Test of winter studded tires 185/65R15 (AutoReview)

• Test start date: 01 February 2016
• Test end date: 29 February 2016
• Road quality: Good
• Car: Lada Vesta

Comparative tests of studded and friction rubber 185/65R15

This year, AutoReview experts tested studded and non-studded winter tires to compare performance and present final results to help car owners prepare their car for the winter season. Below we present you the test results for studded tires.

Ice tests

The Hakkapeliitta 8 has the shortest braking distance on ice with 12.1m. Goodyear is just a little behind with 12.4m. The Japanese Nitto is third with a braking length of 13.1m.

At the end of the list, as expected, were the budget Asian tires GT and Marshal, but the Nexen performed especially badly. Their result of 21.7 m is even worse than that of friction tires, which casts doubt on the possibility of winter operation of these tires.

Handling on ice was measured on a track that was laid on the surface of a frozen lake. Hakkapeliitta 8 covered the distance fastest in 79.7 seconds. Literally in fractions of seconds from it German Continental settled down. Tires Pirelli showed the third result. The outsiders are still the same trio of cheap tires.

results

• Tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 (SUV) 185/65R15 XL 92T

  Coupling properties on ice, handling on snow and ice, cross-country ability.

  Noise and high price

  Buy 1

• Tires Continental ContiIceContact 2 (+SUV) 185/65R15 XL 92T

  Traction on ice, Handling on ice and snow.

  Permeability, high price.

  Buy 2

• Tires Nokian Nordman 5 185/65R15 XL 92T

  Coupling properties on ice, handling on ice and on snow, cross-country ability.

  Medium grip on asphalt. Loss of spikes.

  Buy 2

• Tires Pirelli Formula Ice 185/65R15 88T

  Traction and handling on ice. Impact strength.

  Traction and handling on snow. Low smoothness.

  Buy 3

• Tires Gislaved NordFrost 200 185/65R15 XL 92T

  Low noise level among studded tires. Smooth running. Patency.

  Traction on ice.

  Buy 4

• Tires Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic 185/65R15 88T

  Longitudinal grip on ice. Snow handling. High hydroplaning resistance.

  Handling on ice. Noise.

  Buy 4

• Tires Michelin X-Ice North 3 185/65R15 XL 92T

  Longitudinal grip on snow. Acoustic comfort in the class of studded tires. Traction on wet pavement.

  Spread traction and handling on ice. Patency.

  Buy 4

• Tires Nitto Therma Spike 185/65R15 88T

  Longitudinal grip on ice. Ease of handling in the snow.

  Traction properties on asphalt. Low hydroplaning resistance. Loss of spikes.

  Buy 4

• Tires Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02 185/65R15 XL 92T

  High impact strength. Traction on ice.

  Noise. Low smoothness.

  Buy 5

• Tires GT Radial Champiro Ice Pro 185/65R15 XL 92T

  Price. Impact strength. High hydroplaning resistance.

  Traction on ice and snow. Noise. Low smoothness.

  Buy 6

• Tires Marshal WinterCraft Ice Wi31 185/65R15 88T

  Price. Traction properties on asphalt. Acoustic comfort in the class of studded tires.

03.10.2016

Please note that an error was made when calculating the results of the studded tire test in the Auto Review magazine (18/2016). Since the test organizer Oleg Rastegaev confirmed the presence of an error in the new issue of the journal, an edited version of the test is posted on our website.

Autoreview magazine experts tested winter tires for the 2016-2017 season. This time, for testing, they selected popular 185/65 R15 tire models, which are installed on LADA Vesta, Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio cars. The participants were 12 studded tires and 7 "Velcro" tires of various price segments.

Test participants

Studded tires:

• Continental Ice Contact 2
• Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02
• Gislaved Nord*Frost 200
• Nitto Therma Spike
• Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
• Nokian Nordman 5

Friction tires ("Velcro"):

• Continental ContiVikingContact 6
• Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2
• Nokian Nordman RS2

Tests

Autoreview has long been conducting its testing of winter tires at the polar Finnish testing ground "White Hell". The 185/65 R15 winter tire test is no exception. It is curious that deer have always lived in these parts, but Autoreview specialists met them for the first time on the track of the controllability of the landfill. According to Autoreview, not a single deer was harmed during the test.

Two Lada Vestas were chosen as the tire test vehicles. They showed themselves with dignity, having passed all the tests. Their only drawback was the jamming of door handles at low air temperatures.
Before testing, the experts measured the protrusion of the studs on all tire models: according to the technical regulations of the Russian Federation, from January 1, 2016, it should fluctuate between 0.9-1.5 mm, in addition, handling on ice directly depends on it. The tire pressure was also measured and, if necessary, adjusted to 2.1 bar for all tires.

The methodology for conducting tests by the publication Autoreview annually remains the same: in order to take into account the influence of weather conditions and eliminate errors, each test is alternated with races on "basic" tires and repeated 10-12 times. In case of snowfall, longitudinal dynamics testing is carried out on a closed track. As a result, tests on ice were carried out there. But the blizzard that started in time made it possible to test the tires for patency in real conditions. Since most of the tests were carried out in warm weather at temperatures just below zero, the difference in grip performance between studded and friction tires was huge.

At the end of the test, the tires were tested on dry and wet roads, as well as on impact strength. An old Mercedes, already "experienced" in this matter, was used as a car for strength testing. It measured the maximum speed that the tire of each model withstood before the appearance of a through breakdown of the sidewall when hitting a 94 mm curb at an angle of 45 degrees.

Test results

Click on image to enlarge

Test results

Click on images to enlarge

General test results for studded tires

General Friction Tire Test Results

Analysis of results*

Studded tires

A place	Tire	Advantages	disadvantages
1	Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8	Excellent performance on ice, good handling, high cross-country ability on snowy roads	Average traction on asphalt, high noise level, high price
2		Excellent longitudinal grip on icy roads, good handling on snow, efficient drainage	Average handling on ice, high noise level
3	Continental ContiIceContact 2	Strong stud retention, excellent traction and handling on icy roads, good handling on snow, efficient drainage system	Weak flotation in deep snow
4	Nokian Nordman 5	Excellent grip and handling on snowy and icy roads, good flotation	Average level of traction on asphalt, weak stud fixation
5	Formula Ice	Excellent performance on ice, dry and wet roads, impact resistance	Not the highest level of grip and handling on snow
6	Gislaved Nord*Frost 200	Good grip and handling on snow and asphalt, high level of comfort	Poor performance on icy roads
7	Michelin X-Ice North 3	High grip on snow and asphalt, low noise, strong carcass	Average level of performance on ice, cross-country ability
8	Nitto Therma Spike	High grip on icy roads, medium grip and good handling on snow	Average level of traction on asphalt, poor drainage, poor fixation of studs
9	Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02	Good grip and handling on icy roads, fast acceleration and good snow handling	Weak traction on asphalt, high noise level
10	GT Radial Champiro IcePro	Excellent drainage, average performance on ice and asphalt, easy handling on ice	Low grip and handling on snowy roads, high noise level
11	Marshal WinterCraft Ice Wi31	Excellent braking properties on dry pavement, average grip on icy roads	Weak handling on snow, difficulty on ice
12	Nexen WinGuard WinSpike	The average level of performance when driving on asphalt, effective removal of water and snow.	Weak grip and handling on ice and snow, high noise effect.

friction tires

A place	Tire	Advantages	disadvantages
1	Continental ContiVikingContact 6	Excellent performance on snowy roads, excellent flotation in deep snow, high acoustic comfort	Not the best handling on ice, not very effective braking on wet roads, low impact strength
2	Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2	Excellent grip, braking, handling and flotation on snow, efficient drainage system and good grip on wet roads, high acoustic comfort	Poor performance on icy roads, poor impact resistance
3	Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2	High level of performance on snowy roads and dry pavement	Poor impact strength, poor braking and handling on ice
4	Nokian Nordman RS2	Good grip, acceleration and handling on snowy roads and asphalt, excellent flotation in deep snow	Weak impact strength, poor handling on ice
5	Pirelli Ice Zero FR	Excellent cross-country ability, braking and acceleration on snowy roads, effective hydroplaning protection, good impact resistance	Low level of braking and handling on ice, poor braking properties on dry pavement
6	Michelin X Ice 3	High performance on snowy and wet roads, maximum acoustic comfort and a smooth ride	Weak braking properties and impact strength on dry pavement, poor handling on ice
7	Tiger Winter 1	The most efficient tires when driving on wet roads, high level of braking and snow flotation.	The weakest performance on ice, weak impact strength.

*Please note that comparison tests are subjective. We recommend that you treat the tire test results as one of your options, especially given the scandal caused by the disclosure of fakes in independent comparison tests. Our experts at specialized tire hypermarkets "Koleso" will always help you choose the best tire option, taking into account your preferences, your driving style and the technical features of your car.

In the segment of studded tires, Nokian tires took the first place. Their eighth Hakkapeliitta stands out for its balanced performance and immodest price. 3700 rubles is the maximum cost in the spiked test. Dividing the price by the total points (949), we got the quality-level average cost ratio - 3.90.

"Silver" went to tires manufactured by Continental. The model presented in our test is known to Russian motorists and has been sold on our market for several years. The average price of 1 tire is 3590 rubles, and the final result is 906 points. As a result, ContiIceContact had a quality-to-price ratio of 3.96.

The new model produced by Michelin is already officially presented, but has not yet gone on sale. According to the test results, these R14 winter tires took third place with a respectable 891-point result. Moreover, French tires have the most attractive cost-performance ratio (3.50).

In fourth place are Gislaved tires. Their price tag, reflecting 2975 rubles, looks attractive. They are followed by Nordman 4, which is well known to Russians. They earned 858 points and are distinguished by a very attractive cost-quality ratio - 2.84. The last parameter is caused by the low cost of Nordman on the market.

The sixth place went to tires of Russian production. Polar 2 can be bought for 1950 rubles, and a decent result of 824 points makes the price-quality ratio very attractive - 2.37.

In seventh place is the “old woman” from Amtel. A low result hints that it is time for the tires to rest.

Separately, I would like to talk about the Euro 519 model. Previously, these tires were not produced in the size 175/65 R14, but they cannot be attributed to the class of new products. Still, they are not the first year sold on the Russian market. However, our test included tires with the “experimental” mark, and its results were recorded outside the standings. By the way, the tires performed well - 836 points.

Results table

More about studded tires

Points - 814

Seventh place

Amtel NordMaster ST

Where are they produced? RF

Maximum speed, km/h 160

How many spikes? 110
Protrusion before/after testing, mm 0.9-1.2/1.2-1.5
How much do they weigh? (kg) 7.4

Average cost 1790
Quality-price ratio 2.20

pros

• Perfectly hold a straight line on a snow-covered track.
• Good braking properties on asphalt winter roads.

Minuses

• Worst results in tests on ice.
• The overall handling is problematic.
• "Wounds" from side to side on an asphalt road, so frequent course correction is required.
• High noise.

Verdict

Suitable for lightly snowy roads, allowed to asphalt, but on ice the driver needs to be very careful.

Points - 824

Sixth place

Cordiant Polar 2

Where are they produced? RF

Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 55
How many spikes? 110
Protrusion before/after testing, mm 1.4-1.8/1.6-2.0
How much do they weigh? (kg) 7.4
Drawing depth in width, mm 9.4-9.5
Average cost 1950
Quality-price ratio 2.37

pros

• Best braking in its class on dry roads.
• We are pleased with the directional stability on a snowy asphalt road and the overall smoothness of the ride.

Minuses

• On snowy roads, tires show the worst grip.
• Unconvincing stability on a snowy road and uncertain handling.
• Tires increase fuel consumption.
• Noisy.
• Low off-road properties, quickly "burrow".

Verdict

For slightly icy roads and asphalt. Driving on packed and deep snow is not recommended.

Points - 836

Out of standings

Kama Euro 519

Where are they produced? RF
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 53
How many spikes? 112
Protrusion before/after testing, mm 1.3-1.7/1.8-2.1
How much do they weigh? (kg) 7.8
Pattern depth in width, mm 8.7-9.0
Average cost -
Quality-price ratio -

pros

• Pleased with the grip on a snowy track.
• Demonstrate moderate fuel consumption.
• Handles well on winter surfaces.

Minuses

• Unable to brake well on a wet road, things are slightly better on a dry track.
• Low comfort.
• Low permeability.
• Mediocre exchange rate stability.

Verdict

For icy and snowy trails. With a wet road and dry asphalt, things are bad.

Points - 858

Fifth place

Norman 4

Where are they produced? RF
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 190

How many spikes? 110
Protrusion before/after testing, mm 1.3-1.8/1.5-1.7
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.9
Drawing depth in width, mm 8.9-9.0
Average cost 2435
Quality-price ratio 2.84

pros

• Do not increase fuel consumption.
• Grip and overall handling on snowy roads is above average.
• Well keep the trajectory on the pavement.

Minuses

• Worst braking on dry asphalt road.
• Poor braking performance on wet roads.

Verdict

Good for snow and ice. On wet/dry winter roads, you need to be very careful due to poor braking properties.

Points - 873

Fourth place

Gislaved Nord Frost 100

Where are they produced? Germany
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 190

How many spikes? 90
Protrusion before/after testing, mm 1.6-1.8/1.7-2.1
How much do they weigh? (kg) 7.2

Average cost 2975
Quality-price ratio 3.41

pros

• Better braking on wet pavement.
• Virtually no noise.
• Excellent handling on snowy slurry and in slush.
• The protector cleans itself well.
• Steadily keep the course chosen by the driver.

Minuses

• Increase fuel consumption.
• Mediocre braking performance on dry pavement in winter.

Verdict

For all winter coats. The driver can feel confident in the winter off-road.

Points - 891

Third place

Michelin X-Ice North 2

Where are they produced? RF
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 51
How many spikes? 110
Protrusion before/after testing, mm 1.2-1.3/1.5-1.7
How much do they weigh? (kg) 7.7
Drawing depth in width, mm 9.1-9.3
Average cost 3120
Quality-price ratio 3.50

pros

• Excellent braking on snow.
• Don't be afraid of off-road.
• Smooth move.

Minuses

• There are comments regarding acoustic comfort.

Verdict

Balanced and high quality tires. Suitable for different surfaces, fast and confident, but not the most comfortable ride.

Points - 906

Second place

Continental ContiIceContact

Where are they produced? Germany
Tread pattern, type Asymmetrical
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 51
How many spikes? 110
Protrusion before/after testing, mm 1.8-2.0/1.8-2.2
How much do they weigh? (kg) 7.1
Pattern depth in width, mm 9.0-9.5
Average cost 3590
Quality-price ratio 3.96

pros

• High permeability.
• Excellent braking on icy/snow roads.
• Stable braking on the asphalt road.
• Good handling on winter roads.

Minuses

• There are comments on comfort.
• Exchange rate stability is far from ideal.
• Contribute to increased fuel consumption.

Verdict

Suitable for off-road, icy and snowy roads.

Points - 949

First place

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8

Where are they produced? Finland
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 190

How many spikes? 165
Protrusion before/after testing, mm 1.4-1.5/1.5-1.9
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.9
Pattern depth in width, mm 8.3-8.7
Average cost 3700
Quality-price ratio 3.90

pros

• Excellent grip on ice and snow (best in class).
• Do not get stuck on the road.
• Highly comfortable.
• Handling and stability at height.
• Promote economical driving.

Minuses

• Course stability on a snowy track is satisfactory.

Verdict

Outperform their competitors in many tests. Balanced tires that feel confident on any winter surfaces. Also suitable for comfortable and safe driving in spring.

About friction tires

In the first place in the class of non-studded tires is Nokian rubber. "Gold" for the Finnish tire company produced the 2nd generation HKPL model. It has the least attractive price tag (3750 rubles). On the other hand, the highest score (952) speaks in her favor. Thus, the price-quality ratio is 3.94.

The second place was taken by the French with their X-Ice 3. Tires from Michelin received 908 points. Their average cost is 3215 rubles, and the "quality-price" coefficient is 3.54.

In third place of honor are Continental tires. The price for the fifth generation ContiVikingContact is at around 3250 rubles. This model can be considered an old-timer in the Russian market, but it is still in the top. She lost only 1 point to her new French competitor!

Winter tires R14 Nordman RS are 29 points behind the bronze medalist. True, their average cost is much lower than that of Continental (2330 versus 3250 rubles).

According to the results of the tests, we put Bridgestone friction rubber in fifth place. Tires cost 2730 rubles and earned a total of 867 points.

In sixth place are Pirelli tires. As in the case of studded tires, the Italian manufacturer fails to get close to the leaders. Only 858 points. On the other hand, the tires are distinguished by a lower cost when compared with the tires that took from 1st to 3rd places. IceControl cost an average of 2600 rubles.

The Winter Drive model from Cordiant is in seventh place. Russian-made tires are the cheapest - 2010 rubles per tire.

An outsider in the class of friction tires was Yokohama rubber. Surprisingly, the manufacturer set a high price tag on it - 2915 rubles. This is more expensive than tires from Continental and Michelin. At the same time, the “Japanese” managed to score only 802 points in our tests. This is frankly a bad result.

Results table

More about each Velcro

Points - 802

Eighth place

Yokohama iceGUARD iG50

Where are they produced? Japan
Tread pattern, type Asymmetrical
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 46
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.8
Pattern depth in width, mm 7.6-8.0
Average cost 2915
Quality-price ratio 3.63

pros

• Smooth move.
• Stably keep a straight line on the winter cleared asphalt.
• Contribute to low fuel consumption.

Minuses

• Weak grip on asphalt.
• Poor flotation on snow due to unsuitable tread pattern.
• Uncertain handling on winter surfaces.
• Unfairly high cost.

Verdict

Suitable for slow driving on winter roads.

Points - 826

Seventh place

Cordiant Winter Drive

Where are they produced? Russia
Tread pattern, type Asymmetrical
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 51
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.9
Pattern depth in width, mm 8.5-8.9
Average cost 2010
Quality-price ratio 2.43

pros

• The best quality-price ratio.
• Excellent directional stability on dry roads.
• Good braking on asphalt.

Minuses

• Insufficient grip on an icy road.
• negatively affect fuel consumption.
• Difficult handling, the car constantly has to be monitored and adjusted.
• Driving stability on snow/icy roads is not enough for a smooth ride.

Verdict

Budget tires with good traction on pavement.

Points - 858

Sixth place

Pirelli Winter Ice Control

Where are they produced? China
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units fifty
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.8
Pattern depth in width, mm 8.6-8.8
Average cost 2600
Quality-price ratio 3.03

pros

• Careful attitude to fuel.
• No noise on the asphalt road.
• Good directional stability on a dry winter track, cleared of snow.
• Good grip on snowy roads.

Minuses

• Rigid ride, tires do not miss a single pit on the road.
• On a snowy track, directional stability is satisfactory.

Verdict

Adapted for driving on any winter surfaces. Off-road Pirelli is not the best option.

Points - 867

Fifth place

Bridgestone Blizzak Revo GZ

Where are they produced? Japan
Tread pattern, type Asymmetrical
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 43
How much do they weigh? (kg) 7.2
Pattern depth in width, mm 8.6-9.3
Average cost 2730
Quality-price ratio 3.15

pros

• Good grip characteristics in the longitudinal direction on icy roads.
• Modest fuel consumption.
• Behavior, including braking and handling, on the asphalt track is the best.

Minuses

• Low comfort.
• Weak off-road properties, the tread quickly burrows and does not clean itself well.
• Difficult control on ice.

Verdict

For any winter tracks, but on icy roads you need to be especially careful.

Points - 878

Fourth place

Nordman RS

Where are they produced? Russia
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 160
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 49
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.7

Average cost 2330
Quality-price ratio 2.65

pros

• Tough and well controlled.
• Feel confident in deep snow.
• Do not increase fuel consumption.

Minuses

• Frankly slow down on a wet track.

Verdict

Well suited for driving on snowy and icy roads.

Points - 907

Third place

Continental ContiVikingContact 5

Where are they produced? Germany
Tread pattern, type Asymmetrical
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 49
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.3
Pattern depth in width, mm 8.6-8.7
Average cost 3250
Quality-price ratio 3.58

pros

• Resistant on dry pavement.
• High cross-country ability on snowy roads.
• Good grip on icy roads.
• Good braking on dry/wet roads.

Minuses

• The level of fuel consumption increases at a speed of 90-100 km/h.

Verdict

For off-road and any winter tracks.

Points - 908

Second place

Michelin X Ice 3

Where are they produced? Spain
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 190
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units fifty
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.7
Pattern depth in width, mm 7.8-8.1
Average cost 3215
Quality-price ratio 3.54

pros

• Comfort is at a high level.
• Excellent handling on snowy roads.
• Stable on icy trails.
• They row well and behave stably on a snowy road.
• Contribute to economical fuel consumption.

Minuses

• The course is constantly being adjusted.
• They are afraid of off-road.
• Poor braking on dry winter pavement.

Verdict

Better adapted to driving on winter surfaces, slightly worse suited for trips on cleared asphalt. But in any case, economical and comfortable.

Points - 952

First place

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2

Where are they produced? Finland
Tread pattern, type Directional
Maximum speed, km/h 160
Rubber hardness (Shor classification), units 49
How much do they weigh? (kg) 6.7
Drawing depth in width, mm 7.8-8.3
Average cost 3750
Quality-price ratio 3.94

pros

• Minimum expense.
• Excellent stability on dry roads.
• Incredibly high level of grip on winter surfaces.
• Comfortable and silent.

Minuses

• Average braking on a dry track.

Verdict

Rubber is ahead of its competitors in most tests. Excellent Velcro with balanced characteristics. They show their best qualities on ice and snowy roads.

One more test

Some drivers do not change studded tires in summer. They want to save money and drive in the summer on old tires with fallen studs, and get a new one for the next season. Especially for these drivers, we conducted a comparative test of the braking of summer and winter tires on asphalt. Also in this test, we "pushed foreheads" friction and studded tires.

For comparison, tires of average quality were taken - Road Runner manufactured by Cordiant. The difference between summer tires and studded tires is huge. Braking on a wet track is worse for the latter by 31-48 percent, and on a dry track - by 35-46 percent.

The Velcro is doing a little better. According to the test results, they lag behind Cordiant by 24-40 and 29-35 percent, respectively.

Of course, the difference in meters is even more significant. At a speed of 80 km/h, cars with winter tires will travel an average of 8-13 meters further. Keep in mind that we have compared some of the best friction tires and spikes with the average summer market. And if one of the leaders of the summer test participated in the competition?

As for the duel of spikes and stickies. The latter are clearly ahead of their competitors in braking on wet and dry roads. This is an indisputable fact.

More detailed results can be found in the table below.

We tested the most popular 185/65 R15 studded tires for budget cars. Keeping in mind the crisis, we decided to focus on inexpensive tires priced from 2,500 rubles apiece. We refuse cheaper ones: these are either very ancient models, or mediocre copies of popular tires.

Fifteen

We select a company for tests

The most affordable is Cordiant Snow Cross. Completely domestic (both development and manufacture) tire, modernized last year. A little more expensive is another model from last season - Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02.

Four more tires that can be called inexpensive by today's standards are Nitto Therma Spike (the second brand of the Japanese company Touo), the South Korean Kumho WinterCraft Ice, which is in demand Formula Ice (developed by Pirelli, and produced in Russia) and the Malaysian "Japanese" popular on the market. assembly "Toyo Observe G3-Ice.

Of the representatives of the second echelon - new models with German and Finnish ancestry, but produced in Russia: Gislaved Nord Frost 200 with a tread copied from the first generation ContilceContact, and Nordman 7 with the "face" of the Hakkapeliitta 7 tire.

And finally, the leaders of our past tests: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic and Continental IceContact 2.

As well as a hot novelty from Nokian - Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.

Winter tires in the north

We have already carried out tests outside of Russia and consider this experience very positive. This time we decided to go to the Pirelli winter range. It is located in the northern part of Sweden, in the province of Norrbotten, near the town of Elvsbyn. Ice tracks are laid on the frozen lake Lilkor-stresk (Small Cross Swamp), and snow tracks are along its banks.

In early February, pre-run tires were delivered there, and at the end of the month we carried out all the snow and ice tests. The temperature during the tests ranged from -1 to -15 ° C, but at first the Swedish north made me very nervous.

On the first day of our work, a warm atmospheric front came to the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia - and the air temperature rose to plus seven degrees! Snow and ice were melting before our eyes. The locals said that they never remember such warmth in February in their entire lives.

Only on the third day, in the evening, it froze, the melted lake ice got stronger again and a day later it already held the car. Let's start testing on ice!

Saddle up the brand new Kia Rio hatchback and refine our own “toolkit”. This time, in all the exercises, the experts give an assessment not in whole points, but in increments of half a point - for greater correctness of the results.

On thin ice

First - an assessment of the longitudinal coupling properties. Using the VBOX device, we fix the acceleration time from standstill to 30 km/h and immediately after that we brake, determining the braking distance from 30 to 5 km/h. The length of the "track" allows you to make four measurements in one direction. Then four more back - and we calculate the average value. We roll the base tire every three test ones; at the end of the measurements, we recalculate all the results, taking into account how the results of the “stove” have changed.

The best acceleration, 6.5 seconds, was shown by Rio on Continental tires, the second result - on Nokian: 6.8 seconds. No one doubted that tires with 185-186 spikes would be ahead. However, they are closely followed by Cordiant, Goodyear and Nordman, who each have 110 studs, and this trio shows a result of 6.9 seconds. The longest acceleration - at Kumho: 9.7 seconds.

In braking, the Nokian outperforms the Continental just a little - 16.4 meters against sixteen and a half, and the third result, 16.7 meters, shows Goodyear. Closing again was Kumho: 23.7 meters.

Pit at zero

We evaluate the controllability on the track of a closed configuration. This is a "path" about a kilometer long with turns of different radii and a long straight. And most importantly, the ice here is very slippery, polished by the wind. We evaluate together, on each set of tires we drive three laps each, then change.

Heck! Incredibly slippery! To switch places, I had to literally crawl from one side to the other, without taking my hands off the car.

Nokian tires deserved the highest score in this exercise: clear responses and good information content “on the steering wheel” are complemented by a soft, predictable start of the car’s slips and stable grip, regardless of the degree of slippage.

Rio behaved a little worse, shod in Nordman and Nitto tires. In the first case, I liked the good balance of longitudinal and lateral grip, a clear moment of transition to sliding. The rating was slightly lowered due to slight delays in reactions. On the Nitto, the car conquered with good handling even in slips and with a tight, “understandable” steering at large turning angles. However, there were small complaints about the information content of the steering wheel at small angles - in the initial phase of the turn. The tire manufacturers refer to this effect as hole in zero.

The lowest scores were given by Gislaved, Goodyear and Formula. On these tires, the driver is forced to increase the steering angles, there are delays in reactions. In addition, Rio on Gislaved tires slides for a long time in a turn, and then the grip is sharply restored, which provokes a whiplash effect - a sharp skid in the opposite direction.

Goodyear did not like the imbalance of longitudinal and transverse grip: the car holds the turning arc much worse than it accelerates and slows down. On Formula tires - low information content “on the steering wheel” in turns, which provokes its twisting and subsequent skidding.

The ice circle is the most unpleasant exercise for the driver. It is necessary to find the maximum speed on the verge of slipping, show the best time (it is registered by VBOX) and confirm it. In this case, you have to go in one direction, counterclockwise. With a good grip, a decent lateral force rolls the body and head - you constantly strain all the muscles. You have to constantly look from the "road" to the instruments and back. Laps after fifty begins to feel dizzy.

Continental and Nokian turned out to be faster than the rest on the circle - 19.9 seconds per full turn. Only one tenth (20.0 s) Cordiant lagged behind them. The slowest tires - Kumho: the best achievement - 22.5 seconds.

How many laps did you have to do on each set to achieve the best results and repeat them? Ten to fifteen! The only tires that required more attention and skill were Goodyear: the car shod in them strove all the time to break into a skid, and had to cut 19 laps. And in total, taking into account the repeated races on the base tires, our Rio had to wind up more than two hundred revolutions!

Let's move on to snow

Snow fell exactly the next day after the completion of all ice tests. A handling test track is easier to prepare than a longitudinal grip test plateau. Therefore, we start with more creative and interesting work.

In one turn, the track lies on a hillside, therefore it has short, but rather steep ascents and descents. This is a "feature" of local tracks for assessing handling - most tire manufacturers use mostly flat tracks. Climbing and descending load and unload the suspension by changing the vertical forces acting on the wheels. It is especially interesting when the wheel is unloaded in a corner: the downforce decreases, the tire starts to slip.

Fresh snow fell on the cold ice - and shifted as the car slid through the corners. The result was a mixed surface: sometimes snow, sometimes ice - a real Russian road!

Here, in terms of handling, I liked Nokian tires more than others: very soft, but confident cat habits, predictable behavior of the car. Rio on these tires does not require special skills and techniques from the driver - he just turns. The maximum speed is limited by a soft skid that helps to register a turn, requiring almost no adjustment.

Experts presented the greatest claims to the next three participants. Cordiant strains with an unexpected skid with a sharp, unpredictable stall, long slip and the same sharp clutch recovery, which provokes a “shooting off” skid in the opposite direction. On Gislaved tires, the steering wheel becomes unpleasantly empty and uninformative - you have to turn it at excessively large angles, which leads to an unexpected sharp breakdown into a skid and deep slips. Kumho tires were not liked due to noticeable delays in reactions, significant steering angles, long slips and deep skidding in an arc, requiring immediate adjustment from the driver.

The “rearrangement” exercise was only partially performed due to excessively soft snow - they were able to evaluate only the behavior of the car during extreme maneuvering, and they refused to determine the maximum speed for a successful maneuver.

Here, as well as on the handling track, Nokian tires earned the highest score due to the most precise reactions, soft and predictable behavior and easy self-recovering drift at top speed. I liked Dunlop least of all: on these tires, the Rio shows not only noticeable delays in reactions, but also an unstable, wide steering balance: from significant drift of the front axle on the first jerk of the steering wheel to skidding of the rear wheels when trying to stabilize the car on the lane change lane.

And here is a well-trodden snow straight line - you can start measuring the acceleration and braking times. As in similar ice exercises, we combine acceleration with deceleration, repeating the exercises eight to ten times. Moreover, the acceleration time from 0 to 40 km/h on snow was evaluated twice - with and without the TCS traction control system turned on. Braking from 40 to 5 km/h - only with ABS.

So, overclocking in normal mode, when TCS prevents tire slip. The best results are on Continental, Goodyear and Nokian tires. On them, Rio is gaining 40 km / h in exactly six seconds. The worst performers are Kumho. As on ice, they accelerate slowly, losing more than 11% to the leaders.

Turn off the electronic "collar" and repeat the measurements. It turns out faster! Goodyear holds the leading position: 40 km / h from a standstill is submitted in 5.2 seconds. Acceleration lasts only one tenth longer on Continental and Nokian tires. Kumho tires also show the most modest result in this mode.

Braking wins the leading pair - Continental and Nokian, who showed the same result: 14.8 meters. The last ones this time are the relatives of Nitto and Touo.

Final exercises - assessment of directional stability on a snowy track and patency in deep snow. At high speed, it follows the set course better than others and rebuilds most clearly, Rio, shod in Nokian. Additionally, we note the high information content of the steering: the driver drives the car in a straight line intuitively, without concentrating.

The worst scores - have four participants. On Cordiant and Gislaved tires, when changing lanes, the Rio has an unpleasant rear axle steer, turning into a skid. Trying to correct course on Dunlop and Kumho tires is fraught with a skid that requires immediate action even with mild lane changes.

Goodyear tires are more confident than others in deep snow - Rio is ready to conquer any snowdrift on them. But on Kumho and Touo tires, you can only drive well. It is extremely difficult to start in the snow: the slightest slip - and the wheels slip, digging deeper and deeper.

We were pleasantly surprised.

On all tires, after running in, the spikes protruded above the tread within reasonable limits. The maximum, by 1.41 mm, is for Cordiant, and the minimum, less than 0.9 mm, is for Formula, Gislaved and Nokian tires. But Nokian has 185 studs on each tire, while Formula and Gislaved have only 110. And such a number with such a small performance is clearly not enough to ensure good grip on ice.

Recall that the regulated spike protrusion on new tires is no more than 1.2 mm. We know from experience that after running in, this value can increase to 1.3-1.4 mm.

It is gratifying that tire manufacturers have stopped abusing the increased protrusion of the “studs”. After all, strongly protruding spikes “saw” the asphalt, on which deep ruts appear. And for the first time in our tests, not a single tire lost a single one, confirming the postulate that the reliability of holding studs in rubber is inversely proportional to their protrusion. You stick out less - you sit tighter!

Winter on asphalt

In Togliatti, at the AvtoVAZ test site, we again had to wait for the weather. Dry roads and calm conditions are the conditions for obtaining reliable results on rolling resistance. The asphalt part of the tests could only be completed in the first half of May. I had to work at night to keep within the permissible temperature for winter tires +5...+7 °С.

The procedure for evaluating economy is the same as for summer tyres. We start by warming them up, making a full circle around the high-speed ring (10 km) at a speed of 110-120 km/h. Along the way, we evaluate how much the car deviates from the set course under the influence of external forces (crosswind, slope), and also smoothly maneuver, simulating a soft detour of an obstacle or changing lanes for overtaking. At the same time, the tester carefully monitors the reactions and behavior of the car, and also evaluates how convenient and understandable (read: safe) it is to drive. The wider the "zero" and the greater the steering angles to which the car does not respond, and the lower the information content (the rate of increase in steering effort with an increase in the angle of rotation) - the worse the score.

Experts gave Formula Ice tires the highest mark for directional stability: the clarity of course keeping and the reactions of a car shod with them can be the envy of some summer tires! The complete opposite is Dunlop tires. The main disadvantages in the behavior of the car on these tires: a wide "zero", an empty steering wheel, delays in reactions when adjusting the course.

After a circle around the ring on a two-kilometer straight line, we estimate the amount of run-out from the maximum permitted "urban" and "suburban" speeds.

We carry out measurements in opposite directions, repeat from three to five times, depending on the results obtained. At the same time, the driver accumulates impressions of noise and smoothness at different speeds. Nokian tires turned out to be the greenest, that is, economical.

Before changing tires to refine its comfort rating, Rio makes a circle, moving along service roads with cracks and crevices. We found Gislaved, Touo and Nitto tires to be the quietest, and Continental and Nokian tires to be the softest.

The next exercise is to measure the braking distance on dry and wet surfaces. The initial braking speeds for winter tires are reduced by 20 km/h compared to summer tires - up to 80 km/h on dry roads and up to 60 km/h on wet roads. Continental tires looked better than others when braking on wet pavement, Nokian tires on dry pavement. Nitto had the weakest results, regardless of the condition of the pavement, and on dry pavement Nitto was led by Cordiant.

Summarizing

The test winner with 936 points was the new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9. Continental IceContact 2 came in second with a total of 914 points. We classify both tires as excellent tires and recommend them to drivers of all levels.

On the third step of our podium - Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, which earned 898 final points, just two points short of the title of excellent tires. His element is uncleaned winter roads and even virgin snow.

In fourth position with 888 points is the seventh generation Nordman. Very good tires for the Russian winter, they will give confidence in any conditions.

All listed tires are located in our ranking table in accordance with the price ranking. Either they have a price that is adequate to the characteristics and properties, which, in fact, is one and the same. And starting from the fifth place, small distortions begin in one direction or another.

For example, Cordiant Snow Cross earned 871 points, which allowed him to gain a foothold in the category "very good tires" and take fifth place in the final test result. They will not save on any road, unless they require a long distance on dry pavement due to modest traction, and also unhurried movement on a snowy road. You can buy them for 2500 rubles apiece.

With a score of 852 (sixth place), the Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02 opens up the good tire category. A decent product with average performance in almost all disciplines. Not without weaknesses, among which are modest lateral grip on ice, poor directional stability on snowy

road and asphalt, low level of comfort. But it is sold for the same money as the Cordiant Snow Cross: the price is 2550 rubles.

Even more expensive tires are located on the seventh and eighth steps - Toyo Observe G3-Ice and Nitto Therma Spike, practically brothers both in blood and in properties. They scored 847 points each and settled in the "good tires" category. Liked the low noise level. The Touo brand is well known in our market, and Nitto has appeared quite recently, therefore it is a little cheaper.

The ninth and tenth places are shared by Gislaved Nord Frost 200 and Formula Ice with 841 points each. These tires still fall into the good category. Gislaved, more even in terms of objective indicators, “failed” in handling and directional stability on snow. Formula has somewhat unbalanced characteristics: it is weak in longitudinal grip on ice, but behaves more confidently on asphalt, close to the best

results in dry braking and ensures a clear hold of the course. But the difference in prices is tangible: Formula is three hundred rubles cheaper, so a set of four pieces will save more than a thousand. However, there is one technical nuance that unites both tires: the protrusion of the studs is insufficient - less than a millimeter after testing. We believe that a failure occurred during the installation of the spikes.

Seven or eight years ago, together with Continental, we investigated the issue of stud protrusion and came up with the following pattern: one tenth of their protrusion is equivalent to three percent of the braking distance on ice. Increasing the protrusion of the "studs" to the legally allowed 1.2 mm on the new tires will allow Gislaved and Formula to improve the longitudinal grip by about 10% - that's where the hidden reserves are hiding!

In eleventh place are Kumho WinterCraft Ice tires with 803 points. Weak for modern spikes, but natural, since in most exercises these tires show modest results. Considering not the lowest price, it is hardly possible to call them a bargain.

Count your money

In our chart, the tested tires are ranked from left to right in ascending price, and the bar heights correspond to

the number of points scored. The small bars at the bottom of the chart show the ratio of quality and price and show how many points the tire scores for every thousand rubles paid for it.

If, however, you put the price at the forefront and scrupulously calculate each ruble, pay attention to another group of columns: the more points a tire earns for every thousand rubles of the price, the more profitable the purchase! The ranking is headed by Cordiant Snow Cross tires, and the Hakkapeliitta 9 test leader is in last place - expensive tires! Kumho WinterCraft Ice tires are in the middle, which is why many people buy them.

By comparing all our test results and prices, you will be able to make the right choice. Wish you a good road!

This is one of the most popular sizes used on foreign and domestic passenger car models.

The experts who conducted the tests

Before the start of the winter season 2018-2019, the test of winter tires 185 65 r15 was carried out by the following automotive publishers and expert communities:

• magazine "Autoreview" (Russia);
• magazine "Behind the wheel" (Russia);
• automobile portal "Autocentre" (Ukraine);
• Society for Technical Supervision GTÜ (Germany);
• automobile club of Europe ACE;
• automobile club ARBÖ (Austria).

Winter tires Nokian
All of these communities are authoritative experts whose opinion has a significant impact on the choice of motorists around the world.

Where were the tests?

Traditionally, winter tire tests are held in four categories:

• on ice;
• on the snow;
• on dry and wet pavement.

Tests in severe winter conditions took place mainly at Finnish training grounds. German professionals preferred the small town of Saariselkä, which is located 200 kilometers above the Arctic Circle. The temperature in this place in winter is stable at -15°C and allows testing different models with sizes 1 85 65 r15 in absolutely equal conditions.

The publication Autoreview chose the famous White Hell training ground in Lapland, and the Russian magazine Za Rulem conducted a test of winter studded tires 185 65 r15 in the northern part of Sweden, in the Norrbotten region, on Pirelli tracks. The air temperature at the same time ranged from -1°C to -15°C.

Test participants

For testing, the experts selected tires from the world's leading manufacturers. Russian-made tires were also present in the tests organized by the Avtorevyu and Za Rulem publications.

Let's take a look at the 8 most popular models that will participate in the winter 2018-2019 comparison test.

1. Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02.
2. Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic.
3. Continental Ice Contact 2.
4. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
5. Michelin X-Ice North4.
6. Hankook Winter I*cept IZ2.
7. Nexen Win Guard Snow'G WH2.

Both winter non-studded tires 185 65 r15 and tires equipped with spikes take part in the races. For comparison, models with a wheel diameter of 15 inches are taken, but the results can be considered relevant for R14 wheels, since they are almost identical.

Table of characteristics of the tested models

		Spike Features	The composition of the rubber compound	Price*
Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02	directional V-shaped tread pattern wide grooves for water drainage rigid middle part with triangular checkers	Has a rectangular core Enlarged spike base Specially designed for the shape of the spike	4D Nano Design Technology Dual layer tread with soft top layer and stiffer base	$130
	Tread pattern with wide acute-angled grooves Lots of lamellas	triangular design Carbide insert with sharp edges 22 rows of studs all over the tread	Contains silicon polymer for extra grip on wet surfaces	$108
Continental Ice Contact 2	Has an asymmetrical tread To improve stability, there are special recesses on the side of the tread blocks. The lamellas are zigzag	Extra-light Cristal Dubb spikes "ice pockets" around spikes Crystal form of thorns Fastening at high temperature	The composition contains a large amount of rapeseed oil, which gives the tires elasticity Silicon dioxide improves traction	$130
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9	Has a directional tread pattern with deep drainage grooves Special aramid fibers protect the sidewall of the wheel from cutting	Use of two types of studsEco S technology tud 9 allows the studs to make gentle contact with the surface	Green Elasto Proof rubber compound is environmentally friendly	$133
Michelin X-Ice North4	The central part of the tread has a directional pattern with sharp block edges Side checkers are larger and more rectangular, which increases the cross-country ability	Smart spike technology Tapered studs reminiscent of rally studs Fastening with thermoset compound Reduced top flange diameter from 6.5 to 5 mm Increased number of spikes (up to 250 pieces)	Improved tread compound keeps tires flexible down to record -65°C temperatures	$117
Hankook Winter I*cept IZ2	Reinforced center rib A large number of 3D lamellas over the entire surface	Studless rubber	Contains highly dispersed silica	100 dollars
Nexen Win Guard Snow'G WH2	Rigid center rib Movable shoulder pads Rounded side blocks increase maneuverability	Studless rubber	Rubber contains nanosilica	54 dollars

*Prices are valid as of 11/27/2018

Test results

The main indicators of winter tires 185 65 r15 can be assessed on a 5-point scale as follows:

	Driving on asphalt	Snow control	Ice management	External noise	Resource	Price quality
Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02	4	4	5	3	4	3
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic	4	5	3	4	4	5
Continental Ice Contact 2	4	5	5	4	5	5
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9	4	5	5	3	5	4
Michelin X-Ice North4	4	5	4	5	4	5
Hankook Winter I*cept IZ2	4	3	4	3	4	5
Nexen Win Guard Snow'G WH2	3	3	3	4	4	4

Drivers' reviews of winter tires 185 65 R15

In addition to the test results of winter non-studded tires 185 65 r15, the decision to buy this or that rubber is influenced by the reviews of the owners of this model.

	Positive	Negative
Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02	I have been riding DunlopWinter Ice r14 for the third year now. Shipov lost only a couple, and I drive quite sharply. Rubber is very reliable in turns comes clearly in any weather.	Very noisy. After running in, I thought that the rumble would decrease, but it seems to have become even more. But in general, the rubber is good, which is not surprising for such a price.
Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic	Doesn't get hard in the cold. Very short stopping distance. Compared to my previous tires Rosava, it's amazing how obedient the car is in ice! Despite the fact that the winter was practically without snow, did not lose a single spike.	For 2 seasons lost 20% of spikes. It skids a little on the ice, but I think that this is due to the fact that I only have Goodyear wheels on the drive wheels, and Kama 505 on the rear wheels.
Continental Ice Contact 2	Stands on VW golf 6 second season. I am extremely happy with these tires. Even with heavy ice, you can safely reach speeds of up to 160 km / h. The pins are all in place.	Rubber, of course, is good, but for such a price you can buy almost the same one third cheaper. I paid $150 for a wheel and didn't see much of an effect. To be honest, tires are like tires. Noisy, like all spikes.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9	This is the best winter tire ever. No wonder it constantly occupies high places in various ratings of studded tires. Despite the high cost, I bought myself 4 wheels for an all-wheel drive car. Passing performance and handling at altitude!	The two problems with this carving are the high price and the big sound effect. In addition, spikes are prohibited in most European countries, so think carefully before buying.
Michelin X-Ice North4	Premium tires, what can I say. I rode the X-IceNorth3 last winter and am very pleased. Trouble-free in any weather I think the "four" will be no worse, I'm going to buy my wife a Renault.	I bought tires recently, I haven’t had to ride in the snow yet. On wet pavement, it behaves a little unstable, but I hope this stud run-in has not ended yet.
Hankook Winter I*cept IZ2	This tire suits me perfectly. During the winter that I left on it, I never skidded or got stuck in the snow. Everywhere passes perfectly, despite the fact that there are no spikes.	Tires are not for our roads. Pit does not hold absolutely! During the season of operation - minus 1 wheel.
NexenWinGuardSnow'G WH2	It suits well for the mild climate of the south of Ukraine. Temperature fluctuations and light snow are quite tough for her. And it costs much cheaper than Michelin and Nokian.	It skids on ice, on the pavement it doesn’t obey the steering wheel. They are on the Lada Granta. For that kind of money, it's better to buy something from the Nordman series and not suffer.