How to choose winter tires for cars. How to choose tires for your car: winter, summer and all-season

How safe it will be to drive on ice or on a snowy road directly depends on the quality of the tires.

But before choosing winter tires, you need to thoroughly understand them, since there are a huge number of models on the market today. different brands and brands that behave differently under different operating conditions.

Of course, you can drive all winter on summer tires, but is it worth risking your car, and even more so your life, the lives of pedestrians and other road users?

Choosing winter tires is not easy today. To do this, you either have to rely on your many years of experience, or buy products that have proven themselves well in your region. The fact is that different weather conditions prevail in different regions, so it is simply impossible to say for sure that there are only the best tires.

Studded or friction (non-studded) rubber

It is very difficult to give an unequivocal answer to which rubber is better to take for the winter - studded or non-studded. Theoretically, the studs should increase the coefficient of adhesion of the wheels to the road, which is especially important in icy conditions. However, friction winter tires are often slippery road behaves much better.

This is due to the fact that the behavior of the car depends not only on the presence or absence of studs. Determining factors also include tread pattern and rubber chemistry.

Let's take a closer look

Studded winter tires

In case of ice or on rolling snow, the coefficient of adhesion of the wheels to the road is increased by means of studs.

You can go in two ways: either buy studded tires right away, or stud with ordinary winter tires yourself.

Of course, the more studs on the tire, the more obedient the car will be (the probability of slipping will decrease, braking distances).

Greater efficiency can be achieved if the studs are not located in one line, but are scattered in a chaotic manner over the entire surface of the tire.

It is important to know that not any rubber can be studded, so clarify this issue with the dealer immediately.

Among the imported studded tires, received good recommendations model Nokian Hakkapeliitta. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the studs have a square rather than a circular cross-section, which improves the quality of wheel traction.

This model will cost you from $ 100 to $ 450. per unit, depending on the standard size.

Studded winter tires

On the handling of the car when driving on deep snow not only the spikes but also the tread pattern affect.

The most effective were winter tires, which have many rectangular checkers arranged in a checkerboard pattern. In addition, the depth of the pattern is also important, which in most models is 9-10mm.

Also, the presence of sipes (small strips) positively affects road grip. They help studded or non-studded winter tires to grip the road better.

If your area is dominated by wet snow or none at all for most of the winter, buy studless winter tires.

And that's why:

Spikes are ineffective during acceleration and braking on asphalt;

Studs reduce the contact patch of the tire with the road, thereby reducing the coefficient of grip and impairing handling;

On the pavement, studded winter tires are an additional source of noise.

What you need to know before choosing studless winter tires. On wet snow, rubber with a directional tread pattern, which removes slush from under the wheels, performs best. The tread structure of such winter tires looks like a herringbone.

Among the best winter tires is the Continental ContiVikingContact3. Their cost ranges from $ 75 to $ 210. depending on the standard size.

On average, winter tires last two to four seasons. It needs to be replaced when the tread depth is less than 4 mm.

Developers of winter tires specially select the composition of the rubber compound so that the wheel "sticks" to slippery surface... In this regard, soft tires are better suited for icy conditions or for driving on snow.

It should be noted that soft tires in winter are no less effective on asphalt surfaces, but they wear out faster. The softness of the wheel is difficult to determine by touch, so ask the seller.

Winter tires with an asymmetric tread pattern are often more effective. In this case, the outer part of the tire is responsible for driving on asphalt, and the inner part is responsible for snow, or vice versa.

It is important to install these tires correctly, observing the markings on them.

Winter tire size

It is necessary to choose the sizes of winter or summer tires from those recommended by the automaker.

To increase the contact patch of the wheel with the road, you can take more wide tires, but the distribution of the vehicle's mass will occur in such a way that as a result grip is reduced.

If you could not find the right size, then it is better to choose a model of winter tires that is slightly higher in height and smaller in profile width.

Operation of winter tires

Most drivers "change their shoes" only after the appearance of ice or the first snow. As a rule, this causes an increase in road traffic accidents at the beginning of winter.

To avoid this, change summer tires to winter ones after the air temperature drops below 7 degrees.

Winter tires require careful operation during the first few hundred kilometers. Roll in new tires, avoiding harsh braking, accelerate smoothly and carefully enter corners. Thus, they will serve you as long as possible.

Can winter tires only be used on the drive wheels?

Many motorists are wondering if they can save money by buying only two tires for the drive wheels. This decision will not in the best way affect the behavior of the car.

Naturally, you will feel a noticeable positive change when starting from a place, but on the road, unpleasant moments may arise in the behavior of the car.

For example, on cars with rear wheel drive during braking, the weight of the car is transferred to the front wheels, so there is little benefit from winter tires at this point. In addition, when entering a corner, a rear-wheel drive car with studded tires on the drive wheels will not respond well to the steering wheel.

Front-wheel drive cars are not without problems. Putting winter tires only on the front wheels will allow you to start faster. But during braking rear wheels skidding.

If you have studded tires, but the weather has changed and you have to drive the car onto the asphalt, then drive very carefully. It is unacceptable to start abruptly and brake urgently if you do not want to lose all the spikes on the way.

Important! Don't forget to stick on rear glass sign "Ш" so that other drivers know that your braking distance is shorter than theirs.

Foreign companies - BridgeStone, Pirelli, Continental, Michelin, Nokian.

Domestic companies - KYa (Krasny Yar) and Amtel.

On "our" winter tires you can leave for several seasons. Although imported tires are more expensive, they can be used twice as long.

We hope that we have helped you understand certain points that will be useful to know before choosing a winter tire.

Which winter tires to choose? It's cold, it's time to change shoes, but how to choose winter tires for your car. Our country is famous for its severe frosts and the comfort of your trips will depend on the correctly selected winter tires. And the variability of the weather from frost and ice, to thaw and slush will make the choice not easy. There is no one size fits all, all season tires are not suitable for our area. We'll have to maneuver between the options and choose the most suitable ones.

In winter, the safety of you and your family is important. Getting dents and scratches is not the desired result of the trip. A careful approach to the choice of rubber will save you nerves and money. Unfortunately, most drivers do not know how to choose winter tires for their car.

When to change summer tires

The headache of many drivers is seasonal replacement tires. And many do not know the correct answer. Since spikes are not prohibited in Russia, changing shoes too early threatens both damage to the road surface and the spikes themselves, and creates unnecessary noise. That later increases the likelihood of skidding and accidents. Technical regulations states that from the beginning of December to the end of February on four wheels should be winter tire tread.

If the cold came earlier, follow the golden rule: when the temperature drops to + 5-7 ° C, it's time to change tires. If the temperature is + 10˚С during the day, then at night it will probably be below zero, and the icy crust in the morning will cause trouble for you. Therefore, focus on the average daily temperature.

With regards to the purchase of the tires themselves, it is better to do this in the summer, at this time of the year the prices are lower. However, some tire manufacturers put new items on sale just before winter.

If you managed to change your shoes, and the snow did not fall, and ice is not expected, then you should drive very carefully. To avoid the loss of studs and premature wear of tires, you should avoid sudden starts and braking.

How many wheels to change shoes

There is a stereotype that only the driving wheels need to be changed, this is not correct. If installed on the front drive axle only, the vehicle will skid more. When installed only on the rear drive axle, the braking distance is increased. Regardless of the vehicle's drive, braking starts from the front wheels, so winter tires must be mounted on two axles.

Tires help not only to get under way and stop in time, but also provide stable behavior on the road and in corners. Rebuilding from row to row in ice, with the wrong tires, often causes an accident.

So, regardless of the drive of the car, all wheels are worth changing.

Article 12.5 of the Code of administrative offenses it is said that the owner may be fined if studded and non-studded tires are installed at the same time. The penalty will be for those who like to install different tire brands. This is strictly prohibited, there must be one firm on four wheels and preferably one year of production.

Tires are known to wear unevenly and drive wheels deteriorate faster. Guided by this and wanting to save money, drivers buy only one pair of wheels, and the second, less worn one, is left from last year. Such a desire is understandable, nowadays changing shoes is not cheap. But this is prohibited by safety precautions. For poorly worn rubber, the tread depth will differ, if it is a stud, then some of the studs will be lost. Which is very critical for four-wheel drive cars, because four wheels work there. It is best to swap the driving and non-driving wheels, and after complete wear and tear, buy four new tires.

There should be five winter tires, why five? As some have already guessed, the spare tire must also be winter, in the event of a puncture and replacing one wheel with a summer tire, a few tens of meters is enough for an unpleasant result.

Summer, winter or all season

How to choose the right winter tires for your car? Summer tires they do not suit us at all, they have:

1. The chemical composition of rubber is not suitable for low temperatures. Often, drivers do not think about this nuance, and in big cities, where they clean snow, they neglect the behests to change the rubber, thereby increasing its wear and tear and endangering their own and other people's lives.
2. The pattern and tread depth are different. In summer it can be cut with grooves for water removal or have a V pattern for better grip on asphalt, with a depth of 4mm. Winter ones have rectangular or diamond-shaped checkers, with a pattern depth of 6-10 mm.

All-season is intended for driving in weather close to 0˚С. This is a kind of compromise, they are not suitable for high and low temperatures. The point is in the composition of rubber, at high temperatures it becomes soft and literally melts, and at low temperatures it begins to crack. It is extremely difficult to choose a tire tread pattern and, as a result, the universal version loses in terms of its functions in each specific extreme situation.

Saving will not work either, because the wear of such tires will be higher due to the properties of the rubber, and during the whole time you will change it more times than having two sets, winter and summer. Tire wear varies depending on your ride and the quality of the material the tires are made from. We recommend changing a set of tires for a new one after 50,000 - 70,000 thousand kilometers.

There remains the option of winter tires and it is worth considering which winter tires are best to choose.

Which winter tires are better studded or non-studded

For many drivers, the question is difficult, you can rely on the advice of friends and sellers, you can on your own experience. But the most correct decision is to figure out for what conditions which winter tires to choose. Difficulties are caused by the variety of firms and types of tires, the pattern is:

• european;
• scandinavian.

And the direction of the drawing looks like:

• directional, will provide stability on the road;
• non-directional, has a pronounced off-road function;
• asymmetrical, combines both functions.

Studded winter tires

The studded winter tire is designed for driving in dry snowy weather. It bites into ice and dense snow to provide skid protection. But it is worth driving onto asphalt or wet snow, and the pros turn into cons. The braking distance increases, the likelihood of the car skidding increases, and wear and tear of both asphalt and studs increases, and a lot of noise is emitted.

1. Good handling in dry snowy weather.
2. Reduced stopping distance compared to Velcro.

1. Poor handling in wet, snowless weather.
2. Sliding in the slush.
3. Noisy on the asphalt.
4. Wear of studs and road surface.

It is important to run the tires for the first three to four hundred kilometers at a speed not exceeding 90 km / h. So that the thorns sit tightly in the nest. You should not start abruptly with a slip and drift in corners, otherwise you will lose all spikes by the end of winter.

What is the best rubber for the winter in the city

The best option for city driving or in warm European winters is Velcro. The tread pattern has a series of drainage channels that will successfully drain water and sleet from the contact patch with asphalt.

For a city, the best option would be a European type of winter tire tread, it will perfectly remove slush and reagents that are sprinkled on cities. Thus, it will provide good grip in slush conditions, without the need to bite into the snow crust.

Outside the city, it is better to take the Scandinavian tread pattern, due to the diamond-shaped pattern, it will provide gnawing into the road covered with snow, which will ensure stability when cornering, and reduce the likelihood of skidding.

1. Excellent handling on dry and wet asphalt.
2. Lack of noise while driving.
3. Good grip on ice in case of not severe frost.

1. High probability of skidding on icy, snow-covered roads.
2. Slip on start and slip on braking.
3. Not suitable for a harsh winter.

There is no definite answer as to which rubber to choose for the winter. At -15˚С the braking distance on ice will be the same for studs and Velcro, but at lower temperatures the studs start to win, and the braking distance is shorter. On the other hand, at higher temperatures, the spikes lose almost 2 times in braking distance.

Again, the Velcro provides better grip on wet asphalt and wet ice... Makes less noise when driving. The thorns, on the other hand, bite into the snow crust and provide better stability against skids.

Which winter tires to choose depends on the region and weather conditions.

• for city driving, it is better to choose European Velcro;
• in ice at a temperature not lower than -15˚С the best way Scandinavian Velcro;
• outside the city, with a snow crust, the best choice Scandinavian spiked protector;
• at temperatures below -15˚C choose studded tires.

Tire selection for ABS

Modern cars are equipped with anti-lock braking systems, they prevent skidding when hard pressing brakes. Therefore, it is not surprising that many car manufacturers orient their tire production towards them.

• the greatest stability with ABS, ensure the longitudinal sipes of tires;
• without ABS, on the contrary, transverse.

Which tires are better in winter wide or narrow

It all depends on the type of surface you are driving on, so:

1. Wide, if you plan to travel on dense snow crust, ice and asphalt.
2. Narrow if planning a trip loose snow or off-road.

When the question arises, what kind of rubber better in winter narrow or wide? Everyone begins to recommend a narrow one, referring to the example of rally racing, where snow tracks are installed narrow tires... And this is justified, because some of the tracks go off-road, where you need to crash into an uncompressed snow crust to grip the ground. After all, as the surface area of \u200b\u200bthe tire decreases, the pressure on the surface increases, thereby improving burial in the snow.

But if you find yourself on ice, then with a smaller patch of contact with the surface, the grip properties deteriorate, and a smaller number of studs are also placed. The wider the wheels, the higher the friction, look at formula racing. This means better grip on ice and densely packed snow. But the disadvantage will be stronger slippage during acceleration. And also aquaplaning will be worse.

Outcome

The first thing to decide is whether studded or non-studded tires you need:

• non-studded ones behave better on dry and wet asphalt and at not low temperatures down to -15˚С;
• studded ideal for snow and ice trails.

The second, Scandinavian or European type of tire.

• scandinavian tread is needed for country trips on snowy roads, in combination with studs, give good cross-country ability and skid protection;
• use the European protector in the city where roads are cleaned and sprinkled with reagents. Their design perfectly removes moisture from under the wheels and provides good grip.

Third, pay attention to braking system... Fourth, what direction the tread pattern has.

As you can see, there are no ideal tires for the winter, they need to be selected for certain conditions.

The winter period of time brings a lot of problems to the car owner, what can I say only extremely low temperatures, impassable drifts on the roads can make anyone nervous. In general, you need to survive this season, some do not operate cars at all in winter, perhaps this is correct - you can’t better not risk it! However, others should prepare properly, and the very first thing that comes to mind is winter tires! Or rather, how to choose it and when to buy it, if for some reason they have not yet installed it. Today I will introduce 8 simple stepsthat will help you decide on this not an easy question. As usual it will be written in simple words, without unnecessary "cleverness" ...

I would like to immediately weed out all questions about summer wheels - guys, do not ride them in winter, it's very dangerous! The summer compound is not designed for low temperatures, and already at minus five degrees, the rubber finally dubs - the effect of “cows on ice” appears, your car simply cannot be controlled, there is not even a hint of traction on snow or ice. Difficult to start, brake and drive! And the law is for us, although in my opinion they are not fined yet. BUT in the middle lane and in the north, the presence of winter wheels, in my opinion, is MANDATORY, this significantly reduces accidents on the roads!

In fairness, I would like to separately highlight the southern regions, where freezing temperatures are very rare, in which I think, at the local legislative level, it is worth allowing the use of summer options! Still, winter tires are already unstable at plus five degrees, it just starts to "float", because of its extra softness, controllability falls, but the braking distance increases. At this point, I think, we will no longer remember about summer wheels, yet a large number of motorists have a completely normal winter in their regions. Well, let's take the 8 steps I said about:

Tire size

What's so strange you ask? Just buy the same as mine (summer) for a car! This is true and can be justified, but there is a common opinion that in winter it is better to choose a tire with a smaller radius and size - but within the tolerances of your manufacturer. It is usually indicated on the car body which radii and dimensions should be applied. How is this justified?

Look - in the summer it is worth choosing, on the contrary, a large width and a low profile, this is done so that the mesh with the road is large, and a low profile will give "rigidity" when cornering at high speeds.

However, winter is completely different - high speeds just dangerous (snow and ice everywhere), so the low profile is practically not used. Instead, you can increase the profile, that is, take a smaller radius. For example, in the summer there were R16, and in the winter you can R15, this gives us a smooth ride and allows us to save on the tire!

The same is the case with the width of the tire, if the summer tire, say - 205 mm, then the winter one can take 195 mm. Narrow "track" will allow you to effectively cut snow drifts and get to the hard surface. Again, the narrower option is cheaper.

Spikes or Velcro

I want to note right away - that I already, read, there are battles in the comments. Again, I'll repeat myself a little. Both the one and the other type of rubber, sharpened for the winter - this is unambiguous, but you should choose only one type, which is designed specifically for your area! What do I mean, for example, you are a resident of a megalopolis (St. Petersburg or Moscow), do not leave (or leave, but extremely rarely) out of town, and the car in 95% of cases rolls on the asphalt with reagents, then why do you need spikes? Velcro is perfect for you!

Another situation is you are a resident of a village far from civilization, your tractor rarely cleans the roads, you only saw reagents on the roads on TV, so there is a dense crust of ice and snow on top of the roads. Then - definitely SPIKES, you need to "fight" this ice, and Velcro loses this battle, but the "spike" simply bites into the ice and holds the car perfectly.

Thus, in order not to breed "demagoguery" - Velcro in warm areas and big cities, where there is very little snow. Spikes, in northern regions and small towns (villages) where roads are not well cleaned.

I remember the words of a friend who has been living in Moscow for 5 years now, he says that there is simply very little snow here, it is localized almost immediately after a snowfall - therefore, for the past three years, he has been driving with Velcro and says that it is just wonderful. Personally, in our city, this is not permissible!

Tread pattern

There are only three main ones. Let's not go into the jungle, and look for others, but we need which are sold with us in a wide range. And I already.

1) This is a normal drawing, it is also symmetrical ... One side is similar to the other side, usually built in "bridges" or "waves". Effectively fights snow, and is also "good" on an ice surface, however, it is ineffective with a thaw or reagents that form a snow slurry!

2) Directed ... To all the advantages of the first type, we count excellent behavior in case of snow porridge and rain. Practically perfect option, however, quite noisy on dry and wet asphalt, it is also not for high-speed trips, if such are the case in winter. Usually such rubber has an inscription with an arrow on the sides "ROTATION", it must be mounted according to these recommendations, it should not be confused!

3) Asymmetric pattern ... It is good for everyone, efficiently removes moisture (in case of snow porridge), holds the road well at speed, and is not so noisy. It is also mounted by tags, external and inner side are labeled - INSIDE and OUTSIDE, respectively. One minus is quite expensive.

If you have money, you need to take an asymmetric profile, if you save a little, then it's directional.

Thorn shape

If you choose a studded version, it is worth noting - now many manufacturers are struggling with the perfect shape of this "iron tooth", which can more effectively keep the car on the road surface.

The standard spike is in the shape of a nail, which is the cheapest to use and quite durable.

There are also options different forms and sizes, now, if not to lie, about 10 - 15 different - square, rectangular, cruciform, etc.

I will say this, if you have money, you can consider these options, they are really more effective. BUT if there is no money, then the usual ones are also not bad, and the braking distances up to 60 km / h are not much different. And more in winter, I do not recommend you to drive!

For example, if you take rubber with a regular spike and with a square or rectangular one, then the difference can be 1000-2000 rubles per wheel, depending on the radius.

date of manufacture

In all developed countries, last year's tires is cheaper than this year. This is a simple pattern, however, in our country, very few people pay attention to the date and it is in vain. About this I, be sure to read!

Such ignorance is used by dishonest sellers who can sell you last year's tire at a fresh price! If we say how dangerous it is, then this is the elasticity of the tire, every year it drops by about 3 - 5%, even if it has not been used, this means that it will wear out faster - the resource is slightly shortened.

Ours or not ours?

At this point, I want to touch upon the choice in terms of manufacturer and country. There is an opinion that imported rubber is entirely of high quality and runs for almost 10 years, but the Russian one is simply "g..no" and is falling apart in a year. They say that imported ones have different technologies and, most importantly, other materials! Guys, this is nonsense! Now on the territory of Russia there are a large number of factories of foreign manufacturers that make their rubber on our territory, from our own raw materials! Take the same Bridgestone, also Nokian, Yokohama, etc. Of course, they have different technologies, other thorns, which they are in no hurry to share, but our manufacturers should not be written off either. Personally, I have been for 4 seasons now, and you know it surprises me, there are a lot of studs left, I feel it is the same strength as the NOKIAN Hakkapeliitta 5, which I had on the previous car.

The most important thing is that our tires are much cheaper than imported ones, for example, I gave about 2.5 times less for all 4 wheels R16 205/55 than for a similar foreign manufacturer.

From foreign manufacturers, which I will advise you:

From domestic which you can choose:

2) KAMA EURO

I would like to separately note the rubber ROSAVA (ROSAVA), personally I came across both summer and winter, I must say "g .. but" rare, do not take it! Summer after 5000 km, two wheels bump, although there were no big hits, winter after the season lost 50% of the studs, the operation was moderate!

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Winter, as usual, comes unexpectedly, and few people worry about buying tires from us before the "tinsmith's day". After that, dancing begins with a choice and a purchase. Some motorists have already passed this stage, but many are still only at the beginning. The main question is traditional - spikes or Velcro? It is impossible to know absolutely all the subtleties of tires, since technologies do not stand still. But, it will not hurt to study the general specifics of the subject.

Spikes or Velcro: how to choose the right winter tires for your car in a car shop?

Transition time from summer tires known - this is an average daily temperature of + 7 ° C. In these conditions rubber compound for warm weather functions at the limit of grip. Therefore, experienced motorists prefer to change their shoes in advance. The only difficulty is the question of which to choose: friction or spike wheels? Therefore, it makes sense to briefly explore the features of these types of tires.

Friction tires

To know how to choose winter tires for a car, you need to know that studless cylinders for winter differ from summer ones in a large number of sipes on the tread blocks. This factor contributes to better contact with surfaces such as ice and snow. In the same time, are divided into two subspecies:

1. Scandinavian - intended for harsh winters. They have a soft rubber composition and an increased number of lamellas.
2. European - used in mild winters. The number of lamellas is minimal, but the structure is more rigid.

Externally, it is easy to distinguish between these two types of "friction clutches": the Scandinavian joint of the joint of the supporting part of the tread and the sidewall is beveled at an angle. In European models, this place is rounded like summer tires. Anyone who does not yet know how to choose winter tires for a car should keep in mind that European non-studded wheels are very close in characteristics to all-season ones.

Recently, some motorists have begun to argue that since winters have become snowless, it is quite possible to do with all-season, and sometimes you can hear that summer tires... The danger of such misconceptions is a lack of understanding of the design features. First of all, the rubber compound of summer and all-season copies is not designed to work in negative temperatures, which means that it is not able to provide a decent grip.

In the EU countries, drivers from such illusions have long been “cured” at the legislative level, forcing them to use appropriate tires in the cold season. In Russia such still in development, but, fortunately, most domestic motorists are reasonable people, and have been using seasonal wheels for a long time.

Studded tires

Numerous tests show that the temperature range when pins and Velcro are equally effective in braking is -12 to -15 ° C. At lower temperature readings, "friction clutch" show top scoresthan because the thorn is no longer able to pierce the hard ice. A completely different picture is observed at temperatures above -15 ° C, in tests, the bulk of spiked wheels are leading in almost all types of exercises:

• Fast acceleration on ice.
• Short braking distances.
• Good handling when maneuvering.

The difference between tires is especially noticeable at near-zero temperatures, when ice and snow are as slippery as possible. Anyone who is interested in how to choose winter tires for a car, should take into account that modern "spikes" and on the asphalt are in front of the friction wheels. The results of tests at different temperatures from the editorial board of "Behind the wheel", which are presented in the table, are very informative.

The best technology allows spiked wheels to exhibit fairly predictable behavior on both dry and wet tracks. There is nothing surprising here - the soft mixture of a Scandinavian studless tire on clean asphalt is already playing a negative role. Another thing is a spiked wheel, in which the rubber composition is tougher to hold the spikes, therefore such a tire is preferable for asphalt.

On the snow, spikes no longer affect the cross-country ability and handling of the car, that's why different types tires are mixed. In addition, there is a belief that the spikes slide when braking on the asphalt. This disadvantage occurs only in the case of tires of outdated designs.

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Today's manufacturers use a soft rubber backing under the stud body, which allows them to sink when moving on clean asphalt. True, this innovation has a small drawback - at temperatures below -15 ° C, the spikes can retract and give way to "friction clutches". However, a simple rule will help here - to travel to severe frost more neat on studded tires.

Tread: how to choose winter tires for a car for a specific climate?

Until now, no one has invented to make a universal tire with unsurpassed properties. By shifting the balance point in one direction or another, each manufacturer produces the lineup tires for winter, which have different grip strengths on ice, snow and asphalt. In some cases, motorists tune the friction wheels themselves. , thereby increasing the vehicle's cross-country ability.

Car enthusiasts wondering how to choose the right winter tires for their car should consider the bottom line special tests... They help the car owner find the best option "Shoes". At the same time, the tread pattern is able to indicate which tires should be used in each specific case, without too much damage to the drive:

• Wedge-shaped tread (V-shaped) - effective in combating aquaplaning phenomena, copes well with snow slurry and drifts.
• The directional tread with longitudinal grooves - behaves confidently on dry roads, and also removes water from the contact patch.
• The asymmetric tread is a compromise between the two above drawings, but, unfortunately, not always successful, so snow drifts can become a serious obstacle for such a wheel.

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Features of European tires

Non-studded tires of the European type are mostly produced with a lowered tread height of 5-6 mm and with speed indexes T, H and V, which corresponds to the range 190-240 km / h... The main regions where such wheels are used are the southern regions of the country, where winters are mostly snowless, i.e. they do not differ in special passability.

Features of Scandinavian tires

On the other hand, the Scandinavian are more "sharpened" to overcome the snowy road. However, before choosing such winter tires for your car, it should be noted that the index R and Q limits their speed limit to 160-180 km / h... The tread has a high tread of 8-9 mm with small checkers, which are separated by wide channels.

Let's sum up

In the matter of choice, it is necessary to take into account the regional climatic situation, the level of training and functionality of utilities, as well as the level of cylinder noise. Other than that, it's a good idea to think about at home. Disadvantages of dignity tire with spikes form a set of features of their scope:

• The studs effectively penetrate the top layer of ice, thus guaranteeing excellent acceleration and braking.
• The layer on which the spikes are mounted is rather hard, but in conjunction with the damping system, a strong and informative contact with road surface.
• Studded tire performance drops sharply after frost-15-20 ° C.
• Regardless of the cost, metal spikes can disrupt acoustic comfort even in a premium car.

Friction rubber characterized by a set of the following properties:

• High speed parameters.
• Low noise level.
• High level of adhesion to dry and wet surfaces.
• High coefficient of resistance to the aquaplaning effect.
• At temperatures below -15 ° C, the frictional properties are higher than that of studded tires.

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Every year before the onset of winter, every motorist (who does not yet have a new set of winter tires) racks his brains about which tires to buy. This article will tell you how to choose winter tires for a car, its types and popular brands.

Feature of car tires for the winter period

Tires are one of the necessary needs and constant material costs in maintenance car. But what are winter tireswhich tires to choose? Winter tires are specially designed for use in the cold season, when the temperature does not exceed + 6 ° C.

According to many motorists, the main distinguishing feature of winter tires from summer tires is the tread pattern and studs. In fact, this is not their main difference. The main parameter is the chemical composition of the rubber, which is able to withstand a certain range of temperature fluctuations.

The tire industry is developing every year, modernizing and improving the chemical composition of rubber. Manufacturers often conduct tests on winter tires in order to upgrade and improve the quality of the tires, thereby increasing the safety of driving in winter period... It is necessary to consider the types winter tirespresented to date, after which each motorist will understand which rubber to choose specifically for him.

Existing types of winter tires

The choice of winter tires should be justified, it should be made before the first frost and snow. To understand how to choose the right winter tires for a car, the first step is to understand existing types... Winter tires can be divided into 3 types:

1. Studded. The main task of thorns is to break ice and snow crust. There are two types of spikes: round and rectangular. Studded tires are great for driving on icy and snowy roads.
2. Non-studded (frictional)... Friction rubber is ideal for warm winters with little snow, driving through slush and mud. The main function of such rubber is the best grip on the road surface in rain or wet snow.
3. Scandinavian. This type of rubber is intended for vehicle operation in severely snowy and frosty climates.

So when choosing winter tires, you must be guided by the factor climatic conditionsin which the car will be operated. Also, with regard to the choice of winter tires, then, as the saying goes "ready to sled in summer", buy tires better in summer, since the prices for them will pleasantly please. Now we should talk about each species in more detail.

Main characteristics of studded rubber, pros and cons

Studded tires should be used only on icy and snowy roads, driving on bare asphalt will significantly reduce its service life. And with sudden braking, you can completely lose all the spikes. Also, such driving develops in a negative way on the road surface, increases the degree of deterioration and the speed of the asphalt becoming unusable several times.

Before using rubber with spikes, it must be run in before the upcoming loads. The rules for running in are as follows: the first 500 - 1000 km should be driven no higher than the speedometer mark of 80 km / h and sharp braking should be avoided. Running-in allows the studs to grind in and securely fasten them in the tread. The advantages of using studded rubber are as follows:

1. Braking distances . Numerous tests have shown that braking distances on icy surfaces are shorter when using studded tires, which significantly reduces the risk of collisions.
2. Hitch with road surface... Excellent traction on snowy roads, even with thick ice.

Along with the advantages of choosing a studded rubber, there are a number of disadvantages, which are as follows:

1. Comfort. Due to the noise from the studs, the ride comfort is reduced.
2. Fuel consumption . The use of such tires is negligible, but still increases fuel consumption.
3. Road conditions... Driving on dry or wet asphalt significantly increases the braking distance and reduces the vehicle's resistance to skidding.

Friction rubber characteristics, pros and cons

The selection of winter friction rubber should be based on the climatic conditions in which the car will be used. The main task of this type of tire is to provide best grip with a wet or sleet-covered road.

The main distinctive feature in the choice of this type of rubber is a network of drainage grooves in the tire tread and high rates of soil engagement. Of huge assortment brands of manufacturers, what kind of rubber is better to buy, a question that is asked, perhaps, by every motorist. When choosing winter friction rubber, special attention, in addition to the manufacturer's brand, should be paid to the tread pattern.

According to the tests carried out, and as shown by the positive reviews of car owners, a tire with a directional tread pattern is much better at removing water and dirt from under the wheel. Now it's worth talking about the advantages of using of this type tires:

1. Characteristics . Excellent performance when driving on wet and dry road surfaces.
2. Comfort. Low noise from riding on friction tires increases driving comfort.
3. Road surface... While driving on such tires, the road surface does not deteriorate.

Along with the pluses, there is one minus when choosing friction rubber - it is unsuitable for driving on an icy road, so it will be difficult to drive the car.

Characteristics of Scandinavian rubber

Scandinavian tires are designed for driving on heavily snowy roads. In those regions where there is a huge amount of snow, this type of tire should be bought for the winter. Besides high performance cross-country ability in snowy regions, reviews of car owners also show that this rubber copes with its task. Advantages and disadvantages of using scandinavian rubber, the same as that of the friction.

Which winter tires to choose (studded, non-studded or Scandinavian) is a question that depends on many factors: on the climatic conditions in which the car will drive, the driving style of the motorist, speed mode and others. So there is no definite answer which tires are better. Before choosing a set for the winter car tires, you should pay attention to these factors. There are small recommendations for choosing tires, which will be discussed below.

Before choosing winter tires, there are a few guidelines to be aware of. For driving on snowy and icy roads, it is better to give preference to softer tires. It is also possible to ride on bare asphalt on such a tire, but it will wear out faster, on such a surface it is better to move on solid rubber.

It is quite difficult to independently determine this factor by touch, a sales assistant can help with this, or you can get information about a specific model by reading customer reviews on the Internet.

As practice shows, tires with an asymmetric pattern on the wheel tread cope more efficiently with driving a car in winter. The main thing is to correctly install the tires according to the marks applied on it. After tire fitting, the label should be located next to the nipple. By following these little tips when choosing a kit new rubber, the motorist will protect himself and the car while driving in the winter.

Risks when buying used tires

Since the cost of a new set of winter tires is not cheap in material terms, some car owners are trying to save money by buying used tires. Despite the pretty good appearance used tires, they do not retain the qualities that were originally inherent in them. You can of course pick up and good quality, however, the choice to buy or not, as well as the risks for the consequences, remain with the person.

As a rule, the service life of winter tires is 2 - 4 seasons, and it is not possible to find out exactly how many thousand kilometers the previous owner drove in a used car. It's better not to save money and buy a new set. Often, motorists choose rubber on the basis that it passes its entire service life, and when buying a used one, there are no guarantees for its service life.

Important points when choosing winter tires

Which tire brand to choose is a rather complicated and controversial question, because how many people - so many opinions. There are several criteria when choosing winter tires:

• manufacturer;
• the age of a particular model;
• planned mileage.

Before choosing winter tires, you should pay attention to these criteria, which need to be discussed in more detail.

Manufacturer

Which company is the best to buy rubber? A question that is asked by almost every car owner, because among the huge number of brands it is difficult to give preference to one or another. It should be noted brands that have deservedly proven themselves from the best side in terms of quality and customer reviews. Here's a small list:

• Nokian;
• Michelin;
• Bridgestone;
• Pirelli;
• Gislaved;
• Toyo;
• Fulda.

As customer reviews show, these brands of manufacturers have recommended in all respects. And what brand to buy, each motorist will decide for himself. For an SUV, it is worth buying only well-known brands, it is better to consult with a sales consultant who will help in the selection.

Model age

It is worth paying attention to the date of manufacture, which is indicated on the tire. Than newer model, so, accordingly, the price for it will be higher than, for example, last year. The only drawback when buying outdated models is the difficulty in finding a tire (if, for example, you only need one piece).

The best prices are often set for outdated models, but if a short storage period has passed (no more than two years), then you can safely buy tires for promotional offers. This is done in order not to return the tires back to the plant for processing, but to sell them at the purchase price.

Planned mileage

An important factor when buying tires is the planned mileage. If a person initially knows that he will overcome an impressive distance during the season, then you should not skimp and purchase good tires... I buy an inexpensive tire, there is a possibility that it will not last long and will have to spend money on buying a new set.

Outcome

Upon completion, it is worth summing up a little. Which winter tires are better is a question, for the answer to which it is necessary to take into account many influencing factors before buying. After reading this article, each motorist, based on a number of conditions, will be able to determine for himself what type of rubber he should buy.