Winter tires 14 which is better. How to choose the right winter tires? Good selection of winter tires

04.03.2020

When the temperature drops to +5°C to +7°C and the first snow appears, the car already needs to be “changed shoes” into special rubber. For a safe and comfortable ride, you should choose only the best winter studded tires. Just such we have included in this rating, familiarization with which will allow you to buy the most suitable option. The TOP analyzes all the advantages and disadvantages of these models, which will not let you make a mistake.

There are not so many eminent companies that produce really high-quality and sought-after rubber on the market. Basically, we are talking about European manufacturers offering products with an optimal price-quality ratio. This ranking of the best winter studded tires features products from 5 of the most popular companies in the industry.

Nokian Tires- in our rating from this company, 3 tire models are presented at once, each of which is made of high-quality materials and is safe to use in different weather conditions. She has options for cars, SUVs, and even vans and buses. On average, their width is from 165 to 315 mm. The products of this company regularly wins in specialized competitions. The price of products is not very high and the budget "beats" not much.
Gislaved- the company specializes in the production of non-studded and studded tires, including those for harsh winters. They provide excellent grip on ice, excellent handling, excellent cross-country ability and guarantee a safe ride in different weather conditions. They are convenient to use both in the city and beyond. They are characterized by optimal traction characteristics, an acceptable noise level with a large number of spikes and good stability when passing uneven areas, without skidding.
Bridgestone- The year of birth of this legendary company is considered to be 1931, and tire products at the plant began to be produced from the first days of the company's existence. The manufacturer quickly entered the international market and established itself there. The rubber of this company makes driving safer and more comfortable during the difficult winter months. She perfectly "feels" even at low sub-zero temperatures. Conveniently, Bridgestone's range is divided into several categories - the premium line, as well as the Comfort and Best Value series. There is a discount for any item.
good year- one of the leaders of the European market, attracting attention to its products with an optimal combination of cost and quality of products. His product shows exceptional performance even in difficult winter conditions and is not subject to rapid wear. His spikes do not fly out immediately after purchase and there are no problems with grip on ice and snowy roads. The rubber of the company is regularly successfully tested before it goes on sale, which eliminates defects and shortcomings. It is often included in the ranking of the best winter studded tires according to various magazines.
Michelin is one of the largest manufacturers of tires, including winter studded ones, in the assortment of which there are models for cars, trucks, agricultural and motor vehicles. Its products are produced taking into account all requirements for environmental protection and the quality of such products. It deserves to be chosen due to safety and comfort in operation. All designs are tested in real conditions, in particular, in the northern regions.

There are no absolutely cheap winter tires in this TOP, but the prices offered correspond to the quality of the products. They are made from proven materials and have an excellent assembly.

Rating of the best winter studded tires

The compilation of the TOP became possible thanks to a careful study of the reviews of drivers and the opinions of experts. Analyzing them, we paid attention to the following characteristics:

Purpose - for a car or SUV;
Diameter;
Choice of profile height and width;
Tread pattern type - directional or asymmetric;
Noise level while driving;
The quality of adhesion to the road surface;
Possibility of operation on ice, in snowdrifts and on relatively packed snow;
Easy to install;
"Behavior" on different sections of roads;
Presence of hydroplaning;
Is braking and acceleration comfortable?
The index of the maximum speed to which the car can be accelerated.

A special item on the list of important points in the selection of the TOP nominees was the ratio of quality and price of winter studded tires.

The best studded tires for passenger cars

Rubber for cars of this type, as a rule, has a lower profile height and width than for SUVs. This may explain the lower price for it, as well as its greater prevalence. We have selected the 4 best winter studded tires based on the analysis of driver reviews and the opinions of tire service employees.

The Nokian Tires Nordman 5 winter tire is designed to improve driving safety on snowy and icy roads where rubber grips almost perfectly. On an asphalt surface, the car brakes well, which minimizes the likelihood of car accidents.

Thanks to the symmetrical, clearly defined pattern, the machine maintains controllability even on slippery surfaces. A feature of this model is that after a surface puncture, the transport can continue to move for some time in order to have enough time to get to the nearest repair service. Wear-resistant materials reduce the risk of rubber abrasion and damage to its integrity.

Advantages:

Large selection of profile widths;
Maximum speed index - up to 190 km / h;
Wide range of diameters;
Variety of profile heights;
Withstands loads up to 1180 kg;
Not very noisy.

Flaws:

On bare pavement, they slow down worse than on snow.

The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 is durable and soft for a smoother ride and less noisy ride than many other options. This model is designed for the northern winter, but is also well suited for mild ones. One tire can withstand up to 800 kg of weight, which allows it to be successfully used even for large cars.

Advantages:

Good braking on snow;
Excellent road grip;
soft;
Easy to change;
eminent manufacturer;
Excellent handling on wet pavement;
Suitable for driving on dirt roads.

Flaws:

When operating in dry asphalt conditions, tires wear out faster and make more noise.

In the reviews, users note that in heavy wet snow, the ABS (anti-lock braking system) may turn on.

Bridgestone Blizzak Revo GZ 205/55 R16 91S

This is the best rubber in terms of cross-country ability, the car equipped with it easily overcomes snowdrifts and is not afraid of ice. When it appears, the car does not slip, which makes driving safer. A feature of this model is the easy cleaning of the tread from snow, although it is not very clogged with it. The product is made of high quality materials, guaranteeing wear resistance and long service life. Thanks to this, braking and acceleration become more confident and easy.

Advantages:

High impact resistance;
Good permeability;
Strong;
Excellent density of materials;
The spikes literally bite into the surface;
Excellent value for money.

Flaws:

Small choice of profile height;
A certain noise when braking the car;
On wet pavement, a slight aquaplaning is felt.

The choice of this winter tire is the best for those who want to purchase tires for wheels that dig in the snow most successfully, depending on the type of car and road surface conditions. The more lamellae, the better the effect of adhesion of rubber to the surface. The special tread pattern allows the machine to effectively resist hydroplaning and maintain excellent handling on roads covered with snow and ice.

Advantages:

Good performance on both dry and snowy surfaces;
Excellent studding;
Excellent lateral drift resistance;
Brakes quickly;
The car accelerates easily;
Allows you to develop high speed, up to 190 km per hour;
Up to 1360 kg can be loaded on one tire.

Flaws:

High noise level;
Overcharge.

The best studded off-road tires

Considering that crossovers often drive outside the city, including off-road conditions, they are most often equipped with high-profile tires that would push out the “slurry” and pass through snow drifts without any problems. In this case, it is recommended to take a closer look at the 3 best winter studded tires for SUVs.

These tires are the best in the ranking for use in northern winter conditions. They show excellent cross-country ability on wet, snowy, ice-covered asphalt. The rider handles hydroplaning with ease thanks to the symmetrical tread pattern. The car can reach speeds of up to 190 km per hour with it, which is an excellent indicator for SUVs. The rumble during the movement of the car here is quite tolerable for hearing, and the high-quality rubber composition makes the tire wear-resistant and improves its grip.

Advantages:

soft;
Not noisy;
Works great on turns
Does not slip;
Perfectly copes with rough roads;
Withstands snow.

Flaws:

Sometimes lateral drift is noticeable.

... In the first weeks after changing tires on the Nokian Tires Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV, it was not very comfortable to drive because of the noise, but after 1-2 weeks of using the rubber, it “run in” and no longer irritates ...

Expert opinion

In the TOP, this is the best winter studded tire for driving an SUV in ice and on heavily snowy roads. Rubber behaves confidently on wet asphalt, so it can be safely used both in cold winters and in warm ones.

The special composition of the sidewalls makes the product quite dense, but not rigid. Thanks to high-quality materials, it has excellent braking properties, which makes driving safer. The firm grip of the studs ensures a secure grip on the surface.

Advantages:

Wide choice of profile widths;
Variety of diameters;
Availability of different profile heights;
Withstands up to 1285 kg;
Allows you to reach speeds up to 190 km per hour;
Reinforced sidewall.

Flaws:

At temperatures above +5 C, sometimes there is a feeling of low wheels;
A little sensitive to rut.

Michelin X-Ice North 4

The best tire for a car is its equipment with more than 250 studs, which guarantee it an excellent ride in ice, snowy road surfaces and snowdrifts. This tire is easy to change and provides a high level of safety when driving an SUV. This effect is possible due to high-quality adhesion to the surface, excellent cross-country ability in snowy areas and due to increased wear resistance. Due to the special structure and conical shape, the loss of spikes is practically excluded, which means that the service life of the product increases.

Advantages:

Reliable fit of the spikes, they do not fall out even with intensive driving;
Quiet braking;
Calm run;
Good permeability;
Excellent handling;
Smooth move.

Flaws:

Not detected.

Which winter studded tires are better to buy

There are special types of tires for passenger cars and SUVs, so you should choose them with these markings in mind. The more spikes the rubber has, the noisier acceleration and deceleration can be. But it is precisely because of this that the level of driving safety increases, as traction with the road surface improves.

Here is what model of winter studded tires is better to choose, depending on the situation:

In a cold, snowy winter with sharp drops in low temperatures, it is recommended to pick up Nokian Tires Nordman 5 for a passenger car.
The Gislaved Nord Frost 200 is ideal for overcoming heavily snowy areas in regions with severe winters.
You can easily drive a car outside the city with Bridgestone Blizzak Revo GZ 205/55 R16 91S tires.
In severe icy conditions, Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded winter tires are indispensable
Those who do not like loud noise, but are looking for tires with a lot of studs, should take a closer look at the Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic SUV.
For a comfortable off-road ride in both cold and warm winter conditions, the Nokian Tires Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV and Michelin X-Ice North tires are just right

Of course, for each individual car, you can advise your best winter studded tire, so you need to look at the situation. The rating also presents the most popular, high-quality, safe and comfortable rubber models to use.

High-quality winter tires - without exaggeration can be called a pledge with the advent of cold weather. This question requires the whole seriousness of the approach to the process of their purchase, in which the manufacturer's brand, driving style, vehicle brand and climatic conditions of the region of operation play a role. A significant responsibility is assigned to winter tires, because in cold weather it becomes more difficult to drive a car, especially when it snows, sleet, freezes, etc.

How to start choosing tires for winter weather

Any rating of winter tires should include products from different price segments, since not every car enthusiast can buy expensive tires that still have to be changed every year. At the same time, you should not save on the safety of yourself and your passengers, because mistakes on a snowy road are very expensive. When choosing these products, you need to pay attention to what exists for winter:

studded. Designs owe their name, since such tires are equipped with metal spikes that play an anti-slip role. On such rubber, neither ice nor snow drifts are terrible, but they are of little use for dry asphalt. In addition, they significantly increase the noise level while driving;
friction (they are also Velcro). They are characterized by a special lamelized surface. Tightly cut lamellas and a special tread ensure a reliable connection with the roadway. In extremely snowy areas, such winter tires may not be effective enough, but on dry roads they behave confidently and do not make noise.

Friction is divided into 2 varieties: European and Scandinavian. The first type is designed for damp regions with a predominance of slush and wet snow. They do not have a relief tread, but they are equipped with drainage grooves. Scandinavian ones are softer in themselves, equipped with slots and lamellae. They are characterized by high cross-country ability on ice or snow.

The most affordable and high quality winter tires

SnowPROX S941. This is a budget manufacturer with a good reputation. Production is focused on cars of middle class. Such rubber behaves well both on a snow-covered surface and on wet porridge. It does not make noise and is quite soft due to the inclusion of silicone.
MA STL from the Chinese company Maxxxis. The main advantage of this product is its low price compared to competitors in the 2019 season. However, this product also behaves normally on snow-covered road surfaces. The tires of this model are characterized by standard acceleration and braking characteristics and an average noise figure while driving.
KrisAlp HP. The developer is considered to be the well-known company in the automotive world, Kleber, which is a subsidiary of the French Michelin. The decent quality of products is explained by the technologies and materials that are used in the creation of more expensive types of products. The model is positioned as focused on powerful cars that require increased cross-country ability.
Hakkapeliitta 8. The most famous Finnish manufacturer has "noted" even in the budget price segment. He presented studded tires with special sipes and tread patterns to the attention of our drivers. For the 2019 winter season, they are good because they allow you to literally cling to the ice and overcome various road bumps with a decent level of grip.
Norman N4. Another example of Finnish products. For a relatively small amount of money, the manufacturer provided spikes equipped with a special support pad. Thanks to these properties, due softness and elasticity are ensured.
Blizzak Spike, featured in this category by manufacturer Bridgestone. He got into the rating of the best winter tires due to the good quality of production and low price. These tires have cross-shaped studs that not only hold themselves very well, but also provide the right grip on icy roads. Experts consider this a good solution for the domestic climate.
Nordmaster ST. Tires that combine decent quality at an affordable price. Products are interesting in that they are produced by a domestic manufacturer. It boasts a reinforced side edge and an original tread pattern, which will provide the required grip on winter roads in some of our latitudes.

The middle class of winter tire manufacturers are the best representatives

The best winter tires can be in the middle price class. All such products are characterized by high quality at an affordable cost. 3-4 thousand rubles per wheel is a price tag that most Russian car owners are quite capable of pulling. For this price, they can become the owners of quality.

The top of winter tires from the middle price category opens with the Winter Contact TS 860 tire. The manufacturer is the well-known company Continental. This model is considered by many experts to be the best in the middle range. First of all, this happened due to excellent sound insulation and driving performance.
Cinturato Winter is another example of winter tires that approach the premium class in terms of properties. They have proven themselves as an excellent assistant when driving on dry or snowy surfaces in winter. Best suited for climates with moderate winters.
Alpin 5. An example of good tires, in the development of which the legendary Michelin took part. The optimal solution for driving on snow-covered sections of the road. However, on wet and dry pavement it does not behave so well, and the noise level is far from ideal.
Blizzak ML-01. An inexpensive representative of winter tires, which may well be the answer to the question of which one is better. For an extremely low price, the consumer receives products with average performance. It can be considered a profitable purchase in a limited budget.
I Cept RS 2. These products are manufactured by Hankook. It cannot be considered one of the leaders in its segment, since it makes quite a lot of noise. But on a dry surface, it feels great, it overcomes snow drift and ice on the pavement well.

Many of the winter tires in this segment could be translated into, given their positive characteristics. However, for the majority of domestic car owners, the decisive factor will still be acceptable quality at an affordable price.

Top premium winter tires 2019

Leading manufacturers will be happy to offer the best tires for snowy roads, ice and severe frosts with the highest performance. Each car owner determines the key criteria for himself, especially since for R15 or R16 tires they may differ slightly. No matter what tire you end up with, premium tires combine high levels of performance with excellent quality.

For the sake of objectivity, we offer some of the most popular varieties:

Ice Contact2 from the world famous manufacturer Continental. The main advantages include the studded cover for more efficient and easier work. They are great for both ice and snow. Drivers will definitely be pleased with the low noise level from them when driving on a winter road. The main disadvantage is the high cost among analogues.
Hakkapeliitta 9. Finnish-made products, which are familiar with the realities of harsh, and even extreme, winter weather. This is an ideal solution for those drivers who are forced to live in the northern regions for a long time. These tires are perfect for both urban and off-road use. Another interesting fact: they retain their qualities for a long time under various temperature conditions.
Blizzak DMV2. Products of this brand, developed by Bridgestone, are not equipped with spikes, that is, they are of the Velcro type. A good sample of tires, in which the developers tried to take into account all the mistakes of the past analogues. They were able to demonstrate a high degree of controllability, a low level of generated noise and other performance characteristics.
Nord Frost 100. Tires from a German manufacturer based on a composition of rubber and silicone with the addition of technical hydrocarbons, as well as special innovative polymer components. As a result, the products are characterized by impeccable adhesion to the roadway. She is not afraid of ice and snow in the same way as dry asphalt.
Ice Zero. Products of the world-famous Pirelli studio. The company constantly introduces new developments, seeking to improve performance. The new tires have a significantly improved rubber composition, a changed tread pattern, and the products as a whole undergo more stringent technological selection. Thanks to all these factors, it satisfies the needs of domestic motorists by 100%.
X Ice XI2. Another representative of the French manufacturer Michelin, which has won tens of millions of fans around the world. In the new tires for the winter of 2019, the manufacturer has managed to implement such innovations, thanks to which water is efficiently removed in order to successfully overcome icy and snowy sections of the road. On dry surfaces, they do not behave so ideally.
Icept RW08. Few of us know this Korean-made rubber, but in vain, given the totality of its properties. To ensure good grip and maintain the elasticity of the rubber itself, the manufacturer adds ingredients such as silicone and silicon to the composition. Winter requires high-quality new tires, so computer simulation was used to create them. But they have acquired the characteristics of a truly premium product.
Ultra Grip Ice 2. This friction-type winter tire is designed specifically for regions with high humidity, frequent low air temperatures and snow drifts. Its composition is so stable that it allows you to maintain performance throughout the resource allotted by the manufacturer.
Hakkapelliitta R2. Developed by the legendary Finnish factory Nokian. This winter tire is characterized by a low noise level and high cross-country ability on difficult road sections. Some difficulties may be observed on icy sections of the road, but they are within the normal range.

This rating of the best winter tires for 2019 is a recommendation. Each car owner makes his choice based on individual preferences and features of his vehicle. Ceteris paribus, experts advise not to save on buying tires for the winter, as this significantly increases handling and safety.

Studded tires - tires designed for winter operation in most regions of the Russian Federation. They are called "studs". Compared to friction tires, they are better adapted to the harsh Russian winter and difficult operating conditions, including severe frosts (up to -25 degrees), when driving on melted ice, on city streets, in deep and loose snow on country roads. They have special metal elements designed to improve grip. They are called anti-skid spikes, which consist of a body and a core.

About the difficulties of choice

On the modern tire market in Russia, a large assortment of spikes is presented. Products for winter operation differ in size, tread pattern, rubber compound, speed index, load capacity, etc. Depending on the characteristics, technologies used by the manufacturer, and brand popularity, the cost of a tire set varies.

To understand the variety of offers and find winter tires that are most suitable in terms of performance and price, you should follow simple rules.

No. 1. A well-known brand is not the most important thing

Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, Pirelli and a number of other manufacturers are the main actors in the tire market. Companies value their name, so they try to produce the highest quality products. However, when choosing winter tires, you should pay attention not so much to brand fame as to the country of production, the overall quality of workmanship during an external examination.

Video: TOP-10 Winter Studded Tires 2016 - 2017 / Igor Burtsev

When looking for inexpensive winter tires, it is worth spending time on “second line” tires, i.e. produced by subsidiaries of the tire giants. As a rule, they use technologies and developments from the flagship rubber models of previous generations.

No. 2. Specialized tire centers and shops are more reliable than little-known outlets

If you like a particular tire model, then try to compare prices in several specialized stores with each other and with the average market value. Avoid overly cheap offers. Most likely, you are offered low-quality products.

What characteristics to look for when choosing?

Size Must conform to the dimensions recommended by the automotive manufacturer. Permissible sizes are listed in the machine's instruction manual. Several options are indicated - from the minimum to the maximum. The owner of the vehicle can choose the size of the tire at his discretion. The following characteristics depend on the choice: smoothness and softness of the course, rolling resistance, acceleration characteristics. Also, larger diameter wheels with alloy or forged wheels make the car more stylish and beautiful.
Date of manufacture. Apply to the side. Consists of 4 digits. The first two indicate the week number, the next two indicate the year of manufacture. It is recommended to purchase new or last year's tires. Tire products manufactured 3 or 4 years ago have different performance characteristics.
Tread pattern. The tread is one of the main elements of the tire. Determines its coupling, braking and other properties. Provides contact of the wheels with the road surface. It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, directional or non-directional. When choosing, it is necessary to focus on the driving style, the dynamic characteristics of the car, the softness or severity of the climate in winter. The directional tread pattern is distinguished by improved self-cleaning properties and the removal of water and wet snow compared to the non-directional tread pattern. An asymmetric tread is more expensive than a symmetrical one due to the division into several functional zones. Such studded tires, as a rule, belong to the premium segment, show good performance in various road conditions.
The number of spikes. Modern studded tires have 96 to 190 studs. Too many metal hooks adversely affect ride and acoustic comfort. The option with 96 spikes is recommended in some EU countries, but for domestic realities it can hardly be called optimal. 130-studded tires are the best choice for the average winter in Russia. In it, the weight and size of the spike are balanced compared to other models.
Indices of maximum load capacity and speed. They play a secondary role when choosing studded tires. Most passenger car tires are produced with a high margin of safety. Unfavorable weather conditions in winter do not allow realizing the high-speed potential and showing the sports character of the cars to the fullest.

Video: Overview of winter tires 2016-2017

Overview of the best studded tires on the Russian market

A large number of studded tires from domestic and foreign manufacturers are presented on the Russian market. We present to your attention a selection of the best models of rubber with spikes.

Tires from the famous German manufacturer Michelin for compact crossovers and. They are presented in a wide range of standard sizes - from R16 to R21. Developed for the northern states of the European Union and Russia. They are a modernization of the second generation tires, which debuted in 2011.

They have a similar tread pattern, number and shape of spikes. Rubber consists of 2 layers - hard inner and soft outer. However, the border between them in the places where the spikes are installed is made convex. Due to this, the thickness of the lower, more elastic and durable layer was increased. The technology is called Catamaran.

Excellent grip on dry pavement, in winter slurry.

They have a high degree of safety on ice.

Quickly remove water from the contact patch.

Quite comfortable compared to other tires with spikes.

- High price.

- Low level of grip on dry and cleared winter roads.

A long awaited update to the legendary Hakkapeliitta family. Presented in 52 sizes with landing diameters of 14-20 inches. The novelty has replaced the flagship tire in the Nokian lineup. Designed for compact cars, mid-size and large family cars. Installation on vehicles with a sporty character is allowed.

The new generation tire has a different tread pattern and an updated rubber compound. However, the main changes are connected with studding. First, the shape of the metal elements has changed. Secondly, the number of spikes in Hakkapeliitta 9 has decreased. For example, in tires with a landing diameter of 16 inches, there are 18 fewer of them (172 versus 190).

Excellent steering sensitivity and directional stability.

acoustic comfort.

High level of grip on packed snow and when driving on ice.

Quick adaptation to various winter conditions.

The car market offers a huge range of tires, it is very difficult to choose the best ones. Therefore, to simplify the choice of motorists, independent experts compile ratings of winter tires, they indicate the advantages and disadvantages of tires of various brands.

In the winter season, drivers have a question: “to stud or not to stud tires?”. Studded products are designed for harsh winters, ensure the normal stability of the car when driving on ice or deep snow. Studless tires are not only suitable for driving on icy or snowy roads, they can be used on dry or wet road surfaces. There is an alternative option - these are the so-called "Velcro", they have a large lamella of the tread blocks, this design, in the absence of spikes, ensures the stability of the car on snow or ice. Which of these tires is better depends on the preferences of the driver and the operating conditions of the vehicle.

When choosing tires for the winter on your own, use the ratings of winter tires, when they are compiled by independent experts, the following characteristics of tires of various brands are taken into account:

stopping distance of a car on a dry, snowy, slushy, ice-covered road;
maximum acceleration of the car;
fuel consumption;
rubber noise;
driving comfort.

Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of rubber from different brands allows you to identify leaders in the manufacture of high-quality tires.

Leaders and outsiders of budget classes of studded tires

First place

Tire Sava Eskimo Stud

The tire is designed for extreme winter conditions, it occupies a leading position among models of budget tire classes. It consists of a silicon-containing polymer, which provides the elastic properties of products at a sufficiently low ambient temperature.

Advantages:

low noise;
vehicle stability on ice, snow, dry and wet asphalt;
average course stability.

Disadvantages: average handling, directional stability when tested on a wet road surface.

Second place

Tire Matador MP30 Sibir Ice 2

Tires are designed in compliance with world standards and taking into account the peculiarities of the Russian climate. The composition of rubber provides elasticity, resistance of products to low-temperature operating conditions.

Advantages:

wear resistance;
low weight due to the use of aluminum spikes;
good acceleration on winter roads;
short braking distance on wet and dry road surfaces;
average grip on ice and snow.

Drawbacks:

average directional stability and handling on roads covered with ice;
noisy.

Third place

Tires Cordiant Snow Cross

These tires are designed for harsh Russian winters. The resistance of products to wear is ensured by the presence of silicon in the composition of rubber. These tires proved to be excellent when driving on packed snow, in some respects they even surpassed middle-class tires.

Advantages:

average braking on the road covered with ice;
good acceleration on packed snow and icy road surfaces;
average exchange rate stability among test participants.

Flaws:

not the shortest braking on dry and wet paved surfaces;
spikes protrude strongly, creating additional noise while driving;
increase in fuel consumption when moving the car at high speeds;
there is a chance of getting stuck when driving on loose snow.

Fourth place

Rubber Kama Euro 519

Structurally tires consist of two layers of rubber. One makes the studs resistant to falling out, the second makes the tires flexible at very low temperatures.

Advantages:

fast braking on snow and dry pavement;
average cross-country ability on winter roads;

Drawbacks:

increased braking on icy roads and wet pavement;
tires respond slowly to steering commands;
low stability on snowy, icy roads.

Fifth place

Tire Viatti Brina Nordico V-522

The products have an asymmetric tread pattern that provides traction with the road surface. The outer part of the tread ensures the stability of the machine during cornering.

Advantages:

good directional stability of the car on a snow-covered road;
elasticity.

Flaws:

for all types of testing, tires showed low results;
increased braking on any type of road surface;
a small patch of rubber contact with the surface when driving on ice.

Leaders and outsiders of the middle class of studded tires

First place

Tire Hankook W419 iPike RS

These tires have a unique composition of the rubber compound, which provides increased rubber elasticity at fairly low temperatures. The silicon which is a part of rubber increases resistance of products to wear.

Advantages:

good braking performance on winter roads;
excellent tire grip with the road surface when driving on packed snow or a road covered with a shallow snow layer;
provide directional stability of the car when driving on asphalt;
help reduce fuel consumption;
high wear resistance.

Flaws:

poor cross-country ability while driving on slush or road surface covered with snow porridge;
unpredictability of tires when performing maneuvers on dry pavement;
not the quietest tyre.

Second place

Tires Gislaved Nord Frost 200

Rubber developed by a Swedish company using new technologies. The improvement in the performance of these tires when tested on a snowy road is provided by a large number of small tread blocks. The tread lamellas have a different design, providing greater grip of rubber with the road surface.

Advantages:

provide confident movement of the car on a snow-covered or snow-covered road;
good braking performance on asphalt;
Tires make virtually no noise.

Drawbacks:

tires respond to steering commands with a slight delay;
poor handling on icy ruts.

Third place

Tire Nordman 5

The tire is designed with a special tread that provides good grip of tires on the road surface. The design feature of the tread is the location in its central part of the longitudinal rib, which has edges in the form of zigzags - this improves the directional stability of the car.

Advantages:

light spikes that reduce the weight of the product;
good braking performance on snowy or icy road surfaces;
help reduce fuel consumption.

Flaws:

compared to competitors, manageability is not the highest;
poor braking performance on dry asphalt pavement;
weak lateral part of the tread is often damaged;
noisy.

Fourth place

TireYokohama IceGuard Stud IG55

Designed with a special tread design that provides good grip of rubber with the road surface. The spikes are located on the surface of the product in such a way as to reduce the amount of noise while driving.

Advantages:

good indicator of directional stability and controllability;
spikes rarely fly out due to their deep seating in rubber;
practically silent.

Drawbacks:

the braking performance on an icy or snowy road is not the highest among competitors;
poor patency on a surface with icy ruts;
average directional stability while driving on an asphalt road surface.

Fifth place

Tire Kumho WinterCraft ice WI31

The tire tread is covered with a large number of sipes to ensure a good grip of tires with the road surface. The aramid fibers that make up the tires give them rigidity and serve as micro-studs.

Advantages:

excellent performance when driving on dry and wet asphalt;
deep-set studs reduce rubber noise;
good performance on packed snow.

Flaws:

weak braking on ice;
slipping on a slurry of snow;
poor handling on snowy roads.

Conclusion

Winter tire ratings determine the top best manufacturers, allow you to choose the most suitable tire option for a specific car and its operating conditions. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the winner does not always fit the characteristics of the operating conditions of the vehicle, and outsiders, in most cases, behave well when driving around the city.

Also take into account the tire sizes recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, and the matching of tires and wheels. As a rule, you can install larger diameter wheels and lower profile tires, for example, wheels with a radius of R14 can be replaced with R15 or R16, choosing the appropriate rubber.

Looking for winter tires for your iron horse? Then this article is for you! We have prepared a useful guide for owners of sedans, SUVs and all those who need to drive safely in winter. The tire market is overflowing with studded and friction rubber offerings. Our rating will answer the question of how to choose winter tires in the optimal ratio of quality and price.

What do you need to know before buying?

What is winter tires, how is it different from summer tires? It's all about special protection, which allows you to maintain the maneuverability of the vehicle even at sub-zero temperatures. For the manufacture of tires, special raw materials are used, which are distinguished by elasticity and wear resistance.

The tread has a decent margin of safety, the base combines it with the internal levels. Properly chosen "clothes for the wheels" reduces shocks from uneven road surfaces. It is strictly forbidden to ride on summer tires in winter for two reasons:

There is no road grip.
In the cold, summer tires harden and crack. Its wear rate increases significantly.

When choosing the best winter tires, take into account the type of rubber, manufacturer, and cost. Cheap tires will last much less, as their quality is worse compared to expensive options. The service life of quality products is calculated in years, sometimes 5 or more years.

New or used?

Consider buying tires that have been used for 1-2 seasons, but can still be used. We are interested in the pros / cons of such rubber.

The first advantage is low cost. However, here we are faced with a serious disadvantage. The more worn out the tire, the less it will serve you as the second owner. The advertisements for the sale indicate the height of the tread, the year of manufacture and the time of operation. By the way, the year of production can be seen on the wheels themselves.

Choose good used winter tires and they will last you 2-3 seasons. Their cost is not so low, and the service life is two times shorter. We recommend buying products only if you are very tight with finances, and rubber is needed here and now. If there are enough funds, take a closer look at new ones. The benefits are obvious:

There is a guarantee. You can ride freely and not worry that something might happen to them.
They will last much longer.
The new rubber has just amazing traction.

If you are still torn about which tires to choose, definitely take new ones. Although they are more expensive, but with the right choice, they will last much longer. Having spent once and installed them on your car, you will no longer return to this issue.

Studded or non-studded - which is better?

Let's talk about the main differences between studded and non-studded tires. The first type may have round or diamond-shaped spikes. Due to the excellent grip, driving on studded wheels on roads covered with snow or ice is a pleasure.

If you read owner reviews when choosing studded tires, then please note that this type of protection is also not ideal:

In some countries of the world, spikes are prohibited.
The car makes a lot of noise when driving on a dry road. Spikes may fly out.
The braking distance increases significantly when driving on wet roads, above zero temperature.

Non-studded are European (for wet roads) and Scandinavian (snowy track). There is also all-weather tires, but they are not very suitable for the harsh Russian winter.

Winter tire rating 2018-2019

We turn to the consideration of the main question - which winter tires are better for a domestic motorist to choose? A good reputation is enjoyed by the products of such manufacturers:

Nokian. Well-known Finnish company, more than 80 years on the tire market.
Goodyears. Tire manufacturer from USA.
Bridgestone. Renowned company from Japan.
Of course, Michelin and Dunlop products have high authority in the ranking of the best winter tires.

Winter non-studded - TOP-5

Hakkapeliitta R2 for SUVs. Among the features of winter non-studded tires from Nokian are an aggressive pattern, particles of crystals in rubber, and a lot of sipes. The tires hold the road great, they are not afraid of dry asphalt, snow. Quiet and moderately soft. Suitable only for the city.
Pilot Alpin 5 from Michelin for those who appreciate speed. Resistant to snow clogging, have excellent directional stability.
Grip Ice 2 from Goodyear with excellent braking results. They took 2nd place in their own rating of winter tires published by Za Rulem.
Blizzak Ice by Bridgestone. Since spikes are banned in Japan, Bridgestone has focused all its efforts on developing high-quality Velcro. And they did it great!
Nordman RS. Affordable winter tires are very popular among Russian motorists. Strong enough, provide decent traction, slightly noisy. In rare cases, small lateral drifts are possible.

Winter studded - TOP-3

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV with aramid fibers. Snow grip is just exemplary, a decent selection of sizes.
X-Ice North perfectly clings to the asphalt in the cold, quickly self-cleaning. Traditionally suitable for Russian winters.
IceContact 2 by Continental. A worthy model from the Kaluga plant Continental. The novelty of the second generation received an optimized grip.

Rating results

You can safely buy all the listed winter tire models for the 2018-2019 season and enjoy a comfortable, safe ride. The choice of this or that rubber will depend on your budget, brand and type of car, climatic conditions of your region. We hope our article has helped you make a smart choice. We wish you successful shopping!