Drilling on new land. Ultra-deep Kola well

The most affordable is Cordiant Snow Cross. A completely domestic (both development and production) tire, modernized last year. Another model from last season is a little more expensive.

Four more tires that can be called inexpensive by today's standards are Nitto Therma Spike (the second brand of the Japanese company Toyo), the South Korean Kumho WinterCraft Ice, the popular Formula Ice (developed by Pirelli, and produced in Russia) and the popular Japanese tire from Malaysia. assembly" Toyo Observe G3‑Ice.

Among the representatives of the second echelon are new models with German and Finnish ancestry, but produced in Russia: Gislaved Nord Frost 200 with a tread copied from the first generation ContiIceContact, and Nordman 7 with the “face” of the Hakkapeliitta 7 tire.

And finally, the leaders of our past: Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic and Continental IceContact 2. And also a hot new product from Nokian - the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 model.

Tires in the north

We have already conducted tests outside of Russia and consider this one to be very positive. This time we decided to go to the Pirelli winter training ground. It is located in the northern part of Sweden, in the province of Norrbotten, near the town of Älvsbyn. Ice trails are laid on the frozen lake Lilkorstresk (Small Cross Swamp), and snow trails along its shores.

At the beginning of February, pre-run-in tires were delivered there, and at the end of the month we carried out all the snow and ice tests. The temperature during the tests ranged from -1 to -15 ºС, but at first the Swedish north made me very nervous. On the first day of our work, a warm atmospheric front came to the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia - and the air temperature rose to plus seven degrees! Snow and ice melted before our eyes. Locals said that in their entire lives they could not remember such warmth in February. Only on the third day, in the evening, it froze, the melted lake ice became stronger again and within a day it was already holding the car. Let's start testing on ice!

We saddle up the brand new Kia Rio hatchback and refine our own “toolkit”. This time, in all exercises, experts give assessments not in whole points, but in half-point increments - for greater accuracy of the results.

On thin ice

The Rio showed the best acceleration, 6.5 seconds, on Continental tires, the second result - on Nokian: 6.8 seconds. No one doubted that tires with 185–186 studs would be ahead. However, Cordiant, Goodyear and Nordman, which each have 110 studs, are hot on their heels - these three show a result of 6.9 seconds. The longest acceleration is from Kumho: 9.7 seconds.

In braking, Nokian wins over the Continental by the slightest - 16.4 meters versus sixteen and a half, and the third result, 16.7 meters, is shown by Goodyear. Kumho was again the last: 23.7 meters.

Pit at zero

We evaluate controllability on a closed circuit configuration. This is a “track” about a kilometer long with turns of different radii and a long straight. And most importantly, the ice here is very slippery, polished by the wind. We carry out the assessment together, we drive three laps each on each set of tires, then we change.

Crap! Incredibly slippery! To change places, I had to literally crawl from one side to the other without taking my hands off the car.

Most high score Nokian tires deserved credit in this exercise: clear reactions and good information content “on the steering wheel” are complemented by a soft, predictable onset of car slipping and stable grip regardless of the degree of slippage.

Rio, shod in Nitto, behaved a little worse. In the first case, I liked the good balance of longitudinal and lateral grip, the clear moment of transition to sliding. The rating was slightly reduced due to slight delays in reactions. At Nitto, the car captivated us with its good handling even when sliding and its tight, “understandable” steering at large turning angles. However, there were minor complaints about the information content of the steering wheel at small angles - in the initial phase of the turn. The tire industry calls this effect hole in zero.

The lowest scores were given to Gislaved, Goodyear and Formula. On these tires, the driver is forced to increase the steering angles, causing delays in reactions. In addition, Rio on Gislaved tires slides for a long time in a turn, and then the grip is sharply restored, which provokes a whip effect - a sharp skid in the opposite direction.

Goodyear did not like the imbalance of longitudinal and lateral grip: the car holds the turning arc much worse than it accelerates and brakes. On the Formula there is low information content “on the steering wheel” in turns, which provokes its twisting and subsequent skidding.

The ice circle is the most unpleasant exercise for the driver. We need to find the maximum speed on the verge of slipping, show best time(it is registered by VBOX) and confirm it. In this case, you have to drive in one direction, counterclockwise. With good grip, the body and head roll with a decent lateral force - you constantly strain all your muscles. You have to constantly look from the “road” to the instruments and back. After about fifty laps my head starts to spin.

Continental and Nokian were faster than the others on the lap - 19.9 seconds per full turn. Cordiant was just one tenth behind them (20.0 sec). The slowest tires are Kumho: best achievement- 22.5 seconds.

How many laps did you have to do on each set to achieve the best results and repeat them? From ten to fifteen! The only tires that required more attention and skill were Goodyear: the car shod with them kept trying to skid, and I had to do 19 laps. And in total, taking into account repeated races on base tires, our Rio had to turn up more than two hundred revolutions!

Let's move on to snow procedures

Snow fell exactly the next day after all ice tests were completed. It is easier to prepare a track for assessing handling than a plateau for measuring longitudinal grip. Therefore, we start with more creative and interesting work.

At one bend the route lies on the side of a hill, so it has a short but rather steep ascent and descent. This is a “trick” of local tracks for assessing handling - most tire manufacturers use mainly flat tracks. Ascents and descents load and unload the suspension, changing the vertical forces acting on the wheels. It is especially interesting when the wheel is unloaded in a turn: the downforce decreases and the tire begins to slip.

Fresh snow fell on the cold ice - and shifted as the car slid in the turns. The result was a mixed surface: snow in some places, ice in others - real!

Here, in terms of handling, I liked the Nokian tires more than others: very soft but confident cat-like habits, predictable behavior of the car. Rio on these tires does not require the driver - he simply turns. The maximum speed is limited by a soft skid that helps to register the turn, requiring virtually no adjustment.

The experts made the greatest complaints about the next three participants. annoying with an unexpectedly occurring skid with a sharp, unpredictable stall, a long slide and the same sharp restoration of traction, which provokes a “shooting” skid into the opposite side. On Gislaved tires, the steering wheel becomes unpleasantly empty and uninformative - you have to turn it excessively large angles, which leads to an unexpected sharp slip into a skid and deep slides. I didn’t like the Kumho tires because of noticeable delays in reactions, significant steering angles, prolonged slides and deep skidding on an arc, requiring immediate adjustments from the driver.

The “rearrangement” exercise was only partially completed due to excessively soft snow - they were able to evaluate only the behavior of the vehicle during extreme maneuvering, and refused to determine the maximum speed for successfully completing the maneuver.

Here, as well as on the handling track, Nokian tires earned the most points thanks to the clearest reactions, soft and predictable behavior and easy self-correcting drift at top speed. I liked Dunlop least of all: on these tires the Rio exhibits not only noticeable delays in reactions, but also an unstable, wide balance of turning: from a significant drift of the front axle at the first tug of the steering wheel to skidding of the rear wheels when trying to stabilize the car in a lane change.

And here is a well-trodden snowy straight line - you can start measuring acceleration time and braking distance. As in similar ice exercises, we combine acceleration with braking, repeating the exercises eight to ten times. Moreover, the acceleration time from 0 to 40 km/h on snow was assessed twice - with the TCS traction control system turned on and without it. Braking from 40 to 5 km/h - only with ABS.

So, acceleration is normal, with TCS preventing tire slippage. The best results are on Continental, Goodyear and Nokian tires. On them, the Rio reaches 40 km/h in exactly six seconds. Kumho has the worst performance. Just like on ice, they accelerate slowly, trailing the leaders by more than 11%.

We turn off the electronic “collar” and repeat the measurements. It turns out faster! Goodyear holds the leading position: 40 km/h from a standstill is achieved in 5.2 seconds. Acceleration on Continental and Nokian tires lasts only one tenth longer. Kumho tires also show the most modest results in this mode.

Braking is won by the leading pair - Continental and Nokian, which showed the same result: 14.8 meters. The last ones this time are relatives Nitto and Toyo.

The final exercises are to assess directional stability on a snowy road and cross-country ability in deep snow. At high speed, the Rio, shod with Nokian, follows a given course better than others and is most clearly rebuilt. Additionally, we note the high information content of the steering: the driver drives the car in a straight line intuitively, without concentrating.

Four participants had the worst scores. On Cordiant and Gislaved tires, when changing lanes, the Rio experiences unpleasant steering of the rear axle, which turns into a skid. An attempt to correct the course on Dunlop and Kumho tires is fraught with skidding, requiring immediate action even with soft lane changes.

We express our gratitude to the tire manufacturing companies that provided their products for testing. We thank the employees of the Pirelli and AVTOVAZ testing grounds, as well as Tolyatti Shintorg for technical support.

Anton MISHIN assisted Sergei MISHIN and Dmitry TESTOV in testing tires in Norrbotten (Sweden). At the asphalt tests in Togliatti they were joined by Anton ANANEV, Vladimir KOLESOV, Yuri KUROCHKIN, Evgeniy LARIN, Andrey OBRAZUMOV and Valery PAVLOV.

Studded tires provide ideal grip on snowy, icy roads and give the driver confidence at every turn. When choosing rubber intended for the cold season, you need to pay attention to the quality and wear resistance of the materials used in its manufacture. Really good tires can not only ensure safety on the road, but can last for several years. The top 10 includes the best studded winter tires of 2017, the rating of which was compiled based on reviews from car enthusiasts themselves.

Pirelli Ice Zero

Tires Pirelli Ice Zero have proven themselves to be one of the best on the winter road. Studded tires have a very high-quality and wear-resistant coating that will last for many years without any complaints. Pirelli Ice Zero, unlike other tires in this price category, does not lose its carbide core for a long time. They ensure complete stability of the car on icy roads. Pirelli Ice Zero provides decent emergency braking, which largely determines safety in emergency situations.

Michelin X-IceNorth 3

Michelin X-IceNorth 3- these tires, recognized as one of the best in 2017, are intended for most cars. In the production of tires, a special technology of the so-called “smart stud” was used, which has a special structure and provides ideal grip on any surface in any weather conditions. Rubber and a two-layer tread ensure reliable fixation of the stud, resulting in not only ideal grip, but also the longest service life. With these tires, driving the car in both snow and rain is a pleasure.

Formula Ice

Formula Ice- high-quality winter tires from an Italian manufacturer. The tires were developed specifically for harsh climatic conditions, which determines their high wear resistance and road stability. These tires can be used for both cars and SUVs. In both cases they will provide complete confidence and security, since in extreme situations perform fast braking. The tires are not only of decent quality, but also quite affordable.

Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419

Hankook Winter i* Pike R.S. W419 - excellent winter tires, the quality of which has been tested by time. This model from Hankook ensures completely safe driving on winter roads. The rubber belongs to the premium class and has excellent performance characteristics. The tires have a large contact surface and wide lateral grooves, which provide good grip in absolutely any weather. The model features 22 rows of studs and 170 anti-skid studs. This is one of the best choices that car enthusiasts can make for themselves in 2017.

Gislaved Nord*Frost 100

Those who want to feel safe and confident on the road should take a closer look at studded winter tires Gislaved Nord*Frost 100. This model is designed specifically for use in the cold season on snowy and icy roads. Excellent grip and tire wear resistance are the main advantages of this model. The rubber behaves quite quietly on snowy roads, additionally providing comfort when moving. In emergency situations, the tires provide fast, immediate braking, even on non-snowy roads. The tires will last faithfully for several years.

Goodyear UltraGripIce Arctic

Goodyear UltraGripIce Arctic- one of the best choices for Russians winter roads. The quality of tires from Goodyear is, as always, at the highest level. Their spikes seem to bite into the snow and remain in place even with frequent extreme braking. Rubber is manufactured using a special technology that ensures high performance characteristics for many, many years. In addition, the model performs equally well on both icy and wet roads, providing unrivaled grip.

Nokian Nordman

Nokian Nordman- unique studded tires designed for movement in winter conditions. Regardless of the condition of the surface, the tires of this model support perfect contact with the road. Tires from the Finnish company ensure the stability of the car and are capable of quickly stopping the “iron horse” if necessary. In the manufacture of tires, only high-quality materials with increased wear resistance were used. Car enthusiasts who purchased these tires back in 2015 do not worry about buying new tires, because Nokian Nordman is ready to serve for several more years.

Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01

Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01- these tires were developed by the company after much research using new developments and technologies. The model provides effective grip on ice due to the innovative Cross-Edge Pin, which has a cross-shaped notch on its core. They provide ideal contact with the icy surface. The special technology introduced during manufacturing ensures long-term operation of the rubber without losing studs on the road. This is one of the best choices drivers can make for their vehicle.

Continental ContilceContact

Continental ContilceContact- excellent grip properties and road stability are among the few advantages that these studded tires have. They were manufactured using a special concept that ensured maximum safety in harsh weather conditions. Aggressive braking does not in any way affect the condition of these tires with increased wear resistance. The spikes have a deep, tight fit that prevents them from falling out.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta

Nokian Hakkapeliitta- one of the most popular winter tires among car enthusiasts in winter time year. The quality and functionality of these tires are worthy of all praise. The flagship model from the Finnish company will provide maximum safety in icy conditions thanks to its high adhesion properties with the coating. This tire can show good performance characteristics for 4 or even more seasons. Tires are characterized by increased wear resistance due to innovative technology, which was used in their production. The total number of studs in this model is 190, which also largely explains its unsurpassed contact with the coating. The integrity of the spikes is ensured and their loss is prevented by a deep and tight fit, produced according to a special concept.

In the global car tire market, winter tires account for a modest 7-8%. And in Russia, the production of winter tires is a profitable business; they account for up to 60% of the market. For our country, winter tires of the Scandinavian type with a massive tread that push through snow and ice crust are suitable.

Top 10 best winter tires:

Tires No. 1: Nokian Hakkapeliitta

Nokian Hakkapeliitta - tires with 190 studs and light weight (with the help of special additives) do an excellent job on the track with any type of road surface.

Snow, snow-covered or frozen surface does not matter. After all, there are no obstacles for Nokian Hakkapelitta, which becomes the leader in the winter tire rating. A car equipped with this model shows a short braking distance on dry and wet asphalt.

Tires #2: Continental ContilceContact

ContilceContact are universal tires suitable for both passenger cars and SUVs. The special rubber compound is made taking into account the characteristics of cold and unpredictable climates. The car, “shod” in Continental, brakes well on ice and shows good handling both on a snowy road and on dry asphalt. Withstands rapid acceleration and braking. ContilceContact would come first if its slip resistance were perfect. But this is not the case, which is why the 2018 winter tire rating is silver.

Tire #3: Pirelli Winter Ice Zero

Pirelli tire manufacturers test their products in the most extreme conditions, as they operate on icy and snowy surfaces. Therefore, it is expected that this model performed well on surfaces with melted snow and ice. There are no questions about braking and handling in these conditions. So, if you are going out of town and the weather outside is terrible, Pirelli tires are... best choice. Sometimes the car loses traction when turning. Strong tire noise also does not add to the advantages of Winter Ice Zero. On dry asphalt, the braking distance is not as short as we would like, which is why the winter tire rating for 2018-2019 is bronze.

Tire No. 4: Nokian Nordman

Good braking of the Nordman 5 is achieved with the help of a “bear claw” - a protrusion on the tread that is held vertically during braking. The attractive price of this model, which ranks 4th in the 2018-2019 winter tire rating, will please every car enthusiast.

Thanks to Nokian Nordman 5, the car consumes fuel moderately and shows excellent stability on ice, snow and dry asphalt. The only drawback: the car's handling is not very comfortable; in heavy snowfall it does not show the best cross-country ability.

Tires No. 5: Nokian Nordman 4

Nordman 4 features reduced noise and studs with great durability. Special pads soften contact with the road. On wet asphalt and ice, the performance of this model, which occupies the middle of the 2018-2019 winter tire ratings, leaves much to be desired. But otherwise, Nokian Nordman 4 is a strong mid-ranger, sold at an affordable price.

Tires #6: Goodyear UltraGripIce Arctic

With the help of special V-shaped sipes, the tire guarantees perfect grip on snowy roads. The performance of this tire also gives confidence to the car enthusiast. On wet asphalt, the “shod” car behaves confidently, although on dry pavement it turned out to be the slowest of all the models presented in this season’s winter tire rating.

Tire No. 7: Gislaved Nord*Frost 100

Gislaved Nord*Frost 100 tires with multi-faceted studs for ideal grip on ice. A wide contact area between the tire and the road surface is possible thanks to numerous hooks. A car shod with tires of this model behaves flawlessly on wet snow and ice roads. On dry surfaces, the performance of the rubber, which took 7th place in the winter tire rating, is not so good: the rolling resistance is high, and the braking distance leaves much to be desired.

Tires No. 8: Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419

Winter tires Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419 from the Korean manufacturer have 180 studs and a siping system to reduce braking distance. The car goes well in the snow on slopes, tracks, and forest routes. It doesn't matter whether the road in front of you is dry or wet, with Hankook Winter tires your car can confidently drive even on a dirty road. True, driving in the snow is uneven. This is the only disadvantage of the model, which ranks 8th in our top list of the best winter tires of 2018-2019.

#9: Formula Ice

Thanks to hexagonal studs made of aluminum, the tires of this model are perfectly suited for driving and braking on snow and ice. A car shod with these tires will feel great on dry roads. Formula Ice, ranked 9th on the list of winter tires 2018, will provide the vehicle with a very smooth ride. This model is suitable for those who live in a big city and rarely travel outside of it. The attractive price will be an additional advantage in choosing this model.

No. 10: Michelin X-IceNorth 3

Thanks to the open tread pattern, the tires interact well with the road even with poor grip. With X-IceNorth vehicle It will confidently drive through slush. A car shod with tires of this model showed the shortest braking distance on a dry road. This rubber covering this rating, most suitable in conditions where there is not much snow and ice. Because the car will accelerate and brake mediocrely with X-IceNorth 3. The model of this winter tire is sold at moderate price.

Video TOP 10 most popular winter tires in Russia

In the next big test“studs” we collected six sets of 15-inch tires from Western and Eastern manufacturers. Some have experience and latest technologies, others have the will to win and affordable prices. Whose will he take?

This time we chose one of the most popular sizes - 195/65 R15, which suits many small and inexpensive cars. Different markets, different understanding product, different design schools. What distinguishes tires from the East and West from each other, what are their strengths and weaknesses and what should the Russian buyer pay attention to?

The latest model Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02 is the most expensive in the eastern team (price 3,650 rubles), but cheaper than the European giants.

Another new product, Hankook Winter i*Pike RS 2, is a tire with an increased number of studs and an updated tread pattern. It replaces the Winter i*Pike RS model. This year it will appear in Russia in 57 sizes - from 155/65R 13 to 255/40 R19.

The new Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer tire replaces the Observe G3-Ice model and will be available on the market this fall, so far in 16 sizes - from 14 to 19 inches. The rubber mixture includes silicon dioxide, which provides elasticity in cold weather, and microparticles of walnut shells for additional grip on ice.

Another model with Japanese roots, now produced in Russia, is the Firestone Ice Cruiser 7. Previously, this tire had an index of 7000 and belonged to the Bridgestone brand line.

The next player from Japan is Nitto Therma Spike, a “relative” of the Touo brand. These tires take part in our tests for the second time and are characterized as inexpensive, with modest characteristics.

The new GT Radial IcePro 3, which replaces the GT Radial Champiro IcePro, was developed in its own research and development center in Hannover. And the GT Radial brand is owned by the growing international company Giti, based in Singapore. The new product is available in 22 sizes - from 175/65 R14 to 225/60 R17.

The tires participating in the test are made in China.

West

There are no new products in the Western team, but the players are incredibly strong, since the manufacturers update most of these tires annually.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9, the most expensive tire on the domestic market, is the only one in the world with two different types of studs.

Continental IceContact 2 is also one and only: its “studs” are glued into the tread, and therefore stay in it very firmly.

Cheaper tires include Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, which has repeatedly won prizes in our tests, and Pirelli Ice Zero.

The western team is completed by two direct competitors, representatives of the second echelon of the companies Continental and Nokian - the Gislaved Nord*Frost 200 and Nordman 7 models, respectively.

On the track for assessing handling on ice, after each set of tires, a “brush” cleans the surface of ice chips. The cleaner the ice, the more accurate the assessment results.

Cat's house

The tape measure that annually determines the location of our winter tire tests this time pointed to the Continental testing ground. It is located in Sweden, next to a small town with the purring and purring name Arvidsjaur - just some kind of “cat house”.

Remembering last year's weather apocalypse in Sweden with the sudden warming in February, we decided to start tests earlier - in mid-January.

And the weather did not disappoint: during the tests there were frosts from -7 to -14 °C.

Two Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks helped us in our tests. We entrusted the bulk of the routine work to the black one - it crawled on ice and snow, recording the acceleration time and braking distance with the built-in VBOX equipment. Red performed more creative tasks, participating in the assessment of handling and directional stability, since it was possible to completely disable the stabilization system using a special program.

Menial work for Behind the Wheel

The first to go into action is the black Golf, which has both an anti-lock braking system and traction control. We start with accelerating and braking on ice on a small frozen lake, repeating the runs eight to ten times for each set of tires. After two or three test sets - measurements on basic (reference, as tire manufacturers say) tires: you can’t do without them.

Measurements on different surfaces differ in the “upper” speed limit, which serves maximum value speed during acceleration and initial speed during braking. On ice this value is 20 km/h, and on snow - 40 km/h, since a modest ice surface is much smaller than a snowy one. Having recalculated the results taking into account the corrections determined using reference tires, we get the leaders and outsiders in these exercises.

The real surprise came from Napkook, who tore apart the traditional leaders. Incredibly, on these tires the Golf accelerates and brakes on ice even better than on the Continental and Nokian. To accelerate from zero to 20 km/h, the Golf on Hankook tires needed only 4.1 seconds, and the braking distance from 20 to 5 km/h was 6.6 meters. The longest acceleration was achieved on Gislaved tires: 5.9 seconds. A close result, 5.8 seconds, was obtained on GT Radial and Firestone tires. The Golf slowed down worst of all on the GT Radial tires: the braking distance was 8.7 meters.

The fastest acceleration on snow to 40 km/h was provided by Continental tires with an indicator of 5.9 seconds, and Hankook was only one tenth behind them! The slowest tires are the GT Radial tires.

When braking on snow, Hankook took the lead. To slow the Golf from 40 to 5 km/h, these tires needed 16.9 meters. Second place goes to Gislaved: 17.2 meters. The Firestone and GT Radial were last in braking: 19.1 and 19.0 meters, respectively.

We complete the series of tests on ice by measuring the lap time, which characterizes lateral grip. The Continental maintained its lead, completing the lap in a record 15.6 seconds. The closest competitors - and these are Hankook, Nokian and Gislaved - needed half a second more. The car completed the slowest lap, in 18.0 seconds, on Bridgestone tires.

Rating of the best winter studded tires 2018

The tires released after the measurements take their place on the red Golf - we will evaluate the handling on snow and ice.

The test track is magnificent: turns of different radii, from running to plugging, straight lines that allow you to reach the speedometer needle to 80 km/h, ups and downs, sometimes unloading the wheels, sometimes pressing them to the “road”.

Due to the modest size of the frozen lake, we estimate acceleration on ice to a speed of 20 km/h, and braking from 20 to 5 km/h.

12 Firestone Ice Cruiser 7

Braking performance on dry asphalt is average

11 GT Radial IcePro 3

Stable course tracking in snow;

Not noisy;

Satisfactory smoothness

Poor grip on ice and snow;

Difficult handling;

Limited cross-country ability

10 NittoTherma Spike

Satisfactory handling;

Good maneuverability;

Acceptable smoothness

Low braking properties on wet asphalt and ice;

Difficult handling when performing extreme maneuvers on snow and directional stability on asphalt;

9 Toyo Observe Ice-Freezer

Good directional stability on snow;

Stable handling on ice and snow

Weak braking properties on ice and dry asphalt;

High fuel consumption at 90 km/h

8 Bridgestone BLizzak Spike-02

Confident cross-country ability and satisfactory handling during normal driving on snow

Weak braking on dry asphalt and lateral grip on ice;

Low efficiency;

Difficult handling during active driving on snow;

Comments on directional stability on asphalt and comfort

7 Gislaved Nord*Frost 200