The best winter studded tires. place. Pirelli tires

08.01.2022Heading: masonry

Tires are the most important attribute of any car. It is they who provide the degree of reliability of the behavior of the car on the road. Tires are an essential accessory to any vehicle. The seasonality of tires is an equally important factor. Widely advertised by all means, all-season tires can never perform equally well in all weather conditions. After all, in summer, one property is required from a tire, and in winter, others. Their indicators are always average and never shine with outstanding results.

Therefore, changing shoes depending on the season is still necessary. In winter, strictly winter tires must be installed on the car, but in summer - always summer tires. However, that's not all! The degree of safety on the road, depending on rubber, is determined not only by this. In the unpredictable weather conditions of the Russian winter at a particular second, different tire characteristics play a decisive role. If ice acts as a coating, the grip properties of the wheels on ice are important, if the winter is warm and the road is wet asphalt, then you need a winter tire with outstanding behavior on asphalt, but if the car drives on packed snow, then the priority indicator is tire behavior on snow .

But it often happens that during the season the weather changes more than once, and you have to drive a car everywhere. And then you need a universal tire. The eternal question of any person when buying a set of winter tires - what to choose studs or Velcro? It seems that there is no single answer to this question, but in fact it is not. If you know for sure and are one hundred percent sure that throughout the winter you will never go out of town, then you can safely buy non-studded winter tires, while you definitely need to choose a modern model from a trusted manufacturer and always remember that a non-studded tire performs worse on ice than studded tires, but is better controlled on pavement. If you admit that during the winter you still have to leave the city on the highway or on the highway, then spikes are vital. Indeed, quite often it happens in the countryside that they didn’t wash it here, they didn’t clean it, they didn’t clean it here. Therefore, snow, and ice, and asphalt, and mixed are found on the country road - under such circumstances, spikes play a crucial role. But in any case, when choosing rubber, it is best to rely on specialized car tire tests, which were prepared by professionals in automotive publications with the expectation of motorists.

Tire speed indexes
Index	Max. Speedkm/h

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 - winter studded tires

The studded winter tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is no longer a novelty, but still one of the standards of all existing winter tires. This model is great for the Russian winter. It's equally great on ice and snow, and it's acceptably good on tarmac. The tire passed the results of expert tests with a solid five! Braking, acceleration and handling on ice - the best results everywhere! The multifaceted design of the stud ensures the confident behavior of the car in both longitudinal and transverse slides. On the snow, too, without remarks - everything is wonderful! But on asphalt Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is no longer the standard. The car, shod in Finnish tires, reacts precisely but sluggishly to corners, brakes not badly, but not perfectly, and makes more noise than competitors, even despite the use of special air damper technology next to the spikes.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is a great choice for those who often drive on snow and ice in winter, and not the best choice for residents of large cities who spend the winter on asphalt. For urban winter driving on asphalt, it is better to choose a different model.

Continental ContiIceContact - winter studded tires

The German winter tire Continental ContiIceContact is very close in performance to the Hakkapeliitta 7. Nokian is still better on ice, and the difference in performance on snow and asphalt between the two tire models is minimal. A driver without special equipment is unlikely to feel the difference in the behavior of cars. But the fact that Continental is noticeably quieter than Nokian is noticeable even without instruments.

Continental ContiIceContact are really good tires that can keep your car safe in the winter. Moreover, the resource indicators of Continental tires promise to be better than those of competitors thanks to a special technology for increasing the strength of the studs. Continental is so far the only company that produces "civilian" tires with glued spikes.

Michelin X-Ice North 2 - winter studded tires

The second generation of the Michelin X-Ice North studded winter tires perform skilfully in winter conditions. Unlike leaders in their design, there are no newfangled technologies such as multifaceted spikes or holes in the tread. However, Michelin tires are only slightly behind the leaders. One of the strengths of the Michelin X-Ice North2 tires is road handling. When driving on an ordinary winter road, they give excellent comfort: the tires remarkably ignore the longitudinal ruts and the “notch” left by snowplows. Acoustic comfort is also good for this rubber model, and in terms of rolling resistance, these tires are the best in their class.

Pirelli Winter Carving Edge - winter studded tires

Pirelli Winter Carving Edge tires are leaders in terms of slushplaning resistance. (hydroplaning in winter) The car with these tires resists well mixed in the contact patch.

In addition, a car shod with these tires acquires sharp reactions, both on asphalt and on ice and snow. This comes across as very poignant! If you go too far with speed when entering a turn, the driver encounters a sharp and unexpected skidding of the rear axle. Therefore, when driving cars with Pirelli tires, you need to be alert and always in control of the situation.

Goodyear UltraGrip Extreme - studded winter tires

Goodyear UltraGrip Extreme - good winter tires! They did not fail in any of the disciplines, showing decent results in each. At first glance, the Goodyear tire tread looks much simpler than the leaders. However, the UltraGrip Extreme design uses special invisible threads that stiffen the tread under load. This is the merit of prismatic lamellae.

Goodyear UltraGrip Extreme tires perform equally well on snow, on ice, on asphalt, and on mixed! Brilliant all-round winter tires that will suit drivers who spend most of their time in the city, but occasionally go out on the highway.

Gislaved Nord Frost 5 - winter studded tires

Gislaved Nord Frost 5 tires are market veterans. But to this day they remain a worthy option, satisfying with their performance the requirements for the behavior of a car on ice and snow.

However, Gislaved Nord Frost 5 is not suitable for the city. In an emergency, deep skids occur on a car with these tires, and on a mix that often happens in the city, Nord Frost 5 pops up unexpectedly early.

Yokohama Ice Guard 35 - winter studded tires

Yokohama Ice Guard 35 is last year's novelty in the tire market. Press releases from the Japanese company promised excellent performance in any situation. But in reality, alas, everything looks different. For example, on snow, and especially on ice, the IG35 tires noticeably lag behind the leaders. But on asphalt, Yokohama tires are one of the best. They are great for winter operation in Moscow or in other large cities, where more often than snow and ice, porridge from the reagent is on the road.

In addition to the above models, a number of other models are in demand on the Russian tire market. However, interest in them is caused only by their moderate value. Tires Hankook Winter i'Pike, Sava Eskimo Ice, Cordiant Sno-Max and other similar options are disappointing in their behavior in all respects, which, under certain circumstances, threatens an emergency.

Non-studded winter tires for passenger cars:

Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice+ - non-studded winter tires

Tires Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice + were made for the specifics of European operation. The tire has a directional tread pattern, which makes it highly resistant to slushplaning.

And in other disciplines, the Goodyear rubber has shown itself well: it behaves well on ice and snow and rides well on asphalt. One of the best non-studded winter tires!

Continental ContiVikingContact 5 - non-studded winter tires

Surprisingly, the studless Continental ContiVikingContact 5 tires don't shine on asphalt. On the contrary, her true element is snow and ice. On the ice - a noticeably shorter braking distance, on the handling track - a pleasant neutral steering, which allows you to drive the car on bare ice without any tension. These are good non-studded tires for the northern regions, but not for urban conditions.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R - non-studded winter tires

The non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tire, made in Russia, shows good grip on ice. In the snow, the same alignment. The slush planing resistance of this rubber is also not bad, but still weaker than that of the Continental.

At the same time, Nokian, like Continental, demonstrate the same weaknesses: their behavior on the pavement is not stable ... Not a standard for the city.

Michelin X-Ice 2 - non-studded winter tires

Michelin X-Ice 2 tires are equally well suited for driving on asphalt and for driving on ice. However, on ice, you need to watch your speed. He went too far - and flew off the trajectory. On snow, the car is more stable, but the grip is more modest. Snow-water porridge Michelin X-Ice 2 also resists no matter.

But in the category of driving on asphalt, the Michelin X-Ice 2 is close to the leader among non-studded tires. Good all purpose winter tire.

Yokohama Ice Guard 30 - non-studded winter tires

"Velcro" of the Japanese company Yokohama does not shine in any of the categories. She behaves mediocrely on snow, and on ice, and on asphalt. The only strong point of this tire is its resistance to slushplaning. Not the best tyres.

Dunlop Graspic DS-3 - non-studded winter tires

Dunlop Graspic DS-3 - a novelty of last year's season. Press releases claim that the tire, thanks to special fibers, clings perfectly to the ice. However, in reality, everything looks different. On ice - the average level of grip. There is some margin on the track, but after overcoming it, the car abruptly breaks into a slip. On snow, the situation is similar: mediocre traction and sharp, poorly predictable slips. Also on asphalt. In addition, these tires make more noise than other Velcros.

Text: Roman Kharitonov

Testing summer tires for SUV crossovers - season 2012

Test of summer tires in size 205/55 R16 and 235/55 R17 in which the following models took part: Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport, Continental ContiCrossContact UHP, Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV, Hankook Dynapro HP RA23, Pirelli Scorpion Verde, Sava Intensa SUV, Vredestein Sportrac 3, Barum Bravuris 4X4, Kumho Ecsta SPT KU31, Nankang N-605, Nokian Z G2, Pirelli Scorpion Verde and Toyo Proxes CF1 SUV.

Winter is coming, and we have already tested budget winter tires in the popular size 205/55 R16. Already known models and novelties of the season took part in the test. Ten sets of tires were tested on winter roads and asphalt. A couple of pleasant surprises were presented by the domestic Belshina. But let's talk about everything in order.

At the winter test site in Finland, we tested ten sets of tires: Nokian Nordman RS2, Gislaved Soft Frost 200, Cordiant Winter Drive, Hankook Winter I*Cept iZ2, Dunlop Winter Maxx WM01, Kumho I`Zen KW31, Sava Eskimo Ice, Belshina Artmotion Snow Bel-317, Viatti Brina V521, Nitto Therma Spike.

The most expensive tires in our test were Dunlop tires - 195 rubles, but Russian Cordiant tires are the cheapest - 93 rubles. But all tires somehow belong to the budget line in their lineups.

The winter part of the tests was carried out at the polar range on ice and snow at a temperature of -10 ... -8 °C. The spring part of the tests took place at a temperature of +5…7 °С.

Ice test

Ice is not the most pleasant surface for friction tires, but if they are of the Scandinavian type, they should perform well even in such conditions.

In braking on ice, the gap between the first and last place was 4 meters. When braking from a speed of 25 km / h, this is quite a lot.

In the exercise "Acceleration on Ice", the situation has not changed much, only Hankook and Sava have changed places. However, for some, the results of this test may not be decisive when choosing tires.

But the ability of the tire to hold in the turn, that is, the level of lateral grip, is an important indicator. We evaluate it by moving at the maximum possible speed along the ice circle.

Here, unexpectedly, Viatti tires took second place, the four outsiders did not change. But for a more comprehensive assessment of the behavior of both tires and the car on ice, we conduct a series of races on a winding ice track. In addition to the lap time, we subjectively assess the handling of the car.

The main surprise was by no means the first place of Cordiant (although the Russian tires surprised), but the seventh place of Belshina. Moreover, the loss to the leaders is not so great, and for ourselves we noted that the car on domestic tires goes, albeit not too fast, but predictably, which means it is safe. Nitto frankly failed in this test, losing even the penultimate place by about 4 seconds.

Snow test

If testing on ice quickly reveals flaws in the design of the tire, then snow is no longer such a demanding surface. In braking, the spread of results was only 7%.

We cannot fail to note the excellent fourth result of Belshina. She lost a stopping distance meter to the leader. Nitto managed to fail in the snow, showing the greatest braking distance.

In acceleration on snow, the spread of results has already increased to 15%. At the same time, the first six kept within the difference within 5%. Belshina, alas, ended up in the top three, although in fact the loss of outsiders does not exceed one and a half seconds.

Despite excellent braking results, the Hankook tires ended up in last place in handling on the winding snowy track, losing about three seconds to the leader, the Sava tires. Belshina ended up in seventh place, demonstrating good traction. But the propensity to skid prevented a faster drive.

Asphalt test

In large cities, where roads are kept relatively clean in winter, tires spend most of their time on asphalt. You can also add the off-season periods when temperatures are already low, but there is no snow yet. In such conditions, winter tires must also provide safety. On pavement, dry and wet, we perform braking tests and evaluate handling on wet pavement.

It often happens that tires that did not perform very well in winter tests prove themselves on asphalt. This is exactly what happened to Belshina.

In braking on wet pavement, the Sava tires showed the best result. An unexpected second result is for Belshina. And Dunlop and Kumho turned out to have the longest braking distance - they "left" 4 meters further than the leaders.

On dry pavement, Nokian climbed to first place, Belshina dropped to sixth position, losing a little more than a meter to the leader, which cannot be considered a failure.

The last surprise came from Belshina in the handling test on wet pavement.

We managed to drive the fastest wet handling track on Sava tires. The fourth place of Belshina is an excellent result. In addition to a good absolute time for passing the track, we noted the reliable and understandable behavior of the car on domestic tires.

rolling resistance

The rolling resistance of tires is evaluated on a special stand. The parameter indicates how easily the tire rolls on the road. The lower this figure, the more economical it will be to ride on such tires.

Results and ratings

The results of all tests with grades can be viewed in the final table. If we analyze the intermediate scores, it turns out that in the asphalt part of the program, Belshina Artmotion Snow took fifth place, leaving behind only eminent brands. But the final ninth place went to the Belarusian tire manufacturers for lack of grip on ice.

First Place Winners Nokian Nordman RS2 showed themselves excellently in all "ice" disciplines, confidently kept on the snow and slowed down best of all on dry pavement. But they cost from 142 rubles. Recommended for those who live outside the city and most often ride on snow and ice.

Slovak tires lost quite a bit to Russian-made Finnish tires Gislaved Soft*Frost 200. But they pulled out due to good performance on asphalt, although in winter tests they also kept up with the leader. Good universal tires, but the price is slightly above average - 150 rubles.

Korean Hankook Winter I*Cept iZ2 they braked best on snow and never failed in other disciplines, for which they received a well-deserved third place. At a price of 140 rubles, you can choose them as a universal "shoe" if there is no confidence in the Russian product.

Polish Sava Eskimo Ice handled well on snow and wet pavement, but failed in acceleration on snow. The rest of the performance was average, so the fourth place. At the same time, the price is not the lowest - 129 rubles.

Russian tires with an indistinct name Viatti Brina V521 took fifth place in the test. They did not fire in any of the tests, but they did not fail either. Therefore, at a price of 96 rubles, they can be considered a good purchase for those who do not like to spend extra money.

Sixth place finishers Cordiant Winter Drive lived up to its name, ahead of all competitors in handling on ice. But at the same time they showed the worst result in braking on dry pavement. However, at the lowest price - 93 rubles - quite acceptable tires for moderate winters.

Chinese Kumho I`Zen KW31 and Japanese Dunlop Winter Maxx WM01 scored almost the same number of points, finishing seventh and eighth respectively. In all indicators, they were slightly below average, but without obvious failures. At the same time, Chinese tires cost 167 rubles, and Japanese tires cost 195 rubles (the most expensive in our test), so Chinese tires would be a more rational choice.

Ninth place went to domestic tires. The reason for the low place is poor results on ice, but confident behavior on asphalt, both dry and wet. At a price of 107 rubles Belshina ArtMotion Snow can be safely recommended to those who spend most of their time on clean city roads, occasionally getting on the snow. In addition, our tires boast a large tread depth of 10 mm.

Japanese tires Nitto Therma Spike did not show themselves anything special, while showing the worst results in three disciplines - handling on ice, braking on snow and handling on a wet track. At a price of 138 rubles, it makes sense to look towards other manufacturers.

The question of choosing winter tires sooner or later confronts every motorist. Today, a huge number of similar products are on the market - studded wheels, all-season tires, the so-called Velcro. All winter tires can be divided into two large classes:

European;
Scandinavian.

European tires are designed mainly for wet asphalt, light snow cover and air temperatures down to -10 degrees. According to buyers, it is not the most suitable for Russian roads, but it has an important advantage - a diagonal tread pattern, and it also has grooves for moisture removal. They are convenient to use in the southern regions. In the ranking of the best winter tires, the first places are occupied by Scandinavian models. They are designed to move on deep snow, ice and a number of other road surfaces. Longitudinal patterns are not provided here, they have a peculiar tread pattern, which is located in a checkerboard pattern. This allows you to easily maintain control of the car, even while driving on the most problematic surfaces such as loose snow. In the top 10 winter tires, most of the places are occupied by such models, and besides, they have an excellent price-quality ratio.

When choosing winter tires, be sure to pay attention to the following product parameters:

The maximum level of load that the tire is able to withstand;
Wear resistance;
Speed index.

All this information is on the label indicated directly on the tires themselves. Wear resistance is determined under the inscription Treadwear. Dealing with this quality is very simple - 100 units are equivalent to 50,000 kilometers. With the load, the situation is much more complicated, since here you need to take into account the mass of the vehicle. This parameter must be equal to at least a third of the car in a fully equipped state. The third important quality of tires that is taken into account when choosing is the speed index. It is also reflected in the markings on rubber. For Russian roads, the most optimal indicator is S. These tires do not impair the speed of the car at all, but they have good wear rates.

Rating of winter tires TOP-10

Additionally reinforced with aramid fibers. It is specially designed for harsh climatic conditions. This rubber needs a special run-in, after which it will be possible to evaluate all the positive qualities it has.

Advantages:

Ideally adheres to any coatings;
Has a reinforced sidewall;
Good braking on dry pavement;
Wears out long enough.

Flaws:

Makes a quiet noise during break-in;
It costs quite a lot.

Otherwise, this winter tire, according to reviews, is very good for snow, ice and asphalt, that is, for any coatings of the cold season.

One of the latest developments, created specifically for SUVs or crossovers. It is considered that this is the best non-studded winter tires. The tread pattern is symmetrical, special crystal particles are added to the rubber, and a significant number of sipes are also provided, thanks to which the rubber will easily resist even bad road conditions, including ice slush or slush.

Advantages:

The treads grip the road very well;
Rubber feels great even in a rut;
A car with such tires will quickly stop on ice, thick snow, dry or wet asphalt;
The use of rubber does not in any way affect the handling performance of the vehicle;
It has moderate softness, does not make extraneous noise while driving;
Reinforced tire sidewall, which allows you to get out of the rut quickly and without skidding;
Long service life.

Flaws:

High price;
It does not always behave confidently on sharp turns with asphalt.

Designed specifically for snow cover. The developers specifically made a strictly directional tread pattern, the central element of which is a closed rib. It significantly reduces the likelihood of skidding on snow cover.

Advantages:

Low cost;
Small braking distance even on an icy road;
Good for snowy dirt roads.

Flaws:

Uncertain behavior on the asphalt surface;
The spikes are not very strong and often fly out, especially on ice or asphalt during hard braking.

Deficiencies accelerate the wear of rubber, reduce its service life.

Designed specifically for harsh winter conditions. The rubber has very original spikes with sharp edges that behave very well on ice.

Advantages:

Easily removes slush and moisture from the place of adhesion with the coating;
Excellent brakes even on ice;
Holds the road well, does not wobble;
Does not impair the handling of the vehicle;
After completion of the break-in, it practically does not make noise;
On smooth and dry pavement, it behaves almost like a summer one;
wears out slowly;
Possesses strong spikes;
Well suited for the conditions of the far north.

Flaws:

In a rut, it does not behave too confidently, a high probability of slipping;
The sidewall is quite soft, which can cause hernias.

It is one of the most popular models in the inexpensive segment. The production of such tires is spread quite widely, which causes certain problems. Motorists say that it is a real success to purchase high-quality and original tires of this model, since there are quite a lot of fake products on the market. If we consider the original rubber, then it combines the best qualities: It does not affect the car's handling performance, provides excellent cross-country ability in snowy areas, and behaves well even in urban areas. On the ice, he can show himself not too confident.

Advantages:

Good level of wear resistance;
Wide use;
Makes minimal noise while driving
It behaves well in fairly difficult areas;
It performs well in the city.

Flaws:

There is a very great chance to buy low-quality products that will behave on the road much worse than the original;
It behaves quite nervously on ice, which can cause the car to skid, so it is not recommended to develop too high a speed - optimally 60 km / h.

At first, this rubber was met by motorists with a high degree of skepticism, but most of them almost immediately changed their minds about this product. These tires perform best on unpaved, icy or slippery roads covered in snow. Rubber perfectly passes through all difficult areas due to the fact that it is equipped with spikes and has a large area of rubber contact with the base.

The tire has a significant amount of sharp edges, thanks to which it will easily pass areas covered with loose and deep snow, which is usually characteristic of off-road conditions. It turns out that this model is perfect for both urban conditions and for dirt roads or off-road.

Advantages:

It doesn't cost too much;
Perfectly adheres to the roadway of various types, even if it is covered with a lot of snow;
The rubber is quite soft, which ensures tight contact of the wheel with the surface of the base;
It practically does not make noise while driving, which is uncharacteristic for winter tires.

Flaws:

Too soft - this can adversely affect while driving on an icy road or on a dirt road.

It is a fairly budget option, and this rubber will behave perfectly on wet pavement even in winter, but users do not recommend accelerating over 100 km / h when installing it. Such tires are perfect for urban residents who use the car not too often in the home-cottage-work-shop format. The rubber itself is quite soft, which provides a significant area of contact with the road.

Advantages:

Low cost;
Rubber has almost no rolling resistance;
Very well behaved on a flat road surface;
Wears out slowly during operation;
Doesn't make a lot of noise
It does not affect the performance of the vehicle in any way.

Flaws:

During the thaw, the rubber becomes too soft;
Does not behave very well on dirt roads, especially if they are very cold;
When using this rubber, it is undesirable to accelerate too much and brake sharply. This is due to the high level of softness - the car can skid heavily and lead to an emergency or even an accident.

Differs in high quality and reliability. During production, rubber is additionally reinforced with aramid fibers that can increase the wear resistance of products. This model is considered the best winter studded tires. Such tires are designed specifically for fairly severe winter conditions. On sale you can find sizes from 15 to 21 inches. After installation, it needs a run-in, after which it will be possible to fully appreciate all its positive characteristics.

Advantages:

Remarkably holds the road in all conditions, including snow or ice;
Has a high level of rigidity;
It behaves well even on dry and not frozen asphalt;
This rubber does not affect the handling of the vehicle, regardless of the complexity of the weather conditions;
It wears out very slowly - with careful driving it can last about 10 seasons;
Does not make extraneous noise, does not bounce on bumps and generally behaves as comfortably as possible;
The spikes are quite strong;
Easily removes moisture, slush or snow porridge from under it.

Flaws:

Significant cost;
Due to the reinforced sidewalls, it does not always behave confidently in a rut;
When running, it emits a slight hum, but you can completely ignore it, especially if good sound insulation is provided in the cabin;
During the installation process, it will have to be balanced.

It is a product of Italian production, in the manufacture of which only the most advanced technologies are involved. This is especially true for spikes equipped with a double core. The rubber also has a significant number of blocks of various shapes, the tread pattern is made in the shape of the letter V. It is considered the best winter Velcro rubber.

Advantages:

Excellent value for money;
Low braking distance on any surface;
The absence of spikes allows you to grip well with asphalt, loose snow.
They hold the road very well and reliably adhere to it.

Flaws:

It behaves worst of all during slush and in icy porridge - a consequence of the absence of spikes;
Becomes excessively soft at positive air temperature;
During break-in, it makes an unpleasant noise, but this phenomenon is temporary, after the first thousand kilometers the sound will disappear.

1 Nokian Tires Nordman 5

It is one of the most common - motorists consider this model the best winter tires. It is made from the most modern materials, besides, in its manufacture, a modern technology called "Bear Claw" is used. With its help, rubber behaves much better on an icy or snowy road. The spikes here do not sag under the weight of the car and retain their vertical position, due to which the grip on the road surface is much better.

It is inexpensive, practically does not resist rolling. Tires have good strength indicators and excellent adhesion to the road surface. Able to last about 10 seasons and do not make too much noise, and also practically do not affect the control of the machine.

Advantages:

It has good rigidity even at positive temperatures;
Drives well on ice or loose snow;
It has special tubules for removing slush or snow from under the wheels;
The spikes have an original shape, do not fly out even while driving on asphalt;
Rubber can withstand a significant mass of the car - up to 2.5-3 tons;
Can be used for off-road driving.

Flaws:

domestic production;
Not too high stability in relation to maintaining the course;
Rubber is prone to drift to the side;
You need to be as careful as possible when braking hard, as a car equipped with this rubber can suffer a lot. Often the rubber behaves in a similar way even during a smooth stop, for example, near a traffic light.

Conclusions and video

On the eve of each new season, manufacturers of "shoes for cars" offer the results of their work to the attention of motorists. And the autumn of 2012 was no exception - it turned out to be very rich and full of new winter tires from well-known world brands. Nokian and Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli, Continental and Yokohama, Hankook and Kumho, Cordiant and Dunlop, Toyo and Maxxis, Sava and Matador have prepared a range of new models of studded and non-studded ("Velcro") winter tires for cars, crossovers, SUVs and sports auto. Unfortunately, it will not work to tell about everyone within the framework of one article, we will focus our attention on the most striking proposals. This review will help you understand the new products and choose new winter tires for each car owner for your “iron friend”.

Finnish company Nokian Tires has prepared a new generation of Hakkapeliitta LT2 studded tires for SUVs. The wheel is designed for heavy-duty use in countries with low temperatures and poor road conditions. Tests have shown that the carcass of this tire has a high margin of safety, a specially developed rubber compound provides the tire with resistance to cuts and tears. The sharp edges of the tread blocks and the increased number (compared to the previous LT model) of sipes provide the tire with better traction on snowy roads. The studs are based on the Air Claw technology used in Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 passenger tires (a teardrop-shaped air damper is located in front of the stud). This solution allows the shock absorbers to absorb micro-shocks, and the spikes touch the road surface more gently. This technology provides an increase in tire life, reduces its noise and impact on the road.
The Hakkapeliitta LT2 is available in standard sizes for 16", 17" and 18" SUVs with widths from 215mm to 285mm. Tire load index 285 / 60R18 - "123" (1550 kg). The price of a studded novelty from Nokian Tires in the popular size 215/70 R16 starts from 7300 rubles.
Also, the popular model of studded off-road tires Hakkapeliitta 7 SUV is now available in new sizes, it became possible to purchase wheels 215/70 R17, 285/45 R19 and 265/50 R19, for fans of large “skating rinks” 275/60 R20 is offered.

tire company good year will please Russian car owners with two novelties of the winter season. Studded winter tires UltraGrip Ice Arctic are specially designed for severe winters in the north of Russia and the Scandinavian countries. Thanks to the use of studs of a new shape and technology for their production, it was possible to achieve an increase in the contact patch of the stud with the road surface, which has a positive effect on improving the grip properties of tires on ice. A test drive demonstrates that this clever tire studding technology also provides noise reduction and rolling resistance. The manufacturer claims that one of the strengths of the new winter tires is stable handling on wet asphalt. The novelty will be available in a wide range of sizes, from R13 to R17 and tire widths from 175mm to 225mm. The common and popular size 205/55 R16 is estimated at 5300 rubles.
The second new model - Velcro - friction tire UltraGrip 8 Performance. These tires have been developed for powerful sports cars with high speed performance and are designed for a top speed of 240 km/h. The directional tread pattern, improved aerodynamic qualities, the use of three types of sipes - everything is aimed at providing an optimal balance of tire performance, both on snow and on clean asphalt. To the above, it is worth adding that the developers "conjured" over the composition of the rubber compound and achieved not only a decrease in rolling resistance, but were also able to reduce the weight of the tire. The novelty is available at a price of 4000 rubles and is offered in sizes from R 15-18.

French companies Michelin will delight its followers with three novelties for the winter of 2012-2013. The first is the non-studded tire Michelin X-Ice 3. The main feature of this tire is the use of tread blocks of an unusual configuration. Tire blocks consist of three bright elements: Z-shaped sipes are arranged with a sawtooth edge and complemented by micropumps. The first two improve tire grip on slippery road surfaces and snow, while the latter act as an assistant and work like a sponge - they fight and neutralize the water film that forms in the wheel contact patch on an ice-covered road surface. This combined technology significantly improves the performance of the rubber, the braking distance on ice is reduced by 7% (compared to the tires of the previous generation of the model), and acceleration on slippery surfaces can be performed faster by as much as 17%. In addition, the cutting depth of the sipes is deeper, which will allow for much longer retention of the original properties of "sticky" tires.
The model of winter tires X-Ice 3 is intended for use on cars and compact crossovers. The range of sizes offered by the manufacturer is very large: tires with a landing diameter of R 14-18, a width of 175 mm to 235 mm and a maximum load index of "102" (up to 850 kg), with a speed index - H (allows you to develop 210 km / h). The price of the new Michelin X-Ice 3 in the common size 205/55 R16 approximately starts at 5,000 rubles.
The second new model is the Pilot Alpin 4 non-studded winter tire designed for latitudes with mild winter weather conditions and is intended for fast sports cars with powerful engines. An improved rubber compound used for the Pilot Alpin 4 high-speed non-studded tire and an increase in the number of sipes with deeper cuts have improved braking performance on slippery road surfaces. The price of the new model starts from 8500 rubles.
For powerful and fast SUVs, Michelin has another new model in store. The third novelty of the season from the French manufacturer is the Latitude Alpin 2, a friction tire with a directional pattern. Compared to the previous generation, the new tire features 75% longer sipes, 40% more snow gripping edges and, of course, an improved tread compound for softer tyres, even in sub-zero temperatures. The new tire will be produced in as many as 22 standard sizes with a diameter of R 16-21. The price of winter tires Latitude Alpin 2 starts at 7600 rubles.

Italian company Pirelli from the glorious city of Milan, for the winter season of 2012-2013, she also thoroughly prepared and launched into serial production two types of winter “shoes” - Velcro with the bright name Scorpion Winter and studded tires Winter Carving Edge, and we will start the review with it.
The new generation of Winter Carving Edge claw tires are equipped with multi-faceted studs, their task is to work more efficiently on the bare ice surface of the winter road and increase the friction properties of the wheel. As a result of the modernization, the rubber compound was updated, the new rubber compound for tires made it possible to achieve better tire grip on snow, as well as handling on wet asphalt. All the innovations and changes used in the design of the novelty made it possible to achieve excellent parameters for the behavior of a car “shod” in Winter Carwing Edge. According to tests, in comparison with the previous generation of the model, the new winter tires cling to snow by 15% better, increase the stability of the car by 14% and reduce the braking distance by 21%.
The new tires are available in 35 sizes, from R13 for small cars to 20 inches for large crossovers and executive sedans. The cost of the popular size 205/55 R16 is approximately 5000 rubles.
The geography of application of Velcro Scorpion Winter is wider than that of studded wheels of Italian origin, in addition to the countries of northern Europe, the new friction tires from Pirelli can also be used in regions with a "mild winter". The main buyers of Scorpion Winter will be the owners of large SUVs and crossovers with powerful engines. The composition of the rubber compound for the production of new items includes a large amount of silicone, flavored with carbon rubber. This mixture allows tires to work in a wide temperature range without losing their performance. New high-speed tires have a soft and elastic breaker belt located under the main tread pattern (increases the contact patch with the roadway and, of course, improves directional stability). Compared to the previous generation, the new tire has less rolling resistance, which has a positive effect on fuel efficiency.
Winter tires Scorpion Winter are available in 27 different sizes, diameter R16-21 and width 215-315 mm. In Russian stores, prices for the novelty of the winter season from Pirelli start at 5,500 rubles.

The car market offers a huge range of tires, it is very difficult to choose the best ones. Therefore, to simplify the choice of motorists, independent experts compile ratings of winter tires, they indicate the advantages and disadvantages of tires of various brands.

In the winter season, drivers have a question: “to stud or not to stud tires?”. Studded products are designed for harsh winters, ensure the normal stability of the car when driving on ice or deep snow. Studless tires are not only suitable for driving on icy or snowy roads, they can be used on dry or wet road surfaces. There is an alternative option - these are the so-called "Velcro", they have a large lamella of the tread blocks, this design, in the absence of spikes, ensures the stability of the car on snow or ice. Which of these tires is better depends on the preferences of the driver and the operating conditions of the vehicle.

When choosing tires for the winter on your own, use the ratings of winter tires, when they are compiled by independent experts, the following characteristics of tires of various brands are taken into account:

stopping distance of a car on a dry, snowy, slushy, ice-covered road;
maximum acceleration of the car;
fuel consumption;
rubber noise;
driving comfort.

Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of rubber from different brands allows you to identify leaders in the manufacture of high-quality tires.

Leaders and outsiders of budget classes of studded tires

First place

Tire Sava Eskimo Stud

The tire is designed for extreme winter conditions, it occupies a leading position among models of budget tire classes. It consists of a silicon-containing polymer, which provides the elastic properties of products at a sufficiently low ambient temperature.

Advantages:

low noise;
vehicle stability on ice, snow, dry and wet asphalt;
average course stability.

Disadvantages: average handling, directional stability when tested on a wet road surface.

Second place

Tire Matador MP30 Sibir Ice 2

Tires are designed in compliance with world standards and taking into account the peculiarities of the Russian climate. The composition of rubber provides elasticity, resistance of products to low-temperature operating conditions.

Advantages:

wear resistance;
low weight due to the use of aluminum spikes;
good acceleration on winter roads;
short braking distance on wet and dry road surfaces;
average grip on ice and snow.

Drawbacks:

average directional stability and handling on roads covered with ice;
noisy.

Third place

Tires Cordiant Snow Cross

These tires are designed for harsh Russian winters. The resistance of products to wear is ensured by the presence of silicon in the composition of rubber. These tires proved to be excellent when driving on packed snow, in some respects they even surpassed middle-class tires.

Advantages:

average braking on the road covered with ice;
good acceleration on packed snow and icy road surfaces;
average exchange rate stability among test participants.

Flaws:

not the shortest braking on dry and wet paved surfaces;
spikes protrude strongly, creating additional noise while driving;
increase in fuel consumption when moving the car at high speeds;
there is a chance of getting stuck when driving on loose snow.

Fourth place

Rubber Kama Euro 519

Structurally tires consist of two layers of rubber. One makes the studs resistant to falling out, the second makes the tires flexible at very low temperatures.

Advantages:

fast braking on snow and dry pavement;
average cross-country ability on winter roads;

Drawbacks:

increased braking on icy roads and wet pavement;
tires respond slowly to steering commands;
low stability on snowy, icy roads.

Fifth place

Tire Viatti Brina Nordico V-522

The products have an asymmetric tread pattern that provides traction with the road surface. The outer part of the tread ensures the stability of the machine during cornering.

Advantages:

good directional stability of the car on a snow-covered road;
elasticity.

Flaws:

for all types of testing, tires showed low results;
increased braking on any type of road surface;
a small patch of rubber contact with the surface when driving on ice.