Our correspondent didn't have to leave Ivalo: presentations of winter tires went one after another. But it's cold, though.
Toyo tires are far from known to all our motorists: the Japanese company Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd, literally stepping on the heels of the largest transnational tire manufacturers, sells half of its products in its own country, a third - in North America. And only 6% goes to Europe. At the same time, the Japanese did not pay attention to our market for a long time and, as a result, they were somewhat late. The first press presentation of tires for Russian journalists took place only in February of this year. Let's talk about her.
Photo: Vladimir Zaborshchikov and Toyo
In Ivalo, two Toyo winter tires were presented at once - the friction Observe GSi-5 and the studded Observe G3‑Ice. If our readers are already familiar with the first, put into production a year ago, then for the second, the event at the Finnish polar test site Test World became the Russian premiere.
Recall that the peculiarity of Toyo Observe GSi-5 is the use of exotic plant materials in its production. The finely crushed walnut shell mixed into the rubber compound of the tread plays the role of a horde of microscopic spikes. Do not rush to be sarcastic! The shell is a unique material. It has a hardness sufficient to "pierce" the ice, but does not harm the asphalt; does not rot and due to some porosity inherent in all plant materials, it adheres well to rubber. The use of nut crumbs significantly increases the coefficient of grip on snow and ice.
The Observe G3 Ice has surpassed its predecessor in every way. Photo: Vladimir Zaborshchikov and Toyo
Do you remember why ice is slippery? From the pressure on the ice, its upper layer thaws, the moisture formed acts as a lubricant. To remove water from the contact patch, Toyo Tires engineers added a moisture absorbent derived from bamboo charcoal to the rubber compound. An active presence in Malaysia allows the company to spare no expense to natural rubber, which, together with silica, ensures the elasticity of the rubber at low temperatures.
The rest of the tire complies with the principles of winter tire design accepted in the world today. The tread pattern (small checker and solid central rib) looks a bit old-fashioned, but new, as you know, is almost forgotten old.
The tire is produced in 69 standard sizes - from 175/55R15 77T to 315/35R20 110H.
Gear-shaped edges of the hole for the spike. Photo: Vladimir Zaborshchikov and Toyo
On July 1 this year, the requirements of the Scandinavian Tire & Rim Organization (STRO - Scandinavian Tire & Rim Organization) came into effect, limiting the number of studs per 1 meter of the outer circumference of a tire. For example, a 15" tire can now have 50 studs instead of 110. This is where the experience of using nutshells comes in handy. The new Observe G3‑Ice studded tire uses the same compound as the friction tire. The shape of the spike was changed, and the socket for its installation was made in the form of an asterisk or gear. They say it's more reliable. As many as 20 rows of studding were obtained by computer simulation. Thus, two different ways of improving grip on a slippery road surface were combined in one tread.
Toyo Observe GSi-5. Photo: Vladimir Zaborshchikov and Toyo
The directional symmetrical tread pattern is made in the Scandinavian style. Large multi-directional grooves evacuate water and slash, increase flotation in deep snow and are self-cleaning. Shoulder design improves handling on ice and snow. The blocks placed here have sawtooth edges, which, according to the designers, facilitates movement on loose snow. The protrusions at the bottom of the grooves serve the same purpose. The notch on the outer side surfaces of the shoulder (support) blocks facilitates both the exit from the track and movement along it.
The central rib works on directional stability and grip in the transverse direction. The slats, as is now customary, are made three-dimensional.
"Nut mixture" works well not only in frosts, but also in thaws on wet pavement. Since the mixture is well mixed, its effectiveness does not decrease as the tread wears.
A whole range of technical solutions was used to increase the level of comfort, including acoustic.
The Observe G3 Ice has surpassed its predecessor in every way. In particular, the braking distance on snow (40–0 km/h) was reduced by 9%, and on snow - by 17%. This year, the Observe G3‑Ice is offered in 53 sizes - from 175/70R13 82T to 275/35R20 102T XL.
Toyo Observe G3 Ice. Photo: Vladimir Zaborshchikov and Toyo
People often ask: "What tires are the best?" I confess: having at my disposal neither the equipment, nor the training ground, nor the means, I do not undertake to answer it. Press presentations do not help either: different tires for comparison, different cars, different tracks, different weather, finally. That is why I try to refrain from comparative assessments. Nevertheless, I can not help but note that during the test runs, both Toyo tires simply impressed with their confident behavior on ice. And in order to get a specific objective idea of the nature of the tire, you need to ride it for not an hour or two.
TOYO Tire & Rubber Group
The corporation was founded in Japan in 1945. The head office is located in Osaka, the network of divisions and representative offices covers more than 100 countries of the world.
The capital of the group is estimated at 276.4 million euros. The staff is about 10,000 people.
In addition to three plants in Japan, the group has two tire plants each in China and Malaysia and one in the USA.
In addition to tires, the corporation produces automotive components and chemical products.
The Toyo Technical Center in Itami is considered one of the most modern in the world. Tests are carried out at two own test sites in the south and north of Japan.
The division of Toyo Tires Rus plans by 2015 to increase the sales volume to 1 million units per year.
Non-studded, or non-studded, tires (they are also friction or Velcro) carry the studless mark on the sidewall, which translates from English as “no studs”. They are divided into two categories: for harsh northern winters (“Scandinavians”) and for warm Central European (“Europeans”). The first are focused on snow and ice, because their tread is made of softer rubber (from 55 to 50 Shore units and even a little lower). And the latter are aimed primarily at wet asphalt and, in addition to a harder compound, have developed grooves that more actively remove snow slush and water from the contact patch, that is, they more effectively fight aquaplaning and slashplaning (sliding over snow slush).
In Russia, with its frosty and snowy winters, "Scandinavians" are more popular from friction tires. Central European ones are sold in limited quantities - they are bought by those who spend the winter only in the metropolis, on streets cleared of snow and ice, constantly watered with chemicals.
For tests, we selected the most popular Scandinavian models on the Russian market at a price of 6530 to 9650 rubles. The choice began with representatives of the tire "big five" well-known on the market. These are Bridgestone Blizzak VRX, Michelin X-Ice 3, Goodyear, UltraGrip Ice 2, Continental ContiVikingContact 6 and new for the season - Pirelli Ice Zero FR tire.
We haven't forgotten about the leader of many of our tests - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, the most expensive tire in the sample. In addition, less expensive tires were included: the new Dunlop Winter Maxx WM01 and Hankook Winter i*cept iZ models, as well as the well-known and most affordable of all the participants, the Toyo Observe GSi-5 tire.
Racing in hell
Tests on "white" roads - this is how tire manufacturers call snow and ice tests - we conducted in March this year at one of the northernmost tire test sites White Hell ("White Hell"), owned by Nokian. They say that this name was given to him by analogy with the "Green Hell", as the famous Nurburgring race track was called.
"White Hell" is located on Lake Tammijärvi and includes about ten different ice tracks laid along the frozen water surface and the surrounding shores. And the same number of snow paths are rolled around the perimeter of this huge ice rink. The landfill from early morning until late at night is maintained in perfect condition by a motor platoon of various special equipment - from large snowcats and ice filling machines to small Multicars with brushes. Tire test heaven!
The tire carrier was appointed Volkswagen Golf GTi: its native size is 225/45 R17. ESP does not turn off. However, this can be done using a scanner, but we decided to leave everything as prescribed by the manufacturer. After all, that's how everyone drives. We even left the ASR traction control on during the measurements - with it the results are more accurate. But during the expert evaluation of directional stability, handling and cross-country ability, the ASR was still turned off in order to have full control over traction - without electronic intervention.
The air temperature during the tests varied from -2 to -18 °C.
Come up with the device
Friction tires on ice are very sensitive to the cleanliness of the surface and the condition ... of the sky. Even light snow that slightly powdered the ice rink, or bright sun that slightly melted the ice, can greatly distort the results. In the White Hell, the conditions for measuring acceleration and deceleration times are almost ideal, since the long icy straight is protected from snow, wind and sun by a huge awning. You can test tires regardless of the weather. Moreover, time is saved: four measurements are enough to obtain reliable results (on open ice, measurements have to be repeated six to eight times for greater accuracy).
Only here in the "tent" for measurements, instead of the usual VBOX complex, based on GPS data, you have to use the ancient Dutron with an optical sensor, since the layer of snow on the tent completely blocks access to satellites. True, optics at low speeds are sometimes mistaken - for example, the movement of snowflakes with a light blow of the wind Dutron can be mistaken for the movement of a car. Therefore, acceleration measurements are carried out from 5 km / h, and not from scratch, as when working with the VBOX measuring complex.
The Golf accelerates fastest on Dunlop tires - it takes just six seconds to reach 30 km/h. On Nokian tires, the loss is only one tenth of a second.
And Golf showed the most unhurried acceleration on Napcook and Bridgestone tires.
A little more than 15 meters it took the Golf, shod with Nokian tires, to slow down from 30 to 5 km / h - this is the best result. Slightly worse performance on tires Continental. In the lagging behind - Bridgestone and Pirelli: it took them 17.5 meters to complete the exercise. Bridgestone, to be honest, surprised: usually the longitudinal grip of these tires is always on top. Competitors have made significant progress!
We evaluate the transverse grip on the ice circle. It is located under the open sky, so we are waiting for cloudy weather, when the sun hides behind the clouds - in such conditions, the results are much more stable. We wind eight - ten circles and choose the best result, which we managed to repeat at least three times.
The most tenacious tires are Continental: on them, the Golf was able to complete a circle in 26 seconds. Nokian has the second result - worse by 0.6 seconds. Touo tires were the outsiders: 28.8 seconds.
Measurements on snow can be made in any weather, except for heavy snowfall: fresh flakes are usually very slippery. To assess the longitudinal grip, we use a long area on which we accelerate from a standstill to 40 km/h, and then brake to 5 km/h. For each measurement we use a fresh strip of snow, and when there are none left, we launch a snowcat with wide caterpillars. The restored coating resembles the "velveteen" on prepared ski slopes.
On snow, the fastest acceleration was achieved with Hankook and Pirelli tires, and the slowest with Bridgestone and Dunlop tires. In braking, the best were Continental and Pirelli, the worst - Bridgestone, Goodyear and Michelin. However, the difference between the first and last results is about 4%, so there are no losers in this exercise - there are losers.
We could not perform our traditional “rearrangement” exercise: we did not find compacted snow in the entire “White Hell”. The absence of this exercise was compensated by the assessment of handling on special ice and snow tracks.
fifth point
Not everything can be measured. For example, we evaluate the handling and cross-country ability subjectively - by exposing expert assessments, clearly formulating comments and taking into account their weight, impact on the behavior of the car.
We start with directional stability in the snow. The Golf holds the straight line most consistently at high speeds and follows the wheel faster in soft lane changes on Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook and Nokian tires.
Handling was evaluated on a track with a set of turns of different radii. Here, the speed is lower than when assessing directional stability, but the steering wheel has to be rotated at large angles, and in some “hairpins” even intercepted.
The most understandable behavior was provided to the Golf by Hankook, Nokian and Touo tires. And on Bridgestone and Dunlop tires, it is difficult to control it even for experienced experts: low information content and delays in reactions force the steering wheel to be twisted, which leads to skidding. In slips, the car unpredictably goes into a drift, then into a skid, floats sideways for a long time, not reacting to steering turns, until the speed drops.
When evaluating the cross-country ability in deep snow, Volkswagen on Nokian and Pirelli tires feels like a fish in water - it easily starts and maneuvers, it is easily selected in reverse if it is no longer possible to move forward. And riding on Bridgestone, Goodyear, Michelin and Touo tires in the same snowdrifts requires special skills from the driver - you can only start under tension, any slipping provokes self-burrowing. The car is very reluctant to maneuver and backs up.
Handling on ice is assessed on the frozen lake Tammijärvi. Here, everyone was conquered by Michelin: polished, downright asphalt reactions and an amazing feeling of the initial phase of sliding make it possible to drive along the “mirror” extremely reliably. Not so perfect, but no less confident, Continental, Nokian and Pirelli tires allow you to drive the Golf. The rest of the tires also performed well - the experts had only minor comments.
black roads
Tests on asphalt were carried out in April - May at the AVTOVAZ test site at temperatures from +4 to +7 °C. The first exercise is the evaluation of profitability. The best results regardless of speed were shown by Hankook and Nokian. The worst are Dunlop and Touo tires. Although the difference between them is cheap, only a glass of gasoline (200 ml) per 100 km.
Even during the warm-up lap before measuring a dozen kilometers, we move at a speed of 110 to 130 km / h. It's time to evaluate road holding on asphalt. Michelin provides very clear directional stability and clear, informative steering effort - almost like in the warm season on summer tires! Slightly lost to Dunlop, Goodyear and Pirelli. Claims arose against Hankook and Touo tires: the Golf shod in them surprises with an empty, uninformative steering wheel, delays in reactions when adjusting the direction of movement and unpleasant “catching up” steering of the rear axle on an arc.
Noise and smoothness on a good surface are evaluated here, on a high-speed oval. Then add service roads with cracks, crevices and potholes.
We get that Continental tires deserve the right to be called the most comfortable - they have the highest ratings in terms of noise comfort and smoothness. By the way, Goodyear tires are just as quiet. The most rigid and "grouchy" tires are Dunlop, Touo ... and Michelin. Pirelli has a similar ride quality. The main notes for this four are the same: harsh shocks on medium and large bumps, vibrations on small ones and a feeling of overinflated tires.
The final exercises are braking on dry and wet pavement. We brake along one track on a narrow strip of asphalt, clamped by cones - that's more accurate. And do not forget after each measurement to cool the brakes with a leisurely “jog”.
On dry pavement, the shortest stopping distance is on Goodyear tires: 28.8 meters. A meter more passes Golf on tires Continental and Michelin. The worst result is for Touo: 33.1 meters.
On wet asphalt, the best braking is provided by Continental: 19.7 meters. Goodyear shows more than half a meter. In the tail - again Touo: the braking distance on these tires is six meters longer.
Total
The leading position in our test was taken by the ContiVikingContact 6 tires, which scored 924 points. In second place, only nine points behind, is Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2. Both models are excellent tires with excellent performance and differ from each other only in nuances: Conti pleases with better grip and a high level of comfort, while Nokian captivates with understandable, predictable behavior and gives a small fuel economy.
An honorable third place went to Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 tires (899 points). They will be a good choice in large cities where the streets are clear of snow and ice, as they provide very good grip on both dry and wet pavement.
The Pirelli Ice Zero FR, Michelin X-Ice 3 and Hankook Winter i*cept iZ2, together with the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, fit into the category of very good tyres, totaling over 870 points. Michelin tires are not comfortable enough, but they conquer with excellent handling on ice and high directional stability on asphalt. Pirelli and Hankook are especially good on snowy roads. It is also extremely important that Hankook tires proved to be the best in terms of price and quality ratio.
Dunlop Winter Maxx WM01 and Bridgestone Blizzak VRX are almost equal (864 and 866 points) and have reached the level of strong midrangers. They differ in nuances that the average driver is unlikely to catch.
Test winner - Continental ContiVikingContact 6 - demonstrates excellent traction and provides a high level of comfort
Dunlop, for example, is slightly less comfortable, but provides better directional stability on asphalt. Bridgestone is noticeably more expensive.
Toyo Observe GSi-5 can be called a budget option both in terms of performance (primarily due to modest traction on asphalt) and price.
By the way, Touo tires were distinguished by an excellent ratio of price to the number of points scored - 7.78. And the best result is for Hankook tires: 7.71. This means that these tires are not so much worse than those that took higher places, as much as they are cheaper.
We express our gratitude to the tire manufacturing companies that provided their products for testing. We thank the employees of the White Hell and AVTOVAZ landfills, as well as the Togliatti company Volgashintorg for technical support.
Anton MISHIN and Dmitry TESTOV helped Sergei Mishin on the "white" roads in tire testing. And in Tolyatti, on the "black", also Anton ANANYEV, Vladimir KOLESOV, Yuri KUROCHKIN, Evgeny LARIN, Andrey OBRAZUMOV and Valery PAVLOV.
Toyo Observe GSi-5 - 9th place in winter tire test Za Rulem 2016
Medium longitudinal grip on snow and ice
Good handling on snow
Worse lateral grip on ice and braking properties on asphalt, increased fuel consumption
Low level of comfort
Bridgestone BLizzak VRX - 8th place in winter tire test Za Rulem 2016
Average braking properties on asphalt
Keeping a clear course on a snowy road
Weak longitudinal grip on ice and snow
Increased fuel consumption at a speed of 60 km / h
Difficult handling on snow, low cross-country ability
Dunlop Winter Maxx WM01 - 7th place in winter tire test Za Rulem 2016 
Best acceleration on ice
Braking properties on asphalt
Low lateral grip on ice
Weak acceleration on snow
Difficult handling on snow
Noisy and hard
Increased fuel consumption
Hankook Winter incept iZ - 6th place in winter tire test Za Rulem 2016
Excellent longitudinal traction on snow
Economical at any speed
Stable directional stability and precise handling on snow
Weak acceleration on ice
Difficult directional stability on asphalt
Michelin X-lce 3 - 5th place winter tire test Za Rulem 2016
Excellent braking properties on dry pavement
Excellent handling on ice and directional stability on asphalt
Limited flotation in deep snow
Low level of comfort
Pirelli Ice Zero FR - 4th place in winter tire test Za Rulem 2016
Best longitudinal grip on snow
Good handling on ice and flotation in deep snow
Accurate following the course on the pavement
Weak longitudinal grip on ice
Not economical enough at 60 km/h
Rigid
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 - 3rd place winter tire test Za Rulem 2016
Best braking properties on dry pavement, excellent on wet pavement
Clear course following on snow and asphalt
Low noise
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 - 2nd place winter tire test Za Rulem 2016
Best braking properties and excellent acceleration on ice
economical
High directional stability on snow, excellent handling on any road and cross-country ability
Average braking properties on asphalt
Minor comments on directional stability on asphalt and comfort
Continental ContiVikingContact 6 - 1st place winter tire test Za Rulem 2016
Best lateral grip on ice, braking performance on snow and wet pavement
Excellent braking properties on ice and acceleration on snow
Clear directional stability on snow and handling on ice
The most comfortable
Minor comments on handling on snow, flotation and directional stability on asphalt
SPIN DISKS
In tire tests, in addition to tires, we also test wheels. Now we are undergoing a multi-stage strength test of the LS 285 discs. Unfortunately, they were not tested in the cold in Finland, but they passed the tests on asphalt in Tolyatti with honor. But the assessment of the behavior of the car at high speed and braking on dry and wet surfaces is a serious test for the wheels.
Inspection after winter tests confirms the verdict made after the first summer tests: there are no serious comments on the wheels. They are in excellent condition; no warping was found on the surfaces adjacent to the hubs; at the attachment points (around the holes for the mounting bolts), the metal did not stretch. The discs delight the eye with an almost pristine appearance: no chips, no crevices. We continue the check - summer tests are ahead.
Toyo's motto is "Environment and Safety". Toyo Tires & Rubber is a group of companies that is one of the best tire manufacturers in the world, with offices in more than 100 countries. In Russia, this company is not so well known, because the main direction in the production of tires is premium and sports rubber, as well as tires for street racing, drag racing and low profile tires for sports cars.
This is a non-studded winter tire designed for city and highway trips in low temperatures. The range of use on various models and classes of cars is quite high, since this tire is produced in more than 100 dimensions, in diameter from 13 to 22 inches and is suitable for almost all types of cars. What is so interesting and unusual about this tire? The tread pattern is symmetrical, directional, i.e. it is necessary to install tires on the disk according to the arrow on the sidewall, indicating the direction of movement. The V-shaped tread itself is divided into five zones - two shoulder and three central. The tread pattern is calm, not aggressive. The central rib provides precise directional stability when driving in a straight line at high speed, and the wave-shaped sipes provide better grip on ice surfaces than previous models in any direction. The two ribs flanked by the central ribs are made up of multi-contour 3D sipes that make these ribs stiffer and improve braking performance on snow, ice and wet pavement. The “Spider Web” technology (Spider and Swing type sipes) are multidirectional sipes on blocks that are responsible for maximum grip on the road surface during emergency maneuvers and cornering, as well as improve tire performance during acceleration and braking. The shallower First Edge sipes also increase traction when the tires are still new. Blocks of checkers of the shoulder zones have notches and a side pattern in the form of arrows with notches (Arrow Lift Buttress). This pattern is designed for better flotation in deep snow and snow-mud porridge. Snow Claw technology improves traction when driving in deep snow, and also increases the rigidity of the blocks, increasing grip on ice and wet roads - these are jumpers located in the longitudinal grooves that connect the tread blocks together, while increasing the rigidity of the longitudinal ribs, thus , longitudinal grooves work like propeller blades on steamers, raking in snow and throwing it out from behind, while simultaneously pushing off from it. The same process occurs when moving through water, slush and slush. The content of silica has been increased in the composition of the rubber compound using a new technology to improve its dispersion properties and uniformity of the composition. Rubber has become softer and retains its properties and characteristics at sub-zero temperatures. In addition, the rubber compound uses a moisture absorbent based on powder obtained from bamboo charcoal, which works like a napkin that removes a film of water from the ice surface, thereby increasing grip on the ice surface and, as a result, better handling and braking performance. Among other things, the engineers managed to get rid of the noise when the tire moves at high speed. Next, let's look at tests from the pros and reviews from amateurs to finally make sure of the quality of the Toyo Observe GSi-5 tires.
Toyo Observe GSi-5 - test from the pros
The test involved 10 sets of winter non-studded tires in the dimension 205/55 R16 for Golf cars. The tires were top-end, mid-range and budget versions, and during the testing process, it seemed that competitors were spying on each other and gave out almost the same product, because the final scores differed from each other in different versions within 2 percent. The car on which the tests were carried out is a Volkswagen Golf. Without changing the tradition, let's get acquainted with the list of participants. 1) Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2; 2) Continental ContiVikingContact 6; 3) Michelin X-Ice 3; 4) Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2; 5) Bridgestone Blizzak VRX; 6) Nokian Nordman RS; 7) Pirelli Winter Ice Control; 8) ; 9) Cordiant Winter Drive; 10) Kumho I ZEN KW31. Further, in order not to bore with listing all the results of the participants in all tests (and there are not so few), we consider only the best and worst result in each category, as well as how the Toyo Observe GSi-5 score compares to the worst and best result, so that there was something to compare. Let's start by checking the stopping distance on ice from a speed of 30 km / h to 5 km / h. 1st place Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 18.2m, Kumho in 10th place with 21.4m. The result of Toyo 8th is 19.9 m. The next test is measuring the time of passing the ice lap - this test allows you to find out several parameters and characteristics of rubber at once: acceleration dynamics and handling in corners. Of course, the time should be minimal. Hakkapeliitta R2 came first again with a lap of 16s, Kumho last 17.8s, Toyo this time in 6th place with 16.5s. Further measurements of the acceleration time on ice from 0 km/h to 30 km/h. The Hakkapeliitta R2 is back in the lead with 9.4s, while the Kumho is once again behind the curve with 11.1s. Toyo this time shared the 4th place with Michelin and Continental, accelerating in 9.6 seconds. The next test is to measure the braking distance on snow from a speed of 30 km/h to 5 km/h. This time the first was Goodyear with a stopping distance of 9.7m. Kumho shows a stable last result of 11.3m. Toyo has the 6th result with 10.5m. Next, a test to perform an emergency maneuver (moose test) at maximum speed. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 regained the lead in this test with a top speed of 47.2 km/h. Kumho, without betraying itself, passed the test with a minimum speed of 39.3 km / h. Toyo Observe GSi-5 in 8th place with a score of 42.5 km/h. The next test is to accelerate on the snow as quickly as possible. In this test, 4 leaders at once - Pirelli, Hakkapeliitta R2 Nokian, Continental and Michelin accelerated the fastest - in 4.4s. Kumho - stability is also a result - came last in 5.7s. Toyo is not much better than Kumho this time around with 5.2s. This is followed by a check of the braking distance on wet pavement from 60 km/h to 5 km/h. The best was Goodyear with a stopping distance of 18.9m. This time Cordiant has the longest stopping distance - 22.9m. Toyo is in 8th place with 21.0m. And the last test - checking the braking distance on dry pavement from a speed of 80 km / h to 5 km / h. Goodyear is back in the lead with a stopping distance of 30.1m. Cordiant took the last position with a score of 34.5m. Toyo is back in 8th place with a stopping distance of 33.0m.
If you pay attention, the results of all 10 competitors are really not much different from each other. As for the pros and cons of the Toyo Observe GSi-5, it has good acceleration on ice and low noise. Worse accelerating dynamics and lateral grip on snow and a little harsh in terms of comfort. The best properties of the Toyo Observe GSi-5 are revealed on icy, wet and dry pavement. Next, let's turn to amateurs who tested these tires in various conditions, on broken and good roads, in the city and on the highway.
Toyo Observe GSi-5 - amateur test
Let's start in order. Let's draw a parallel with the tests from the pros. As for the stopping distance on ice, opinions are a little divided, but the main conclusion is that if you don’t try to drift on ice and observe the speed limit and accuracy, then everything is normal, predictable control. One of the amateurs noticed such a feature when braking on ice from a speed of 80-100 km / h that at first you slide on rubber, and as the speed begins to decrease, all 4 wheels literally bite into the ice and braking occurs almost like on pavement. If we talk about performing emergency maneuvers on ice and cornering, the behavior and handling are adequate, there are no sharp uncontrolled skids. The information was also confirmed that acceleration on ice occurs with slipping, and then the movement itself on ice, again, if you follow the normal speed regime, resembles movement on asphalt. As for the operation of tires on snow, everything is fine here, they brake perfectly, rake and pull from deep ruts and snowdrifts, snow porridge is not a problem, they effectively self-clean, it is a pleasure to accelerate and perform emergency maneuvers. As for driving on dry and wet asphalt, the rubber behaves the same way - equally well, braking without complaints. Some nuances when using Toyo Observe GSi-5 tires: On large heavy jeeps like Ford Explorer, it floats on asphalt at a speed of 120 km / h or more, because it is soft (in one review about another rubber, it was advised to experimentally adjust the tire pressure and even indicated that if the pressure is low, then the rubber floats on the road, if it is high, then the tread wears out faster). By the way, about tread wear - many fans were glad of its wear resistance (on average, it lasts for 4 seasons), a strong sidewall (one of the fans was late somewhere, drove along the highway and there was a road ahead almost to the house with pits and potholes, and he there was a choice - either drive 20-30 km / h, or fly them at 100-120 km / h, he chose the 2nd option and thought that he would eventually arrive on square wheels, but everything went well and all the tires remained intact) .
Toyo Observe GSi-5 - final conclusion
Whether you are a professional driver or a beginner, drive a Russian “Avtoprom” or a good foreign car, in any case, when the winter season comes, the question arises of buying winter tires. Some of the drivers study numerous tests and reviews, someone buys winter tires on the advice of friends. Some focus on cost, some on quality. And not only on handling characteristics, but also on operational aspects: how long the rubber will withstand seasons, capricious or unpretentious for storage in the off-season, how durable it is for use on our not quite smooth roads, where it can be torn on some pits and potholes. Also, when choosing winter tires, do not forget in which region you will use it, how long winter lasts, how many days or months the roads are covered with ice or snow, whether there will be trips to the mountains, to nature, where, unlike city roads, there are no road services that sprinkle them with reagents.
If your friend advised you this particular tire model, you need to know that if you have different cars (he has front-wheel drive, and you have rear-wheel drive, or he has a jeep, and you have a passenger car), then the behavior of these cars in the same conditions, On the same seemingly identical rubber, it will be different. Therefore, it is advisable to focus on the advice of a friend on the same car as yours or close in parameters, which successfully operated the tires that he recommends.
As for the G3-Ice model specifically, we can say that it turned out to be very successful, combining the latest innovations in technological progress, not only in the design of the pattern, the external structure of the cord, the stud placement technology, the functional composition of the rubber compound itself, using environmentally friendly natural material - walnut shell, but it also outperformed some famous brands in terms of its characteristics in tests, as well as in terms of cost - almost a budget option.
In conclusion, let me remind you that you should not forget, first of all, not only about the safety of yourself and your family, but also about the safety of other road users. And believe me - the money saved on buying high-quality rubber is not worth the lost time, health and a broken car. Good luck on the roads!
Friction winter tires Toyo Observe GSi-5 showed, to put it mildly, mediocre results. But now they are being replaced by the GSi-6 version. Corrected and added? Now let's check: welcome to the ice!
If in the "snow" disciplines the outgoing model at the very least reached the level of the middle peasants, then, say, in the exercises on wet pavement, it reliably held the honorable twenty-first place. Our chief tire expert Oleg Rastegaev complained: “It seems that the silicas did not report.” The developers explained to me that they were primarily focused on the needs of the Canadian market, where special attention is paid to the behavior of tires on ice and snow. But now they have worked on the bugs.
Toyo Observe GSi-6
The advanced rubber compound, formulated with patented Nano Balance technology, enhances the tire's grip on wet surfaces, without compromising snow performance. The Observe GSi-6 model is designed to meet the requirements, including the Russian market, where wet asphalt in winter is a normal occurrence. By the way, as Toyo experts said, Autoreview tests helped a lot in shaping the right understanding of the right balance of tire qualities.
On the diagram - comparison of consumer qualities of tires GSi-5 (highlighted in blue), GSi-6 (highlighted in pink) and some competing tires (green graph)
I was able to assess the progress of the new tire on ice at the Mytishchi Arena hockey rink. It was then that the training on the “Brazilian system” surfaced in my memory, the secret of which was revealed in one of the issues of Yeralash. If young people do not know what it is about, I recommend finding the appropriate series on the Web. Of course, I would not refuse to scold somewhere in Sweden on the ice of a frozen lake, but it is driving in a limited space, without the right to make a mistake, that allows you to concentrate perfectly and pay attention to the subtleties of the car's behavior. In addition, stable test conditions are also a guarantee of a correct assessment of both tires and the car as a whole.
Ice is perfect! I only know this one from my childhood memories. Then every day I ran with a stick on the mirror ice of the Spartak skating stadium in the Moscow district of Izmailovo. At that time, it was poured with boiling water, leveled with a carpet - and everyone was allowed to enter it for free! It’s a pity that now another residential skyscrapers are being erected in its place ... Returning to the ice arena in Mytishchi, I’ll add that the ice temperature was completely stable (minus 11 degrees Celsius) and after several races the ice mirror was updated. All for science!
First, I had a Skoda Octavia at my disposal, shod in the tires of the outgoing GSi-5 model. I performed a simple moose test at a speed of 14 km / h, and I was able to move in a circle at a stable speed of 12 km / h. It was worth increasing the speed by at least 1 km / h - and the car in both exercises broke into a demolition. Moreover, she was in no hurry to regain grip with the coating - she had to slightly dissolve and turn the steering wheel again to help the process.
The rapid movement of the car on the site - the magic of photography. In fact, I could not accelerate faster than 16 km / h
And now - exactly the same Octavia, but with new tires GSi-6. Driving just got easier! Yes, and the speed has increased: I performed the moose test at a speed of 16 km / h, and on the circle I managed to accelerate to 14 km / h. At the same time, it was felt that the car followed the steering wheel more willingly, and the drifts that occurred when the permissible speed was exceeded turned out to be shorter: the tires more readily regained grip with the surface, and additional panic steering movements were no longer required. The improvement of tire performance on ice was achieved through a serious reworking of the tread pattern. Moreover, improvements are promised not only on ice, but also on snow, which I also tend to believe. Nevertheless, “trust but verify”, which we will definitely do in the upcoming tire tests.
Left - tire Toyo Observe GSi-5, right - Toyo Observe GSi-6. The tread blocks adjacent to the central track have become doubled, which increases their rigidity and, as a result, the stability of driving in a straight line. Less noticeable differences include spiral-edge sipes that provide traction on ice and improve handling and cornering stability. There is a new notch profile on the edges of the blocks and a new shape of the central rib - all this also affects the grip properties of the tire on winter surfaces
Observe GSi-6 tires will be produced in three versions. Initial Basic - for mass passenger cars, LS with reinforced sidewalls - for crossovers. But in our stores for the winter season 2019-2020, only the HP version with a landing diameter of up to 19 inches will appear: it is designed for "powerful cars that need handling and high speed characteristics." So says the manufacturer. Given that the price of new tires will rise by no more than 5-10%, I would recommend buying them, rather, for "people's" cars with 16-17 inch wheels.
Toyo Observe Garit GSi5 is a winter friction tire with a symmetrical non-directional tread pattern designed for passenger cars and SUVs.
Country of origin: Japan.
Test Toyo GSi 5 Observe Garit from the Russian "Behind the wheel", conducted in 2016
In 2016 experts of the Russian publication Za Rulem have tested the Toyo GSi 5 at size 225/45 R17 and compared it with eight similar mid-range and premium winter tyres.
Test results
According to the results of the Toyo Observe GSi-5 test, it took the last place in the overall standings and showed a slight imbalance in performance. The tire showed the worst braking performance on dry and wet pavement among all tires from the test, but at the same time on snow and ice, it provides an average level of grip (with the exception of handling on ice, in this test it has the worst result).
| Discipline | Place | A comment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braking on dry pavement | 9 | Worst result. The braking distance is 4.3 meters longer than that of the test leader. | |
| Braking on wet pavement | 9 | Worst result. The braking distance is 5.9 meters longer than that of the test leader. | |
| Ice braking | 5 | The braking distance is 1.4 meters longer than the leader of the test. | |
| Acceleration on ice | 6 | Acceleration time to 30 km / h is 1 second longer than that of the test leader. | |
| Handling on ice | 9 | Worst result. The average time to pass the track is 2.8 seconds longer than that of the test leader. | |
| Snow braking | 4 | The braking distance is 0.2 meters longer than that of the test leader. | |
| Acceleration on snow | 7 | Acceleration time to 40 km / h is 0.5 seconds longer than that of the test leader. | |
 | Consumption at 60km/h | 6-9 | One of the worst results. Fuel consumption is 0.2 l/100km higher than the test leader. |
| Consumption at 90km/h | 8-9 | Fuel consumption is 0.2 l/100km higher than the test leader. |
Feedback from experts who conducted the test:
On snow, they provide good handling and average longitudinal grip, but poor cross-country ability. On ice, weak lateral grip and medium longitudinal. High fuel consumption, low comfort. Worst braking performance on asphalt, difficult directional stability.
List of tires tested:
