Summer tires are one of the easiest and most effective ways to increase car safety. Winter and summer tires are made from different grades of rubber (the first from soft, the second from hard), therefore, in hot weather, winter tires “float” along the road, losing performance, and this can lead to an accident. In addition, summer tires have a different tread pattern than winter ones to ensure good adhesion of the wheels to the track.
2016 Summer Tire Test “Behind the Wheel”
The magazine “Behind the Wheel” conducted a test of 14- and 16-inch summer tires at the AvtoVAZ training ground in the middle of the last summer season. The Lada Priora with anti-lock braking system and two golf-class cars acted as the carrier of “car shoes”.
Based on the test results, a summer tire rating of 2016 was compiled.
Summer tires rating 2016 R16 (“Behind the Wheel”)
First, we present the top 10 tires of the most popular dimension - 205/55 R16. Are the "test" from 2600 to 4 thousand rubles apiece.
10. Cordiant sport 3
Russian tires with good braking on wet surfaces and mediocre on dry surfaces. With them, the test car had the highest fuel consumption.
Price - 3100 rubles.
9. Bridgestone Ecopia EP200
This rubber helps to save fuel, but failed the test on wet pavement. And on a winding road the driver, whose car is “shod” in such tires, will have to be alert.
Price - 3550 rubles.
8. Toyo proxes CF2
These Japanese tires have low riding comfort, but excellent braking on dry and wet asphalt.
Price - 3500 rub.
7. Nordman SX
The best value for money. Drivers were satisfied with the “behavior” of these tires in normal and extreme driving conditions, on dry and wet surfaces.
Price - 2800 rub.
6. Continental Conti Premium Contact 5
The Germans showed themselves excellently when braking on a dry track and in terms of fuel efficiency. The rest is good, but not brilliant.
Price - 4000 rubles.
5. Hankook Ventus Prime 2
With such tires, the car will tenaciously “hold on” to the track in any weather. Cons - summed up fuel efficiency and ride comfort.
Price - 3400 rubles.
4. Michelin Primacy 3
Experts noted the high coupling properties of German tires. It’s nice to drive cars with them and exchange rate stability - no complaints.
Price - 4000 rubles.
3. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance
The leader in the nomination "Comfort". High grip on wet and dry tracks. But on a dry surface, with extreme maneuvering, the rubber did not behave in the best way, for which the score was lowered. However, the third place among worthy competitors is quite good.
Price - 3700 rub.
2. Nokian Hakka Blue
These Finnish tires have a record speed in the dry shift and excellent in the wet. Slightly worse (compared to the leader of the rating) showed themselves when braking on dry surfaces.
Price - 3650 rubles.
1. Pirelli Cinturato P7 Blue
Good tires should provide not only excellent handling and directional stability, but also be affordable. The winner of the rating, who scored 944 points, possesses all these qualities (choosing the best summer tires of 2016, “Behind the Wheel” was guided by a bar of 900 points - an indicator of excellent tires). And Pirelli tires have the best wet braking performance.
Price - 3600 rubles.
Summer tires rating 2016 R14 (“Behind the Wheel”)
It is time to evaluate other summer tires. The rating of 2016 is continued by tires of dimension 185/60 R14.
10. Matador Stella 2
With such tires it is better to forget about fast driving, it will take a long time to brake if something happens. But they save fuel well.
Price - 1800 rubles.
9. Cordiant Road Runner
The pluses of Russian tires: good handling in extreme conditions. In the minuses - mediocre comfort and clarity of course.
Price - 2135 rubles.
8. Pirelli Formula Energy
In the test for directional stability and direction of movement at high speed, they scored 40 points out of 50 possible. But in sharp turns, the scorcher driver will have to try very hard to keep the car.
Price - 2150 rubles.
7. Michelin BFGoodrich g? Grip
In all respects, behind the wheel experts rated these tires as "slightly below average."
Price - 2165 rubles.
6. Hankook Kinergy Eco
Korean tires "behaved" more dignified than the owner of 7th place. A strong middling in terms of braking speed on dry / wet asphalt, and in terms of noise and driving comfort.
Price - 2135 rubles.
5. Yokohama BluEarth
Japanese tires have the lowest fuel consumption if the vehicle travels at a speed of 90 km / h. They also demonstrated quick rearrangement and braking on wet roads.
Price - 2000 rub.
4. Nokian Nordman SX
The case when cheap does not mean bad. Drivers praised the handling of the car with the Nordman SX in extreme modes. There are no complaints about the grip properties on different surfaces. Good anti-crisis solution for the summer.
Price - 1970 rub.
3. Toyo Proxes CF2
By confident behavior on the road and fast braking on a dry and wet surface, it is not inferior to number 2 of this top-10. One drawback - this is not the quietest and softest summer tires.
Price - 2180 rubles.
2. Nokian Hakka Green
Tires of the Finnish brand and made in Russia are responsive during extreme maneuvering and demonstrate excellent directional stability at high speeds.
Price - 2380 rubles.
1. Continental ContiPremiumContact 5
Advantages of the winner: high-speed rearrangement and a small braking distance on wet and dry asphalt (27.5 meters at a speed of 80 km / h and 40 meters when accelerating to 100 km / h, respectively).
Price - 2660 rubles.
Conclusions
If you want tires to be inexpensive and of high quality, get Nordman SX. If you want the car to obey the steering wheel perfectly in hot and rain conditions and not let you down at a sharp bend, then the best choice is tires from Continental (for R14) and Pirelli (for R16).
And finally, let us recall the winners of the 2015 Summer Tire Test “Behind the Wheel” (R16, R14). They were Michelin Primacy 3 and Pirelli Cinturato P1.