Tests driving summer tires. Choosing non-studded tires for golf-class cars

02.07.2020

We test 195/65 R15 summer tires for relatively inexpensive cars and see how their performance has changed dramatically over the past ten years.
Nowadays, even small and inexpensive cars roll off the assembly line on 15-inch wheels. Many Russians also put “tags” with a higher profile on rather expensive cars - they are preferable on our roads. Tire manufacturers, for which income depends more on the sizes of tires sold than on their number, are indifferent to budget dimensions. New items are offered at least in the seventeen-inch segment, and small ones are sluggishly updated, usually slightly reducing rolling resistance.
Nevertheless, there are companies for which the Russian market is very important, and they literally fight for the leading positions, annually “grinding” their products, trying to get ahead of competitors in grip properties on dry and wet surfaces. Therefore, there is always intrigue in our tests.

We select a company for the test

It is for this reason that we took for a test summer tires Nokian Hakka Green 2 (3350 rubles apiece) of Russian production and Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 (4000 rubles) of the Czech "assembly". By no means new, but their characteristics are improving every year. Thoroughbred "Japanese women" Bridgestone Turanza T001 at a price of 4200 rubles, as expected by status, set the highest price bar. Another representative of the "top 5" is a far from new Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance model (3400 rubles), released in Poland.

Among the new products are the Korean Hankook Kinergy Eco of the second generation (3100 rubles) and Dunlop SP Touring R1 (3000 rubles). Our popular brand Nordman Green 2 (3350 rubles apiece) of Russian production and Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 (4000 rubles) of the Czech "assembly". By no means new, but their characteristics are improving every year. Thoroughbred "Japanese women" Bridgestone Turanza T001 at a price of 4200 rubles, as expected by status, set the highest price bar. Another representative of the "top 5" is a far from new Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance model (3400 rubles), released in Poland.
The middle price segment is opened by Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 (3250 rubles) - a tire of Russian origin (brewed in Lipetsk), which recently replaced the successful C.drive2 model on our market. For the same money they offer Japanese tires Toyo Proxes CF2.
Among the new products are the Korean Hankook Kinergy Eco of the second generation (3100 rubles) and Dunlop SP Touring R1 (3000 rubles). Our popular Nordman brand is slowed down on cold wet pavement.

Warm up

The first set of exercises is something like a warm-up. Tires do not experience significant loads, their treads almost do not wear out.
To warm up each set of tires, a ten-kilometer drive along the high-speed ring of an automobile test site at a constant speed of 130 km/h is enough. This run is more than enough for experts to evaluate the behavior of the car at high speed both on a straight line and during soft lane changes that simulate obstacle avoidance and overtaking.
After running in, you can start measuring efficiency. We close the windows tightly to optimize aerodynamics, and we move strictly in a straight line, since any maneuvering causes additional resistance. On each set of tires, we perform three or four test runs, each consisting of two measurements in opposite directions. Thus, we neutralize the influence of the slightest breeze, although such tests are carried out only in calm weather.
At the same time, we “write on the crust” the first sensations: we evaluate the smoothness of the ride, the noise level and other nuances. And then on service roads with cracks and potholes, in conditions as close as possible to real domestic ones, we check the previously set marks for comfort.
The final chord of a difficult race is an assessment of the ability of the subjects to move on an unpaved road. The test is carried out on a dry ground lift with a slope of 12%. We start off with and without slipping, evaluating the confidence of the start and movement, as well as how sharply the wheels break into slipping and whether the grip drops noticeably. We perform this exercise only at the request of our readers; these results are not taken into account in the overall standings, since the tires are road tires and are designed mainly for hard surfaces.
Having finished a series of combined races and recalculated the final results through the referent tires, which we install after three or four sets of test ones, we summarize.

First driving impressions

Formula, Nokian and Nordman break out into the leaders in exchange rate stability. On all these tires, Skoda clearly keeps a given direction and reacts to steering turns without noticeable delays. At the same time, it is filled with reactive force, which increases with increasing angle of rotation, and provides understandable feedback.
Bridgestone, Dunlop, Nitto and Touo look paler than the rest.
They have an incomprehensible wide "zero" when moving in a straight line. At the same time, at Dunlop, Skoda has delays in reactions and pronounced understeer. The rest of the trinity sins with oversteer, which, under an unfortunate set of circumstances, can wreck the car into a skid.
In the economy races at city speed (60 km/h), Touo took the lead. Most of all "consumes" Formula. However, the difference with the leader was only 0.3 l/100 km.
At 90 km/h, Touo holds the lead, but Dunlop, Goodyear, Nitto and Yokohama join in. Nokian distinguished itself by the highest appetite, but the difference with the most economical rivals is rather relative - a two-hundred-gram glass of gasoline per 100 km.
The quietest rolling tires are Continental, Dunlop, Hankook, Nordman and Yokohama - they are almost inaudible in the car.
And the loudest of the whole company turned out to be Bridgestone, which stood out from the background of others with an increased general rumble.
Dunlop, Formula, Nokian and Nordman are ahead of the rest in terms of “road” comfort and smoothness. However, each of the leaders has minor remarks, and therefore their score is not “norm” (8 points), but 7.5 points. The toughest one is Goodyear: it "swallows" only large irregularities, and on small things, for example, on transverse seams and cracks, it itches and shudders, transmitting vibrations to the body.
Dunlop and Nordman are more reliable on the primer, Goodyear, Nitto and Yokohama are more reliable in the lagging ones. They abruptly break into slip, largely losing traction. To overcome a dirt slope on such tires, the driver will need skill and jewelry work with gas and clutch.

Stopping distance of summer tires in ten years

The most indicative exercise for assessing the grip properties of tires is braking: the shorter the braking distance, the better the grip. On different surfaces, rubber does not work the same when braking, so it is not so easy to provide good grip on both smooth and rough pavement. Many tire manufacturers focus mainly on European coverage - we check tires on a rougher one, like most Russian roads are covered with.
The "international" braking start speed on a wet surface is 80 km/h, on a dry one - 100 km/h. But the end speed of measurement for tire companies is different - 5 km / h, 7 km / h, sometimes even 10 km / h. The goal is to eliminate short-term blocking of the wheels, which even modern ABS allows at low speeds. We use a "point" of 5 km/h. Before measurements, we carefully clean the braking lane, removing dust and small pebbles from the asphalt. "Sweeping" is carried out by braking ten times - naturally, on non-recorded tires.
One of our inventions is a self-contained watering system that we use for "wet" exercises. It consists of rotating garden sprinklers, connecting hoses, a motor pump and a 500-liter water tank in a trailer pulled by a Chevrolet Niva.
When measuring the braking distance, the test subject is required to hit the pedals in the same place, have the same speed at the point where braking starts, and cool the brakes after each measurement. The braking distance is measured to the nearest centimeter by the VBOX measuring complex, which operates on the basis of GPS.
On average, six measurements for each set give a completely reliable result. In addition to improving rolling resistance, tire manufacturers try to improve wet grip by at least a little every year.
Our measurements show that Nokian tires have the shortest stopping distance: 24.4 meters. Very close - Continental with a result of 24.8 meters. The longest braking distance, 28 meters, came out on the Nitto. Bridgestone showed itself a little better - 27.8 meters. In our tests from a decade ago on the same surface, the best stopping distance on tires of the same size was 28.3 meters, and the worst was over 34 meters. Progress!
In the dry races, the champion has changed - this is Continental: 37.6 meters, followed by Nokian (38.5 m), Formula (38.7 m) and Hankook (38.8 m), yielding about a meter. Close the list Nitto with a score of 42 meters and Bridgestone - 41 meters. Ten years ago, the dry braking record was 43.8 meters, outsiders needed more than 50 meters to stop!
Both on wet and dry surfaces, grip has been “on average” improved by 15% over ten years - you win almost the body of the car! It is clear that cars that have changed during this time are making their contribution, but the lion's share of progress is provided precisely by tires.

ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS OF THE BRAKING DISTANCE IN THE TEST ON COLD WET ASPHALT

Sudden rebuilding of cars in the stream is a fairly common phenomenon on our roads. That's why we included a rearrangement that imitates such a maneuver in our test set a long time ago. This exercise provides an opportunity to evaluate the lateral grip of the tires and how they affect the behavior of the car.
The tester starts the races from a known passing speed, each time raising it by 1-2 km/h, until the car begins to “cut” the cones, falling out of the designated corridor. VBOX captures the speed at the start of the maneuver - and the behavior of the machine and how easy it is to control is evaluated by the tester, scoring points based on the formulated comments. The speed limit must be confirmed in subsequent races in order to exclude a random result.
On wet surfaces, the record is set by Nokian - 67.8 km/h, followed by Formula - 67.7 km/h. At the tail end of the group are Nitto and Bridgestone with 63.5 and 63.6 km/h respectively. At Nitto speed, Skoda is stubborn, refusing to perform a hard maneuver - it straightens the trajectory. Bridgestone introduces instability into Octavia's reactions: at first, she is in no hurry to take the first turn of the steering wheel, sliding almost straight along the first lane, and if the car can be forced to turn into the next lane, when stabilized, it shoots with a tail, knocking down all the cones on both sides. Therefore, this pair has the lowest marks for handling.
Dunlop was also rated just as low (6.5 points) - due to delays in reactions, increased steering angles and sharp breakdowns in sliding. Goodyear earns the highest score - the testers noted clear reactions and understandable behavior of the car, which does not require advanced steering actions.
A similar test on dry pavement generated a lot of emotions. Firstly, the maximum speed of this maneuver has increased significantly in recent years. The test leaders Continental (70.5 km/h) and Nordman (70.4 km/h) are incredibly fast in this extreme exercise: speeds exceeded 70 km/h.
But a dozen years ago, 67-68 km / h in such conditions seemed to be the ultimate achievement.
Secondly, they were disappointed by the low marks for controllability in limiting modes. Six participants received serious comments.

Excellent students and good students of 2018

Nokian Hakka Green 2 tyres, with a score of 919, rolled out to first place. Shod in them, Skoda impresses with outstanding grip on wet pavement, and on long trips it will please you with good directional stability and a decent ride.
Only 3 points behind the leader, the Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 takes the second step of the podium. Features - impressive grip on dry roads and captivatingly quiet rolling.
An honorable third place was taken by Formula Energy tires (Pirelli sub-brand), which scored 912 points. Coupling properties are not the best, but quite high. Like Nokian, these tires are suitable for long-distance trips, where a clear course following and a decent ride are important. But the most pleasant bonus is the modest price.
We are forced to state that there are spots out of eleven on the sun. Claims are similar: delays and large steering angles or low information content. Moreover, these remarks do not depend on the balance of handling - whether it is understeer with front end drift (Yokohama), unstable, wide balance with drift in the initial phase and skid in the final (Bridgestone, Formula, Nitto) or oversteer, leading to a sharp skid in the second corridor (Continental, Nokian).

And Goodyear, Hankook and Nordman got the best scores - 7.5 points each, which means "light claims". No one got eight points. We believe that creating an elastic carcass capable of withstanding significant peak lateral loads for high-profile (65%) and at the same time rather narrow tires is not an easy task. And it is especially difficult when developing tires with super high grip properties. The experts found similar flaws in the behavior of the leading trio during extreme maneuvering on dry pavement upon reaching the maximum speeds. In addition, a significant decrease in grip on cold wet pavement is alarming.
The Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 and Nordman SX2 took the fourth and fifth positions in the "excellent" category with 906 and 904 points, respectively. Quiet, well balanced, without pronounced bursts and dips. The Nordmann has slightly better directional stability and a smoother ride, while the Hankook boasts a little more tenacity when braking on dry pavement.
In general, their grip properties are close to the average level.
At the same time, both participants are indifferent to cold wet asphalt - in spring and autumn this is an absolute plus.
On the sixth line of our rating - Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance (895 points), opening a group of very good tires. In the asset - the best handling on wet pavement during extreme maneuvers, in the passive - excessive rigidity, and wet grip is below average and noticeably deteriorates in the cold.
Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 and Dunlop SP Touring R1 took the seventh and eighth lines of the ranking table with a minimum gap of 890 and 889 points, respectively. Similar in terms of grip and comfort - both are quiet. Dunlop is perhaps a little softer, the difference can be felt only with extreme maneuvering. There are claims to Yokohama about handling during sharp changes on a dry surface, and to Dunlop - on a wet one, and even their directional stability let us down. However, Dunlop has the best braking performance on cold wet pavement, and the price is more modest.
Ninth place with 879 points was taken by Toyo Proxes CF2 tires. They have decent braking properties, but they are disappointed with rather weak lateral grip on wet pavement and difficult directional stability at high speed. Toyo compensates for these shortcomings with the ability to save a little fuel (these tires roll best of all) and very good braking properties on wet cold pavement.

The eminent Bridgestone Turanza T001 with 850 points and the little-known Nitto NT860, which was able to scrape together 844 points, complete our list. This pair is related by the weakest braking properties on wet and dry pavement and experts' claims to handling and directional stability. The difference can only be identified in comfort: Bridgestone is a little softer, Nitto is a little quieter. In addition, the bridge demonstrates the most stable grip on wet roads, which is almost independent of temperature.
But in the rating of a bargain purchase, the alignment is different. The most seductive purchase is Formula Energy, followed by Nitto NT860, Nordman SX2, Dunlop SP Touring R1 and Hankook Kinergy Eco 2. Right in the middle is the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50, and the most expensive Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 and Bridgestone Turanza T001 close the list. Choose!

In addition to improving rolling resistance, tire manufacturers try to improve wet grip at least a little every year.

TURNING FROM FEET TO HEAD

Impressed by the braking properties of tires on wet pavement in summer conditions and remembering our last year's "tour of temperatures" on dry pavement, we decided to repeat the "wet" braking on cold pavement. The temperature for this was chosen borderline: +6 ° С. Its tire manufacturers consider it critical for switching to winter tires in the fall, and summer tires in the spring. We did not include the results in the final table, since manufacturers "sharpen" tires for work at high positive temperatures.
The results shocked us. At extremely low temperatures, the stopping distance of all subjects increased compared to greenhouse conditions by an average of three meters, or almost 12%. That's more than half the body of a car!
In addition, the order of summer braking results was completely destroyed. On cold pavement, the shortest braking distance was given by the modest Dunlop SP Touring R1 in summer conditions. All brands of Japanese and Korean brands lined up after him, with the exception of Nitto NT860, which demonstrates the weakest result at any temperature. But the most amazing thing is that all three leaders of braking in "room" conditions (Nokian Hakka Green 2, Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 and Formula Energy) collapsed into the second half of the list.
You can make a different rating-stability of adhesion (braking distance) at different temperatures. The title of the most “temperature independent” tires in wet braking is won by Bridgestone Turanza T001 tires: their braking distance when the temperature drops to the maximum allowable compared to “summer” has increased only by 4%! In second place are Toyo Praxes CF2 tires, with a little more than 5%. It is noteworthy that this couple did not shine with “derzhak” in summer conditions. The traditional leaders of our summer tests Nokian Hakka Green 2 and Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 in cold conditions increased the braking distance by almost 20% - by five meters! It turns out that the better the tires brake on wet surfaces in summer conditions, the worse they are in the cold. Outsiders are less dependent on temperature changes.

This can be summed up in one word - balance. Achieving ultra-high adhesion in summer conditions is possible only due to its deterioration on cold surfaces - there is a shift towards the preferred temperature. And relatively average indicators over the entire temperature range indicate a more even balance.
But this is only a special case regarding wet grip. Tires are characterized by other indicators - dry grip, rolling resistance, noise, ride, durability, mileage - which often do not get along with each other. So manufacturers have to choose the optimal balance between all performance characteristics, experimenting with materials, tread pattern and manufacturing technology.
What should the consumer do? Of course, use the results to the maximum benefit! Choose summer tires based on the climatic conditions of your region.
And if the tires have already been bought, consider their features, which you learned about from our test. Change your car shoes in time, and when traveling, calculate a safe distance, taking into account temperature changes.

11 different tire models passed our tests

A new test of summer tires in the popular size 185/60 R14 will allow you, dear readers, to find the answer to the question that is gradually starting to worry: “Which tires are best for the upcoming season?”.

More about the winner

It is noteworthy that almost half of the tested models are novelties of the tire market. However, in the first place we have the "good old" ContiPremiumContact 2 from Continental. True, these tires were seriously modified last year. They have finally found the ease of rolling without losing an iota of braking performance, both on dry and wet asphalt. This result was achieved by changing the composition of the tread rubber.

Prize-winners

Hakka Green tires from the Finnish company Nokian settled in 2nd place with an almost minimal lag. By the way, the ratio of price and quality for this rubber is an order of magnitude higher compared to the leader (2.79 against a coefficient of 2.99 for Continental).

New summer tires from Pirelli "took bronze". The Italian manufacturer is confidently advancing both on the summer and winter fronts, once again proving that tires originally from Italy perform well not only in warm climates. Among other things, among the top three, the "Italians" have the most preferable ratio between price and quality - 2.61.

And further down

By the way, the “veteran rubber” Proxes T1R from Toyo, performing out of the standings, lagged behind the bronze medalist Cinturato P1 quite a bit.

The fourth result was shown by Energy Saver tires from Michelin. They scored over 900 points, and according to our classification, all models that score over 900 points are very good tires.

Next to this 900-point bar are Bridgestone with their Turanza tires. Not far from them are the creations of Hankook.

Summer tires Brillantis 2 from Barum are in seventh place (877 points). They boast a good ratio between cost and quality - 2.51.

Test Outsiders

Next comes the Sport 2 from Cordiant with a score of 853 points. Ninth - A.Drive. Time takes its toll, and these tires can compete with tires of very dubious quality in the face of Euro 129 from the domestic manufacturer Kama and Premiorri Solazo. True, the last subject has the best ratio between quality and price - 2.38.
Let's say a word about each tire ...

So, our test of summer tires gave its results, allowing us to place the tested rubber samples in their place and note their main pros and cons. Let's talk about each tire separately. Let's start from the last place.

Characteristics

Tires began to be produced in 2010. In the same year, they became available on the domestic market.
The Solazo tires offer mediocre braking on both wet and dry roads.
They keep the course set by the driver well, but it is very difficult to correct the movement due to the “empty steering wheel”.
You should not change the trajectory with sudden movements. It is best to slow down with such “shoes” to a complete stop. The speed and time of the rearrangement is very low, as it is limited by a solid drift at the entrance to the turn, as well as a skid at the exit of the turn. It is difficult to drive a car in such tires due to significant delays in reactions.
On a wet road, a driver with such tires will feel insecure. The safe driving speed is significantly reduced. This figure is limited due to the possibility of deep skidding.
In terms of noise, these tires are terrible. The Solazo hums and vibrates a lot on small potholes and bumps.
Do not have a negative impact on fuel consumption in the urban cycle.
On the primer move medium.

Pros:

Minuses:

Poor grip characteristics.
Disgustingly "managed".
Terrible level of comfort.

Total - 840 points (Suitable for a measured ride on good paved roads)

Characteristics

The debut of this rubber took place in 2008. Tires appeared in Russia only in 2009.
Bad braking on a dry track, terrible - on a wet road. Only the Japanese Yokohama showed themselves worse in the last type of test.
On the highway, a car wearing this rubber constantly "floats" from one side to the other. In general, tires require constant monitoring and steering.
It is very dangerous to maneuver sharply on Euro 129, as an attempt to correct the trajectory can lead to a severe skid.
On wet roads, handling is also not easy and understandable.
They buzz strongly in the speed range of 45-80 km / h. Very often, bumps and potholes are voiced. They make the body shake unpleasantly on small potholes.
Increase fuel consumption.
They move quite confidently along the dirt road, but, as they say, without revelations.

Pros:

No clear benefits were noted.

Minuses:

Difficult control.
Weak grip properties.
Increase fuel consumption.
Low levels of comfort.

Total - 841 points (Acceptable for leisurely trips on good roads, not afraid of dirt roads)

Characteristics

The "oldest" participants in our test. Produced for 7 years. In Russia, they have been sold with varying success since 2007.
Weak braking on a dry track. On a wet track, they are inferior to the leader by as much as 5 meters.
At high speeds, it is quite acceptable to keep a straight line, but delays in reactions greatly interfere with comfortable rebuilding.
In general terms, the car behaves obediently, but only before the start of slips. With them, either a strong drift at the entrance to the turn, or a skid at the exit will be provided.
Uncertainty moving on a wet road. The asphalt becomes very slippery, and the car constantly strives to break off the path and turn 180 degrees.
There are no complaints about the noise level. However, with Yokohama rubber, small bumps are very hard to feel.
Quite economical in the urban cycle. On highways outside the city - the average.
Confident movement on the primer.

Pros:

Low fuel consumption up to 60 km/h.
They don't make noise.
At medium speed, they allow you to perform extreme maneuvers.

Minuses:

Difficult to manage.
Problems on wet asphalt.
Poor braking qualities on each type of coating.

Outcome - 843 points

Characteristics

Tires are on sale from the year before last. In 2011, they were seriously improved. In particular, the composition of the mixture and the design itself were changed.
On dry pavement, this rubber has the worst braking properties. In turn, on a wet surface they approach the “middle peasants”.
They hold the trajectory well. Reactions to corrections are prompt, clear and understandable.
When maneuvering sharply on a dry track, you should gently work the steering wheel, but avoiding a skid will be very, very difficult.
On a wet surface, there is a shooting skid.
Noise. A rustle is heard. At speeds over 30 km/h, it turns into a hum. The car shakes on small and medium bumps.
When driving in the city, fuel consumption can be called average. When the driving mode is over 90 km / h, it increases.
On the primer rubber behaves acceptable.

Pros:

Good speed for extreme maneuvers on a car.

Minuses:

Very noisy.
Weak braking qualities on a dry surface.
The most difficult handling during sharp maneuvers.

The result - 853 points (Suitable for the city and trips outside the city)

Characteristics

Produced since 2008. The tire composition was changed in 2010. On the territory of the Russian Federation they began to sell since the spring of 2011.
Like the aforementioned Cordiant tyres, the Brilliants 2 perform poorly in the dry and average in the wet.
Keeping a clear course. There are no comments.
It is not necessary to change direction abruptly. There are no complaints about the steering wheel, but the behavior of the vehicle itself is satisfactory. For example, a car strives to break off the trajectory at the very beginning of the maneuver.
On a wet road, they are somewhat reminiscent of Kama tires. Poorly managed.
Comfortable. Not bad roll on the roadway of any quality. They extinguish small and medium road defects.
Economical at any speed.
They behave insecurely on the primer.

Pros:

They keep the road well.
High levels of comfort.
Be careful with fuel.

Minuses:

Difficult handling during sharp maneuvers.
Bad braking on dry roads.

Total - 877 points (Best for country trips)

Characteristics

Novelty of the domestic market.
In braking tests were good. On a dry track - 4th result. Wet steel third (even better than the "out-of-competition" wider Toyo).
It is good to correct the movement of the car hampered by delayed reactions of the steering wheel.
On dry pavement, a skid will be provided if the driver wishes to maneuver extremely at above average speeds. Also annoying are considerable steering angles. Because of this, it is necessary to be able to clearly maneuver ahead of schedule.
Management is simple and clear on wet roads. However, the “diseases” (possible skidding and increased steering angles) of dry pavement seem to be incurable for these tires.
Rigid on each type of coating. Noise.
It is worth commending for the economy in the urban cycle. Outside the city - the average.
Primer is contraindicated.

Pros:

Excellent braking properties.
You can perform extreme maneuvers at high speeds without fear for your life.

Minuses:

Low level of comfort.
Difficult to drive on dry pavement.

The result - 895 points (Good "shoes" for the city and country trips. However, a prerequisite is good quality roads)

Characteristics

Sold in Russia since 2008.
On a dry track, the brakes are unconvincing. Results are worse than average. However, in braking on a wet track, they share 4-5 places with Toyo.
Exchange rate stability at the level. In fact, there is nothing to complain about. However, with a smooth lane change, a little “steering” at the rear axle annoys a little.
Turn the steering wheel carefully. Tires do not tolerate harsh handling. Jerks are contraindicated, as they cause the demolition of the front of the car and, accordingly, the loss of the trajectory. Increasing steering angles are a little annoying.
Comfort level is their weak point. They make a lot of noise when driving in the city. Small bumps, road patches and potholes are transferred to the body.
Increase fuel consumption.
You can drive on the dirt road, but you don't have to.

Pros:

Good handling on wet roads.
They brake well.

Minuses:

Far from the most comfortable tires.
Uneconomical.

The result is 869 points (Suitable for both city trips and for traveling on country roads with good coverage)

Characteristics

Released since 2008. The tire model is one, there were no upgrades.
Moderate braking on both dry and wet surfaces.
Good course stability.
Average changeover speed on dry pavement. This indicator is limited to a small skid. Their main feature is that they behave very obediently if the driver smoothly turns the steering wheel.
On a wet track, the speed is slightly reduced, and the skid becomes slightly deeper. However, this cannot be called a tangible difference compared to a dry coating.
The tires roll without making too much noise. True, small bumps on the roadway are quite hard to feel with them.
Economical at any speed. In turn, Pirelli, Barum, Continental and Nokian with their products are almost not inferior to them.
Good on primer.

Pros:

Economical.
Stable handling on every surface.
Excellent course stability.
They make little noise.

Minuses:

Deficiencies in smoothness.
Minor criticism causes handling during extreme maneuvers.

The result - 904 points (Economical, comfortable and stable. In general, good summer "shoes" for the new season)

Characteristics

They appeared on the domestic market for the first time in 2005.
Braking characteristics deserve flattering words. Only Continental tires brake better on dry roads. True, in tests on a wet track, they take only fourth place.
Instant steering response. Best of all keep the trajectory at high speed.
When performing difficult maneuvers on Toyo tires, you should not worry. Reactions to steering wheel turns are very clear, which makes the behavior of the car intuitive.
On a wet surface, the behavior of the car during maneuvers is slightly blurred, and the steering wheel angles become larger.
A little harsh. They transmit small bumps, but not vibration. They like to "rustle" the tread. Peak volume - from 40 to 70 km / h.
Of course, increased fuel consumption, as this is natural for wide tires.
You can ride on the dirt road.

Pros:

Excellent braking properties on a dry track.
They keep their course well.

Minuses:

Increase fuel consumption.
Claims for excessive noise.
Handling during extreme maneuvers could be better.

Result - 910 points (Good tires for any driving conditions)

Characteristics

Novelty of the domestic market.
On a wet track in braking tests, they took sixth place, and on dry pavement - third.
With a smooth lane change, the rear of the car slightly taxis. This greatly complicates the life of the driver, as he constantly has to be in tension in order to clearly carry out maneuvers.
The best in the test for emergency maneuvering. The steering becomes very clear, and a slight skid that occurs at the exit of the turn does not even need to be fought.
On a wet road, the car's reactions to emergency steering manipulations are very clear, as well as on a dry surface.
They roll almost silently, but shake the car a little on bumps.
Treat fuel with care in any driving mode.
On the primer move medium.

Pros:

Good level of fuel consumption.
Excellently managed.
Braking performance on a dry track is very good.
Best for emergency maneuvers.

Minuses:

The smoothness of the ride leaves much to be desired.
They don't keep track very well.

The result - 919 points (Show themselves in all their glory on urban and suburban roads of good quality)

Characteristics

We have been selling since 2011.
The braking qualities of tires leave them in 5th place in our ranking. In turn, tests on a wet track made them a silver medalist.
Clearly responsive to the steering wheel. Good course stability.
Difficult maneuvers on dry surfaces can be performed even at high speeds. True, you need to reckon with a soft skid. The behavior of the steering wheel is very clear, and the car reacts instantly to it.
On a wet track, the rearrangement speed is just as high. Also again worth noting is the very precise steering.
They roll silently, but all the joints and bumps in the roadway are transmitted to the body very clearly.
Save fuel. One of the best in these tests.
Suitable for dirt road trips.

Result - 932 points (These are excellent tires that combine fuel efficiency, stable behavior and good braking properties)

Characteristics

Tires have been produced since 2008. The last time they were seriously modified was a year ago.
The best in braking tests both on dry and on pavement after rain.
The reaction of the car to the position of the steering wheel is slightly delayed.
Absolutely not afraid of extreme turns and other maneuvers at high speed. The behavior of the car is very clear, and its reactions are clear. One important feature of this rubber. The fact is that as it warms up, its behavior improves.
On wet roads, these tires will not let the driver down in emergency situations.
You can't complain about the smoothness of the ride. Very comfortable tires. They only make a slight whine when driving.
Fuel economy in all driving modes.
You can ride on the dirt road.

Pros:

Excellent braking performance.
Save fuel.
Good level of comfort.

Minuses:

The weak point of tires is directional stability and handling on wet roads.

The result - 935 points (Perhaps the best tires for the summer. Comfortable, quite affordable, save fuel and boast excellent braking properties)

Thank you very much for your attention!

Nowadays, even small and inexpensive cars roll off the assembly line on 15-inch wheels. Many Russians even put “tags” on rather expensive cars - they are preferable on our roads. Tire manufacturers, for which income depends more on the sizes of tires sold than on their number, are indifferent to budget dimensions. New items are offered at least in the seventeen-inch segment, and small ones are sluggishly updated, usually slightly reducing rolling resistance.

Nevertheless, there are companies for which the Russian market is very important, and they literally fight for the leading positions, annually “grinding” their products, trying to get ahead of competitors in grip properties on dry and wet surfaces. Therefore, there is always intrigue in our tests.

We select a company

It is for this reason that we took for a test (3350 rubles apiece) Russian-made and (4000 rubles) Czech "assembly". By no means new, but their characteristics are improving every year. Purebred "Japanese women" at a price of 4200 rubles, as expected by status, set the highest price bar. Another representative of the "top 5" is far from a new model (3400 rubles), released in Poland.

The middle price segment opens (3250 rubles) - a tire of Russian origin (welded in Lipetsk), which recently replaced the successful C.drive2 model on our market. For the same money they offer Japanese tires.

Warm up

The first set of exercises is something like a warm-up. Tires do not experience significant loads, their treads almost do not wear out.

To warm up each set of tires, a ten-kilometer drive along the high-speed ring of an automobile test site at a constant speed of 130 km/h is enough. This run is more than enough for experts to evaluate the behavior of the car both on a straight line and during soft lane changes that simulate obstacle avoidance and overtaking.

After running in, you can start measuring efficiency. We close the windows tightly to optimize aerodynamics, and we move strictly in a straight line, since any maneuvering causes additional resistance. On each set of tires, we perform three or four test runs, each consisting of two measurements in opposite directions. Thus, we neutralize the influence of the slightest breeze, although such tests are carried out only in calm weather.

At the same time, we “write on the crust” the first sensations: we evaluate the smoothness of the ride, the noise level and other nuances. And then on service roads with cracks and potholes, in conditions as close as possible to real domestic ones, we check the previously set marks for comfort.

The final chord of a difficult race is an assessment of the ability of the subjects to move on an unpaved road. The test is carried out on a dry ground lift with a slope of 12%. We start off with and without slipping, evaluating the confidence of the start and movement, as well as how sharply the wheels break into slipping and whether the grip drops noticeably. We perform this exercise only at the request of our readers; these results are not taken into account in the overall standings, since the tires are road tires and are designed mainly for hard surfaces.

Having finished a series of combined races and recalculated the final results through the referent tires, which we install after three or four sets of test ones, we summarize.

First Impressions

Bridgestone, Dunlop, Nitto and Toyo look paler than the others. They have an incomprehensible wide "zero" when moving in a straight line. At the same time, at Dunlop, Skoda has delays in reactions and pronounced understeer. The rest of the trinity sins with oversteer, which, under an unfortunate set of circumstances, can wreck the car into a skid.

In the races for economy at city speed (60 km / h), Toyo pulled ahead. Most of all "consumes" Formula. However, the difference with the leader was only 0.3 l/100 km.

At 90 km/h, Toyo holds the lead, but Dunlop, Goodyear, Nitto and Yokohama join in. Nokian distinguished itself by the highest appetite, but the difference with the most economical rivals is rather relative - a two-hundred-gram glass of gasoline per 100 km.

Our measurements show that Nokian tires have the shortest stopping distance: 24.4 meters. Very close - Continental with a result of 24.8 meters. The longest braking distance, 28 meters, came out on the Nitto. Bridgestone showed itself a little better - 27.8 meters. On the same surface, the best braking distance on tires of the same dimension was 28.3 meters, and the worst - more than 34 meters. Progress!

In the dry races, the champion has changed - this is Continental: 37.6 meters, followed by Nokian (38.5 m), Formula (38.7 m) and Hankook (38.8 m), yielding about a meter. Close the list Nitto with a score of 42 meters and Bridgestone - 41 meters. Ten years ago, the dry braking record was 43.8 meters, outsiders needed more than 50 meters to stop!

Both on wet and dry surfaces, grip has been “on average” improved by 15% over ten years - you win almost the body of the car! It is clear that cars that have changed during this time are making their contribution, but the lion's share of progress is provided precisely by tires.

Look out!

The tester starts the races from a known passing speed, each time raising it by 1–2 km/h, until the car begins to “cut” the cones, falling out of the designated corridor. VBOX captures the speed at the start of the maneuver - and the behavior of the machine and how easy it is to control is evaluated by the tester, scoring points based on the formulated comments. The speed limit must be confirmed in subsequent races in order to exclude a random result.

On wet surfaces, the record is set by Nokian - 67.8 km/h, followed by Formula - 67.7 km/h. At the tail end of the group are Nitto and Bridgestone with 63.5 and 63.6 km/h respectively. On Nitto, even with a slight increase in speed, Skoda stubbornly refuses to perform a hard maneuver - it straightens the trajectory. Bridgestone introduces instability into Octavia's reactions: at first, she is in no hurry to take the first turn of the steering wheel, sliding almost straight along the first lane, and if the car can be forced to turn into the next lane, when stabilized, it shoots with a tail, knocking down all the cones on both sides. Therefore, this pair has the lowest marks for handling.

Dunlop was also rated just as low (6.5 points) - due to delays in reactions, increased steering angles and sharp breakdowns in sliding. Goodyear earns the highest score - the testers noted clear reactions and understandable behavior of the car, which does not require advanced steering actions.

A similar test on dry pavement generated a lot of emotions. Firstly, the maximum speed of this maneuver has increased significantly in recent years. The test leaders Continental (70.5 km/h) and Nordman (70.4 km/h) are incredibly fast in this extreme exercise: speeds exceeded 70 km/h.

But a dozen years ago, 67-68 km / h in such conditions seemed to be the ultimate achievement.

Secondly, we were disappointed by the low marks for handling in extreme conditions. Six out of eleven participants received serious comments. Claims are similar: delays and large steering angles or low information content. Moreover, these remarks do not depend on the balance of handling - whether it is understeer with front end drift (Yokohama), unstable, wide balance with drift in the initial phase and skid in the final (Bridgestone, Formula, Nitto) or oversteer, leading to a sharp skid in the second corridor (Continental, Nokian).

And Goodyear, Hankook and Nordman got the best scores - 7.5 points each, which means "light claims". No one got eight points. We believe that creating an elastic carcass capable of withstanding significant peak lateral loads for high-profile (65%) and at the same time rather narrow tires is not an easy task. And it is especially difficult when developing tires with super high grip properties.

TURNING FROM FEET TO HEAD

Impressed by the braking properties of tires on wet pavement in summer conditions and remembering our last year's dry pavement, we decided to repeat the "wet" braking on cold pavement. The temperature for this was chosen as borderline: +6 °C. Its tire manufacturers consider it critical for switching to winter tires in the fall, and summer tires in the spring. We did not include the results in the final table, since manufacturers "sharpen" tires for work at high positive temperatures.

The results shocked us. At extremely low temperatures, the stopping distance of all subjects increased compared to greenhouse conditions by an average of three meters, or almost 12%. That's more than half the body of a car!

In addition, the order of summer braking results was completely destroyed. On cold pavement, the shortest braking distance was given by the modest Dunlop SP Touring R1 in summer conditions. All brands of Japanese and Korean brands lined up after him, with the exception of Nitto NT860, which demonstrates the weakest result at any temperature. But the most amazing thing is that all three leaders of braking in "room" conditions (Nokian Hakka Green 2, Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 and Formula Energy) collapsed into the second half of the list.

You can make another rating - the stability of adhesion (braking distance) at different temperatures. The title of the most “temperature independent” tires in wet braking is won by Bridgestone Turanza T001 tires: their braking distance when the temperature drops to the maximum allowable compared to “summer” has increased only by 4%! In second place are Toyo Proxes CF2 tires, with a little more than 5%. It is noteworthy that this couple did not shine with “derzhak” in summer conditions. The traditional leaders of our summer tests Nokian Hakka Green 2 and Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 in cold conditions increased the braking distance by almost 20% - by five meters! It turns out that the better the tires brake on wet surfaces in summer conditions, the worse they are in the cold. Outsiders are less dependent on temperature changes.

But this is only a special case regarding wet grip. Tires are characterized by other indicators - dry grip, rolling resistance, noise, ride, durability, mileage - which often do not get along with each other. So manufacturers have to choose the optimal balance between all performance characteristics, experimenting with materials, tread pattern and manufacturing technology.

What should the consumer do? Of course, use the results to the maximum benefit! Choose summer tires with an eye on.

And if the tires have already been bought, consider their features, which you learned about from our test. Change your car shoes in time, and when traveling, calculate a safe distance, taking into account temperature changes.

Excellent and good students

Tires rolled out to first place with a score of 919 points. Shod in them, Skoda impresses with outstanding grip on wet pavement, and on long trips it will please you with good directional stability and a decent ride.

Lagging behind the leader by only 3 points, it occupies the second step of the podium. Features - impressive grip on dry roads and captivatingly quiet rolling.

An honorable third place was taken by tires (Pirelli sub-brand) with 912 points. Coupling properties are not the best, but quite high. Like Nokian, these tires are suitable for long-distance trips, where a clear course following and a decent ride are important. But the most pleasant bonus is the modest price.

We are forced to state that there are spots on the sun. The experts found similar flaws in the behavior of the leading trio during extreme maneuvering on dry pavement upon reaching the maximum speeds. In addition, a significant decrease in grip on cold wet pavement is alarming.

On the fourth and fifth positions, holding in the category of "excellent students", are located and, who scored 906 and 904 points, respectively. Quiet, well balanced, without pronounced bursts and dips. The Nordmann has slightly better directional stability and a smoother ride, while the Hankook boasts slightly more tenacity when braking on dry pavement. In general, their grip properties are close to the average level.

At the same time, both participants are indifferent to cold wet asphalt - in spring and autumn this is an absolute plus.

On the sixth line of our rating - (895 points), opening a group of very good tires. In the asset - the best handling on wet pavement during extreme maneuvers, in the passive - excessive rigidity, and wet grip is below average and noticeably deteriorates in the cold.

The seventh and eighth lines of the table of ranks were also taken with a minimum gap - 890 and 889 points, respectively. Similar in terms of grip and comfort - both are quiet. Dunlop is perhaps a little softer, the difference can be felt only with extreme maneuvering. There are claims to Yokohama about handling during sharp changes on a dry surface, and to Dunlop - on a wet one, and even their directional stability let us down. However, Dunlop has the best braking performance on cold wet pavement, and the price is more modest.

Tires took the ninth place with 879 points. They have decent braking properties, but they are disappointed with rather weak lateral grip on wet pavement and difficult directional stability at high speed. Toyo compensates for these shortcomings with at least a little bit of ability (these tires roll best of all) and very good braking properties on wet cold pavement.

Our list is completed by those who fit into the category of good students (more than 840 total points) eminent with 850 points and little-known, who was able to scrape together 844 points. This pair is related by the weakest braking properties on wet and dry pavement and experts' claims to handling and directional stability. The difference can only be identified in comfort: Bridgestone is a little softer, Nitto is a little quieter. In addition, the bridge demonstrates the most stable grip on wet roads, which is almost independent of temperature.

But in the rating of a bargain purchase, the alignment is different. The most enticing purchase is Formula Energy, followed by Nitto NT860, Nordman SX2, Dunlop SP Touring R1 and Hankook Kinergy Eco 2. Right in the middle is the Yokohama BluEarth-A AE‑50, and the most expensive Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 and Bridgestone Turanza T001 close the list. Choose!

Test results

	11th place	10th place	9th place	8th place
brand, model
Country of manufacture	Malaysia	Japan	Japan	Thailand
Load and speed index
	7,3–7,8	7,3–7,6	7,9–8,3	7,7–8,2
		66–67		65–66
Tire weight, kg	9,46	8,51	8,44	8,18
	2600	4200	3250	3000
Quality/price*	0,32	0,20	0,27	0,30
The amount of points awarded	844	850	879	889
pros	Low fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km/h; satisfactory handling during extreme maneuvering; comfortable	Satisfactory handling during extreme maneuvering; good running smoothness	The most economical; understandable handling during extreme maneuvering on wet roads; quiet	Excellent fuel economy at high speed; the least noisy; good running smoothness
Minuses	Worst braking properties; the worst speed of the rearrangement on both wet and dry pavement; complex directional stability	Mediocre grip properties; complex exchange rate stability; the lowest level of acoustic comfort	Low speed of rearrangement on wet surfaces; difficulties with directional stability	Claims for exchange rate stability; slight remarks about handling during extreme maneuvering on wet pavement

* Obtained by dividing the total points by the retail price. The higher the score, the better the purchase.

	7th place	6th place	5th place	4th place
brand, model
Country of manufacture	Russia	Poland	Russia	Hungary
Load and speed index
Drawing depth in width, mm	7,1–7,6	7,8–8,0	7,2–7,3	7,1- 7,2
Shore hardness of rubber, units	68–69	66–67		67–68
Tire weight, kg	8,42	7,68	7,66	8,25
Average price in online stores at the time of preparation of the material, rub.	3250	3400	2800	3100
Quality/price*	0,27	0,26	0,32	0,29
The amount of points awarded	890	895

Fifteen-inch tires for small cars are the most popular. Most class B and even C cars sold in Europe on our market are mainly worn in the budget "fifteenth" size. And it's not just the lower prices of such shoes. On our roads, tires with a higher profile are more comfortable and last longer. Moreover, they protect consumable suspension elements (ball bearings, silent blocks, shock absorbers) from high impact loads, extending their life.

What and how much?

Alas, there are few new products in budget dimensions. New developments in this segment are economically unprofitable, therefore very rare. Tire manufacturers, as a rule, keep inexpensive small-sized models longer on the conveyor than larger ones. Some companies are refinishing tire compounds and other materials slightly, often not so much to improve performance as to reduce manufacturing costs.

The highest price bar is held by top-end, but not new models (3600 rubles apiece) of Czech production and Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance (3400 rubles), made in Germany. A little cheaper you can buy tires Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde (3150 rubles), produced in Turkey, and a very fresh model Nokian Hakka Green 2 (3200 rubles) of domestic production. The latter, by the way, boasts not only Russian citizenship, but also an increased load index: 95.

The middle price segment is opened by more democratic tires (2800 rubles) - a real Japanese and a Hankook Kinergy Eco tire updated in terms of mixture, Korean design, but made in Hungary. The fresh Russian-made Nordman SX 2 (2,700 rubles) and the Kumho Ecowing ES01 (2,600 rubles) made in China will cost a little less.

The price of a far from new domestic tire Cordiant Sport 3 (2500 rubles) lies on the border between budget and mid-price offers. Cheaper (2300 rubles) they sell a fairly fresh model Matador Elite 3 (aka MP 44), made in Russia.

We could not refuse our readers' request to test Chinese products - they are represented by GT Radial's Champiro FE1 tire, which can be bought for 2200 rubles. And the Belarusian Belshina Artmotion, aka Bel‑261, closes the test dozen. Its average price in online stores is 2100 rubles apiece.

The test car was appointed "Czech" named Skoda Octavia. The tests were carried out at the AvtoVAZ test site, near Tolyatti. The time of the event is hot August and September 2016. The air during the tests warmed up to 22-37 degrees.

Rustling around the landfill

The initial exercise is fuel efficiency assessment. Preliminary, for the correctness of measurements, it is necessary to warm up the tires, as well as the units and components of the car. On each set of tires we drive ten kilometers along the high-speed ring. At the same time, we evaluate the directional stability of the car at high speed (up to 130 km / h), ride smoothness and internal noise.

Octavia received the highest marks in terms of road holding on Nokian and Pirelli tires, conquering the experts with clear reactions and tight, informative steering.

Belshina, Cordiant, GT Radial and Matador looked the palest of all in this test. The comments are different: from a wide “zero” (the car walks from side to side with the steering wheel in the same position) and insufficient steering information to delays in the reactions of the car, the need to turn the steering wheel at large angles when correcting the course, and even dangerous steering of the rear axle that can cause a skid . For exchange rate stability, this four earned only six points each.

Efficiency measurements are carried out in calm weather on a horizontal two-kilometer section of the road, repeating races in both directions several times in order to neutralize the possible influence of even a light breeze.

The GT Radial and Matador outperformed everyone else, including those in our previous tests. The gap from the closest competitors is 0.2 l / 100 km at speeds of 60 and 90 km / h. The most indiscreet Octavia showed on Cordiant tires: the gap from the leaders was 0.3 l / 100 km at 60 km / h and 0.5 l / 100 km at 90 km / h.

After measurements, we make a four-kilometer loop along the service roads of the landfill, continuing to evaluate the comfort on various irregularities - from seams and cracks in the asphalt to serious potholes. We ride each set of tires strictly along the same route and at the same speed.

Now for the noise. Experts did not give the maximum eight points to anyone, eight participants earned sevens. Belshina, Kumho and Toyo rustled louder, therefore they deserved no more than a six, and the GT Radial tires were reduced to five points for aircraft rumble on rough pavement.

The smoothness of the ride was unmatched by Hankook tires - the Octavia shod in them is the smoothest ride over bumps in the road. Almost all other tires earned sevens and sixes, and the GT Radial tires were the most uncomfortable here too - they transmit vibrations from cracks and road seams to the controls and seats, cause shivers on rough pavement, and also miss hard shocks from any bumps.

Then we turn off the asphalt onto the dirt road with a slope of 12%, where we evaluate the confidence of starting off and moving uphill. We repeat passes with varying degrees of slip to assess the drop in traction at the moment the wheels break into slip. This exercise is optional, its results are not included in the overall standings. We conduct it at the request of our readers - to understand how the tires behave on the primer.

The Cordiant and Matador row better than the rest on the unpaved slope. And more than others slip, losing traction, GT Radial, Hankook, Kumho, Pirelli and Toyo. Such roads are clearly not their forte.

Stop, car!

It's time to rub the wheels on the asphalt. Since you will have to perform several exercises on each set of tires, we start with a test during which the tread is erased to a minimum degree - with braking on wet pavement. The trajectory before measurements is carefully cleaned from dust and small stones by twenty-fold braking on non-recording tires.

Our mobile irrigation system consists of a motor pump, a set of rotary sprinklers, long hoses and a 500 liter water barrel in a trailer, which is dragged by a technician. We position the first sprinkler so that the car wets the wheels at a distance of two or three bodies to the starting point of braking. The car approaches it at a speed of 83-85 km / h. The VBOX measuring complex records the braking distance when the speed decreases from 80 to 5 km/h, and not to a complete stop, since at low speeds (from 5 km/h to zero) the ABS often does not work correctly, the wheels can lock up and the braking distance will increase . The driver hits the brake pedal (after depressing the clutch) at the moment of crossing the line indicated by the cones and waits for the car to come to a complete stop. The tester repeats this procedure six to eight times. And he does not forget to cool the brakes on the way to the starting point - moving at a speed of 40–50 km / h and slowing down only with the engine.

On the wet road, the Nokian tires proved to be the best: the braking distance of the Octavia was 26.2 meters. She rolled no more than half a meter further on Continental, Goodyear and Pirelli tires. Belshina gave the longest braking distance: 31 meters. The difference with the leader is more car body!

The next day we brake on dry pavement. We clean the coating again before measurements. On each set of tires we brake five or six times from a speed of 103–105 km/h, and we measure the braking distance when the speed drops from 100 to 5 km/h (the whole automotive world evaluates the braking properties of cars and tires according to this scheme). And one more important difference between “dry” braking and “wet” braking: it takes longer to cool the brakes - you need to lengthen the cooling loop by several hundred meters.

Here Pirelli takes the lead with a score of 37.5 meters. Nokian yields almost a meter, Continental and Goodyear - 0.4 and 0.3 meters, respectively. Belshina is again an outsider: with a result of 42.9 meters, she loses to the leader by almost five and a half meters.

We play checkers

The final exercises - the rearrangement on wet and dry surfaces - are the most difficult for test drivers. In the final phase of the tests, they are performed because the rubber here is erased like sandpaper.

Rearranging, or changing lanes, is an exercise that simulates extreme maneuvering. The most common cause of a sudden lane change is an unexpected obstacle on the road that falls. Usually you encounter this in completely unexpected places, when there is only one way out - to change lanes abruptly. In this exercise, a set of transverse grip properties and tire slip characteristics, the clarity of the car's responses to these tires are evaluated.

The size of the test corridor was dictated by life: on our roads, the standard lane width is three and a half meters. But in the exit section, we narrow the corridor with cones so that at each attempt the car follows the same trajectory. It is necessary to change lanes to the neighboring lane on a path only 12 meters long (in the past, this was determined by the Soviet GOST).

The task of the tester is to select the maximum possible speed of the exercise. The car must not knock down a single cone, which limits the lanes. The speed in the entrance corridor at the same point is measured by an impartial VBOX. And the test driver evaluates handling during extreme maneuvering.

Typically, on each set of tires, the tester does 15-20 approaches, reaching maximum speed and trying to repeat the limit result in order to make sure that it is not accidental.

In the wet, the Octavia was the fastest on Goodyear tires (69 km/h). "Support group" - Pirelli and Continental, on which the speed of the maneuver fell by only 0.5 km / h. The slowest one is Belshina (61 km/h), and the GT Radial tire (61.5 km/h) was the company.

Eight points for handling on wet roads during the rearrangement, the experts gave Nokian, Nordman, Pirelli and Toyo tires: Skoda showed clear reactions and understandable behavior on these tires. Worse than others endure extreme maneuvering GT Radial. On them, Octavia somehow unexpectedly swam into a deep skid, glided for a long time and reluctantly restored the trajectory. If the car is shod with these tires, we do not advise you to turn the steering wheel sharply - you can “lose” it.

On dry pavement Nokian tires won - 69.7 km/h. The Continental is just a little behind - 69.1 km / h. And at the opposite end - again Belshina with a result of 65.9 km / h.

After testing the "extreme" handling on a dry road, the alignment has changed a bit. Eights were awarded to the same tires as on wet roads - Nokian, Nordman, Pirelli and Toyo. And Hankook, who joined them. It is noteworthy that the experts rated the behavior of the GT Radial tires on dry roads significantly higher (seven points) than on wet ones. Belshina and Matador turned out to be weak in such conditions, which earned only six points each: delays in reactions, large steering angles, oversteer (tendency to skid) in the second corridor.

We correct the score

This season, we have slightly modernized the system for calculating the final points.

Previously, the minimum braking distance "weighed" 180 and 160 points for wet and dry surfaces, respectively, and the maximum for speed at a rearrangement was 160 and 140 points. Now the “weight distribution” is as follows: the maximum for assessing the braking properties is 260 and 240 points (for wet and dry surfaces), and for the maximum speed at the rearrangement - 80 and 60 points. As a result, the ratio of braking properties and handling turned out to be more balanced and logical from the point of view of safety. The total "weight" of the braking distance on wet and dry pavement is now 500 points, and the "weight" of the car's behavior when maneuvering is 330 points: this is the sum of the "weights" of the speed on the rearrangement (80 + 60 = 140 points), the controllability rating (80 + 60 = 140 points) and exchange rate stability assessment (50 points).

In connection with these changes in the final scoring system, we decided to slightly lower the threshold for the title of "good tires" - now it is 840 points.

What's in my rating for you?

Tires and Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde tied for first and second place with 932 points each. These tires are practically devoid of flaws.

This time we were forced to expand the podium to four places - the third and fourth steps on it were occupied by tires Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 and Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance, which earned 912 points each. There is nothing to reproach them with either, if you do not pay attention to the petty nit-picking of experts.

Two more tires - Hankook Kinergy Eco (910 points) and Nordman SX 2 (904 points) made their way into the category of excellent students (900 points or more). The first deserves the epithet "the softest tire of the test", and the second will compete with the leaders in handling during extreme maneuvers. A modest price with an excellent final result - profitable purchases!

In seventh and eighth places are the very good Toyo Proxes CF2 and Kumho Ecowing ES01 tires, which scored 892 and 882 points respectively. Their main disadvantage is the low level of comfort. If this indicator is not fundamentally important, then ... why not?

The ninth and tenth places are shared by the Cordiant Sport 3 and Matador Elite 3, which perform well in our test. They have a lot in common: both tires are third generation, Russian-made and both scored 859 points. And the disadvantages are similar: modest traction properties and difficult handling during extreme maneuvers. But if without fanaticism, then it is quite possible to ride. And Matador is more tempting, because it is cheaper and helps to save fuel.

Another good rider with a total score of 848 is the GT Radial Champiro FE1 tire. Noisy and harsh, does not like extreme maneuvers on wet roads, but saves fuel in all modes no worse than the Matador. Yes, and it's cheap.

Our table of ranks is completed - both in terms of price and in the technical sense - by the frankly budget Belshina Artmotion (811 points). However, at the same time it turned out to be the best in terms of price and quality ratio. In other words, this tire is not so much worse than its competitors, but cheaper.

LOAD AND SPEED LIMITS

For passenger tires with a dimension of 195/65 R15, manufacturers consider a load index of 91 (615 kg per wheel). Some produce tires with increased load capacity - with an index of 95 (690 kg); to attract attention, the letters XL are added to their marking, which means “increased load capacity” (extra load).

With speed indices, everything is also not easy. If five to ten years ago, tires of this dimension had the H index (up to 210 km / h), now they are becoming faster, as evidenced by the frequent appearance of the V index (up to 240 / km / h).

Recall that the constructive difference between tires with different speed indices lies in different tensile strength under the action of centrifugal forces limiting for each speed limit. And tires with different load indexes differ in their ability to carry different loads.

In our company, eleven out of twelve participants have a "standard" load index - 91. Only Nokian Hakka Green 2 flaunts increased load capacity - if any car needs tires with a load index of 95, Hakka's rivals will be left with a nose. The speed indicators were distributed as follows: seven tires have the “old” speed limit for this size H (210 km/h), and five have a more modern V (240 km/h). For our speed limits and for the technical capabilities of many inexpensive cars, even the H index is enough with a margin.

TEST RESULTS

	12th place	11th place	9th–10th place
brand, model
Country of manufacture	Belarus
Load and speed index
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Tire weight, kg

Price quality*
The amount of points awarded	811	848	859
pros	Moderate fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km / h; low price	high fuel efficiency; stable handling during extreme maneuvering on dry pavement	high fuel efficiency; stable handling during extreme maneuvering on wet pavement
Minuses	worse grip properties; difficult handling during extreme maneuvering; comments on directional stability and comfort	low traction and problematic handling during extreme maneuvering on wet pavement; comments about exchange rate stability; the toughest and noisiest	mediocre braking properties; difficult handling during extreme maneuvering on a dry road; notes on directional stability

	9th–10th place	8th place	7th place
brand, model
Country of manufacture
Load and speed index
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores at the time of preparation of the material, rub.
Price quality*
The amount of points awarded	859	882	892
pros	stable handling during extreme maneuvering on dry pavement	good braking properties on wet pavement	clear handling during extreme maneuvering both on dry and wet pavement
Minuses	worst economy; difficult handling during extreme maneuvering on wet pavement; comments on directional stability and smoothness	notes on smoothness and noise	low speed of rearrangement on a dry road; comments about comfort

* Obtained by dividing the retail price by the total points. The lower the score, the better.

	6th place	5th place	3rd–4th place
brand, model
Country of manufacture			Germany
Load and speed index
Drawing depth in width, mm
Shore hardness of rubber, units
Tire weight, kg
Average price in online stores at the time of preparation of the material, rub.
Price quality*
The amount of points awarded	904	910	912
pros	clear handling during extreme maneuvering both on dry and wet pavement	high speed and clear handling during extreme maneuvering on dry pavement; best running smoothness	the highest speed of the rearrangement on wet pavement, the highest - on dry pavement; high traction on dry roads