The best winter tires R15. The best winter tires R15 Pirelli Cinturato Winter - winter non-studded tires, test
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 season 2016-2017. This time, for testing, they selected popular tire models of size 185/65 R15, which are installed on LADA Vesta cars, Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio. 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 technical regulations RF from January 1, 2016, it should fluctuate within 0.9-1.5 mm, in addition, controllability 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
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Test results
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General test results for studded tires
General Friction Tire Test Results
Analysis of results*
Studded tires
| Place | Tire | Advantages | Flaws |
| 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  |
Reliable stud retention, excellent grip and handling on icy roads, high 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 Ice Pro  |
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
| Place | Tire | Advantages | Flaws |
| 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 possible viewpoint, 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.
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 is that the residual tread depth should be at least 4 mm (otherwise - 500 rubles fine). But you need to understand that the M + S marking absolutely does not oblige the manufacturer to anything! For marking, no tests or certificates are required confirming the suitability of tires for winter, and therefore, more and more often it can be seen on frankly summer, moreover, “asphalt” tires, which incidentally indicates the devaluation of not only the letter S (snow, “snow”), but also M (mud, "mud"). So we don’t look at the letters, but at the tread, and if we don’t see a lot of small slots-lamellas, then we conclude: it’s dangerous to ride on such in winter. And even better, when there is a “Snowflake” stamp on the sidewall in the form of three mountain peaks with a snowflake, these models really passed the test on a snowy track. The participants in our test are all with this marking: these are 14 sets with spikes and nine without.
The test program is standard, all the tracks of the White Hell test site near the Finnish town of Ivalo are well known to us - and most importantly, to be lucky with the weather. Almost lucky: there was no snowfall, although the temperature danced from 5 to 23 degrees of frost, so its influence had to be taken into account by conducting additional races on the "reference" tires. But the measurements of the longitudinal dynamics took place in a closed hangar with a more stable temperature.
This is where the embarrassment happened with Nokian tires, and with a model that has been produced for more than a year. Both in acceleration and in braking, the non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV lost not only to its principal competitors, but even to the tires of their own "second line" - Nordman RS2 SUV tires! The testers of the Nokian company working in the neighborhood were alarmed, they repeated the measurements themselves ... An official investigation showed that the failed tires were produced at a plant near St. Petersburg at the end of 2016, more precisely on the 48th week. Then there was a failure in the technological cycle. They did not share the 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 back up the passability estimates with instrumental measurements - acceleration time in deep snow with the 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 of the previous generation regularly won in our tests, then the new one, and even with two types of studs, easily outperformed the competitors.
Expensive? Then we carefully look at the points, at the main advantages and disadvantages of other tires - and choose the best option for your pocket. And yet we avoid buying outsider tires - such savings threaten incomparably greater 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 kind of trefoils that work effectively in corners. And this is not a marketing trick: a clear superiority over competitors both on the handling track and in braking on ice. Yes, and in other forms winter tests tires are top notch. On asphalt, grip is moderate, and the main problem is noise at speeds from 70 to 90 km / h.
The best tires for harsh winter conditions!
| 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 v 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 at the Russian plant Continental near Kaluga. The Gislaved brand belongs to Continental- and the Nord*Frost 200 model copies asymmetrical pattern tread of ContiIceContact tires of the first generation, 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 Michelin's "second line", they are produced at the same plant in Davydovo near Moscow as Michelin X-Ice North 3 tires. But the tread is its own, original. It is a pity that there are also few spikes, they are round, excessively recessed, and as a result, mediocre behavior on ice.
On snow, including on virgin soil, the situation is better. And even better - on asphalt, although you need to remember that the permissible speed is 160 km / h, although studded competitors have 190.
| 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 with winter Toyo tires Something went wrong. 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 best comfort and grip properties.
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
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 - UltraGrip Ice SUV, but these tires are not available in size 215/65 R16. However, if the car is equipped with a stabilization system, then the tires Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice 2 is 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!
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.
The Marshal brand belongs to the Korean company Kumho Tire, however, according to the tread pattern and even the rare R speed index, these tires copy the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires - and some sellers play on this similarity. By the way, on snow and asphalt friction tires Marshal and Nokian are close, but on ice the loss of the copy is already obvious. It is also one of the noisiest and toughest friction tires available.
| 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...
This year we compared premium and mid-range tires in the most popular size - 185/65R15. Such tires are suitable, for example, for Kia Rio, Hyundai Solaris and Lada Vesta.
I leave on the ice of the test tunnel. I start to warm up the brakes, and by the sound I hear - the wheels are blocked. Lada Vesta must be equipped with ABS from the factory, as well as a stabilization system and traction control. For some reason electronic assistants does not work! And this is when every minute counts. If we didn’t have a spare Vesta, you would never know which studded tires to take in the dimension 185/65 R15.
In the comments to last year's material, readers asked to compare Asian tires with European ones. Therefore, we have added Yokohama iceGuard Stud IG55, Hankook Winter I’Pike RS and another novelty from Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 to the novelties of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 and Nokian Nordman 7 season. They were accompanied by proven European models: Michelin X-Ice North 3, Pirelli Ice Zero and Gislaved Nord Frost 200.
Get ready, you will find a huge amount of information that will help you make right choice for the winter. But if you don’t feel like digging into tables, numbers and scores, we’ll immediately summarize the tests. So, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9, Pirelli Ice Zero and Nokian Nordman 7 performed better than others. The ninth Hakkapeliitta won, which left no chance for the rivals on the slippery surface. But this tire costs almost 1.5 times more (4800 rubles). Pirelli and Nordman 7 are more profitable in terms of price / quality ratio. At the same time, Ice Zero is a strong and safe, but noisy tire. "Nordman" disappointed with grip on asphalt and a weak sidewall. But this tire with patency is in order and it rides confidently on ice.
Acceleration and braking on snow
This time we had a longer straight (800 m) than last year. This helped to get more data on each set, accelerating to 45 km / h and then braking urgently.
Outcome:
The difference in braking turned out to be small - the Yokohama iceGuard Stud iG55 slows down the worst, and the Michelin X-Ice North 3 is the best.
Skid resistance on a snowy road when releasing gas
The second most important aspect after braking is the car's resistance to skidding in the event of a driver's error: with a sharp release of gas in a turn at 75 km / h. This can happen if a person saw a danger ahead or was afraid of a turn. This is the most common case of loss of control of the car in a turn. The higher the score, the longer the tire resists turning.
Outcome:
The most predicted are Pirelli Ice Zero and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9. The driver has time to take action to prevent a skid or a U-turn. And with Yokohama iceGuard Stud iG55 and Gislaved Nord Frost 200, you need to be on the lookout: a slight release of gas, and the car is already drifting, and a turn occurs instantly and unexpectedly - a stabilization system is needed for such tires.
Stability and handling on snow
When driving on a snowy track, we looked at the lap time as a complex measure of grip, but also evaluated the behavior of the tire. Does it forgive mistakes in the form of steering twist, too high speed at the entrance to the turn.
Outcome:
Pirelli Ice Zero revealed the best time. However, at the limit, the front axle is abruptly torn off. The Hakkapeliitta 9 is forgiving, but the Nordman 7 still lifts the rear axle a little more than it should be for the average driver. The Bridgestone Spike-02, Hankook i'Pike RS and Gislaved 200 veer into drifts and skids, requiring delicate and fast steering. From Yokohama iceGuard Stud iG55 you don't know what to expect: either skidding or stability in the same turn at the same speed.
patency
This time we were lucky - a lot of snow fell. The depth of the cover was 19 cm! Such blockages occur at least once a year in many Russian cities, when the entrances and exits to the courtyard are filled up. The ground clearance of Vesta made it possible to take measurements in such deep snow and not get stuck.
Outcome:
Michelin X-Ice and Nordman 7, without straining, plowed the virgin snow. On Bridgestone and Hankook, Vesta got stuck a couple of times and had to be pulled back. The Hakkapeliitta 9 rowed not too confidently, with the shallowest tread (8.9 mm).
Acceleration and braking on ice
A thick layer of snow on the roof of the test tunnel did not allow the use of Racelogic satellite for measurements, so we had to switch to the Datron optical complex. Testing indoors allows you to achieve reproducible results that are not affected by wind, sun, temperature changes.
Outcome:
The Yokohama iG55 brakes the worst, they lose about 7 meters to most tires from just 25 km / h. We note the poor result of Hankook Winter i'Pike RS - they stop an average of 3 meters farther than everyone else.
Lateral grip on ice
Compared to the previous year, an ice circle has been added to the traditional tests. The driver, gradually accelerating, drives along a circle with a diameter of 270 meters with the ESP turned on until it is activated, thereby reducing the human factor during measurements, and the lateral grip of the tires on ice comes to the fore.
Outcome:
The new Hakkapeliitta 9 with two types of studs (for lateral and longitudinal grip) went into another dimension. The difference in speed is such that Nokian will catch up with Yokohama iceGuard IG55 in 5 laps! Pirelli and Michelin did well. Bridgestone Spike-02 showed poor lateral grip on slippery surfaces.
Ice stability
The track with different turns helped to answer the question about the complex grip on ice, as well as how predictable for the average driver the tire breaks into a skid. We noted the lap time and put points for stability - the more the better.
Outcome:
After Hakkapeliitta 9, it seems that other tires do not have studs, the difference in grip on ice is so great. Note that Bridgestone, despite the worst lap time, is more predictable than Hankook, Gislaved and Yokohama. We lowered their marks for the fact that after a breakdown in a slip, stabilization, despite all the actions of the driver, takes a very long time.
Braking on wet pavement
In winter, wet asphalt is a typical phenomenon in cities. On each set of tires, we accelerated to 93 km / h and urgently braked 6 times.
Outcome:
For the first time in many generations, the Hakkapeliitta was among the leaders in wet stopping distances. The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 also performed well. Yokohama brakes four meters worse on wet pavement - this is equivalent to the length of the car.
Wet stability
Lateral wet grip we tested on an artificially irrigated track. And, as in winter disciplines, we especially carefully monitored the behavior of the car in a turn - whether there would be an unexpected skid.
Outcome:
As in braking, the Hakkapeliitta 9 had the best time and safe handling. The Gislaved also performed well. A tendency to skid on wet pavement was found in Yokohama iG55 and Bridgestone Spike-02.
Braking on dry pavement
In million-plus cities, dry asphalt in winter is also becoming a common thing. On each set, we brake from 93 km / h, and the braking distance from 90 km / h to 5 is taken into account in order to neutralize the response time of the brake system.
Bottom line: Nordman 7 had the worst result. Hankook i'Pike RS and Bridgestone Spike-02 also performed poorly. And the shortest braking distance was shown by Yokohama iG55, which failed all tests on snow, ice and wet asphalt.
Acoustic comfort
Noise was evaluated by an expert method (the higher the score, the quieter the tire). After all, the hum, which is less in decibels, can be perceived by a person as unpleasant, annoying. Measurements were taken on asphalt. It is important to understand that the higher the class of the car, the less you will be disturbed by the noise of the spikes. And in Vesta it's loud anyway.
The quietest were Gislaved and Hankook. And the most uncomfortable - Pirelli. Nokian and Bridgestone are also loud, but slightly less annoying.
Smooth running
Smoothness was evaluated on snowy and asphalt roads in the driver's and rear passenger's seats.
Outcome:
Hankook Winter i'Pike RS and Gislaved Nord Frost 200 in size 185/65R15 showed themselves in two ways: small bumps are transmitted in detail to the cabin, and large ones are softly cushioned. The most pleasant were Michelin X-Ice North 3 with a soft sidewall, and the most uncomfortable were Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 and Yokohama iG55.
Side cut resistance
A side puncture is usually beyond repair, the tire must be changed. And one tire, for security reasons, is not enough. Like last year, we used a 92 mm high block as an obstacle. Each time they started acceleration from the same place, and each time they turned the tire so that the blow fell into a new zone. They noted not only the final breakdown of the tire, but also intermediate deterioration, starting from 40 km / h and in increments of 5 km / h. Unfortunately, the failed “carrier” of the Mercedes-Benz C-class did not allow the testing to be completed. Therefore, we do not include data on the strength of the sidewall in the final table and provide them for reference.
Outcome:
The Pirelli Ice Zero has the most durable sidewall, Bridgestone also resisted breakdown for a long time. Nokian Nordman grabbed a hernia at 45 and 50 km/h before dying at 55 km/h. Michelin held up to 55 km / h without hernias, after which there was a small cut without damage to the cord. At the first passage on the most difficult Yokohama bus iG55 at 40 km / h could not stand the lower suspension arm of the car.
Stud pullout force
The efficiency of a studded tire is directly related to the number of studs. Over time, they fall out, the grip decreases. The higher the stud pullout force, the better it sits in the tire. We armed ourselves with a dynamometer, tongs and began to tear out the “nails”: an average of 6 pieces from different places of the tread.
Outcome:
After a couple of broken spikes at the Bridgestone, we took a break - exhausting. But the “nails” of Gislaved and Nokian jumped out of their places easily.
Conclusion
The premium and mid-range tires performed well overall, with no loss of studs. Each model has its own focus on the type of coating, so read a brief summary of each tire below.
Please note that if the store noticed a new symbol or letter in the name of the tire, then this is a different model with its own advantages and disadvantages!
1st place Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
On the snow, the Hakkapeliita 9 is similar to the old 8, showing soft transitional glide patterns. And on ice, the tire plays in a different league compared to its competitors. At the same time, while driving, you do not feel an excess of grip, but as soon as you change tires, everything becomes clear - Hakkapeliita 9 is the undisputed leader on slippery surfaces.
Hakkapeliita 9 got rid of the disadvantages of the "eight": poor grip on dry and wet pavement. This is probably the first Hakkapeliitta that can be recommended for an urban environment. Most of the questions are about the noise and weak fixation of the spikes, which do not have an adhesive base, like the Continental IceContact 2. But a nice bonus is a lifetime extended warranty for a through breakdown.
Strengths: high grip on any slippery roads, excellent grip on dry and wet pavement, safe handling on all types of surfaces.
Weaknesses: poor fixation of the spike, high price, noise.
2nd place Pirelli Ice Zero
It's time for the Italians to call their tire Snow Zero - Pirelli behaves so well on snow: the best lap time on a snowy track, the best acceleration, the best resistance to skidding when releasing gas in a turn.
Good grip on dry and wet pavement is accompanied by an obsessive stud noise. On a budget car, which is the Lada Vesta, driving on asphalt is uncomfortable. On the other hand, Ice Zero is not afraid of Russian roads - the sidewall is very strong. Pirelli has an extended through-hole warranty for one year from the date of purchase. Universal tire (if you put the noise aside) for city and country roads.
Strengths: Safe handling on slippery and asphalt surfaces, strong sidewall, good stud retention.
Weaknesses: noisy.
3rd place Nokian Nordman 7
Interestingly, the Nordman 7 has not lost the drive that the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and 9 are already deprived of - the car on the "seven" turns under the throttle and behaves more playfully. Although for an inexperienced driver, this is rather a drawback.
Nordman 7 has the same advantages as Hakkapeliita 7 - great off-road capability, good handling on snow and ice. But on wet pavement you need to be careful.
The tire got a breakdown already at 50 km / h. The discount of half the cost of the tire under the extended warranty (within a year from the date of purchase) is a weak compensation for an unreliable sidewall.
Strengths: good cross-country ability, confident grip on snow and ice.
Weaknesses: poor grip on dry and wet pavement, weak sidewall breakdown.
4th Michelin X-ice North 3
Designed, how to put it mildly, for a beginner. For a person who often twists the steering wheel in winter, not understanding at what angle to turn the wheels. An ordinary driver will consider that he is being held for a simpleton: in a straight line, the car simply does not respond to a slight steering deflection. In those corners where on most tires you had to turn the steering wheel a quarter, on the Michelin you have to turn 180 degrees. The steering wheel has to be intercepted often. And if a skid does happen, then it would be nice to have counter-emergency training to deal with them.
The performance on the snow is not bad (it’s a pity, according to the subjective sensations, the hook is a bit). Despite the small number of studs - 94, the tire performed well on ice due to the large protrusion of the "nails" (1.26 mm upon purchase and 1.65 after the end of the measurements). The extended warranty is valid only when purchased at Tyreplus tire centers within a year, replacement or repair is also only there.
Strengths: comfort when driving over bumps, good digital performance on all types of coverage.
Weaknesses: sidewall weak for breakdown, weak fixation of the spike, large steering angles for maneuvers, in case of skidding, you need to turn the steering wheel quickly and a lot.
5th place Gislaved Nord Frost 200
The asymmetric tread pattern of the Nord Frost 200 is the same as that of the Continental ContiIceContact HD (BD). The problems remained the same: great sensitivity to ruts, a sharp breakdown in a skid. In the "Skid resistance" exercise, Lada Vesta turned the fastest on Gislaved.
The Nord Frost 200 is a relatively quiet studded tire with good grip on wet pavement. Suitable for asphalt life in a million-plus city.
The stabilization system (ESP) on the car is recommended when purchasing these tires.
Strengths: quiet, good grip on wet pavement.
Weaknesses: sensitive to ruts, weak fixation of the stud, sharp breaks into a skid on a slippery road.
6th Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02
Bridgestone Spike-02 looked promising before the test: a powerful spike, an interesting v-shaped pattern. In practice, it turned out that the spikes work on ice only during acceleration and braking: as soon as the steering wheel of the car turns, the hook disappears. The worst time on the ice track, one of the worst times on the ice lap, where the speed was limited by the car's electronics (ESP). Perhaps this is due to the too rigid (for winter tires) sidewall.
But the sensations are not so bad, the car responds well to turning the steering wheel. The most important thing is to maneuver smoothly, a secondary wobble can easily send the car into a ditch, as can a sudden release of gas in a corner that will cause an instant turn.
On the other hand, the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 has good cleat retention and a strong puncture-resistant sidewall. The stabilization system (ESP) is recommended when purchasing this kit.
Bridgestone has an extended through-hole warranty for one year from the date of purchase, but only at authorized centers.
Strengths: good stud retention, strong sidewall.
Weaknesses: general weak grip on slippery surfaces (ice and snow), requires stable counter-emergency skills on any surfaces, noise.
7th Hankook Winter i'Pike RS
Hankook is releasing a version of the i'Pike RS+ with more studs in the two most popular benchmark sizes 205/55 R16 and 215/65 R16. And in all the rest, including our 185 / 65R16, with the usual 110 spikes.
And the regular i'Pike RS model (without plus) produced average results. Even Hankook's extended through-hole warranty is valid for a year only from a bore diameter of 16 inches, and therefore, Vesta with R15 was left without insurance.
On ice and snow, i'Pike RS tires are frightening with long slips, which the driver must extinguish for a long time and hard. When braking on slippery surfaces, the tire rolls further than most tires. Low performance on slippery surfaces is not least due to the high hardness of the tread (58 Shore units) versus 50-54 for competitors.
On the pavement, the behavior is slightly better, the tire has a quiet rolling and an average ride.
Strengths: quiet, moderate ride.
Weaknesses: long slips on slippery surfaces, poor grip on ice, average grip on snow.
8th place Yokohama iceGuard Stud iG55
There are no spikes - the protrusion from the factory is only 0.6 mm! By the way, according to the legislation of the Customs Union, the protrusion of the spike is 1.2 +/- 0.3 mm. It is not surprising that the tire took the last places in all ice tests and even lost to the friction tires that we tested in parallel. On wet pavement, Yokohama continued to lose 3-4 meters on braking from 90 km/h.
Comfort is also a problem - bumps are transmitted to the cabin, high noise.
The heaviest tire proved ruthless to the suspension of the old Mercedes-Benz C-Class we used in sidewall strength tests. Already at 40 km / h, when driving through a bar, the lower suspension arm broke.
We are waiting for the new iceGuard iG65 next year, which, we hope, will replace the outdated iG55 model. We do not recommend buying the current model.
Strengths: braking on dry pavement, good stud retention.
Weaknesses: low ride smoothness, no grip on ice, poor grip on snow and wet pavement, unpredictable handling requiring counter-emergency driving skills, noise.
Winter is coming, and again neither the weather forecast nor folk signs can predict what it will be like. We decided to play it safe and, especially for owners of small cars, tested the safest tires in real cold weather - studded tires. Moreover, they have not yet been banned, as planned in the draft amendments to the traffic rules, announced in May this year. So, we have tires in the dimension 185/65 R15 on the test. Traditionally, we took the products of famous brands of premium and medium segments and supplemented the list with little-known tires in order to understand how suitable they are for our operating conditions and how justified their purchase is.
List of tires tested:
There were no surprises among premium brands. The Finnish tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 immediately took the lead on ice and snow tracks. Despite slightly weaker performance on wet and dry pavement, it took first place in the test, scoring 8.7 points. The next position is Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic (8.4 points). This tire has perhaps the most balanced performance, although it is inferior to the Nokian and Continental on the ice arenas. And the Nokian and Continental models became the kings of the ice tracks. And all thanks to the fact that these brands were able to get around the law that limits the number of studs in tires. It operates in the northern countries of Europe and says: for a studded tire, no more than 50 studs can contact the road per meter of rolling, or more if they provide road surface wear equivalent to 50 classic studs. The Finns and Germans were able to make models with a much larger number of studs due to the special geometry of the stud body and its core, as well as due to its lightness. And if the majority of tires in this size have up to 110 studs, then Nokian and Continental have more than 180. And the Conti also has spikes glued in. That's the reason for the huge difference in performance on ice.
The Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01 studded tire was generally weaker in its properties than the high-tech friction tires of this brand. Its traction on ice is not as high due to the design of the stud, which has a core with a significantly larger diameter than competitors. Therefore, it is more difficult for such a spike to push through the ice. However, during operation this should have a positive effect on performance, since a thicker stud wears out less, therefore, it will be more effective for a longer period of time. There were some sensations in the test too. We got two little-known tires Avatyre Freeze and Contyre Arctic Ice 3, which are made in Bila Tserkva at the Rosava plant under the off-take program. You never expect anything special from such products, but the Avatyre Freeze model was an exception to the rule. She scored 7.6 points, which correspond to three safety stars. This tire, by the way, is the leader in resistance to hydroplaning - it has a starting speed of 74.1 km / h. Contyre Arctic Ice 3 turned out to be weaker, especially on ice tracks. She finished third from behind, although her overall score of 7.1 kept her in the three-star safety zone. The Korean studded tire Kumho WinterCraft Ice WI31 provides excellent performance, although it loses in this characteristic on other surfaces. On ice, she clearly lacked spikes, of which there were only 95 in this size. But on snow, her rather deep tread slows down and accelerates the car well. Two more tires, Nexen Winguard Spike WH62 and Aeolus Ice Challenger AW 05, were not well prepared for real winters due to the small number of studs (only 96 per wheel) and the hardest tread compound (70 and 73 Shore respectively) . Because of this, on ice they have the longest braking distance and have problems with handling. But on wet and dry pavement, Aeolus is like in its own element - it slows down perfectly and is controlled.
When summing up the results of the test, we evaluated the tires in terms of safety and price / quality ratio and gave our recommendations regarding the purchase of a particular model. According to these criteria, we propose to make a choice. Surely for someone the main thing will be safety and confidence on the winter road, and someone will want to find the best tire, taking into account its cost.
TEST RESULTS
| Place | Tire | Expert opinions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Score: 8.7 |
YN and IS: 92T XL there is |
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The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tire is the best brake on ice, allows you to drive fast and ensures predictable behavior of the car even in the event of a skid. On snowy roads, it is also good, but on wet and dry pavement it is predictable, it reacts to the release of gas during drifts and drifts, but in comparison with rivals it allows you to drive confidently at lower speeds. |
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| 2 | Score: 8.4 |
IN and IS: 88T Tread Pattern Orientation: there is |
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The Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic generally has good traction on ice, but once you're overspeeding and drifting, it's harder to stabilize the machine. On snowy trails, she obeys the helm and brings pleasure from the ride. The Ultra Grip Ice Arctic is also good on asphalt, where steering responses are precise and understandable, and the speed is higher than that of direct competitors. |
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| 3 | Score: 8.2 |
YN and IS: 92T XL Tread Pattern Orientation: No |
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The Continental IceContact 2 tire is stable on ice, steering responses are predictable, and when cornering begins to skid, it is completely controllable. On snow, grip is good, but when maneuvering, it takes out a little more outward turn. On wet and dry pavement, IceContact 2 allows you to drive fast, and in the event of drifts, the car quickly stabilizes under the release of gas. |
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| 4 | Score: 7.6 |
IN and IS: 88T Tread Pattern Orientation: No |
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The Avatyre Freeze model on ice, unlike competitors "for the price", allows you to control the machine and understand what is happening under the wheels. In the snow, the main thing is not to exceed a reasonable speed, otherwise the car will slip. On wet pavement, good reactions to gas discharge, but drifts are possible if the speed is exceeded. On the dry because of the demolitions, you can not go fast. |
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Verdict: up to you |
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| 5 | Score: 7.5 |
YN and IS: 92T XL Tread Pattern Orientation: there is |
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The Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01 tire grips the ice worse than premium competitors, and maneuvers are more prone to drift and worse trajectory correction. On snow, it generally brakes and accelerates well. On pavement, this tire has more drift and slower throttle response in wet corners. On dry pavement, you can go relatively quickly. |
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Verdict: up to you |
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| 6 | Score: 7.4 |
IN and IS: 88T Tread Pattern Orientation: there is |
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The Kumho WinterCraft Ice WI31 tire is unstable on ice, brakes poorly and provokes deep skids. In the snow, reactions to steering turns are hardly perceptible. On dry pavement, this tire allows you to go fast, provides good handling and predictable behavior. But on wet, sharp maneuvers, drifts are possible, which is why you have to slow down in advance. |
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Verdict: up to you |
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| 7 | Score: 7.1 |
IN and IS: 88T Tread Pattern Orientation: there is |
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The Contyre Arctic Ice 3 tire does not allow you to go fast on ice, as it is prone to drift in corners. On the snow, it is only slightly inferior to the top three. On wet pavement, sharp maneuvers can cause deep drifts, so you need to be careful. On dry pavement, this model handles quite well, allowing you to go faster than many competitors. |
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Verdict: up to you |
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| 8 | Score: 6.8 |
IN and IS: 88T Tread Pattern Orientation: there is |
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The Aeolus Ice Challenger AW 05 tire is very slippery on ice compared to many competitors, brakes badly, provokes strong drifts and is difficult to accelerate on it. On snowy tracks, a car in such shoes also quickly goes into side slips. But on the pavement on these tires you can go quickly and the car is well controlled. |
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Verdict: up to you |
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| 9 | Score: 6.7 |
YN and IS: 92T XL Tread Pattern Orientation: there is |
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The Nexen Winguard Spike WH62 model has low traction on ice, so it is very difficult to control the machine due to deep drifts. On snow, the steering response is insufficient for a confident ride. Sharp maneuvers on wet pavement can be accompanied by strong drifts. However, drifts are also manifested on dry land, although not so critical. |
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Verdict: up to you |
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We tested the most popular 185/65 R15 studded tires for budget cars. Mindful of the crisis, we decided to focus on inexpensive tires at a price of 2500 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
Most affordable - Cordiant Snow cross. Completely domestic (both development and manufacture) tire, upgraded last year. A little more expensive is another model from last season - Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02.
Another four tires that can be called inexpensive by today's standards are Nitto Therma Spike (the second brand Japanese company Touo), the South Korean Kumho WinterCraft Ice, the sought-after Formula Ice (developed by Pirelli, and manufactured in Russia) and the popular “Japanese” Malaysian “assembly” Touo Observe G3-Ice on the market.
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!
We saddle the new one hatchback Kia Rio 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.
Crap! 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 only able to evaluate the behavior of the car during extreme maneuvering, and from the definition top speed successful execution of the maneuver refused.
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. top scores- on tires Continental, Goodyear and Nokian. 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, the Rio experiences nasty steer during lane changes rear axle, 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.
They row more confidently than others in deep snow good year tires-on them Rio is ready to conquer any snowdrift. But on Kumho and Touo tires you can only ride good move. 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 the highest rating for exchange rate stability Formula tires Ice: the crispness 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 unclean 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 are practically brothers both in terms of blood and 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 the tire earned for every thousand rubles of the price, the more profitable purchase! The rating is headed Cordiant tires Snow Cross, and the test leader Hakkapeliitta 9 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. Have a good trip! 