Test of winter studded tires 185/65R15 (AutoReview)
- Test start date: 01 February 2016
- Test end date: 29 February 2016
- Road quality: Good
- Car: Lada Vesta
Comparative tests of studded and friction rubber 185/65R15
This year, AutoReview experts tested studded and non-studded winter tires to compare performance and present final results to help car owners prepare their car for the winter season. Below we present you the test results for studded tires.
Ice tests
The Hakkapeliitta 8 has the shortest braking distance on ice with 12.1m. Goodyear is just a little behind with a score of 12.4m. The Japanese Nitto is third with a braking length of 13.1m.
At the end of the list, as expected, were the budget Asian tires GT and Marshal, but the Nexen performed especially badly. Their result of 21.7 m is even worse than the performance of friction tires, which generally casts doubt on the possibility of winter operation of these tires.
Handling on ice was measured on a track that was laid on the surface of a frozen lake. Hakkapeliitta 8 covered the distance fastest in 79.7 seconds. Literally in fractions of seconds from it German Continental settled down. Tires Pirelli showed the third result. The outsiders are still the same trio of cheap tires.
results
Tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 (SUV) 185/65R15 XL 92T
Coupling properties on ice, handling on snow and ice, cross-country ability.
Noise and high price
Buy 1
Tires Continental ContiIceContact 2 (+SUV) 185/65R15 XL 92T
Traction on ice, Handling on ice and snow.
Permeability, high price.
Buy 2
Tires Nokian Nordman 5 185/65R15 XL 92T
Coupling properties on ice, handling on ice and on snow, cross-country ability.
Medium grip on asphalt. Loss of spikes.
Buy 2
Tires Pirelli Formula Ice 185/65R15 88T
Traction and handling on ice. Impact strength.
Traction and handling on snow. Low smoothness.
Buy 3
Tires Gislaved NordFrost 200 185/65R15 XL 92T
Low noise level among studded tires. Smooth running. Patency.
Traction on ice.
Buy 4
Tires Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic 185/65R15 88T
Longitudinal grip on ice. Snow handling. High hydroplaning resistance.
Handling on ice. Noise.
Buy 4
Tires Michelin X-Ice North 3 185/65R15 XL 92T
Longitudinal grip on snow. Acoustic comfort in the class of studded tires. Traction on wet pavement.
Spread traction and handling on ice. Patency.
Buy 4
Tires Nitto Therma Spike 185/65R15 88T
Longitudinal grip on ice. Ease of handling in the snow.
Traction properties on asphalt. Low hydroplaning resistance. Loss of spikes.
Buy 4
Tires Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02 185/65R15 XL 92T
High impact strength. Traction on ice.
Noise. Low smoothness.
Buy 5
Tires GT Radial Champiro Ice Pro 185/65R15 XL 92T
Price. Impact strength. High hydroplaning resistance.
Traction on ice and snow. Noise. Low smoothness.
Buy 6
Tires Marshal WinterCraft Ice Wi31 185/65R15 88T
Price. Traction properties on asphalt. Acoustic comfort in the class of studded tires.
Often, when choosing rubber, the buyer focuses on manufacturers whose names are well-known. But do not forget that there are no less famous brands that, for one reason or another, have not been presented with us before. These include the Japanese company Nitto, founded (already!) Back in 1949. On the test we have winter studded tires Therma Spike
When I received a set of tires for testing, and even studded ones, I did not expect that the weather this winter would decide to play hide and seek with us. Of course, there were also frosty nights, and narrow streets with a mirror-clear ice coating. But still, it has not yet been possible to fully enjoy the winter season with frozen asphalt, a snowy mess flying in all directions. Well, nothing, winter has at least one more legal month left. Will recoup. Therefore, all the tests had to be carried out in the mountains - every weekend the gas tank arrow on the letter F for safety, the camera is loaded, the thermos is filled. Fresh air and beautiful views. And without good rubber, it’s not very easy to enjoy everything. Due to frequent temperature changes, the road turned into an ice slide with a very sloping slope. This is what our test participant had to face.
Therma Spike is produced in almost all popular sizes for passenger cars. In the photo tires 205/55/16 
Nitto specialists made the most of the useful tread area - everything is dotted with wide and narrow grooves, sipes and sawtooth block edges. The depth of the projector is enough not to burrow into deep snow At first glance, the tire causes mixed feelings. A rather original asymmetrical pattern with a huge number of sipes and wide grooves gives a feeling of confidence that the rubber will not let you down in most situations that you will encounter on the road. On the other hand, the studding is non-standard - as you can see from the photo, the total tread filling with studs is low. And a piece of doubt may creep in about the patency on an icy surface. But this is at first glance. In practice, rubber behaves very worthy. This has its own Japanese calculation. Such an arrangement, in my opinion, allows solving several problems at once: on a hard asphalt surface and on a snowy road, scattered studs do not interfere with the operation of the main tread pattern, leaving a large contact patch area. Improves ride comfort and reduces noise levels.
Although the Hyundai i30 has a fairly low clearance (150 mm), to the surprise of all SUVs passing by, all difficulties were overcome. And not without the merit of tires. The car confidently climbed out of a deep rut and effortlessly allowed to move off with a strong slope on a slippery road. 
The serpentine on the dam leading to BAO is covered with a crust of snow and ice in the silent silence of the descending fog. Nature sleeps. If you do not take into account the structures built by man, the landscape very much resembles scenes from the series "Game of Thrones" As stated on the official website, Nitto specialists have developed the Therma Spike tire exclusively for harsh winters. To do this, they used a lot of proprietary technologies. For example, the interlocking sipes on the inside of the tread (3D Interlocking Wave) should provide confident grip during acceleration and braking both on ice and on dry surfaces, while providing more even wear. And multi-wave lamellas on the outer part (3D Multi-Wave) are responsible for confident driving when maneuvering and directional stability when driving in a rut. As for the spikes, they have an X-shape and a double edge. This shape allows the stud to work in different directions, improving grip and acceleration dynamics.
In general, without going into details of all these technologies, I will say that the fact remains. Rubber feels confident both on asphalt and on snow and ice. You won’t set slalom records on it, but you can always get out with friends or family to the snow-capped mountains to enjoy nature and breathe fresh frosty air.
test diary
Reporting period: 2 months
Total mileage: 5800 km
Test run: 1240 km
Text and photo: Kamil Ushurbakiev
Conclusion:
Today, the tire market offers a wide range of options, from big-name brands to unknown Chinese enthusiasts. This rubber is perfect for cars of practical people, combining excellent driving characteristics and a reasonable price. At the same time, remaining a product of a famous brand, which is not so famous in our area.
Owners of crossovers, especially all-wheel drive ones, are often not enthusiastic about the seasonal change of regular summer tires to winter ones. After all, almost all native tires are marked with the M + S index, which de jure allows you to drive them in winter. The main thing is that the residual tread depth should be at least 4 mm (otherwise - 500 rubles fine). But you need to understand that the M + S marking absolutely does not oblige the manufacturer to anything! For marking, no tests or certificates are required confirming the suitability of tires for winter, and therefore, more and more often it can be seen on frankly summer, moreover, “asphalt” tires, which incidentally indicates the devaluation of not only the letter S (snow, “snow”), but also M (mud, "mud"). So we don’t look at the letters, but at the tread, and if we don’t see a lot of small slots-lamellas, then we conclude: it’s dangerous to ride on such in winter. And even better, when there is a “Snowflake” stamp on the sidewall in the form of three mountain peaks with a snowflake, these models really passed the test on a snowy track. The participants in our test are all with this marking: these are 14 sets with spikes and nine without.
The test program is standard, all the tracks of the White Hell test site near the Finnish town of Ivalo are well known to us - and most importantly, to be lucky with the weather. Almost lucky: there was no snowfall, although the temperature danced from 5 to 23 degrees of frost, so its influence had to be taken into account by conducting additional races on the "reference" tires. But the measurements of the longitudinal dynamics took place in a closed hangar with a more stable temperature.
This is where the embarrassment happened with Nokian tires, and with a model that has been produced for more than a year. Both in acceleration and in braking, the studless Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV lost not only to its principal competitors, but even to the tires of its own "second line" - Nordman RS2 SUV tires! Nokian testers working in the neighborhood were alarmed, they repeated the measurements themselves ... An internal investigation showed that the failed tires were produced at a plant near St. Petersburg at the end of 2016, more precisely on the 48th week. Then there was a failure in the technological cycle. They did not share details with us (apparently, there were deviations either in the duration or in the temperature of vulcanization), but they assured that the defective batch did not go on sale. Although on the outside everything is in order, and even the hardness of the tread rubber is the same as on the tires released in the 41st week of 2016 (their results were taken into account), but the difference in grip on ice reaches eight percent.
After measurements in the hangar, we get out into the freezing cold - and once again we notice that as the temperature drops, the friction tires begin to catch up and even overtake the spikes. At minus twenty, the ice becomes so hard that the studs cannot scratch it, and the tread rubber of most studded tires is harder - in the cold, friction tires are more elastic, they have a longer total length of slots-lamellae.
We, again, take into account changing conditions and adjust the results, but if all tests were carried out in light frost, friction tires would roll back to the bottom lines of the protocols.
Handling tests were carried out on the ice of the polar lake Tammijärvi
And in the snow, frost plays into the hands of friction models: while maintaining the elasticity of the tread, they better cling to the snow shagreen.
This time it was possible to support the cross-country ability assessments with instrumental measurements - acceleration time in deep snow with the traction control system turned off. It is curious that Russian tires topped and closed the rating: the best are Cordiant, and the most helpless in the virgin lands are Viatti tires manufactured by the Nizhnekamsk Tire Plant.
The asphalt part of the tests is especially relevant for residents of large cities, where the streets are cleared of snow and ice for most of the winter.
The final part of the tests is already in April, on "summer" surfaces. And in passing, we note that this time there were no tires littered with spikes.
At the top of the final ranking are the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV tires. Expected result: if the model of the previous generation regularly won in our tests, then the new one, and even with two types of studs, easily outperformed the competitors.
Expensive? Then we carefully look at the points, at the main advantages and disadvantages of other tires - and choose the best option for your pocket. And yet we avoid buying outsider tires - such savings threaten incomparably large costs.
Studded tire rating
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (55 sizes available from 215/65 R16 to 315/40 R21) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,9 |
| 9,8 | |
| 49 | |
| Number of spikes | 172 |
| 1,05/1,54 | |
| Manufacturer country | Finland |
Hakkapeliitta with index 9 is the novelty of the season: two types of spikes are used here for the first time. Those in the middle part of the tread have transversely oriented carbide inserts: they are responsible for the longitudinal grip, and at the edges of the tread rise some kind of trefoils that work effectively in corners. And this is not a marketing trick: a clear superiority over competitors both on the handling track and in braking on ice. And in other types of winter tests, the tires are on top. On asphalt, grip is moderate, and the main problem is noise at speeds from 70 to 90 km / h.
The best tires for harsh winter conditions!
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (2 sizes available 205/55 R16 and 215/65 R16) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 56 |
| Number of spikes | 170 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 1,52/1,47 |
| Manufacturer country | South Korea |
This year, Hankook officially opened its polar test site in Ivalo, Finland: the routes and test approaches are in many ways similar to those used by Nokian Tires. This also applies to the features of the tires themselves: the number of star spikes was increased, which ensured decent test results on ice. But in deep snow, tires do not shine, as well as on asphalt, and besides, they make a lot of noise. But it’s easy for them to forgive: Hankook Winter i * Pike RS + tires are one and a half times cheaper than the Finnish novelty.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (91 sizes available from 175/70 R14 to 275/40 R22) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,4 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 54 |
| Number of spikes | 130 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 1,03/1,25 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Tires made in Voronezh are flavored with powerful studs-brackets - and work smartly on ice during acceleration and braking. But in corners - sharp breakdowns in sliding, so without a stabilization system you have to be on the alert. But - a good balance of grip on slippery roads and on asphalt, and therefore they can be safely recommended for winter operation in large cities. If you do not make high demands on acoustic comfort.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (75 sizes available from 155/70 R13 to 275/40 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,6 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 54 |
| Number of spikes | 130 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 1,37/1,41 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Tires are produced at the Russian plant Continental near Kaluga. The Gislaved brand is owned by Continental - and the Nord*Frost 200 model copies the asymmetric tread pattern of the first generation ContiIceContact tires, but the studs are simpler in shape and without thermochemical fixation. However, they also work well - especially in the transverse direction.
In general, these are well-balanced tires for use both in large cities and beyond.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (37 sizes available from 155/70 R13 to 225/55 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,9 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 54 |
| Number of spikes | 130 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 1,63/1,62 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The tires were produced at the Yaroslavl Tire Plant and the tread pattern suspiciously resembles the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires, which even became a reason for a lawsuit. But Cordiant managed to justify itself - and increase production volumes, including by expanding the range of dimensions. Decent tires for the money, but they don’t like asphalt roads: they don’t hold very well, and rolling is accompanied by a loud and unpleasant rumble of the tread. Tires are not for the city.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (42 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 275/50 R22) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 12,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 57 |
| Number of spikes | 130 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 1,08/1,16 |
| Manufacturer country | Finland |
Nordman tires are the "second line" of Nokian Tires, and for production, molds of obsolete Nokian tire models are used. The novelty of the Nordman 7 SUV season is the reincarnation of the Hakkapeliitta 7 SUV, produced from 2010 to 2017. Good grip on ice and snow, and on asphalt even better than the current "mother" model. Including acoustic comfort: there are fewer spikes.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (38 sizes available from 175/65 R15 to 245/45 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 10,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 56 |
| Number of spikes | 130 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 1,26/1,39 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
The model was introduced in 2012 and has not yet received a replacement. On ice, the tires work well in the longitudinal direction, but in corners they sharply break into slips. On the snow, including virgin lands, everything is much better. But on the pavement, the aggressive pattern generates an obsessive low-frequency rumble from 30 km / h.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (58 sizes available from 175/65 R14 to 265/40 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,3 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,3 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 56 |
| Number of spikes | 104 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 1,05/1,09 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Michelin with the X-Ice North 3 tire continues to bend the line to comply with European studding regulations: no more than 50 studs per linear meter of tread. And the spikes themselves are simple, round in section. This led to an unimportant hold on the ice. On packed snow, the picture is better, but getting out of a snowdrift is a problem: the tread is to blame.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (23 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 245/45 R17) | |
| Speed index | Q (160 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,2 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 51 |
| Number of spikes | 100 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 0,87/1,06 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
BFGoodrich tires are Michelin's "second line", they are produced at the same plant in Davydovo near Moscow as Michelin X-Ice North 3 tires. But the tread is its own, original. It is a pity that there are also few spikes, they are round, excessively recessed, and as a result, mediocre behavior on ice.
On snow, including on virgin soil, the situation is better. And even better - on asphalt, although you need to remember that the permissible speed is 160 km / h, although studded competitors have 190.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (35 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 265/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,9 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 56 |
| Number of spikes | 130 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 0,85/0,94 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Formula is the "second line" of Pirelli. In last year's tests at Lada Vesta, tires took fifth place, but now the figures are more modest. Especially on ice. Even after break-in, the protrusion of the studs above the tread surface is less than a millimeter (last year we recorded 1.1 mm on new tires). On packed snow, the results are better, although we do not recommend climbing into snowdrifts. They hold up well on asphalt.
A good budget tire option for urban use.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (122 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 285/45 R22) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 12,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,5 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 55 |
| Number of spikes | 125 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 1,18/1,37 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
For many, the Made in Japan brand is a sign of quality. But something went wrong with Toyo winter tires. It seems that the spikes are not simple - with cruciform inserts, and the studding is of high quality, but on ice the grip properties are moderate, as well as on snow. However, the response of the car to control is well balanced.
On asphalt - far from the best comfort and grip.
Joy - a low price, which is consistent with the quality of tires.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (19 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 265/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,5 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,3 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 59 |
| Number of spikes | 120 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 0,93/1,03 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Under the "Italian" name - tires produced in Nizhnekamsk using off-take technology. The design and manufacturing process is the product of an engineering firm run by a former Continental executive. However, grip on ice and snow is mediocre, and most of all upset that winter tires, “developed by European specialists specifically for Russian roads,” were helpless in deep snow. Also, they are noisy and harsh. Not an option - even considering the low price.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (96 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 275/50 R22) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 12,1 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 53 |
| Number of spikes | 128 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 0,57/0,73 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
One could immediately assume that the ice tests of the Yokohama Ice Guard 55 tire would fail. Instead of the prescribed 1.2 mm, the spikes protrude an average of 0.57 mm - and do not work. And the buyer is counting on Japanese quality - even though the tires are made in Lipetsk.
There are also complaints about the tread: on rolled snow - the maximum braking distance, and on virgin soil - the worst traction abilities. For Russian conditions, other tires are needed, and they already exist: sales of the new Yokohama IG65 model with an increased number of “curly” spikes begin this season. More details about new tires - in one of the next issues of Autoreview.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (38 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 235/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,7 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9,4 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 61 |
| Number of spikes | 128 |
| Protrusion of spikes before/after testing, mm | 0,79/1,0 |
| Manufacturer country | South Korea |
Interestingly, duplicated in the name win - is it from the word "win" or from the word "winter"? Better fit, for example, wintry ("cold", "unfriendly") or winch ("winch"). What kind of winter or victory can we talk about if studded tires are inferior on ice to most friction tires, and on the handling track Nexen is the slowest in the overall standings? Tread rubber is clearly not designed to work at low temperatures, as evidenced by its increased hardness.
Of the positive emotions, only relatively quiet (for tires with spikes) rolling remains.
Rating of non-studded tires
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (61 sizes available from 205/70 R15 to 295/40 R21) | |
| Speed index | R (170 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,4 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8,9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 53 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
Off-road tires, with the SUV index, have sidewalls reinforced with aramid fiber, which is reminiscent of the Aramid Sidewalls brand. So with impact resistance, unlike the "passenger" tires of the same name, there should be no problems.
In severe frost, Nokian friction tires provide excellent grip on ice, behave well on snow, and small complaints appear only on asphalt.
Excellent winter tires for use in the city and beyond.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (97 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 275/45 R20) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,9 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 52 |
| Manufacturer country | Germany |
Leapfrog. The year before last, we liked the ContiVikingContact 6 tires on asphalt, but they didn’t work well on ice, last year the situation reversed, this year it’s better on asphalt again ... Of course, the dimensions are different, but the reason must be sought in the composition of the rubber compound : Last year the tread rubber on the ContiVikingContact 6 tires was noticeably softer.
Now we are taking into account the latest version of these tires manufactured at the end of 2016. Not ideal on ice and snow (especially deep), but they work perfectly on asphalt.
Good winter tires for urban use. And the most comfortable!
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (57 sizes available from 175/70 R13 to 255/45 R19) | |
| Speed index | S (180 km/h) |
| Load index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,7 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8,6 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 46 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
Since studs are banned in Japan, local manufacturers are focusing on friction winter tires. So we will assume that it is natural that
Lightweight tires with soft, quiet rolling. But at the same time, there is an imbalance of “winter” grip properties in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and sharp breakdowns in sliding seem to be provoked by sidewalls that are soft for a heavy crossover. Indeed, in the range of Goodyear winter tires there is a model specifically for crossovers and SUVs - UltraGrip Ice SUV, but these tires are not available in size 215/65 R16. However, if the car is equipped with a stabilization system, then Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 tires are a good choice.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (16 sizes available from 215/65 R16 to 255/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | R (170 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 11,2 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8,9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 56 |
| Manufacturer country | Russia |
The tread pattern is exactly like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires, but the materials are simpler. Another option to extend the life cycle of molds. And - given the price - a very good option. Moreover, in certain disciplines, Nordman RS2 SUV tires are even more preferable: the braking distance on ice is shorter!
Quality tires for a reasonable price. On ice, they are almost as good as the leaders among tires without studs, and on snow they have even better grip in the longitudinal direction. Although the handling is harsh on the track and rowing is mediocre in deep snow.
Grip properties on asphalt are above average, there are no problems with comfort either, which means that these tires are relevant for large cities.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (38 sizes available from 155/65 R14 to 255/50 R19) | |
| Speed index | T (190 km/h) |
| Load index | 102 (850 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 10,6 |
| Tread depth, mm | 9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 51 |
| Manufacturer country | Slovakia |
The Gislaved brand continues to lose authenticity. So the “new” Gislaved Soft*Frost 200 is nothing more than ContiVikingContact tires of the year before last, the third generation. Fortunately, these are balanced tires - safe, comfortable, not very expensive - and therefore we safely recommend them for urban use, although an accidental drive into a snowdrift may delay the planned trip.
The Marshal brand belongs to the Korean company Kumho Tire, however, according to the tread pattern and even the rare R speed index, these tires copy the Finnish Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires - and some sellers play on this similarity. By the way, on snow and asphalt friction tires Marshal and Nokian are close, but on ice the loss of the copy is already obvious. It is also one of the noisiest and toughest friction tires available.
| Dimension | 215/65 R16 |
|---|---|
| (37 sizes available from 175/65 R14 to 245/60 R18) | |
| Speed index | Q (160 km/h) |
| Load index | 98 (750 kg) |
| Weight, kg | 12,4 |
| Tread depth, mm | 8,9 |
| Shore hardness of tread rubber, units | 49 |
| Manufacturer country | Japan |
Winter tires Nitto (brand owned by Toyo Tires) appeared in Russia recently. The Therma Spike model managed to please us with traction on ice, but it lost the most spikes on asphalt. And the Nitto Winter SN2 friction tires immediately showed their helplessness on ice and in snowdrifts. And the more surprising is the failure of these tires even on asphalt.
Something is wrong with these Nittos...
In another big stud test, we collected six sets of 15-inch tires from Western and Eastern manufacturers. Some of the trump cards - experience and the latest technology, others - the will to win and affordable prices. Whose will take?
This time we have chosen one of the most popular sizes - 195/65 R15, which suits many small and inexpensive cars. Different markets, different understanding of the product, different design schools. What distinguishes tires from the East and the West from each other, what are their strengths and weaknesses, and what should a Russian buyer pay attention to?
Fresh model Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 is the most expensive in the eastern team (price 3650 rubles), but cheaper than European giants.
Another novelty, Hankook Winter i*Pike RS 2, is a tire with an increased number of studs and an updated tread pattern. It replaces the Winter i*Pike RS model. This year it will appear in Russia in 57 dimensions - from 155/65R 13 to 255/40 R19.
The new Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer replaces the Observe G3-Ice and will be available on the market this autumn in 16 sizes from 14 to 19 inches. The rubber compound contains silicon dioxide for flexibility in cold weather and walnut shell microparticles for extra grip on ice.
Another model with Japanese roots, now produced in Russia, is the Firestone Ice Cruiser 7. Previously, this tire had the 7000 index and belonged to the Bridgestone brand line.
The next player from Japan is Nitto Therma Spike, a "relative" of the Touo brand. These tires are taking part in our tests for the second time and are characterized as inexpensive, with modest performance.
The new GT Radial IcePro 3, which replaces the GT Radial Champiro IcePro, has been developed in-house in Hannover R&D. And the GT Radial brand is owned by the growing international company Giti, based in Singapore. The novelty is available in 22 dimensions - from 175/65 R14 to 225/60 R17.
The tires in the test are made in China.
West
There are no new products in the western team, but the players are incredibly strong, since most of these tires are renewed by manufacturers every year.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9, the most expensive tire on the domestic market, is the only one in the world to have two different types of studs.
Continental IceContact 2 is also one and only: its “carnations” are glued into the tread, and therefore they are held very firmly in it.
Of the cheaper tires - Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, who won prizes in our tests more than once, and Pirelli Ice Zero.
The western team is closed by two direct competitors, representatives of the second echelon of Continental and Nokian companies - the Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 and Nordman 7 models, respectively.
On the ice handling evaluation track, after each set of tires, the “brush” cleans the surface of ice chips. The clearer the ice, the more accurate the evaluation results.
cat house
The roulette wheel, which determines the location of our winter tire tests every year, this time pointed to the Continental test site. It is located in Sweden, next to a small town with a purring-rumbling name Arvidsjaur - just some kind of "cat's house".
Mindful of last year's weather apocalypse in Sweden with a sudden February warming, we decided to start the tests early - in mid-January.
And the weather did not disappoint: during the tests, there were frosts from -7 to -14 ° С.
Two Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks helped us in the tests. We assigned the main part of the routine work to the black one - it crawled over ice and snow, fixing the acceleration time and the braking distance with the built-in VBOX equipment. Red performed more creative tasks, participating in the assessment of handling and directional stability, since on it it was possible to completely disable the stabilization system using a special program.
Menial job for driving
The first to work is the black Golf, which has both anti-lock braking and traction control. We start by accelerating and braking on ice on a small frozen lake, repeating the races eight to ten times for each set of tires. After two or three test sets - measurements on the base (reference, as the tire manufacturers say) tires: you can’t do without them.
Measurements on different surfaces differ in the “upper” speed limit, which serves as the maximum speed value during acceleration and the initial speed during braking. On ice this value is 20 km/h, and on snow it is 40 km/h, since the modest ice area is much smaller than the snow one. Recalculating the results, taking into account the corrections determined using the reference tires, we get leaders and outsiders in these exercises.
The real surprise came from Napcook, which tore apart the traditional leaders. Incredibly, on these tires the Golf accelerates and brakes on ice even better than on the Continental and Nokian. To accelerate from standstill to 20 km / h, the Golf on Hankook tires took only 4.1 seconds, and the braking distance from 20 to 5 km / h was 6.6 meters. The longest acceleration was on Gislaved tires: 5.9 seconds. A close result, 5.8 seconds, was obtained on GT Radial and Firestone tires. The Golf slowed down the worst on the GT Radial tires, stopping at 8.7 meters.
The fastest acceleration on snow up to 40 km / h was provided by Continental tires with a figure of 5.9 seconds, and Hankook lost only one tenth to them! The slowest of all are GT Radial tires.
In braking on snow, Hankook took the lead. To slow down the Golf from 40 to 5 km / h, these tires had 16.9 meters. Second place - Gislaved: 17.2 meters. Last in braking were Firestone and GT Radial: 19.1 and 19.0 meters, respectively.
We complete a series of tests on ice by measuring the lap time, which characterizes lateral grip. Continental kept the lead with a record lap time of 15.6 seconds. The closest rivals - and these are Hankook, Nokian and Gislaved - took half a second more. The slowest - in 18.0 seconds - the car lapped on Bridgestone tires.
Rating of the best winter studded tires 2018
The tires released after measurements take their place on the red Golf - we will evaluate the handling on snow and on ice.
The test track is great: turns of different radii, from running to stubs, straight lines that allow you to reach the speedometer needle up to 80 km / h, ups and downs, then unloading the wheels, then pressing them to the “road”.
Due to the modest size of the frozen lake, we estimate acceleration on ice to a speed of 20 km/h, and braking from 20 to 5 km/h.
12 Firestone Ice Cruiser 7
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The level of braking properties on dry pavement is average
11 GT Radial Ice Pro 3 
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Stable following the course on snow;
Not noisy;
Satisfactory running smoothness
Poor traction on ice and snow;
Difficult control;
Limited patency
10 NittoTherma Spike 
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Satisfactory handling;
Good cross;
Acceptable ride
Low braking properties on wet asphalt and on ice;
Difficult handling when performing extreme maneuvers on snow and directional stability on asphalt;
9 Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer 
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Good directional stability on snow;
Stable handling on ice and snow
Weak braking properties on ice and on dry pavement;
High fuel consumption at 90 km/h
8 Bridgestone BLizzak Spike-02
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Confident flotation and satisfactory handling during normal driving on snow
Weak braking on dry pavement and lateral grip on ice;
Low profitability;
Difficult handling during active driving on snow;
Notes on directional stability on asphalt and comfort
7 Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 
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The best braking properties and excellent directional stability on asphalt; Confident lateral grip and clear handling on ice Weak longitudinal grip on ice; High fuel consumption at any speed; Difficult handling when performing extreme maneuvers on snow; Small complaints about the smoothness of the ride 6 Nokian Nordman 7
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Confident acceleration on ice;
Good cross-country ability, directional stability on snow and asphalt
5 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic 
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Phenomenal flotation in deep snow;
High braking performance on both wet and dry pavement
Small claims to directional stability on asphalt and handling on ice, as well as during active driving and extreme maneuvering on snow;
Not the best comfort.
4 Pirelli Ice Zero 
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Excellent course stability;
Reliable acceleration on ice and snow;
Clear handling on snow during normal driving;
Confident patency
Light remarks about handling on snow during active driving and during extreme maneuvering;
noisy; low running smoothness
2/3 Hankook Winter i*Pike RS 2 
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Better longitudinal and high lateral grip on ice;
Better braking and confident acceleration on snow;
Clear handling on ice and during normal driving on snow;
Weak braking on asphalt;
Claims to controllability on snow during active driving and during extreme maneuvering, as well as road holding on asphalt and comfort
2/3 Continental Ice Contact 2 
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Better transverse and high longitudinal 49 grip on ice;
Better acceleration and confident braking on snow;
Clear handling on ice and snow;
Good cross-country ability and following the course on snow
Minor complaints about handling on snow with active driving, as well as directional stability on asphalt;
Notes on comfort
1 Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 
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Outstanding fuel efficiency;
Excellent handling on ice and snow;
High traction on ice;
Excellent flotation in deep snow;
Strict adherence to the course
Light comments on noise and ride
The idea was born to evaluate tires in two different driving modes. The first is to go fast, but limit the speed in the corners to the initial slip phase. The results of driving in this style will certainly interest most drivers. The second mode is for those who like to slip: almost do not slow down before turns, refueling the car into a turn sideways. We have previously evaluated the behavior of tires in both modes, only the assessment was averaged.
We turn off the electronics in order to catch the features of the car's behavior on different tires.
In normal mode, the testers were pleased with the handling of the Golf on Nokian and Pirelli tires. The experts, finding no reason for comments and noting clear reactions, gave them eight points. Continental, Hankook, Nordman, taking into account small remarks, received 7.5 points each. It is noteworthy that in the Golf, shod with Hankook and Nordman tires, slight delays in reactions and insufficient steering informational content occur when the steering wheel is turned at angles up to 90 degrees, but with an increase in reaction angles, informational content improves, and vice versa with Continental tires.
In tire testing, team spirit is as important as in competition. Therefore, we change wheels almost as quickly as mechanics in formula boxes.
Firestone's "studs" collected more complaints than others: significant delays in reactions, unstable behavior. The driver can only set the approximate direction of movement, but not the exact trajectory. Six points is the maximum.
With an active driving style, almost half of the subjects noted a slight slowdown in reactions and a deterioration in the information content of the steering when switching to slips, which lowered the score by half a point. Eight points were awarded only to Nokian tires, which retained the clarity of reactions even in deep slides. Acceptable reaction stability was demonstrated by Gislaved, Nordman and Tooo - they are not afraid to slightly go over with speed in a slippery turn.
It's easiest to slip on Firestone tires. You have to literally throw the Golf into the turn, performing a set of “magical” actions with the steering wheel and gas.
It is extremely difficult to drive actively, since you need to constantly turn the steering wheel in different directions, since in slips the reactions to steering actions practically disappear.
I didn’t like to drive actively either at Bridgestone (lowered by 1 point) and, oddly enough, at Pirelli (lowered by one and a half points). On both tires, the Golf showed a deterioration in information content and reactions, forcing much more active steering, and on the Pirelli, it also showed erratic, unstable behavior. It's strange, because the early models of winter tires from this company have always served both for us and for many tire manufacturers as the standard of handling.
I liked the ice track no less than the snowy one. It is not horizontal, but is located at an angle, since it is flooded on a slope. Therefore, on one half you move with unloaded rear wheels, which provoke skidding, and on the other, with underloaded front wheels, initiating demolition. This helps to better understand the behavior of certain tires.
Nokian deserved the highest score on ice: the car steers without problems in any mode. Small blots are noted on tires Continental, Gislaved, Hankook and Nordman, so their scores are reduced to 7.5 points.
Wearing GR Radial tires, the Golf moves like it's weightless - as if there were no horizontal forces acting. It slips very early, although it slides to the side smoothly (this is the only plus), and floats for a very long time, not reacting to the steering.
Firestone keeps the driver even more stressed: maximum adrenaline is produced even with the stabilization system turned on. Breaks in sliding occur unexpectedly, the car slides for an extremely long time ... There is a feeling that the clutch has disappeared altogether.
Caution - Yeti!
The snow plateau is a huge rectangle, about four hundred by one hundred meters, divided by a snow parapet into two independent narrow and long straight lines.
They are enough to accelerate to 100 km / h and evaluate the directional stability and behavior of the car with a soft lane change.
And the width is enough to check the handling when performing a rearrangement. From the first day, we fenced off with cones along the central barrier a strip three meters wide, forbidding it to be cleaned. A week later, a layer of snow about 20 centimeters deep accumulated on it - what is needed to assess the patency.
A couple of hours after the red Golf with the stabilization system turned off went to the test track, Frank Degonier (the Continental engineer responsible for measurements and measuring equipment) suddenly approached us and asked with a completely serious face:
“Do you know that the yeti has appeared here? Right in front of the red Golf jumped out! But Anton managed to dodge him, only the snow on the hood remained. Go see!"
It turns out that during the course stability assessment on the Firestone tires, the Golf spun so that it broke through the snowy parapet and flew into the adjacent lane. And the testers of the Continental call any incident on the tests, ending in contact with snow, a “yeti”. In general, Firestone earned the lowest score for directional stability on snow: when you try to smoothly change lanes or avoid obstacles, a sharp skid occurs and a dangerously long sliding to the side without the ability to correct the trajectory. The Yeti was not tempted by other tires.
And better than others straight in the snow at high speed Golf held on tires Nokian and Pirelli.
Rearrangement, or a sharp lane change, is a maneuver traditional for Russian drivers. When performing a rearrangement, we evaluate how the Golf reacts to sharp steering turns and how predictable it behaves. The experts gave Nokian tires the highest score in this exercise: a small, well-understood, soft skid at top speed, requiring minor adjustments to keep the car on the desired trajectory.
Firestone tires turned out to be the worst here too: they are unsuitable for dangerous maneuvers. With sharp actions by the steering wheel, the case ends with a demolition, straightening the trajectory. With smoother operation of the steering wheel, the front wheels have time to catch on the snow, but the rear wheels abruptly break into a long side slip, spinning the car.
patency
The patency test is relevant both for the Russian hinterland and for large cities. We evaluate not only the ability of tires to row in the snow - it is important how easily a driver without special off-road riding skills can overcome a snow barrier.
In deep snow, Goodyear tires are unrivaled: they row either forward or backward, you just need to press the gas pedal. Nokian are half a point behind: rowing is not like a tractor, but still good. Eight points each earn Continental and Nordman. The most unfortunate tire for deep snow is the GT Radial. On them, the Golf moves uncertainly, scours from side to side, reluctantly maneuvers and reluctantly moves in reverse.
Winter Hero 2018
The leader in snow and ice tests is the tire from the East - Hankook Winter i * Pike RS 2. It not only outperformed all fellow countrymen in winter disciplines, but also moved the "Westerners" - even such giants as Continental and Nokian, who took in the "white" tests only second and third places respectively.
Pirelli is in fourth place, followed by Nordman and Goodyear, and Gislaved is in seventh position.
They are followed by other tires from the East: Bridgestone, Toyo, Nitto, as well as Firestone and GT Radial, which showed the weakest results.
Delay until spring
In mid-April, the snow completely disappeared from the asphalt of the high-speed road of the VAZ test site near Tolyatti. Having chosen calm weather, we continued to test the "studs" - now on the pavement. First of all, we assessed the impact of tires on the economy of the Golf, combining these measurements with an assessment of directional stability and comfort.
We started with a ten-kilometer warm-up lap on the expressway at a speed of 130 km/h (the maximum allowed on our roads). The measurements were carried out on a two-kilometer horizontal straight section of the expressway.
In calm weather, the measurement results "fall" almost one to one - with no more than 0.1%, which is twenty times less than the two percent generally accepted in tire tests. But after every three tested sets, you have to repeat the races on the base tire. Rolling resistance is significantly affected by asphalt temperature. The results obtained on the reference tire help to determine the "reference points", and already on them we refine the data obtained and, if necessary, recalculate.
On pavement, the Golf steers best on Gislaved and Pirelli tires: the reactions are crisp, almost like summer tyres. Worse than the rest are the "eastern guests" Bridgestone, Nitto and Firestone.
On the “bridge” at the Golf, the steering wheel became heavy, viscous and uninformative. The behavior of the car on Nitto and Firestone is similar: in the near-zero zone, low information content appears, when adjusting the course, the steering wheel has to be turned at significant angles. When leaving the near-zero - the left zone, the reactions become unpleasantly sharp - with low information content, this is fraught with twisting of the steering wheel, which can provoke a skid.
Nokian tires won the title of the most economical: the Golf, shod with them, showed the best results at city and country speeds.
Better braking and comfort on asphalt
We continue the assessment of comfort on the secondary roads of the polygon, which practically do not differ from many Russian roads: pits, swollen cracks, seams.
The GT Radial, Hankook and Nokian tires were the quietest of all, and the noisiest was the Firestone, which buzzes like a gear rolling on asphalt. In terms of smoothness, the same GT Radial and Hankook are ahead, and Nitto made up the company for them. The toughest is again Firestone, which transmits vibrations from road bumps to the floor of the body and even to the driver's seat in detail.
The final exercises are the assessment of braking properties on dry and wet pavement. We pre-clean the tracks with a dozen braking on non-scoring tires. We brake on each set of test tires four to six times: on dry asphalt - from 80 km / h, on wet asphalt - from 60 km / h, in order to save the tread from damage. The test speed, up to which the VBOX measuring complex measures the braking distance, is 5 km / h - at a lower ABS, it allows short-term blocking of the wheels, which adversely affects the accuracy of the results. 
On dry pavement, the shortest braking distance, 30.3 meters, turned out on Gislaved tires, the longest - on the "bridge": 33.5 meters. The difference is 10.5%. In the wet, Gislaved is again ahead of everyone with a score of 17.8 meters, and the last one is Nitto with a score of 21.7 meters, which is almost 20% weaker.
"Black" tests
On pavement, the Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 confidently won. Behind it were the European tires Pirelli, Nokian and Goodyear. The East only made it to the fifth position, and the GT Radial IcePro 3 took it. The last pair from the European team follows: Continental took sixth place in the "asphalt" list, directly ahead of the average Nordman. The leader of the "white" list of Hankook on asphalt, alas, could not rise above the tenth place. Closing the "black" rating Bridgestone and Nitto.
TOP-13 final scores
So, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 tires won with a score of 915 points. They are the most balanced - they will appeal to all drivers in any conditions, regardless of training and driving style.
The second and third places were shared by Hankook Winter i*Pike RS 2 and Continental IceContact 2 with 905 points each. Well, what about Korean tires? The best result both on snow and on ice, the most comfortable, economical, but - the surrender of positions on asphalt.
We recommend them to those who use mostly "white" roads. Continental showed the second result in the "white" tests, but in other nominations it performed in the middle. It will show its best qualities on snowy and icy roads.
The fourth place in our ranking is occupied by the Pirelli Ice Zero - 888 total points mean that these are very good tires. They are strong on asphalt, will not let you down on snow and ice, and will help save fuel. Is that the ride comfort leaves much to be desired.
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic (877 points) performed better on asphalt than in ice and snow disciplines. These tires still have the right to be called very good, but they are slowly losing ground - they dropped to fifth place, and for several years they occupied third. But if all-terrain tires are needed, this is the best choice.
For a brand of the second tier, the sixth place (874 points) of the Nordman 7 tires and the title of very good can be considered an excellent result. Universal mid-range tires for all conditions, and on snow they can please even drifters.
The Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 was just four points behind its direct competitor Nordman. The indicators on the "white" roads are average, but on the asphalt Gislaved is in the lead.
It is the best choice for city roads cleared of snow and ice. True, they do not shine with economy and comfort.
From the eighth place, the entire eastern territory begins. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 scored 847 points in the test - according to our classification, these are good tires. On snow and ice, they look average, but they won’t allow you to be mischievous. In terms of comfort and fuel efficiency, they are comparable to the "little brother" Firestone Ice Cruiser 7, and even a little weaker on asphalt.
In ninth position are the new Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer tires with 840 points. The undoubted pluses are the stability of the results on different surfaces and a decent level of comfort.
Nitto Therma Spike closes the top ten with a final score of 821 points. The same modest place - in the "white" rating. These tires are economical, provide average comfort levels... and last place on the pavement.
The GT Radial tires scored 811 points. And they ended up on the last line of the rating compiled on “white” roads. On snow and ice, it is permissible to move on them without haste, and only on cars equipped with electronic assistants. But on asphalt roads, these tires will allow you to drive confidently and provide a high level of comfort. Twelfth place and only 788 points - tires Firestone Ice Cruiser 7. By modern standards, these are very weak tires for winter roads, not recommended for cars without ABS and stabilization systems. You should ride them very carefully, without trying to slip at least a little.
But on dry pavement, they slow down better than the related Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02, and can compete with it in comfort and economy.
With an eye on the wallet
Good tires cost a lot of money. How to find the optimal balance between the most important features and price? You can focus on the "cost" of each point scored by a particular tire. In this parameter, the GT Radial IcePro 3 is in the lead: each thousand rubles spent on this tire will result in 312 final points. Slightly less profitable purchase - Nitto Therma Spike and Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer.
Tires Nordman 7 and Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 are in the middle of the list. Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02, Continental IceContact 2 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 close the “price of quality” rating. WEST INVINCIBLE? In our test, European tires were stronger than Eastern ones. Apart from Hankuk, none of the Eastern tires made it into the first half of the white results. Why? In the countries of the East, the use of studded tires is prohibited - manufacturers create them for foreign markets. There is no rich own experience in operating such tires. Hankook, on the other hand, took an unconventional path - it attracted experienced specialists from successful Western tire companies to create new products. After all, winter tires are an extremely complex product, balanced for completely different surfaces (ice, snow, dry and wet asphalt), which require conflicting technical solutions. Eastern tire manufacturers will be able to compete with Western ones only when they understand this and put this understanding into practice. Hankook is a prime example of this. In the meantime, the "east" can attract buyers only with sweet prices.
