 and 215/65 R16)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	11,2
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Number of spikes	170
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,52/1,47
Manufacturer country	South Korea

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 tires Winter i*Pike RS+ is one and a half times cheaper than the Finnish novelty.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(91 sizes available from 175/70 R14 to 275/40 R22)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,4
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	54
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,03/1,25
Manufacturer country	Russia

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 major cities. If you do not make high demands on acoustic comfort.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(75 sizes available from 155/70 R13 to 275/40 R20)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,6
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	54
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,37/1,41
Manufacturer country	Russia

Tires are produced for 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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(37 sizes available from 155/70 R13 to 225/55 R18)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
Tread depth, mm	9,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	54
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,63/1,62
Manufacturer country	Russia

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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(42 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 275/50 R22)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	12,2
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	57
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,08/1,16
Manufacturer country	Finland

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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 sizes available from 175/65 R15 to 245/45 R19)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,2
Tread depth, mm	10,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,26/1,39
Manufacturer country	Germany

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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(58 sizes available from 175/65 R14 to 265/40 R20)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,3
Tread depth, mm	9,3
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Number of spikes	104
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,05/1,09
Manufacturer country	Russia

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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(23 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 245/45 R17)
Speed ​​index	Q (160 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	51
Number of spikes	100
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,87/1,06
Manufacturer country	Russia

BFGoodrich tires are the "second line" of Michelin, they are produced at the same plant in Davydovo near Moscow as tires Michelin X Ice North 3. But the protector 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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(35 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 265/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,9
Tread depth, mm	9,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Number of spikes	130
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,85/0,94
Manufacturer country	Russia

Formula is the "second line" of 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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(122 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 285/45 R22)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	12,2
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	55
Number of spikes	125
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	1,18/1,37
Manufacturer country	Japan

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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(19 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 265/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	11,5
Tread depth, mm	9,3
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	59
Number of spikes	120
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,93/1,03
Manufacturer country	Russia

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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(96 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 275/50 R22)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	12,1
Tread depth, mm	9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	53
Number of spikes	128
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,57/0,73
Manufacturer country	Russia

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 is counting on 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: sales of the new Yokohama IG65 model with an increased number of “curly” spikes begin this season. More details about new tires - in one of the next issues of Autoreview.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 235/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,7
Tread depth, mm	9,4
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	61
Number of spikes	128
Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm	0,79/1,0
Manufacturer country	South Korea

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

Dimension	215/65 R16
(61 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 295/40 R21)
Speed ​​index	R (170 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,4
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	53
Manufacturer country	Russia

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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(97 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 275/45 R20)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
Tread depth, mm	8
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	52
Manufacturer country	Germany

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.

We are now taking into account latest version these tires are 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!

Dimension	215/65 R16
(57 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 255/45 R19)
Speed ​​index	S (180 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,7
Tread depth, mm	8,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	46
Manufacturer country	Japan

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

Speed ​​index T (190 km/h) Load index 98 (750 kg) Weight, kg 8,9 Tread depth, mm 8,4 Shore hardness of tread rubber, units 56 Manufacturer country Germany

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. After all, in the range winter tires Goodyear has a model specifically for crossovers and SUVs - Ultra Grip 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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(16 sizes available from 215/65 R16 to 255/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	R (170 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,2
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	56
Manufacturer country	Russia

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!

Weight, kg 11,4 Tread depth, mm 8,7 Shore hardness of tread rubber, units 50 Manufacturer country Russia

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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 sizes available from 155/65 R14 to 255/50 R19)
Speed ​​index	T (190 km/h)
Load index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	10,6
Tread depth, mm	9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	51
Manufacturer country	Slovakia

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.

54 Manufacturer country China

The Marshal brand belongs to the Korean 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.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(37 sizes available from 175/65 R14 to 245/60 R18)
Speed ​​index	Q (160 km/h)
Load index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	12,4
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, units	49
Manufacturer country	Japan

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...

Nokian Nordman RS2 car tires are designed for harsh winter conditions. They belong to friction models, which are popularly called "Velcro". Their features will be discussed in the article.

What is the difference between friction tires Nordman RS2

Nordman RS2 tires are based on the well-known premium model Nokian Hakkapeliitta RS. The manufacturer claims that these tires combine impeccable flotation and handling with a high level of comfort.

Nordman 2 tires are distinguished by the following features:

• The tread does not have spikes, but is equipped with numerous friction sipes. This provides a sufficient level of grip on slippery surfaces.
• The composition of the rubber is particularly soft, which has a positive effect on grip at low temperatures.
• In the tread blocks are located brake boosters that shorten the stopping distance.
• The thoughtful design absorbs noise as much as possible and provides comfort during movement.

Decoding of technical characteristics

Each tire from the Finnish manufacturer Nokian has a marking on the side. Knowing its designations, you can get complete information about the size, permissible load and other product parameters.

Let's consider tire marking with an example.

If there is such a designation on the tire: Nokian Nordman RS2 185/65 R14 90RM + S, you can decipher it as follows:

Tire specifications

Nokian wear indicators

Nordman RS 2 winter tires, like all Nokian products, have special wear indicators. Thanks to them, the driver has the opportunity to obtain information about the suitability of tires for use.

The indicators are located on the central part of the tread. They are made in the form of numbers and snowflakes carved into the thickness of the rubber. During operation, these symbols are gradually erased, indicating the residual tread depth.

Abrasion up to number 4 indicates that the tires can no longer be used. The disappearance of a snowflake means that the rubber is unsuitable for moving in ice.

Features of the Nordman RS2 tread pattern

The special structure of the tread allows Nokian Nordman rs2 winter tires to easily overcome snow-covered expanses and icy sections of the road. They have the following design elements:

• Directional symmetrical pattern. It is this form that is most effective in winter conditions which has been confirmed by many tests.
• Rigid and wide central rib. Responsible for directional stability and flotation in the snow.
• Numerous figured lamellae. A network of small slots covers the entire working surface of the tire, clinging to the surface of any complexity and preventing skidding.
• Brake boosters. They are located on the tread blocks and speed up the process of stopping the vehicle.
• Large side cutouts. Deep recesses, which are called "snow grips", can easily cope with large volumes of snow masses.

In production winter tires Nokian Nordman RS2 SUV, which are designed for SUVs, uses a reinforced frame with a double layer of textile cord.

Tread pattern

Water removal from the wheel

The Nordman RS2 drainage system is an extensive network of transverse and longitudinal grooves. Large drainage systems eliminate the bulk of water and snow slurry, and special sipes-pumps additionally dry the tread surface.

These slats are teardrop-shaped in cross section and absorb water like miniature pumps. Thanks to this well-thought-out tire system, Nordman RS2 tires perfectly obey the steering wheel and perform complex maneuvers on wet roads.

Rubber composition for the production of Nokian Nordman RS2

The rubber compound from which the Nordman RS2 is made is particularly soft. It is adapted for severe frosts (up to -45°C) and perfectly interacts with loose and rolled snow, ice and slush.

Rubber contains:

• natural rubber, which provides elasticity;
• modern polymers that give strength;
• natural rapeseed oil;
• silica (silicon dioxide);
• cryosilane;
• various additives and additives that stabilize the composition.

Features of Nokian tire production is that the rubber does not contain hazardous components that adversely affect the environment. The product of the Finnish manufacturer can be called truly eco-friendly.

The main advantages and disadvantages of the model

pros	Minuses
1. Retains properties in any frost.	1. Differs in high cost (from 45 dollars).
2. Provides good road grip.	2. Less controllable on ice than studded tires.
3. Confidently overcomes high snow cover.	3. Too soft at temperatures above 0°C.
4. Much quieter than studded tires.	4. Due to the softness, damage by sharp objects is possible.
5. Differs in good controllability in winter conditions.
6. Drainage system effectively removes moisture from the contact patch.

* The price is valid as of 11/10/2018

Price review for Nordman RS2 tires

*Prices are valid as of 11/10/2018.

As can be seen from the table, prices in Russian stores are cheaper than in Ukraine. This is due to the fact that one of the largest Nokian factories is located in Russia, in the city of Vsevolozhsk.

In order to choose a high-quality and original product, you should pay attention to some points:

• When ordering from an online store, you need to take into account the cost of delivery.
• Too low cost (30% or more cheaper than the average, most likely indicates a low-quality product).
• You need to buy only tires corresponding to the brand of your car size.
• When placing an order, you need to ask about the availability of a tire quality certificate and the terms of the guarantee.

How to make sure that Nokian products are original?

fakes car tires is a rather rare occurrence. This is due to the complexity and high cost of production. But it is still possible to meet non-original Nokian products.

To distinguish a fake is quite simple, you just have to look closely at the tires. A real Nordman tire will have a clear tread pattern, without sags and bumps.

On the factory tires must be present:

• manufacturer and model name;
• tire size;
• original wear indicators;
• information sections on the sidewall in the form of circles.

Winter tires Nordman RS2

Service life Nordman RS2

Thanks to a high-quality rubber compound and a well-thought-out tread pattern, the service life of Nordman RS2 tires can significantly exceed the 5-6 years specified by the manufacturer.

To extend the life of car tires, the driver should follow the rules of operation:

• make seasonal tire changes on time;
• maintain a calm driving style without sharp accelerations and braking;
• store tires in the summer in a dark, cool and ventilated area;
• If possible, avoid driving on poor-quality road surfaces.

Reviews from owners of Nordman RS2 tires

Positive	Negative
I've been riding this tire since October last year. After studded, it seems not at all noisy. It is very comfortable to move in the snow, clings well to the road and brakes sharply. On ice a little worse, but normal. Overall, I'm happy with the tires.	Very soft rubber, melts right at positive temperatures. More suitable for regions with a cold climate. We have too little snow for her in the Dnieper
Quality tires at a good price. There are no complaints about the work, it fully justifies the hopes and even more. Next time I will take exactly the same tires.	When it's icy, you have to be careful. I noticed that with long smooth turns, the car was slowly demolished. You have to follow the road and taxi when necessary.
Well balanced. Soft, quiet rubber. After two years of operation, the tread wear is less than half.	Noisy on dry pavement, but fine on snow.
I would like to note the comfort while driving. The car is coming quiet and smooth, like on pillows. But it picks up speed normally, which is surprising.	In fact, these tires are not Finnish at all, but real Russian ones. And the quality is right. After two years, the tread was almost worn out.
Very economical tires. Compared to the spike, gasoline consumption has decreased markedly.	Ford Focus car. Put tires Nordman RS last season. I can not say that they are super, rather an average option. On the ice, they behave insecurely, they are noisy. They paddle normally in the snow. I put 3 on a five-point system.

Owner reviews about Nokian Nordman rs2 winter tires are taken from the following websites: сhotline.ua, www.drom.ru, www.nakolesah.ru, http://shina.com.ua/.

Rating Nokian Nordman RS2

Considering the opinions of drivers and experts, Nordman RS2 tires receive the following ratings on a 5-point scale.

Which is better: Nordman studded tires or RS2 Velcro?

Compared to studded tyres, friction velcro has the following advantages:

• less noise;
• pavement safety;
• less weight of rubber, and, accordingly, fuel consumption.

On the other hand, Velcro is much worse controlled on smooth ice and have a slightly longer stopping distance.

Choose between these two types winter tires It is necessary from taking into account the weather and road conditions of a particular region.

• To move around the city, where the snow is constantly cleared and the ice is practically absent, friction tires like Nordman RS2 are perfect.
• For remote regions or areas with severe weather conditions (high rainfall, harsh winters), it is better to use studded tires.

Review of winter tires Nordman RS2 (Video)

The best Scandinavian winter tires 2018/2019 according to test results

Behind the wheel 2018: Winter tire test in size 205/55 R16

In parallel with the testing of winter studded tires 195/65 R16, in 2018 the team of experts from Za Rulem magazine tested ten Scandinavian-type friction models in size 205/55 R16. The second test brought a lot of surprises, on the basis of which the testers made an interesting conclusion: "new times in the tire world are already coming."

Motor 2018: Big winter tire test (205/55 R16)

Motor, a specialized publication of the Norwegian automobile federation NAF, published on its pages the results of a test of winter studded and friction tires in size 205/55 R16, which were carried out by professional tire testers at the Test World test site in Ivalo (Finland).

"This top scores on ice that we ever got", said Jukka Antila, one of the testers. With years of tire testing experience under his belt, he obviously knows what he's talking about. It makes little sense to cast doubt on his words, because she took part in the 2018 winter tire tests Model X-Ice The North 4 is a hot new item from Michelin, which in size 205/55 R16 has 250 anti-skid studs. So it made its debut in independent comparative tests.

Autoreview 2018: Big test of winter tires in size 205/55 R16

On the tracks of the Swedish test site Arctic Falls, in mid-March and April 2018, an expert group of the Russian edition of Autoreview conducted comparative tests of 22 sets of winter tires in size 205/55 R16, of which 13 were studded.

Best winter tires 2017/2018 according to test results

For the vast majority of car owners, when choosing a new set of tires, one of the determining factors is the results of the models they like. in comparative tests. This encourages various independent trade publications and testing organizations to conduct their tire tests on a regular basis, compile ratings and determine models whose performance properties provide maximum safety.

The winter season 2018/2019, at least for tire manufacturers, started slowly but surely, and even for industry professionals, information about the best specialized winter tires on the market will not be superfluous. And they can be considered the best, based on their achievements in the tests.

Behind the wheel 2017: Winter tire test in size 205/55 R16

Tires in size 205/55 R16 fit almost all golf cars. For this segment Vehicle The experts of the magazine "Behind the Rulem" undertook to determine the best winter tires with a non-studded tread, which, as you know, do not annoy drivers with the rumble of thorns on bare asphalt.

The autospot.by portal team takes part in comparative tire tests, where we test and test tires for their safety: we are looking for answers about how short braking distances they provide on asphalt, snow and ice (the latter applies to winter tires), how well they hold the road in turns and turns, how they resist hydroplaning, etc. In a word, during the tests we get objective - obtained and measured with the help of instruments - data in meters, centimeters, kilometers per hour and even in seconds. Based on this data, we can get an accurate and complete picture of how safe and effective a particular tire is and how it differs from other tires that have passed the same tests and tests.

According to the results of comparative tests, Nokian tires are among the best. As our readers know, Nokian is an original Finnish tire manufacturer. However, since 2005, Nokian tires have been produced at their own factory in Vsevolozhsk (Leningrad region, Russia). Moreover, 80% of all tires of the Finnish brand are produced here, and only 20% of tires are born at an enterprise located in the Finnish town of Nokia. Therefore, for tests, we mainly come across Russian-made Nokian tires.

Comparative tire tests are, after all, one thing, and tire performance in real use is another. We think so. Therefore, last fall, just before the start of the winter season, the editors of autospot.by took two sets of winter tires for life tests and handed them over to their colleagues and friends for testing. We chose Nokian Nordman RS2 SUV and Nokian WR D4 tires in the popular size 16. The tires were shod accordingly Hyundai Tucson(front-wheel drive) and Peugeot 308SW. Immediately, we note that the owners of these machines did not pay special attention brand of winter tires and usually consciously bought what was cheaper. This was our calculation: to provide friends-motorists with solid and efficient tires to find out what and how will change in their winter driving experience and feelings.

The market value of both tires does not go off scale. Nordman is Nokian's budget range of winter and summer tires. The Nokian Nordman RS2 SUV 215/65 R16 participating in the resource test will cost 170 rubles per wheel. For comparison, the domestic winter "Belshina" of the same size costs from 115 rubles per wheel.

Nokian WR D4 is a complete premium winter tire. The cost of such a tire in the amount of 205/55 R16 is 203 rubles - in principle, this is a normal price, quite at the level of premium competitors of European brands.

Both sets of tires were put on in early November and removed in mid-April.

resource tests. Nordman RS2 SUV

Nokian tires Nordman RS2 SUV are Scandinavian type winter tires. They're "slugs". They are "hard winter tires". By the way, before the Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV winter tire appeared in the model range, the same tread pattern as on the Nordman RS2 SUV was used on Hakkapeliitta R SUV tires. In a word, the Nordman RS2 SUV has at least a tread from a Scandinavian-type premium winter tire. It means that budget tire inherited "sipe pumps" that improve grip on winter roads. Also, the Nordman tread has brake boosters in the tread blocks, which improve grip when braking, especially on snow.

In recent years, Belarusian winters have become warmer and wetter. But if snow falls, it falls in abundance and lies for weeks. It can be rightly noted that in Belarus a mild rainy European winter 2-3 times a season is replaced by a snowy and rather severe Scandinavian one.

The owner of a Hyundai Tucson considers snow flotation and the ability to hold an icy road to be the priority qualities of winter tires. He says that he does not like to “wave a shovel” in the yard and prefers to literally go ahead. But more on that later.

In the first weeks after the start of operation, the Hyundai Tucson driver noted a smooth ride and even reduced tire noise. That is, Nordman RS2 SUV tires turned out to be quieter and softer than summer tires. At the same time, as the driver notes, a high directional stability and quick steering response. According to him, before he considered winter tires a compromise that must be endured for the whole winter season and benefit when the snow falls, covers the roads and especially the yards, which are usually difficult to clear.

Also, the experience of the owner of the Hyundai Tucson suggests that when driving on winter tires on highways, you need to especially carefully keep the distance to the car in front. There were cases when it was necessary not urgently, but quite sharply to slow down, and then winter tires on wet cold asphalt or dry clean asphalt at significant negative temperatures began to slide quite early. ABS worked and stopped blocking the front wheels to skid just a third of the pedal travel. Shoeing his crossover in Nordman RS2 SUV tires, the Hyundai Tucson driver noted that braking became more efficient and more confident. He even deliberately braked urgently on a free road and noted that “the brakes have become better”, and the ABS “began to work like a summer”. That is, in the last phase of the brake pedal travel. In short, the characteristics of the crossover have clearly changed for the better and safer with the installation of Nordman RS2 SUV tires.

In mid-December 2016, several times Minsk was covered with freezing rain, which glazed not only cars, but also roads, albeit literally for a couple of morning hours. The driver of the Hyundai Tucson that day did not even immediately decide to go by car to work. The cars skidded and moved very reluctantly. He decided not to big test by checking the grip of your tires on the road. He is still under the impression that his crossover was driving on an icy road like on asphalt and without hesitation climbed the street where the shuttle bus was helplessly slipping. All in all, the Nordman RS2 SUV deserved another kudos for helping out a motorist in difficult weather.

In early January 2017, snow finally fell in Minsk. Moreover, immediately in the "Scandinavian" quantity. The owner of the crossover, shod in the Nordman RS2 SUV, noted the excellent cross-country ability both in fresh and packed snow. When, after a couple of days, the snow in the yards solidified thoroughly, forming ruts and potholes, the crossover retained the ability to drive confidently and climb snow bumps. At the same time, the car got out of the rut well and almost did not slip.

In five and a half months of operation in the winter season 2016/2017, Nordman RS2 SUV tires covered 7340 km. Mostly in Minsk and on cleaned roads. The remaining tread depth indicators still show a figure eight.

Visually, the wear of the Nokian Nordman RS2 tread after the first season and 7300 km is visible only on the tires of the front axle: on a rather soft “Scandinavian” rubber compound, the “blunting” of the edges of numerous sipes is noticeable.

And here are the tires rear axle they look like new: there is even a “craquelure” in the shoulder area, indicating sufficient running in of the new Nokian Nordman RS2 winter tires.

resource tests. Nokian WR D4

These tires complete the WR family, which also includes the WR D3, WR A3 and WR A4 tires. Curiously, WR D4s are available in seat sizes from 14 to 20 inches. That is, the choice of sizes for this model is wider than the WR D3 (these are offered in 13-inch sizes) and the WR A3 and WR A4 (these are also available in 21-inch sizes). WR D4 tires are designed for mild winters. However, as we know, the WR D4 outperforms its WR counterparts in tire comparison tests. Moreover, Nokian WR D4 became the world's first winter tire for cars that have reached the "A" wet grip level (according to the European Union classification). That is, they are very effective both on ice and snow, and on wet pavement.

The Nokian WR D4 tire tread looks technologically advanced.

Nokian WR D4 look very impressive. “Some kind of high-tech,” this was the first impression of the owner of the Peugeot 308SW, “I have never seen anything like it before. And some Chinese or Koreans are unlikely to be able to copy something like that.

Impressions became more after changing the shoes of the car in these tires. The ride became smoother and a little more elastic. Such bipolar impressions were formed due to the fact that the WR D4 tires are light, and their carcass is very elastic, if not rigid. That is, the chassis of the car lost a couple of kilograms of unsprung masses, and at the same time, the “rubber ball effect” that was given to the course by inexpensive summer tires.

In addition, the reactions to the steering wheel have improved and become sharper. The driver of the Peugeot 308SW noted that at roundabouts on high speeds the reverse force on the steering wheel has become clearer and more transparent.

Being a cool "European winter" tires Nokian WR D4 very tenaciously cling to dry, wet and even dirty asphalt. The driver of the Peugeot 308SW even tried to scorch in turns and barely achieved demolition, loss of traction or blinking of the ESP operation indicator. “On the other hand, he almost fell out of the seat due to the body roll of the car, and it became scary for the suspension: it is clearly weaker than these tires,” said the driver of the Peugeot 308SW.

And he also remembers the freezing rain in Minsk, which caused inconvenience to many in the early morning while driving to work. There were no problems. The car drove as usual, confidently and clearly. “Even though a lot of people had traction issues that morning,” recalls a Nokian WR D4 tire owner.

A couple of weeks of the "Scandinavian winter", when the temperature dropped below -25°C for several days, also went unnoticed. Our pilot even felt the WR D4 tread on purpose in severe frost and it seemed to him soft, as at zero temperature. "Eurozima" from Nokian did not sag and provided excellent cross-country ability both on frozen snow and on asphalt.

Judging by the wear indicator, over 9100 km the tread of the Nokian WR D4 tires has decreased by 1 mm.

During five and a half months of operation in the winter season 2016/2017, Nordman RS2 SUV tires covered 9124 km along the streets of Minsk and on long trips around Belarus. The tread looks fresh, but the “eight” is no longer visible on the wear indicator. That is, the tread has definitely become smaller by a millimeter.

19.10.2015 Studded tires:

1. Continental Ice Contact 2
2. Cordiant snow cross
3. Dunlop Ice Touch
4. Gislaved Nord*Frost 100
5. Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus
6. Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3
7. Pirelli Ice Zero
8. Toyo Observe G3 Ice

Friction tires:

1. Continental ContiVikingContact 6
2. Cordiant Winter Drive
3. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
4. Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker
5. Nokian Nordman RS
6. Toyo Observe GSi-5

Among the novelties in the test were winter tires with an increased number of studs Continental IceContact 2 (190 studs), Hankook i*Pike RS (170) and a new version of the Goodear UltraGrip IceArctic with a reduced number of studs (100 studs). Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, Nokian Nordman 5, Pirelli Ice Zero, Cordiant Snow Cross, Dunlop Ice Touch and Maxxis Arctictrekker NP3 also have a large number of studs. We remind you that in European countries from July 1, 2013 there is a limit on the number of studs - 50 per 1 linear meter of tire tread. From January 1, 2016, a similar restriction will appear in Russia, but with a limit of 60 spikes per 1 linear meter. It is easy to calculate that for tires with a size of 205/55 R16, the limit will be about 100 studs. What then to do with tires, the number of spikes in which more? Don't panic, it's all legal! To do this, companies that want to install too many studs on their tires need to prove that this will not increase road wear. To achieve this, manufacturers install lightweight spikes, use a special studding system, etc.

Tests

Driving by car winter road requires more concentration, experience and knowledge from the driver, as it includes all types of weather conditions: sun, rain, snow and ice. Thanks to modern technologies at the winter training ground, it was possible to create the weather conditions necessary for the test. A special heating system melted the ice in front of the boxes and the entrance to the frozen lake, and a special “vacuum cleaner” raked, swept and blew the snow off the track. The weather also helped - on the eve of the patency test, it began to snow.

To measure the performance when driving on wet roads, it was decided to return to Sweden in April, but already at another training ground - in the city of Gislaved. There, not far from the buildings of the former tire factory of the same name, there is a testing ground with several tracks, one of which is equipped with an irrigation system necessary for this test.

results

The test winners on the ice track were the Nokian studded and friction tires and the novelty of the season Continental IceContact 2. In general, the studded tires won this test. On the ice circle, the situation is somewhat different - this is due to other characteristics of the ice surface. The best were Continental IceContact 2, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic.

On the snowy track, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, Cordiant Snow Cross and Pirelli Ice Zero took the lead. They have a shorter braking distance and a shorter distance for acceleration on loose and packed snow. The best in the winding test are Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 and Cordiant Snow Cross.

On wet roads, the studded tires Gislaved Nord*Frost 100, Nokian Nordman 5 and Pirelli Ice Zero turned out to be the most effective, and on dry, the friction tires Continental ContiVikingContact 6 and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2. The quietest tires among the participants were Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, Continental ContiVikingContact 6 and Cordiant Winter Drive.

The results of each test were summarized in a table. Studded tires were marked in yellow, while friction tires were marked in green.

Braking distance on ice (using ABS) from a speed of 20 km/h in meters at an air temperature of -5 °C			Distance required to accelerate on ice up to a speed of 20 km/h (traction control on) in meters at an air temperature of -5 °C
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	5.9		Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	8.7
	6.1		Pirelli Ice Zero	9.5
Continental Ice Contact 2	6.2		Continental Ice Contact 2	9.6
Pirelli Ice Zero	6.2		Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	9.8
	6.3		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	9.8
Cordiant Snow Cross	6.7		Cordiant Snow Cross	9.9
Dunlop Ice Touch	6.7		Dunlop Ice Touch	10.6
Nokian Nordman 5	7.1		Nokian Nordman 5	10.6
Toyo Observe G3-Ice	7.2		Toyo Observe G3-Ice	11.2
Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	7.3		Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	11.6
Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	7.5		Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	11.6
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	8.6		Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	13.4
Nokian Nordman RS	8.7		Nokian Nordman RS	13.8
Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	8.9		Toyo Observe GSi-5	14.1
Cordiant Winter Drive	8.9		Cordiant Winter Drive	14.1
	9.0		Continental ContiVikingContact 6	14.1
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	9.0		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	14.1
Toyo Observe GSi-5	9.6		Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	14.2

Time to complete a circle with a diameter of 40 meters on ice in seconds at an air temperature of -1°С			Time of passage of a winding track 620 meters long on ice in seconds at an air temperature of -2 °С
Continental Ice Contact 2	15.0		Continental Ice Contact 2	47.9
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	15.1		Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	48.0
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	15.3		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	48.3
Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	15.3		Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	48.3
Pirelli Ice Zero	15.4		Nokian Nordman 5	48.5
Nokian Nordman 5	15.4		Nokian Nordman RS	49.0
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	15.5		Continental ContiVikingContact 6	49.3
Dunlop Ice Touch	15.6		Dunlop Ice Touch	49.4
Continental ContiVikingContact 6	15.9		Pirelli Ice Zero	49.4
Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	16.0		Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	49.5
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	16.1		Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	49.8
Nokian Nordman RS	16.1		Cordiant Snow Cross	49.8
Cordiant Snow Cross	16.2		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	50.3
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	16.2		Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	50.6
Toyo Observe G3-Ice	16.3		Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	51.2
Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	16.9		Toyo Observe G3-Ice	51.9
Cordiant Winter Drive	17.2		Cordiant Winter Drive	52.0
Toyo Observe GSi-5	18.8		Toyo Observe GSi-5	53.7

Subjective assessment of the convenience of driving cars on ice in points on a ten-point scale			Braking distance (using ABS) from a speed of 40 km / h in meters at a temperature of -5 °С
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	10		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	19.3
Nokian Nordman 5	10		Cordiant Snow Cross	19.4
Continental Ice Contact 2	9		Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	19.5
Continental ContiVikingContact 6	9		Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	19.6
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	9		Dunlop Ice Touch	19.7
Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	9		Continental Ice Contact 2	19.8
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	9		Pirelli Ice Zero	19.9
Nokian Nordman RS	9		Cordiant Winter Drive	19.9
Pirelli Ice Zero	9		Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	19.9
Cordiant Snow Cross	8		Nokian Nordman 5	20.0
Cordiant Winter Drive	8		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	20.0
Dunlop Ice Touch	8		Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	20.1
Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	8		Continental ContiVikingContact 6	20.1
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	8		Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	20.2
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	8		Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	20.3
Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	8		Toyo Observe G3-Ice	20.3
Toyo Observe G3-Ice	7		Toyo Observe GSi-5	20.3
Toyo Observe GSi-5	7		Nokian Nordman RS	20.4

The distance required to accelerate to a speed of 20 km / h on packed snow (traction control on) in meters at a temperature of -7°С			Distance required for acceleration from 5 to 15 km/h on loose snow 15 cm deep (traction control on) in meters at an air temperature of -5 °С
Cordiant Snow Cross	8.3		Pirelli Ice Zero	9.0
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	8.5		Continental ContiVikingContact 6	9.4
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	8.6		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	9.4
Continental Ice Contact 2	8.6		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	9.4
Dunlop Ice Touch	8.6		Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	9.4
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	8.6		Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	9.4
Pirelli Ice Zero	8.6		Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	9.4
Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	8.7		Nokian Nordman 5	9.4
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	8.8		Toyo Observe GSi-5	9.5
Nokian Nordman RS	8.8		Toyo Observe G3-Ice	9.6
Nokian Nordman 5	8.8		Continental Ice Contact 2	9.7
Toyo Observe G3-Ice	8.8		Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	9.7
Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	9.0		Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	9.8
Continental ContiVikingContact 6	9.1		Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	9.9
Cordiant Winter Drive	9.1		Cordiant Winter Drive	9.9
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	9.1		Nokian Nordman RS	9.9
Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	9.2		Cordiant Snow Cross	10.6
Toyo Observe GSi-5	9.2		Dunlop Ice Touch	10.6

Time of passage of a winding track 1500 meters long on snow in seconds at an air temperature of -6°С			Subjective assessment of the convenience of driving on snow in points
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	45.5		Continental Ice Contact 2	10
Cordiant Snow Cross	45.8		Cordiant Snow Cross	10
Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	46.2		Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	10
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	46.4		Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	10
Cordiant Winter Drive	46.8		Cordiant Winter Drive	9
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	46.8		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	9
Continental Ice Contact 2	47.0		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	9
Continental ContiVikingContact 6	47.0		Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	9
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	47.0		Nokian Nordman 5	9
Nokian Nordman RS	47.0		Nokian Nordman RS	9
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	47.8		Pirelli Ice Zero	9
Dunlop Ice Touch	48.2		Continental ContiVikingContact 6	8
Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	48.6		Dunlop Ice Touch	8
Pirelli Ice Zero	48.9		Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	8
Nokian Nordman 5	49.5		Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	8
Toyo Observe GSi-5	50.0		Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	7
Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	51.7		Toyo Observe G3-Ice	7
Toyo Observe G3-Ice	54.0		Toyo Observe GSi-5	6

Subjective assessments of ride smoothness in points			Braking distance on wet pavement from a speed of 80 km/h (using ABS) in meters at an air temperature of +4 °С
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	10		Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	39.0
Continental Ice Contact 2	9		Nokian Nordman 5	40.1
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	9		Pirelli Ice Zero	40.3
Nokian Nordman RS	9		Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	40.6
Continental ContiVikingContact 6	8		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	40.8
Cordiant Snow Cross	8		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	40.8
Dunlop Ice Touch	8		Continental Ice Contact 2	41.0
Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	8		Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	41.5
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	8		Dunlop Ice Touch	42.4
Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	8		Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	42.8
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	8		Continental ContiVikingContact 6	43.1
Nokian Nordman 5	8		Toyo Observe G3-Ice	45.3
Pirelli Ice Zero	8		Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	45.9
Toyo Observe GSi-5	8		Nokian Nordman RS	46.1
Toyo Observe G3-Ice	8		Cordiant Snow Cross	46.9
Cordiant Winter Drive	7		Cordiant Winter Drive	47.3
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	7		Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	52.0
Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	7		Toyo Observe GSi-5	52.1

Braking distance on dry pavement from a speed of 100 km/h (using ABS) in meters at an air temperature of +8 °С			Subjective assessments of acoustic comfort in points
Continental ContiVikingContact 6	45.8		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	10
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	48.1		Continental ContiVikingContact 6	9
Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	48.6		Cordiant Winter Drive	9
Dunlop Ice Touch	50.8		Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	9
Nokian Nordman RS	52.1		Nokian Nordman RS	9
Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	52.2		Toyo Observe GSi-5	9
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	52.4		Maxxis SP-02 Arctictrekker	8
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	52.7		Gislaved Nord*Frost 100	7
Pirelli Ice Zero	52.9		Cordiant Snow Cross	6
Continental Ice Contact 2	53.1		Dunlop Ice Touch	6
Toyo Observe GSi-5	53.6		Toyo Observe G3-Ice	6
Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	54.1		Continental Ice Contact 2	5
Cordiant Winter Drive	54.2		Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic	5
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	54.2		Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	5
Toyo Observe G3-Ice	55.4		Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3	5
Nokian Nordman 5	55.7		Nokian Nordman 5	5
Cordiant Snow Cross	56.2		Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	4
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS Plus	56.6		Pirelli Ice Zero	4

Results

All obtained indicators were summarized in a general table.

According to the results of all tests, the top three were Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, Continental IceContact 2 and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic studded tires. The best friction tires were Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8

Minimum braking distance and acceleration on ice, works well on packed snow

Increased braking distance on dry roads, acoustic effect, high price

Continental Ice Contact 2

Grip and handling on ice and snow, smooth ride

Noise, high price

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic

Grip on snowy, icy and wet roads, minimum braking distance

Controllability

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2

Low noise level, excellent behavior on asphalt and snow

Grip on icy roads

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2

Best grip on ice among friction tires, handling on snowy track

Grip on wet roads, packed and loose snow.

When and where

We answer the question that readers ask on the forum. ZR conducts winter tire tests in winter and spring (asphalt part) to present the results in autumn when you are thinking about switching to winter tires. As a rule, we test winter and summer tires in the Volga region - at the AvtoVAZ test site or nearby.

This February turned out to be unusual: the Moscow region and St. Petersburg were covered with snow, and the Volga region suffered from its absence. In Tolyatti, only in January, very little fell and not a snowflake in February. For the first time in 17 years, we were unable to perform the exercise “rearrangement on packed snow”: there was nothing to roll. And the snow used for acceleration and deceleration and other disciplines was unusually dry, much like styrofoam.

Due to the lack of rearrangement on snow, the weights of other exercises have been changed so that the maximum possible total score remains the same as before - 1000. For this reason, we do not recommend comparing the overall results of the current test with the previous ones - it will not be entirely correct.

List of tires tested:

"Scandinavians" - not everything is so smooth

Here again, the Nokian novelty, the second generation HKPL R, is in the lead. She has the highest scores (952) and price (3750 rubles). The ratio of price to quality is 3.94.

The second place in terms of cost belongs to the Continental-ContiViking-Contact 5 tire: 3250 rubles. It has been on sale for a long time, but it is still strong: it lost only a point to the new Michelin, gaining 907 points and taking third place. In relation to price to quality (3.58), it is also inferior to the "Frenchman".

Michelin X-Ice 3 is slightly cheaper than Conti: average price 3215 rubles. In our table of ranks, the tire took a fancy to the second line, gaining 908 points. In terms of price / quality ratio, it is slightly more attractive: 3.54.

The fourth price position belongs to Yokohama-iG50 with an average cost of 2915 rubles. But in the tests, the "Japanese" was in last place with a total of only 802 points. The price is clearly too high, because the ratio of price to quality, equal to 3.63, is even higher than that of Michelin and Conti, which are much stronger in terms of characteristics.

The Bridgestone-Blizzack Revo GZ is a completely different matter, taking fifth place in the price tag competition: 2730 rubles. In the final list, this model is also in fifth position: 867 points. Surprisingly, Yokohama is almost 200 rubles more expensive than Bridgestone, but at the same time it showed a result 65 points worse. The latter has a much more attractive price-to-quality ratio (3.15).

The sixth place in price belongs to Pirelli-Winter IceControl: 2600 rubles. These tires also reached the same position in our tests, slightly losing to Bridgestone in the final scores - 858. The ratio of price to quality is even more tasty - 3.03.

The Nordman-RS tire is in seventh place in terms of price: the average price is only 2330 re. However, in the final test protocol, she has the fourth position, since with 878 points she overtakes both Pirelli and both Japanese women. The price to quality ratio of 2.65 is very tempting.

TEST RESULTS

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(Score/Points)

Expert opinions on each tire are presented below.

Place	Tire	Expert opinion
1	Total points: 952	Place of manufacture: Finland Max speed: R (170 km/h) 7,8-8,3 Tire weight, kg: 6.7 3 750 Price / quality: 3.94 + The best grip in winter, modest fuel consumption, high level of comfort, good stability on asphalt. - Average braking properties on asphalt.
	Leading in most respects.
2	Total points: 908	Place of manufacture: Spain Max speed: T (190 km/h) Tread depth in width, mm: 7,8-8,1 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 50 Tire weight, kg: 7.2 Average price in online stores, rub.: 3 215 Price / quality: 3.54 + Good traction on snow and ice, excellent handling stability on winter roads, low fuel consumption, high level of comfort. - Weak when braking on asphalt, not the best directional stability in summer, low permeability.
	For any road, comfortable and economical.
3	Total points: 907	Place of manufacture: Germany Max speed: T (190 km/h) Tread depth in width, mm: 8,6-8,7 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 49 Tire weight, kg: 6.3 Average price in online stores, rub.: 3 250 Price / quality: 3.58 + Good traction on snow and ice, braking on dry and wet pavement, stability in summer, cross-country ability. - Increased fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km / h.
	For all roads and winter off-road.
4	Total points: 878	Place of manufacture: Russia Max speed: R (170 km/h) Tread depth in width, mm: 7,8-8,3 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 49 Tire weight, kg: 6.7 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2 330 Price/quality: 2.65 + Low fuel consumption, good handling and maneuverability. - Weak braking properties on wet pavement.
	For snowy and icy roads.
5	Total points: 867	Place of manufacture: Japan Max speed: Q (160 km/h) Tread depth in width, mm: 8,6-9,3 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 43 Tire weight, kg: 7.2 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2 730 Price/quality: 3.15 + Good longitudinal grip on ice, slows down best of all on dry pavement in summer, modest fuel consumption. - Difficult handling, poor cross-country ability, low level of comfort.
	For all winter roads.
6	Total points: 858	Place of manufacture: China Max speed: T (190 km/h) Tread depth in width, mm: 8,6-8,8 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 50 Tire weight, kg: 7.9 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2 600 Price/quality: 3.03 + Moderate fuel consumption, good directional stability on asphalt, low noise level. - Ambiguous directional stability on a snowy road, hard on the go.
	For all winter roads.
7	Total points: 826	Place of manufacture: Russia Max speed: T (190 km/h) Tread depth in width, mm: 8,5-8,9 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 51 Tire weight, kg: 6.9 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2 010 Price / quality: 2.43 + Very good braking on asphalt and road holding on dry land. - Weak grip on ice, high fuel consumption, difficult handling and directional stability.
	For cleared asphalt roads.
8	Total points: 802	Place of manufacture: Japan Max speed: Q (160 km/h) Tread depth in width, mm: 7,6-8,0 Shore hardness of rubber, units: 46 Tire weight, kg: 6.8 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2 915 Price / quality: 3.63 + Fuel efficiency, good directional stability on asphalt and smooth running. - Weak grip and braking on asphalt, difficult handling and stability, mediocre cross-country ability.
	Only for a leisurely ride, economical.

In the next comparative test of winter tires of the popular "crossover" dimension 215/65 R16, 23 models converged - an absolute record for the mass character in the entire history of Autoreview tests! Not only did we manage to embrace the immensity, but along the way, we also stopped the shipment of one of the consignments of Nokian tires ...

V owners of crossovers, especially all-wheel drive ones, are often not enthusiastic about the seasonal change of standard 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” brand on the sidewall in the form of three mountain peaks with a snowflake - these models really are. 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 freezing cold - and once again we notice that as the temperature drops, the friction tires 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 it was possible to support the cross-country ability assessments with instrumental measurements - acceleration time in deep snow with the traction control system turned off. It is curious that Russian tires topped and closed the rating: the best are Cordiant, and the most helpless in the virgin lands are Viatti tires manufactured by the Nizhnekamsk Tire Plant.