In the global car tire market, winter tires account for a modest 7–8%. And in Russia, the production of tires for the winter period is a profitable business, they account for up to 60% of the market. For our country, winter tires of the Scandinavian type with a massive tread are suitable, well pushing through snow and ice crust.
In order to choose the most the best winter tires 2015, 2016, tests of 4 leading foreign and domestic automotive publications were studied:
- Tuulilasi
- Testworld
- Auto Review
- "Behind the wheel".
Based on the results of all tests, a rating of winter studded tires 2015-2016 was compiled. It presents Russian and imported winter tires, an overview of the Scandinavian type models.
We also recommend that you study the battery test in order to fully meet the winter.
In addition, a rating of winter studded tires for the 2016-2017 winter season has been compiled.
Rating winter tires season 2015-2016
10. Michelin X-IceNorth 3
Snow clearance is optimized by a more open tread pattern. Tires hold the road well even in conditions of poor traction.
Pros: these are quiet tires that accelerate without problems and hold grip on a snowy road, ride confidently on slush. They have the shortest of the considered models the braking distance from 100 km / h on dry asphalt.
Cons: acceleration and braking on ice are mediocre. Worst time performance during a test during a ride in a circle. The Michelin X-IceNorth 3 rubber test showed their suitability for terrain where there is little snow and ice.
9. Formula Ice
The car, “shod” in Formula Ice, is well-controlled on dry pavement, and the aluminum hexagonal spike helps to walk and brake well on snow and ice.
Pluses: tires perfectly brake on dry asphalt and showed high smoothness.
Cons: failure during ice-snow trials. Suitable as a budget option for a metropolis, with rare trips out of town.
8. Hankook Winter i * Pike RS W419
Low-noise Korean-made rubber with 180 spikes (depending on size) and a high-density lamellar system to reduce braking distance.
Pluses: the best time in turns on an icy track, the test pilots had no complaints about tires while driving on a slope in the snow, on a circular track and forest tracks. They confidently behave on a dirty track, on a dry and wet road surface.
Cons: in the snow, the behavior is somewhat uneven.
7. Gislaved Nord * Frost 100
Tires are equipped with spikes with optimized head geometry (faces in all directions). This aids traction on the ice. Wide area of the contact spot with a large number of hooks.
Pros: tires successfully passed the snow and ice test, earned good marks on wet surfaces (overall rating 8.3 according to Test World).
Cons: high rolling resistance and long braking distance on dry asphalt.
6. Goodyear UltraGripIce Arctic
Slots in the form of the letter V are made on the grooves of this rubber. Their goal is to provide confident grip in snowy areas.
Pros: This model withstood the Tuulilasi and TestWorld tests on ice and snow with dignity, and did not disgrace on wet asphalt and water-snow porridge (overall rating is 8.4 according to Test World).
Disadvantages: in emergency situations on dry asphalt they react more slowly than other models considered.
5. Nokian Nordman 4
Under the tire spikes are elastic pads that soften contact with the road, reduce noise and extend the spike's “life”.
Pros: Russian test teams of past years rated Nokian Nordman 4 as "a strong middle peasant."
Cons: Test World did not like the performance of tires on wet pavement, and most of all on ice. They gave the subjects a total score of 7.1; only the studded Sunny SN3860 (5.9) were worse.
4. Nokian Nordman 5
To further improve grip, a protrusion (“bear claw”) is made on the tread block, creating tension in it. When braking, the spike is held upright.
From the pros: “At the wheel” praised the tire for a low price (from 1930 rubles), average fuel consumption, good stability on the snow cover, lateral grip on ice, and the way the car moved on asphalt.
Cons: mediocre controllability and comfort, satisfactory patency in the snow.
3. Pirelli Winter Ice Zero
Pirelli products are tested only in severe weather, since they will have to “work” on uneven, icy and snowy surfaces.
Positive feedback: on acceleration, braking and handling on snow and ice. You can quickly brake on asphalt with melted snow.
Disadvantages: loss of grip in corners, loud noise from tires, not short enough to evaluate “excellent” stopping distance on a coating without water.
2. Continental ContiIceContact
In the manufacture of tires, a special mixture is used, taking into account the particularly cold winter climate. ContiIceContact is a station wagon, which is suitable for both "cars" and for all-terrain vehicles.
Positive aspects: rapid braking on ice, the lack of complaints about handling, on a snowy road and a dry roadway, you can quickly accelerate and slow down.
Cons: non-reference slushplaning resistance.
1. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
After passing a rigorous test of winter studded tires 2015-2016, this set of tires has earned the unanimous approval of both Russian and Finnish test teams. Motorists can choose any radius of this tire: R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19 and R20.
Advantages: a huge number of spikes (190 pieces in 205/55 R16). Adding special additives to the rubber reduced the weight of the tire. There are no problems with handling on the track with melted snow, on a frozen and snowy surface. Small braking distance on wet and dry asphalt.
Disadvantages: noise.
Winter tire test procedure
Tuulilasi tested 8 studded models for acceleration and braking in snow and ice. There were also races on wet and dry asphalt, and tests for resistance to slushplaning (slipping of the wheels of a car on a mash of water and snow) were carried out.
The magazine "Driving" studied 10 sets of the most popular winter tires (175/65 R14) for consumers at a price not exceeding 3,700 rubles apiece. The main thing for the experts of the publication was the price-quality ratio.
Auto Review with the help of the Mercedes-Benz S-class, I found out how they behave on the road: winter tires - “Scandinavians” with spikes, studless “footwear” for severe Scandinavian type winters and studless tires of European type. The most important accelerations and decelerations occurred in a huge hangar. At start, a traction control was used, while braking, an anti-lock system was used, and on a winding track, the system was controlled by a dynamic stabilization system.
Test World Team held winter tire test 2015 under the open sky and indoors. At first, the time for which the car will pass the circle was detected. High-quality tires (and 25 sets participated in the tests) were required to provide fast acceleration, high lateral grip and a short braking distance. Then the test pilots expressed good and bad impressions about each model. Additionally, reviews were collected on how a car with different tires maintains a given direction of movement.
