Chinese winter tires - we taste the rubber from the Middle Kingdom. Chinese winter tires - we taste rubber from China The best Chinese summer tires

The choice of car tires for each car owner is always an important and responsible task, because the car's handling, the safety of the car and the crew, the durability of tires and much more depend on it. With a variety of different manufacturers from different countries in the tire market, it can be difficult to make a choice. The topic of this article will be Chinese tires, which have recently been gaining more and more popularity among drivers.

Chinese goods have a dubious reputation, as many have already faced their poor quality and impracticality more than once or twice. But recently the situation has begun to change dramatically, and another opinion is formed. This also applies to the production of automotive rubber. There are also situations when Chinese tires are produced according to the method of copying popular models from well-known brands, but this only applies to external data, while performance characteristics simply do not match the originals. In this case, we are talking about replicas and fakes of world brands. But there is a second side - original tires from Chinese brands.

These tires have long been popular not only in their Asian region, but throughout the world. A number of manufacturers from China are included in the top lists of the world's leading manufacturers of automotive rubber, well-known automakers cooperate with them, tires are made for the roads of Northern Europe and for the conditions of the harsh Russian winter.

Chinese-made tires from official manufacturers comply with international quality standards to the maximum. Thanks to this, many Chinese brands have been able to firmly establish themselves in the global market and become strong competitors for large and well-known manufacturers of automotive rubber.

Note!

For the production of tires, Chinese companies use the most modern equipment, have their own laboratories, and use only high-quality raw materials.

For example, Triangl, a manufacturer of car tires, manufactures its products on Dutch equipment, adds natural rubber to the rubber composition, experiments with the addition of silica and silicic acid, with installation and material, the shape of the studs, conducts tests and research, while having its own laboratory. This indicates the most responsible approach of the manufacturer to its product. Thanks to such brands, the phrase “Chinese tire” ceases to be synonymous with fake, replica and unreliability.

tire factory in china

The best tires made in China for passenger cars

According to the reviews of car owners and auto experts, the most popular tire manufacturers from China include the following:

• Fusion;
• Infinity;
• triangle;
• goodride;
• Maxxis;
• long;
• Sunny.

On a note!

Each of them has a number of the most successful models of tires. Some of these manufacturers specialize in the production of tires for SUVs and crossovers, others produce good studs, and some make good Velcro or summer tires. Giants such as Triangle or Maxis, for example, produce tires for all types of transport in all possible sizes.

Brand Names of Chinese Tires

The most common and popular brands of Chinese passenger car tires from the above brands are:

• From Fuzion: Fuzion HRi, UHP, ZRi, VRI and Touring, Fuzion SUV, Fuzion XTi (the last two models are for SUVs with all-wheel drive).
• From Triangle: Triangle PL01, Triangle PS01, Triangle TR777 tire models. These models are one of the most popular Chinese tires.
• Maxxis offers successful tire models: MA-Z1 Victra, HP-M3 Bravo, MA-S2 Marauder II, Maxxis MA-PW Presa Snow4.
• The Sunny manufacturer offers the popular Sunny SN3970 model.

Which summer tires from Chinese manufacturers are better in quality

According to the reviews of motorists, a number of models of summer tires can be distinguished, which are distinguished by good quality. Among them, first of all, the popular Triangle TR918 summer tires, which differ from rubber in their price category with good directional stability. They are also significantly distinguished by rather low rolling resistance, thanks to the linear tread pattern.

Summer tires 16 China

A well-planned and thoughtful groove system helps these tires quickly remove water from the contact patch with the road surface. These tires have reinforced sidewalls so they can absorb shock when driving on uneven surfaces. The average cost of a set of these tires is 11,000-12,000 rubles *.

Another representative of Triangle summer tires is the Triangle TR928 model. This model has an original variable pitch tread pattern. This greatly minimized tire noise and helped to achieve the maximum level of acoustic comfort. These tires have a high level of safety, confirmed by numerous factory and independent tests. The cost of a set of these tires is approximately 8500-12500 rubles and depends on the size of the rubber.

On a note!

Among Chinese-made summer tires, the Sunny SN3970 tire model is also in great demand. The tires of this model have a symmetrical directional tread pattern. They are designed primarily for high-speed driving or long trips with increased loads. Tires of this model have proven themselves very well both on dry pavement and on wet roads.

Rating of Chinese wheels for cars

According to the reviews and opinions of car owners using the products of Chinese tire manufacturers, brands from the Celestial Empire add up to a certain rating, while each position acts in its own nomination:

• Maxxis - are considered the most popular tires from China. Most requested models: Maxxis Bravo HP-M3, Maxxis Arctictrekker NS3, Maxxis Victra M-36. They are distinguished by high comfort, wear resistance, good handling and an extremely affordable price.
• Sailun are different best value for money. An excellent example of high wear resistance is the Sailun Terramax CVR tire.
• Triangle are considered the most e economical when using natural raw materials. A striking example is the Triangle Group Sportex TSH11 / Sports model - the price of tires pleasantly surprises car owners and at the same time there is high directional stability, low noise and no difference as such compared to many leading brands.
• Goodride differ l the best controllability and the highest wear resistance. The Goodride SV308, as an example, is superbly balanced and steerable, has stiff sidewalls, is reasonably comfortable and has excellent wear resistance. Available in a wide range of sizes from R15 to R20 with excellent load characteristics and speed ratings up to W, these tires can be used on both passenger cars and crossovers as well as commercial vehicles.
• The Sunny shares a handling position with the previous ones and is reliable. An example is the SUNNY SN3970 - quite quiet and well controlled, available in sizes from 16 to 20 inch diameters.
• Kinorest reckon with quietest tyres. An example is the Kforest KF-717 tires designed for crossovers and SUVs.
• Antares are the most practical. An example is the Antares INGENS A1 model. They are available in a range of sizes from R13 to the premium R20. The tires have a premium tire speed index of Y, like the more expensive models. According to the owners, these tires are of high quality and practical.

Winter tires Triangle TR777

Note!

According to Internet polls, which of the brands of Chinese tires is the best, the leadership is alternately held by the brands Maxxis and Triangle.

Which brand should you trust

Most car owners, when talking about choosing a brand of Chinese tires, first of all name brands from the list of the previous paragraph. These are tires that have been proven over the years and are of high quality. Brands that have their own developments, laboratories, staff of engineers, by default, care about the competitiveness of their product.

Minibus with Triangle tires installed

All these brands are not inferior in quality to well-known European and Japanese manufacturers, but significantly outperform them in price. One of the most inexpensive Chinese tires that domestic owners trust is Ovation Tires.

The leader in trust and popularity among tires from China is the Triangle brand. His product wins in terms of price, quality and popularity. And the level of trust can be reinforced by the fact that the company is in the TOP-10 world manufacturers of automotive rubber, is the undisputed leader of China in its industry and has contracts all over the world.

Truck with Chinese Triangle tires

To purchase original tires, it is important to pay attention to the following points:

• The brand logo, the marking on the tire, the correctly spelled brand name - often replica manufacturers deliberately change the logo design, the spelling of the brand, model, brand, since in China there are quite severe criminal penalties for counterfeiting.
• Packaging must be of high quality, often replicas and fakes are given out by the lack of packaging or its poor quality.
• The original winter friction tires in the cold should not be hard, “tan”, in the original studded rubber, the spikes are firmly fixed in the surface of the tire and should not stagger.
• Original products should be purchased from authorized dealers. A store that is not one and sells tires at the price declared by the manufacturer should inspire distrust.
• The price cannot be much lower than the average market price for a particular model.

Attention!

When buying, you should roughly understand how much this model costs in a certain size from official dealers. If the cost differs downwards, there is a risk of buying a fake. Replicas often sell for less.

Buying a copy will be a waste of money, since it has nothing to do with the characteristics of the original, except for the appearance.

Ovation W-586

In practice, car tires from large Chinese manufacturers turn out to be serious competitors to European, Japanese and domestic car tire manufacturers. They are distinguished by high quality, durability and price, as close as possible to the budget. Facts show that Chinese car tires are confidently becoming the new leaders in their market.

*Prices are current as of February 2019.

Tire manufacturers from China are very actively conquering sales markets around the world. Ours was no exception. If a few years ago, Chinese tires were synonymous with low quality, and in tests they occupied only the last lines, then, in our days, the situation has changed dramatically. According to the reviews of the owners of Chinese tires and the results of numerous tests, you can find very worthy models, the quality of which is at the level of European, Japanese or Korean, and the price is much lower.

We decided to present a small review of Chinese summer tires, which, in our opinion, are a worthy alternative to domestic or foreign tires. Given the huge range of Chinese tires, we tried to choose those that have decent performance and reasonable price.

Let's start our review with a company whose products are known all over the world - Triangle Tire. Especially tires of this brand are popular in the North American market. Having a low cost and good quality, the company is actively replacing not only American manufacturers, but also such giants as: Michelin, Yokohama, Continental, Pirelli.

The Triangle TH201 Sportex is positioned as a performance tire. A large selection of sizes is offered, therefore, it can be bought by both the owner of a small compact car and an SUV.

The tire tread is asymmetric with wide longitudinal grooves for water drainage and a developed system of transverse drainage. The central part consists of three large wide stiffening ribs. The extreme rib is separated from the outer side of the tread by a narrow drainage groove and crossing drainage channels. The water drainage system itself is well thought out, although due to the fact that the grooves in the shoulder areas of the tread are closed and not connected to the main ones, it cannot be said that the TH201 will cope well with aquaplaning. According to many owners, the behavior of rubber on wet roads and in the rain is predictable, but, nevertheless, it will not be superfluous to observe a safe speed limit. On the dry road, the Triangle TH201 looks more confident and is in no way inferior to expensive, premium brands.

The quality of the rubber compound meets all modern challenges. In addition to excellent grip on dry pavement, the Triangle TH201 is very quiet and wear resistant. Despite the small value of treadwear at 280 units (in the amount of 205/55/16), the figure is more than real, which is especially surprising when it comes to Chinese products, where it is customary to overestimate the real figures. According to the reviews of rubber owners, the mileage of 50 thousand is the minimum that the tire can run back, and with a calm driving style, you can count on all 70.

The tire is quite comfortable in motion, but it cannot be called soft. The sides are hard, but not oak, as is often the case on domestic rubber. The tire enters the corners confidently, does not heel, and is firmly held in a given trajectory.

Importantly, the Triangle TH201 model is certified according to European and American standards, therefore, it is sold in the markets of Europe and the USA. In size 205/55/16, according to the Euromark, it has indices "C" for wet grip and "C" for economy. Noise does not exceed 70 dB. Pretty good performance for a tire from the budget price segment.

It should be noted that the Chinese, in the course of working on the Triangle TH201 model, applied their favorite copying principle. Yes, the Michelin Pilot Sport 2 model was most likely taken as the initial sample. Comparing photos of the two models on the Internet, the similarity can be seen with the naked eye. But, for the sake of justice, it is worth saying that the copy turned out with decent characteristics, not much inferior to the original, the price of which is at least twice as high.

Sailun is one of the largest not only in China, but also in the world. In just ten years, this Chinese tire manufacturer has made a real breakthrough in the quality and quantity of its products. Today, Sailun Tires is one of the top 20 largest tire companies.

The Sailun Atrezzo Elite summer tire model is designed specifically for the European market. They are positioned as High Performance tires and can be used on medium-sized and compact cars.

Tires are asymmetrical in shape and number of circular drainage grooves reminiscent of premium Continental or Michelin tires. The three central ribs are rigid with reinforced checkers in the shoulder area. This arrangement makes the tire as stable and grippy on dry roads as possible. In improving the grip of the tire with wet roads, an additional element is the many narrow cuts on the central ribs and the transverse grooves on the outer and inner side. According to many owners, the rubber rolls equally well on dry and wet roads. According to the Euromark system in dimensions 205/55/16, the Sailun Atrezzo Elite model has a class "B" for wet grip. In terms of economy, "E", and the noise of 70 dB is a result at the level of good premium models.

The tire beads are soft, but not so much as to be afraid of our roads. The Michelin Energy Saver, Matador Hectorra 3 or Kormoran High Performance have a much softer sidewall to the touch, which does not make the tire more reliable.

Despite the positioning of the tire as High Performance, it is more suitable for lovers of a comfortable and quiet ride on the highway or city roads. The treadwear index is 380 units, the manufacturer probably overestimated it, although the tire runs 50 thousand km without problems. and more. It all depends on driving style.

The Sailun Atrezzo Elite was tested in 2019. magazine Autocentre and even though it took the last place among nine models, it should be given credit, because among the competitors there were tires that could not be classified as budget, which is worth it: Michelin Primacy 3, Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV, Nokian Hakka Blue 2 SUV.

Sailun, although inferior in all respects to the leaders, scored the same number of points with Toyo Proxes CF2 and Kumho Ecowing ES01 KH27 in such disciplines as: braking performance on dry pavement, handling.

The Sailun Atrezzo Elite have low rolling resistance and are second only to the Maxxis Premitra HP5 in testing the effect of tires on suspension life. This suggests that the Sailun Atrezzo Elite has a lighter weight and less sidewall rigidity than the test leaders, which is positive for the ride, but requires some caution when driving on bad roads.

If you are not an active driver with a need for high performance tires for aggressive driving, but are looking for a comfortable, reliable and safe tire for everyday use and at an affordable price, then the Sailun Atrezzo Elite is a good choice.

Under this brand, the Chinese Quingdao Sentury Tire produces high performance passenger tires. One of the most famous in the domestic and foreign markets is the Landsail LS588 model.

High performance tires with excellent grip on wet and dry roads, as well as high levels of comfort, quietness and economy.

The successor of the model is Landsail LS988, which were discontinued in 2015. after the appearance of new items in the face of Landsail LS588. The high technical performance of the model was evaluated by the experts of Test World magazine in 2015, for which the tire took 8th place, overtaking premium tires Michelin Primacy 3, Vredestein Sportrac 5, as well as such models of the medium segment as Barum Bravuris 3HM and Firestone TZ300a.

Experts noted good braking on dry roads and a high level of comfort. Due to the softness of the compound, the tire effectively swallows all the bumps in the road surface, and the noise level reaching the passenger compartment is minimal. At the same time, not the best grip on wet roads prevented the Landsail LS588 from climbing a level higher. For those who like to drive at high speed on a wet road, this is not the best option, but observing the speed limit will allow you to drive quite normally on this rubber even in the rain.

There is nothing unusual about the protector. Asymmetrical design with three wide center ribs. Four circumferential grooves are a hint of premium, and closed outer shoulder blocks paired with a high-quality compound make the tire almost silent (70 dB according to the European marking in the dimension 205/55/16). The central blocks of the tread cut through smooth and zigzag water-removing grooves for more efficient water drainage to the outside. The rating for all the same euromarking for hydroplaning resistance is “B”, and for fuel economy “C”, which is a great achievement for a Chinese, and even a budget tire. Landsail LS588 is a serious competitor for premium models.

The Celestial Empire has not only its own tires, but also its authoritative automotive publications. Motor Trend, a popular auto magazine, recognized the Landsail LS588 as the best tire in the Chinese market in terms of price and quality. Draw your own conclusions.

Tires under the Kinforest brand have long been known for their high quality, impeccable reliability and a set of excellent performance characteristics. The brand is owned by Kinorest Tire Co. LTD, which produces tires under the Mayrun and Kinforest brands. The main products are summer and winter tires of the High Performance class. A significant part of the production is exported to Asia, America and Europe. All products are certified according to the international quality system and pass the most stringent technical control.

The KF550 summer tire model is not so well known in our market, but European and American drivers have already appreciated all the strengths of this rubber.

Kinforest KF550 - rubber with improved driving performance. It has excellent grip on wet and dry roads, which is largely due to the use of a modern rubber compound. Wet & Dry Handling technology improves water evacuation from the contact patch and maximizes traction in wet conditions.

The central area of ​​the tread consists of three solid stiffening ribs cut by narrow slot-like grooves. The tread blocks of the shoulder area are open, which makes this tire effective when driving on wet roads and in the rain. Water without delay is removed through a developed drainage system to the outside.

The lateral part of the tire is moderately rigid, which is an additional element of strength and good directional stability. On the track, the tire does not float, it holds the given trajectory well. Rounded shoulder blocks give the rubber additional stability on wet roads when making maneuvers, and also have a positive effect on acoustic comfort.

As for rubber, the summer model AH03 PrecisionAce 2 belongs to the category of budget tires in terms of cost, and in terms of characteristics, it can compete with more famous models. Designed for all types of cars.

The composition of the rubber compound is designed taking into account the operation of tires on wet roads, therefore, the rubber adapts well to high humidity. AH03 PrecisionAce 2 shows effective braking, low rolling resistance, good stability on any road.

Asymmetrical tread pattern. The central part consists of three wide solid ribs separated by four annular grooves. Shoulder tread blocks are closed with rounded edges. Such a structure somewhat reduces the efficiency of water drainage from the central zone, but has a positive effect on noise. From the design features of rubber, small notches can be distinguished on the central blocks in the form of narrow curved and cone-shaped, expanding towards the central drainage systems. This form allows you to optimize the contact patch of the tire with a wet road, increase the resistance to hydroplaning.

How well the company's engineers coped with their task was shown by recent tests conducted by the reputable German publication ADAC. In the course of evaluating tire performance, 16 models were tested in the dimensions 195/65/15. The Aeolus AH03 PrecisionAce 2 summer tire model received a “satisfactory” rating and in many ways surprised the experts with good grip properties not only on dry roads (which is inherent even in cheap budget tires), but most importantly, on wet roads.

Were noted: good grip, braking and wet track times. Summed up the Aeolus AH03 PrecisionAce 2 tires, and did not give the opportunity to get a “good” rating, not the best wear resistance and fuel gluttony.

It is worth noting that the leadership of PrecisionAce 2 has given way to far from budget tires: Dunlop Sport BluResponse, Nokian Line, Michelin Energy Saver +, Vredestein Sportrac 5, Hankook Ventus Prime3 K125.

If we evaluate the data of the European tire marking, because the Aeolus AH03 PrecisionAce 2 is mainly focused on the European market, then, in the dimension 205/55/16, the tires received an “E” rating for fuel efficiency. Wet grip "B". The noise level does not exceed 71 dB.

Motorists are quite careful when buying winter tires. Indeed, the grip of the car with the road surface when driving on icy, snowy and wet sections of the road depends on its technical characteristics.

Everyone wants to buy high-quality, but inexpensive products. Pay attention to winter tires from China.

Thanks to such criteria of requests from the population, the demand for Chinese winter tires is gaining popularity. Products with the inscription "made in China" have a good reputation in the world market, and the quality is not inferior to European, American and Japanese products.

Several reasons why Chinese winter tires are becoming increasingly popular in the global market:

• relatively low cost in the ratio of tires of well-known brands;
• the quality of winter tires is not inferior to expensive copies;
• positive reviews online.

Video: Review by a real user

Helpful advice! When choosing winter tires of Chinese origin, you should remember that you have to pay for quality even when buying Chinese products (tires bought for 1,000 rubles are unlikely to last more than one season).

Maxxis is a great tire for fast driving

Winter studded tires of this brand are represented by only two copies. But this allowed him to take ninth place in the world rankings. The products of the Chinese company have proven themselves on the positive side and have gained many fans around the world.

Tires are resistant to the formation of blisters and defects when hitting an obstacle while driving.

Judging by the reviews on the Internet, winter tires "Maxis" will allow the car to get out of almost any skid and cling to the ice cover very well.

A significant disadvantage of Chinese studded tires "Maxxis" can be called a high noise level when driving on open asphalt and poor handling when accelerating the car. The quality of rubber and studs is quite acceptable, many car owners write about 100% preservation of studs after two seasons of everyday use in a big city.

Not studded winter tires of the Chinese brand "Maxxis" received a lot of positive feedback. She does not tend to form a hernia, which is so common on Russian roads. While driving on any type of road surface, the sound of tires is not higher than the average European manufacturers. Another positive feature is the excellent directional stability of the car in loose snow.

The main advantage of Maxis winter tires is the price-quality ratio. This is what attracts most of the buyers.

Hangzhou Zhongce - 17 million tires annually

Hangzhou Zhongce is the owner of the Goodride tire brand, ranked 11th in the ranking. The list of trademarks owned by her include "Chaoyang" and "Yartu", specializing in the production of similar products.

Models are distinguished by good grip on bare ice, great stability and controllability.

Every year, the company produces 17 million units of car tires recognized by world institutions and certified by the Economic Council of Europe and the US Department of Transportation. Winter tires produced by China's largest tire corporation are distinguished by low noise and good handling at reasonable speeds (up to 130 km / h).

In Russia, the SW series is most relevant. The tread of winter tires has shallow grooves that can drain water and snow slurry from the surface of the wheel, forming a clean contact area with the road surface.

Proof of the quality of Hangzhou Zhongce tires is the new world record for the longest drift. Wang Kee, the main pilot of the Chao Yang team, was inscribed in the Guinness Book of Records. His car was fitted with West Lake/Goodride tires purchased from a general retailer. Thus, the quality of the products of the Chinese plant "ZC Rubber" is confirmed by the official Guinness certificate.

GiTi Radial is a Chinese brand with non-Chinese roots

Although the brand's products have the inscription "made in China", the holding has non-Chinese roots. GiTi Group is headquartered in Singapore and originated in the British Isles. In recent years, the company has been ranked 13th in the ranking of the best-selling tires.

Winter tires produced under this brand are of high quality and low cost.

This is due to a non-standard criterion for Chinese products, where the main action is a copy of a quality branded product. Corporation technologists are working on their own models, starting from the stage of computer modeling, ending with finished rubber that can prove itself on the positive side.

Triangle - tires with real support from China

14th place in the ranking is firmly held by another representative of China. Tire concern "Triangle" receives support and is controlled by the government of the republic. It specializes in the production of tires of various classifications, for almost all types of transport. In the production of tires, a special rubber compound is used, the composition of which is not distributed. This allows you to create good grip on icy road surfaces and loose snow.

Triangle Chinese winter tires are unique in their design for active driving, which allows them to cope with bad road conditions and obstacles.

The rubber of this brand has a unique tire tread that makes the appearance of the car much more interesting.

Shandong Linglong - worthy tires from the top three

Since 2008, the Shandong Linglong Group of Companies has been one of the top three Chinese tire manufacturers. The holding includes 7 factories specializing in the production of these products, located in China and 30 branches located around the world.

Winter tires produced under the Shandong Linglong logo. Has certificates of international standards and certificates of conformity DOT, CCC, ECE. The product range is characterized by good technical parameters:

• predictable behavior on the road during heavy braking;
• wear resistance;
• a tread that allows you to create high-quality drainage at the contact patch with the road surface;

These tires have low noise when driving on open asphalt and at the same time retain good grip on ice.

Sunny is a solid four in our estimation

Despite the fact that the Sunny brand is practically unknown to the Russian buyer, tires with this name can be found in large specialized tire centers. Several distinguishing features can be noted:

• rubber quality is not the worst, a positive factor is the ability not to tan in the cold;
• the tread pattern performs the main function, cleans the nickel connection of the wheel with the road surface;
• despite the low cost of the tires of the concern, they have a relative duration of operation.

Studded winter tires of the Chinese concern "Sunny" do not have positive characteristics. There are several options for such models on sale, but they are all of very low quality, so it is not recommended to purchase them.

All-weather tires and Velcro, manufactured by the company's factory, passed the test for a solid four.

Comparison table of Chinese winter tires

The table shows the average prices in rubles in the city of Moscow at the beginning of the winter season 2015-2016:

brand/size	R-13	R-14	R-15	R-16	R-17
Sunny SN 3830	not supplied	1900	1950	2380	2560
Sunny SWP 11	not supplied	1830	1990	3100	3300
Sunny SN 3860	1810	1920	2010	2550	3050
Ovation W-586	1550	1600	1960	2730	2980
Triangle TR 777	1550	1850	2200	2340	3350
LingLong RADIAL 650	2250	2560	3200	3450	not supplied
Jinyu Yw 52	not supplied	not supplied	2450	2560	3650
Jinyu Yw 51	1860	1980	2150	2760	3250
Nankang SW 7	1750	1920	2500	3250	4560
Ecovision W 686	1980	2030	2850	3560	4100
Headway HW 501	2050	2220	2400	2700	not supplied
Sailun Ice Blazer Wst 1	1730	2230	2450	3010	4050
Sunny SN 3860	2200	2480	2560	3500	3950

Thanks to the table, the average prices of Chinese winter tires in Russia become visible. When compared with the world's leading brands, the difference becomes clear.

Thus, we can conclude. Chinese winter tires deserve a positive assessment, but remember that good products have a certain cost. Therefore, you should carefully approach the choice of tires for your car, because the lives of the driver and his passengers depend on it.

Video: Sunny winter tire review

Just 5-10 years ago, the adjective "Chinese" was a common noun of poor quality. Even now, many Chinese goods cause doubts among buyers. Especially when it comes to security. After all, for example, if a Chinese phone does not kill its owner, then low-quality tires can lead to an accident with the most serious consequences.

The choice of tires is a responsible matter, but in addition to quality, savings also play an important role. So it turns out that domestic car owners are beginning to “probe” beautiful-looking and at the same time inexpensive rubber from the Middle Kingdom. And given that China produces products for many brands (like Adidas, Apple, etc.), the demand for Made in China tires is gradually growing.

Features of Chinese production

It is extremely reckless to judge the quality of tires only by one inscription "Made in China". The Chinese can produce goods, both of the lowest quality and not inferior to European or Japanese counterparts. It all depends on the production itself and the raw materials going into the tire.

At the moment, there are about five hundred tire manufactures in China. And this is a quarter of the world volume. In addition to their trademarks, enterprises accept orders for the manufacture of products from customer-supplied raw materials. Foreign manufacturers appreciated the favorable working conditions in China and began to move their production there. And it's not just tires. Many brands have opened their factories here. Cheap labor, lower taxes and affordable raw materials - what else do you need?

Tires are also produced in China, but they did not become cheaper from this. As well as their quality, confirmed by numerous tests, did not suffer.

Chinese brands

• Maxxis;
• Giti Tire;
• Hangzhou Zhongce;
• triangle;
• Shandong Linglong.

This development of the Chinese tire industry is facilitated by the Chinese government, which is actively investing in this industry. The task of the Chinese is to make a product that, in terms of quality, will not differ for the worse from world leaders, but at the same time will attract consumers with its affordable price.

And if this plan is fully implemented, then the Chinese will greatly press the recognized leaders in the tire market.

But not everything is so rosy with Chinese rubber. Some local manufacturers simply copy old road maps of well-known tire models. Moreover, the marking may be original, but the technology is outdated, the raw materials are of poor quality.

Such counterfeit products, unfortunately, are still being produced. So it turns out that the car owner bought a modern Michelin, and he turned out to be “no”. Accordingly, he conveys information to his friends and acquaintances about the "quality" of tires of this brand.

Major Chinese Manufacturers

There are more than 10 tire factories in China that produce products that really comply with strict European and American requirements. Let's consider some of them in more detail.

Ling Long. The brand is owned by the national corporation Shandong Linglong Rubber. Tires of this brand have been produced for a long time. Initially, the company produced only rubber for trucks and special vehicles. Now, Ling Long tires, which are produced at several factories, can be seen on many passenger cars. According to the corporation's reports, it has already produced about 10 million tires.

Hangzhou Zhongce. This company owns the brands: West Lake, Chao Yang, Goodride. The latter is popular with domestic motorists. We have had these tires for a long time, they are distinguished by high-quality tread, long service life and affordable cost. In the production of Goodride tires, expensive equipment, modern technologies and high-quality rubber compounds are used, which are purchased from the leaders of the chemical industry. The company offers a wide range of tires and sizes. In general, tires with a good price-quality ratio.

Another manufacturer that originally produced truck tires is Triangle Group. Now the company's assortment includes a lot of passenger tires, including high-quality winter ones. According to the manufacturer, each of his tires is carefully tested on a special stand, which makes it possible to weed out defects with almost 100% probability. In general, the reviews of Russian motorists about this rubber are positive. In the Russian Federation there are official dealers of the brand.

Wideway. These tires have been produced since 2015. The company has already produced about 20 million passenger and 2 million truck tires per year. For production, premium-class equipment of German, Japanese and Dutch production is used.

Although the brand is still very young, the reviews about it are only positive. There are models with an asymmetric tread. Tires are not prone to and low noise.

firenza. The company is engaged in copying solutions of popular models of leading world manufacturers. Moreover, copying is unauthorized. Rubber is made from its own components, which is not the best way to reflect on quality. The manufacturer produces only the most popular models and mainly for passenger cars. Reviews about this rubber from Russian buyers are mediocre (three on a five-point scale). The main complaints are about noise and wear resistance. The main plus of this rubber is the price.

Infinity. The name is consonant with the premium Japanese brand - Infiniti. These tires are quite simple - expensive technologies are not used for their production, the tread was developed in-house, the rubber composition is also its own. But, despite this, winter models show good performance. Tires are inexpensive, but the range of these wheels is small.

Sunny. One of the best Chinese offers in the tire market. The quality of Sunny tires has grown a lot in recent years, although there were many complaints about this brand in the past. Among the positive aspects of rubber, wear resistance, energy efficiency, and good resistance to aquaplaning are distinguished. Given this and the price they ask for these wheels, Sunny is very popular in Russia. If only they would have stability in quality, which may vary from batch to batch, which indicates the lack of normal control of this parameter in the company.

What is the result

Chinese tires are a cheap and relatively high-quality alternative to expensive brand models. This rubber is distinguished by endurance, high-quality rubber compounds, and a good tread pattern (which is often copied from a successful well-known model). In general, the tires are decent (especially for the money they ask for). Some manufacturers are really amazing.

But, there are also companies that make tires in a handicraft way - in small batches almost in garage conditions. It will be either your own unknown brand, or a rough fake of a famous one.

If you are thinking about whether to buy used tires from a well-known Japanese or European manufacturer, or high-quality, but new Chinese, then the second option would be the best choice. Only purchase anything from the above list of leading Chinese manufacturers, and preferably in the store of the official dealer of the brand. There you will at least change the wheels of inadequate quality.

Yes, if you do not count money, then the right choice is still to buy one of the well-known tires, so you will get 100% quality (if, again, buy a tire in a normal place, and not counterfeit).

But the most important thing is that on a wet, icy or snowy road, you need to move measuredly and carefully, only then you will be safe. A good tire will complement it.

Having accelerated along the high-speed oval, the driver entered a profiled turn and, squeezing the passengers with a lateral overload, released the steering wheel: they say, look how the car is on an arc. Moreover, we were speeding along the steep banking not in a squat sports car, but in an overcrowded Mercedes Sprinter minibus! A crazy minibus with unbelted passengers was conducting a tour of the Chinese test site of the tire company Maxxis.

Maxxis tires are being tested at the automobile test site in Kunshan. This trademark was born fifty years ago under the wing of the Taiwanese company Cheng Shin Group, the ninth largest global manufacturer of tires for bicycles, motorcycles and cars. The Maxxis brand is quite well known in the European, Asian and American markets (Taiwanese tires are sold in 170 countries, but the US is the priority market), and we know it too. Moreover, some time ago, the winter studded Maxxis Presa Spike SUV and Maxxis Arctic Trekker NP3 even took part in the comparative tests of the Autoreview (see and), showing an average result: we scolded Taiwanese tires for the unstable quality of the studding and, as a result, for mediocre work on ice. This year, Maxxis plans to sell about 200,000 tires in Russia (mostly summer tires, with a focus on automotive class B), and in the next three years to capture at least two percent of our tire market, displacing manufacturers such as Kumho, Hankook and Dunlop .

The situation on the test roads is controlled by sixteen monitors

The engineering nest of Maxxis International is located in Taipei, there are factories in Thailand and Vietnam, regional technology centers operate in the USA and Holland, but the largest and most modern foreign technological site was built in Kunshan, China: with full technological load, the local plant is capable of producing up to 55 thousand tires per day. And the test site and research center Maxxis Proving Ground was designed jointly with the Japanese: the Maxxis tire brand developed with the technological support of Toyo Rubber Ind. Co. The School of the Land of the Rising Sun is visible literally in everything: every meter of the territory is adapted for testing grounds. Rigid access system, automated video control and electronic registration of vehicles operating in a particular sector...

Porsche Panamera in branded livery during our visit to the training ground in Kunshan worked as a show car, rolling guests non-stop

And the range of coatings - you never dreamed of! Or rather, we were just dreaming. But in the eyes of inexperienced Europeans, the test center in Kunshan is like a road cabinet of curiosities. Gravel, cobblestones, railway crossings, road repair sites, concrete, pits dear to the heart of every Russian ... Perhaps the only thing I did not see at the Chinese tire test site was urban asphalt with open sewer wells. Because the Chinese are engaged in the killing of wheels in a scientific way, imitating an oblique blow to a curbstone. The American obstacle (General Motors method) has a trapezoidal profile, and according to the Japanese rules (Toyota method), the impact is made on a beam with rounded edges. In both cases, the collision speed is 35 km / h, and the criterion for rejecting a tire is swelling, damage to the sidewall or depressurization. By the way, in Autoreview tests we use a more complex “destructive” technique: the height of the beam is selected depending on the size of the tire (an obstacle is 10 mm higher than its profile), and the speed of hitting the beam increases step by step - until breakdown. When conducting comparative tests, this is more informative.

The track for testing “dry” controllability is a circular section 2.8 km long, for “wet” exercises there is a painted “treble clef” with watering of different intensity and a circle filled with water with a diameter of 140 meters. A camera that takes a real picture in the contact patch helps to assess the resistance of a tire to hydroplaning. But the strongest impression on me was made by special roads, where the Chinese simulate a high-speed lane change (dynamic “rearrangement”) and check the operation of car stabilization systems. This is done with a national flavor: on ordinary cars without roll cages, with live passengers instead of tank mannequins, at speeds well over a "hundred" and, as it seemed to me, without much understanding of the possible consequences. Horror!

In dynamic tests, the Chinese use the equipment of the Vbox family. There are no other means of measurement

An interesting detail: all test drivers admitted to high-risk work are Taiwanese. The locals don't seem to be trusted.

Well, at the test site in Kunshan, they offered me to participate in the comparative testing of Maxxis Premitra 5 and Goodyear EfficientGrip tires in dimensions 205/55 R16 and evaluate their behavior on dry surfaces and on water. The aggregate carrier is a two-liter Ford Focus with an automatic transmission, and the evaluation criterion was the dry and wet track times measured using the Racelogic device. The Chinese did not hide the fact that they had already removed all the driving characteristics from this couple and even revealed their expert findings. They say that Maxxis tires look better than their competitor in everything except for the overall resource and vibroacoustic comfort.

The aggregate carriers during our tests were Ford Focus cars with two-liter gasoline engines and automatic transmissions.

I don’t pretend to be an expert, but I unconditionally recognize the “dry” superiority of the Chinese product: where Goodyear forced me to slip out of the corner too wide, the Maxxis tires allowed me to cling to the trajectory more effectively, and the car’s reaction to the release of gas was much more pronounced. As a result, with Chinese tires, I drove an average of two seconds faster on the test track.

On wet surfaces, the “Chinese” time also turned out to be better, but ... In the limit turn on wet pavement, the Maxxis Premitra 5 tires very sharply switch from rolling to sliding: you go into an arc, you feel the hold, you try to drive more boldly and then - wow! - the car spins around a vertical axis. In two races out of six, I just flew off the track.

Tire interior noise is measured by two microphones (at the head of the driver and rear right passenger) connected to the Bruel & Kjaer complex. And the outer one - with external microphones, standing in an electronic range. The car rolls into the measurement zone in neutral and with the engine off, and the speed of entry is controlled by the radar

One problem: they speak very little English at the training ground in Kunshan, so you have to sign up for Chinese courses. Like a true realist.