Trying to gain a foothold in the US market, the Japanese company Toyo Tire created the Nitto brand in 1995. The company's products were intended exclusively for powerful premium sedans, sports cars and SUVs. Gradually, sales started in Europe and Russia.

There are different types of tires in the company's lineup. The winter model Nitto Therma Spike is in great demand among drivers. Reviews of the presented rubber in most cases are only positive.

Manufacturing and design

The model was created with the active use of various technological innovations. For example, the tread design was designed using digital simulation techniques. After creating the prototype, engineers began testing at the Toyo test site. Only after bringing the model to perfection under these conditions, the tires were put into production. ISO certified multi-level quality control eliminates the risk of retail purchase of defective Nitto Therma Spike tires. Reviews of motorists indicate that the quality of tires is consistently high.

Tread design

It is worth mentioning here that the concern has departed from the accepted canons in the field of winter tire design. The tires have a revolutionary asymmetrical tread pattern. The outer part is rather large and consists of large rectangular blocks. Massive elements retain their durability under sharp deformation loads. As a result, the vehicle remains stable during cornering and when braking.

During the tests of the Nitto Therma Spike, it turned out that the presented tire sample allows the motorist to maintain a phenomenally high speed of maneuvering. The wheels react quickly to any steering changes.

The inner part gives stability when driving straight. The vehicle holds the road well, drifts when accelerating are absent in principle.

Two compounds

The outer and inner parts of the Nitto Therma Spike winter tires differ not only in design, but also in the type of rubber compound. In the first case, a more rigid composition is used. It is he who allows you to maintain the desired maneuverability and quality of movement. In the second case, manufacturers increased the proportion of elastomers in the compound. As a result, the tires behave more softly, do not provoke high shaking in the cabin when moving on poor road surfaces.

The use of special connections allows you to expand the temperature regime of operation. The tires retain their elasticity even in severe frost. In reviews of the Nitto Therma Spike, drivers claim that this class of rubber is capable of withstanding extremely low temperatures.

Ice behavior

During trial tests, the Nitto Therma Spike showed near-perfect ice performance. The grip quality is high thanks to important technical solutions.

1. First, the spikes are arranged in 14 rows. This prevents rutting from forming. The car retains its maneuverability even on icy roads.
2. Secondly, the head of the spike has a variable cross-section. This unusual approach allows you to maintain stability in cornering and braking. There are no demolitions in principle.
3. Thirdly, special small notches are applied to the tread blocks. As a result, the rigidity of all elements increases, the total number of clutch edges increases.

Snow and water drainage

In reviews of the Nitto Therma Spike, drivers also note driving stability on wet roads. The negative effect of hydroplaning resulting from the formation of a microfilm of water between the tire and the road is completely absent. This is being done through a variety of measures. For example, the Nitto Therma Spike tires have an advanced drainage system. The liquid quickly enters the longitudinal channels, then it is redistributed throughout the tire and removed from the contact patch. To improve the quality of adhesion, the increased proportion of silicon dioxide used in the preparation of the compound also allows.

The size of the drainage channels allows the tires to quickly remove snow adhering to the tread. It simply slides off the tread depth under its own weight.

Durability

In reviews of the Nitto Therma Spike, drivers also note a fairly high mileage. The tires can withstand about 75 thousand kilometers. Naturally, the final figure largely depends on the driving style of the motorist. After installing the wheels, it is necessary to overcome about 1 thousand km in the most sparing mode. The driver should avoid high speeds and heavy braking. This will allow the cleats to engage more tightly in their installation locations and prevent premature loss.

The use of a nylon-reinforced frame also helps to increase reliability. Metallic threads are tied with an elastic polymer. As a result, it is possible to more fully redistribute external deformation loads. The risk of bumps and hernias is reduced to zero.

Nitto Therma Spike actively uses carbon black in the production of rubber compounds for tires. The presented compound reduces the rate of mechanical abrasion.

The optimized distribution of external pressure results in even tire wear. There is no emphasis on the central part or the outside.

In our next big spike test, we collected six sets of 15-inch tires from Western and Eastern manufacturers. Some have experience and the latest technologies among their trump cards, while others have the will to win and affordable prices. Whose will it take?

This time we have chosen one of the most popular dimensions - 195/65 R15, which suits many small and inexpensive cars. Different markets, different understanding of the product, different design schools. What distinguishes tires from the East and West from each other, what are their strengths and weaknesses, and what should a Russian buyer pay attention to?

The latest model Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 is the most expensive in the eastern team (price 3650 rubles), but cheaper than European giants.

Another new product, the Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2, is a tire with more studs and an updated tread pattern. It replaces the Winter i * Pike RS. This year it will appear in Russia in 57 dimensions - from 155 / 65R 13 to 255/40 R19.

The new Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer tire replaces the Observe G3-Ice and will be available this fall in 16 sizes from 14 to 19 inches. The rubber compound contains silica for frost resilience and walnut shell microparticles for extra grip on ice.

Another model with Japanese roots, now produced in Russia, is the Firestone Ice Cruiser 7. Previously, this tire was indexed 7000 and belonged to the Bridgestone brand line.

The next player from Japan is Nitto Therma Spike, a relative of the Touo brand. These tires take part in our tests for the second time and are characterized as inexpensive, with modest performance.

The new GT Radial IcePro 3, which replaces the GT Radial Champiro IcePro, has been developed in our own R&D center in Hannover. And the GT Radial brand belongs to the growing international company Giti, based in Singapore. The novelty is available in 22 dimensions - from 175/65 R14 to 225/60 R17.

The tires involved in the test are manufactured in China.

West

There are no new products in the Western team, but the players are incredibly strong, as most of these tires are updated by manufacturers every year.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9, the most expensive tire on the domestic market, is the only one in the world with two different studs.

Continental IceContact 2 is also unique and inimitable: its "studs" are glued into the tread, and therefore they are very firmly held in it.

The cheaper tires are the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, which has won prizes more than once in our tests, and the Pirelli Ice Zero.

The western team is closed by two direct competitors, representatives of the second echelon of Continental and Nokian - the Gislaved Nord * Frost 200 and Nordman 7 models, respectively.

On the ice handling track, after each set of tires, a “brush” cleans the surface of ice crumbs. The cleaner the ice, the more accurate the assessment results.

cat house

The tape measure, which annually determines the location of our winter tire tests, this time pointed to the Continental test site. It is located in Sweden, next to a small town with a purring, purring name Arvidsyaur - just some kind of "cat's house".

Keeping in mind last year's weather apocalypse in Sweden with a sudden warming in February, we decided to start tests early - in mid-January.

And the weather did not disappoint: during the tests there were frosts from -7 to -14 ° С.

In the tests, we were assisted by two Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks. We assigned the main part of the routine work to the black one - he crawled over the ice and snow, recording the acceleration time and braking distance with the built-in VBOX equipment. Red performed more creative tasks, participating in the assessment of handling and directional stability, since it was possible to completely disable the stabilization system on it using a special program.

Black work for behind the wheel

The first to enter the work is the black Golf, which uses both anti-lock braking systems and traction control. We start by accelerating and braking on ice on a small frozen lake, repeating runs eight to ten times for each set of tires. After two or three test sets - measurements on the base (reference, as the tire workers say) tires: you cannot do without them.

Measurements on different surfaces differ in the “upper” speed limit, which serves as the maximum speed value during acceleration and the initial value during braking. On ice, this value is 20 km / h, and on snow - 40 km / h, since the modest ice area is much less snowy. Having recalculated the results taking into account the corrections determined using the reference tires, we get leaders and outsiders in these exercises.

The real surprise came from Napcook, who tore the traditional leaders. Incredibly, these tires have the Golf accelerating and braking on ice even better than the Continental and Nokian. To accelerate from standstill to 20 km / h, the Golf on Hankook tires took only 4.1 seconds, and the braking distance from 20 to 5 km / h was 6.6 meters. The longest acceleration was obtained on Gislaved tires: 5.9 seconds. A similar result, 5.8 seconds, was obtained on GT Radial and Firestone tires. The Golf slowed the worst on GT Radial tires, with a braking distance of 8.7 meters.

The fastest acceleration on snow to 40 km / h was provided by Continental tires with an indicator of 5.9 seconds, and Hankook was only one tenth behind them! The slowest are the GT Radial tires.

In braking on snow, the Hankook took the lead. To slow the Golf from 40 to 5 km / h, these tires took 16.9 meters. The second place went to Gislaved: 17.2 meters. The last in braking were the Firestone and GT Radial: 19.1 and 19.0 meters, respectively.

We conclude the series of tests on ice by measuring the lap time, which characterizes the lateral grip. Continental retained the lead with a record 15.6 seconds lap. The closest rivals - Hankook, Nokian and Gislaved - took half a second longer. The slowest - in 18.0 seconds - the car completed the lap on Bridgestone tires.

Rating of the best winter studded tires 2018

The tires freed up after the measurements take their place on the red Golf - we will evaluate the handling on snow cover and on ice.

The test track is great: turns of different radius, from running to gagging, straight, allowing the speedometer to reach 80 km / h, ups and downs, then unloading wheels, then pressing them to the "road".

Due to the modest size of the frozen lake, we estimate acceleration on ice to a speed of 20 km / h, and decelerate from 20 to 5 km / h.

12 Firestone Ice Cruiser 7

Country of manufacture
Load and speed indices
Depth of the pattern in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Tire weight, kg
Quality / price, point / P

Average braking performance on dry asphalt

11 GT Radial IcePro 3

Country of manufacture
Load and speed indices
Depth of the pattern in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р *
Quality / price, point / P

Stable course following on snow;

Not noisy;

Satisfactory ride

Poor grip on ice and snow;

Complex handling;

Limited passability

10 NittoTherma Spike

Country of manufacture
Load and speed indices
Depth of the pattern in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р *
Quality / price, point / P

Satisfactory handling;

Quite good cross-country ability;

Acceptable ride comfort

Low braking properties on wet asphalt and ice;

Difficult handling when performing extreme maneuvers on snow and directional stability on asphalt;

9 Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer

Country of manufacture	Malaysia
Load and speed indices
Depth of the pattern in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р *
Quality / price, point / P

Good directional stability in the snow;

Stable handling on ice and snow

Poor braking properties on ice and dry asphalt;

High fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km / h

8 Bridgestone BLizzak Spike-02

Country of manufacture
Load and speed indices
Depth of the pattern in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р *
Quality / price, point / P

Confident cross-country ability and satisfactory handling during normal driving on snow

Weak braking on dry asphalt and lateral grip on ice;

Low efficiency;

Difficult handling during active driving on snow;

Notes on road holding on asphalt and comfort

7 Gislaved Nord * Frost 200

Country of manufacture	Germany
Load and speed indices
Depth of the pattern in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores, Р *
Quality / price, point / P	Better braking properties and excellent road holding on asphalt; Confident lateral grip and easy handling on ice Weak longitudinal grip on ice; High fuel consumption at any speed; Difficult handling when performing extreme maneuvers on the snow; Small claims about smoothness 6 Nokian Nordman 7 Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Depth of the pattern in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, unit Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р * Quality / price, point / P Confident acceleration on ice; Good cross-country ability, directional stability on snow and on asphalt 5 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Depth of the pattern in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, unit Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р * Quality / price, point / P Phenomenal cross-country ability in deep snow; Excellent braking properties on both wet and dry asphalt Small claims for directional stability on asphalt and handling on ice, as well as during active driving and extreme maneuvering on snow; Not the best comfort. 4 Pirelli Ice Zero Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Depth of the pattern in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, unit Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р * Quality / price, point / P Excellent directional stability; Reliable acceleration on ice and snow; Understandable handling in the snow during normal driving; Confident cross-country ability Light remarks about handling on snow during active driving and during extreme maneuvering; Noisy; low smoothness 2/3 Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2 Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Depth of the pattern in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, unit Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р * Quality / price, point / P Better longitudinal and high lateral grip on ice; Better braking and confident acceleration on snow; Comprehensible handling on ice and during normal driving on snow; Weak braking on asphalt; Claims for handling on snow during active driving and during extreme maneuvering, as well as directional stability on asphalt and comfort 2/3 Continental IceContact 2 Country of manufacture Germany Load and speed indices Depth of the pattern in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, unit Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р * Quality / price, point / P Better lateral and high longitudinal 49 grip on ice; Better acceleration and confident braking on snow; Clear handling on ice and snow; Good flotation and course tracking on snow Minor claims about handling on snow with active driving, as well as directional stability on asphalt; Comfort notes 1 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 Country of manufacture Load and speed indices Depth of the pattern in width, mm Shore hardness of rubber, unit Number of spikes, pcs. Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm Tire weight, kg Average price in online stores, Р * Quality / price, point / P Outstanding fuel efficiency; Excellent handling on ice and snow; High grip on ice; Excellent cross-country ability in deep snow; Stay on course Light remarks on noise and ride The idea was born to evaluate tires in two different driving modes. First, you go fast, but limit the speed in turns by the initial slip phase. The results of driving in this style will surely interest most drivers. The second mode is for those who like to slide: do not slow down almost before corners, refueling the car sideways into a corner. We have previously evaluated the behavior of the tires in both modes, only the average score was set. We turn off the electronics to catch the peculiarities of the car's behavior on different tires. In normal mode, the testers were pleased with the Golf's handling on Nokian and Pirelli tires. The experts, finding no reason for comments and noting clear reactions, gave them eight points each. Continental, Hankook, Nordman, taking into account small remarks, received 7.5 points each. It is noteworthy that in the Golf, shod in Hankook and Nordman tires, slight delays in reactions and insufficient information content of the steering occur when the steering wheel is turned up to 90 degrees, but with increasing reaction angles and information content improves, and with Continental tires - vice versa. In tire tests, team spirit is almost as important as in competition. Therefore, we change the wheels almost as quickly as mechanics in formula boxes. Firestone's spikes collected the most complaints: significant delays in reactions, unstable behavior. The driver can only set an approximate direction of travel, but not an exact trajectory. Six points is the maximum. With an active driving style, almost half of the subjects noted a slight slowdown in reactions and a deterioration in the information content of the steering when switching to sliding, which lowered the score by half a point. Eight points were awarded only to the Nokian tires, which retained the clarity of reactions even in deep slides. Acceptable stability of reactions was demonstrated by Gislaved, Nordman and Touo - they are not afraid to go over slightly with speed in a slippery corner. Slipping is easiest with Firestone tires. The Golf has to be literally thrown into a turn, performing a set of "witchcraft" actions with the steering wheel and gas. Actively driving is extremely difficult, since you need to constantly turn the steering wheel in different directions, since in sliding the reactions to the actions of the steering wheel practically disappear. I also didn't like driving actively on Bridgestone (they lowered the mark by 1 point) and, oddly enough, on Pirelli (reduced by one and a half points). On both tires, the Golf showed a deterioration in information content and response, forcing much more active steering, and on the Pirelli, it also showed ragged, unstable behavior. It is strange, because the early models of winter tires from this company have always served as the standard of handling for us and for many tire manufacturers. I liked the ice track no less than the snow one. It is not horizontal, but inclined, as it is flooded on the slope. Therefore, on one half you move with unloaded rear wheels, provoking a skid, and on the other half, with underloaded front wheels, initiating a drift. This helps to better understand the behavior of certain tires. Nokian earned the highest score on ice: the car drives without problems in any modes. Minor blots are noted on Continental, Gislaved, Hankook and Nordman tires, so their ratings are reduced to 7.5 points. Shod with GR Radial tires, the Golf moves as if it were zero gravity - as if no horizontal forces were acting. It slips very early, although it slides to the side smoothly (this is the only plus), and floats for a very long time, not responding to the actions of the steering wheel. Firestone keeps the driver in even more tension: the maximum adrenaline is generated even with the stabilization system on. Slip disruptions occur unexpectedly, the car slides for an extremely long time ... There is a feeling that the clutch has disappeared altogether. Caution - Yeti! The snow plateau is a huge rectangle, about four hundred by one hundred meters, divided by a snow parapet into two independent narrow and long straight lines. There are enough of them to accelerate to 100 km / h and assess the directional stability and behavior of the car during a soft lane change. And the width is enough to check the controllability when performing the rearrangement. From the first day we fenced off a strip of three meters wide with cones along the central barrier, forbidding it to be cleaned. A week later, a layer of snow with a depth of about 20 centimeters accumulated on it - what is needed to assess the passability. A couple of hours after the red Golf with the stabilization system turned off drove onto the test track, Frank Degonier (Continental engineer in charge of measurements and measuring equipment) suddenly approached us and asked with an absolutely serious face: “Do you know that the yeti appeared here? Right in front of the red Golf jumped out! But Anton managed to dodge him, only the snow remained on the hood. Come and see! " It turns out that the Golf, while assessing the directional stability on Firestone tires, spun so that it broke through the snow parapet and flew into the adjacent lane. And the Continental testers call any incident on the tests that ends in contact with snow "Yeti". In general, Firestone earned the lowest score for directional stability on snow: when trying to smoothly rebuild or avoid an obstacle, a sharp skid occurs and a dangerously long sideways slip without the ability to correct the trajectory. The Yeti was not seduced by other tires. Better than others, the Golf kept the straight in the snow at high speed on Nokian and Pirelli tires. Rearrangement, or abrupt lane change, is a traditional maneuver for Russian drivers. When performing a swap, we evaluate how the Golf reacts to sharp turns of the steering wheel and how predictable it behaves. The experts gave the maximum rating in this exercise to the Nokian tires: a small, well-understood, soft skid at top speed, requiring minor adjustments to keep the car on the desired trajectory. Firestone tires turned out to be the worst: they are not suitable for dangerous maneuvers. With abrupt steering actions, the case ends in demolition, straightening the trajectory. With a smoother steering wheel operation, the front wheels catch on to the snow, but the rear wheels suddenly break into a long side slip, spinning the car. Passability The passability test is relevant both for the Russian hinterland and for large cities. We assess not only the ability of tires to row in the snow, but also how easily a driver without special off-road skills can overcome a snow obstacle. In deep snow, Goodyear tires are out of competition: they row forward or backward, you just have to step on the gas pedal. Nokian is half a point behind: rowing is not tractor-like, but still good. Continental and Nordman earn eight points each. The most unsuccessful deep snow tire is the GT Radial. On them, the Golf moves uncertainly, prowls from side to side, reluctantly maneuvers and reluctantly moves in reverse. Winter Hero 2018 The leader of the snow and ice tests is the tire from the East - Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2. It not only outstripped all compatriots in winter disciplines, but also pushed the "westerners" - even such giants as Continental and Nokian, who won in the "white" tests only second and third places, respectively. Pirelli is fourth, followed by Nordman and Goodyear, and Gislaved is seventh. They are followed by other tires from the East: Bridgestone, Toyo, Nitto, as well as Firestone and GT Radial, which showed the weakest results. Delay until spring In mid-April, the snow completely melted from the asphalt of the VAZ test site near Togliatti. Having chosen calm weather, we continued our spike tests - now on the asphalt. The first step was to assess the impact of tires on the economy of the Golf, combining these measurements with the assessment of directional stability and comfort. We started with a ten-kilometer warm-up lap on the high-speed road at a speed of 130 km / h (the maximum allowed on our roads). The measurements were carried out on a two-kilometer horizontal straight section of the highway. In calm weather, the measurement results "fall" almost one to one - with no more than 0.1%, which is twenty times less than the two percent generally accepted in tire tests. But every three sets checked, you have to repeat the runs on the base tire. Rolling resistance is significantly affected by the temperature of the asphalt. The results obtained on the reference tire help to determine the "reference points", and already on them we refine the data obtained and, if necessary, recalculate. On tarmac, the Golf holds its course best on Gislaved and Pirelli tires: the reactions are crisp, almost like summer tires. The worst of the rest are the "eastern guests" Bridgestone, Nitto and Firestone. On the “bridge” at the Golf, the steering wheel became heavy, viscous and uninformative. The behavior of the car on Nitto and Firestone is similar: in the near-zero zone, low information content appears; when adjusting the course, the steering wheel has to be turned at significant angles. When leaving the near-left zone, the reactions become unpleasantly sharp - with low information content, this is fraught with twisting of the steering wheel, which can provoke a skid. The title of the most economical was won by Nokian tires: the Golf shod in them showed the best results at city and country speeds. Better braking and comfort on asphalt We continue to evaluate the comfort on the secondary roads of the test site, which practically do not differ from many Russian routes: holes, swollen cracks, seams. The quietest tires were the GT Radial, Hankook and Nokian, and the loudest were the Firestone, which hums like a gear rolling on the asphalt. In terms of smoothness ahead - the same GT Radial and Hankook, and they were accompanied by Nitto. The toughest is Firestone again, transmitting vibrations from road irregularities in detail to the floor of the body and even to the driver's seat. The final exercises are evaluation of the braking properties on dry asphalt and on wet ones. We pre-clean the tracks with a dozen brakes on non-scored tires. We brake on each set of test tires four to six times: on dry asphalt - from 80 km / h, on wet - from 60 km / h, in order to save the tread from damage. The test speed, up to which the VBOX measuring complex measures the braking distance, is 5 km / h - at a lower ABS, it allows short-term wheel locking, which negatively affects the accuracy of the results. On dry asphalt, the shortest braking distance, 30.3 meters, was obtained on Gislaved tires, the longest - on the "bridge": 33.5 meters. The difference is 10.5%. On the wet front again Gislaved with an indicator of 17.8 meters, and the closing one - Nitto with a result of 21.7 meters, which is almost 20% weaker. "Black" tests On the asphalt the Gislaved Nord * Frost 200 confidently won, followed by the European tires Pirelli, Nokian and Goodyear. The Eastern ones made their way only to the fifth position, and was taken by GT Radial IcePro 3. Then the last pair from the European team follows: Continental took the sixth place in the “asphalt” list, just ahead of the middle peasant Nordman. The leader of the "white" list Hankook on asphalt, alas, could not climb higher than tenth place. Bridgestone and Nitto are at the bottom of the black rating. Total scores TOP-13 So, the victory with the result of 915 points was won by the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 tires. They are the most balanced - in any conditions all drivers will like it, regardless of training and driving style. The second and third places were shared by the Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2 and Continental IceContact 2 with 905 points each. What can I say about Korean tires? The best result both on the snow and on the ice, the most comfortable, economical, but - giving up positions on the asphalt. We recommend them to those who use mainly "white" roads. Continental showed the second result in the "white" tests, but in the rest of the nominations it was the average. It will show its best qualities on snowy and icy roads. The fourth place in our rating is taken by the Pirelli Ice Zero - 888 final points mean that these are very good tires. They are strong on asphalt, will not fail on snow and ice, and will help save fuel. Perhaps the ride comfort leaves much to be desired. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic (877 points) performed better on asphalt than in ice and snow disciplines. These tires still have the right to be called very good, but they are slowly losing ground - they dropped to fifth place, and occupied the third place for several years. But if you need ATV tires, this is the best choice. For the second tier brand, the sixth place (874 points) of Nordman 7 tires and the title of very good can be considered an excellent result. A mid-range all-rounder for all conditions, and on snow can please even drifters. Gislaved Nord * Frost 200 lost only four points to its direct competitor Nordman. The performance on "white" roads is average, but on the asphalt Gislaved is in the lead. It is the best choice for city roads free of snow and ice. True, they do not shine with efficiency and comfort. The entire eastern territory begins from the eighth place. The Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 scored 847 points in the test - good tires in our classification. On the snow and ice they look average, but they will not be allowed to mischief. In terms of comfort and fuel efficiency, they are comparable to the "little brother" Firestone Ice Cruiser 7, and even a little weaker on asphalt. In ninth position is the new Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer with 840 points. The undoubted advantages are the stability of the results on different surfaces and a decent level of comfort. Nitto Therma Spike closes the top ten with a final score of 821 points. The same modest place is in the “white” rating. These tires are economical, offer average comfort ... and last on the pavement. The GT Radial tires scored 811 points. And they were on the last line of the rating, compiled on the "white" roads. It is permissible to move on them on snow and ice without haste, and only in cars equipped with electronic assistants. But on asphalt roads, these tires will allow you to drive confidently and provide a high level of comfort. Twelfth place and only 788 points - for the Firestone Ice Cruiser 7. By modern standards, this is a very weak tire for winter roads, not recommended for cars without ABS and stabilization system. You should drive them very carefully, without trying to slip a little. But on dry pavement, they slow down better than the related Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02, and can compete with it in terms of comfort and economy. With an eye on the wallet Good tires cost a lot of money. How to find the optimal balance between essential properties and price? You can focus on the "value" of each point scored by a particular tire. According to this parameter, GT Radial IcePro 3 is in the lead: each thousand rubles spent on this tire will result in 312 final points. Slightly less profitable are the Nitto Therma Spike and Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer. In the middle of the list are the Nordman 7 and Gislaved Nord * Frost 200 tires. And the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02, Continental IceContact 2 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 round out the “quality price” ratings. IS THE WEST INVINCIBLE? In our test, the European tires were stronger than the eastern ones. Apart from Hankuk, none of the eastern tires made it to the first half of the white results. Why? In the countries of the East, the use of studded tires is prohibited - manufacturers create them for foreign markets. There is no rich personal experience of operating such tires. Hankook, on the other hand, took an unconventional path - recruiting experienced specialists from successful Western tire companies to create new products. After all, winter tires are an extremely complex product, balanced for completely different surfaces (ice, snow, dry and wet asphalt), which require conflicting technical solutions. Eastern tire manufacturers will be able to compete with Western ones only when they understand this and put this understanding into practice. Hankook is a prime example of this. In the meantime, the "east" can attract a buyer only with sweet prices.

This time we have chosen one of the most popular dimensions - 195/65 R15, which suits many small and inexpensive cars. Different markets, different understanding of the product, different design schools. What distinguishes tires from the East and West from each other, what are their strengths and weaknesses, and what should a Russian buyer pay attention to?

East

Fresh model Bridgestone Blizzak Spike ‑ 02 -the most expensive in the eastern team (price 3650 rubles), but cheaper than European giants.

Another novelty, Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2, - with an increased number of studs and an updated tread pattern. It replaces the Winter i * Pike RS. This year it will appear in Russia in 57 dimensions - from 155 / 65R 13 to 255/40 R19.

The new tire replaces the Observe G3 ‑ Ice and will be available on the market this fall, currently in 16 sizes ranging from 14 to 19 inches. The rubber compound contains silica for frost resilience and walnut shell microparticles for extra grip on ice.

Another model with Japanese roots, now produced in Russia, is. Previously, this tire was indexed 7000 and belonged to the Bridgestone brand line.

The next player from Japan is the "relative" of the Toyo brand. These tires take part in our tests for the second time and are characterized as inexpensive, with modest performance.

The new tire, which replaces the GT Radial Champiro IcePro, has been developed in our own research and development center in Hanover. And the GT Radial brand belongs to the growing international company Giti, based in Singapore. The novelty is available in 22 dimensions - from 175/65 R14 to 225/60 R17. The tires involved in the test are manufactured in China.

West

There are no new products in the Western team, but the players are incredibly strong, as most of these tires are updated by manufacturers every year.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9, the most expensive tire on the domestic market, is the only one in the world that has two different types of studs.

Continental IceContact 2 - is also unique and inimitable: its "nails" are glued into the protector, and therefore they are very firmly held in it.

Of the cheaper tires, the one that has taken prizes more than once in our tests, and.

The western team is closed by two direct competitors, representatives of the second echelon of Continental and Nokian - respectively models and.

cat house

The tape measure, which annually determines the location of our winter tire tests, this time pointed to the Continental test site. It is located in Sweden, next to a small town with a purring, purring name Arvidsyaur - just some kind of "cat's house".

Mindful of the sudden warming in February, we decided to start tests early - in mid-January. And the weather did not disappoint: during the tests there were frosts from -7 to -14 ° C.

In the tests, we were assisted by two Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks. We assigned the main part of the routine work to the black one - he crawled over the ice and snow, recording the acceleration time and braking distance with the built-in VBOX equipment. Red performed more creative tasks, participating in the assessment of handling and directional stability, since it was possible to completely disable the stabilization system on it using a special program.

Dirty work

The first to enter the work is a black Golf, in which and is involved. We start by accelerating and braking on ice on a small frozen lake, repeating runs eight to ten times for each set of tires. After two or three test sets - measurements on the base (reference, as the tire workers say) tires: you cannot do without them.

Measurements on different surfaces differ in the “upper” speed limit, which serves as the maximum speed value during acceleration and the initial value during braking. On ice, this value is 20 km / h, and on snow - 40 km / h, since the modest ice area is much less snowy. Having recalculated the results taking into account the corrections determined using the reference tires, we get leaders and outsiders in these exercises.

The real surprise came from Hankook, who tore the traditional leaders. Incredibly, these tires have the Golf accelerating and braking on ice even better than the Continental and Nokian. To accelerate from standstill to 20 km / h, the Golf on Hankook tires took only 4.1 seconds, and the braking distance from 20 to 5 km / h was 6.6 meters. The longest acceleration was obtained on Gislaved tires: 5.9 seconds. A similar result, 5.8 seconds, was obtained on GT Radial and Firestone tires. The Golf slowed the worst on GT Radial tires, with a braking distance of 8.7 meters.

The fastest acceleration on snow to 40 km / h was provided by Continental tires with an indicator of 5.9 seconds, and Hankook was only one tenth behind them! Slowest of all - GT Radial tires.

In braking on snow, the Hankook took the lead. To slow the Golf from 40 to 5 km / h, these tires took 16.9 meters. The second place went to Gislaved: 17.2 meters. The last in braking were the Firestone and GT Radial: 19.1 and 19.0 meters, respectively.

We conclude the series of tests on ice by measuring the lap time, which characterizes the lateral grip. Continental retained the lead with a record 15.6 seconds lap. The closest rivals - Hankook, Nokian and Gislaved - took half a second longer. The slowest - in 18.0 seconds - the car completed the lap on Bridgestone tires.

In red and white

The tires freed up after the measurements take their place on the red Golf - we will evaluate the handling on snow cover and on ice.

The test track is great: turns of different radius, from running to gagging, straight, allowing the speedometer to reach 80 km / h, ups and downs, then unloading wheels, then pressing them to the "road".

The idea was born to evaluate tires in two different driving modes. First, you go fast, but limit the speed in turns by the initial slip phase. The results of driving in this style will surely interest most drivers. The second mode is for those who like to slide: do not slow down almost before corners, refueling the car sideways into a corner. We have previously evaluated the behavior of the tires in both modes, only the average score was set.

We turn off the electronics to catch the peculiarities of the car's behavior on different tires.

In normal mode, the testers were pleased with the Golf's handling on Nokian and Pirelli tires. The experts, finding no reason for comments and noting clear reactions, gave them eight points each. Continental, Hankook, Nordman, taking into account small remarks, received 7.5 points each. It is noteworthy that in the Golf, shod in Hankook and Nordman tires, slight delays in reactions and insufficient information content of the steering occur when the steering wheel is turned up to 90 degrees, but with increasing reaction angles and information content improves, and with Continental tires - vice versa.

Firestone's spikes collected the most complaints: significant delays in reactions, unstable behavior. The driver can only set an approximate direction of travel, but not an exact trajectory. Six points is the maximum.

With an active driving style, almost half of the subjects noted a slight slowdown in reactions and a deterioration in the information content of the steering when switching to sliding, which lowered the score by half a point. Eight points were awarded only to the Nokian tires, which retained the clarity of reactions even in deep slides. Gislaved, Nordman and Toyo have demonstrated acceptable stability of reactions - they are not afraid to go over slightly with speed in a slippery corner.

Slipping is easiest with Firestone tires. The Golf has to be literally thrown into a turn, performing a set of "witchcraft" actions with the steering wheel and gas. Actively driving is extremely difficult, since you need to constantly turn the steering wheel in different directions, since in sliding the reactions to the actions of the steering wheel practically disappear.

I also didn't like driving actively on Bridgestone (they lowered the mark by 1 point) and, oddly enough, on Pirelli (reduced by one and a half points). On both tires, the Golf showed a deterioration in information content and response, forcing much more active steering, and on the Pirelli, it also showed ragged, unstable behavior. It is strange, because the early models of winter tires from this company have always served as the standard of handling for us and for many tire manufacturers.

I liked the ice track no less than the snow one. It is not horizontal, but inclined, as it is flooded on the slope. Therefore, on one half you move with unloaded rear wheels, provoking a skid, and on the other half, with underloaded front wheels, initiating drift. This helps to better understand the behavior of certain tires.

Nokian earned the highest score on ice: the car drives without problems in any modes. Minor blots are noted on Continental, Gislaved, Hankook and Nordman tires, so their ratings are reduced to 7.5 points.

Shod with GT Radial tires, the Golf moves as if it were zero gravity - as if no horizontal forces were acting. It slips very early, although it slides to the side smoothly (this is the only plus), and floats for a very long time, not responding to the actions of the steering wheel.

Firestone keeps the driver in even more tension: the maximum adrenaline is generated even with the stabilization system on. Slip disruptions occur unexpectedly, the car slides for an extremely long time ... It seems that the clutch has disappeared altogether.

Caution - Yeti!

The snow plateau is a huge rectangle, about four hundred by one hundred meters, divided by a snow parapet into two independent narrow and long straight lines. There are enough of them to accelerate to 100 km / h and assess the directional stability and behavior of the car during a soft lane change. And the width is enough to check the controllability when performing the rearrangement. From the first day we fenced off a strip of three meters wide with cones along the central barrier, forbidding it to be cleaned. A week later, a layer of snow with a depth of about 20 centimeters accumulated on it - what is needed to assess the passability.

A couple of hours after the red Golf with the stabilization system turned off drove onto the test track, Frank Degonier (Continental's engineer responsible for measurements and measuring equipment) suddenly approached us and asked with an absolutely serious face: “You know that there is a Yeti appeared? Right in front of the red Golf jumped out! But Anton managed to dodge him, only the snow remained on the hood. Come and see! "

It turns out that the Golf, while assessing the directional stability on Firestone tires, spun so that it broke through the snow parapet and flew into the adjacent lane. And the Continental testers call any incident on the tests that ends in contact with snow "Yeti". In general, Firestone earned the lowest score for directional stability on snow: when trying to smoothly rebuild or avoid an obstacle, a sharp skid occurs and a dangerously long sideways slip without the ability to correct the trajectory. The Yeti was not seduced by other tires. Better than others, the Golf kept the straight in the snow at high speed on Nokian and Pirelli tires.

Rearrangement, or abrupt lane change, is a traditional maneuver for Russian drivers. When performing a swap, we evaluate how the Golf reacts to sharp turns of the steering wheel and how predictable it behaves. The experts gave the maximum rating in this exercise to the Nokian tires: a small, well-understood, soft skid at top speed, requiring minor adjustments to keep the car on the desired trajectory.

Firestone tires turned out to be the worst: they are not suitable for dangerous maneuvers. With abrupt steering actions, the case ends in demolition, straightening the trajectory. With a smoother steering wheel operation, the front wheels catch on to the snow, but the rear wheels suddenly break into a long side slip, spinning the car.

Passability

The passability test is relevant both for the Russian hinterland and for large cities. We assess not only the ability of tires to row on snow, but also how easily a driver without special off-road skills can overcome a snow obstacle.

In deep snow, Goodyear tires are out of competition: they row either forward or backward, you just have to step on the gas pedal. Nokian is half a point behind: rowing is not tractor-like, but still good. Continental and Nordman earn eight points each. The most unsuccessful deep snow tire is the GT Radial. On them, the Golf moves uncertainly, prowls from side to side, reluctantly maneuvers and reluctantly moves in reverse.

Winter hero

The leader of the snow and ice tests is the tire from the East - Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2. It not only outstripped all compatriots in winter disciplines, but also pushed the "westerners" - even such giants as Continental and Nokian, who won in the "white" tests only second and third places, respectively.

Pirelli is fourth, followed by Nordman and Goodyear, and Gislaved is seventh.

They are followed by other tires from the East: Bridgestone, Toyo, Nitto, as well as Firestone and GT Radial, which showed the weakest results.

Delay until spring

In mid-April, the snow completely melted from the asphalt of the VAZ test site near Togliatti. Having chosen calm weather, we continued the tests - now on the asphalt. The first step was to assess the impact of tires on the economy of the Golf, combining these measurements with the assessment of directional stability and comfort.

We started with a ten-kilometer warm-up lap on the high-speed road at a speed of 130 km / h (the maximum allowed on our roads). The measurements were carried out on a two-kilometer horizontal straight section of the highway.

In calm weather, the measurement results "fall" almost one to one - with a deviation of no more than 0.1%, which is twenty times less than the two percent generally accepted in tire tests. But every three sets checked, you have to repeat the runs on the base tire. Rolling resistance is significantly affected by the temperature of the asphalt. The results obtained on the reference tire help to determine the "reference points", and already on them we refine the data obtained and, if necessary, recalculate.

On tarmac, the Golf holds its course best on Gislaved and Pirelli tires: the reactions are crisp, almost like summer tires. The worst of the rest are the "eastern guests" Bridgestone, Nitto and Firestone. On the “bridge” at the Golf, the steering wheel became heavy, viscous and uninformative. The behavior of the car on Nitto and Firestone is similar: in the near-zero zone, low information content appears; when adjusting the course, the steering wheel has to be turned at significant angles. When leaving the near-zero zone, the reactions become unpleasantly sharp - with low information content, this is fraught with twisting of the steering wheel, which can provoke a skid.

The title of the most economical was won by Nokian tires: the Golf shod in them showed the best results at city and country speeds.

Braking and comfort on asphalt

We continue to evaluate the comfort on the secondary roads of the test site, which practically do not differ from many Russian routes: holes, swollen cracks, seams.

The quietest tires were the GT Radial, Hankook and Nokian, and the loudest were the Firestone, which hums like a gear rolling on the asphalt. In terms of smoothness ahead - the same GT Radial and Hankook, and they were accompanied by Nitto. The toughest is Firestone again, transmitting vibrations from road irregularities in detail to the floor of the body and even to the driver's seat.

Finishing exercises - on dry asphalt and wet. We pre-clean the tracks with a dozen brakes on non-scored tires. We brake on each set of test tires four or six times: on dry asphalt - from 80 km / h, on wet - from 60 km / h, in order to save the tread from damage. The test speed, up to which the VBOX measuring complex measures the braking distance, is 5 km / h - at a lower ABS, it allows short-term wheel locking, which negatively affects the accuracy of the results.

On dry asphalt, the shortest braking distance, 30.3 meters, was obtained on Gislaved tires, the longest - on the "bridge": 33.5 meters. The difference is 10.5%. On the wet front again Gislaved with an indicator of 17.8 meters, and the closing one - Nitto with a result of 21.7 meters, which is almost 20% weaker.

"Black" tests

Gislaved Nord * Frost 200 confidently won on asphalt, followed by European tires Pirelli, Nokian and Goodyear. The Eastern ones made it only to fifth place, and was taken by GT Radial IcePro 3. Then the last pair from the European team follows: Continental finished sixth in the “asphalt” list, just ahead of the middle peasant Nordman. The leader of the "white" list Hankook on asphalt, alas, could not climb higher than tenth place. Bridgestone and Nitto are at the bottom of the black rating.

Total points

So, tires won with a score of 915 points Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9... They are the most balanced - in any conditions they will appeal to all drivers, regardless of training and driving style.

The second and third places were divided Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2 and Continental IceContact 2with 905 points each. What can I say about Korean tires? The best result both on the snow and on the ice, the most comfortable, economical, but - giving up positions on the asphalt. We recommend them to those who use mainly "white" roads. Continental showed the second result in the "white" tests, but in the rest of the nominations it was middling. It will show its best qualities on snowy and icy roads.

The fourth line of our rating is taken - 888 final points mean that these are very good tires. Strong on asphalt, won't let you down on snow and ice, help save fuel. Perhaps the ride comfort leaves much to be desired.

(877 points) performed more successfully on asphalt than in ice and snow disciplines. These tires still have the right to be called very good, but they are slowly losing ground - they dropped to fifth place, and occupied the third place for several years. But if you need ATV tires, this is the best choice.

For the second tier brand, the sixth place (874 points) of tires and the title of very good can be considered an excellent result. A mid-range all-rounder for all conditions, and on snow can please even drifters.

He lost only four points to his direct competitor Nordman. The performance on "white" roads is average, but on the asphalt Gislaved is in the lead. It is the best choice for city roads free of snow and ice. True, they do not shine with efficiency and comfort.

The entire eastern territory begins from the eighth place. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike ‑ 02 scored 847 points in the test - according to our classification, these are good tires. On the snow and ice they look average, but they will not be allowed to mischief. In terms of comfort and fuel efficiency, they are comparable to the "little brother" Firestone Ice Cruiser 7, and even a little weaker on asphalt.

The ninth position is occupied by new tires with 840 points. The undoubted advantages are the stability of the results on different surfaces and a decent level of comfort.

Closes the top ten with a final grade of 821 points. The same modest place is in the “white” rating. These tires are economical, offer moderate comfort ... and last on the tarmac.

Tires GT Radial scored 811 points. And they were on the last line of the rating, compiled on the "white" roads. It is permissible to move on them on snow and ice without haste, and only in cars equipped with electronic assistants. But on asphalt roads, these tires will allow you to drive confidently and provide a high level of comfort.

Twelfth place and only 788 points - for tires. By modern standards, these are very weak tires for winter roads, they are not recommended for cars without ABS and stabilization systems. They should be driven very carefully, without trying to slip a little. But on dry pavement, they brake better than the sister Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 and can compete with it in terms of comfort and economy.

With an eye on the wallet

Good tires cost a lot of money. How to find the optimal balance between essential properties and price? You can focus on the "value" of each point scored by a particular tire. According to this parameter, GT Radial IcePro 3 is in the lead: each thousand rubles spent on this tire will result in 312 final points. Slightly less profitable are the Nitto Therma Spike and Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer.

In the middle of the list are the Nordman 7 and Gislaved Nord * Frost 200 tires. And the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02, Continental IceContact 2 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 round out the price / quality rating.

Test results

	12th place	11th place	10th place
	788	811	821
brand, model
	2830	2600	2770
Quality / price *	0,28	0,31	0,30
Country of manufacture	Russia	China	Japan
Load and speed index
	8,9–9,4	8,5–9,0	8,8–9,1
Number of spikes, pcs.
	1,5–1,9	1,2–1,5	1,4–1,7
Tire weight, kg	10,10	9,02	8,95
pros	Average braking performance on dry asphalt	Stable course following on snow; not noisy; satisfactory ride quality	Satisfactory handling; good cross-country ability; acceptable smoothness
Minuses	Discreet grip on ice and snow; low efficiency; unsatisfactory handling; problematic directional stability on snow, difficult - on asphalt; the toughest and noisiest	Poor grip on ice and snow; difficult handling; limited passability	Low braking properties on wet asphalt and ice; difficult handling when performing extreme maneuvers on snow and directional stability on asphalt; noisy

	9th place	8th place	7th place
The sum of points scored in the test	840	847	870
brand, model
Average price in online stores at the time of preparation of the material, rub	3000	3650	3340
Quality / price *	0,28	0,23	0,26
Country of manufacture	Malaysia	Japan	Germany
Load and speed index
Depth of the pattern in width, mm	8,9–9,2	9,0–9,4	8,9–9,4
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm	1,2–1,6	1,7–2,1	1,3–1,5
Tire weight, kg	8,97	9,12	8,67
pros	Good directional stability in the snow; stable handling on ice and in the snow	Confident cross-country ability and satisfactory handling during normal driving on snow	Better braking properties and excellent road holding on asphalt; confident lateral grip and clear handling on ice
Minuses	Poor braking properties on ice and dry asphalt; high fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km / h	Weak braking on dry asphalt and lateral grip on ice; low efficiency; difficult handling during active driving in the snow; notes on road holding on asphalt and comfort	Weak longitudinal grip on ice; high fuel consumption at any speed; difficult handling when performing an extreme maneuver on the snow; small complaints about the smoothness of the ride

* Obtained by dividing the points total by the retail price. The higher the score, the more profitable the purchase.

	6th place	5th place	4th place
The sum of points scored in the test	874	877	888
brand, model
Average price in online stores at the time of preparation of the material, rub	3230	3590	3570
Quality / price *	0,27	0,24	0,25
Country of manufacture	Russia	Poland	Russia
Load and speed index
Depth of the pattern in width, mm	9,2–9,4	9,5–9,7	9,0–9,4
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm	1,4–1,7	1,2–1,7	1,3–1,6
Tire weight, kg	8,25	8,62	8,34
pros	Confident acceleration on ice; clear handling on ice and snow; good cross-country ability, directional stability on snow and on asphalt	Phenomenal cross-country ability in deep snow; high braking properties both on wet and dry asphalt	Excellent directional stability; reliable acceleration on ice and snow; clear handling on the snow during normal driving; confident passability
Minuses	Light remarks on noise and ride	Small claims to directional stability on asphalt and handling on ice, as well as during active driving and extreme maneuvering on snow; not the best comfortHankook Winter i * Pike RS 2 0.28	0,20	0,17
Country of manufacture	Korea	Germany	Russia
Load and speed index
Depth of the pattern in width, mm	8,9–9,3	8,0–8,5	8,6–8,9
Shore hardness of rubber, unit
Number of spikes, pcs.
Protrusion of thorns after tests, mm	1,5–1,7	1,4–1,6	1,2–1,5
Tire weight, kg	8,65	8,36	7,99
pros	Better longitudinal and high lateral grip on ice; better braking and confident acceleration on snow; clear handling on ice and during normal driving on snow; good cross-country ability and following a course in the snow	Better lateral and longitudinal grip on ice; better acceleration and confident braking on snow; clear handling on ice and snow; good cross-country ability and track-following on snow	Outstanding fuel efficiency; excellent handling on ice and snow; high grip on ice; excellent cross-country ability in deep snow; strict adherence to the course
Minuses	Weak braking on asphalt; claims for handling on snow with active driving and during extreme maneuvering, as well as for directional stability on asphalt and comfort	Minor claims about handling on snow with active driving, as well as directional stability on asphalt; remarks to comfort	Light notes on noise and smooth running

* Obtained by dividing the points total by the retail price. The higher the score, the more profitable the purchase.

Is the West invincible?

In our test, the European tires were stronger than the eastern ones. Apart from Hankuk, none of the eastern tires made it to the first half of the white results. Why? In the countries of the East, the use of studded tires is prohibited - manufacturers create them for foreign markets. There is no rich personal experience of operating such tires. Hankook, on the other hand, took an unconventional path - recruiting experienced specialists from successful Western tire companies to create new products. After all, winter tires are an extremely complex product, balanced for completely different surfaces (ice, snow, dry and wet asphalt), which require conflicting technical solutions.

Owners of crossovers, especially four-wheel drive ones, often relate to the seasonal change of regular summer tires to winter ones without enthusiasm. After all, almost all native tires are marked with the M + S index, which de jure allows them to ride in winter. The main thing is that the residual tread depth is at least 4 mm (otherwise - 500 rubles fine). But we must understand that the M + S marking does not oblige the manufacturer to anything! Marking does not require any tests or certificates confirming the suitability of tires for winter, and therefore more and more often it can be seen on frankly summer, and "asphalt" tires, which simultaneously speaks of the devaluation of not only the letter S (snow, "snow"), but also M (mud, "mud"). So we look not at the letters, but at the tread, and if we do not see many small slits-lamellas, then we conclude: it is dangerous to ride on these in winter. Better yet, when the sidewall has the “Snowflake” mark in the form of three mountain peaks with a snowflake - these models really passed the exam on a snow track. The participants in our test are all marked with the following markings: these are 14 sets with spikes and nine without.

The test program is standard, all the tracks of the White Hell test site near the Finnish town of Ivalo are well known to us - and most importantly, to be lucky with the weather. Almost lucky: there was no snowfall, although the temperature danced from 5 to 23 degrees of frost, so its influence had to be taken into account when conducting additional races on "reference" tires. But the measurements of the longitudinal dynamics took place in a closed hangar with a more stable temperature.

This is where the embarrassment happened with Nokian tires, and with a model that has been produced for several years. In both acceleration and deceleration, the non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV yielded not only to principal competitors, but even to the tires of their own "second line" - the Nordman RS2 SUV tires! Nokian testers working in the neighborhood were alarmed, they themselves repeated the measurements ... An official investigation showed that the failed tires were produced at a plant near St. Petersburg at the end of 2016, more precisely in the 48th week. Then there was a failure in the technological cycle. They did not share the details with us (apparently, there were deviations either in duration or in the temperature of vulcanization), but we were assured that the defective batch did not go on sale. Although outwardly everything is in order, and even the hardness of the tread rubber is the same as on the tires produced in the 41st week of 2016 (their results were taken into account), but the difference in grip on ice reaches eight percent.

After measurements in the hangar, we get out into the growing frost - and once again we notice that as the temperature drops, the friction tires begin to catch up and even overtake the “spikes”. At minus twenty, the ice becomes so hard that the spikes cannot scratch it, and the tread rubber of most studded tires is harder - in the cold the friction tires are more elastic, they have a larger overall length of the sipes.

We, I repeat, take into account the changing conditions and adjust the results, but if all tests were carried out in a light frost, the friction tires would roll back to the bottom lines of the protocols.

Handling tests were carried out on the ice of the polar lake Tammijärvi

And in the snow, frost plays into the hands of friction models: while maintaining the elasticity of the tread, they better cling to the snow shagreen.

This time, the estimates of the cross-country ability were supported by instrumental measurements - the acceleration time in deep snow with the traction control system turned off. It is curious that Russian tires topped and closed the rating: the best are Cordiant, and the most helpless on the virgin soil are Viatti tires produced by the Nizhnekamsk Tire Plant.

The asphalt part of the tests is especially relevant for residents of large cities, in which the streets are cleared of snow and ice for most of the winter.

The final part of the tests is already in April, on "summer" surfaces. And along the way, we note that this time there were no tires littering with spikes.

At the top of the final ranking are the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV tires. Expected result: if the model of the previous generation regularly won in our tests, then the new one, and even with two types of studs, easily outperformed the competitors.

Expensive? Then we carefully look at the points, at the main advantages and disadvantages of other tires - and choose the best option for your pocket. And yet we avoid buying outsider tires - such savings threaten incomparably high costs.

Studded tire rating

Dimension	215/65 R16
(55 standard sizes are available from 215/65 R16 to 315/40 R21)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
	9,8
	49
Number of thorns	172
	1,05/1,54
Manufacturer country	Finland

Hakkapeliitta index 9 is a novelty of the season: here for the first time two types of cleats were used. Those in the middle part of the tread have transversely oriented carbide inserts: they are responsible for longitudinal grip properties, and at the edges above the tread there are such trefoils that work effectively in turns. And this is not a marketing gimmick: a clear superiority over competitors both on the handling track and in braking on ice. And in other types of winter tests, the tires are at height. On asphalt, the grip is moderate, and the main problem is noise at speeds from 70 to 90 km / h.

The best tires for tough winter conditions!

Dimension	215/65 R16
(available in 2 sizes 205/55 R16 and 215/65 R16)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	11,2
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	56
Number of thorns	170
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	1,52/1,47
Manufacturer country	South Korea

This year, Hankook officially opened its polar test site in Ivalo, Finland: the tracks and testing approaches are very similar to those used by Nokian Tires. This also applies to the peculiarities of the tires themselves: the number of spikes-stars was increased, which ensured decent test results on ice. But in deep snow, tires do not shine, as well as on asphalt, and besides, they make a lot of noise. But it is easy for them to forgive: the Hankook Winter i * Pike RS + tires are one and a half times cheaper than the Finnish novelty.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(91 standard sizes available from 175/70 R14 to 275/40 R22)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,4
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	54
Number of thorns	130
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	1,03/1,25
Manufacturer country	Russia

Tires produced in Voronezh are laced with powerful brace spikes - and work gorgeous on ice during acceleration and braking. But in corners there are sharp breaks in sliding, so without a stabilization system you will have to be on the lookout. But - a good balance of grip on slippery roads and on asphalt, and therefore they can be safely recommended for winter operation in large cities. If you do not make high demands on acoustic comfort.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(75 standard sizes are available from 155/70 R13 to 275/40 R20)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,6
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	54
Number of thorns	130
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	1,37/1,41
Manufacturer country	Russia

The tires are manufactured at the Russian Continental plant near Kaluga. The Gislaved brand is owned by Continental - and the Nord * Frost 200 mimics the asymmetrical tread pattern of the first generation ContiIceContact tires, but with simpler spikes and no thermochemical retention. However, they also work well - especially in the lateral direction.

In general, these are well-balanced tires for use both in large cities and beyond.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(37 standard sizes available from 155/70 R13 to 225/55 R18)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
Tread depth, mm	9,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	54
Number of thorns	130
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	1,63/1,62
Manufacturer country	Russia

The tires were produced at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant and the tread pattern suspiciously resembles the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires, which even became a reason for litigation. But the Cordiant company managed to justify itself - and to increase production volumes, including by expanding the range of dimensions. Decent tires for their money, but they don't like asphalt roads: they don't hold very well, and rolling is accompanied by a loud and unpleasant rumble of the tread. Tires are not for the city.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(42 standard sizes from 205/70 R15 to 275/50 R22 are available)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	12,2
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	57
Number of thorns	130
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	1,08/1,16
Manufacturer country	Finland

Nordman tires are Nokian Tires' second line, and the production uses molds from outdated Nokian tires. New for the Nordman 7 SUV season is the reincarnation of the Hakkapeliitta 7 SUV, produced from 2010 to 2017. Good grip on ice and snow, and on asphalt even better than the current "parent" model. Including in terms of acoustic comfort: there are fewer spikes.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 standard sizes are available from 175/65 R15 to 245/45 R19)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,2
Tread depth, mm	10,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	56
Number of thorns	130
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	1,26/1,39
Manufacturer country	Germany

The model was introduced in 2012 and has not yet received a replacement. On ice, the tires work well in the longitudinal direction, but in turns they suddenly break into sliding. Everything is much better on the snow, including on virgin soil. But on the pavement, the aggressive pattern generates an obsessive low-frequency rumble already from 30 km / h.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(58 standard sizes available from 175/65 R14 to 265/40 R20)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,3
Tread depth, mm	9,3
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	56
Number of thorns	104
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	1,05/1,09
Manufacturer country	Russia

Michelin with the X-Ice North 3 tire continues to bend the line to comply with European studding rules: no more than 50 studs per running meter of tread. And the spikes themselves are simple, round in cross section. This led to an unimportant hold on the ice. The picture is better on rolled snow, but getting out of the snow is a problem: the tread is to blame.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(23 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 245/45 R17)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	Q (160 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11
Tread depth, mm	9,2
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	51
Number of thorns	100
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	0,87/1,06
Manufacturer country	Russia

BFGoodrich tires are Michelin's "second line", they are produced at the same plant in Davydovo near Moscow as Michelin X-Ice North 3 tires. But the tread is original. It is a pity, there are also few pimples, they are round, overly recessed - and as a result mediocre behavior on the ice.

The situation is better on snow, including virgin soil. And even better - on asphalt, although you need to remember that the permissible speed is 160 km / h, although studded competitors have 190.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(35 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 265/60 R18)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,9
Tread depth, mm	9,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	56
Number of thorns	130
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	0,85/0,94
Manufacturer country	Russia

Formula is the "second line" of Pirelli. In last year's tests on Lada West, the tires took fifth place, but now the indicators are more modest. Especially on ice. Even after running-in, the protrusion of the studs above the tread surface is less than a millimeter (last year we recorded 1.1 mm on new tires). On rolled snow, the results are better, although we do not recommend climbing into snowdrifts. On the asphalt they are excellent.

Not a bad budget tire option for urban use.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(122 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 285/45 R22)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	12,2
Tread depth, mm	9,5
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	55
Number of thorns	125
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	1,18/1,37
Manufacturer country	Japan

For many, the Made in Japan brand is a quality mark. But something went wrong with Toyo winter tires. It seems that the studs are not simple - with cruciform inserts, and the studding is of high quality, but on ice the grip properties are moderate, as well as on snow. However, the car's responses to driving are well balanced.

On asphalt, comfort and grip are far from the best.

The joy is the low price, which is quite consistent with the quality of the tires.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(19 standard sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 265/60 R18)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	11,5
Tread depth, mm	9,3
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	59
Number of thorns	120
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	0,93/1,03
Manufacturer country	Russia

Under the "Italian" name - tires produced in Nizhnekamsk using off-take technology. The design and production technology is a product of an engineering firm managed by one of the former top managers of Continental. However, the grip properties on ice and on snow are mediocre, and most of all it was upsetting that winter tires, "developed by European specialists specifically for Russian roads", were helpless in deep snow. They are also noisy and tough. Not an option - even given the low price.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(96 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 275/50 R22)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	12,1
Tread depth, mm	9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	53
Number of thorns	128
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	0,57/0,73
Manufacturer country	Russia

One could immediately assume that the ice tests of the Yokohama Ice Guard 55 tires will fail. Instead of the prescribed 1.2 mm, the spikes protrude by an average of 0.57 mm - and do not work. And the buyer is counting on Japanese quality - even though the tires are produced in Lipetsk.

There are also complaints about the tread: on packed snow - the maximum braking distance, and on virgin soil - the worst traction ability. For Russian conditions, other tires are needed, and they already exist: this season, sales of the new Yokohama IG65 model with an increased number of "curly" studs begin. More details about new tires - in one of the next issues of Autoreview.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 standard sizes are available from 175/70 R13 to 235/60 R18)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,7
Tread depth, mm	9,4
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	61
Number of thorns	128
Protrusion of studs before / after tests, mm	0,79/1,0
Manufacturer country	South Korea

Interestingly, duplicated in the name win - is it from the word "win" or from the word "winter"? Better approaches, for example, wintry ("cold", "inhospitable") or winch ("winch"). What kind of winter or victory can we talk about when studded tires are inferior to most friction tires on ice, and on the Nexen handling track they are the slowest in the overall standings? The tread rubber is clearly not designed to work at low temperatures, as evidenced by its increased hardness.

Of positive emotions, only a relatively quiet (for tires with spikes) rolling remains.

Non-studded tire rating

Dimension	215/65 R16
(61 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 295/40 R21)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	R (170 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,4
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	53
Manufacturer country	Russia

The SUV-indexed off-road tires have sidewalls reinforced with aramid fiber, which is reminiscent of the Aramid Sidewalls brand. So there should be no problems with impact resistance, in contrast to the similarly named "passenger" tires.

In severe frost, Nokian friction tires provide excellent grip on ice, behave well on snow, and small claims appear only on asphalt.

Excellent winter tires for use both in the city and outside.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(97 standard sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 275/45 R20)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,9
Tread depth, mm	8
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	52
Manufacturer country	Germany

Leapfrog. The year before last, we liked ContiVikingContact 6 tires on asphalt, but they did not work well on ice, last year the situation changed to the opposite, this year it is better again on asphalt ... The dimensions, of course, are different, but the reason should be sought in the composition of the rubber compound : The tread rubber on the ContiVikingContact 6 was noticeably softer last year.

We are now taking into account the latest version of these tires from late 2016. Not ideal on ice and snow (especially deep), but works great on asphalt.

Good winter tires for urban use. And the most comfortable ones!

Dimension	215/65 R16
(57 standard sizes from 175/70 R13 to 255/45 R19 are available)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	S (180 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	10,7
Tread depth, mm	8,6
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	46
Manufacturer country	Japan

Since studs are illegal in Japan, local manufacturers focus on friction winter tires. So we will consider it natural that

Speed \u200b\u200bindex T (190 km / h) Lifting capacity index 98 (750 kg) Weight, kg 8,9 Tread depth, mm 8,4 Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit 56 Manufacturer country Germany

Lightweight tires with soft, quiet rolling. But at the same time - an imbalance of "winter" grip properties in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and abrupt breakdowns in sliding, it seems, are provoked by the soft sidewalls for a heavy crossover. Indeed, in the Goodyear range of winter tires there is a model specifically for crossovers and SUVs - UltraGrip Ice SUV, but these tires are not available in the size 215/65 R16. However, if the car is equipped with a stabilization system, then Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 tires are a good choice.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(16 standard sizes available from 215/65 R16 to 255/60 R18)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	R (170 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	11,2
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	56
Manufacturer country	Russia

The tread pattern is exactly the same as the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires, but the materials are simpler. Another option for extending the life cycle of molds. And - considering the price - a very good option. Moreover, in some disciplines, Nordman RS2 SUV tires are even preferable: braking distances on ice are shorter!

Weight, kg 11,4 Tread depth, mm 8,7 Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit 50 Manufacturer country Russia

Quality tires for a reasonable price. On ice, they are almost not inferior to the leaders among tires without studs, and on snow they have even better grip in the longitudinal direction. Although on the track the handling is harsh and in deep snow they row mediocre.

The grip properties on asphalt are above average, there are no problems with comfort either, which means that these tires are relevant for large cities.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(38 standard sizes available from 155/65 R14 to 255/50 R19)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	T (190 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	102 (850 kg)
Weight, kg	10,6
Tread depth, mm	9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	51
Manufacturer country	Slovakia

The Gislaved brand continues to lose its authenticity. Here is the "novelty" Gislaved Soft * Frost 200 is nothing but ContiVikingContact tires of the last, third generation. Fortunately, these are balanced tires - safe, comfortable, not very expensive - and therefore we safely recommend them for urban use, although an accidental arrival in a snowdrift can postpone the planned trip.

54 Manufacturer country China

The Marshal brand belongs to the Korean company Kumho Tire, but in terms of the tread pattern and even the rare R speed index, these tires copy the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires - and some sellers play on this similarity. By the way, on snow and on asphalt friction tires Marshal and Nokian are close, but on ice the loss of the copy is already obvious. They are also some of the noisiest and toughest friction tires around.

Dimension	215/65 R16
(37 sizes available from 175/65 R14 to 245/60 R18)
Speed \u200b\u200bindex	Q (160 km / h)
Lifting capacity index	98 (750 kg)
Weight, kg	12,4
Tread depth, mm	8,9
Shore hardness of tread rubber, unit	49
Manufacturer country	Japan

Winter tires Nitto (the brand belongs to Toyo Tires) appeared in Russia recently. The Therma Spike managed to please us with grip on ice, but lost the studs on asphalt the most. And friction tires Nitto Winter SN2 immediately signed their helplessness on the ice and in the snow. And the more surprising the failure of these tires, even on asphalt.

Something is wrong with these Nitto ...

Winter studded tire test 185 / 65R15 (AutoReview)

• Test start date:01 February 2016
• End date of the test:29 February 2016
• Road quality: Good
• Car: Lada Vesta

Comparative tests of studded and friction rubber 185 / 65R15

This year, AutoReview specialists have tested winter studded and non-studded tires in order to compare the characteristics and present the final results to help car owners prepare the car for the winter season. Below we present to you the test results of studded tires.

Ice tests

The shortest braking distance in ice tests at Hakkapeliitta 8 is 12.1 m. Goodyear is just a little behind with a result of 12.4 m. Japanese Nitto is in third place with a stopping length of 13.1 m.

Budget Asian tires GT and Marshal were expected to be at the bottom of the list, but Nexen performed especially badly. Their result of 21.7 m is worse even than the performance of friction tires, which generally casts doubt on the possibility of winter operation of these tires.

Ice handling was measured on a track that ran along the surface of a frozen lake. Hakkapeliitta 8 covered the fastest distance in 79.7 seconds. The German Continental was located literally in fractions of a second from it. Pirelli tires showed the third result. The outsiders are the same three cheap tires.

results

• Tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 (SUV) 185 / 65R15 XL 92T

  Adhesion on ice, handling on snow and ice, cross-country ability.

  Noise and high cost

  Buy 1

• Continental ContiIceContact 2 (+ SUV) tires 185 / 65R15 XL 92T

  Grip on ice, Handling on ice and snow.

  Cross-country ability, high price.

  Buy 2

• Nokian Nordman 5 185 / 65R15 XL 92T tires

  Adhesion on ice, handling on ice and on snow, cross-country ability.

  Medium grip on asphalt. Loss of thorns.

  Buy 2

• Pirelli Formula Ice 185 / 65R15 88T tires

  Grip and handling on ice. Impact strength.

  Grip and handling on snow. Low ride quality.

  Buy 3

• Tires Gislaved NordFrost 200 185 / 65R15 XL 92T

  Low noise level among studded tires. Smooth running. Passability.

  Adhesion properties on ice.

  Buy 4

• Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic 185 / 65R15 88T tires

  Longitudinal grip on ice. Snow handling. High resistance to aquaplaning.

  Ice handling. Noise.

  Buy 4

• Michelin X-Ice North 3 185 / 65R15 XL 92T tires

  Longitudinal grip on snow. Acoustic comfort in the studded tire class. Grip on wet asphalt.

  Spread grip and handling on ice. Passability.

  Buy 4

• Nitto Therma Spike tires 185 / 65R15 88T

  Longitudinal grip on ice. Ease of handling on the snow.

  Adhesion properties on asphalt. Low resistance to aquaplaning. Loss of thorns.

  Buy 4

• Tires Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02 185 / 65R15 XL 92T

  High impact resistance. Adhesion properties on ice.

  Noise. Low ride quality.

  Buy 5

• Tires GT Radial Champiro Ice Pro 185 / 65R15 XL 92T

  Price. Impact strength. High resistance to aquaplaning.

  Adhesion on ice and snow. Noise. Low ride quality.

  Buy 6

• Marshal Tires WinterCraft Ice Wi31 185 / 65R15 88T

  Price. Adhesion properties on asphalt. Acoustic comfort in the studded tire class.