Better nokian or hankuk. Comparison of Nokian tires. Ice tests

Several years ago, Nokian Nordman tires began to appear on the shelves of Russian stores, outwardly painfully reminiscent of the well-known Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires in Russia.

Moreover, the names of the models were very consonant - the Nokian Nordman 7 was very similar to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7, and the Nokian Nordman 5 was very similar to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5, etc.

In this article, you will learn:

Many car owners, of those who tried these tires, wrote in reviews that the similarity, if there is, is very insignificant. While many autojournalists who have tested these tires write to the contrary, there are plenty of similarities between these tires.

So how, really, are there really so many differences between the Nokian Nordman and Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires? Let's figure it out in more detail.

Nokian Nordman brand

To begin with, let's figure out why, in fact, such a well-known company as Nokian came up with another independent tire brand -.

Not surprisingly, for the northernmost tire manufacturer, Nokian, the company's main profit-making product is winter tires. Moreover, 70% of the tires sold under the Nokian brand are studded tires, which are prohibited in most European countries.

In turn, in Russia - as in a northern country - studded tires are allowed, therefore Russia is the main sales market for the Finnish company Nokian.

However, under the Nokian brand, the Finns, as a rule, sold tires of the premium segment, which were quite expensive, which not all Russian car owners could afford. In order to dramatically increase the sales of the Finnish company, it was necessary to introduce economy-class tires to the market, the cost of which would cease to scare off most of the potential buyers.

Economy tires did not fit well with the Nokian brand, which has always positioned itself as a premium brand. Therefore, it was decided to introduce economy-class tires to the Russian market under the Nordman brand.

Nordman tire manufacturing

The production of tires under the Nordman brand was initially established at the facilities of a joint venture with the tire brand Amtel, which is well known to Russian car owners. Moreover, the raw materials for Finnish tires were Russian, and the production technologies were Finnish, which made the final product of sufficient quality, customers liked it.

However, after some time the joint venture broke up and the Finns had to transfer the production of tires of their economy brand to China, which sharply deteriorated the quality of the products. Accordingly, demand for tires under the Nodrman brand dropped sharply and this situation could not continue for a long time.

By that time, a plant in Russia (near St. Petersburg) had reached its design capacity at Nokian itself, and the management of the Finnish company decided to transfer the production of Nordman tires to Russia. To the same plant that produces tires under the main Nokian brand.

Nokian Nordman 7 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7

One of the most famous winter models under the Nordman brand is the Nordman 7, which bears great resemblance to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7.

The first thing to say about this tire is that the Nordman 7 model (and the Nokian Nordman 7 suv model for crossovers and minivans), like its "prototype" Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7, has a pronounced Scandinavian (Arctic) type. That is, the tire is designed for northern climates with harsh temperatures and heavy snowfalls.

When creating this model, Finnish engineers chose the right path: they took all the best that they had gained experience in operating the unconditional hit of their time - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 model and added some innovations.

The tire Nokian Nordman 7 (and Nokian Nordman 7 suv) has almost identical rubber composition and tread pattern to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7. However, with one caveat - the materials for the rubber compound are now Russian, not Finnish. But in general, both the tread and the rubber compound have already shown their best side over the years of sales of the Hakkapeliitta 7, so there was no need to make any changes.

The main changes that were made to the Nordman 7's tread concerned only the studs.

Firstly, the air claw was added, a patented technology that has a special shock-absorbing pad located in front of the cleat to prevent excessive damage to the cleat during fast travel.

Secondly, the bear claw technology has been added, a special hex pommel that allows the cleat to always remain upright.

Thirdly, the Eco Stud System (developed for the Hakkapeliitta 8) has been added to the Nokian Nordman 7 suv model, which prevents unnecessary damage to the stud when driving the heavy enough crossover and minivan for which this model is intended.

Nokian Nordman 5 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5

As for another most popular winter model, the situation here is largely similar. For their budget model, Finnish engineers singled out all the best that the "prototype" had and tried to remove all unnecessary things that increased the cost of the tire.

So, for example, the design and composition of the rubber compound were left the same, with all the time-tested solutions, except for the fact that the raw materials for the rubber compound are now Russian.

But the thorns have changed. Instead of the "original" four-sided stud on the Hakkapeliitta 5, the Nordman 5 now has a regular round stud. Moreover, this was done, also because the four-edged spike wore out quickly enough and turned into a round one.

What else you need to know about Nokian Nordman and Nokian Hakkapeliitta

It is worth mentioning that for Nokian itself, sales of premium tires from the Hakkapeliitta range generate much more revenue than sales of economy tires from the Nordman range.

Accordingly, in order to increase their own profits, marketers of the Finnish company take one tricky step. The number of tires produced under the Nordman brand is underreported, and the number of tires under the Nokian brand is increasing.

Therefore, buyers should keep in mind that Nordman tires tend to run out very quickly in stores, and if you have a desire to purchase them, it is better to take care of this in advance, without waiting for the first snowfalls.

Recently, more and more motorists are paying attention to Nokian tires. There are many winter tires in the company's lineup, which attracts buyers. However, many of them are wondering whether it is better to purchase tires from another manufacturer? To answer this question, let's compare Nokian winter tires with models from other brands.

Nokian or Goodyear

Nokian's top winter model is Hakapelita 8. Goodyear's is the Ultra Grip Ice Arctic. On winter Russian tracks, the Hakkapeliitta 8 tires feel perfect, as they were developed specifically for such conditions.

On the surface of the rubber there are spikes in an increased number. When paired with a modified tread pattern, they contribute to a significant improvement in grip in difficult conditions.

They are resistant to the effect of aquaplaning, as they have a drainage system through the grooves of which moisture and snow are removed. They have improved wear resistance, ideal grip on ice and snow, and also provide a minimum braking distance.

However, in a rut, tires behave unstable, while being characterized by a high cost.

Goodyear is also tailored for harsh winters and off-road. Due to the change in the composition of the rubber, they have an increased resource. The advantages of this model:

• directional stability will remain at high speed,
• resistant to the effect of aquaplaning.

But when hitting a track, they can go into a skid.

If we compare Nokian and Goodyear, then it is impossible to give an exact answer. Nokian has better grip and passable properties, but the cost of these tires is higher. If financial opportunities allow, then it is best to buy Nokian, if not, then - Goodyear, since they also have acceptable indicators.

Nokian or Cordiant

Cordiant has the best model - Snow Cross. Its cost is about the same as that of Hakkapeliitta 8, so the comparison conditions are approximated. Cordiant improves vehicle dynamics and prevents slipping on snow and ice. Controllability in such conditions is excellent.

The directional stability of the tires is at a decent level. However, on asphalt pavement, the braking distance increases, and at high speeds, fuel consumption increases significantly. Among other things, additional noise is generated due to the tread pattern.

Hakapelita 8 has no such disadvantages. There is only one - a weak resistance to rutting. However, compared to the minuses, Cordiant is only a minor flaw. As you can understand, Nokian is a noticeable leader in comparison with Cordiant and is suitable for any operating conditions.

Nokian or Hankuk

When choosing winter tires, many motorists face a choice: Hankuk or Nokian? To answer this difficult question, consider the Hankook WinterI Pike RSW419 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. Both models are studded and are presented in the same class - for passenger cars.

Nokian has the following benefits:

• increased resource,
• perfect grip and flotation in harsh conditions,
• minimum braking distance.

However, its disadvantages - if you run into a track, there is a risk of skidding, and the cost of tires is quite high. The Hankook tires have slightly worse performance, but the grip is almost the same due to the increased number of studs.

The cost is much lower. That is why it is better to choose between these two models in accordance with financial capabilities.

As it turned out, Nokian is clearly in the lead compared to Cordiant. However, she is on a par with Hankook and Goodyear. Therefore, when choosing, it is best to take into account individual preferences and the allocated budget.

This test will allow you to enjoy extreme testing and visually see the advantages and disadvantages of a number of main models of winter studded tires. For comparison, ten tires from various leading global manufacturers were selected, all of which are industry leaders. These tires are Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, Continental ContiIceContact, Gislaved Nord Frost 100, Pirelli Winter Ice Zero, Michelin X-Ice North 2, Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, Dunlop Ice Touch, Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000, Hankook Winter i * Pike and domestic Kama Euro -519.

Number of studs - road care or driver safety?

When comparing models of winter studded tires, it is necessary to separately highlight the problem of the number of studs themselves installed in the tire. Talks about tightening the rules for using studs have been going on in the Scandinavian countries for a long time, and the reason is the increased wear of the roadway. Greens began to argue that asphalt dust is also carcinogenic, that is, it causes cancer. And in 2009, a new norm was promulgated - up to 50 studs per linear meter, and regardless of the tread width or the rim diameter of the tire. At the same time, the previous restrictions remained in force: the protrusion of the studs above the tread surface should not exceed 1.2 mm.

What about security? After all, the more spikes, the better, all other things being equal, the "hook" on the ice will be better ... Shinniks have left a loophole! It turns out that you can install more studs, but then you have to prove that a denser stud will not increase the destructive effect on the road. As a result, on the basis of the Finnish testing center Test World, a method was developed for the in-situ assessment of the impact of studded tires on the road surface. In a nutshell, after a certain number of drives on a granite tile, the mass of this tile should not decrease more than after the same exposure to reference tires with a "legal" number of spikes.

However, the rush demand for such tests did not follow. For example, Michelin decided that this was not a completely fair way to get around the new restrictions - and threw all their efforts into improving tires with a reduced number of studs. The developers of the new Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires did the same. What about the rest?

The rest fully loaded their production capacity to produce as many tires as possible, studded according to the old rules (no more than 130 studs for 16-inch tires). After all, the ban that came into force on July 1 concerns the production, but not the sales of tires with the "wrong" studding!

And only Nokian Tires went its own way: the number of studs on the tires of the new Hakkapeliitta 8 not only did not decrease, but increased by one and a half times! Naturally, the aforementioned test was passed, and, as we learned, it was carried out not at the Test World test site, but in its own test center near the town of Nokia. It turns out that you can do that - under the supervision of an official observer from the Trafi transport security agency. Competitors, of course, raised a fuss - they say, with so many spikes, it is impossible to successfully pass the test!

Ice tests

The testing team takes on their hard work. One by one, the tire sets are subjected to the most rigorous tests in the most icy conditions. Finally, the last, tenth set of studded tires was tested for "acceleration-deceleration" - and ... The first sensation! The smallest braking distance on account of the ContiIceContact tires. They also provided the car with better acceleration dynamics. Although the advantage over the "bristling" Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires is very small, but it is! That is, 190 studs lined up in 18 rows perform no better on ice than 130 studs spread across 12 rows. In any case, in 14-degree frost. Why? Because in order to reduce the harmful effect on the roadway, the Finns really had to change the design of the studs: they are not only lighter, but also smaller - in height and diameter - than those used in Continental tires. And those that were previously used in Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires. And the carbide insert in the "small" studs is not so powerful.

Two favorites are stepping on the heels of the new Pirelli Winter Ice Zero tires.

Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires promise to become another striking novelty of this season. There are already 96 "legitimate" studs - and they provide quite decent braking on ice, although during acceleration - only the eighth result. Ahead were also the familiar Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic and Dunlop Ice Touch and Michelin X-Ice North 2 tires from last year's tests. By the way, why is Michelin represented by the second generation X-Ice North tires, and not the third generation? The company decided that it was better not to give these tires to anyone for comparative tests until the official launch of a new model on the market.

New items for the winter season were prepared by Bridgestone, but also refused to provide them before the official premiere. Therefore, in the overall standings - Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 tires, which in the coming winter will also be actively sold in our market.

The Korean school is represented by Hankook Winter i * Pike tires, and the Russian school is represented by Kama Euro-519 tires. On the ice, the results of both those and others are very modest. But so far we are talking only about the grip properties in the longitudinal direction.

The controllability assessment began with driving on an ice circle at the maximum possible speed, and continued on a winding track, which took into account both the lap time and a subjective assessment of the convenience and reliability of control. In these exercises, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires have already achieved a convincing victory. They perfectly keep the movement in turns, perfect control over the car on the track! They can also be safely recommended to those who go to amateur ice races: "taking off" a couple of seconds from the circle is not a problem!

Continental tires are in second place, and right behind them - and this is the second, albeit small, but still a sensation - the Gislaved tires. They made it possible to very confidently drive the car along a winding road.

Another surprise was the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires. With them, the car slows down and accelerates well, but in turns it keeps poorly and even "jumped" off the icy track a couple of times. Fortunately, there are not meter-long snowdrifts around, but safety strips with a ten-centimeter layer of fluffy snow.

Snow element

The next day, the frost subsided from fourteen degrees to minus seven. Testers have at their disposal a 600-meter track with perfectly packed snow. The work will be monotonous: acceleration to 50 km / h, braking, acceleration again, braking again ... But if earlier the driver was required to work with pedals in order to exclude unnecessary wheel slip at the start and blocking during braking, now this is monitored by the electronics - Traction Control and ABS. And soon it seems that it will be possible to do without a driver altogether.

Let's take a look at the results of the manual snow tests. It is not hard to see that they are very close when braking: the difference between the best tires (Dunlop Ice Touch) and the worst (Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000) is less than three meters, which is ten percent. During acceleration, the spread is a little more, about 20 percent, and the favorites here are already different - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires. That is, the Finns have conjured up not only with the spikes, but also with the tread - after all, on the snow, it is not so much the spikes that are important as the tread.

And on the handling trail winding around fir trees and snow-strewn boulders, Nokian tires are quieter: quick reactions and fully controlled sliding. Moreover, in sliding it is better not to slow down, otherwise the stabilization system disabled by the button will "wake up" and the pace will decrease. Another indicator: if on Nokian tires the stabilization system was "awakened" only once, then on other tires it was activated much more often - due to errors caused by stretched slips (they were especially upset by the Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 and Kama Euro-519 tires) ...

Driving on asphalt

At the beginning of spring, the winter tests were supplemented with a cycle of "asphalt" tests. First, we looked at how the tires behave on sludge - a snow-water slurry that covered the asphalt with an even layer. This layer is only 3.5 cm deep, and the Hankook tires already float at 19.4 km / h. However, the best Bridgestone tires in this type of testing are not far behind - their limit is 21.2 km / h. And on wet asphalt, already without admixture of snow, the shortest braking distances are on the account of the Gislaved tires, and the worst is on the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8.

On wet asphalt, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires performed poorly, but on dry surfaces they showed one of the best results under braking. This, by the way, is a reason to remind again that modern studded tires work on asphalt no worse, and sometimes even better than non-studded tires of the Scandinavian type - those that are commonly called Velcro. This is due to the stiffer rubber, which is needed to secure the cleats in place. There is still a popular myth that a studded tire rolls on the asphalt, leaning more on the spikes than on the rubber. But in fact, the studs, in contact with the asphalt, are sunk into the tread body, practically without reducing the contact spots of the rubber with the road. However, it all depends on what goals the manufacturer sets when creating a specific tire model. By changing the tread pattern, hardness and chemical composition of rubber, you can shift the balance of qualities, giving preference to either behavior on slippery winter surfaces (ice, snow), or on asphalt.

With the Dunlop Ice Touch tires, this balance is clearly shifted towards the asphalt: the Audi A3 brakes confidently and responds best to sharp turns of the steering wheel. But on ContiIceContact tires the braking distance on both dry and wet asphalt is a couple of meters longer, that is, preference is given to "winter" qualities.

This is where spike tires always lose out to non-studded ones, because it is in acoustic comfort. There is clearly more noise from them, especially if the tread already has 190 studs, like the Nokian tires. However, with fewer studs, the Kama Euro, Pirelli, Continental and Bridgestone tires clink in much the same way. And the quietest tires are the Michelin X-Ice 2. They are the softest along with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires.

How will such soft tires behave if they hit a hole or bump into an asphalt ledge? The testing team put winter tires through a similar experiment. At a speed of 40 km / h, the car runs into a steel channel set at an angle of 30 degrees - a piece of a U-shaped beam. If the tire withstands, the attempt is repeated already at a speed of 45 km / h. And so on until the tire "expires". In order not to damage the suspension of the brand new Audi A3, it was replaced with a well-worn Mercedes-Benz C 180.

Bridgestone tires withstood the most impacts: they managed to break through only at a speed of 70 km / h! And this is no coincidence: when developing their tires, the Japanese take into account the specifics of bad roads, reinforce the structure and check it themselves with crash tests.

Continental tires also hold up to the blow - they gave up at a speed of 60 km / h. The bulk of the tires was finished off at a speed of 50 km / h, but Michelin tires, which they liked so much for their softness, were punched in the very first race, at a speed of 40 km / h. It was even decided to repeat the experiment - what if it was an accident? As a result, the second Michelin X-Ice North 2 tire with a through hole is sent to landfill. Again, everything is understandable: the French company pays more and more attention to reducing rolling resistance, for the sake of which the sidewall is getting thinner (while reducing the so-called hysteresis losses - energy consumption for heating due to deformation).

The tires were also tested for rolling resistance using a treadmill drum. And it turned out that Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires roll easier than others, and not Michelin X-Ice North 2. But this is without studs, since studded tires would damage the calibrated drum surface. It is not a fact that this rating will not change with spikes. However, in terms of fuel consumption, the difference is still small - the bulk of the tires are separated by 0.2-0.3 l / 100 km. And the difference between the most "economical" and the most "voracious" tires (they were expected to be Bridgestone tires) is 0.6 l / 100 km. And yet, since the experiment was carried out without thorns, its results were not taken into account in the derivation of the final estimates.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8

Overall rating: 9.0

• Handling on ice and snow
• Braking properties on dry asphalt

• Noisiness
• High price

With so many pimples, a victory over competitors, especially in ice disciplines, should be simply devastating! But the matter was limited to simply victory, without defeat. On the handling track - the best time, driving is a pleasure. But the advantage over the ContiIceContact tires, which have 60 fewer studs, is negligible, and the Continental tires are even better in acceleration dynamics. Because there are many spikes in the tread of Finnish tires, but they are small: the diameter, the height of the spike, the width of the carbide insert - everything here is smaller than that of Continental tires. Perhaps, at a higher temperature, on "soft" ice, the effectiveness of "small" spikes would have been higher, but our tests took place in 14-degree frost.

On snow, Nokian tires are traditionally good: accurate and timely responses to the steering wheel and gas.

But on asphalt, the behavior is unstable. While Nokian tires provide good deceleration on dry surfaces, they have the longest braking distances on wet surfaces. And the expected drawback was the "itchy" sound from the spikes, which did not leave the cabin in the entire speed range.

Continental ContiIceContact

Overall rating: 9.0

• Adhesion properties on ice and snow
• Handling on ice and snow
• Impact strength

• Adhesion properties on wet asphalt

On ice, the ContiIceContact tires are great. Acceleration and braking are the best in the test, and the balance of drift and drift on the ice handling track is such as if you were driving not in a front-wheel drive, but in an all-wheel drive car. I slightly threw off the gas at the entrance to the turn - and then you drive the car in an arc in controlled sliding with four wheels!

On the snow, the tires are also good, and only the not always appropriate slight tendency to skid the rear axle did not allow to give the highest point for "reliability of handling".

On asphalt, the grip is average, although the "Change" maneuver was done very well. The car reacts sluggishly to the first impulse, but then the tires are "squeezed" and hold lateral overloads well. It's a pity that the soundtrack during such maneuvers is already very intrusive - the Continental tires whine on a straight line, and the rumble increases in corners.

These tires have excellent impact resistance. And the thorns in them hold to the last: in order to pull out a thorn planted on glue, you need to apply an effort 2-2.5 times higher compared to other tires.

I wonder if the ContiIceContact tires will continue to perform as well on ice after switching to a lightweight stud? Such tires with the HD index, produced after July 1, 2013, have already appeared at Russian dealers.

Gislaved Nord Frost 100

Overall rating: 9.0

• Ice grip and handling
• Snow grip
• Adhesion properties on asphalt

• Moderate handling on snow

"Not by number, but by skill!" The tread of the Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tires has a total of 96 standard offset studs, but on ice these tires are better than many tires that have 130 studs each. On the handling track - the third time, but the lag behind the leader, who has almost twice as many studs, is less than a second! No wonder the German tire workers (Gislaved today is a 100 percent product of Continental) worked on a new tread and new "triangular" studs! Slides are small and easy to control.

And on the snow, decent behavior, although on the track, handling is hampered by sharp breaks in sliding.

But on wet asphalt - the minimum braking distance! At the same time, the tires do not make much noise and gently "swallow" irregularities.

In general, well balanced winter tires: they work confidently on country roads and are almost ideal for urban use. And the price looks reasonable.

Pirelli Winter Ice Zero

Overall rating: 8.7

• Adhesion properties on ice

• Moderate handling on ice and snow
• Noisiness

These tires came to our test a month and a half before the official premiere (AP # 17, 2013) - we did not even know the real name of the model, since there was no marking on the smooth sidewall. But both the protector and the new design spikes were already "commercial" - now both the insert and the spike body have a complex trapezoidal shape.

In terms of longitudinal dynamics on ice, the Pirelli tires are almost on par with the leaders in the test. But on the handling track, there were sharp breaks in side slip. However, Pirelli tires, whether winter or summer, have always endowed the car with sharper, sportier reactions.

A similar behavior is observed on snow, but here the grip properties in the longitudinal direction were at an average level.

Here on the asphalt - good deceleration, both dry and wet.

The ride is good, but there is a lot of noise - the rumble is heard even when driving on packed snow.

Albeit with reservations, but we also recommend these tires - primarily to those who drive in winter mainly on city streets cleared of snow.

Michelin X-Ice North 2

Overall rating: 8.5

• Comfort
• Adhesion properties on wet and dry asphalt

• Insufficient resistance to slashplaning
• Low impact strength

When we ran this test with Michelin X-Ice North 2 tires in early February, we received an invitation to the official premiere of the next-generation X-Ice North 3 tires. But all attempts to get new tires for the test failed! However, in Russia, the novelty will not appear in all dimensions and half of the sales of Michelin studded tires will fall on the X-Ice North 2 model.

Worthy tires, with a pronounced Michelin family feature - high stability on slippery roads and soft, understandable transitions. It's bad that the slides themselves last a little longer than we would like.

This also manifested itself on the asphalt: the stretched slides prevented the high speed “changeover”. But there are no problems with braking, and the level of comfort is beyond praise: these are the softest and quietest tires in our test!

They would have a stronger sidewall, otherwise when hitting an "obstacle" thin rubber breaks at a speed of 40 km / h, although most tires hold up to 50 km / h, and some remain intact and at a higher speed.

In general, very comfortable winter tires, which are best used on the streets of large cities.

Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic

Overall rating: 8.4

• Braking properties on ice and snow
• Adhesion properties on wet and dry asphalt
• Impact strength

• Handling on ice
• Traction capability on snow

Introduced last year, the Goodyear UltraGrip Ace Arctic tires were immediately among the leaders in our tests, but this year they were not so impressive. The reason could be the changed weather conditions, the progress of competitors, but it seems that the matter is in the lower quality studding. The cocked hat spikes themselves have not changed, but most of them turned out to be excessively recessed into the tread - the overhang averages 0.9 mm versus 1.2-1.3 mm for competing tires. Here we need to look for the reason for lagging behind the leaders of the test both in acceleration and in braking on ice. And on the handling track, the lag is already beyond the bounds of decency: the Audi A3 on Goodyear tires covers the 800-meter track for ten seconds longer than on Nokian tires! We also noted last year that Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires perform better in the longitudinal direction than in the lateral direction, and now the imbalance has worsened - the car holds very badly on the arc!

On snow, the handling situation is better, but there are problems with acceleration. On the asphalt - at the level of the average. It is curious that the clatter of the spikes is almost inaudible, but the tread itself howls in the entire speed range.

What these tires definitely pleased with was their impact resistance: in this discipline - the third place.

With normal studding quality, these tires could surely compete with the leaders, but according to the results of our test, we would not recommend using these tires on cars without electronic stabilization systems.

Dunlop ice touch

Overall rating: 8.3

• Braking properties on snow

• Handling on ice and snow
• Smooth running

According to the final assessment, Dunlop tires are only 0.1 points inferior to Goodyear tires. No surprise: the Dunlop brand today is three-quarters owned by Goodyear, and the Dunlop Ice Touch and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tires were developed by the same engineering team. The tread patterns are different, but everything else - groove depth, rubber hardness and studs - is the same. Unfortunately, the quality of the studding is the same: the studs in the Dunlop tires also turned out to be deeper than necessary. By the way, the tires were made at the same plant in Poland.

The problems with handling on ice are similar: in the lateral direction, the Dunlop tires hold much worse than in the longitudinal direction. It is difficult to drive on a winding track because of the sudden, unexpected slippage.

But on the snow - the minimum braking distance! At the same time, acceleration and handling indicators are the same "sluggish" as on ice.

But on a dry surface - the minimum braking distance and the maximum speed of the "rearrangement". The car responds clearly and quickly to steering movements, which is a rarity for winter tires! True, there is also a side effect - increased rigidity when passing through small irregularities.

Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000

Overall rating: 7.5

• High impact resistance
• High resistance to slashing
• Traction and handling on asphalt

• Adhesion properties on ice and snow
• Comfort
• Handling on ice and snow

Aggressive tread cut with a fine network of wavy lamellas - and spikes lined up in 14 lines. But the spikes are ordinary - with cylindrical inserts, and the tread rubber is not as "tenacious" as the competitors, which is indirectly evidenced by its increased hardness - 20% more compared to Nokian tires. And as a result - very modest grip properties both on ice and on snow. The handling also leaves much to be desired (speed in corners is limited by unpleasant sliding of the front axle).

Bridgestone tires float up later than others on a snow-water slurry. And on the asphalt they work perfectly: on the "rearrangement" the reactions are so fast and accurate, as if the car is "shod" not in winter, but in all-season tires. And most of all we were pleased with the impenetrable sidewalls. But there is a trade-off here: a stronger sidewall is also stiffer, so Bridgestone tires do not have the best effect on ride comfort.

Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 tires will surely find their poor buyer, especially in the hinterland - where tires are often changed not because of tread wear, but because of "holes" received in the pits. However, this fall dealers will offer an alternative to the Ice Cruiser 7000 tires - the new Blizzak Spike-01 model (details in the next Autoreview issues), but we will be able to evaluate the improvements in the comparative test only next year.

Hankook Winter i * Pike

Overall rating: 7.5

• Dry grip and handling

• Adhesion properties on ice and snow
• Low slashplaning resistance
• Adhesion properties on wet asphalt

Even at the stage of "static" measurements, we assumed that the Hankook tires were superfluous in this test: most of the studs barely protrude above the tread level. There are some that rise only 0.3 mm! On ice, such studs, of course, do not work - the car slides menacingly both when braking and cornering. But at the same time, it receives a decent rating for the reliability of control: yes, the car slides and therefore goes slowly, but the limit in adhesion properties is felt well, the breakdowns are soft, there is a good balance of drift and skid. It also happens.

However, the Hankook tires were unable to shine even in the snow, where the studs no longer play a big role. The tread copes poorly with drainage functions - on the sludge (snow-water mixture), Hankook tires float before others. They also work poorly on wet asphalt (the braking distance is too long) - and only on dry asphalt everything is more or less in order. But this is not enough to recommend the Hankook Winter i * Pike as a winter tire. True, there is an argument that for many sounds stronger than arguments about safety: Hankook tires are exactly half the price of Nokian tires.

Kama Euro-519

Overall rating: 7.1

• Braking properties on snow

• Adhesion properties on ice
• Handling on ice and snow
• Low comfort level

Despite the tread pattern very much reminiscent of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 tires, the Russian Kama Euro-519 tires cannot yet compete on equal terms with imported analogues. Longitudinal grip on snow is encouraging, but on the handling track, all hopes disappear. It is difficult to "fill" the car into a turn, and therefore before each of them you need to slow down more than in the case of other tires.

The picture is also sad on the ice: sliding is also poorly predictable and poorly controlled. And there are problems with braking on ice. The reason seems to be the same as with the Hankook tires: insufficient stud protrusion above the tread surface. On average - 0.8 mm: such a departure is not enough for a good "hold" on the ice.

On asphalt, the tires perform at an average level. When performing sharp maneuvers, the reaction to the steering wheel is "smeared". And let the thorns slightly annoy with a clatter, the protector hums fairly. And on bumps, these tires are one of the toughest.

Yes, the Kama Euro-519 tires came in last in our test. But if you remember about the price and the stellar composition of the participants, then this is not just the last, but the honorable last place. And if the manufacturer establishes control over the quality of studding, then, you see, it will be possible to apply for higher and no less honorable places.

Every motorist is faced with the problem of choosing high-quality rubber for his car. Today it has become much more difficult to do this. The car market has a huge assortment of tires from various manufacturers. Most of them are of very high quality.

How to choose tires wisely

To make the right choice, there are several important points to keep in mind. First of all, it concerns the cost. Sometimes the price of rubber is quite acceptable, while the quality corresponds to the wheels produced by a well-known manufacturer. That is, you can always find a budget option.

Of course, the service life of expensive tires is long. They have a wide tread that quickly drains water away. They also reduce braking distances on icy roads.

When choosing rubber, regardless of its price, you need to focus on important nuances:

• Tires must match the dimensions of the vehicle. The suitable size can be found in its technical manual.
• Maximum speed.
• Rubber category.
• Seasonality.
• The ability to brake on an icy surface.

It is very important that the speed and maximum load values ​​match the tire dimensions. In the absence of such compliance, suspension breakage is possible.

Yokohama or Dunlop

The cost of these tires is about the same. However, before making a choice, it is worth getting acquainted with their technical characteristics. Find out what advantages each model has.

Yokohama

For manufacturing, the manufacturer uses computer technology. Therefore, the tire fully complies with international standards.

New rubber reduces braking distances.

Winter wheels are equipped with original metal studs. They provide reliable traction on icy roads. Skidding of the car is completely excluded. The studded tire improves ride safety and makes it more comfortable.

Especially for the summer season, the wheels are made of rubber, which does not melt at high temperatures.

The universal (all-season) tire is made of two-layer rubber. It can remain elastic in severe frosts and not melt in extreme heat.

There are models that have special semicircular holes on the tread. Due to them, tires repel snow, mud and water, quickly self-cleaning. Longitudinal grooves prevent wheel slippage, maintaining lateral stability of the machine.

The rubber is designed for long-term use. Sometimes this period exceeds 10 years.

Each wheel is thoroughly tested. Samples with the slightest deviations from the norm are discarded. Therefore, the company guarantees 100% quality of its products.

Dunlop

The wheels have a wide tread. The design of the drawing and its calculation was carried out using computer graphics. The rubber adheres tightly to the road surface, ensuring complete ride safety.

The tread has a non-directional symmetrical pattern. The car never skids on wet or very slippery roads.

When driving over bumps and holes, no jolts are felt in the passenger compartment.

The tires provide the shortest stopping distance. This is very important for driving on city streets.

Winter models are equipped with steel studs for excellent traction. On such rubber, the car never goes into a skid.

Summer tires are made of special rubber. It prevents melting at high temperatures.

All season made from multiple layers. As a result, the wheels do not freeze in severe frosts and do not melt in the heat.

Dunlop can be used for a long time. If properly operated, they will last more than 10 years.

The characteristics of both tires are almost the same. Motorists speak about them only in a positive way. At a low cost, each model has improved quality characteristics.

According to car owners, Yokohama is more suitable for slippery roads. If you install Dunlop, you should take advantage of the all-season options. They show excellent results in winter cold and summer heat.

Of course, when choosing a tire, you must also take into account its parameters and characteristics. Wheels with different parameters often behave differently.

Yokohama or Nokian

The world famous Nokian wheels are produced in Finland. In our country, they are made in Vsevolzhsk. The products are certified according to the ISO 9001 standard.

A feature of Nokian tires is a wear indicator. It can be used to easily measure the tread depth. Finnish tires guarantee powerful grip on any road surface, regardless of its surface. The ride is comfortable both on wet asphalt and on an icy road.

According to experts, the quality of Nokian tires is slightly higher than Yokohama, so if possible, it is better to install Finnish tires.

Yokohama or Hankook

In South Korea, Hankook tires are considered the best for the winter. Many global car manufacturers such as Volvo and Volkswagen manufacture their vehicles with Hankuk tires.

They have become very popular in our country due to their high quality and low cost. Motorists note several positive qualities:

• Low price.
• Excellent stability.
• Softness.
• Doesn't make additional noise.
• Small braking distance.
• Long service life.

Hankook is more suitable for normal use. When it comes to sports cars, Yokohama is the best.

Pirelli or Yokohama

Italians produce Pirelli models:

Highway

Road wheels for driving on asphalt. Not designed for winter use.

Snow

Special winter tires. They are distinguished by full-fledged grip on ice or snowy roads thanks to the original tread pattern. Rubber is able to withstand severe frosts.

Disadvantages:

• Poor handling.
• Large noise when driving on dry asphalt.
• Increased tread wear.

All Season

All-season tires. Can be used on a snowy road. Provides good adhesion to icy surfaces. Tread wear is minimized.

Performance

Special tires for high-speed driving. They are characterized by powerful traction and ease of driving. Designed for high temperatures.

Disadvantages:

• They create discomfort when moving.
• Wearing too fast.

All Season Performance

All-season, for high-speed driving. Can be used all year round. The car remains stable on icy roads and performs well on dry asphalt.

Both Pirelli and Yokohama are of impeccable quality. They have proven to be reliable in any kind of driving. It is very difficult to give preference to any product. The choice will depend on the individual approach as well as the driving style of the car.

BRIDGESTONE MY-02 SPORTY STYLE

A versatile sports tire with an attractive appearance and aggressive design. The flat contact patch reduces uneven wear and increases tire life, while the three-dimensional tread block design improves dry performance. The ingenious design of the shoulder blocks helps to reduce the noise level. The reinforced carcass (tires with a profile of 55 and below, as well as tires of a number of standard sizes with a profile of 60 and above) has a high impact resistance. 17 standard sizes with bore diameters from 14 to 17 inches with speed index V (up to 240 km / h). Size 205 / 60R14 - up to 210 km / h.

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA S001

This model belongs to the category of premium sports tires. When designing it, the developers paid a lot of attention to the balance between handling and low noise level. The latter is ensured by the Silent AC block implementation technology. The sidewalls are reinforced with the use of polyethylene terephthalate in the rubber compound, a technology that improves the tire's grip on wet surfaces. The tire is available in 43 standard sizes with rim diameters from 16 to 20 inches, most of which correspond to the Y speed index (up to 300 km / h).

BRIDGESTONE DUELER H / P SPORT

This tire, which replaces the H / P 680, is both OE and OE market oriented for premium SUVs. The optimized tread pattern and high silicon content contribute to reliable wet grip. A distinctive feature of the tire is its improved appearance. Thanks to the special technology used during production, the sidewall always remains black. The tire is available in 37 standard sizes with landing diameters from 16 to 20 inches and has speed indices H (up to 210 km / h), V (up to 240 km / h), W (up to 270 km / h), Y (up to 300 km / h). h).

BRIDGESTONE DUELER A / T 697

In the development of this SUV tire, the tread block shape has been optimized for improved handling. The groove walls have different slope angles, which contributes to the self-cleaning of the tread. The redesigned groove efficiently drains water, improving the tire's grip on wet road surfaces. The shoulder block edges are optimized for shape and height, which reduces noise and tread wear. The combination of shoulder blocks and lugs creates a cohesive zone, while the reinforced sidewall effectively distributes load and improves cut resistance. The tire is available in 25 standard sizes with rim diameters from 15 to 17 inches, with speed indices R (up to 170 km / h), S (up to 180 km / h), T (up to 190 km / h), H (up to 210 km / h). h).

GOODYEAR EFFICIENTGRIP PERFORMANCE

High speed tire for a wide range of vehicles. It is the choice of those who value the optimal balance between speed, efficiency and comfort. The longitudinal ribs of the tread, in conjunction with the "Active Braking" technology, improve vehicle control on both wet and dry roads, combined with short braking distances. The new rubber compound structure with a special component to reduce tire heat while driving reduces rolling resistance. The innovations used made it possible to shorten the braking distance by 8% on wet roads, as well as by 3% on dry roads compared to the previous generation. A new rubber compound with innovative CoolCushion Layer 2 improves the tire's energy efficiency, which contributes to lower fuel consumption.

GOODYEAR EFFICIENTGRIP SUV

The main goal of this versatile SUV and SUV tire is to provide safety, comfort and economy (and thus reduce CO2 emissions). The model provides short braking distances on both dry and wet roads and increased steering precision while maintaining high mileage.

GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 ASYMMETRIC SUV

Powerful premium SUVs require special tires, of which this model is a representative. This modification of the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric tire is made with the use of "racing" rubber compound and the proprietary advanced technology "Active Traction", which is special inserts on the sidewalls to improve the behavior of the tire in corners and when driving on wet surfaces. The optimized tread pattern results in high performance on dry and wet roads, as well as reduced noise levels.

GOODYEAR WRANGLER DURATRAC

This versatile tire is designed for off-road enthusiasts. Their main characteristics, in addition to confident movement over rough terrain, are comfort, reliability and durability. Designed for utilitarian workhorse use, the tire has great off-road potential as well as acoustic comfort and handling on the road. TractiveGroove micro lugs provide improved traction and flotation in both deep mud and snow. At the same time, the model has a special rubber compound, which not only improves the resistance of the tread blocks to chips and tears, but also guarantees the tire's ability to work all year round, confirmed by the presence of the Mountain Snowflake Symbol.

HANKOOK VENTUS V12 EVO 2

This tire was introduced by Hankook last spring and is intended for the aftermarket and aftermarket. In addition to a significant improvement in all performance characteristics, one of the key factors in its creation was the improvement of environmental friendliness. Of the important design features, we note the directional design of three-dimensional blocks, modified for better water drainage. The racing multi-radius tread, combined with a tough yet lightweight steel cord, ensures an optimal tire-to-road patch shape under extreme loads such as high-speed cornering. The use of silicon oxide nanoparticles (as well as styrene polymers) in the tread composition, combined with the optimization of blocks across its entire width, allowed, in comparison with the previous model, to reduce the braking distance by 5% on wet and dry surfaces. The additional cooling fins in the tire base provide efficient heat dissipation, which has a positive effect on handling and durability. The tire has good performance in terms of comfort and a sporty appearance. Today there are 25 sizes in the range with bore diameters from 16 to 19 inches.

HANKOOK VENTUS S1 EVO 2 SUV

Also last spring, the company launched this flagship Ultra High Performance series for SUV and SAV vehicles. The tires combine sportiness with comfort, low noise and reduced rolling resistance. Safety features such as tire grip on wet roads have been specially adapted to the requirements of premium SUVs such as the BMW X5, which are fitted as standard. Technology with multi-radius tread and dual-layer rayon fiber casing ensures maximum contact patch in all conditions. Significantly improved handling characteristics at high speeds. Inspired from DTM racing, a three-layer tread block design with a stepped outer rib block increases the contact patch as the tire wears. The silicon-based compound increases grip on wet surfaces with reduced rolling resistance. An advanced tire cooling system helps dissipate heat for improved handling and durability. The tire is available in 30 standard sizes with rim diameters from 17 to 22 inches.

NOKIAN HAKKA BLACK

The Nordic Intelligent UHP Silica rubber compound was specially developed for this high-speed tire, which is able to operate in a high temperature range and provides confident handling on wet surfaces. The tread of the model has an asymmetrical pattern. Massive wide ribs impede the movement of the tread blocks, ensuring precise control, and the wide grooves of the original HydroGrooves shape effectively prevent the risk of aquaplaning. Hemispherical cavities in the walls of the longitudinal ribs of the tread increase acoustic comfort. The tire is available in 28 standard sizes with a rim diameter from 16 to 20 inches, with speed indexes W (up to 270 km / h) and Y (up to 300 km / h).

NOKIAN HAKKA BLUE

The tire design uses the original water-diverting sipes of the Dry Touch technology, which help to quickly drain water from the contact patch of the tire with the road and direct it into the main grooves of the tread. The tread blocks in the shoulder areas are oriented so as to deform as little as possible under load, which positively affects the behavior of the tire, especially when cornering. The tread consists of several rubber compounds, each of which performs a different function. The range of tires includes 21 standard sizes with rim diameters from 15 to 17 inches and speed indexes V (up to 240 km / h) and W (up to 270 km / h).

NOKIAN HAKKA GREEN

The rubber compound of the tire provides reliable grip on wet surfaces and low rolling resistance at all temperatures. Pine oil added to the rubber compound improves tire wear resistance. Venture grooves between the tread blocks in the shoulder areas improve water drainage. Optimized tire carcass design and appropriate material selection mitigate shock and vibration while driving. The tire is available in 26 standard sizes and has speed indices T (up to 190 km / h), H (up to 210 km / h), V (up to 240 km / h).

NOKIAN HAKKA BLACK SUV

The high-speed tire utilizing Hakka Black technology is now available for off-road vehicles as well. Its concept is fast responsiveness and good handling at high speeds. One of the innovations used in the tire is the use of lightweight and durable aramid fibers, which are part of the rubber compound, to form the tire sidewall. This solution helps to protect the sidewall from impacts and cuts. Progressive solutions include the design of the tread and the rubber compound of the tread layer. The tire is presented in 27 standard sizes with a landing diameter from 17 to 22 inches, with speed indices V (up to 240 km / h), W (up to 270 km / h), Y (up to 300 km / h). Read more about the Hakka Black SUV on page 86.

NOKIAN HAKKA BLUE SUV

This tire is a logical and improved continuation of the Hakka SUV model line. Tire life is extended thanks to the use of Nokian Aramid Sidewall technology in the sidewall construction. The optimized tread design helps combat aquaplaning, while the outer and inner lugs provide reliable grip on soft roads. While the design of the Hakka Black SUV is focused on the ability to drive at high speeds, the Hakka Blue SUV concept also includes low rolling resistance, which contributes to fuel economy. The tire is available in 32 standard sizes with rim diameters from 15 and 19 inches, with speed indices T (up to 190 km / h), H (210 km / h), V (up to 240 km / h). For details on the design of the Hakka Blue SUV, see page 88.

NOKIAN NORDMAN S SUV

This mid-priced tire complements Nokian's new range of SUV tires. It is specially designed for specific road surfaces typical of Scandinavia, Finland and Russia. The tire is available in 16 sizes ranging from 16 to 18 inches.

All Nokian Tires tires shown here come with an extended warranty.