Winter tire test R15, R16: among hummocks and icebergs. Rating of the best winter tires with spikes Best winter tires
Winter tires for the car play an important role in driving safety. Difficult road conditions and negative temperatures require special characteristics of the rubber - it must be soft, not tan in the cold, the tread should remove excess moisture and snow from the contact spot, and spikes are needed for stability on icy sections of roads.
The review presents the best tires for winter, which can be purchased in the domestic market. The rating is based on owner reviews, product specifications, and opinions of auto service experts who have extensive experience working with tires from different manufacturers. For the convenience of the reader, the information was fragmented into several of the most popular groups. The average price was calculated based on the cost of tires with a diameter of R 15, with the exception of the latter category. For SUVs and crossovers, price proposals for rubber with a landing size of R 16 were taken into account.
The best inexpensive winter stud tires
4 Nokian Tires Nordman 7
Tires of this brand are designed for the Russian winter and practically have no negative reviews, with the exception of acoustic characteristics. Like all studded tires, Nokian Tires Nordman 7 is very noisy, especially on asphalt. With proper break-in, the level of sound irritation decreases and becomes quite bearable. In addition, the performance of this budget tire is on top (this is a complete analogue of the legendary Xakka 7). Rubber is very soft, and on the winter road shows excellent stability and handling.
The directional arrow-shaped tread provides high steering sensitivity, and the anchor-type spikes keep the car perfectly on ice. Operation in the off-season at positive temperature is fraught with tearing out of tubercles in front of steel bars (so-called bear paws) due to too soft rubber. For the same reason, the tire has a slightly weak sidewall, which is easily damaged when it hits a large pothole with sharp edges at speed. At the same time, tread wear due to composite components occurs rather slowly - even with intensive use of the tire, 4 or more seasons can serve, and careful driving on bare asphalt will help to keep this rubber studded.
Gislaved NordFrost 200
The tire manufacturer of this brand has direct access to the developments of the world leader Continental, which allowed the created products of the budget category to compete on equal terms with more expensive tires. Studded winter tires are designed for operation in severe weather conditions and are excellent for most regions of our country. Having appeared on sale at the end of 2016, these tires instantly became popular with many owners. Unlike the previous model, the NordFrost 200 has a directional asymmetric tread that resembles one of the first ContiIceContact tires.
The reinforced outer part stabilizes the position of tires in corners and improves directional stability on a winter road. The tread pattern also reduces aquaplaning, successfully removing a large amount of liquid or snow porridge from the contact patch. In the reviews of the owners, spikes with several faces were awarded high marks (they look like a truncated star). They literally "bite" into the ice, making control and braking in difficult areas much more effective than many competing counterparts.
Sava Eskimo STUD
An ideal tire model for those who are looking for acceptable quality at a bargain price. Sava Eskimo STUD can not be called a top tire, but this is exactly the rare case when the pro tests reflect the true nature of the test sample. Firstly, it is worth noting the external beauty - it is clear that the tread pattern was developed not without a creative look and creative thought. Secondly, good grip. Many car enthusiasts say that tires are equally good on dry, snowy and even icy surfaces. Moreover, there is a low percentage loss of spikes, even after several seasons of use. There is deformation, but losses are minimal.
