Nokian tires are Finnish rubber that has gained popularity around the world for its quality and reliability. Today the company is engaged in the production of tires for all types of cars.

Most modern models of the company have indicators of wear, running-in, temperature drop, which greatly facilitate the use and maintenance of tires. Additional additives in the rubber compound extend the life of Nokian tires.

Studded winter tires are one of the company's central research areas. Work in this area has allowed Nokian's engineers to create innovative spikes that are virtually silent. However, they do not lose their performance properties even after 4 seasons of continuous use. Porsche has included Nokian winter tires in the official list of basic equipment for its vehicles.

On the Express-Tire website in Moscow, you can buy Nokian tires for any car and any climatic conditions quickly, cheaply and without any hassle. Using the intelligent search on the site or by calling our managers' hotline, you will quickly find the model you need.

SIZE.

Tire size, as well as other technical parameters and properties are set at the time of its design, the main criterion for determining the characteristics of a tire is the category of vehicles for which it is produced (passenger cars, minivans and SUVs, commercial, etc.). It is obvious that the requirements, for example, for passenger tires and tires for light trucks will be different, respectively, and the marking of such tires will be different. The most common designation for the tire size is235 /65 R 17 108 T , but the following labeling options are also found:185/75 R16C, LT185 / 75 R16, 175 / R14, 175-14 , 7.5-16 , 7.50R16 LT. Let's take a look at all these values \u200b\u200bin order:

175, 185, 235 - the width of the tire profile, measured in millimeters;

7.5, 7.50 - tire section width in inches;

65, 75 - series, expressed in the ratio of the tire height to the width, also called the profile height or simply the profile, indicated as a percentage. Those. 235/65 reads 65% of 235 mm. Marking that does not contain the tire series value (for example175 / R14) indicates that the tire is full profile. The profile height of such tires is more than 80%.

IMPORTANT! When changing the size of tires, it must be remembered that the series (profile) of the tire is a relative value. For example when replacing tires 235/65R17for wider 255/65R17will change inlarge side, total wheel height. This will lead to an increase in the vehicle's ground clearance (the car will "rise"), which is not always good - the vehicle's controllability may deteriorate, especially when cornering at speed, the maximum steering angle will decrease. Also, when driving on uneven roads / off-road or hitting pits and potholes, the wheel can touch the wheel arch liner, which is unacceptable. The situation is especially frustrating when the wheels, as a result of such replacements, cannot be installed on the car - they simply do not fit into the wheel arch.Tires that were mounted on a disk cannot be exchanged or returned. , be careful!

R, as well asRadial – many people mistakenly believe that the letterRmeans "radius", it is not. This is the designation of the radial structure of the tire (the arrangement of the layers of cord forming the tire carcass relative to the axis of rotation of the wheel). There are two more types of tires: bias, letterDusually not put( view marking175-14, 7.5-16) and diagonal tires with a stiffening belt, such rubber is much stiffer, heavier and great for SUVs in mountain conditions is marked with a letterB (Bias belted). If none of these letters are indicated, then the tire is of a bias design;

REINFORCED (RF), C or LT – designation of reinforced tires, rubber for commercial vehicles and light trucks;

REINFORCED or RF (e.g. 195/70R15 RF) means that the tire is reinforced with additional cords (ply rate 6PR);

FROM ( Commercial ) used to indicate light truck tires with a ply rate of 8PR;

LT (Light Truck) the tires supplied to the US market and recommended for use on SUVs, minivans and light trucks are marked;

108 T - 108 - tire load index (more about load index).T -category (index) of the tire speed (more about the speed index). Also, the tire marking can contain the valueMAX.LOADegMAX.LOAD 1000 kg (2204 lbs).

MARKING OF AMERICAN TIRES.

The metric system of designation of the standard tire size is widespread in the USA ("P-metric"), but has some differences from the European "Euro-metric". For example, American-made tires are characterized by the presence of a tire designation index, it has a letter designation and is usually placed in front of the tire profile information - P 195/65 R 15, the following bus destination indices exist:

P – abbreviatedPassanger, passenger car tires;

LT– abbreviatedLight Truck, tires for SUVs, minivans and light commercial trucks;

LTP– abbreviatedLight Truck Personal, tires for SUVs, minivans and private light trucks;

T – abbreviatedTEMPORARY, tires for temporary use, in other words - a spare wheel (stowaway);

Also in the United States there is an inch size designation system used for marking off-road and truck tires. An example of such a system is marking 32/11,5 LTP R15 Where:

32 - the outer diameter of the tire, measured in inches;

11,5 - series (profile height) of the tire, in inches;

LTP- bus destination index;

R - type of tire construction (radial);

15 - inner (landing) tire diameter.

ADDITIONAL TIRE MARKING.

SEASONAL AND WEATHER DESIGNATIONS:

M + S, M&S- Mud and Snow ( mud and snow), tires are designed for use all year round (all season). Pif there is no pictogram (picture) "snowflake" (mountains and snowflake), tires are recommended to be used only in summer , they are not suitable for winter;

All Season, AS - all-season tires;

A.G.T. (All Grip Traction) - all-season tires;

Any Weather, Aw- for use in any weather;

Winter– winter tires;

"SNOWFLAKE" ("Mountains and Snowflake") - the tire is intended for use in winter;

STUDLESS – marking of winter, non-studded (friction) tires;

STUDDABLE, STUD - marking of winter studded or studded tires;

Rain, Water, Aqua, Aquatred, Aquacontact or * umbrella *- rain tires.

IDENTIFICATION OF PASSAGE OF TIRES, TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE:

HP, H / P (High Performance) - road (highway) tires intended for use only on asphalt roads. Good grip performance only on flat road surfaces;

UHP (Ultra High Performance) - road (road) tires of increased wear resistance and strength. For even asphalt pavement only;

HT, H / T (Highway Terrain) - road tires for driving mainly on asphalt roads. The tread pattern allows you to drive on dirt roads and off-road only in dry weather;

A / T (All Terrain) - universal, all-road tires. More aggressive tread pattern than tires H / T. Designed for asphalt, dirt roads, sand, stone, snow, everyday use. Not recommended for driving on deep ruts and clay;

M / T (Mud Terrain) - mud tires. Tractor tread pattern. The rubber is stiffer than A / T and is not very suitable for asphalt roads, as well as behaves poorly on ice. Designed for driving on broken roads, ruts, clay, wetlands;

S.A.G. (Super All Grip) - off-road tires;

S.L. (Limited Service) - limited use;

U.G.S. (Undeground Special) - tires for underground equipment;

N . H . S . ( NonHighwayService) - not for high-speed roads;

C . M . S . ( Construction Mining Service ) - tires for mining and construction equipment;

H. C. T. (HeavyConstructorTransport) - tires for heavy construction equipment;

L. C. M. (LoggingConstructorMining) - tires for forestry, construction, mining equipment.

TIRES PURPOSE MARKING

SUV (Sport Utility Vehicles) - tires for sport utility vehicles and crossovers. As a rule, tires are marked for all four-wheel drive heavy vehicles (SUVs, minivans);

ML - (designation only for passenger car tires) tires with a protective rim flange, for Mercedes-Benz or Audi;

M0- tires homologated (approved) for Mercedes-Benz;

N0, N1, N2,N3, N4, N5 - tires designed for Porsche cars;

OTHER MARKING SYMBOLS:

TUBELESS, TL - tubeless tire, if there is no such marking, the tire must be installed with a tube;

TUBE TYPE, TT - tube tire, used with tube only;

The Kormoran SUV Stud is a winter studded tire designed for crossovers and SUVs that need reliable grip in the harsh conditions of northern winters. The SUV Stud model guarantees reliable grip on icy roads, off-road capability on snowy roads and efficient operation on cleaned asphalt roads. The Kormoran SUV Stud tire combines modern technology and components in its design to achieve a high level of consumer performance.

The directional tread pattern provides effective traction and braking performance, especially on wet and melted roads and low noise levels. The new stud pattern with effective stud distribution offers 60 studs per running meter of tread. This provides effective traction on slippery winter roads. The central rib, consisting of individual blocks, provides the tire with reliable directional stability and precise handling. An extensive network of drainage channels quickly removes water and snow slurry from the contact patch of the tire with the road, preventing the occurrence of aquaplaning. Newly designed sipes are used in the tread blocks, which act as additional coupling edges, improving the traction and braking performance.

In addition to the manufacturer's name, trade mark, tire model and its standard size, the following additional markers may be indicated on the sidewalls of a car tire:

Colored marks on the tire

Yellow marker on the tire sidewall (circle or triangle) defines the position of the lightest spot on the tire. Alignment with the heaviest place on the disc (usually this is the place where the nipple is attached) during installation new tire improves wheel balancing.

Red marker on the tire sidewall (circle or triangle) defines the place of the maximum force inhomogeneity. Such a mark is applied, as a rule, to automobile tires of the original (factory) configuration of the car.

Colored longitudinal linesapplied to the tread are used solely to facilitate identification of the tire model (for example, in warehouse storage).

Digital stamp (usually white, in the center of a circle or triangle) on a car tire is the personal marker of the inspector who performed the final inspection of the tire at the factory.

Car manufacturer tire markings

Some tires are labeled with an alphanumeric code that indicates some features in the context of their use for installation on vehicles of specific manufacturers or brands. Tires with this special marking differ from the standard of their model. Their characteristics are optimized for maximum performance on the target vehicles.

Characterizing tires that have a special marking of the automaker, they often say "the tire is homologated" (from the English omologation - bringing technical characteristics and parameters in accordance with the requirements of standards or requests). Leading car manufacturers often homologate specific tire models for their vehicles, including those for initial fittings. The homologation marker, in addition to the target indication, indicates the high quality of the tire, since in the process of improving the tires, they undergo serious tests for compliance with world standards and the standards of the automaker.

Some specific markings from automakers restrict the use of tires for a specific vehicle, others indicate general technical usage. For a correct understanding of the special marking, it is worth contacting specialists before buying. The following table provides an explanation of the most common symbols.

Tires for crossovers (SUVs) for the summer and winter periods must have some special properties. This is the only way to guarantee the comfortable operation of these light vehicles.

Choosing summer tires for a crossover

Crossovers include cars of two classes - SAV and SUV. The first abbreviation stands for Sports Activity Vehicle, the second stands for Sport Utility Vehicle. When choosing tires for summer driving on such cars, you should pay attention to the speed and load index of the tires. Motorists who buy low-load tires for crossovers run the risk of encountering hazardous tire behavior in any extreme traffic conditions. Tires can even explode, which is fraught with a serious accident.

Firms that produce summer tires for crossovers, without fail, reinforce the carcass and rubber breaker. To accurately establish the required load index, the owner of a SAV and SUV car needs to carefully analyze the parameters of "native" tires and, based on this analysis, select new products.

In situations where it is not possible to find out the factory characteristics of the tires, it is allowed to calculate the most rational load index yourself. This is not difficult to do. It is necessary to divide by four the mass of the SUV in running order. The value calculated in this way will tell the owner of the car the optimal coefficient of its carrying capacity.

Having decided on this important characteristic, you can begin to select the best SAV and SUV for cars. Here it is worthwhile to understand that for one SUV, some tires may be the best, for another - completely different ones. To find out which tires are most suitable in a particular case, you need to decide what qualities the car should have. Experts advise paying attention to three characteristics of crossovers:

• cross-country ability;
• controllability when driving off-road and on well-maintained routes;
• stability on any road.

In order for the SUV to clearly obey its owner, all these indicators must be as high as possible.

Tires with an aggressive tread pattern are suitable for situations where the crossover is usually used for "walking" off-road conditions. At the same time, it is very important to purchase rubber with reinforced side parts and a frame. If the car is driven mainly on city roads, you can buy road tires that are characterized by good handling, high noiselessness and comfort. When using SAV and SUV cars for movement equally on normal surfaces and off-road, it is recommended to install universal tires on them.

Another important point. When choosing tires for crossovers for the summer, you need to take into account the peculiarities of the climate in the region where the car is operated. Some tires are designed specifically for wet riding, but are not desirable for dry use. There is also a rubber that behaves well both when moving on mud and on smooth asphalt.

Nokian Hakka SUV tires

According to experts, excellent performance characteristics have Hakka SUV(models Blackand Blue) production Nokian... They are characterized by a very high degree of strength, achieved through the use of aramid fiber in the rubber compound for the sidewalls of the tires. This fiber has long been used in the military and aviation industries.

Tire treads Hakka SUVhave an asymmetric image, they have tubular transverse grooves that provide a quick drainage of water from the channels. Also tires from Nokian are characterized by good drying of the contact patch and low rolling noise.

Tires Hakka Blackdesigned for powerful and heavy SUVs. These tires provide a guarantee for precise controllability of the car and its instant response to the driver's actions. For this, the tires have special longitudinal ribs of large width. At difficult turns and high speeds, they almost completely neutralize the possible deformation of the rubber.

Model Blackdiffers in the following features:

• tires effectively dampen noise on rough asphalt surfaces;
• tires have unique resistance and resistance to cuts;
• rubber behaves well at constant driving at high speeds.

Besides, Hakka Blackprovides 100% high-quality grip of the car with any kind of summer road surface (wet or hot asphalt, primer, etc.).

If the crossover is used quite often on sandy and gravel roads, and not just on asphalt, it is better to purchase tires Hakka Blue... On the inside of their tread, special lugs are provided, which provide excellent traction on grass and loose soil. This is facilitated by the rubber composition from which these tires are made. It has a low indicator of internal resistance, allows you to slightly reduce CO2 emissions and gasoline consumption.

Review of the best summer tires

The following summer tires for SUVs demonstrated good performance during the tests:

Tires deserve attention too Latitude Sport 3 - new in 2015 from the company Michelin... They are installed on their all-wheel drive crossovers by such giants of the automotive market as Porsche, Bmw, Volvo... These tires save fuel, have a double frame, which significantly increases their service life, and make it possible to safely navigate corners and turns at high speeds. Latitude Sport 3 from the point of view of acoustic comfort, they are very good, since they are not prone to resonant hum.

Choosing winter tires for crossovers

Winter tires for SUVs and SAVs are a little more difficult to select. First, the general rubber parameters should be considered. Secondly, it is imperative to pay attention to the fact that there are all-season tires, about the safety of which there are serious disputes among experts, special "Velcro" and studded tires.

For good asphalt highways and city roads, experts advise to purchase Velcro. This is due to the fact that a special chemical coating layer is applied to highways in most Russian cities, which melts ice well. Velcro does not come into contact with such chemistry.

Studded winter tires are best used when you are absolutely sure that the communal services in your community do not use chemical coatings during icy conditions. Tires with spikes behave well on icy roads, but on snow and dry asphalt they are inferior to Velcro in many respects.

"Controversial" all-season tires (they are labeled by manufacturers as M&S), in theory, are created for driving on any road and off-road in any weather conditions. But many experts say that "all-seasons" become overly tough during the cold winter months and get too hot when driving on hot summer asphalt. It seems to be better to use winter tires for SUVs, which are designed specifically for operation in the cold, and not try to check on our own experience whether they are suitable for year-round driving or not.

Crossovers, on which their owners drive mainly off-road, it is advisable to "shoe" in tires with markings All terrain... They are second to none for moving through washed-out mud and snow. But at the same time, remember that the quality of handling of a car with rubber All terrain on the asphalt is not suitable for all motorists.

The best winter tires for SUVs

The results of numerous tests carried out in different countries of the world have shown that at the moment the following products can be safely attributed to the category of the best winter tires for crossovers:

At the end of the review, we will pay attention to budget winter tires Cordiant Snow Cross... According to some characteristics, they are inferior to the tires described above, but their affordable cost makes them very popular in Russia. This rubber resists snow adhesion well, drains water well under the wheel, and has a long service life. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on more prestigious tire models, Cordiant Snow Cross will be the best option for winter "shoes" for your crossover.