Winter studded tire tests. Big test of winter tires: the choice "Behind the wheel"! Toyo Observe G3-Ice - Scandinavian winter spike tires, test

A year earlier, Roman Kharitonov reviewed winter tire tests for one of the federal websites. The material has not lost its relevance during this time, many brands of tires can be found in various car dealerships in Russia and the CIS countries. We suggest you remember this post.

The tire is a significant attribute of the vehicle's integral structure. This simple-looking rubber band is responsible for comfort and control, safety and feedback.

And if some parameters vary so slightly that they are caught only by professional measuring equipment, then such a thing as the braking distance, depending on the tires, changes much more, and, most importantly, is often a decisive factor in an emergency on the road.

When to change tires? The question is subtle, and there is no one hundred percent correct answer. Formally, it is recommended to switch to winter tires when the average daily air temperature drops to five to seven degrees Celsius. First, the composition of the rubber compound summer tires in such weather conditions, it noticeably hardens, which affects the driving properties, and, secondly, this approach minimizes the risk in case of an unexpected onset of cold.

But too early switching to winter tires is also wrong. Especially when it comes to studded models, and also about friction (non-studded) tires of the Scandinavian type, in general, too. Both those and others are sharpened primarily for the primordially winter disciplines like snow and ice. "Velcro" for mild winters of the Central European type tolerate cold asphalt much better, but on ice and snow they become absolutely helpless, and therefore even vendors, manufacturers recommend using them only in southern Russia.

Every year the expert community conducts tests of automobile rubber. On the eve of summer, society receives information about summer tires. Before the beginning of winter - about winter. In our review, we will rely on foreign auto clubs and publications, or rather, consider the results of tests of winter tires of the German instance ADAC and the Finnish magazine Tuulilasi (http://www.tuulilasi.fi)

The ADAC club offered the audience the results of measurements of friction (studless) tires for a European type winter, which are poorly suited for Russian conditions. However, for the sake of completeness, it will be useful to see their results.

The selection of Finns from Tuulilasi turned out to be much more relevant. They have assembled eight sets of Scandinavian type studded winter tires. That is, tires designed primarily for snow and ice, but at the same time appropriate on cold asphalt. Snow and ice tests were carried out in Ivalo, Finland in the first week of March. The temperature fluctuated around zero degrees. The carriers of winter tires are the Volvo S60 sedan and the Volvo V70 station wagon. Most of the measurements were carried out using the V-Box equipment. Auxiliary systems ABS and ESC were included - in the latter case, Sport mode was used, which allows for a little slippage. Driving on dry and wet asphalt was carried out in the Finnish Tampere.

Tuulilasi experts accelerated and braked on ice, assessed handling on slippery surfaces, checked the same parameters on snow, that is, tested tires in traditional winter conditions. At the same time, they did not forget about dry and wet asphalt, as well as about resistance to slashplaning (a parameter showing at what speed a car ascends on a snow-water slurry. Analogue of aquaplaning in summer). Finnish experts have also evaluated the rolling resistance and hence the fuel consumption.

ADAC club tire test (non-studded winter tires of the Central European type. Designed exclusively for mild winters) -

German tires Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 became the leader of the German test. After passing through all the disciplines, the experts came to the conclusion that the main advantage of this model is a verified balance. Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 behave equally confidently in all cases, of course, adjusted for class. The velcro of the Scandinavian ContiVikingContact 5 feels much better on ice, not to mention the spiked Continental ContiIceContact. But for a winter tire of the Central European type, the performance of the ContiWinterContact TS850 on wet asphalt and ice is unrivaled.

Winter tires of Japanese brands usually do not shine with talents against the background of competitors. But this is only in the case when models for severe cold are compared with each other. But the Japanese tires for mild winters in the circle of competitors feel much better. This was confirmed by the test of the ADAC club. Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 passed all types of tests of the German institute, keeping within each of them in a favorable green area.

In a mild winter, the ADAC Dunlop Winter Response 2 performed well. The car feels especially good in these tires on snow and wet asphalt. The experts also praised the low rolling resistance, which affects fuel consumption, albeit not very significantly.

Dunlop's other Central European winter tires, the SP Winter Sport 4D, performed just as well as the Winter Response 2. ADAC praised them primarily for their balance, as did first place winners, the Continental ContiWinterContact TS850, which is significant.

In the tire industry, Michelin is a name. The French company is definitely not expected to be weak. At the same time, Michelin tires rarely make it to the very top of the pedestal of tire tests of different publications, from year to year they find themselves somewhere in the middle of the list. This year's ADAC test was no exception. Experts from the German auto club praised them for their behavior on ice and snow, as well as their work on wet asphalt. But the results on dry surfaces are worse, and the Germans recorded this aspect as a disadvantage of the French tire, as well as increased noise.

Another model of the French tire giant, the Michelin Alpin A4, performed more confidently in the ADAC tests than its relative. German experts noted a good balance and focused on a huge resource. This tire is more likely to puncture than wear out the tread pattern. At the same time, it behaves equally safely on dry or wet asphalt and ice.

The Central European Velcro of the Korean company Hankook performed satisfactorily in the ADAC measurements. If summer tires Korean companies have already approached the level of world leaders, which is especially evident in the Ventus Prime 2 model, but in the case of winter tires, the level of Korean tires is still average. Experts of the ADAC Hankook Winter i * cept RS W442 liked it on dry asphalt, but disappointed on snow and wet asphalt.

Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3

Within the Pirelli SnowControl segment, Serie 3 proved to be surprisingly strong on ice and snow. They did not disappoint on wet asphalt, but they did not please on dry. In addition, despite the lack of studs, the Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3 proved to be a noisy model. Everything in the aggregate was drawn only to a satisfactory assessment of the ADAC club.

The family feature of Vredestein tires is the tread pattern. The company persists in using the herringbone pattern. This partially affects the properties of the tires. In the ADAC test, they performed well on ice and snow, but were loud and relatively weak on wet asphalt.

Tuulilasi magazine tire test(Studded winter tires of the Scandinavian type. Well suited for Russian winters) - (http://www.tuulilasi.fi)

If in the German test the German tire won, then in the Finnish test - the Finnish one. New last year - Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 with a huge number of studs (in the dimension 205 / 55R16 there are 190 of them). On the ice, this is truly a royal tire. On the snow, too, everything is extremely convincing and only on the asphalt there are minor errors, which is quite normal for such a generous studding. However, despite this, Tuulilasi journalists noticed that the eighth "hakkapeliitta" steers well in the rain and brakes well on dry asphalt. At the same time, it does not critically resist rolling and does not make too loud a noise.

Unlike the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, the German Continental ContiIceContact tires have been produced for a long time. On the sidelines, there are even rumors that this tire is about to be replaced by a successor, but so far it remains in service and shows excellent ability in winter conditions. These tires have excellent handling and braking performance on ice, as well as on a snow-wrapped road. Performance on dry and wet pavement is not outstanding, but decent. Resistance to slushplaning (ascending on a snow-water slurry) is not the best, but at the same time it is at a safe level.

Bronze in the Tuulilasi test was pulled out by studded Pirelli Ice Zero. On the ice, they do not feel much worse than the leaders. Although the slippage of the rear axle in sliding is more pronounced here, which forces the driver to be constantly concentrated and tense. In addition, after the ice races, some of the spikes loosened and began to protrude outward more strongly. In real life, this means that after a couple of seasons there will definitely be fewer spikes, which cannot be said, for example, about the Continental ContiIceContact, where the “claws” are set on a special glue. No misses in the snow. But the resistance to slushplanning is not important here. On the slush Pirelli Ice Zero float early. Not everything is smooth on the asphalt, both wet and dry. On wet pavement, the tire brakes well, but loses grip when cornering. On dry asphalt, braking is also unimportant. The rolling resistance is low, but the noise level is high. The third place was ensured by the priority of the ice, on which everything is normal for the studded Pirelli.

The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic lagged behind the Pirelli in terms of points, but in the aggregate they were definitely not worse. Although the priorities are somewhat shifted here. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic grips asphalt brilliantly. On wet asphalt and slush, they are favorites, which will be appropriate in Moscow, abundantly flooded with reagents. On a dry road, there are no misses either, although the reactions are somewhat blurred. At the same time, everything is also not bad on ice and snow, although it barely reaches the level of leaders. Braking and accelerating on ice in the zone of good performance. In the snow, the behavior is slightly worse. Analyzing the above, it can be noted that Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic are perfect for wintering in big cities, where there is mostly asphalt under the wheels, but at the same time snow or ice is not excluded.

Hankook Winter i * Pike RS W419

New; against the background of its predecessor, the number of thorns increased. Instead of 128, there are now 180. Braking and acceleration on ice are average, but handling is close to ideal. Ice lap times are the best of all tires. Although the reactions still feel blurry. The snow disciplines were easy and straightforward for Hankook. On the asphalt, everything is also worthy. In the segment of winter tires, the Hankook Winter i * Pike RS W419 has seriously improved the image of the Korean company.

Michelin X-Ice North 3

As in the class of frictional winter tires of the Central European type, in the segment of Scandinavian winter tires, Michelin performed average. They have fewer spikes than the competition. Acceleration and braking on ice is rather weak. The speed of the ice track is the same. Acceleration on snow is solid, but braking is not. Snowy turns knock the car off course. Slush is not a problem for Michelin, and on dry pavement they have the shortest stopping distance from 100 km / h. Emergency behavior is stable, but noise is relatively high.

Dunlop ice touch

Dunlop Ice Touch is a close relative of the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic. The icy acceleration of Dunlop winter tires is stunted, but icy braking is significantly better. From the point of view of handling, the fear is caused by an early and sharp breakdown of the car into a skid. On snow, acceleration and braking performance is better than on ice, and the behavior is about the same - with a tendency to sudden loss of traction even at low speeds. The braking distance on wet pavement is short enough, and in general, Dunlop will behave confidently in the rain. At the same time, they react very quickly to steering turns on dry surfaces, where they cope well with emergency maneuvers.

Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01

Among the winter tires of the Scandinavian type, the Japanese Bridgestone tires turned out to be outsiders. They accelerate well on ice, but slow down badly on it. The braking distance in the snow is much better and the handling is average. Bridgestone have shown excellent slush-planning resistance but have relatively long braking distances on wet pavement. In addition, the tires also have vague steering responses on dry surfaces. The noise is relatively low, but the rolling resistance is too high.

Friction (non-studded) winter tires of the Scandinavian type

To date, there are no actual Scandinavian-type velcro tests yet. But based on past years, we can distinguish models worthy of purchase. These are: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, Pirelli Winter Icecontrol, Continental ContiVikingContact 5.

Winter studless tire test 2014-2015

Studded tires for winter road trips have found their intensive development and consumer demand, in contrast to similar variations without studs. Taking advantage of this, manufacturers have been offering the same types of tires for several years without much updates and modifications in their model lines. Since the coming season will bring some changes in the difficult availability of some of the leading tire models, the revised non-studded tire rating should be slightly revised for the 2014-2015 winter.

Our experts have selected the top five most suitable studless tires. It should be noted that the latest technological capabilities of manufacturers do an excellent job with the task, so high-quality rubber is easily kept on ice and can be controlled. Next, let's take a look at five of the most suitable non-studded rubber market offerings for winter roads in the coming season.

Continental ContiVikingContact 3

The third generation of the true leader is considered - Continental ContiVikingContact 3. For several years this model studless rubber for winter roads takes leading positions in various ratings. Its technical criteria are slightly inferior to studded counterparts, but there are significant advantages that should be discussed. Rubber ContiVikingContact is endowed with excellent grip on ice on the road, which guarantees complete control of the movement of the car on all types of surfaces. Positive sides these tires are positioned according to the following criteria:

the car is controllable on packed snow;
winter traps on the roads are not an obstacle for cars in this rubber;
high-quality tread combined with the resources of the tires themselves;
resistance to very low temperature indicators;
versatility in tire operation.

A noticeable flaw in this type of rubber is an increase in braking distance on cold and wet asphalt surfaces. This feature of the tires from the German manufacturer is easy to get used to, it is worth remembering about it. These tires can be used on all cars in the winter.

Gislaved Soft Frost 2
The second generation of wonderful tires should be attributed - Gislaved Soft Frost 2. The privilege of this rubber model is that it has an attractive price and excellent performance. The Gislaved brand is manufactured in the same manufacturing facilities as Continental. Qualitative technical features, as well as German roots give tires such privileges:

keep well on fresh and packed snow, and also guarantee good; adhesion to the ice surface;
resistance to abrasion of rubber and its tread on asphalt surfaces;
obedient braking on all types of surfaces;
resistance to temperature features.

It happens that winters throw up real surprises for motorists, which are manifested by an abnormal increase in temperature. When using Gislaved Soft Frost 2 tires, such weather changes are absolutely not terrible, since rubber has control over itself at very high temperature indicators.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi
The classic winter tire variation is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi. The Finnish brand has decided to delight car enthusiasts with the true hardened quality of winter tires. These tires are in particular demand among crossovers and SUVs with compact dimensions. Don't forget that RSi shoes will suit every car. The distinguishing advantages of Finnish rubber can be characterized by the following criteria:

increased maneuverability of the car during the turn;
adhere well to snow and asphalt;
resistance to sliding processes on the ice crust;
comfort during the ride at any convenient speed.

The Finnish manufacturer has made his masterpiece for really rough winters, and at positive temperatures, the tires feel no less comfortable.

Dunlop graspic
Specially designed winter tire - Dunlop Graspic. This brand was honored to be included in our rating of the most tires suitable for winter 2014-2015. They are in the category of the best rubber options in relation to the majority of studded ones. On the icy surface, this rubber has excellent characteristics, and also provides a loyal braking distance and good easy acceleration. The disadvantages of Dunlop include:

the protector is clogged with snow, especially freshly fallen;
wet asphalt pavement quite often turns out to be difficult when cornering;
tires make unpleasant noises at high speeds;

Michelin x-ice
Legendary tires for true winters - Michelin X-Ice. This collection of tires, like no other, is rich in variations of rubber for any car, so motorists prefer this particular brand for traveling on winter roads. Its characteristics are of high quality, but they are not leading in any respect:

cold asphalt pavement doesn’t care about these tires;
show weakness in contact with ice or snow;
braking distance features are suitable for winter roads;
the cost of rubber is affordable and justified by some disadvantages.

Brand name Michelin for drivers who prefer practicality and comfort, especially since tires are capable of driving on wet surfaces on cold winter roads.

Summing up, it is worth noting that tires for the 2015 winter season will be relevant for countries that are members of the Customs Union, so it is more expedient to purchase them this year. When making a purchase, it is worth considering the peculiarities of the climate of the region in which the car is located, as well as the peculiarities of its operation in the winter.

The tire is a significant attribute of the vehicle's integral structure. This simple-looking rubber band is responsible for comfort and control, safety and feedback.

When to change tires? The question is subtle, and there is no one hundred percent correct answer to it. Formally, it is recommended to switch to winter tires when the average daily air temperature drops to five to seven degrees Celsius. Firstly, the composition of the rubber compound of summer tires in such weather conditions noticeably hardens, which affects the driving properties, and, secondly, this approach minimizes the risk in the event of an unexpected onset of cold.

ADAC club tire test (non-studded winter tires of the Central European type. Designed exclusively for mild winters) -

Continental ContiWinterContact TS850

Bridgestone Blizzak LM001

Dunlop winter response 2

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D

Michelin alpin 5

Michelin Alpin A4

Hankook Winter i * cept RS W442

The Central European Velcro of the Korean company Hankook performed satisfactorily in the ADAC measurements. If the summer tires of the Korean company have already approached the level of world leaders, which is especially evident in the Ventus Prime 2 model, in the case of winter tires, the level of Korean tires is still average. Experts of the ADAC Hankook Winter i * cept RS W442 liked it on dry asphalt, but disappointed on snow and wet asphalt.

Pirelli SnowControl Serie 3

Vredestein Snowtrac 3

Tuulilasi magazine tire test(Studded winter tires of the Scandinavian type. Well suited for Russian winters) - (http://www.tuulilasi.fi)

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8

Continental ContiIceContact

Pirelli ice zero

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic

Hankook Winter i * Pike RS W419

Michelin X-Ice North 3

Dunlop ice touch

Dunlop Ice Touch is a close relative of the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic. The icy acceleration of Dunlop winter tires is stunted, but icy braking is significantly better. From the point of view of handling, the fear is caused by an early and sharp breakdown of the car into a skid. On snow, acceleration and braking performance is better than on ice, and the behavior is about the same - with a tendency to sudden loss of traction even at low speeds. The braking distance on wet pavement is short enough that the Dunlop will generally behave confidently in the rain. At the same time, they react very quickly to steering turns on dry surfaces, where they cope well with emergency maneuvers.

Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01

Friction (non-studded) winter tires of the Scandinavian type

Photo of manufacturers

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Winter tires with studs are developing much more intensively than non-studded versions. That is why manufacturers from year to year offer the same models without any special updates. However, in the coming season, several leadership positions from previous years will become unavailable for us. Therefore, the rating of winter studless tires 2014-2015 has changed slightly.

We have selected the five best, in our opinion, winter tires that are not equipped with studs. It is worth recognizing that the excellent technologies of the manufacturers fulfill their task, the rubber becomes more technological and allows you to stay even on the ice from a controlled position. Let's take a look at five of the most interesting offers on the non-studded winter rubber market in the coming season.

Continental ContiVikingContact 3 - the third generation of the unchanging leader

For several years in a row, this model of non-studded winter tires has received first places in the ratings. Of course, specifications are considerably inferior to models with spikes, but there are other advantages that are worth talking about.

The fact is that the ContiVikingContact tires have good grip even on icy road surfaces. This allows you to get great control of the car on any surface. Also, the benefits are expressed in the following:

excellent control of the car on rolled snow;
the ability to get out of almost any traps on the winter road;
high quality of a tread, sufficient resource of tires;
resistance to very low temperatures;
universal conditions of rubber exploitation.

Unfortunately, this rubber has one major drawback. The braking distance increases on wet and cold asphalt. This feature of the German Continental tires is just a matter of getting used to. Otherwise, the tires have no drawbacks and can be used on virtually any car in winter.

Gislaved Soft Frost 2 - the second generation of excellent tires

The most striking advantage of this rubber is the excellent combination of price and quality. At a very low cost, Gislaved tires demonstrate excellent performance.

Rubber under the Gislaved brand is produced in the same factory that makes the previous tires. German origin and excellent technical properties give the tires the following advantages:

excellent grip on ice, packed or fresh snow;
lack of increased wear of the tread on the asphalt;
normal braking performance on any surfaces;
resistance to operation at high temperatures.

Winter sometimes presents us with surprises in the form of abnormally high temperatures. If your car is equipped with Gislaved Soft Frost 2 tires, you will not be afraid of these weather changes, because the tires behave perfectly even at very high ambient temperatures.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi - a winter tire classic

The Finnish manufacturer's offer can really please the owners of any car. These tires are especially popular among crossover and compact SUV drivers. But the dimensions will allow you to put on any car in the RSi.

The most notable benefits of these tires can be summarized as follows:

high control of the car in corners;
excellent grip on asphalt and snow;
good skid resistance on ice;
good travel properties at any speed.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi is a rubber that is designed for fully versatile use. The manufacturer positions its offer for harsh winter conditions, but even at positive temperatures, the rubber behaves quite well.

Dunlop Graspic - specialized winter tires

Dunlop Corporation also did not miss the opportunity to get into the ranking of the best winter tires for the 2014-2015 season. The Dunlop Graspic tires outperformed many of the studded variants in trials.

On ice, these tires show incredible performance, provide excellent stopping distances and accelerate well. But there are also disadvantages:

on fresh snow, the tread is completely clogged;
turns on wet asphalt are often out of control;
at too high a speed the rubber starts to make unpleasant sounds.

These shortcomings prevented Dunlop Graspic from positioning higher in the rankings. But we must admit that tires do their job perfectly and can become the best offer in its class. True, if the trip on snow and asphalt surfaces is slightly improved.

Michelin X-Ice - the legend of winter car tires

In its offer, the legendary Michelin corporation has a lot of rubber options for each car. Michelin X-Ice winter tires are often the object of choice for drivers who do not need a sporty ride on winter roads.

This rubber is capable of providing very high-quality characteristics, but is not expressed in leadership qualities in any of the criteria:

driving on cold asphalt is the strongest point of tires;
tires show some weakness on snow and ice;
braking distance is averaged and balanced for any winter road;
the cost of tires is comparable to the presence of some disadvantages.

Michelin has created X-Ice tires for drivers who value practicality. It is on cold and wet asphalt that we will have to drive most of all in winter. And if it is necessary to overcome ice obstacles, the car can perform this task on these tires.

Summing up

Winter tires already in 2015 will become a necessity in the countries of the Customs Union. That is why every car owner will have to choose tires this year. Pay attention to the five tire models presented above. Most likely, it is from these options that you will be able to choose the right tires for yourself.

When buying rubber for winter use, you should take into account the peculiarities of using the car during this period, as well as the climatic zone in which you live.

Winter hit the European territory of Russia imperceptibly. It seems to be warm, and the grass is still green, and there is foliage on the trees, and the beginning of the next week was marked by a drop in temperature, abundant leaf fall, heavy precipitation and a gusty wind. At night, the thermometer almost fell below zero. A good time to think about changing tires ...

Switch to winter tires just right when the average daily temperature hovers around five to seven degrees Celsius. Especially if you have to travel early in the morning or late in the evening. It can become slippery unexpectedly. Although a premature transition is harmful. To a lesser extent, if we are talking about winter tires of a friction pattern without studs or tires designed specifically for the mild European winter, and to a greater extent, if these are studded tires of the Scandinavian type, designed primarily for snow or ice.

Once again, the AvtoDela edition will compare the readings of authoritative publications, analyzing the failures and achievements of the same models of several tests, and also consider the most relevant winter tires participating in the tests of one expert community.

Experts, as always, will be the leading European institutions, including ADAC, ACE / GTU / ARBO, Auto Motor und Sport, Test World and Tuulilasi (they tested only studded tires), as well as recognized Russian publications - the newspaper "Autoreview" and the magazine " Behind the wheel".

ACE / GTU / ARBO

This season, materials from foreign sources became the first to become publicly available. European triad ACE / GTU / ARBO, consisting of the German Society for Technical Supervision (GTÜ), the Automobile Club of Europe (ACE) and the Austrian car club ARBÖ. Ten tires of 205 / 55R16 dimensions fell into the hands of the expert community. All tires are exclusively frictional, non-studded, that is, what is popularly called velcro. All of them are designed for the mild winters of central Europe.

The tests were carried out at the Nokian proving grounds in Tampere and Ivalo. Tractive effort on snow was estimated at acceleration from 8 to 30 km / h with traction control working. The braking distance was determined on snow from 40 to 5 km / h (the distance to a complete stop was calculated), on wet asphalt from 80 to 1 km / h, on dry - from 100 to 1 km / h. The handling tests took into account lap times and subjective assessments of tire behavior. In tests for resistance to longitudinal aquaplaning (7 mm of water), the speed at which the slip level reached 15% was taken into account; also the “ascent” rate was evaluated in the transverse aquaplaning resistance test (6 mm of water). In addition, the tires were tested on a circuit track, where the best lap times were determined. The rolling noise was evaluated at a speed of 80 km / h and the rolling resistance at a load of 6,031 Nm and a pressure of 2.1 bar. Tests were carried out on Volkswagen Golf VII. During the tests, the experts noted that the trend is an increasing level of safety, which, in their opinion, is achieved by a symbiosis of good rubber and sophisticated car safety systems.

Auto Motor und Sport

In the same standard size, winter tires were evaluated by German experts from the Auto Motor und Sport magazine. The set of tested models - friction rubber of the Central European type. Disciplines are standard: snow, ice, asphalt. A test site in Swedish Lapland was rented to carry out snow tests. Constantly low temperatures, spacious, well-prepared tracks on frozen lakes and challenging routes through snow-covered forests create ideal conditions for testing. Six tons of tires, wheels and equipment, as well as four cars, were already waiting at the Arctic Circle. Ten sets of studless winter tires were tested for traction, braking performance, handling and emergency maneuvering behavior. Initially, the experts assessed the performance of the tires subjectively during several arrivals on the snow-covered circuit track. After that, with the help of the equipment, the longitudinal grip required for effective acceleration and braking was determined. In order to assess how the tires react to changes in loads, the pilots went to the slalom section. Here, the car drives on a smooth, leveled surface, turning alternately to the right and left at the grip limit. The maximum lateral acceleration is automatically recorded electronically.

A few weeks after testing in Sweden, the winter tires were to demonstrate their ability in the overcast conditions of northern Germany. On wet pavement, braking performance, aquaplaning resistance, handling and cornering were evaluated.

The German Automobile Club ADAC tested tires in two different sizes this year: and quite. Interestingly, individual models have been tested in two dimensions.

Test World

Braking performance tests were carried out at different speeds depending on the type of surface. At the same time, tests on ice and snow were carried out both in the open air and indoors, where, thanks to the control over temperature and humidity, the influence of weather can be eliminated. Controllability was assessed in two ways. Lap times were determined first, and a combination of fast acceleration, high lateral grip and effective braking was required from the tires to perform well. Following this, the pilots expressed subjective impressions of each model. Separately, subjective assessments were given to tires for directional stability.

All tires were bought from regular stores so that manufacturers could not send modified versions of the tires. In the event that the model was not yet available commercially, the tires were shipped from the factory, but after they appeared in stores, control tests were carried out to determine if there were any differences.

The test of the newspaper "Autoreview" this year turned out to be both large and not very informative. This is because of the 11 sets of tires, four turned out to be studded, four more were of the European type, and the other three were Scandinavian friction tires.

The test technology is as follows: start - with traction control, braking - with ABS, handling on a winding track - with the support of ESP. The weather was capricious. Light frost at first, and then minus twenty. However, the most important races - acceleration and deceleration on ice - were carried out at stable temperatures and a complete absence of precipitation, since the exercises were performed under the roof of a 300-meter hangar. Ten accelerations, ten decelerations, and then a change of kit ...

Testwintertire 2014-2015

Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 - studless (friction) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The Continental official website, describing the ContiWinterContact TS 850 friction tire, promises impeccable safety. At the same time, the text frankly says that this model is intended for a mild European winter, which may be typical for the south of Russia.

When used under the right conditions, the ContiWinterContact TS 850 must provide perfect safety thanks to a variety of innovative technologies. The tire offers better grip on European winter roads, shorter braking distances on wet pavement, extended tire life and superior fuel efficiency, the company said. In order to make the tire as safe as possible, German engineers at Continental paid close attention to every detail, resulting in a true work of technical art.

TEST RESULTS

The German winter tire Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 was lit up in several tests this year and won prizes everywhere. She has three first and one second positions. Each of the authorities praised this tire, first of all, for its balance. German engineers have managed to train their tire to behave consistently well on almost all possible winter road surfaces. At the same time, experts singled out and especially strengths Continental ContiWinterContact TS850. The ADAC club praised the Continental friction tire for its excellent handling on wet asphalt and ice, good snow performance and low wear. Colleagues from Auto Motorund Sport were completely in solidarity with them, backing up their praises with the comment "highly recommended." Testers from ACE / GTU / ARBO also used this phrase, which, however, did not prevent them from giving first place to another tire - Nokian WRD3.

An old modification of the model - TS830 took part in the test of the newspaper "Autoreview". Russian experts liked the level of comfort offered by the Continental tire, both from an acoustic point of view and in terms of smoothness. Acceleration on an icy surface turned out to be good. With handling on the track, they turned out to be unexpectedly weak. The grip on the snow also left much to be desired, but on wet pavement - the minimum braking distance, on dry - the second result. Obviously, the main focus of these tires was on comfort and safety on asphalt. It is a pity that at the expense of winter qualities.

Nokian WRD3 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The main theses of the Nokian company regarding the WRD3 model are as follows: equally reliable grip on wet, dry and snowy roads; durable and economical even in difficult conditions; effective prevention of slush planning and aquaplaning; low rolling resistance, environmental friendliness and fuel economy.

At the same time, like the Continental ContiWinterContact TS850, the Nokian WRD3 tire is designed exclusively for the mild Central European winter, which is written in black and white on the company's website.

SlushBlower

Nokian research has shown that slush is even more dangerous to drive than ice or aquaplaning. The risk is four times higher when driving on slush than when driving on dry surfaces. Melting snow, a layer of water on the road surface and icy slush create a combination that makes driving difficult even for experienced drivers.

Nokian WR D3 tires have directional tread pattern and new solutions that actively prevent aquaplaning.

“We've improved the tire's aquaplaning and slush resistance by using a chamfered, zig-zag leading edge of the tread blocks. This innovation is called SlushBlower because it actually effectively blows water and slush out of the tire grooves. Polished grooves also accelerate the outflow of water and slush. "says Teppo Huovila, Vice President R&D at Nokian Tires.

CoolTouch technology for easier control

The thoroughly tested Nokian WR D3 design and tread solutions guarantee excellent maneuverability and handling as well as good directional stability. Low rolling resistance and durability have been improved through several new solutions and innovations.

Computer and thermographic simulations were applied to find the optimal symmetrical tread pattern. Grooving does not disturb the block edge, which provides excellent traction and allows the framed block to maintain its rigidity. Cool Touch technology also minimizes friction and heat build-up caused by excessive groove movement. The tire runs lightly and maintains an inertial, energy-efficient ride with low rolling resistance.

Thanks to the uniform tread structure, the Nokian WR D3 tire responds quickly to steering movements and has a calm, stable contact with the road.

Silent Sidewall Technology.

Tire noise is the second key factor after driving comfort. Silent Sidewall Technology improves driving comfort. Nokian WR D3 tires have sidewall areas that filter noise and vibration coming from the road surface through the tire treads and direct it towards the sidewall to reduce noise inside the vehicle.

Cryogenic Canola Compound for extreme driving conditions (ice, snow and wet grip)

The new tread compound for Nokian WR D3 tires — canola cryogenic compound — is a combination of natural rubber, silicon and canola oil; it optimizes winter grip, wet grip and durability at various temperatures.

A new type of silicon additives full-silica contains so-called cryosilane, which increases the functionality of the rubber compound. Canola oil provides superior tear resistance and increased grip on ice and snow. Thanks to its high silicon content, the environmentally friendly Nokian WR D3 tires offer very low rolling resistance, lower fuel consumption and lower emissions than traditional competitors.

Nokian WR D3 tires are environmentally friendly - a typical example of Nokian Tires' sustainability principle: product qualities remain virtually unchanged even with aging and wear.

Winter Safety Indicator (WSI) for added safety and comfort

Trouble-free winter driving is only possible when the tires are in good condition... The Nokian WR D3 tires are equipped with a comfort-enhancing Driving Safety Indicator (DSI) with a unique snowflake symbol - the winter safety indicator.

This standard element, patented by Nokian Tires, is located on the tire tread and indicates the depth of the tread grooves in millimeters. The snowflake symbol remains visible as long as the groove is four millimeters deep. When the symbol disappears, the vulnerability to slush-planting and other similar phenomena increases significantly, and the driver must purchase new winter tires for safe driving.

The sidewalls of the tire have an info zone, which contains information about the recommended pressure. Correct tire pressure makes steering more accurate, reduces tire damage and lowers fuel costs.

Nokian WR D3 tires are available in a wide range of sizes from 13 "to 20", speed ratings from T to W. These new winter products are intended especially for the Central European markets.

TEST RESULTS

Along with the ACE / GTU / ARBO, the Nokian WRD3 was evaluated by the Auto Motorund Sport experts. Surprisingly, the Finnish tire only got sixth place in their ranking. The Germans from Auto Motorund Sport noticed a lot of advantages in it, but also highlighted several disadvantages. The advantages of the Nokian WRD3 are excellent lateral stability, short braking distances, high traction on snow, good lateral grip on wet asphalt, decent aquaplaning resistance and safe behavior on dry asphalt. The testers of the German magazine reported the relatively long braking distances on wet asphalt, as well as increased rolling resistance, but despite the sixth line, Auto Motorund Sport recommends the Nokian WRD3.

The newspaper "Autoreview" has the Nokian WRD3 tire as the class leader. It is noteworthy that despite the orientation towards mild winters, Russian experts generally approved its use in large cities of central Russia. The tires perform well on asphalt, but not much worse on ice and snow.

Goodyear UltraGrip 9 - non-studded (friction) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Goodyear UltraGrip 9 is a new addition to the season. Like the tires above, it is designed for use in mild winters.

According to the manufacturer, in appropriate weather, Goodyear UltraGrip 9 will provide confident and safe driving on snowy roads thanks to the proven 3D-BIS technology, a new tread pattern, and an improved rubber compound.

Goodyear sellers highlight the following positive features of the new model: a high level of siping and a large tread depth of the tire provides confident movement and maneuvering on a snowy road; an optimized tread pattern is needed to resist aquaplaning; new rubber compound gives improved performance on ice and snow; tire tread wear indicator.

TEST RESULTS

The Goodyear UltraGrip 9 performed equally well in the ACE / GTU / ARBO test and in the Auto Motor und Sport test. The first instance gave them the third line. The second one awarded this winter tire with “silver”. German experts from Auto Motor und Sport scolded Goodyear UltraGrip 9 only for its relatively long braking distance on wet asphalt, and praised and recommended it for all other parameters.

Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The tire manufacturer's description suggests that the new Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D features a range of innovative technologies designed to enhance safety and improve information that allows the driver to feel more confident in winter conditions.

The new tires got their name from the new system of "four-dimensional siping". Compared to the previous model (Dunlop SP WinterSport 3D), the company's engineers have added a new transverse sipe to the proven 3D lamella system and created a microblock that allows better pressure distribution in the contact patch. The 3D technology increases the number of sipes, and therefore the engagement edges, which further increases the braking and acceleration efficiency. The new sipe creates an additional lateral engagement edge, ideal for improved lateral grip. This combination (4D SipeSystem) creates an independent microblock that allows better pressure distribution for superior handling and lateral grip on snow.

To reduce braking distances in deep snow, the Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D tires also feature a sawtooth design on the inner blocks. On ice, the new Dunlop's rideability has been enhanced with a compound containing "functionalized polymers" that prevent the rubber from hardening at cold temperatures.

These polymers provide optimal dynamic stiffness required at various temperatures. These active ingredients in the rubber compound ensure that the tires can perform well on wet asphalt without compromising on snow handling.

How is it in practice?

TEST RESULTS

The Dunlop SPWinter Sport 4D has gone through three winter tire tests. These tires were driven by ACE / GTU / ARBO, Auto Motor und Sport and ADAC, where these tires took fourth, third and again third places, respectively. AutoMotorundSport experts noted good handling, short braking distances and high lateral stability on snow. In addition, the Germans from the reputable magazine liked the behavior of the Dunlop SP WinterSport 4D on wet asphalt. As disadvantages, they identified only significant rolling resistance and noise, which, however, did not affect the conclusion. These winter tires are recommended by AutoMotorundSport experts. So did their ADAC colleagues, who primarily liked the balance of these tires, as well as their predictable behavior on wet pavement.

Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

TEST RESULTS

The Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 was tested by the ADAC club and the Autoreview newspaper. And they performed very well in both instances. The experts of "Autoreview" liked the traction properties of the tire on the snow. Braking was also good, but the handling was not so ideal. On dry asphalt, everything is worthy, but on wet pavement, the competitors objectively look stronger.

The expert group of the ADAC club declared a comparable alignment, adding only a resource to the list of advantages. These tires are more likely to puncture than wear out the tread pattern. Curiously, Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 tires are available in two versions: with an asymmetric tread pattern (“for everyone”) and with a specially designed directional pattern for Porsche cars (eight standard sizes marked NO and N1).

Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

TEST RESULTS

In the third generation, the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 has a directional tread pattern reminiscent of the Pirelli Snowcontrol tires. It is possible that it was the “directionality” of the tread pattern that helped Pirelli tires demonstrate better slash resistance. But in the rest of the exercises, this pattern did not live up to expectations. On ice, the tires run at the average level typical of Central European winter tires. On the snow they hold well in the lateral direction, but the acceleration dynamics are the weakest in the Auto Review test.

Michelin Alpin 5 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The manufacturer says that the tires are manufactured using the latest technology, using an improved rubber compound, and have a modern tread pattern. Manufactured using electronic quality control of finished products. All this is designed to ensure the safe behavior of the car in mild winters. Is it really?

TEST RESULTS

French rubber has always pampered with a verified balance. But in the case of the Michelin Alpin 5, things are not at all so simple. If in the Auto Motor und Sport test these tires performed well, sharing the fourth line with the Pirelli Snow Control Serie 3, then the ADAC experts sent the Michelin Alpin 5 to the seventh place, having awarded the model with only a “satisfactory” rating. also no.

Pirelli Snow Control Serie 3 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

While the manufacturers of the above mentioned tires emphasize that they are designed exclusively for the mild winters of Central Europe, then on the Pirelli website the Pirelli Snow Control Serie 3 friction winter tire is presented as a versatile winter product. The company promises excellent traction and braking power on snowy roads. High level of lateral grip.

TEST RESULTS

Pirelli Snow Control Serie 3 winter tires have passed ACE / GTU / ARBO test ranges, Auto Motor und Sport magazine and two ADAC tests. The ACE / GTU / ARBO triad ranked these tires in sixth place, while recommending them for purchase. Auto Motor und Sport magazine gave the Pirelli winter tires the fourth line, also with a recommendation to buy, but the ADAC club testers rated the Pirelli Snow Control Serie 3 only satisfactory, sending this Velcro to the eighth and ninth lines.

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 is a frost-resistant winter tire friction type for cars. This is how this tire is described on the Bridgestone website. The manufacturer promises traction efficiency on snowy ground and high performance in rainy weather. In this regard, it is not entirely clear which winter this model is oriented towards.

TEST RESULTS

The Japanese tire industry in the winter tire segment, as always, has shown itself to be no higher than average. In the Auto Motor und Sport test, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 tires only take seventh place. And this is out of ten possible. However, the Germans still honored this model with the status of "recommended", although they scolded it for poor lateral stability, long braking distances and low traction on the snow. At the same time, in fairness, it is worth noting that the Germans saw the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32 and dignity. In particular, the behavior on asphalt, both dry and wet.

Hankook Winter i * cept RS W442 - non-studded (friction) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The Hankook Winter I * cept RS W442 is an economical winter tire with improved grip and traction on snowy and icy roads. With these words begins the description of the model on the official website of the Korean tire giant.

The Hankook Winter I * cept RS W442 is a winter tire designed for high performance cars. Tread blocks with large notches and sipes provide flawless traction on snow and ice. The tires are great for harsh winter conditions. Thanks to the rubber compound with the presence of Silica components, rolling resistance is reduced to a minimum, which reduces noise, improves comfort and, importantly, reduces fuel consumption.

The segmented stiffening rib provides excellent directional stability and maximum handling on snowy roads.

The tread grooves provide extraordinarily powerful traction and short braking and accelerating distances. Longitudinal grooves perfectly drain water and snow from the contact patch, thereby increasing the maneuverability and balance of the car on an icy road.

The tread carcass of the tires was created using computer modeling, which made it possible to optimize all the properties of the Hankook Winter I * Cept RS W442 tires to the maximum. The use of the latest technologies in the creation of tires made it possible to increase their strength and durability. The level of rolling resistance has also been significantly reduced, which has helped to reduce fuel consumption.

TEST RESULTS

The Hankook Winter i * Cept RS W442 winter tires, like the Pirelli Snow Control Serie 3, passed all four tests. These tires, like the Pirelli Snow Control Serie 3, were ranked sixth in the ACE / GTU / ARBO association, and eighth in the Auto Motor und Sport edition, which did not prevent German experts from recommending these tires. In the ADAC ratings, the Korean winter tires received the eighth and tenth lines with the stamp “satisfactory”.

Toyo Snowprox S943 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Winter car tires Toyo Snowprox S943, designed specifically for a wide range of compact and mid-size family cars. The model was presented to the public in 2013. Toyo employees have produced an even more comfortable and practical model that demonstrates excellent driving characteristics on wet and dry asphalt, as well as confident braking on snowy and icy areas.

TEST RESULTS

Japanese-made winter tires are rarely ready for real winter. And if Bridgestone or Yokohama are still on the rumor, then somehow they don't talk about Toyo winter tires. And good! According to experts, they are adapted exclusively for the Japanese winter, and not as not for the European or Russian. These tires are rated “conditionally recommended” by Auto Motor undSport magazine. The Toyo Snowprox S943 finished ninth in terms of total points in their test. And from ADAC, the same tires received only eleventh, along with the comment "satisfactory".

Firestone Winter Hawk 3 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Firestone Winter Hawk 3 winter tires are designed and adapted to the peculiarities of operation on mid-size passenger cars in urban environments. The tire is an evolutionary continuation of the WinterHawk winter tire series. It retained all the advantages of its predecessors - high safety, traction and grip on the winter road - and increased its own operating resource by 30% compared to its predecessors. In addition, this model received a more balanced tread design, which increased stability, smoothness and comfort on the winter track.

The stated advantages of using the Firestone Winter Hawk 3 tire:

The completely new directionally symmetrical tread pattern is characterized by the same depth throughout its entire area - from one shoulder to the other. This technology made it possible to achieve the same quality of traction with the road surface at any point of the tread, which minimized the occurrence of sudden vehicle movements and increased overall driving safety on snowy roads.

Compared to the previous generation of the WinterHawk series, this tire has been re-formulated under its own brand name, Nano Pro Tech. Its distinctive feature is an increased proportion of frost-resistant additives, which allows the Firestone Winter Hawk 3 to maintain elasticity, increasing the grip quality on frosty days by almost 10% compared to winter tires of a similar class.

The V-shaped tread pattern in the central part of the tread forms an anti-snow wedge incorporated into the effective drainage system of the Firestone Winter Havk 3, which dissipates water and melted snow from the central part to the shoulder zones and beyond the contact patch. This technology increases the directional stability of the car when overcoming difficult sections of the winter track.

TEST RESULTS

The little-known Firestone Winter Hawk 3 tire is an interesting model. In the ADAC test, she was awarded the fourth position and the mark "good". The experts did not find any obvious drawbacks in this model, and therefore only praised it. The German auto club especially liked the precise balance and confident behavior on the ice. The Firestone Winter Hawk 3 behaves just as well on asphalt, and the relatively low fuel consumption will be a nice addition. Good winter tire.

Fulda Kristall Montero 3 - non-studded (friction) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Fulda KRISTALL MONTERO 3 is a tire that will work effectively all winter, but it's still European winter.

Maximum efficiency in all winter conditions. The Kristall Montero 3 handles cold, wet, snowy and icy roads with ease - all at an affordable price. Its features: excellent grip on snowy roads; specially designed for efficient work throughout the winter; excellent grip at low temperatures.

TEST RESULTS

The winter tire Fulda Kristall Montero 3 has passed the test of only one instance - the ADAC club. And she showed herself average. The Germans praised her for snow disciplines and scolded her for her behavior on the asphalt, which is extremely unexpected for the layman. Usually, Velcro is expected to cost less on asphalt and allow for some weaknesses in the primordial winter disciplines. In the case of the Fulda Kristall Montero 3, the opposite is true, and in general it is not the only tire with a similar layout.

Scandinavian models for harsh winters

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The new Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 studless winter tire is designed to withstand the harshest winter conditions. She works great both in the city and in the countryside. The manufacturer promises improved grip and handling precision not only for a couple of seasons, but also as the tire wears out. Innovation has helped to achieve this.

Nokian Cryo Crystal Concept

Excellent winter grip, responsive steering. Added to the rubber compound, the smallest particles, shaped like polyhedral crystals, bite into the road surface, working like tires and significantly improving grip on ice. The traction properties of such a tread compound are retained for a long time, even if the tread groove depth approaches the minimum limit of 4 mm. This rubber compound operates safely over a wide temperature range while increasing tire durability.

New cryosilane rubber compound with silica

The new rubber compound is not afraid of wet roads or icy conditions. Rapeseed oil (a type of rapeseed) optimizes the interaction of silica and natural rubber. As in the new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 studded tire mix, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 friction mix has increased the amount of natural rubber.

Natural rubber works as a stabilizer over a wide temperature range. The tread compound of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 remains flexible in all conditions. The sipes in the tread blocks work actively, despite the level of grip and temperature changes. The rapeseed oil improves tire breaking strength and improves grip on snow and ice.

Frequent siping, partially enlarged sipes.

The aggressive design of the projector is covered with a mesh of dense lamellas. Wider sipes in the center of the tread increase the grip area of the tire, especially when it is at wet ice is minimal, which indirectly guarantees high grip on difficult winter roads.

In addition, special pump sipes improve grip on wet surfaces. They are built into the shoulder blocks of the tire and pump water out of the contact patch for a secure grip.

The teeth between the checker blocks increase the quality of grip on icy and snowy surfaces. Located between the checker blocks, they improve grip during braking and acceleration, especially on snow and ice.

And special sipe reinforcements improve grip on ice and snow. They are located in the shoulder areas of the tread and activate the sipes on the most slippery surfaces, thanks to which a wider sipe opens up a narrow one, improving the functionality of the tread.

Claws against slush

They oppose suga planning. The claws are located between the checkers in the shoulder areas. Designed to break up snow / water slurry by biting into it with sharp edges. The claws prevent the accumulation of slush between the tread blocks, which, according to the manufacturer, increases the safety of driving in the off-season.

New directional tread pattern with a rigid center rib improves directional stability. The integrated center part of the tread improves safety and provides more even wear during long-term use of the tire.

The multi-layer tread structure, designed specifically for friction tires, works in combination with rubber compounds. In terms of directional stability, this combination brings the new Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 to a level that surpasses conventional friction tires. The tire does not drift off course, but steadily advances in any change in winter weather. The responsive handling helps the driver to notice changes in the level of grip, which makes it possible to react in time to changes in the road situation.

The tread wear indicator (DSI - Driving Safety Indicator) is located in the center of the tread and shows the residual tread depth in millimeters. As the tire is used, the numbers are erased in descending order. The snowflake-shaped winter wear indicator stays on until the tread groove is worn down to a depth of 4 mm. Beyond this limit, tires are considered unsafe for winter use and it is recommended that they be replaced.

Updated info-area on the sidewall - you can make notes about the recommended pressure in the tires and their location, you can enter the tightening torque of the wheel bolts.

56 sizes from 13 "to 20". The speed index of the new item, like that of the previous model, is 170 km / h.

TEST RESULTS

The victory of the frictional Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, designed for harsh winters, was not a revelation. The Finnish manufacturer invests a huge stock in its own top models. On ice, there is a minimal decrease in longitudinal grip compared to studded tires, and on the track, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 tires even outperform some of them! On the snow, everything is also very stable. But on the pavement, the Hakkapeliitta R2's unbridled power dries up somewhat. The tread, which is soft, cut by numerous slits, cannot effectively withstand increased loads. At the same time, the non-studded Nokians run comfortably and quietly. In addition, they have low rolling resistance. The lack of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 on wet pavement was more clearly described in Test World. In their opinion, they did not perform well in this discipline.

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 - studless (friction) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Goodyear cites technology when explaining the merits of its tires. They claim that ActiveGrip technology maintains optimal contact with extremely slippery road surfaces. Combined with cryo-adaptive materials, ActiveGrip technology provides excellent performance on ice. Active notches on the blocks increase lateral force transfer during maneuvers, providing excellent braking distances on ice and improving performance. The side-open grooves in combination with the flanged sawtooth blocks improve the drainage of melted snow and water and improve the tire's performance in deep snow.

TEST RESULTS

If the victory of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 was predictable, then the first place of Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 in the Test World was a bit of a surprise. They received the "gold medal", first of all, for balance. They perform well on snow and ice, as well as on wet pavement. In addition, parameters such as comfort and rolling resistance are also at a decent level.

Continental ContiVikingContact 6 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

The Continental ContiViking Contact 6 winter friction tires, developed specifically for the Russian winter, will be replaced in the fall of 2014 Russian market, the predecessor - Continental ContiVikingContact 5. To surpass it was a difficult task for the German engineers, which they successfully coped with. Improving grip has been the primary focus of the development of the new premium winter tires, which in turn has improved road safety on snow and ice. The asymmetric tread of the new velcro tires is functionally divided into three parts and is made of a soft rubber compound. It is designed so that when cornering, the most stress-bearing areas along the edges of the tread, using reinforced double blocks, provide improved grip on snow and asphalt, and the center section of the tread provides effective grip on ice.

TEST RESULTS

The German winter tire without studs, but of the Scandinavian type - Continental ContiVikingContact 6 shared the 2nd-3rd place in the Test World test with the French Michelin X-ice Xi3 tires. Continental is the novelty of the season. They have good performance on snow, but their behavior on wet asphalt is slightly worse - in critical situations, their reactions can be too slow and smeared. At the same time, Continental is among the leaders on dry surfaces. In addition, they have low level noise and reduced rolling resistance, which saves fuel.

Michelin X-ice Xi3 - non-studded (frictional) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

Michelin, along with competitors, claims many advantages that are achieved through the use of a number of technologies. In particular, Michelin Xi3 tires have more tread blocks, which consequently give them more grip edges for increased traction. The outer side of the central blocks has a zigzag shape, further enhancing both the lateral and longitudinal grip, and the sipes located at three angles create sufficient grip, no matter what angle the tire is in relation to the movement. Adjacent blocks are partially in contact, protecting the overall structure from unwanted deformation when driving on dry asphalt. The shoulder area has lugs for improved traction in deep snow.

TEST RESULTS

Michelin X-ice Xi3 performed excellently in the primordial winter disciplines. On snow and ice, they showed themselves on a par with the leaders. As a result, the Michelin received the same rating as the Continental and, like them, feels a little insecure on the pavement. The noise is low, but the rolling resistance is too high.

Bridgestone Blizzak VRX - non-studded (friction) winter tire, test

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

When driving on an icy slope in winter, the water on the ice surface causes sliding. Non-studded tires are manufactured using the Multi-Cell Compound rubber compound, which, thanks to its microscopic pores, provides more intimate contact with ice. As the tire passes over the surface of the water, these pores act as tiny reservoirs for water to drain away and, by absorbing it, provide direct contact with the road. Bridgestone has further developed this technology to create the new Multi-Cell Compound. The special hydrophilic coating of these pores has improved the absorption properties. The new formulation can absorb more water from the ice surface, which allows the driver to implement braking performance more confidently.

New asymmetrical tread pattern

The new asymmetric tread pattern of the Bridgestone Blizzak VRX improves traction in snow, ensuring full contact with snowy roads. The arrow-shaped tread blocks provide uniform engagement, and the cross grooves effectively grip snow.

When installing them, it is necessary that the inner side of the tire (labeled inside) is inside, and the outer side of the tire (labeled outside) is outside. Tires with an asymmetric tread pattern have no direction of rotation.

Excellent grip on ice

In addition to the new Multi-Cell Compound, the BLIZZAK VRX incorporates various technological advances that provide superior driving performance regardless of winter conditions. Especially the new Multi-Cell Compound has significantly improved handling and braking performance on icy surfaces. In Bridgestone's own tests, BLIZZAK VRX tires allowed drivers to stop on bare ice as much as 10% closer than the previous model.

Maximum efficiency on snow

Compared to the previous model, the BLIZZAK VRX has increased the number of lateral grooves (intersections), which improves the properties of trapping snow between the tread blocks when in contact with the snow-covered surface, and, at the same time, helps to effectively self-cleaning when rotating.

In addition, a new asymmetric tread pattern (with different groove widths in the center and at the edges of the tire) optimized performance in each tread area.

Long service life

The longer a tire is used, the more its performance deteriorates and the harder the rubber becomes. As the tread wears down, the new Multi-Cell Compound creates new micropores, keeping the rubber compound soft and providing effective braking for a long time. We are proud to announce that BLIZZAK VRX tires remain effective for 3-4 seasons.

TEST RESULTS

The Bridgestone Blizzak VRX tire was tested by the Autoreview newspaper. The experts of the publication liked the braking on the ice. Acceleration and handling seemed somewhat weaker. On snow, the results are moderate, but the tread does not cope well with snow-water porridge. It was also surprising that on dry asphalt the grip properties are close to ideal, but on wet the braking is almost worse. At the same time, the Bridgestone Blizzak VRX is very comfortable, which is especially unusual in light of the fact that the Blizzak VRX tires are extremely impact resistant. Even at a speed of 95 km / h, the experts failed to spoil the tire.