Due to the low temperature in many regions of our country, winter tires are a must. The main feature of winter tires is softness and the ability to tenaciously hold on to the snowy road surface. Good rubber provides reliable grip on frozen surfaces, allows you to maintain maneuverability and smoothness in any frost, ensures safety and control accuracy. November 15 is the date for changing summer tires to winter tires. It is before this date that it is advisable to replace the car's summer tires with winter ones in order to subsequently avoid possible problems with car handling and reduce the risk of an accident.
Every year, at the height of the hot summer, experts study car tires from a variety of manufacturers, making up ranking of the best winter tires. We bring to your attention the rating of the best winter studded tires 2014-2015. The rating is based on an analysis of winter tire tests conducted by the editors of Za Rulem, Auto Bild, Avtorevyu and ADAC for 2014.
Rating of the best winter tires in 2014-2015 based on the analysis of winter tire tests
Below we briefly describe test results for studded tires 205-55-R16
10th place - .
Winter studded tires Yokohama Ice Guard IG35 with directional tread pattern. Tires provide safety in the most dangerous conditions on icy and snowy roads. Tires show very good performance on ice and snow, Lugs around the bore help secure cleat retention, consistent lateral grooves improve lateral stability, prevent shifting and slipping. Significantly improved removal of snow, slush and water from the contact patch due to the design. The new Ice Guard compound prevents deformation not only in the tread part, but also in the stud bore.
9th place - .
provide the highest performance in the most severe winter conditions. In the production of the tire, a new “DUAL STUD” tire studding technology was used, which increases resistance, reduces mobility, optimizes load distribution, improves the penetration of the stud on icy roads, reduces core wear, and allows you to maintain stable performance on ice.
8th place - .
These are tires for harsh winters that provide excellent handling on a difficult winter road: on ice, slush and packed snow. The tire is made using the same technology as the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic.
7th place -
Bridgestone's new studded tires incorporate all of the advanced technologies developed through extensive research and testing, featuring many innovations, including the new "Cross-Edge Pin". The main advantages of Blizzak Spike-01 tires: excellent grip on ice, maximum performance on snow, reliable retention of spikes, durability.
6th place -
A durable and stable winter tire for all road conditions, providing good traction on ice, safety in slush and stable handling
5th place -
Manufacturers guarantee high grip and short braking distances. Tires can withstand heavy loads without problems. The zigzag grooves quickly absorb and compact the snow while maintaining tire grip. In the slush, they perfectly remove dirt and water.
4th place - .
Features: balanced grip characteristics, excellent driving stability, good traction on snow. The directional stud optimizes road contact for maximum traction.
3rd place -
25% improvement in stud retention and 10% reduction in braking distance on ice in percentage terms compared to the previous generation. This significantly increases the level of safety, and driving on winter roads becomes less stressful. A special role in this is played by the innovative Smart Stud System.
2nd place - . Excellent grip and handling on ice
MultiControl Ice technology-based design that increases the contact patch of the stud with the road surface, which provides high-performance traction and control of the car when driving on ice. Benefits: Shorter braking distance on ice, better handling on snow, good performance on wet roads.
The UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires are highly efficient on wet and melting snow or ice roads. Hydrodynamic grooves on the tread quickly remove water from the tire surface, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. Special silicon polymer improves grip and braking on wet roads.
1st place -
The unique pattern of the new V-shaped tread provides superior performance. The optimized stud pattern contributes to confident traction in the toughest winter conditions. The new Eco Stud 8 Concept aims to improve safety and handling in extreme situations. The layout of each stud has been optimized using computer simulations to ensure maximum traction in all situations. Cap & Base's two-ply tread design ensures effective stud retention through a tougher tread compound. The unique composition of the Cryo-silane Gen 2 outer rubber compound with silica, rapeseed oil and natural rubber provides the tread with excellent elasticity, strength, wear resistance and environmental friendliness. The new rubber compound and tread pattern ensured the Hakkapeliitta 8 low rolling resistance. The toothed pattern of the brake boosters located at the rear of the tread blocks contributes to effective braking on snow.
Among the winter tires described above, there are proposals from previous years, but many experts believe, and we agree with them, that these tires should be in ranking of the best winter tires 2014-2015. It is obvious that the tires listed above are high-end brands that use the latest innovations and the best technology to make these tires excel in all tests. The only, but very significant drawback of such car tires is their price, which is not affordable for everyone.
We took tires from different price groups - from 2470 to 5150 rubles apiece. The latest model - Toyo Observe GSi‑6, rolled out on the market this season. There are two new items from last year: German Continental Viking Contact 7 and Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3. Updated last year of Russian production.
To be fair
We placed the tires in their places according to the points scored. And now let's see how economically profitable it is to buy certain tires. To do this, we compare the average price of each model with the so-called fair price - corresponding to the level of its consumer properties, that is, the number of points earned.
The best offer was Hankook Winter i*cept iZ² with a price 23% below the fair price. A little less (17%) will save Viatti. When buying Nordman RS2, Pirelli Ice Zero FR, Toyo Observe GSi‑6 or Triangle SnowLink PL01 tires, the benefit will be from 9 to 5%.
For the rest of the test participants will have to overpay. The minimum overpayment - 3% - awaits when buying Gislaved Soft * Frost 200 tires. The cost of Roadstone WinGuard ice, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 and Sailun Ice Blazer WSL2 tires is 7-9% higher than fair. The rating is closed by two distinguished test participants - the winner ... and the loser. For the outsider Cachland CH-W2002, you will have to overpay 11%. He was not so cheap, how weak. But Continental VikingContact 7, the most expensive participant, is overpriced by 15%. If you want a quality and balanced product, be prepared to fork out.
Studded winter tires are very popular in Russia due to the peculiarities of the climate and roads. The 2014-2015 season provided many new products, but not everyone managed to pass the tests! The tires that were tested showed the following rating results:
12) Above the Chinese are Nokian Nordman 4 tires made in Russia. Showing good results in snow tests and the best rolling resistance among all the nominees, these tires failed almost all other tests and received a modest final 7.1 points.
11) Here are the Chinese Jinyu YW53, who were able to collect 7.1 points and climbed higher in the ranking due to better behavior on the ice.
10) This position went to tires Vredestein Arctrac, originally from the Netherlands. These tires feel good on ice and snow, but “lay down” on wet pavement, and there are some problems with directional stability. The result is 7.5 points.
9) Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01 studded tires staked out here, scoring 7.7 points due to excellent behavior on ice and snow.
8) who received 7.9 points. Having shown a decent result in all tests, this rubber only failed in the rolling resistance tests.
7) Here, in the winter 2014-2015 winter studded tire rating, there were Polish tires Dunlop Ice Touch, acceleration and braking behavior, which on snow and ice are almost identical to the leaders of this season, except for handling and rolling resistance. The result is 8.0 points.
6) South Korean tires Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419 scored 8.1 points. With 170 spikes, these tires showed very average braking on ice and one of the worst on dry pavement.
5) German studded tires Gislaved Nord Frost 100 with a total of 8.3 points. In all tests, this rubber was behind the leaders, losing seriously only in braking on dry pavement.
4) Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires made in Poland. Their final result is 8.4 points, received for excellent balance in all road conditions, but on ice and snow the leaders still behave more confidently.
2-3) The ranking places were shared by German-made tires - Pirelli Ice Zero and Continental ContiIceContact, which scored 8.6 points each. They showed almost the same performance in all tests, both models were only slightly behind the leader (however, we note that the Continental ContiIceContact has problems with directional stability, and the Pirelli Ice Zero turned out to be the noisiest of all the tested samples).
1) So the winner of the best winter studded tires this season has become, who managed to score 8.8 points. Although there is something to complain about here! There are some problems with braking on wet pavement and noise in the car.
Every year, at the height of the hot summer, experts study car tires from a variety of manufacturers, making up winter tire rating.
Good rubber provides reliable grip on frozen surfaces, allows you to maintain maneuverability and smoothness in any frost, ensures safety and control accuracy. It is in today's top ten that the popular tires that meet the highest requirements are presented.
The list is based on an analysis of winter tire tests conducted by the editors of “”, “”, “” and “” over the past year.
Japanese tires are equipped with 3G sipes that improve handling on icy and snowy roads. For better removal of slush and snow, the surface of the tires is covered with semi-radial grooves. The special composition of the rubber compound prevents the studs from falling out and prevents tire deformation.
The top tire from the Italian brand showcases new studding technology. The stud's multi-directional design helps reduce stud movement, while the wide base optimizes load distribution.
The tread of these tires is characterized by a multidirectional pattern and the presence of diverting grooves. At first glance, the studs on the tires are arranged randomly, in fact, this arrangement provides maximum contact with the road.
This series has replaced the Ice Cruiser. The novelty is equipped with new cruciform studs that provide maximum grip on icy roads. Rubber test showed a reduction in the length of the braking distance by 9% compared to the previous series.
The tires feature a wide tread and a unique reinforced steel breaker, which together provide stable behavior on any road. The tires provide low noise levels as well as an unrivaled ride thanks to the elastic cushion located under each stud.
Tires are characterized by low weight, as well as optimized stud head geometry. The tread pattern is divided into blocks, the edges of each of which have multidirectional angles. This pattern provides grip and control precision.
In the production of tires, the "bear claw" technology, which has proven itself in the Hakkapeliitta series, has been applied. In the central zone, the tread pattern has integrated checkers that make steering transfer more accurate.
Michelin winter tires are annually included in the tire rating in the leading positions. X-ICE North XIN3 is a new development of the concern, which allowed to reduce the braking distance by 10% and improve the fixation of the spikes by a quarter.
The tires use an innovative stud shape and special arrangement to increase the contact patch and improve traction. For better handling on snowy roads, a new tread pattern has been specially developed.
In the tests of the publication "Behind the wheel" scored 949 points out of a thousand possible, taking the first line in the ranking.
The tire tread features an increased number of blocks for wider stud spacing and better grip.
Studless tires are becoming more and more popular. Firstly, winter in large cities is losing its grip and the number of days when the ice is frighteningly shining on the road is getting smaller. Secondly, all-wheel drive crossovers are increasingly appearing in the garages of Russians, and, according to our fellow citizens, the presence of a second pair of driving wheels should compensate for the lack of a “studded” hook.
And thirdly, the prejudice about the inefficiency of friction (that is, non-studded) tires is gradually fading away. Tire manufacturers have convinced many of us that in order to keep the road, rubber no longer needs to have "nails" (except for Siberia) and modern technologies have stepped so far that residents of large cities will have enough non-studded wheels for the winter.
Michelin Alpin 5
The Michelinists present a novelty, but they warn: the new Alpin 5 friction tires are intended for those countries of Europe and the CIS where the roads are usually "black" in winter, that is, they are not swept up by snow and ice. The new tire focuses on the company's two latest developments. One of them is in the directional tread pattern, the blocks of which are designed in such a way as to maintain grip on a wide range of winter surfaces. The new tread received 12% more segments, and the number of sipes increased by 16%. In addition, Michelin engineers claim that they have endowed the protector with a "self-locking" function.
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The second new part in the fifth generation of Alpin is a rubber compound, to which was added ... sunflower oil. The mixture is created using the modified Helio Compound technology, which involves the use of sunflower oil for better performance at low temperatures. In addition, for the first time, functional elastomers (polymers with highly elastic properties) were included in the mixture to improve grip on wet surfaces and maintain high energy efficiency.
Execution options:
27 sizes from 195/65R15 to 225/55R17.
Price: 3,440 - 12,185 rubles.
Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
New friction tires of the Japanese brand were presented for the first time in the framework of MIAS-2014. The tire manufacturers hinted that, despite the lack of studs, the new tires are specially designed for the conditions of the Russian winter. At the same time, the tires are focused on the use of medium and large size crossovers.
The main emphasis in the new tires is on the fight against drifts and slips. To combat the thin water film on icy roads, tire manufacturers have applied the innovative Multi-Cell Compound technology, which has created a new rubber compound. Thanks to its microscopic pores, water from the contact patch is more effectively absorbed, improving grip on snowy and wet surfaces. In addition, the longitudinal micro-grooves in the compound effectively combat hydroplaning, working reliably for more than one season of use.
The tires also have a new directional tread pattern and 3D sipes, and the use of a new form of shoulder blocks allows you to effectively engage the snow, achieving tighter contact with the road while maintaining reliable braking properties.
Execution options:
36 sizes from R15 to R20.
Price: 3,500 - 10,570 rubles.
Continental ContiVikingContact6
According to reports and tests from leading specialist publications, the previous generation ContiVikingContact5 occupied the top lines in most of the comparative tests. The challenge for the new tires is to surpass the high performance of their predecessor tires.
The asymmetric "six" tread consists of three parts and is made of a soft rubber compound.
The middle part of the tread contact patch has a characteristic pattern and a special arrangement of sipes that provide grip on icy roads. To maintain control on snow, the inside of the contact patch was equipped with large curved blocks; they are separated by narrow longitudinal channels that provide additional grip.
In addition, the new ContiVikingContact5 tires feature multiple stepped sipes with internal webs. The latter counteract the sticking of the lamellas under load, due to which they do not stop collecting snow.
Execution options:
more than 80 standard sizes from R15 to R20.
Price: 2450 - 12,090 rubles.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2
To create the new Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 non-studded tire, tire manufacturers spent about three years, considered half a dozen design options and conducted about 200 tests. The main emphasis was placed on operation in Russia and Scandinavian countries, where there are often severe frosts and high humidity.
Friction tires UltraGrip Ice 2 were created using a cryo-adaptive rubber compound that does not lose elasticity even in Epiphany frosts, while maintaining grip on ice, snow and dry pavement. The new rubber compound works in tandem with Active Grip technology, which provides contact with very slippery surfaces. Perpendicularly spaced lamellas help drive and stop in time on snow and ice, which Goodyear compares to snowcat caterpillars due to the fact that they similarly cling to the slippery surface of the road surface.
Execution options:
29 sizes from R13 to R18.
Price: 2,714 - 10,249 rubles.
Starfire W200
Behind the Starfire brand, unknown to most Russians, is a subsidiary brand of Cooper Tires. Their novelty for this winter is the new W200 non-studded tires designed for compact passenger cars. They are produced at the Serbian plant Cooper.
The company assures us that the studless Starfire winter novelty performs well in snow, mud and wet pavement, which is the result of the use of modern technologies and numerous sipes.
The Starfire W200 studless winter tire features Tapered Alternating Groove Technology - the grooves in the shoulder areas are combined with V-shaped channels, which improves braking performance. The tire contains a high content of silica, which helps the tires to hold the road on snow and wet roads, besides, even at low temperatures, the tire remains elastic.
Execution options:
R13-R16.
Price: 2040 - 6300 rubles.
Vredestein Snowtrac 5
Vredestein tires are not so popular in Russia, although the products of this Dutch company (part of the Indian concern Apollo Tires) also have their own advantages. Few people know that most of the Vredestein tires are created not only with the help of professional engineers, but also with the help of the famous Giugiaro design bureau, and the Dutch began to produce tires more than a century ago.
For the 2014-2015 season, Vredestein have prepared a snowtrac 5 non-studded winter tire, which is designed for driving on wet, snowy and icy roads.
One of the highlights of the Vredestein Snowtrac 5 is a design called Stealth Design. Developed by the military to reduce noise from the wheels of vehicles, it came in handy in order to add comfort and silence to passenger cars. Vredestein tires use a V-shaped tread pattern that reduces vibration and noise for a slightly more comfortable ride.
The aggressive tread pattern of the Snowtrac 5 consists of sharply defined lines and a special center section geometry. A continuous rib in the center of the tread increases stability and sharpens steering response, while lateral grooves in the shoulder areas provide additional stability. Thanks to a network of long non-parallel sipes of various sizes and shapes, the tires effectively cope with the water film, at the same time helping the wheels to row and brake reliably on snow and ice.
Execution options:
17 sizes from R14 to R17.
Price: no data, will be on sale soon.
Nexen Winguard Snow'G WH2
Another unfamiliar name that evokes associations with Southeast Asia. But don't jump to conclusions, Nexen is a fairly large Korean brand among tire manufacturers, founded in 1942 and steadily gaining popularity in Europe (growing army of Korean car owners take note).
Nexen Tires' new non-studded product is the Winguard Snow'G WH2 tire. The tires have a directional tread pattern and, according to the manufacturer, cope well with winter conditions. The tires received a new 3D sipe design and an optimized number of grooves and tread blocks. The zigzag grooves work to increase tire grip on snow and ice, while the shoulder sections are designed to make the blocks even stiffer for stability on dry pavement. Water and snow from under the wheels are successfully diverted by longitudinal grooves and a V-shaped tread design.
Execution options:
35 sizes from R14 to R17.
Price: 1,955 - 5,750 rubles.
Matador MP 54 Sibir Snow
For a snack - replenishment in the assortment of tires of the Slovak brand Matador. This is another long-lived brand: Matador was founded in Czechoslovakia at the very beginning of the 20th century, and now has half a dozen joint ventures, including a joint venture with Continental.
The new non-studded tires MP 54 Sibir Snow are suitable for use on compact and medium segment cars. They feature a directional tread pattern, multiple grip edges, zigzag grooves and a "winter" pictogram on the sidewall to indicate that the tires have passed ASTM F-1805 winter testing.
Tires have a "winter" tread wear indicator with a depth of 4 mm, which is located in several places of the tread groove. The indicator has disappeared - it's time to change tires. However, tires should not wear out too early - this is prevented by narrow and flat central grooves along the entire tread.
Execution options:
24 sizes from R13 to R15.
Price: 1,620 - 2,980 rubles.
