Winter tires of a variety. What winter tires are better to choose

10.04.2019

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Winter tires are different from summer tires, and it's not just about the tread pattern. Manufacturers select the chemical composition for a particular temperature range, therefore, with going beyond its limits, the tires lose their properties. At low temperatures, summer tires become less flexible and can no longer provide proper grip. pavement, minimum stopping distance and other inherent characteristics.

Contrary to popular belief, all-season tires are not designed for real winter.

They are designed for moderate weather conditions and quality road surfaces that are usually dry and only occasionally get wet. In a good way, they can only be used in the off-season as an addition to winter and summer tires.

That is why it is imperative to change tires depending on the season. As a rule, it is recommended to change the car to winter tires if the air temperature does not rise above 5–7 °С during the week. Usually this is the end of October or the beginning of November.

As in the case with, you need to choose winter ones, taking into account several important criteria and nuances. Let's try to figure them out together.

What type of tires to choose

There are two main types of tires: studded and friction. The latter, in turn, are divided into Scandinavian and European type. As a result, there are only three types winter tires, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for certain climatic conditions.

1. Studded tires

Thanks to the metal anti-skid studs, these tires provide better grip pavement and effective braking. They are designed for driving on hard dry ice and are used in countries with severe winters. Due to their specific nature, tires of this type are quite noisy. When driving on dry asphalt, they lose their advantages and wear out quickly. In some European countries studded tires are prohibited.

Such tires are suitable for everyone who spends a lot of time outside the city and lives in regions where there is ice. Residents of megacities with roads that are regularly sprinkled with reagents do not need studded tires.

2. Scandinavian style friction tires

Similar in their properties to studded tires and for the most part differ from them only in the absence of studs. Tires of this type are designed for operation at low temperatures And in large numbers snow and provide required grip with the road due to the many sipes on the tread, which push through the snow and crust. Because of their softness, Scandinavian tires do not perform well on ice and wear out quickly on dry pavement, literally starting to float.

Scandinavian type tires are suitable for snowy areas with long and. With such tires, you can not be afraid of snowdrifts and crossings, but you will have to observe speed mode, be careful with cornering, and sharp accelerations and braking.

3. European style friction tires

This complete opposite Scandinavian. These tires are ideal for regions with mild and wet winters where sleet and rain are more common. They do an excellent job with snow porridge and are able to ensure safety when driving for more high speeds. But in ice and on packed snow with such tires you should be more careful.

Suitable for driving in the city, where you can often meet snow porridge than ice, as well as when driving on clean asphalt at low temperatures.

Having decided on the type of tires, you can proceed to the consideration of specific models from different manufacturers. To compare tires and choose the most suitable ones, you need to be able to read the marking, which encodes the features of a particular tire. Let's figure it out legend on a specific example.

P- tire size. IN this case- short for Passenger, which indicates a tire for a passenger car.
215 - profile width in millimeters.
65 - profile height in percent.
R- radial design.
15 - Bore diameter in inches.
95 - load index.
T- speed index.
M+S- Mud + Snow, winter or all season tires.
Treadwear 220- wear index (the higher the better).
Traction A- indicator of braking efficiency. It is marked from A to C, where A is the best.
Temperature A- an indicator of resistance to heat. It is marked from A to C, where A is the best.

Additional Information:

All Seasons(or AS) - all-season tires.
snowflake icon- winter tire.
Tubeless- tubeless tyre.
Max pressure- maximum pressure.
outside And Inside- designation of the outer and inside on asymmetric tyres.
rotation- direction of rotation for directional tires.
Water, Rain, Aqua, umbrella icon- resistance to aquaplaning.

Most designations when choosing are for informational purposes only, but some are worth paying close attention to. Among these parameters are the width and height of the profile, load and speed indices, as well as wear and braking indicators.

How to choose the size

When choosing a tire size, it is worth throwing aside all the myths and advice from garage neighbors describing the benefits low profile or larger diameter. Do not deviate from the recommendations of the car manufacturer: he has already calculated everything, found the best option and listed it in the owner's manual.

If you want to save money, get a second set of winter tires with a smaller landing diameter. Buying such tires will cost less.

Before buying, be sure to check when the tires were made. The fact is that manufacturers guarantee the invariance of the properties of the tire for two years of storage. If the tires lie in the warehouse longer, then the rubber loses its qualities and the tires will no longer be able to fully provide grip and efficient braking.

hometyre.co.uk

Finding out the date of manufacture and understanding whether it is worth taking the vending set of tires is quite simple. Manufacturers indicate it on the side surface of the tire using a code from four digits. The first two indicate the week, and the second - the year of issue. For example, 5016 is the 50th week or the middle of December 2016.

What else to consider

And a few useful tips finally:

Stop buying used tires. Over time, rubber loses its properties, which, coupled with the existing wear, can negate all the savings.
In no case do not buy tires only for the drive axle of the car. Due to uneven grip of the wheels different axes the risk increases.
To prolong the life of the tires, it is recommended to switch them from front to rear axle and vice versa every 8,000 km.
If you have been using a set of tires for more than a year, install best couple on rear axle car to eliminate the possibility of skidding.
Buy a second set of rims specifically for winter tires so that you can change your own shoes and avoid wasting time in line for tire fitting.

One of the most costly and responsible moments in maintenance iron horse becomes the choice of winter tires. Winter in Russia differs significantly from European or Asian climatic conditions. To safely move on frozen roads, you need to know what tires to choose for the winter for your car.

Features of the use of winter tires

Car tires are one of the significant items of expenditure in the owner's budget. That is why motorists have doubts about the advisability of having two sets of wheels, one of which is for summer season, and others - for the operation of the machine in the winter. The problem arises for a car enthusiast, which tires to choose in order to safely transport themselves and their loved ones along snowy streets and highways?

Winter tires are a specially designed automotive product that can be used at temperatures below +7°C. The main difference between such tires and summer models lies not in the pattern and tread depth, which first of all, novice motorists pay their attention to. The main difference lies in the properties of rubber.

As you know, rubber is a material whose elasticity depends on temperature. environment. So tire manufacturers have to invent various chemical compositions to get a soft and at the same time wear-resistant wheel. For the winter, tires are required that retain elasticity at low negative temperatures.

The laws in many countries do not strictly regulate the use of winter tires, but only recommend its use. But if a motorist is not indifferent to saving the lives of loved ones, including his own, then he will not save on safety.

Car shoes for winter

The choice of winter tires must be made long before the onset of winter. Indeed, already in the middle of autumn, the weather can present an unpleasant surprise in the form of frosts or wet snow. For some vehicles with summer tires this can play a cruel joke. And the cost of winter tires in the summer is much lower than in the hot autumn-winter season.

Winter tires are quite complex.

The main element of the tire is the tread, which is made of wear-resistant rubber. Distinguish between European and scandinavian types protectors. Scandinavian wheels are distinguished by a large distance between the tread blocks, and the sipes in them are deeper and wider. European models of winter tires have proven themselves well on wet and dry pavement. And the advantage of Scandinavian winter tires is manifested when driving on roads with loose snow or dirt.
Protector connection with inside tires are carried through the base, which is responsible for reducing rolling and for leveling shocks from bumps in the road.
The stable shape of the wheel must be supported by a steel cord. Due to the metal structure, the tire is stable when driving a car and durable.

This is only a small part of the elements that are used in the manufacture winter tires. The quality of the tire ultimately depends on the properties of the material and compliance with the technological chain.

When visiting a car market or after talking with experienced drivers, a novice car enthusiast can learn about studded types of winter tires. And an additional question arises, which winter tires to choose, studded or without studs?

Winter studded tires

studded winter wheels Designed for driving on icy roads. Metal spikes dig into the ice crust, increasing the grip of the wheel on the winter road. But at frequent driving falling out on the asphalt metal spikes, as well as destruction of the roadway. If the car owner decides to give preference to studded tires, you should know a few important points during its operation.

The first 500-1000 km it is necessary to run in new wheels, limiting the speed of movement at around 80 km / h. This will allow you to “grind” the spikes and securely fix them in the tire.
Using tires with spikes, the driver needs to change the sporty driving style to calm movement. Driving behaviors such as slipping off or emergency braking must be avoided.

The advantages of studded tires include:

excellent performance on icy and snowy roads;
reduced braking distance on ice compared to a smooth tread.

The disadvantages of such wheels are:

lengthening the braking distance on dry and wet surfaces;
burying wheels on a swampy road;
increase in noise;
destruction of asphalt pavement;
some increase in fuel consumption.

Winter studless tires

In the European part of Russia, winter is not constant. After severe frosts protracted thaws may come, under New Year it rains, and in February the snow can melt. Therefore, when choosing tires for the winter, motorists will prefer non-studded wheels.

Ideal option for Russian conditions becomes the Scandinavian version of winter tires. Excellent grip with the roadway provides a discharged tread pattern, which consists of rhombuses and rectangles.

The main advantages of non-studded tires look like this:

excellent parameters for moving on asphalt (dry or wet);
maintaining its parameters during operation in warm weather;
minimal increase in noise level;
"careful attitude" to asphalt roads.

The main disadvantage of non-studded tires is the unsuitability for movement on roads covered with ice crust.

Influence on the choice of tire type of brake system

Most modern vehicles are equipped with anti-lock systems brakes. They prevent the occurrence of skidding, preventing the wheels from going to the "skid" when the brake pedal is pressed sharply. It is not surprising that many foreign manufacturers tires produce wheels for cars with electronic systems.

Which tires to choose depending on the type of braking system? When the machine is equipped with exchange rate stability, the best results when cornering are achieved by using tires with longitudinal tread sipes. A similar situation is observed in the case of ABS. In the absence of anti-lock electronic means inhibition, the opposite picture is observed. When the wheels lock up best result shows rubber with transverse sipes. It is not possible to find a compromise in this matter, so manufacturers prefer to produce tires under modern cars with ABS.

So before choosing winter tires, you should pay attention to brake system your car. And if this question seems far-fetched to someone, then under equal conditions, the difference in the slip coefficient can reach 10-15%. When translating dry numbers into real meters of stopping distance, it turns out that when emergency braking at a speed of 50 km/h the difference is 10 m.

The best winter tires in recent years

If we abstract from the price indicator, then the most popular winter tires are made abroad. Behind last years motorists managed to experience the excellent properties of the following brands.

Michelin is one of the undisputed leaders in the production of winter tires. Model X Ice North is characterized by softness, the presence of a large number of transverse lamellas. Even with complete blocking tires provide the most efficient braking.
The next leader among winter views tire is Goodyear Ultra Grip. Tires provide acceptable braking distances not only in case of wheel lock, but also on the verge of stopping rotation. Driving a car without ABS, experienced driver can sense when a blockage is occurring and begin stepwise deceleration.
Excellent winter tires are made in Russia under the brand Amtel Nordmaster. At the design stage, the designers took into account the peculiarity of the Russian car fleet, where many cars are not equipped with electronic braking systems. This rubber allows you to clearly determine the moment of blocking the wheels.
Winter tires show the highest quality Nokian Hakkapeliitta. They work well when braking with “skid”, only the moment of blocking is practically not felt. It is best to buy such rubber for cars with ABS.
With a focus on modern vehicles are made Continental tires ContiWinterViking. They work great for winter road paired with electronic system braking.

Many car enthusiasts, not knowing anything about tires, want to get specific model. But in this case, much depends on the motorist's possession of braking skills.

Saving Options

When buying winter tires, many motorists want to save at least a little. However, in most cases, savings can have a negative impact on safety.

Among the absolutely unacceptable ways to save, it is necessary to highlight:

usage summer tires in winter time;
buying used winter tires;
the use of "all-weather";
installation of new winter tires only on 2 driving wheels.

There is also a competent approach to saving when “changing shoes” for the car for the winter. You can spend less money if you buy smaller tires. It is important to note that in no case should you deviate from the recommendations of the automaker. But on the same car, wheels with different profiles can be used, as well as differ in speed index. The higher these figures, the more expensive the tire is valued. If in winter a motorist does not exceed a speed of 100 km / h, then you should not choose tires with an index greater than K (110 km / h).

The main characteristics of winter tires

In order for a novice motorist to understand how to choose winter tires, you should dwell on the following basic parameters.

With sufficient financial resources, give preference to better proven foreign brands. These are world leaders such as:

Michelin;
Gislaved;
Pirelli;
bridgestone;
Nokian.

When there are restrictions in the family budget, then best option can be found in domestic products. It is best to turn your attention to rubber, created with the participation of foreign partners.

When choosing tires for driving in winter, you need to decide on the tread pattern. If you have to operate the car good roads, which are regularly removed from the snow, it is better to stop at small checkers. Storming deep snowdrifts requires an aggressive type of pattern.
An important point when choosing winter tires is the age of the model. New items that have just appeared are definitely valued more than old models. But it is not necessary to abandon the proven and beloved tires.
When choosing tires for winter, the planned mileage of the car decides a lot. When a car leaves its yard or garage only on weekends, this is where you can think about saving. But if vehicle runs hundreds of kilometers every day, it is necessary to buy high-quality winter tires.

Already at the end of autumn, before the onset of cold weather, car owners are faced with the problem of choosing winter tires. Driving in winter on summer tires is very risky and dangerous. We recommend that you solve this problem in advance and buy winter tires. In this article, we will tell you in detail what types of rubber are and how to choose the right tires for you.

First of all, we list the main factors that you should pay attention to when choosing winter tires:

Tread pattern. It all depends on the surface on which you will drive in the winter. If you will drive on a good road, cleared of snow, choose a tread with small elements in the pattern. If you often have to deal with snowdrifts and a thick layer of snow, it is better to stay on a harder pattern.
Company manufacturer. If you want to buy really high-quality and safe winter tires, then it is better to refuse to buy domestic ones. Of course, the products of such famous brands as Nokian, Michelin, Bridgestone, Hankook and others will cost more, but you know exactly what you pay for. You can buy cheap domestic rubber, but it wears out quickly and can only last one season. Thus, the savings are questionable.
Tire model. Naturally, newer models will cost more than older ones. But this does not mean that the time-tested model is worse. Of course, manufacturers try to use new technologies that improve performance, but this does not happen so often. Thus, you can save money by buying a model 1-2 years old.

When should I buy and install winter tires?

As mentioned above, we recommend following the old Russian proverb “Prepare the sled in the summer, and the cart in the winter”, namely, buy winter tires in advance, back in summer or early autumn. You will be ready to put winter tires on your car at any time, and in addition, save money by buying them outside the peak of the season.

Winter tires are designed for operation in the cold season, while the temperature should not exceed +7 degrees Celsius. There is a logical explanation for this. These tires have a special chemical composition of rubber, which is designed for certain conditions. At warm temperatures, winter tires literally begin to melt, which dramatically worsens their performance on the road and increases the wear rate by several times.

Of course, the legislation of the Russian Federation does not regulate the time for changing summer tires to winter ones, but if you are worried about your life and its safety, you should install this type of tires when the temperature drops below +5 degrees Celsius.

What are the types of winter tires and how to choose them?

Winter tires may differ in various ways. This may be the tread pattern, the chemical composition of the rubber compound, density, elasticity, etc. You need to understand the main thing that it is impossible to find the perfect winter tires that would show the same results on clean asphalt, snow, ice or mud. Any rubber is designed for certain conditions of use, and the more versatile it is, the worse individual performance will be. Therefore, you need to take into account your driving style, the surfaces on which you will most often drive in winter and many other factors.

"All-weather" tires

We immediately want to warn you against using this rubber. No matter how much you want to save money, there is no universal rubber for the weather conditions of our country. You will have to use summer and winter tires, depending on the season. "All-weather" tires are suitable for European countries with a temperate continental climate, where the temperature in winter rarely drops below zero. It's the same as trying to find something between summer sandals and winter boots.

Studded winter tires

Studded tires are great for snow-packed or icy roads. In icy conditions, this is the best choice of rubber, due to its excellent grip on the road surface. But these tires behave much worse on asphalt, where their grip leaves much to be desired. There are no lamellas in studded tires, in their place there are places for spikes.

We will list the main advantages and disadvantages of this rubber, and the choice is yours.

Pros:

Good grip on packed snow and ice.
Better handling on such surfaces.
Shorter stopping distance on ice than conventional winter tires.
Easier to move on ice.

Minuses:

Lose their usefulness on wet roads. They lengthen the braking distance, reduce the resistance to skidding, impair handling.
Loose snow can also become an obstacle for such rubber.
Noisier than regular winter tires, especially felt when driving on dry pavement.
Slightly increase fuel consumption.
Prohibited by law in some countries, due to the fact that they destroy asphalt.

There are also already established myths and misconceptions about the use of studded winter tires, which we want to talk about.

Winter studded tires will be effective even on one axle. This is a fairly common misconception. If you want to install studded tires, then buy four wheels at once. If you have spikes on one axle and ordinary winter tires on the other, you are at great risk. This is dangerous because of the different grip on the road, it is likely to get into a skid. No need to save on your safety, buy a complete set of winter tires.
The spikes work only on thick ice, more than 2 mm thick. This statement is also fundamentally wrong. Studded tires show their best qualities even on thin ice. Of course, if there is a layer of water on top, its effectiveness will decrease, but even in this situation, it will be better than ordinary winter tires.
If a few studs fall out of the tires, this can significantly impair their performance and overall balance. This can only apply to tires studded with homemade studding. If you bought factory studded tires, then there is nothing to worry about. Spikes in such rubber fall out extremely rarely, and this does not affect the efficiency of the tires.

So, you choose whether you need studded tires or not. Here you need to build on how often you drive on a road covered with ice or packed snow. It should be noted that spikes can have problems on loose snow. Quite often, in our cities, the snow is not removed and you have to drive through a porridge of snow and sand. Although if we talk about routes between cities, then studded tires are unmatched. The main thing to understand is that even the best studded tires will not allow you to keep your summer driving style in winter.

Scandinavian type rubber or Velcro

This type of rubber is specially designed to provide good grip on wet snow covered roads. It copes well with snowy and icy surfaces. Scandinavian tires are softer than European ones due to the composition of the rubber compound, which is why they are called Velcro. If we talk about the tread, then such tires have a large number of slots and sipes to create additional grip with the surface. Also, this rubber wicks away water well. You can find models in which manufacturers add silicon chips.

This type of rubber is perfect for Russia, due to the fact that it is designed for snowy or icy roads. Rubber will create good grip with such a surface. Of course, studded tires show the best results on ice, but Velcro is more versatile and has no problems when driving on dry asphalt.

European type rubber

European tires are more rigid than Scandinavian type tires. The tread has a smaller number of sipes, from which we can conclude that the rubber is designed for dry asphalt. Indeed, these tires are designed for fast driving in the cold season. But it is worth understanding that they are created for the warm winter of European countries. Usually, these tires are designed for speeds of 210 km / h or more. This rubber is perfect for people who travel all winter on high-quality dry tracks, cleared of snow and ice. For the weather and road conditions of Russia, European-type tires do not fit well.

When choosing the type of winter tires, you need to pay attention to various factors. Studded winter tires perform best on ice, cope with loose snow a little worse, but lose their positive qualities on dry pavement. Velcro or Scandinavian type of rubber is slightly worse than studded on ice, but stable on dry and clean tracks. The European type performs well in the cold season when driving on a high-quality track at high speed; it is not suitable for snowy or icy roads. So, for the inhabitants of Russia, it makes sense to choose between studded tires and Velcro. Their strengths and weaknesses are listed above, and the decisive word always remains with the buyer.

The best winter tires for 2015

Once you have decided what type of winter tires to buy, we will provide a rating of the best models of 2015. The rating consists of two Top 10 for friction (non-studded) tires and studded tires.

The rating was compiled on the basis of tests by the Finnish company Test World, which conducts them at its high-tech training ground above the Arctic Circle. The results of their tests are considered very accurate and authoritative, and are regularly published in the world's specialized automotive magazines.

friction rubber

1 place Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 rubber took the lead. It is very balanced, shows consistently high performance in all disciplines. This model has a low noise level. What is most surprising is that this Goodyear model performs well both on ice and on wet pavement.

2nd place honorably occupies the Nokian brand with the Hakkapeliitta R2 model. It has excellent grip on ice and snow. On this surface, this rubber showed better results in braking than some studded models. Only one minus of this rubber is problems on wet pavement.

For 3 seats This is the new model ContiVikingContact 6 from the German company Continental. These tires perform well on snow and dry surfaces. They have low rolling resistance, which makes them more economical. Only on wet pavement can they be too slow and inaccurate, this is the only surface where they performed poorly.

4th place occupied by the French brand Michelin with X-ice Xi3 rubber, which showed some of the best grip on ice and snow. This tire will provide you with a comfortable and safe driving experience. Problems can only arise on asphalt. In addition, these tires have high rolling resistance, which can slightly increase fuel consumption.

5th place a little unexpectedly went to the Chinese company Maxxis with SP02 ArcticTrekker tires. This rubber showed very consistent results on all surfaces, while outperforming most friction tires on snow and wet pavement. Rolling resistance and noise levels are not the most outstanding, but at a sufficient level. Very good tires, especially in terms of price / quality ratio.

6th place, uncharacteristically, were Bridgestone's Blizzak WS70 tires. Although more recently this brand has occupied a leading position in this category of tires. This model has quite effective braking on snow and ice, but lateral grip fails. The main disadvantage is unexpected drifts on wet pavement, which is why such a low place. The noise level is relatively low, but the rolling resistance is high.

7th place from Pirelli with the Winter IceControl model, which showed excellent results in acceleration and braking on snow. On ice, stability indicators cannot be called good. The directional stability of this rubber model is also a weak point. But I was pleased with the low noise level, which will allow you to move more comfortably.

8th place deservedly received quite budgetary Chinese Ice Blazer WSL2 tires from the not very well-known company Sailun. Rubber shows good results on snow and asphalt, has low rolling resistance. The disadvantages include high level noise and some grip problem on ice.

9th place we have tires from Dunlop SP Ice Sport, which unexpectedly performed poorly on ice. A strong surface for this model is wet asphalt, on which rubber is one of the best. On snow shows stable average results. Another disadvantage is the very high noise level.

Closes our rating of friction tires Nord-Trac 2 rubber from the not very well-known brand Vredestein. She takes 10th place. In general, the performance on the ice is good, the weak link is only acceleration on this surface. This tire performs well on wet pavement. Tires have low rolling resistance, but directional stability is poor.

Studded winter tires

1st place Hakkapeliitta 8 studded tires from the Finnish company Nokian deservedly settled down. They showed good results on all types of coatings. I would like to note their high level of safety and fast braking in extreme conditions. Small problems with this rubber only on wet roads.

2nd place got rubber ContiIceContact from Continental, which is slightly inferior to the Finnish competitors. The strengths of these tires include high performance on ice, especially in the clarity of control and braking speed. On snow, this tire is also good, but still a little worse than the Nokian.

3rd place from Pirelli with the Ice Zero model, which is a very stable rubber with excellent grip on any surface. Only on wet pavement does this rubber have a fairly long braking distance. In addition, tires have a high level of noise.

4th place occupies the UltraGrip Ice Arctic model from the Goodyear brand. They don't have any obvious flaws. Rubber sound, very predictable, comfortable and quiet. It performs well on snow and ice.

5th our rating includes Nord*Frost 100 tires from Gislaved. Shows itself well on snow and wet pavement. Slightly worse results on ice and dry pavement. Due to the high rolling resistance slightly increases fuel consumption.

6th place with Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419 studded winter tires, which show the best results on snow. Unfortunately, on ice, this rubber is inferior to the leaders of this list. But you can add good handling on wet pavement to the asset.

7th place occupies Dunlop's Ice Touch tire model. Surprisingly, they show poor grip on ice. They behave just as insecurely on a dry surface. The strengths of these tires include wet asphalt, on which rubber is one of the best in terms of handling and tenacity.

8th place got Michelin with the X-Ice North 3 model. They show stable results on most surfaces. The quietest among all studded tires. The only negative is the braking and control on ice.

9th place from the former leader in the production of winter tires Bridgestone with the Blizzak Spike-01 model. This rubber showed itself perfectly only on snow and dry pavement. On other surfaces, the model behaves unpredictably, and some indicators leave much to be desired.

10th place The Arctrac model from the Vredestein brand completes our rating. These tires showed below average results on all types of coverage. Only on ice they can be more or less effective. The strengths include sufficient directional stability.

In these ratings, we have listed the strengths and weaknesses of various models of friction and studded tires. It is logical that the leading positions are occupied by new premium models, which are more expensive. But there are also high-quality budget models that have a very affordable price.

Rating of manufacturers of winter tires

Nokian (price from 3650 to 13200). Tires with unsurpassed braking performance on icy roads and excellent vehicle control regardless of the conditions. Tires meet all the requirements of the European Union.
Bridgestone (minimum price 2750 rubles and up to 6000). Tires can be easily used on poor quality surfaces, thanks to reliable side cords. They also allow you to have full control over the car.
Yokohama (price from 3000 to 7200). A Japanese tire manufacturer that exhibits excellent braking performance on icy roads.
Michelin (minimum price 3350 and up to 8600). The plant in Russia made it possible to reduce prices for these tires of the highest quality.
Hankook (price from 2470 to 5800). Korean tires are quite affordable and have attractive technical characteristics.
Dunlop (minimum price 2900 to 7100). The oldest British company produces a wide variety of tires, including friction ones.
Continental (price from 3350 to 8950). Tires that are rightfully considered one of the best in the world. They have unsurpassed characteristics and are presented in a wide range.
Good Year (minimum price 2900 and up to 5700). You can pick up tires for absolutely any car, thanks to the large assortment and variety of technical characteristics.
Pirelli price from 2870 to 14050. Tires come in a huge variety of sizes and different types. They have minimal noise characteristics, but at the same time high speed.

In this article, we told in detail when to install winter tires, how to choose them, and listed the best friction and studded models. In addition, they made a rating of the best manufacturers, based on their share in the Russian market. We recommend buying a complete set of winter tires in advance and calmly wait for the onset of cold weather. Remember that even the best winter tires are no guarantee. safe driving, it's up to you.

Winter tires are different from summer tires, and it's not just about the tread pattern. Manufacturers select the chemical composition for a certain temperature range, so tires lose their properties when they go beyond it. At low temperatures, summer tires become less elastic and can no longer provide proper grip, minimum braking distance and other inherent characteristics.

Contrary to popular belief, all-season tires are not designed for real winter.

As in the case with, you need to choose winter ones, taking into account several important criteria and nuances. Let's try to figure them out together.

What type of tires to choose

There are two main types of tires: studded and friction. The latter, in turn, are divided into Scandinavian and European type tires. As a result, there are only three types of winter tires, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for certain climatic conditions.

1. Studded tires

Thanks to the metal anti-skid studs, these tires provide better grip and efficient braking. They are designed for driving on hard dry ice and are used in countries with severe winters. Due to their specific nature, tires of this type are quite noisy. When driving on dry asphalt, they lose their advantages and wear out quickly. Studded tires are banned in some European countries.

2. Scandinavian style friction tires

Similar in their properties to studded tires and for the most part differ from them only in the absence of studs. Tires of this type are designed for operation at low temperatures and a lot of snow and provide the necessary grip due to the many lamellas on the tread that push through snow and crust. Because of their softness, Scandinavian tires do not perform well on ice and wear out quickly on dry pavement, literally starting to float.

Scandinavian type tires are suitable for snowy areas with long and. With such tires, you can not be afraid of snowdrifts and crossings, but you will have to observe the speed limit, be more careful with cornering, as well as sharp accelerations and braking.

3. European style friction tires

This is the complete opposite of Scandinavian. These tires are ideal for regions with mild and wet winters where sleet and rain are more common. They do an excellent job with snow porridge and are able to provide safety when driving at higher speeds. But in ice and on packed snow with such tires you should be more careful.

Suitable for driving in the city, where you can often meet snow porridge than ice, as well as when driving on clean asphalt at low temperatures.

P- tire size. In this case, it is an abbreviation for Passenger, which indicates a tire for a passenger car.
215 - profile width in millimeters.
65 - profile height in percent.
R- radial design.
15 - Bore diameter in inches.
95 - load index.
T- speed index.
M+S- Mud + Snow, winter or all season tires.
Treadwear 220- wear index (the higher the better).
Traction A- indicator of braking efficiency. It is marked from A to C, where A is the best.
Temperature A- an indicator of resistance to heat. It is marked from A to C, where A is the best.

Additional Information:

All Seasons(or AS) - all-season tires.
snowflake icon- winter tire.
Tubeless- tubeless tyre.
Max pressure- maximum pressure.
outside And Inside- designations of the outer and inner side on asymmetric tires.
rotation- direction of rotation for directional tires.
Water, Rain, Aqua, umbrella icon- resistance to aquaplaning.

How to choose the size

When choosing a tire size, it is worth throwing aside all the myths and advice from neighbors in the garage, painting the benefits of a low profile or increased diameter. You should not deviate from the recommendations of the car manufacturer: he has already calculated everything, found the best option and indicated it in the instruction manual.

If you want to save money, get a second set of rims for winter tires with a smaller bore. Buying such tires will cost less.

hometyre.co.uk

Finding out the date of manufacture and understanding whether it is worth taking the vending set of tires is quite simple. Manufacturers indicate it on the side of the tire using a four-digit code. The first two indicate the week, and the second - the year of issue. For example, 5016 is the 50th week or the middle of December 2016.

What else to consider

And some final tips:

Stop buying used tires. Over time, rubber loses its properties, which, coupled with the existing wear, can negate all the savings.
In no case do not buy tires only for the drive axle of the car. Due to the uneven grip of the wheels of different axles, the risk increases.
To prolong the life of the tires, it is recommended to switch them from front to rear axle and vice versa every 8,000 km.
If you have been using a set of tires for more than a year, install the best pair on the rear axle of the car to eliminate the possibility of skidding.
Buy a second set of rims specifically for winter tires so that you can change your own shoes and avoid wasting time in line for tire fitting.