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 today there are a huge number of models on the market different brands and brands that behave differently under different operating conditions.
Of course, you can travel all winter on summer tires, but is it worth risking your car, let alone 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 unequivocally 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, often friction winter tires on 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 rolling snow, the coefficient of adhesion of the wheels to the road increases with the help of studs.
You can go in two ways: either buy studded tires right away, or stud a regular one yourself winter tires.
Of course, the more studs on the tire, the more obedient the car will be (the likelihood of slipping will decrease, the braking distance will be shortened).
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, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta has received a good recommendation. 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.
Such a 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 in your area, 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 asphalt, 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 these 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.
Winter tire developers select the composition 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
Choose sizes for winter or summer tires necessary 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 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 handling during the first few hundred kilometers. Run in new tires while avoiding harsh braking, accelerate smoothly and carefully enter corners. Thus, they will serve you as long as possible.
Is it possible to put winter tires only 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 standstill, but on the road, unpleasant moments can 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. If you put winter tires only on the front wheels, this 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 sort out certain points that will be useful to know before choosing a winter tire.
Correctly selected tires affect driving safety almost more than any other vehicle system. Winter tires differ from summer tires in a softer rubber compound that does not "dull" when low temperatures ah, as well as a deeper and more aggressive tread pattern that helps provide traction and braking on snowy surfaces.
When to change tires for winter
On this issue, all tire manufacturers are unanimous and propose to replace them during the period when the average daily temperature drops to +7. At temperatures from +4 to +7, the summer rubber compound begins to lose its quality, becomes more rigid, as a result of which the braking distance of the car increases significantly. Therefore, it is no longer safe to operate summer tires at temperatures below +4.
Types of winter tires
For use in winter period Various manufacturers have developed three types of tires: studded, non-studded (friction) and all-season.
Studded ones are equipped with special metal inserts - studs that provide traction on icy surfaces. The studs are arranged in rows in the tire so that the track from each stud does not coincide with the neighboring one. Studded tires provide maximum safety on ice, but with less grip and more noise on dry asphalt. Therefore, you should choose them if in winter there are expected frequent trips outside the city, or if there are severe winters in your region, and ice on the road is not uncommon.
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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 car enthusiasts 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 technology does 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 dealership?
The transition time from summer tires is known - this is an average daily temperature of + 7 ° C. Under these conditions, the rubber compound for warm weather functions at the limit of grip. Therefore, experienced motorists prefer to change their shoes in advance. The only difficulty raises the question of what 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 non-studded 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:
- Scandinavian- designed for harsh winters. They have a soft rubber composition and an increased number of lamellas.
- 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 still does not 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 car enthusiasts 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 with summer tires. The danger of such delusions is misunderstanding 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 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 better results than because the spike 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 in the lead 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. Very informative test results at different temperatures from the editorial board "Behind the wheel", which are presented in the table.
The best technology allows spiked wheels to exhibit fairly predictable behavior on both dry and wet trails. 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 spike wheel, in which the rubber composition is stiffer to hold the spikes, therefore such a tire is preferable for asphalt.
On 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 spike body, which allows them to sink when moving on clean asphalt. True, this innovation has a slight drawback - at temperatures below -15 ° C, the spikes can retract and give way to "friction clutches". However, a simple rule will help here - to go 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 cross-country ability of the vehicle.
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 to 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, therefore snow drifts can become a serious obstacle for such a wheel.
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Features of European type tires
Studded tires European type for the most part are 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 snow-free, i.e. they do not differ in special cross-country ability.
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 them speed mode before 160-180 km / h... The pattern has a high tread of 8-9 mm with small checkers, which are separated by wide channels.
Let's summarize
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 spiked tire form a set of features of the scope of their application:
- The studs effectively penetrate the top layer of ice, thus guaranteeing excellent acceleration and braking.
- The layer on which the spikes are mounted is quite hard, but in conjunction with the damping system, a strong and informative contact with the road surface is formed.
- 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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How to choose the right winter tires
To change or not to change tires - the question is no longer relevant. Perhaps today the emphasis should be on how to choose the right rubber, especially for the winter season.
The fact is that the choice of winter tires is a very difficult matter, since, alas, there is no universal option. So the drivers have to, deftly maneuvering between the options, choose what is needed, based on several factors at once.
Initially, the activity and the average operating conditions of the car should be taken into account. For example, the excellent rough-tread studded tires are ideal for a region where winter is usually dry and the road surface is densely packed with ice.
But such rubber makes an order of magnitude more noise, it is not suitable for beginners who try to drive more than 130 km / h, as well as for regions where snow porridge prevails on the roads - the spikes will not be able to provide sufficient grip and the safety of the car will decrease. And since most of our roads are exactly like this, it is worth talking about studless winter tires.
Non-studded tires - features of choice
Winter tires of this kind are divided into two types. Manufacturers of such products supply to the world market:
European rubber;
Scandinavian rubber.
The choice between these two types is due to the fact that each option will be optimal in its weather conditions. Let's take a closer look at each type of rubber.
European rubber. Appointment. Providing the most effective grip of the tire with the road surface in bad weather conditions (rain, sleet).
Description. At its core, rubber is somewhat similar to conventional rain protection. It has a diagonal tread pattern with a large number of drainage channels, which, when connected, form a developed network together. You can also distinguish European-type rubber by the presence of thin cuts (sipes) and large lugs located along the edge of the tread.
Moreover, the ability of rubber to provide greater grip directly depends directly on the length of the slots. The higher this indicator, the longer each edge of the tread, with the help of which the tire literally "clings" to the road surface when the car is moving. At the same time, the same porridge gets into the slots, and the tire then contacts directly with the roadway.
Scandinavian rubber. Appointment. Ensuring optimal grip on icy
road and road surface with snow crust.
Description. It has a less developed network of patterns, in which not cuts predominate, but special figures that have a rectangular or diamond shape and alternate in a checkerboard pattern. These figures are not located too often, due to which the protector during the movement of the car easily breaks through the top layer of ice or snow crust, and then is cleaned. Thanks to this design, the car is ideal for driving on rough terrain.
Marking is our everything!
Each tire is labeled by the manufacturer. By this marking, one can judge the qualities that rubber possesses. Let's start with such an indicator as:
Looks like four digits on the sidewall of the tire (the first two digits are the week number of the year, the second two are the year itself);
Wear resistance. This parameter called "Treadwear" and is calculated in units. Standard durability is 100 units. They are usually enough for 48,000 km. mileage (for the season);
It is designated by letters of the English alphabet - from N (140 km / h) to ZR (above 240 km / h). For those who are interested in driving speed and such an indicator as low wear, it is best to take tires with the “S” mark;
Load indicator. At its core, it means how much weight is on each wheel. According to experts, this index should be in the range of 30 - 35 percent of the weight of the equipped vehicle;
Tire type... For winter models of tires, the marking should be “M + S” (Mud + Snow) and / or “Winter”, which means “mud and snow” and / or “winter”. You should not take tires marked "All season" - "All-weather" or "All weather" - "All-weather", since some tire manufacturers produce similar products for regions with a hot climate, where in winter the temperature drops only to zero and no more;
Certification. E stands for EU compliance and DOT stands for US requirements. Sometimes both of these markings are present on some models.
Signs such as wet grip (A to G), fuel efficiency (A to G), and acoustic comfort (1 bar - optimal, 3 bars - weak) are additionally marked. It is also worth recalling that professional off-road and racing tires are not labeled, as well as welded, studded and some other types. This should be considered when buying.
So, let's summarize. We offer you a step-by-step educational program that will help beginners:
1. Determine what type of tires will be preferable for the car to be "on the move" (European or Scandinavian);
2. Determine with the manufacturer (branded (like Michelin, Pirelli, Bridgestone); strong middle peasants (for example - Firestone, Kleber, Toyo, etc.); cheap (Rosava, etc.);
3. Determine the specification, for which we study the size and type of tires acceptable for each specific car model. This data can be found in service book... Knowing them, it is worth buying tires only of the standard size that is indicated in the service documentation. They provide the safest mode of operation of the machine;
4. Choose a reliable dealer who will not sell fake tires under the guise of branded tires;
5. We inspect the tires, while it is desirable to conduct a couple of practical tests. Of course, no one will allow you to put new rubber on your car, but you can bring an ordinary textile work glove with you. It can be held in the direction of the tread pattern and if the glove slides normally, then the grip will be good;
6. Feel the tires to determine their softness. If the tires are soft and have good flex under the toes, then such tires will not harden and will do their job well;
7. When buying, we look at the tire's shelf life, it should not be more than 2 years (3- and 4-year-old tires may no longer have the same qualities). The tire production date can be found on the side of the wheel (four digits);
8. We look at the marking and ask the dealer for a certificate of conformity, which proves that this particular type of tire is suitable for use on the territory of our state.
And the last thing to note is that you need to change tires on all wheels at once and do not delay with this, so as not to risk costs and danger to your own life at the time of an accident, the likelihood of which is significantly increased due to poor adhesion of summer tires to winter roads. So as soon as the weather starts to deteriorate, and the air temperature drops to plus 7, you can safely go to the service station and change the tires. Good luck!
If you have already thought about what to “put on” your car for the winter, we will tell you about the trends of this season, help you with the choice and give you guidance in understanding the issue. So, winter tires are a way to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Winter tires: what? where? when?
Tires are one of the main and constant expense items for car maintenance, and if you still have not figured out what winter tires are, we will try to get to the bottom of it.
Winter tires are car tires that are specially designed for use in the cold season at temperatures not exceeding + 7 ° C. And what is the difference between winter tires and summer tires, and how fundamentally is this difference?
Winter tires will help your car through the winter without incidents
It is generally accepted that the main difference winter tires from the summer is the tread pattern, but in fact this is not the main difference. You should remember from childhood what happened to an ordinary eraser in the cold - it literally broke and crumbled. In other words, rubber is a material that loses its properties (in this case, elasticity) at low temperatures. That is why modern manufacturers car tires use all their experience in order to invent such chemical compositions of rubber, which would be "sharpened" for a particular season, a particular temperature range.
When to change and buy winter tires
Legislatively, the time of changing summer tires to winter tires in our country is not stipulated. In principle, in Russia, no one forbids driving in severe frosts on summer tires, so if you don't care about your own life from a high bell tower, you can close this page, forget about the existence of winter tires and continue your suicidal race.
The bulk of car owners know that the car should be “changed” when the thermometer sleepily creeps to + 5 ° C, and the temperature continues to fall every day, like the ruble exchange rate against the background of news from the Persian Gulf countries. If we talk about this in terms of calendar measurements, then this is October-November.
As for the purchase of winter tires, it is important to remember that you need to prepare the sled in the summer. Summer prices will delight you. And then you will need no more than half an hour to change summer wheels for a prepared winter kit.
Types of winter tires and their characteristics
The construction of winter tires is rather complicated. Their main element is the tread, which is made of wear-resistant rubber. The base connects the tread to the inner layers of the tire and is responsible for reducing rolling resistance and reducing bumpy shock.
Steel cord works to increase the stability of the tire shape, increase driving stability and increase the mileage.
Under the steel cord there is a liner made of textile cord to resist internal overpressure.
The tire bead is protected by a carcass made of special strips, which, in turn, are made of rubber.
Smooth shock absorption, as well as stability of handling is ensured by means of a fender tape, which is soldered into the edge of the tire, closer to the wheel.
However, all this is only General characteristics common to all winter tires. We need to understand their main types in order to understand what our car will be wearing this winter.
Studded winter tires
This type of tire is designed for driving on an icy road. If you try to conquer the asphalt on thorns, know that your attempt in absentia is doomed to complete failure. On tarmac road surfaces, the grip of the studded tires is poor.
Studded tires designed for icy roads
Studded tires have an extremely negative effect on the road surface, increasing the degree of wear in just one winter by 5-8 times. Despite this, about 70% of Russian car owners prefer this type of tire.
On such a surface, you can only ride on studded tires.
For those who have decided to purchase "spikes", it will be useful to know that such tires must be run in before serious loads, which will allow the spikes to grind and fix them in the tread. For the first 500 or 1 thousand kilometers, try not to develop a speed of more than 80 km / h and exclude emergency braking from the "diet" of your car.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Studded Tires
| pros | Minuses |
|---|---|
|
Spikes work great on snowy and icy roads |
Wet road crosses out everything positive traits studded rubber. On wet and dry asphalt, the studs significantly lengthen the braking distance and reduce skid resistance. V loose snow, as well as on a swampy primer, studded tires "dig in" the car faster and can even put it "on the belly". |
|
The braking distance on ice for a studded tire is much shorter than that of a "smooth" tire. |
Ride comfort is reduced by the noise of the studded tires |
|
Spikes destroy the asphalt road surface (in some countries, for this reason, studded tires are illegal) |
|
|
Such tires, albeit slightly, but still increase fuel consumption. |
Non-studded winter tires
Rubber without studs is divided into European and Scandinavian grades. The first was designed to provide best grip with a wet or sleet-covered road. main feature such tires are a network of drainage channels on the tread and powerful lugs on it.
Non-studded winter tires do a great job with wet snow
The Scandinavian class of winter tires was developed for roads that winter hides under the snow. They are perfect for Russia. The sparse tread pattern, consisting of rectangles and rhombuses, provides ideal grip on icy or snowy roads.
Colored marks on tires
Each tire manufacturer applies labels to their products, which are designed to help guide the installation of tires. After installation, the label should be located next to the nipple. By the way, this is a great way to check the qualifications of the tire service workers you are servicing. Every professional should know the nuance about color marks.
Tire-ABS connection: a problem that doesn't exist
The bulk modern cars equipped with anti-lock braking system, which is often referred to as an "electronic collar". That is why it is not surprising that many foreign tire manufacturers focus their products on cars with electronic systems. For example, if vehicle equipped with a stability control system, then when cornering best result will be achieved if the tire tread is cut by longitudinal sipes. The same situation is with the ABS. If the tire slip rate is less than 10%, slotted tires will have a significantly higher pavement rate than “grooved” tires, which can be called classic. In the event that there is no anti-lock braking system, then the situation is exactly the opposite - it is the transverse sipes that work best when locking the wheels.
Thus, the designers of modern tires are wondering how to find a compromise between the properties of tires with or without electronic systems... The trend of the last decade is such that preference is most often given to qualities that are manifested only if there is an ABS and a system of exchange rate stability.
And what about those who drive a car without an ABS? Do you constantly use intermittent braking? It is unlikely effective solution because tires designed for cars equipped with ABS will not brake better. The thing is that it is simply impossible for a person to ensure the constancy of the slippage ratio within 10-15 percent. It would be like if a person were able to provide the brake pedal frequency that the anti-lock braking system is capable of - up to 15 brake strokes per second. Therefore, there is only one way out - to choose "shoes" for your car, which would be ideal for a car without electronic systems.
At first glance, all this may seem insignificant and petty, but the difference in stopping distance between tires that are designed for cars with ABS and tires that are capable of showing good results with a high coefficient of slippage can be up to 10 or even 15 percent. If we translate these numbers into more familiar values for us, it turns out that when braking to the floor at a speed of 50 km / h in the presence of ABS, the difference can be almost 10 meters. Do you still think these are small things?
We will try to sort out some of the tire models that are very popular among drivers. And we will do it according to an unobvious sign - according to braking distance that a car passes without an anti-lock braking system.
Best winter tires 2011 - 2012
| Drawing | Brand |
|---|---|
 |
Tires come first Michelin x-ice north, the soft composition of the rubber compound of which and the presence of a large number of transverse sipes make braking as effective as possible. Even when the wheels are completely blocked, these tires provide an acceptable stopping distance. |
 |
Second place was given to tires Goodyear ultra grip, which demonstrate good braking qualities both with complete blocking of the wheels, and on the verge of blocking. Among other things, the goodyear winter tires feature is that the driver can quite easily sense the moment when the wheels begin to lock and apply intermittent braking. These tires are the best option for those drivers who are proficient in intermittent braking on vehicles without ABS. |
 |
Third place went to domestic tires Amtel Nordmaster... Apparently, the designers of these tires took into account the fact that the bulk of cars in Russia are not equipped with an anti-lock braking system. That is why these tires allow you to feel well the moment when the wheels are locked. |
 |
Tires are in fourth place Nokian Hakkapeliitta, which slow down well by "skidding", but the moment when the blocking starts is felt on them, frankly speaking, it does not matter. This greatly complicates the application of the intermittent braking method. However, in a car equipped with ABS, these tires behave just fine. |
 |
TOP-5 is closed by tires Continental ContiWinterViking, which are ideally geared towards "electronic assistants". |
Specific brands of tires were not specifically indicated, because the problem of the behavior of this or that rubber on cars without ABS can be called more ideological than technological. That is why all manufacturers choose their own strategy: Continental is focusing on cars with "electronic assistants", Michelin prefers balance of performance, Nokian is betting on ... unpredictability.
Ways to save on winter tires
Illiterate economy
Use of summer rubber in winter.
Here and to speak, by and large, there is nothing. Driving in icy conditions on summer tires is an unjustified and fatal risk.
Use of used winter tires.
50% worn out winter tires, despite the fact that they look like new ones, do not have the qualities that are characteristic quality tires for driving in winter. Considering that you will be able to use such a "used" no longer than one season, then the savings in this case is a phantom that gave rise to your desire to save.
The service life of winter tires, as a rule, is no more than 2-4 seasons. It all depends on the thousands of kilometers that the odometer of your car had to measure.
Use of "all-season".
Immediately it is worth telling blindly believers that there is no all-season rubber in nature. You should also realize the fact that there is only summer and winter tires, and "all-season" is just a way of compromise. In the West, this compromise is quite justified, because the mild winter of Europe is far from the harsh climate of Russia, in which the annual temperature range is something around 60 degrees. Are you going to walk in the snow with flippers if there are skis in the corner?
Choose tires with the same tread to avoid skidding
Using an incomplete set.
If you don't have enough money for four tires, and winter is already breathing down your neck, then buy ... four tires. In this case, the difference between two and four winter tires could cost you your life. And this is without exaggeration or unnecessary intimidation.
Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses states that a car owner may be fined if studded and non-studded tires are installed on the car at the same time or if there are different tires on the same axle of the car.
Competent economy
You can save on the purchase of tires by playing with the sizes. Nobody tells you to radically deviate from the recommendations given by the car manufacturer regarding the tires used. But you also shouldn't take everything literally. The cost of tires depends on parameters such as rim diameter and profile.
In addition, pay attention to the tire speed index - the higher its value, the more "green American presidents" will move from your wallet to the seller's pocket. If you never drive faster than 150 km / h, there is no point in buying tires with a speed rating higher than P.
Indexes maximum speed tire
| index | max speed km / h |
|---|---|
| F | 80 |
| G | 90 |
| J | 100 |
| K | 110 |
| L | 120 |
| M | 130 |
| N | 140 |
| P | 150 |
| Q | 160 |
| R | 170 |
| S | 180 |
| T | 190 |
| H | 210 |
| V | 240 |
| W | 270 |
| Y | 300 |
How to choose the right winter tires
Manufacturer.
If you keep quality in mind, then immediately give up domestic tires, the quality of which, to put it mildly, is unstable. You should pay attention to the products of such famous brands as Nokian, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Gislaved or Michelin. If budget is important to you, then be prepared for the fact that such tires will have a rapid degree of wear. Domestic tires cost in the range of 2-2.5 thousand rubles, while a product of overseas production will cost about 3.5-4.5 thousand rubles per wheel.
Tread pattern.
The choice of this parameter depends entirely on the conditions in which the car is operated. If you are fortunate enough to drive on a good road in winter that is regularly cleaned, opt for small checkers. But in the event that you constantly have to conquer the Chomolungma of snowdrifts, choose a more aggressive pattern.
Model age.
The new models are definitely more expensive than the old ones, but at the same time it is not necessary to abandon what was relevant a year ago. The only downside to older models is that it can be difficult for you to find one tire to replace a failed tire when needed.
Planned mileage.
In the event that you know for sure that the car's mileage for the season will be impressive, do not skimp on good tires, because the cheap ones will wear out quickly enough, and your savings will play into the box before you realize it.
The best manufacturers and brands of winter tires
Many publications conduct independent tests of winter tires, and if you compile the results, you get a good guide to choosing tires.
| Drawing | Brand | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 |
Nokian(minimum price 2.5 thousand rubles): excellent braking performance on an icy road, as well as unrivaled vehicle control in any conditions. |
| 2 |
 |
Michelin(minimum price 3.2 thousand rubles.): products of the highest quality, the company built a plant in the territory of the Russian Federation, which made it possible to significantly reduce prices. |
| 3 |
|
Gislaved(minimum price 2.8 thousand rubles): winter tires of the series “ nord frost»From this Swedish manufacturer. |
| 4 |
 |
Pirelli(minimum price 2.55 thousand rubles): a huge selection of standard sizes, low noise and high speed characteristics. |
| 5 |
 |
Goodyear(minimum price 2.65 thousand rubles): variety technical characteristics and a wide range allowing you to choose tires for any car. |
| 6 |
 |
Dunlop(minimum price 2.65 thousand rubles): the British company Dunlop is the world's oldest manufacturer of tires. |
| 7 |
 |
Vredestein(the minimum price is 1.5 thousand rubles): the most reliable adhesion to the roadway and comfort while driving. |
| 8 | Cordiant(minimum price 2.1 thousand rubles): excellent tires, designed specifically for use on Russian roads. | |
| 9 |
 |
Bridgestone(minimum price 2.8 thousand rubles): strong side cords make it possible to use tires on poor-quality road surfaces, and modern technologies are a guarantee of confident control over the car. |
| 10 |
 |
Hankook(minimum price 1.4 thousand rubles): tires from Korean manufacturer provide fairly high quality at a relatively low price. |
| 11 | Kama(minimum price 1.5 thousand rubles): maximally adapted to the harsh conditions of the Russian winter and domestic roads. |
- Nokian
- Bridgestone
- Michelin
- Continental
- Goodyear
- Vredestein
In the next article on winter tires, we will provide an overview best models tires this season. Don't switch!
