A crisis is a crisis, but cars are being sold, and crossovers are in the most stable demand. And tires for crossovers are a separate issue. They are required to drive well not only on asphalt, but also outside of it. Therefore, tests of such tires in 2018 should be carried out according to an expanded program, preferably at a test site with calibrated off-road sections.
You won't find them in Russia. That is why we turned to Continental for help and occupied its training ground near Hannover. At the "Kontidrom" we have already carried out tire tests and we know that there are only asphalt tracks, albeit with fairly wide possibilities. Therefore, the rest of the tests, including off-road, were decided to be organized overseas - at the Continental test site in the US state of Texas. There are many asphalt roads different quality, areas with irrigation, as well as primers, gravel and sandy roads. In general, everything you need!
After consulting, we chose for testing tires of dimension 235/65 R17, suitable for most mid-size SUVs, and of the H / T (or HT) type - the so-called asphalt tires, the most massive, occupying more than 80% Russian market crossover tires. The rest is divided between mud (M / T or MT) and universal (A / T or AT).
Eighth International
Eight sets of tires from the most popular brands were collected for testing. Without the “top five”, that is, the five leaders of the market, there is no way to do. Therefore, among the participants were models Bridgestone Dueler H / P Sport, Michelin Latitude Tour HP, Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV, Continental ContiCrossContact UHP and Pirelli Scorpion Verde. Two more companies - not so large, but having their own production in Russia: we take tires Nokian Hakka Blue SUV and Yokohama Geolandar SUV G055. In addition, we included in the test a representative of the rapidly growing South Korean company Hankoook - the Dynapro HP2 model. It so happened that all eight sets were released in different countries. Neither give nor take - the eighth International.
What should definitely be included in the test program besides our traditional asphalt disciplines? Of course, longitudinal aquaplaning and light off-road. After all, even on purely highway NT tires, crossover owners sometimes go out on sand or wet grass, drive on primers and gravel roads. And they decided not to drive asphalt tires into real mud - they are helpless there.
Volkswagen Touareg was appointed as the main tire carrier.
On the stand in 2018
At the Kontidrom training ground, located near Hannover, there is no off-road section, but there is a unique laboratory with expensive equipment that allows you to quickly and with minimal error get a lot of interesting results, simulating real tests. For example, you can evaluate tires for rolling resistance. We usually do this kind of test on the road to measure fuel consumption. At the stand, this work can be carried out faster and with a smaller measurement error, since the technology has long been worked out. The methodology is this. Our test subjects have load indices of 104 and 108. We focus on index 104, which means a maximum load of 900 kg. When testing on a wheel rolling on a running drum, the downforce, which is 80% of the allowable one, with a simple calculation we get 7063 N. Continental testers usually determine the tire resistance on the stand only at a speed of 80 km / h. In our tests, we work with two speed limits - city (60 km/h) and country (90 km/h). I had to ask the Germans to rebuild the bench test programs for "our" speeds.
At the test bench, not one tire of each model was rolled, but two - and the average value was calculated in order to level out the possible scatter of results. Michelin and Yokohama showed the lowest rolling resistance - and the lower the resistance, the lower the fuel consumption. Hankook resisted the most.
On the roads of the Contidrom
Hydroplaning of tires on a straight line was also evaluated at the Contidrome - so as not to waste time on this in Texas. The tire carrier was Amarok, whose transmission was forcibly transferred to rear-wheel drive mode.
We direct the pickup truck with the left wheels into a 200-meter-long bath with an eight-millimeter layer of water, while the right wheels drive on dry asphalt. Approach the measuring point in third gear at a speed of 60 km/h. The measuring equipment records the difference in the angular speeds of the left and right front wheels using individual wheel sensors. The onset of hydroplaning is considered to be a 15 percent difference between angular velocities the right wheel going along the asphalt (this is the real speed) and the slipping left wheel, which pops up above the road.
Best result showed Pirelli tires: 92.6 km/h. Goodyear tires (91.9 km/h) and Hankook (91.5 km/h) pop up a little earlier. The outsiders are Michelin (87.2 km/h) and Continental (87.6 km/h km/h).
Hello Texas!
Many hours of flight across the ocean, and we are in the south North America, in Texas. Here, near the small town of Uvalde, almost on the border with Mexico, at the Continental branded training ground, we conducted the rest, perhaps the main part of the tests. The temperature during the tests rose to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 27 ° C). Hot for people, but perfect for tire testing.
We work in parallel on two machines. On the Tuareg, we begin to evaluate directional stability at high speed. To do this, we use a small speed ring. We pay attention to the clarity of the car's reactions when adjusting the direction of movement and soft lane changes to the neighboring lane. We take into account all the nuances of the behavior of the machine. At the same time, we fix how easy and understandable it is to control the Tuareg in such modes, evaluate the steering angles and the information content of the steering.
Of course, do not forget about the internal noise and smoothness. To do this, in addition to the high-speed ring, we use special roads with artificial patches and other irregularities.
I liked Nokian tires more than others in terms of directional stability - it is on them that the Tuareg has the tightest, highly informative steering wheel and very clear reactions when taxiing. But there were comments about the Bridgestone tires: on a straight line at the car shod in them, the steering wheel became unpleasantly empty and uninformative, and when adjusting the course and changing the lane, it rotates almost without resistance, like the steering wheel of a boat. And since the reactions are fast, it is easy to mistakenly turn such an empty steering wheel to a larger angle than necessary. In terms of comfort, the quiet and soft Michelin stands out from the rest. Only Hankook can compete with him in "silence".
Wet driving
And now - braking on asphalt, covered with a one and a half millimeter layer of water. Modes - as in testing car tires according to the ZR method. The starting point of the braking distance is 80 km / h, the final point is 5 km / h (to exclude the influence of work anti-lock braking system); before each measurement, we cool the brakes, making a loop along the service road.
Having learned that it is possible to test braking on two surfaces, we gladly agree. After all, for the first time there is an opportunity to compare how tires brake on asphalt of different quality.
The results we got are damn interesting. On wet pavement with an average friction coefficient (almost like Russian roads) Goodyear showed the best results - 33.5 meters. Continental managed to lose almost half a meter to him: 33.9 meters. However, on smooth surfaces with good grip, Continental took the lead with a score of 24.2 meters, and Goodyear was only fourth (25.5 meters), giving way to Nokian and Hankook tires. Consistently worst results on both surfaces are Michelin tires (46.6 and 28.1 m respectively) and Yokohama (48.6 and 31.4 m).
It is the turn of the "wet" rearrangement. For this exercise, we use the so-called short rearrangement: the width of the lanes is 3.5 meters, the lane change is carried out on a segment 12 meters long. The entrance corridor is the width of the Tuareg, so that in each race the car goes along the same track: this reduces the measurement error.
In this exercise, the Nokian tires were ahead of everyone: on them, the Touareg showed the most high speed- 67.2 km / h. Nothing surprising:
We repeat the rearrangement: the same dimensions, methods, cones, car and driver, only the asphalt is dry. Let me remind you once again that the coefficient of adhesion on this dry pavement turned out to be less than on wet pavement on another site. For this reason, the speeds on a dry rearrangement turned out to be slightly lower. The “dry” leader is Hankook (65.3 km/h), very close is Nokian (65.1 km/h), the outsider is Bridgestone (60.6 km/h). In terms of handling, I liked Nokian tires the most (9 points), and on last place turned out to be Yokohama (6 points).
We repeat the assessment of handling on a special track with a dry surface. Here, as in the wet, we focus on the reaction and behavior of the car, as well as on the simplicity and reliability of control. “Lap time”, as well as on a wet track, is not taken into account. And again we get small discrepancies in the estimates: here Pirelli tires were more liked than others.
A little off-road
Filling out the protocol for assessing controllability: after leaving the highway - ing in the mass of information received is easy (it is important to lose nuances in Germany) and Nissan Navara(in Texas) - here you need a 2-wheel drive car (with the ability to disable one of the axles), which allows you to clearly capture the difference between the tires. Pickups were equipped with speed and acceleration sensors.
The first test was on wet grass. Amarok in first gear moves on grass at walking speed (5-8 km/h). I press the gas pedal and accelerate until the wheel slip reaches 70% (this is monitored by a separate device). The acceleration of the car at this moment is measured by the sensor. Multiplying the acceleration by the mass of the car, we get the traction force. A special program plots the dependence of traction force on the amount of wheel slip.
We use data limited by two points - an initial slip of 15 percent and a final slip that can be achieved by all compared tires. Empirically, this value was taken equal to 69%. To summarize the results of the tests, we calculate the average value of the traction force between the indicated marks.
For the reliability of the results, the accelerations on the tires of each model are repeated twenty-five times. We test each set twice, with periodic repetition of measurements on the reference (base) tire, with the help of which we monitor changes in coverage during the test (if necessary, taking into account the results obtained on the base tires, we recalculate the final indicators). Still, grip on grass is not as stable as on asphalt. The best result in this test showed Yokohama tires: traction force reached 430 N. Nearby were Continental tires (421 N), and behind all - Pirelli (385 N): traction on grass was 6% worse than the average in the test.
The determination of traction on gravel is a test similar to the previous one. Yes, and the pickup truck itself is now the Nissan Navara. The only difference is that under the wheels is a gravel road. The measurement range is also different: from 15 to 75 percent slippage. The average value is calculated from the data of this range. Continental tires turned out to be the “strongest” - with 443 N of thrust. Yokohama (399 N) and Bridgestone (398 N) were weaker than the others - their traction on gravel is 5% worse than the average according to the test results.
The wet sand deadlift is perhaps the most difficult exercise, requiring extensive surface preparation. Sand must be filled with water and compacted with heavy equipment. A pickup truck with test tires, acting as a "locomotive", is fastened with a rigid hitch to the truck and tries to move it from its place. To do this, I raise the speed and drop the clutch pedal. Traction force is determined by a dynamometer built into the hitch. This instrument starts measuring one second after fully engaging the clutch on the pickup truck; the measurement is taken for the next second, and then the dynamometer is turned off. It is impossible to move a colossus standing on the brakes - the rear wheels of a pickup truck skid in the sand, sometimes burrowing along the hub. Sometimes a powerful “trailer” even has to push the “tractor” out of the holes dug by the wheels after measuring with the help of a rigid hitch. We carry out the next measurement by moving forward a meter. Two dozen repetitions give a completely reliable result. These tests, like the previous ones, are repeated twice - with the participation of the base tires. All races are held along the diagonal of the prepared site in order to eliminate the heterogeneity of the sand "bath". The Continental tires -494 N proved to be the most high-torque on the sand. The most modest - Bridgestone tires with a result of 424 N, which is 8% worse than the average.
Crossovers - cars for all occasions. The ideal tires for them are those that do not save on asphalt, and on light off-road will not let you down
For dessert, another exercise from a series of light off-road - controllability assessment on a special dirt track. Touareg enters the arena again. The criteria are the same as when assessing controllability - it is not “lap time” that is evaluated, but the behavior of the car and the convenience, simplicity and reliability of driving it. There are three winners here: Michelin, Nokian and Pirelli earned 8 points each. Lowest rating - Bridgestone tires: total b points. The decrease in the score is due to delays in reactions, increased steering angles and prolonged slips.
The results of tests of summer tires for crossovers 2018
We have decided to leave our scoring system with a possible maximum of 1000 points for asphalt exercises only. After all, the tires we tested are designed for paved roads. As the number of disciplines has increased, the proportion of each of the exercises has been reduced.
On asphalt, Nokian Hakka Blue SUV won with 935 points, congratulations! Moreover, a victory with a fairly decent margin from the Continental ContiCrossContact UHP tires (914 points), which took second place. Pirelli Scorpion Verde (908 points) did not get into the top three - only one point separated it from third place (it was taken by Goodyear EffkientGrip SUV: 909 points). At the same time, Pirelli Scorpion Verde tires can be called the golden mean in terms of price and quality ratio in asphalt disciplines.
Recall that we consider tires that score 900 points or more to be excellent. The result of 370 points indicates that the tires are very good, but just good ones score 850-869 points according to our system. in the good category.
Tire tires do not fit only Yokohama Geolandar SUV G055, which scored only 826 points, very poor results in almost all exercises. Literally on the edge is the Michelin Latitude Tour HP with a score of 851; Its main advantages are low rolling resistance and high level comfort, and in terms of grip properties, it noticeably lags behind the main group.
For off-road, a separate offset was introduced. The maximum possible final score is -250 points, that is, four times less than the "asphalt" one. We consider such weightiness of ratings on light off-road to be fair, because owners of crossovers on asphalt tires rarely go into gullies. The Continental ContiCross Contact UHP tires took the lead in this standings with 233 points.
But still, crossovers are cars for all occasions. The ideal tires for them are those that do not save on asphalt, and will not let you down on light off-road. And, despite the first place Nokian in the sum of two series (1160 points out of 1250 possible), Continental - the best, in our opinion, in terms of combination of qualities. If you expect to go off-road often - stop your choice on these tires. They have, perhaps, only one drawback - the high price. For those who cannot afford these tires, we offer a “universal” option that is slightly more modest in terms of performance, but cheaper - Hankook.
March 6, 2018
Rating of the best summer tires for crossovers, which is found in such popular sizes: 215/65 R16, 215/55 R17, 235/55 R17, 225/60 R17, etc. The top includes both passenger car tires and SUV-class tires designed for highways, country roads or mixed conditions.
Tires are sorted by cost from expensive to cheapest.
1.
Segment: premium.
Quiet, soft and comfortable high-speed tire with asymmetrical pattern protector, which has repeatedly won prizes in tests from European and domestic magazines. The tire has relatively poor hydroplaning resistance, but has a short braking distances and efficient handling on dry and wet pavement.
Country of manufacture: Russia, Germany, Spain, Italy.
2.
Segment: premium.
Another high-speed summer tire - a multiple test winner from automotive magazines. This is a balanced tire that performs confidently on dry and wet pavement, has high hydroplaning resistance and provides a quiet and comfortable ride. Great option for the city and country trips over long distances.
Country of manufacture: France, Portugal, Czech Republic, Germany, Romania.
3.
Segment: premium.
Summer tire for SUVs, which is suitable for use in the city, country roads and light off-road. The tire has rather poor fuel efficiency, but at the same time it provides good stability to aquaplaning, effective braking and controllability on wet and dry pavement.
Country of origin: China, Germany, Japan.
4.
Segment: premium.
Another tire from the German Goodyear with a road tread pattern for high-speed driving. It is a quiet, economical and comfortable tire that effectively brakes and provides good handling on wet and dry pavement. A great option for the city and long-distance country trips.
Country of manufacture: Slovenia, Poland, Germany, France.
5.
Segment: premium.
Road summer tire with asymmetric tread pattern for high-speed crossovers and SUVs, suitable for city and long trips. The tire has poor off-road potential, but in tests it demonstrates high hydroplaning resistance, low noise levels and good results on dry and wet pavement.
Country of manufacture: Japan, Poland.
6.
Segment: premium
Road tire from the Finnish company Nokian. The tire has poor off-road qualities, but very high hydroplaning resistance, short braking distances and efficient handling both on wet and dry pavement. Also included in rubber compound Aramid (Kevlar) is present, which significantly increases the strength of the tire walls and its resistance to side impacts.
Country of manufacture: Russia, Finland.
7.
Segment: premium
High performance summer tire with asymmetric tread pattern from Italian company Pirelli. The tire is quite stiff in motion and does not have a high level of comfort, however, it provides high resistance to hydroplaning, short braking distances and effective handling on wet and dry pavement.
Country of manufacture: Italy, Romania, China, England, Mexico, Russia.
8.
Segment: medium.
Road summer tire featured Dutch company Vredestein in 2011. It is a soft running tire with a sporty character and balanced high results in braking and handling on wet and dry pavement. The optimal ratio of price and quality makes the tire a good choice for the city and the highway.
Country of manufacture: Holland, India.
9.
Segment: medium.
Quiet and economical summer tire with asymmetric tread pattern for crossovers and SUVs from Japanese company Toyo. In tests, the handling and braking qualities are not particularly impressive, but they cannot be called weak either. On dry pavement it behaves a little better than on wet pavement. A good middling for sane money for operation within the city and on the highway at a moderate speed.
Country of manufacture: Japan.
10.
Segment: medium.
Summer tire from the Korean company Hankook with a symmetrical tread pattern. In tests, the tire shows poor fuel efficiency, but compensates for this with good off-road qualities, short braking distances and efficient handling at the level of premium tires.
Country of manufacture: Hungary, Korea.
11.
Segment: medium.
High-speed summer tire from the Korean Hankook for the city and long-distance intercity trips. This is an economical and quiet tire that performs best on dry pavement and lags behind a little in braking and handling on wet pavement.
Country of manufacture: Korea, Hungary, China.
12.
Segment: medium.
A very balanced tire that is perfect for the city, country roads and light off-road. The tire provides average braking and handling on dry and wet pavement, as well as high off-road potential on mud, sand and gravel. An excellent low-cost option for mixed operating conditions.
Country of manufacture: Hungary, Spain.
13.
Segment: medium.
A summer "rain tire" that provides maximum safety on wet pavement. On dry surfaces, it is slightly inferior in stopping distance and handling, but compensates for this with a low price, high comfort and low noise level. An excellent option for urban use at moderate speeds.
Country of manufacture: France, Germany, Romania, Portugal.
14.
Segment: medium.
Road summer tire with asymmetric tread pattern. Provides a high level of fuel efficiency, comfort and average braking and handling on dry and wet pavement. Excellent value for money for the city and long trips.
Country of manufacture: France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Turkey, Thailand.
15.
Segment: medium.
A soft, quiet and comfortable tire with a relatively rough tread pattern that is suitable for both urban use and light off-road use. In tests on wet and dry pavement, it shows average results in braking and handling.
Country of manufacture: Germany, Czech Republic, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia.
16.
Segment: budget.
Summer tire with asymmetric tread pattern from Slovak company Matador, which belongs to the German concern Continental. Against the background of similar budget tires, the tire demonstrates a short braking distance and good handling on wet pavement and is slightly behind in dry results. Decent option for the city for little money.
Country of manufacture: Czech Republic, France, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia.
17.
Segment: budget.
Summer road tire with asymmetric tread pattern from the Taiwanese company Maxxis. The tire belongs to the UHP class and in tests against the background of expensive premium models it demonstrates a relatively short braking distance and effective handling on wet and dry pavement.
Country of manufacture: China.
18.
Many car owners underestimate the importance of changing tires according to the season. And if it is clear that in winter, in cold weather, improved grip on icy and snowy roads, then not everyone understands the need to use special rubber in the summer.
However, there are reasons why it is simply necessary to change tires to summer tires:
- too soft at high temperatures, which reduces handling and increases braking distance;
- soft Winter tires wear out quickly on hot asphalt;
- Using winter tires in summer increases fuel consumption.
Thus, the main characteristics on which we choose tires are the ability to dissipate heat and wear resistance. Also, the best summer tires for crossovers should be good at removing mud and water for normal off-road driving, have good grip on hot pavement and during rain.
In many ways, the BFGoodrich G-Grip is the best summer tire in the crossover category for 2019. With the cost of a modification with a diameter of 17 centimeters (235 / 45R1794Y) of about 5,700 rubles, this is an ideal option in terms of cost / quality ratio. The tire is characterized by a unique design and thoughtful arrangement of blocks. The tires performed well on wet/dry roads. Famous American manufacturer invests a lot of money in research, so all its products, including this model, are manufactured using modern computer technology. The tread pattern has a pronounced directionality, due to which the effect of aquaplaning does not appear under any conditions. It should also be noted high quality tire blocks located in the shoulder area, which guarantees a very high responsiveness of the wheels to manipulations with the steering wheel.
Bridgestone Potenza S001
An excellent high-speed summer tyre, characterized by improved characteristics in terms of ride comfort and noiselessness. The cost is not the smallest - a model with parameters 215 / 40R17 / 87Y costs from 11,200 rubles. But these tires, to be honest, are worth that kind of money. The presence of sufficiently wide grooves contributes to high-quality water drainage. The edges of the blocks have a sharp edge that can literally cut through the water film, minimizing the risk of falling into aquaplaning. The rigidity of the side part of the rubber provides excellent stability / controllability of the crossover, regardless of the speed of movement. It is impossible not to mention central rib tires, which improves the stability of the machine when driving at very high speeds.
This model belongs to the category of tires of the middle price class (modification 235/55 R17 99Y costs from 7200 rubles), but at the same time it has decent characteristics with a fairly high resource. The third place in the ranking of the best summer tires for crossovers in 2019, the model was deservedly deserved. Like other top-of-the-range models, the Toyo Proxes T1 Sport has a wide center rib and oversized blocks. The stability of the command on the track is complemented by the presence of a branched drainage web, which is responsible for the rapid removal of water. Self-locking lamellas are another advantage of the tire, which has a speed index Y, which allows you to move at speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour, withstanding loads of about 780 kg. According to the reviews of domestic car owners, the tire does not like bad roads, on which it wears out faster than usual.
Michelin Latitude Cross
Considering the 2019 ranking of the best summer tires for crossovers, we can't get past the model, which, in terms of cost, occupies an intermediate position between the premium and mid-price segments. So, the cost of a tire with an index of 225/75 R16 108H8500 starts at 7800 rubles. These tires cannot be called high-speed (the H index indicates that they are designed for a maximum of 210 km / h), but this is more than enough for a crossover. But the load index of these is 108 units, that is, they are able to withstand a load of 1 thousand kilograms. Rubber is characterized by stable behavior on roads with any type of surface, regardless of weather conditions. The tread pattern is selected in such a way as to minimize wear without compromising operational parameters. Users note the possibility of fuel economy and excellent tire handling. What such a tire does not like is traveling on roads that need a grader.
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
This model also earned a high place in the TOP summer tires for crossovers in 2019 due to its excellent handling regardless of the state of the highway. At a cost of 6150 rubles, the 215/55 R16 93Y modification is distinguished by the presence of a very durable sidewall with Kevlar inserts, confident braking, and they work relatively quietly. High-speed (index Y), show excellent balance grip characteristics. Among the shortcomings, not the best wear resistance should be noted. If you are a lover comfortable ride- do not count on such tires: they are quite rigid. But, we repeat, for its segment this is one of the best products, both in terms of cost and basic performance characteristics.
If you rarely use your crossover for off-road driving, then this model of summer tires may be for you. the best choice. In our list of the best tires for summer 2019 in the crossover segment, the Hakka Black 2SUV ranks sixth in our opinion. For 8900 rubles, you get at your disposal high-speed and comfortable tires, which on dry concrete hold the road no worse premium tire Continental ContiPremiumContact 5. However, there will be no problems with handling on wet pavement. A very good indicator of smoothness, at the level of Michelin Latitude Sport, but at the same time very noisy, this is one of the main drawbacks of the model (as well as the entire "twin" series). Off-road feel confident. What else can be said about this model? Wear resistance is not the best - up to 30 thousand is still normal, and then problems are possible, but that's how lucky. If you opt for Hakka Black 2SUV crossover summer tires, we advise you to buy only native (made in Finland) tires - the quality of tires made in other countries can really upset you.
Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 SUV
For lovers of a comfortable ride, this summer tire, without exaggeration, will be an excellent choice. Moreover, along with the amazing softness of driving on dry / wet surfaces, the model is characterized by an excellent coefficient of adhesion to the roadway. You can guarantee that these will be some of the quietest tires you've ever seen. However, as it always happens in life, every advantage turns into some disadvantage. In this case, we can unequivocally assume that since the rubber is soft, it is not too durable. So it is: the real resource is about 30 thousand kilometers. Well, there are also problems with durability, so if you drive on bad roads, why do you need softness if, if you get into a serious hole, even at an average cost, you risk getting a “hernia”?
Michelin Latitude Sport 3
Yes, you are not mistaken. These are summer tires, and they are designed for crossovers. And, despite the presence of the word "Sport", the speed index here is by no means sporty (V, up to 240 km / h). So, in the rating of summer tires for R18 crossovers, these tires are absolutely natural, being a direct competitor previous model from Continental. In other words, the characteristics of these tires are almost identical - this is the highest softness, amazing silence, excellent grip on any type of surface.
And, of course, the same disadvantages - a low resource and frankly weak strength parameters. The sidewalls here, frankly, are flimsy, so if you like to lean against the curbs, you will have to leave this habit in the past. But there is also good news? Unlike ContiPremiumContact 5, this tire has higher wear resistance - it will have to be changed on average every 40 thousand kilometers.
Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV
If you are looking for a comfortable tire that has a strong enough sidewall, and at the same time you are on a budget, your choice is the model Efficient Grip SUV. The softness of the ride here is such that you will feel as if you are riding in expensive sedan, and in terms of noise level, the impressions will be the same. But the main thing is a rigid sidewall, which allows you not to think about safety when driving in urban conditions. In a word, this is a good middle peasant, including in terms of cost (from 6,500 rubles). There is also a feature - too wide grooves, because of which the pebbles are thrown directly onto wheel arches. When buying a set of such rubber, take care of purchasing fender liner and make high-quality soundproofing of the arches.
Japanese tires do not need recommendations, but the cost is impressive (almost 10 thousand rubles), the most expensive tires in our ranking of summer tires for crossovers. And for that kind of money you get far from the most ideal product. With a number excellent performance(holds the track well, overcomes any puddles perfectly, just not noticing them, demonstrates fast braking on wet / dry asphalt or concrete, there is a solid sidewall, there are no problems with aquaplaning) is distinguished by increased noise. In general, all Japanese, when compared with similar European tires, are noisier. If noise and high cost do not matter to you - well, this is very good tires for all other parameters.
Toyo Proxes CF2 SUV
Another good option at a reasonable cost (7400 rubles). Users unanimously note the good handling of tires, their ability to keep a track even at very high speeds when entering enough sharp turns. Comfortable and excellent hydroplaning resistance. Unlike many "classmates", they are characterized by a tread pattern that does not throw stones. Good and off-road "skills". But it changes its properties dramatically in cold weather. At temperatures below plus 5 degrees, it becomes noisy and harsh, that is, these are tires for the southern regions of the country. As for the sidewalls, they are reinforced here. Summarizing the above, we can say that in the ranking summer tires there is always a place for crossovers of this model.
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo2SUV K117A
At a cost of 6200 rubles, this is a decent quality Korean analogue to classmates from Michelin. The road keeps on a wet and dry track on a solid "4". By
It's also average. You can only highlight the softness of the move, especially coasting. Braking does not cause any particular complaints. But very significant disadvantage – weak resource. Many note that for these tires the limit is 15 thousand kilometers. Unsurprisingly, the Ventus S1 R17 is nowhere near the top of the 2019 summer crossover tire rankings.
Kumho HP91
Affordable rubber, not distinguished by outstanding performance. The solution to the problem of the side cord can be called interesting - it is not rigid here. And nevertheless, blows holds very confidently. At a cost of 6,300 rubles for a modification of 265/65 R17 112V, this is a completely acceptable option - harsh, but withstanding a mileage of about 40,000-50,000 kilometers. Yes, there are traction issues, especially in rainy weather. Noise is decent too. Not the best choice if there are no financial problems.
Cordiant Comfort 2SUV
One of the most budget options (from 4900 rubles). You can call this rubber domestic analogue Continental ContiPremiumContact 5SUV. Just as comfortable and soft, but much less wear-resistant. In addition, it does not hold the road so well, it can break into a skid much earlier than its counterparts. Quiet, but subject to mechanical stress. In short, the most affordable model for the price.
A worthy competitor to the previous model in terms of cost, but not in quality. If the R16 modification costs from 5,400 rubles, then the R19 costs 11,000, but these are the best summer tires for crossovers in the lower price segment. They perform well in quiet ride, but they do not like speed and wet roads. Unlike the Black series, it does not resist hydroplaning well, but has stronger “shoulders”. Demonstrates excellent ride comfort without sacrificing handling. And again, buy only "Finn", rubber made in Russia can upset you already in the second year of operation.
Rating by category
And now we will focus your attention on tires, characterized by an excellent combination of comfort and silence. These are predominantly European products - in the Old World they pay more attention to these characteristics:
- Continental Conti Premium Contact 5.
- Nokian Hakka Black/Blue 2.
- Michelin Latitude Sport3.
- Cordiant Comfort 2.
- Goodyear Efficient Grip.
- Kumho Crugen HP91.
- Bridgestone Altezza001.
- Toyo Proxes CF2.
If you want to choose the best summer tires for a crossover, which are characterized by high wear resistance and the ability to withstand side impacts, then the Europeans graze the rear ones here.
Mid-size crossovers are a class of cars of the SUV (sport utility vehicle) category, which were originally created more for high-speed driving on asphalt-concrete roads than for off-road driving. In view of this, they also need tires not off-road, but highway.
Moreover, some crossover manufacturers provide tire recommendations for their SUVs, and leading tire manufacturers carry out homologation of some of their products under specific brands and car models.
We do tire comparison tests to find out which tire performs best in any given size. This time we decided to check exactly the tire size 235/65R17, which are installed mainly on mid-size SUVs. In addition, we set out to find out how much the so-called all-terrain tires are inferior to road tires. For this, an all-terrain tire from a reputable manufacturer (Cotinental ContiCrossContact LX2) was included in the test.
The list of test participants includes tires of different premium levels, since it is when choosing them that car owners often try to save on this category of car expenses.
Already after the first tests, it became clear that a group of leaders was formed, which included Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV tires, Michelin Latitude Sport 3 and the recent Nokian Hakka Blue 2 SUV. And it was in this trio that there was a tough fight for every point, every second, every meter in different types of tests. At the same time, everyone was the best in one form or another of the tests.
For example, in dry and wet handling tests, the Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV tyre, according to the test drivers, is the best. But it loses out to the Michelin Latitude Sport 3 and Nokian Hakka Blue 2 SUV in wet and dry braking tests.
At the same time, the Hakka Blue 2 SUV is slightly better than the Latitude Sport 3 in handling tests, but, at the same time, the Finn loses to the French in the test for hydroplaning resistance on a straight line and in rolling resistance, and therefore in such a characteristic as economy.
As a result, according to the final score, which takes into account the importance of various tests, Nokian Hakka Blue 2 SUV ranked first, Goodyear Efficient Grip SUV second, and Michelin Latitude Sport 3 third. All three tires received five stars. in our safety rating.
The Matador MP 85 Hectorra 4X4 SUV UHP, General Grabber GT and Falken AzeniS (FK453CC) tires are far behind this trio. The Matador tire is the best in this trinity. And, if not for some shortcomings in handling on dry pavement, it could have received a higher final score and four safety stars. In the meantime, it has three stars in its standings with fairly balanced characteristics (with the exception of one). The General Grabber GT doesn't have any clear performance failures, but the average performance on various surfaces kept it from taking a higher position. The Falken AzeniS tire also received average marks. And, as tests have shown, it lacks grip on wet pavement.
The absolute outsider was Tigar tire Summer SUV, which has a tread pattern that is more off-road than road. Accordingly, it has the worst braking properties on wet and dry pavement and it is the worst in this company in terms of wet and dry handling. Consequently, she received only one safety star. This tire can only be considered by those who often travel on dirt roads.
Providing in each of our tests the performance characteristics of tires, we always give information about their weight. Previously, we did not focus on it special attention. However, it is time to explain that this is also important parameter under our operating conditions. The fact is that every extra kilogram in the weight of the tire on our broken roads due to the action of large inertia forces, it contributes to the transfer of large loads to the suspension units. And heavy loads mean a decrease in the life of stabilizer struts, shock absorbers, ball bearings, etc.
In this discipline, the absolute winners are Michelin tires Latitude Sport 3 and Nokian Hakka Blue 2 SUV, weighing a kilogram or more less than other competitors.
All-terrain kit
The all-terrain tire, for all its orientation to both asphalt-concrete and dirt roads, surprised me by the fact that after the calculations it was not in last place. Obviously, due to the premium nature of its brand, it showed good results in a number of tests.
However, we still recommend these tires more for farmers, hunters and fishermen who understand what they put on their car and, accordingly, on the roads common use behave calmly, without signs of aggressive, high-speed driving.
TEST RESULTS
The ratings for the tested tires are presented in the table
From year to year, crossovers are gaining momentum in the Russian market, and, despite the crisis situation, cars of this class are in stable demand. And a separate issue in this case is the topic of tires, because they should behave well not only on asphalt, but also beyond. That is why it is necessary to test such tires according to an extended program, including off-road disciplines.
The test participants were summer tires with dimensions 235/65 R17, which are suitable for almost all SUVs in the mid-size segment, and the so-called H / T (or HT) asphalt specification. After all, it is these tires that occupy more than 80% of the Russian market of “shoes” for crossovers, and the remaining share falls on mud (M / T or MT) and universal (A / T or AT) tires for SUVs.
In total, eight sets of tires were tested. famous brands, and among them were the top five market leaders in the face of Bridgestone Dueler H / P Sport, Continental ContiCrossContact UHP, Michelin Latitude Tour HP, Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV and Pirelli Scorpion Verde. In addition, Nokian Hakka Blue SUV and Yokohama Geolandar SUV G055 tires, produced in Russia, and Dynapro HP2 rubber, a representative of the rapidly growing South Korean company Hankook, were tested.
For crossover tires, in addition to asphalt disciplines, light off-road tests and longitudinal aquaplaning were prepared. Of course, on serious off-road tires like HT are completely helpless, well, after all, owners of crossovers periodically have to travel to wet grass, sand, gravel or dirt roads. As the main carrier of the "shoes" was one of the medium-sized off-road vehicles.
The first exercise that affected the test participants was the evaluation of the tire for rolling resistance, which was carried out using special expensive equipment (it not only speeds up the process, but also produces a smaller measurement error). During the tests, passed at a speed of 60 and 90 km / h, a downforce that does not exceed 80% of the permissible pressure is pressed on a wheel rolling on a running drum (load index 104 was taken as a guide, meaning Weight Limit 900 kg).
For more accurate results, two tires of each model were tested on the stands, and the lowest rolling resistance and, therefore, lowest flow Yokohama and Michelin had fuel, but Hankook tires became an outsider in this discipline.
The next discipline is aquaplaning on a straight stretch, and the tire carrier in this case was a mid-size pickup truck, the transmission of which was forcibly activated in rear-wheel drive mode. The measuring point, which should be approached in third gear at a speed of 60 km/h, is represented by a 200 meter long tub with an 8 mm layer of water, while the right wheels remain on dry pavement. Measuring devices, using individual wheel sensors, record the difference in the angular speeds of the right and left front wheels, and a 15 percent difference between the angular speeds of the right wheel in contact with the asphalt and the slipping left wheel that floats above the road is taken as the start of aquaplaning.
The palm in this test went to Pirelli tires with a result of 92.6 km/h, while Goodyear and Hankook showed themselves a little worse - 91.9 km/h and 91.5 km/h, respectively. Lagging behind are the Michelin, which floats at 87.2 km/h, and the Continental, at 87.6 km/h.
Well, having worked with the equipment, it's time to go directly to sea trials, and at an optimum ambient temperature of 27 degrees Celsius on two cars at once - both on a crossover and on a pickup truck. A five-door is better suited for assessing directional stability on a high-speed ring - in this discipline, all the nuances of the car's behavior during soft lane changes and correction of the direction of movement are determined, how simple and understandable it is to drive, and the information content of the steering and steering angles are also evaluated. And of course, it does not stand aside and check the level of internal noise and smoothness through a special section with various irregularities.
Nokian tires showed the best directional stability, which provided the crossover with the most informative and tight steering wheel and excellent response during maneuvers. But at the opposite end of the rating in this exercise were Bridgestones - when working with the steering wheel, they turn with little or no resistance, which can play a cruel joke at speed, and on a straight line they endow the “steering wheel” with emptiness and low information content. Michelin tires turned out to be preferable to others in terms of comfort, and only Hankook can keep up with them in low-speed.
Well, now it's time to move on to "wet" testing - braking on asphalt, which is covered with a 1.5 mm layer of water. It is carried out according to the same methodology that is used for cars - measurements begin at 80 km / h, and end at 5 km / h in order to exclude the intervention of the anti-lock braking system. It should be noted that the braking test was carried out on two different surfaces - on asphalt with an average coefficient of adhesion (about the same as on the roads of Russia) and on a smooth surface.
The results turned out to be very interesting. In the first case, Goodyear tires took the lead with a score of 33.5 meters, ahead of Continental by almost half a meter (33.9 meters), and in the second case, Continental showed the best numbers (24.2 meters), which left behind Nokian, Hankook and Goodyear. Michelin tires (46.6 and 28.1 meters respectively) and Yokohama (48.6 and 31.4 meters) became outsiders on each of the surfaces.
The next test is a “wet” rearrangement, that is, a lane change on a 12-meter segment with a lane width of 3.5 meters. “Ahead of the rest” here were Nokian tires, on which the crossover scored the highest speed of 67.2 km / h. Hankook tires performed well, losing only 0.1 km/h to the leader, and Michelin got the bronze with a result of 61.4 km/h.
But do not forget that the maximum speed of passing the rearrangement does not yet reflect the whole picture, because the amount of effort expended by the driver on this exercise is no less important, which is why the controllability when changing lanes is also evaluated in parallel. And here, four tires at once - Goodyear, Continental, Nokian and Pirelli - earned the highest points for reactions and behavior during extreme maneuvering.
It already happened that the “wet” rearrangement was carried out on asphalt with a high coefficient of adhesion, and the “dry” exercise had to be carried out on a more slippery, albeit dry, surface, which is why limit speeds on the wet road turned out higher than on the dry. That is why another test was added - a controllability test on a special track (however, the marks here turned out to be almost the same as for the rearrangement). The Nokian tires outperformed the others thanks to their highly predictable glide behavior and immediate steering responses. The Continental and Pirelli showed the highest stability in terms of handling, which earned the same points in both of the exercises.
Having finished the cycle of “wet” tests, we proceed to the “dry” disciplines, which began with braking from a speed of 100 to 5 km / h on a rough and smooth surface. Faster than the rest in both cases, the crossover, which was shod in Continental tires, - 38.8 and 39.2 meters, respectively. The last position was again occupied by Yokohama (43.2 and 45.8).
The "dry" rearrangement was carried out under the same conditions as the "wet" one, but with only one difference - the asphalt was dry. But it is worth recalling that the coefficient of adhesion on this surface is less than on a wet area, which is why the speeds were slightly lower. With an indicator of 65.3 km / h, Hankook signed up for the “dry” leaders, and Bridgestone (60.6 km / h) lost to all. From the point of view of handling, Nokian tires performed well, and Yokohama became outsiders.
In handling on the special track, Pirelli tires scored more than others - a mid-size crossover with such wheels showed the best reactions and behavior on the road. The most interesting thing is that all the subjects received stable results. " gold medal» Bridgestone earned for the stability of handling - only these tires turned out same digits in different modes.
In parallel with the asphalt tests, an off-road test was carried out on a mid-size pickup truck - in these exercises, a two-wheel drive vehicle (with a deactivation mode for one of the axles) was needed, which allows to more correctly capture the difference between the tires. Speed sensors were installed on each of the wheels of the "truck", but there was also an acceleration sensor.
The first discipline is the assessment of traction on wet grass, on which the pickup truck travels in first gear at a speed of 5-8 km / h, after which it accelerates until the wheel slip reaches 70% (this process is controlled by a special device, and acceleration sensor measures). The traction force is obtained by multiplying the acceleration by the mass of the car, and special program shows a graph of the dependence of traction force on the amount of wheel slip.
When summarizing the results, information was used, limited to two points - the initial 15 percent and the final 69 percent slip (each of the subjects was able to achieve such an indicator), between which the average value of the traction force is determined.
To make the results as reliable as possible, accelerations were carried out twenty-five times on each tire model, while reference (base) “rubber” was used to track changes in the road surface during the test, because grip on grass is very unstable.
Yokohama tires with a traction force of 430 N excelled in this exercise, and Pirelli became the worst (385 N).
The determination of traction on a gravel road is carried out according to the same methodology as in the previous test, and the differences are only in the gravel under the wheels and a different measurement range: from 15 to 75 percent slippage.
The first line on the podium went to Continental tires(thrust 443 H), Yokohama and Bridgestone turned out to be the “weakest” (399 H and 398 H, respectively), showing traction 5% below the average according to the results of the test.
The most difficult discipline is testing the traction on wet sand, as it requires meticulous preparation - the sand must be filled with water and compacted using heavy equipment. It is carried out according to the following method - a pickup truck is attached to the truck by means of a rigid hitch and tries to move it. Of course, it is impossible to move such a “trailer” on the sand of a pickup truck, however, the dynamometer built into the hitch allows you to determine the traction force: the device turns on in seconds after the clutch is fully engaged, then takes measurements for a second and subsequently deactivates.
To make the result reliable, all sets of tires go through twenty measurements, each time moving a meter forward diagonally on the prepared site.
The most "powerful" tires in this discipline were Continental tires with 494 H, while Bridgestone (424 H) were modest, deviating immediately by 8% from the average.
