We carried out the tests at the end of last summer at the AVTOVAZ test site near Togliatti, where we collected all the new items for the upcoming spring-summer 2016 season. During the tests, the air warmed up to + 20 ... + 30 ºС.
A kind of watershed in the price range can be the well-known Hankook Kinergy Eco on the market for 2800 rubles and a novelty from Finland - the second generation Nokian Hakka Green tire, which can be bought for 3100 rubles.
Cheaper than their familiar domestic tires Nordman SX (2700 rubles), Yokohama BluEarth AE01 (2550 rubles), Cordiant Sport 3 (2400 rubles) and a novelty of the Korean company Kumho - the Ecowing ES01 model (2500 rubles), made in China. And the most affordable in our test is the Amtel Planet Evo tire (2200 rubles), a novelty of the season. Pirelli considered the brand leaving the market well promoted in Russia and decided to breathe new life into it using modern technical solutions and technologies.
More expensive test participants are the very popular Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 tires (3500 rubles), as well as Japanese Toyo Proxes CF2 (3400 rubles) and Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance (3450 rubles). There are two more models in the same price group: for the first time, Michelin Energy XM2 tires (3500 rubles), produced in Russia, and Japanese Bridgestone Turanza T001 (3500 rubles), are participating in our tests.
It is gratifying that five of the twelve models are of domestic production.
For budget tires, you need to choose the appropriate car. We liked the second generation Skoda Octavia. Due to its age, this is an inexpensive car, but in perfect condition. And she also does not have a stabilization system, which suits us: the electronics will not interfere with the exercise.
Modern summer tires do not require running-in. This is confirmed by all manufacturers: before the tests, it is enough to drive a couple of kilometers - and they are ready for testing. So for summer tires, not only the procedure, but the very expression "running in" is an anachronism.
The sequence of test exercises is built taking into account the intensity of tire wear. We start with an assessment of efficiency, which is practically not accompanied by wear and tear, and end with a "dry" rearrangement, during which the asphalt peels off the shoulder areas of the tires like emery.
Investigation of the behavior of a car at high speed is what we call Evaluation of Vehicle Stability. A few laps along the ten-kilometer high-speed ring of the polygon at a speed of 130 km / h are enough to understand how clearly the tires hold a given direction, how they react to side winds and road slopes, how they behave when avoiding obstacles and changing lanes. Simultaneously, we evaluate the smoothness and internal noise at high speed. Why 130 km / h? So after all, in our country, this is the maximum possible speed established on some sections of toll roads. In addition, on most highways, the Rules allow you to keep 110, and if you add the "free" 20 km / h excess, you get the same 130 km / h. No, no, we are not for violation of the speed limit - but after all, many people drive this way, don't they?
Michelin tires received the highest marks for directional stability - the steering wheel of a Skoda shod in them becomes very clear, with a well-understood "zero". I liked the immediate reactions to steering turns and the high information content when adjusting the course.
When the tires and drivetrain are thoroughly warmed up, the vehicle is ready for a fuel economy assessment. The result of each measurement is the arithmetic mean of the values obtained in two races in opposite directions (to neutralize the possible influence of the wind). For each set of tires, the exercise has to be repeated from three times (with complete calm) to five (in case of a light breeze).
Measurements are carried out in descending order - first at high speed, then at low speed. Thanks to this, the tires and transmission cool down smoothly and the measurement results jump less.
In recent years, the majority of tires have had equally good fuel economy figures. However, the second generation Hakka Green did the impossible - at a speed of 60 km / h, it provided fuel savings of 0.1-0.3 l / 100 km relative to the rest of the tires. A real green tire!
Having finished with economy, we make a circle along the service roads. Here, on road patches, seams, cracks and special irregularities, we once again evaluate the smoothness of the ride and the noise level in the cabin - in more severe conditions, as close to real ones as possible.
In these exercises, Kumho tires showed themselves not on the best side against the background of others: at a speed of 90-100 km / h they emit an unpleasant low-frequency hum, and on road irregularities, shaking and vibrations annoy.
Before returning to the base, we taxied on a 12% dirt rise, imitating a summer cottage road. Here, subjectively (without measurements), we assess the ability of the tires to start and accelerate on a primer (with dust and sand). The exercise is somewhat similar to the assessment of passability in deep snow: the expert tries to get under way and accelerate with and without slipping; checks how much the traction drops when slipping, whether it is difficult to control the moment of wheel breakdown into slipping.
Let me remind you that the "ground" test is optional, its results are not included in the overall standings, but are presented only as additional information. We introduced it to the test program at the request of readers who were interested in the capabilities of tires on unpaved roads.
The next test is braking on wet asphalt, because on it, especially with the use of ABS, the tires wear out minimally.
We begin the test ... by stripping the coating. We perform a dozen or one and a half brakes on non-scoring tires - in this way we thoroughly "sweep" the asphalt, removing dust, grass and very small stones swept by the wind from it. After such a procedure, the asphalt becomes clean and the adhesion coefficient is stable.
According to the methodology used today by both tire manufacturers and independent experts, we measure the braking distance on wet asphalt when decelerating from 80 to 5 km / h - since at speeds close to zero, the ABS does not work correctly, sometimes allowing the wheels to lock, which leads to distortion of results. Many tire companies set a different minimum speed threshold in their internal tests - they finish measurements at 7 or even 10 km / h.
To get heaps of results, it is important not only to start braking at the same point, but also to approach it at the same speed. We keep 83-85 km / h - not by the speedometer, but by the high-precision measuring device VBOX. The deceleration corridor should be very narrow - we decelerate literally trail after trail. This is extremely important: a dozen centimeters (only half the tread width) to the side - and the surface has a different coefficient of adhesion, which means that the result will float away.
Before braking, the tester must be sure that the brakes are cold, which means that their effectiveness is maximized. Therefore, after each measurement, the pads and discs need to be cooled - when returning to the starting position, the driver does not use the brakes, the speed is extinguished by shifting to lower gears. By the way, that's why they chose a car with a manual transmission.
The average number of brakes is six. Sometimes, if the tires show unstable results, you have to add a couple more runs.
Continental tires, as usual, "brought" the closest rivals about a meter of saved braking distance. But what was our surprise when the new Hakka Green tires beat them by almost the same amount!
Moving on to more wearable exercises. The first is braking on dry asphalt. The technique is essentially the same as on wet, but we brake from 100 km / h - accordingly, the speed of approach to the braking point is 103-105 km / h. For the subsequent cooling of the brakes, it is necessary to make a larger circle.
In this exercise, I was pleased with the stability of the Continental - for many years in our tests it consistently brakes better than others. Nokian came close to the leader, but could not get up level - the loss was meager 100 millimeters. And Michelin upset - showed the weakest braking properties both on dry asphalt and on wet.
In conclusion - the most interesting and indicative, but at the same time the most difficult test for the pilot: the changeover, which is also called a single lane change. The driver's task is to find the maximum possible speed at which the car will successfully perform a maneuver and stay on a given trajectory, that is, it will not knock down any of the cones that mark the entrance and exit corridors. The races begin with a knowingly passing speed, and with each subsequent approach, it is increased by 1–2 km / h. It is not just the best result that counts, but the one that can be repeated.
On the one hand, this exercise is taken from real life - there are so many fans on our roads to fuss between the rows! On the other hand, it allows you to evaluate the lateral grip and drift characteristics of tires, the ability of the carcass to withstand sharply increasing, literally peak lateral loads and steering precision during extreme maneuvering.
The geometrical parameters of the rearrangement are also not sucked out of the finger - the width of the strips is 3.5 meters, as on a real road. But on the first lane, the "track" is clamped by cones so that on each side the car has a margin of no more than 100 millimeters. This forces the tester to use the same path at the input. The length of the transition from the left lane to the right is 12 meters. GOST for car testing regulates 12-, 16-, 20- and 24-meter rearrangements. And the maximum lateral load on the tires is provided by the 12-meter one.
First, a rearrangement is performed on wet asphalt, and at the end of the curtain we repeat this exercise on a dry surface, where the tires get more than in total in all the previous exercises.
On the wet road, both in speed and handling, the updated Nokian Hakka Green tires were ahead of the rest. Continental tires turned out to be very close in terms of maximum speed of rearrangement, but in terms of handling they noticeably lose.
We got the most interesting results on dry asphalt - here the best speed (68.2 km / h) was simultaneously shown by three tires: Amtel, Continental and Nokian, and the result of Kumho (68.1 km / h) is only one tenth more modest.
VERDICT
Perhaps the best way to start the epilogue is to congratulate the winner of the test, and these are Nokian Hakka Green 2 tires. Nevertheless, all the tires that took part in the tests pleasantly surprised us.
First, we were pleased with the accuracy of the final results. The tires in the last seven places have a difference in final points of less than two percent! In fact, this is close to the measurement error. Secondly, all tires have shown themselves to be very worthy, while their prices are more or less affordable.
Let us remind you about our final grading system. Tires that have scored more than 850 points are what we call good, 870 or more points are very good, and those that have crossed the 900 mark are excellent. In the current test, no one dropped below 870 points! Seven test participants have very good results, five - excellent.
The most pleasant thing is to see inexpensive "Russians" as excellent students - Nordman SX tires and the reviving Amtel Planet Evo. For times of crisis - the most tempting offers.
TEST RESULTS
(Maximum 180 points)
(Maximum 160 points)
(Maximum 160 points)
(Maximum 140 points)
(Maximum 60 points)
(Maximum 50 points)
(Points)
Experts' opinions on each tire are presented below.
| A place | Tire | Expert opinion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Place of manufacture: Finland
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Verdict: Excellent |
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| 2 |
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Place of manufacture: Germany
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Verdict: Excellent |
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| 3 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia
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Verdict: Excellent |
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| 4 |
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Place of manufacture: Japan
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Verdict: Excellent |
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| 5 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia
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Verdict: Excellent |
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| 6 |
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Place of manufacture: France
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Verdict: Very good |
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| 7 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia
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Verdict: Very good |
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| 8 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia
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Verdict: Very good |
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| 9 |
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Place of manufacture: Hungary
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Verdict: Very good |
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| 10 |
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Place of manufacture: Japan
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Verdict: Very good |
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| 11 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia
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Verdict: Very good |
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| 12 |
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Place of manufacture: China
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Verdict: Very good |
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Let's start with the most popular models. Company Nokian presented the model Hakka Green 2, development of a first generation tire designed for countries with difficult climatic conditions: Finland, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan. Emphasizing the uniqueness of the product, the creators declare: we have completely rethought the DNA of the summer tires of the Nokian Hakka family, having spent several years developing and researching materials and design solutions. This provides even more safety on wet roads, a greater sense of stability in extreme conditions and reliability even with active use.
In addition to the environmental friendliness already laid down in the model name, the tire has increased wear resistance. The rubber compound contains silica, soot, pine and rapeseed oils. The first forms a dense mesh that adapts to environmental conditions. The second plays to increase the strength and durability of the tire. The latter endow it with reduced rolling resistance, which has a positive effect on the fuel consumption of the machine.
The new item has a 15% increase in the strength of the steel frame wire and the same amount of higher wear resistance. The fight against aquaplaning has become twice as effective, which does not become weaker even on a worn wheel.
Nokian Hakka Green 2 is designed for compact and mid-size family cars. It is produced in diameter from 13 to 16 inches.
I'm Japanese Yokohama offers to evaluate the strengths of the model BluEarth-A AE-50... It, like all direct competitors, is focused on fuel economy and environmental friendliness, but one of its main priorities is comfort. The tire is sharpened for even and smooth driving and in such conditions will give the driver maximum pleasure. Fast turns and checkers are not for her. Actually, this is also hinted at by the cars presented as typical carriers, among which is the Toyota Camry.
The tire rotator is asymmetric, non-directional. Its surface is strongly rounded, the longitudinal edges are solid, and the slots between the blocks are minimal. All this hints at the notorious environmental friendliness. At the same time, according to the assurances of the developers, the model demonstrates excellent grip properties even on wet surfaces and has good wear resistance. The mixture contains two types of silica, a proprietary set of polymers and the traditional orange oil for the brand. The latter is environmentally friendly and mixes well with rubber. We also mention the inner tread layer with reduced heat transfer
In Russia Yokohama BluEarth-A AE-50 is available in 32 sizes from 14 to 18 inches.
Another Japanese company has rolled out the third generation of its well-known series. Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003 although it does not belong to the Ultra High Performance class for the fastest cars, it justifies its name: adrenaline is provided to the owner of the car. Of course, in a good sense of the word. Compared to the previous model with the RE002 index, the new tires have noticeably better grip on both wet and dry surfaces.
P the tire has an original tread: it has "three and a half" longitudinal grooves. This solution increases rigidity, providing sharper and more precise steering responses. The wide center track and connected shoulder blocks on the outside of the tire also work to improve this parameter. The variable center groove improves water drainage from the contact patch.
Speaking in dry language of numbers from the press release, the car, shod in the model of the third generation, in comparison with the previous version, has reduced roll by 6% and braking distance by 5%.
Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003 in production in 30 sizes from 15 to 19 inches... Its target audience is the owners of charged compact hatchbacks and coupes like the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Toyota GT 86.
In the second part of the article - high-speed buses. Experts predict that the Ultra High Performance segment will actively grow, showing, according to various forecasts, an increase of 3-9% annually.
Opens overview Michelin Pilot Sport 4... During its development, the experience of racing series, including the newfangled Formula E, was used. The French call their brainchild "the most balanced tire in the segment for premium and sports cars."
Accurate steering response, safety at high speeds, outstanding grip are the main requirements for Ultra High Performance tires, and Michelin meets them in full measure. The compound contains new generation functional elastomers. Dynamic Response technology from the world of motorsport guarantees additional stability during fast driving. It implies the use of high-strength (five times stronger than steel!) And lightweight aramid-nylon fibers in the tire construction.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 has been on sale in Russia since January this year. Bus supplied in 17 standard sizes for discs with landing diameter 17-19 inches.
Goodyear has prepared her novelty in a promising class - Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3... American tire makers have outlined their mission briefly, but more than ambitiously: to set a new standard in the high-performance sports car segment.
As a matter of fact, they have their own signature recipes to achieve the best result. Active Braking technology increases the contact patch during braking. As a result, traction is improved and braking distances are shortened. This is realized due to the special design of the tread blocks: during longitudinal acceleration, they are deformed in a strictly defined way. The slots in the second and third rows of tread blocks form sharp edges that literally break the water film on the asphalt. Thanks to this, the tire is excellently resistant to aquaplaning. And a special component of the mixture with the use of adhesive resins creates the effect of "sticking" to the roadway. This technology is called Grid Booster. Special polymers work for the homogeneity of the mixture and the integrity of the tread, which is especially important for high-speed tires.
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 available in stores this spring. Buyers are offered 41 standard size for rims with rim diameters from 17 to 20 inches.
Continental SportContact 6 also a major league player. Working on the successor to the fifth generation, the German tire makers sought to improve on all fronts, and they succeeded. Official figures say steering precision increased by 14%, dry handling by 11%, grip on the race track by 4%, overall wet grip by 2%, lifespan and the level of comfort - by 7%.
The original Black Chili rubber compound works at the nanoscale. It can be said that the tread has tiny suction cups that provide the maximum level of traction when braking, maneuvering and accelerating on any surface. The Force Vectoring tread pattern successfully resists longitudinal and lateral forces while maintaining rigidity. Finally, the tire carcass uses the patented Aralon-350 material, consisting of two strands of reinforced aramid and one strand of elastic nylon. It is specially designed for the SportContact 6 tire and is capable of providing safety at speeds up to 350 km / h.
Continental SportContact 6 Offer - 41 sizes from 19 "to 23"... The tires can be used both on small hot hatches like the Volkswagen Golf R or Audi RS3, and on full-weight supercars.
In the niche of budget cars, fifteen-inch tires are rapidly gaining popularity in recent years, displacing smaller rubber from it. Well, most often, owners of B- and C-class cars use tires of 195/65 / R15 standard size, of which there is darkness on the market, and even from different manufacturers, which often puts many drivers in a difficult position.
In order to understand the current situation, we conducted a large-scale testing of new products for the summer-spring season of 2016, costing from 2,200 to 3,500 rubles. During the tests, the air warmed up to + 20 ... + 30 degrees Celsius. The appropriate car for budget tires was chosen - the second generation Skoda Octavia without a stabilization system (and this is good, because the electronics in this case did not interfere with the exercises).
It is noteworthy that five out of twelve test participants are of domestic production. The most expensive models are Michelin Energy XM2, Bridgestone Turanza T001 and Continental ContiPremiumContact, produced in Russia, Japan and France, respectively - their cost is 3,500 rubles. Well, least of all they ask for Amtel Planet Evo tires - 2,200 rubles.
Not everyone knows, but modern summer tires do not require running-in, and this information is disseminated by the manufacturers themselves, so it is enough to drive only a couple of kilometers before testing. It is worth noting that the sequence of exercises was formed taking into account the intensity of rubber wear, therefore, "dry" disciplines, where the tread evaporates the fastest, remained for a snack.
The first test that all tires underwent was the study of the behavior of the car at high speeds (or, in other words, the assessment of directional stability). In it, at 130 km / h, it becomes clear how well the tires hold a given direction, behave during maneuvers and how they react to side wind and uneven surfaces. The speed of 130 km / h was not chosen by chance - these are the highest rates in our country on some sections of toll roads.
The palm in this test went to Michelin Energy XM2 rubber - the Octavia dressed in it showed a clear steering wheel with a clear "zero", instant responses to steering wheel turns and excellent information content when adjusting the course. Nokian Hakka Green 2 and Toyo Proxes CF2 performed slightly worse.
After the wheels and the transmission have thoroughly warmed up, it is time to evaluate the efficiency, and the second generation Hakka Green proved to be the best here, which at a speed of 60 km / h provided 0.1-0.3 liters of fuel savings for every “hundred” relative to competitors. But at a speed of 90 km / h, there is no trace of this advantage.
Kumho Ecowing ES01 tires became obvious outsiders in the exercises for smoothness and noise level carried out on roads with patches, seams and irregularities: they not only annoy with shaking and vibrations on poor surfaces, but also make an unpleasant noise at a speed of 90-100 km / h ... The leading positions in terms of acoustic comfort went to the Nokian Hakka 2 and Toyo Proxes 2, but the degree of comfort in most models was the same.
In everyday use, drivers are often faced with the need to start and accelerate on unpaved roads, for example, when traveling to the country, so it is equally important to know how tires behave in such conditions (although this test was not included in the overall test). The most capable tires in the dirt test were the Amtel Planet Evo tires, slightly outperforming the Bridgestone Turanza T001 and Cordiant Sport 3.
The next test for all tires is wet braking using ABS. The measurements were carried out at a deceleration from 80 to 5 km / h - this range was chosen due to the fact that at speeds close to zero, the anti-lock braking system begins to work less correctly, often allowing the wheels to lock and leading to inaccurate results.
The Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 tires "brought" about a meter of saved braking distance to the closest pursuers, but even this was not enough for the best performance, since they were left behind about the same by the Nokian Hakka Green 2. The Yokohama BluEarth AE01 tires, which settled in this exercise, performed slightly worse in third position.
On dry surfaces, the balance of power has changed somewhat - the smallest braking distance from 100 to 5 km / h was at the Continental ContiPremiumContact 5, which have been coping with this discipline best of all over the past several years. Finnish Hakka Green 2 showed results close to them, yielding infrequent ~ 10 millimeters to the leader. But Michelin in both cases became the worst, showing weak braking properties on both wet and dry asphalt.
And finally, the most interesting and revealing test was in store - a rearrangement, also known as a one-time lane change. This exercise is aimed at finding out the maximum possible speed at which the car will not leave the specified trajectory and successfully maneuver. It all starts with a knowingly passing speed, however, with each new race, it increases by 1-2 km / h, and only the best result is counted.
On wet surfaces with a rearrangement, the second generation Nokian Hakka Green coped more confidently than others, simultaneously demonstrating better handling. Continental tires turned out to be close to the winner in maximum speed, but lost significantly in handling.
The results of the rearrangement on dry asphalt turned out to be very interesting - here Continental, Nokian and Amtel showed the highest speed, and Chinese Kumho tires yielded only 0.1 km / h. Five tires, Amtel, Nokian, Nordman, Cordiant and Michelin, managed the best in this test at the same time.
While some Russian motorists are forced to tighten their belts, tending to ride an extra season on bald tires, many of those who still have money are preparing to tighten their sports seat belts and drive onto the race track. This is exactly the impression one gets when you see that the word Sport appears in the names of three out of ten new products, and in one more - even F1. The "Formula" designation is traditionally used for its high-speed tires by Goodyear, and the current Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 can be called a restyled version of the second "Asymmetric".
Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3
The name speaks of the main feature of tires inherent in almost all modern models of this segment: they have an outer side with increased rigidity, which provides approximate cornering behavior, and an inner side, which, together with the central zone, is responsible for smooth running, stability and effective displacement of water from the slick. contact. Naturally, the design of such tires is also asymmetric, and the laconic tread pattern with four longitudinal grooves and scanty strokes of the transverse grooves has hardly changed as a result of the restyling. But now the line of standard sizes starts not from 16 inches, but from 17, and today tires with a landing diameter up to 19 inches, a width of 225 to 275 mm, a profile height of 55-35 percent and speed indexes W (270 km / h) and Y (300 km / h). There are modifications with a reinforced carcass (XL) and "anti-puncture" effect (Run Flat), but even without these "gadgets" tires in one of the initial dimensions 225/50 R17 can hardly be found cheaper than 8 thousand rubles apiece.
What wonderful properties justify such a solid cost? In addition to traditional directions of evolution, such as reducing weight and increasing strength, the manufacturer focuses on three main know-hows called Grip Buster and Active Braking. The first is characterized by an improved rubber compound (which, again, traditionally) with especially "sticky" properties, and the second relates to geometric parameters: the tread blocks are designed in such a way that when braking they "smear" over the road surface, increasing the contact area. The developers claim that in comparative tests conducted, the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 outperforms established competitors such as the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 and Continental ContiSportContact 5.
Michelin Pilot Sport 4
But competitors do not stand still: as if having heard Goodyear's statement, Michelin promptly introduced the fourth Pilot, and Continental quickly rolled out the sixth SportContact to the Russian market. The French novelty looks very similar at the same time to its predecessor, and to the debut from Goodyear, and press releases also talk about a certain magical rubber composition (of course, secret), which provides better grip on wet surfaces. The improved cord allows the tire to maintain its shape and contact patch at the highest speeds, and thanks to an increase in the so-called positive profile, this very patch is 10 percent larger than that of the previous "Pilot". True, on the other hand, this means a decrease in the area of the grooves that drain water, that is, the risk of aquaplaning increases, which is not good for public roads.
The developers of the new HP tire from Continental are also talking about a super-strong cord, which uses a specially synthesized material Aralon 350, and an innovative compound called Black Chili, which creates a kind of nano-suction cups in the contact patch (or micro-suction cups - for Russians who are allergic to the nano - "). But here they also seriously worked on the design of the tread: the pattern became more intricate, with pronounced asymmetry, and in the outer shoulder area the blocks are more massive, and the narrow grooves do not prevent them from "supporting" each other under high lateral loads. By the way, there can be either four or five longitudinal grooves, depending on the profile width, which is important given the fact that 335/25 R22 tires are already available in Russia.
Continental ContiSportContact 6
Michelin Pilot Sport 4 and Continental SportContact 6 tires do not compete, but rather complement each other. The first is offered in 17- and 18-inch sizes (19-inch will be added to them soon), with the same W and Y speed indices, with a profile from 45 to 35 percent, and you will have to pay just a little more for the 215/45 R17 running tire. 6 thousand rubles. Conti sizes just start at 19 inches, profile - from 40 percent to the aforementioned 25 percent skin, all tires are marked exclusively with the Y index (although the manufacturer claims that they can withstand 350 km / h), and prices are about from 12 thousand rubles for 225/40 R19. If Honda were selling its Civic Type R hot hatch in Russia, we would have a chance to see this rubber approved for the conveyor configuration.
For the summer novelty from the patriarch brand Dunlop, which today belongs to the Japanese group Sumitomo, the Sport designation is more a tribute to tradition than a reflection of consumer qualities: almost all passenger models of this brand are called "sports". However, the SP Sport FM800 has many faces: these are 14-inch tires with a 65% profile, speed index H (210 km / h) and cost less than 2.5 thousand rubles apiece, and quite high-speed 245/40 R18 W, which can pull up to 8 thousand. But the sum of the technologies is the same: a discreet tread pattern, in which the notorious asymmetry is hardly guessed, and "improved distribution of silica in the rubber compound" - I wonder why it was bad before? But, at least, honestly, because most manufacturers have another kind of the same good old silica behind all the beautiful and mysterious words.
Dunlop SP Sport FM800
Not silica alone
The one who excelled at the various technical tricks and their lengthy descriptions is Nokian, and this time it is perfectly illustrated by the example of the second generation Hakka Green tire. A new modification of silica in a complex with soot particles, pine and rapeseed oils in the rubber composition, an improved belt made of steel wire with a brass coating, supporting supports in the outer shoulder of the tread, feather grooves in the inner zone (of course, we are talking about an asymmetric design) - all this promises effective protection against aquaplaning, good grip in a wide temperature range, low rolling resistance and increased wear resistance. One of the most impressive know-how is the use of a tread with a traditional Finnish laconic pattern, almost indistinguishable from the first Green, the Coanda aerodynamic effect familiar to the developers of Formula 1 aircraft and race cars. And the most surprising thing is that all these tricks do not refer to an elite super-fast tire, but to a model with indices from T (190 km / h), which can be purchased in the Zhiguli dimension 175/70 R13 for a little more than two thousand rubles apiece.
Nokian Hakka Green 2
On the other hand, the Finns cannot be denied practicality. The release of a new model is not at all a reason to throw away old molds, and just as a few years ago the Nokian i3 tire, which was replaced by the same Hakka Green, turned into a budget Nordman SX, now there is a Nordman SZ. Moreover, this is a clone of two models of the first line at once: in the initial standard sizes, with a profile height of 55 to 50 percent, the tires copy Hakka H / V, and in lower-profile, 50-40, - Hakka Z. In fact, the new “ Nordman ”two, V and W, the range of sizes is small, 13 options from 16 to 18 inches, and the composition of the rubber compound is traditionally simpler than that of real Nokian tires. And the price level is appropriate: if the Nordman SZ in the popular dimension 205/55 R16 with the V index can be purchased for an average of 3,300 rubles, a similar Nokian Hakka Green 2 will cost about 500 rubles more.
Nokian Nordman SZ
For the same 3,700-3,800 rubles in the same standard size, another novelty is available today, the most unusual one in our review. Firstly, the Michelin CrossClimate is the only tire out of ten that has a directional tread pattern rather than an asymmetric one, which was once very fashionable, but is now losing popularity. And secondly, this is not quite a summer tire, although the manufacturer avoids the term “all-season”, keeping in mind the reputation of such tires: in summer they are worse than summer tires, in winter they are worse than winter ones. Therefore, the model is preferred to be called a summer model, but suitable for use in winter, although the V-shaped tread design without longitudinal grooves most of all resembles the Alpin 5 winter friction tire. grooves that widen downward to compensate for wear, although it is obvious that the composition of the material is just as important for such a tire. And the first comparative tests show that CrossClimate tires are really softer than ordinary summer tires, but otherwise they show good results in the warm season. But on ice or snow they are unambiguously inferior to real winter tires: for example, they have much better braking properties than summer tires, and this is good, but driving up a hill on them is almost as problematic.
Michelin CrossClimate
In short, again, no uncompromising solution came out, but the result was quite acceptable, and for areas with a mild climate this can be safely called an anti-crisis option. But for our middle lane, the Michelin CrossClimate is nothing more than an opportunity to survive the "tinsmith's day" with the least losses, not being in a hurry to change shoes. The novelty is already available in a fairly wide range of dimensions from 15 to 17 inches, with a profile height of 65 to 45 percent and speed indices from T to W. In the near future, the Russian line is promised to be expanded due to versions for crossovers, and here at CrossKlimat, perhaps there really are prospects.
Other rules
It is Michelin that is presently presenting all three new products in the segment of rubber for off-road vehicles, given that French tire manufacturers own the BF Goodrich brand, which is known primarily for all-terrain tires. There are rules and priorities here, and the protector does not have to be either asymmetric or directional, the main thing is that it should be as "toothy" as possible. This is the new all-season tire BF Goodrich All-Terrain T / A KO2, which is another modification of the iconic "ateshka" with improvements in a number of qualities. Almost without touching the recognizable design, the engineers strengthened the tire sidewalls, introduced special splitters into the design to prevent the tires from being “washed out” by mud or snow and stones from getting stuck between the blocks, and also changed the relief of the shoulder zones for better grip in ruts. The composition of the rubber mixture has also been modernized, as a result of which the so-called mileage on asphalt has increased by 15 percent, and on gravel - by half. In the most modest standard size 215/75 R15, tires can be found at 8 thousand rubles apiece, and solid 315/70 R17 tires are at least twice as expensive.
BF Goodrich All-Terrain T / A KO2
Another novelty from Goodrich is more democratic - from 4,800 rubles for the initial version 205/70 R15 with a speed index of H to the same 8,000 for 18-inch tires with a V index and the lowest profile for a given tire at 50 percent. Unlike the previous model, the BF Goodrich Urban Terrain T / A is an innovative product for its conservative brand, as this all-season tire (as indicated by the sipe network on the tread blocks) does not have a direct predecessor. The name itself speaks of the dual purpose of rubber, and the manufacturer says that it is addressed to those who have 80 percent of the mileage accounted for by urban conditions, and only 20 percent - on light off-road conditions. And it’s easy to believe when you look at the almost “passenger” asymmetric tread, a bit reminiscent of the Michelin-starred Latitude Cross and Diamaris models.
BF Goodrich Urban Terrain T / A
And what about the "parent company" itself? A fresh tire from Michelin could be included in the first chapter of our review, because it is called Latitude Sport 3, and all of its off-roading is, in fact, only in dimensions and reinforced construction. Compared to its predecessor Latitude Sport, strength and durability are further increased (of course, not at the expense of grip - braking performance has even improved thanks to an upgraded compound), and aquaplaning resistance has increased by increasing the groove area by 10 percent. That is, here the French take credit for an achievement that is the opposite of what they did with the same Pilot Sport 4, with which, by the way, this tire is easy to confuse from afar. And the speed indexes match, from V to Y, and the profile can be 35% - what kind of off-road performance can we talk about here? As for the prices, they start from about seven and a half thousand rubles for the standard size 225/65 R17, and in the "adult" 20-21-inch modifications they easily exceed 20 thousand. However, some people can get such rubber, as they say, for free: Michelin Latitude Sport 3 is approved for the original equipment of such crossovers as Porsche /, Mercedes /, BMW / and.
02/07/2016 at 18:25 · Pavlofox · 76 670
Summer tire rating 2016
Summer tires tend to wear out, so they need to be replaced periodically. Manufacturers of "rubber" offer the buyer "shoes" for SUVs, crossovers and cars. It remains only to choose a quality product to your taste and at an affordable price. But sometimes it can be difficult to implement, due to the wide variety of summer rubber models. To make the choice easier, we have compiled 2016 summer tire rating... Currently, tires are produced by many companies, among them there are clear leaders whose products will not disappoint even the most fastidious car enthusiast. But manufacturers below rank also produce tires that deserve your attention.
10.
It appeared as a replacement for the Proxes R 610 tire, released back in 2006. It has an asymmetric tread pattern, the design of which provides good vehicle handling when cornering. The stability of the car on the track is ensured by the three central ribs of the tread. With the help of wide grooves, water is instantly diverted from the adhesion of the rubber, which opens the top rating of summer tires in 2016, with the road.
9.
Until recently, Chinese tires were of terrible quality compared to their European or American counterparts. But progress does not stand still, everything changes. Now the model of summer tires of one of the leading Chinese manufacturers is in no way inferior in quality to the tires of the Old World.
Has a symmetrical tread pattern and aggressive styling. Acceleration, braking and vehicle stability are improved by a rigid longitudinal rubber rib. Ranked # 9 on the 2016 Summer Tire List, the tire is manufactured to provide excellent traction.
8.
With this tire, your car will be easy to steer on all surfaces. Special grooves ensure efficient water drainage. Handling and braking are improved thanks to special ribs in the center of the tire. With the Hankook Optima ranked 8th in this year's top summer tire, you are guaranteed a smooth ride through multiple shoulder grooves.
7.
This model has good braking properties due to the use of innovative technologies in the manufacture of rubber. The light weight of the tire ensures low rolling resistance and adaptation to any vibration while driving. Unlike the previous model of the manufacturer, this one has an increased service life up to 4 years. The tire, which ranks 7th in the 2016 summer tire rating, has improved performance: reduced braking distances and increased mileage.
6.
Practical radial tires for high-performance passenger cars. The rubber compound is made up of the same components used in the manufacture of racing tires, so that the tread instantly adheres to any type of road. Dunlop Sport features an asymmetrical tread pattern and concave sidewall lettering for even greater aerodynamic properties. Summer tires, ranked 6th in the ranking of the best summer tires, have reduced weight, which has a beneficial effect on rolling resistance.
5.
This mid-range summer tire has been developed specifically for luxury sports cars and SUVs. But it is also suitable for middle class cars with powerful engines. The tires provide high handling and short braking distances due to the asymmetrical tread pattern: it does not matter whether you are driving on dry or wet roads. The special compound of Pirelli P Zero rubber provides excellent grip on the road. The noise level is reduced by the grooves in the tread. The only drawback: the very high price, which is not surprising, because the rubber is intended for expensive cars.
4.
A universal version of summer tires. No matter what type of road you are driving, Falken Azenis will show 100% performance on any road surface. With German tires, you will ride with the highest level of comfort and safety. A good choice for racing cars that are sharp and fast. The only drawback of this model, included in the list of the best summer tires, is the high price.
3.
Best suited for high-speed sports cars. Stability on the road and confident driving is carried out due to the unusual tread pattern and side protrusions of summer tires. With Bridgestone tires, you are guaranteed an easy track at any speed. Regardless of whether the road is dry or wet in front of you, the tires ranked 3rd in the ranking of the best summer tires will definitely not let you down.
2.
Originally, tires were intended for use in sports or racing cars. But, as often happens, then they began to be used in conventional vehicles. Differs in 100% efficiency during braking, reduced level of noise activity, long service life. Hankook, ranked 2nd in the ranking of the best summer tires, has a peculiar tread pattern, due to which all the above-mentioned features of the product appeared.
1.
Summer tires showing excellent properties when driving at any speed on any type of road. Your ride will be safe and comfortable as the Michelin Pilot Super Sport is the best summer tire in our ranking. With respect to the tires, their service life can be extended by more than three years. The price of the product is moderate and affordable for most car enthusiasts, and this despite the fact that Michelin has a reduced noise floor: while driving, you will only hear the car's engine running.
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