The approaching winter for a car owner means not only cold and snow, but also the annual need to “change the shoes” of your car. You have to check the condition of winter tires, and if they are not in order, buy new ones. For SUV drivers, this responsibility turns out to be even more difficult, because large tires are more difficult to store, and you have to shell out quite a lot of money when purchasing.

One way or another, some car owners cannot afford it - in Russia, many people live in places where the absence or poor quality of road surfaces is a common practice. All this is aggravated in winter, when the roads are covered with an ice crust and covered with snow, which becomes a hindrance even in large cities.

A machine with high cross-country ability allows you to confidently move over various types of uneven surfaces, in return requiring appropriate maintenance, which includes the purchase and installation of tires.

Do you need winter tires for your SUV?

There is a theory that jeeps do not need to be re-shoeed. Allegedly, the car has sufficient potential to overcome snow and ice barriers. Unfortunately, this opinion is erroneous. Moreover, if the SUV finds itself far from the population, using a summer set of tires may become an unforgivable mistake for it.

Comparison of winter and summer kits on a winter road

The advantages of winter tires, to which it owes its name:

• Studded and friction tires have a higher grip on ice and snow, which increases handling.
• Reduced braking distance compared to the summer kit.

At the same time, the irrelevant use of studded or friction sets has its consequences:

• Spikes and sipes (a type of tread characterized by the presence of many cuts that provide traction on ice and snow without spikes) on the road in the warm season have the opposite effect - due to reduced contact with the ground, they only increase.

It follows from this that in terms of choosing tires, SUVs are identical to any other cars and also need to be “changed” in the appropriate season. The driver definitely shouldn’t risk his or her passengers’ health in pursuit of savings, much less because of laziness. Moreover, a large vehicle is more susceptible to inertia, which will increase the sliding distance exponentially. Stability is also inversely proportional to the ride height.

In car stores there is a third option for tires - all-season. According to experts, they perform equally poorly on any road, losing to seasonal kits in the corresponding period.

Comparison of friction and studded tires for winter roads

As already mentioned, non-studded ones are an analogue of studded ones, using lamellas as a means of traction. When driving, rubber with cuts moves in the direction opposite to the movement, which ensures the non-uniformity of the coating of such a tire. Their advantages over classic winter ones:

• The grooves in the solid rubber provide greater softness during natural deformation along the way, which prevents such sets from hardening due to low temperatures.
• Another noticeable benefit of the softness is the almost complete absence of ride noise.
• Such tires distribute water better - it gets into the sipes, allowing them to “stick” to the road surface. Further, moisture is removed, which eliminates slipping. It is for this property that the technology is called “Velcro”.
• Fluid drainage channels also help tires self-clean.
• In the fall, you can “put them on” earlier than studded ones - in changeable weather conditions they are universal, increasing confidence on the road both in rain and snow with frost.

Disadvantages of friction winter tires:

• The first 200–500 kilometers of driving with these tires is the break-in stage, which is required to form the direction of the sipes. At this time, their properties, characteristic of the technology and winter tires in general, do not fully work.
• When using such a kit, sudden acceleration and braking are highly discouraged - the position of the slats changes sharply, creating the risk of losing control. This rule is relevant both during break-in and after.
• Each subsequent “change of shoes” must respect the original direction of travel.

When choosing winter tires, the first criterion is safety, but not economy. rubber provides the following parameters:

1. The reliability of the technology and the durability of a particular set - be it studded or friction tires - they must perform their functions without breaking down for as long as possible.
2. The quality of tires in general, which determines how they cope with the job.

The best studless winter tires

Don't trust just one source. You should choose based on the testimony of both advertising and consultants in the store, as well as forums, personal experience and acquaintances.

The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is one of the best studless winter tires for light trucks and SUVs.

New and promising

With the new DM-V2, Bridgestone Blizzak has expanded its family of quality winter tires. Designed for light trucks and SUVs, the Blizzak DM-V2 introduces a new tread design and next-generation tread compound that provides better handling and greater control in winter conditions, whether you're on ice, snow or slush.

The Blizzak DM-V2 represents a technological breakthrough and a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Blizzak DM-V1. Advanced features include Bridgestone's Multi-Cell Gum compound to disperse water from the tire's ice contact surface and improve skid control and braking.

What's more, the new Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 tread structure features 15% more shoulder blocks, which effectively optimize traction and give the tire more traction in snowy conditions.

Durable protector

The Blizzak DM-V2 tread is designed with Nanopro-Tech technology, which more effectively distributes pressure and tire-to-road contact, providing greater stability in all conditions and improved traction on ice. This technology also helps maintain rubber flexibility for reliable performance in extremely cold conditions.

The net improvement in winter performance of the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 also comes from the stiffness of the 3D blocks and zig-zag stripes, which increase the number of sharp edges. In short, with the new Blizzak DM-V2, Bridgestone is offering an all-around tire designed for bad weather and the harsh conditions of domestic winters.

The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is one of the top five tires in the SUV and light truck category. It features excellent wear resistance, low noise levels and high traction performance on ice and snow. The Blizzak DM-V2 is an innovative tire that will satisfy van and SUV drivers, providing absolute control in all conditions.

Next in the ranking of winter tires is Continental ContiWinterContact SI - studless winter tires for cars and SUVs. Designed for drivers of coupes, sedans, crossovers and SUVs, it was designed to outperform and replace Extreme WinterContact in terms of ice braking performance, rolling resistance and fuel economy.

With ContiWinterContact SI, Continental's main goal is to improve the tread (blocks, stripes, grooves and edges) to significantly optimize performance and grip in winter conditions. Additionally, Continental used a directional tread pattern rather than an asymmetrical one for even better traction.

Excellent traction technology in winter conditions

Like the Extreme WinterContact, the ContiWinterContact SI remains a high-performance and very versatile tire, providing excellent stud-free grip in all winter conditions.

Featuring traction grooves for better grip and a Polar Plus+ silicon compound that remains flexible in cold weather, the ContiWinterContact SI tire is suitable for traction on snow and slippery roads. The reduction in braking distance has been significantly improved for .

Alignment check system

Continental WinterContact SI has an alignment check system that visually determines the parallelism of the vehicle's wheels and eliminates the need to extend tire life.

According to user reviews, ContiWinterContact SI tires are among the top 5 winter tires for touring and winter tires for SUVs, vans and pickups. It is recognized, among other things, for its excellent grip on ice and very good grip on snow, which is a necessary criterion for ensuring safe driving in winter conditions. Also scores highly for sustainability criteria.

Rating of studded winter tires for SUVs

Opens the rating of studded winter tires Vredestein Arctrac. These are studded winter tires for SUVs and pickups. In the category of studded SUV winter tires, the Vredestein Arctrac is certainly the number one choice for its superior performance and its new generation wide tread pattern for stability, handling and comfort. In addition, the durable tread design provides the best load-carrying capacity for winter tires, and the special surface design significantly reduces stud loss for exceptional traction on ice and snow. The Vredestein Arctrac provides precise handling, significantly shorter braking distances and excellent quick acceleration performance.

Durable tread designed for heavy vehicles

The Vredestein Arctrac tread is made of a two-ply carcass and has a steel support that strengthens the rubber. As a result, Arctrac offers higher lifting capacity and better stability. Can meet the needs of SUVs, light trucks and heavy duty commercial vehicles.

To provide all-weather traction in winter conditions, the Arctrac studded design features outward-facing lateral grooves that facilitate the evacuation of water and slush, increasing resistance to hydroplaning. In addition, the Vredestein Arctrac tread surface has been carefully designed to optimize agility and steering precision in braking and accelerating situations.

The Vredestein Arctrac is manufactured with the "Sophisticated Spike Algoritm" technology, which consists of a special and original distribution of spikes on the tread surface to improve traction on snowy and icy roads.

Optimized design for harsh winters

The Arctrac's outstanding performance in terms of lateral grip and stability, even in extreme conditions, is due to the tread pattern with a three-dimensional sloping shoulder contour combined with the groove pattern. In addition, the size-optimized contour contributes to a more even distribution of pressure on the studs and plays an important role in traction.

Compared to the outstanding performance of the Vredestein Arctrac studded winter tire and its very high ratings for all characteristics, experts strongly recommend using it. It is at the top of the list in the "Touring Winter Tires (Studded)" category for SUVs, vans and pickups, and especially stands out for its grip on all surfaces. The studded Vredestein Arctrac also has excellent cornering stability, handling and durability.

Winter tires for cars, SUVs, vans and pickups 2019. The Cooper Weather Master WSC is a high-performance tire designed to provide superior performance in winter conditions. Available in a wide range of sizes to suit the needs of all vehicle types including cars, SUVs and light trucks. Thanks to components based on patented technologies, it provides excellent traction on snow and ice for safe and reliable driving. WSC also has very high wear resistance.

Favorable design for adhesion in all conditions

Featuring a guided clear tread and high silica content, the Cooper Weather Master WSC provides superior traction on wet, icy or slushy roads, even in extreme cold conditions. The use of patented Snow-Groove technology, which consists of deep circumferential grooves that retain snow, ensures better tire contact with snowy ground and improves traction.

The Cooper WM WSC tread features microscopic blades that provide greater stability during hard braking for reliable handling. With many sharp edges, they provide extra traction on ice and wet roads. These components also provide rapid acceleration due to the tire's ability to grip the ground regardless of road conditions.

Flexible and durable tire

One of the many advantages is the tread's flexibility at all times, even in sub-zero temperatures, thanks to the high silica content. This feature, combined with a more rigid design, plays an important role in reducing signs of premature wear and extending winter life.

Ranked in the Top 5 in the Sports Tire (Studded) category for SUVs and Pickup Trucks, and in the Top 10 in the Touring Winter Tire category, the Cooper Weather Master WSC is recommended for its excellent traction on snow and ice. The rubber also scores highly for its wear resistance and durability. With the WM studded version, WSC Cooper offers tires that provide equal performance to more expensive tires.

Cooper Discover M&S Clouté - winter tires for SUVs, pickup trucks, pickup trucks and commercial vehicles. Designed to cope with tough winter conditions, Cooper's Discover M&S Clouté offers quality tires for many types of vehicles. It provides excellent grip on snowy roads and very good wear resistance. In addition, thanks to its studs, the Discover M&S Clouté provides optimal grip on ice.

Innovative technologies for traction in winter conditions

Thanks to its technology-inspired design, the Cooper Discover M/S Clouté offers superior traction performance in all conditions, on all surfaces. The tread features snap-on snow-specific grooves that allow for easier ground grip and seamless traction without sacrificing rigidity. Additionally, the Discover M&S Studded studs feature D-Squared technology, which maximizes performance in even the most extreme winter conditions while maintaining excellent grip on wet ground.

Thanks to the central circumferential rib and special rubber threads, the Discover M&S Clouté provides good grip and a stable and confident ride. Cooper has also optimized the tire's profile through a process that distributes the tire's contact pressure with the road. This process promotes uniform and reduced tread wear and extends tread life.

Strategically placed nails to better withstand icy roads

As the name suggests, the Cooper Discover M&S Studded has studs. The peculiarity lies in the special arrangement of studs in strategic places on the tread. This well-engineered distribution allows for maximum shackle retention and guarantees unrivaled traction on very snowy or icy roads.

The tire is recommended for all drivers of SUVs, pickup trucks and commercial vehicles who are looking for uncompromising grip on all surfaces. In fact, in addition to good overall performance in winter, the rubber excels in grip on ice, snow and wet roads.

Multi-Mile Arctic Claw XSI - winter tires for vans and SUVs. The basic version is without spikes, but it is possible to add the “Cleats/Nails” option (installed immediately before delivery).

A variety of advantages for cheap winter tires

The Multi-Mile Artic Claw XSI is a winter tire with or without studs designed for crossover, pickup and SUV drivers who want a combination of snow and ice traction, ride comfort and long service life without compromising safety. These benefits and an attractive, modern and stylish design make the Acrile Claw XSI a good choice.

With a high-traction tread and advanced sipe technology, the Arctic Claw XSI Multi-Mile delivers balanced ride performance in wet or dry conditions. In addition, the patented "Snow Groove" system also provides excellent traction on ice and snow. Finally, the reinforced stud retention method offers an interesting option for drivers who want to optimize traction on ice.

Cooper Discoverer M&S - winter tires for pickups, SUVs and commercial vehicles. This is a premium tire designed for drivers of a wide range of pickup trucks, SUVs and crossovers looking for excellent traction on snow and ice. Its off-road design makes it ideal for both daily commutes in the city and on country roads in all winter conditions, and also provides good driving comfort on all types of roads.

Groove technology for snow

Thanks to the strategic placement of holes, it provides increased brace retention and thus maximizes traction on very snowy or icy roads. Equipped with D2 "D-D" technology, a dense zigzag sipe pattern that enhances winter performance, the Cooper Discoverer M&S provides excellent wet grip. The depth of the slats also helps to maintain efficient performance throughout the service life.

Snow Groove Design technology gives the Discoverer MS unsurpassed traction on snow and ice without compromising tread stiffness. As a result, the tire has superior traction characteristics in snow-to-snow contact compared to snow-to-rubber contact.

The most productive winter tires

The Michelin Latitude Alpin HP is a non-performance winter tire for SUVs, vans, pickup trucks and SUVs. Delivers the performance you expect from Michelin tires while still being suitable for high-performance pickup trucks and SUVs. Indeed, the Michelin Latitude Alpin HP has been designed to combine agility, stability, grip and driving comfort on all types of road surfaces in winter conditions.

Michelin Latitude-Alpin HP tires come with a 40,000 km limited warranty. against tread wear in addition to the usual labor and materials warranty. Michelin also offers 3 years of roadside puncture assistance.

Active 3D sipes, multiple grippy edges and an increased tread surface area significantly improve the stability of the Michelin Latitude Alpin HP, while also providing high levels of grip on snow and ice. High density and lateral grooves enhance handling and braking on slippery roads, while dual nylon-reinforced steel belts optimize high-speed handling and durability of the Latitude Alpin HP.

In addition, Michelin uses a special rubber compound molded into a directional tread that remains flexible at very low temperatures for better traction on snow, ice, dry or wet conditions. This compound also helps provide predictable and safe driving in both the worst winter conditions and milder temperatures.

Michelin Comfort Control technology makes the Latitude Alpin HP a very comfortable bearing to ride. In fact, optimized design and precision manufacturing significantly reduce vibration and road noise, while also delivering improved wear resistance and efficient fuel economy.

Winter tires for cars, SUVs, vans and pickups. Designed for pickup trucks, SUVs, sports cars and performance sedans, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 winter tire offers one of the best speed ratings in its class and is designed to withstand winter conditions, providing very good traction on snowy, icy or slushy roads and high stability on dry roads.

Quiet and pleasant ride in all conditions

Bridgestone Blizzak LM60 provides excellent handling for the most powerful vehicles, regardless of winter conditions, providing a quiet and relaxed ride. Also offers excellent maneuverability without compromising ride comfort.

Designed and manufactured for the most challenging road conditions, Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 features continuous blades and circular tread profiles that optimize surface water drainage, reducing hydroplaning. Additionally, the Blizzak LM-60's three-way, zig-zag and 3D strips provide enhanced performance on dry pavement while maintaining excellent traction in wet or icy conditions.

The Continental ContiCrossContact Winter is a winter tire for pickup trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles. ContiCrossContact Winter is specifically designed to meet the needs of light truck and SUV drivers who require increased traction in winter, whether on dry pavement, ice or snow. Also provides very good hydroplaning resistance, excellent handling and driving with excellent cornering stability, as well as low sound levels.

The Continental CrossContact Winter tire offers a new proprietary silica-based polymer compound molded into an asymmetrical tread pattern with a large number of durable sipes and multiple sharp edges, high levels of traction, excellent braking performance in the worst winter conditions.

Resistant to aquaplaning and low rolling resistance

In addition, the outer shoulder of the ContiCross ContactWinter has a special profile with progressive sinusoidal sipes that provide excellent stability and handling on dry, snowy or icy roads, even at high speeds.

The wide circumferential longitudinal grooves of the Continental CrossContact Winter, together with a distinctive tread pattern and optimized sipes, improve the efficiency of water and snow drainage for increased protection in the event of serious damage. The advanced ContiCrossContactWinter tread design concept ensures low rolling resistance and a very quiet and smooth ride.

Kumho I'ZEN KC15

Kumho I'ZEN KC15 is winter tires for light trucks and SUVs. This is an ultra-high-performance tire specially designed for the new generation of SUVs. Provides relaxed driving and outstanding performance in the worst winter road conditions. Also offers good durability without sacrificing ride comfort, as well as excellent snow grip and reliable traction on ice.

Perfect road in cold weather

Featuring an aggressive asymmetrical tread profile specifically designed for SUVs, the Kumho KC15 provides excellent handling on dry ground. In addition, the new silica compound gives Kumho I'Zen KC 15 excellent adhesion at low temperatures and improves wet grip.

Kumho I'ZEN KC15

Featuring multiple small grooves and four wide circumferential grooves, the Kumho I'ZEN KC-15 significantly reduces the risk of hydroplaning through optimal water and snow evacuation for safety, improved driving stability, excellent traction on snow and better traction on icy roads.

High tread density provides traction and shorter braking distances on snowy and icy roads. Finally, the Kumho I'ZEN KC15's stiffer shoulder ensures optimal cornering performance.

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D is a winter tire for cars, vans and SUVs. This is a standard tire specially designed for sports cars, coupes and sedans. Approved as an original tire by the world's top car manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and others, it is designed to provide good road control regardless of temperature.

With the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D, you'll be safe with a high-performance tire that adapts to changing road conditions, offering high performance on dry or wet pavement and very good grip on icy or frost-covered roads. An ideal choice for drivers who want a quality tire with the same quality as the big brands, but at a lower price.

State-of-the-art tread

The Dunlop SP Winter 3D features a directional tread that improves maneuverability and performance on wet or completely flooded roads. Made from a silica-based compound that retains its elasticity in low temperatures, the tire remains flexible even in extreme cold for better traction on dry or wet ground.

The tread is also designed using Multi-Radius Tread Technology (MRT), which has multiple flex radii to ensure more even pressure distribution across the entire area, giving the SP Wintersport 3D good traction on dry roads. Jointless Band technology maintains the shape of the tires for a smooth ride and excellent stability at high speeds.

An active multi-blade traction system with three different types of sipes strategically positioned across the entire tread surface gives the Dunlop Winter Sport 3D a variety of traction for performance, stability, improved agility and cornering, acceleration and braking in all conditions. In addition, the 3D bars at shoulder level give the SP Winter Sport 3D excellent road feel, an essential control element, and also provide maximum grip on icy and snowy roads, better stability and excellent performance on dry asphalt.

Finally, Dunlop Winter Sport 3D offers a special support system that improves control and road feel for greater driving precision, as well as a rim flange protection system.

An SUV with summer tires is in a special position in the winter season - the standard high ground clearance and impressive weight reduce stability and increase inertia, making unprepared driving on snow and ice seriously dangerous.

Winter tires can have different tread patterns. In Russia, what can be called winter off-road tires are more popular. These are tires with a large tread pattern. Often, the pattern of such tires is herringbone, but not necessarily. A car with such wheels will grip the snow tightly. Therefore, you will not get stuck in the parking lot and will successfully overcome the road that you did not have time or did not want to clear from snow. If your tires have studs, then you won't be afraid of ice. Soft rubber and numerous sipes improve grip on any surface.

The disadvantage of such tires is their behavior on clean asphalt. A large tread is sure to make noise. The spikes also add their own noise. Moreover, both domestic tires and famous brands make noise. Expensive and hyped Nokia tires are considered noisy. But as soon as snow falls, the noise subsides, but excellent traction remains. It is believed that steel studs impair braking on asphalt. Of course, they make it worse, but the grip on ice will be even worse. November is not the best month to buy tires: the demand is huge, and there is no choice in stores. If you want to save money, you should buy winter tires in September, October or March, April.

Off-road tires designed for driving on mud. These are tires with a large pattern. The large tread allows these tires to grip soft ground and mud well. At the same time, the tires themselves clean themselves of dirt. Off-road tires can also be used on paved roads in warm weather. But it is worth recognizing that such tires will not provide additional grip on hard surfaces, and they will definitely make noise.

Is it possible to drive on snow in winter on off-road tires? Of course you can! A large tread will cling well to loose or compacted snow. The cross-country ability of such tires, on forest or country roads, will be even better than that of winter tires.
But everything changes if you go out on ice. Off-road tires are still summer tires. Their rubber will harden in winter. There are also no small soft lamellas on these wheels. SUV tires are no better suited for driving on ice than summer city tires.

However, many SUV owners are convinced that they do not need special winter tires. What's the matter? This opinion is based on experience. Even in winter, driving around the city is mostly on hard asphalt. And any tires are suitable for this coating. When city roads are covered with snow, of course, off-road tires will have an advantage. Such treacherous types of road surfaces as ice and snow on ice remain. It’s worth admitting honestly, no spikes provide a guarantee on such a coating. Off-road tires will slide on such a surface. But we don’t need tires by themselves; the tires included with the car are important. And all-wheel drive gives the car stability even when braking. It turns out that a car with all-wheel drive and off-road tires is unlikely to be inferior in handling to a front-wheel drive car with winter studded tires.

So should you change your off-road tires to winter ones? If your safety is important to you, and you drive mainly around the city, then yes, you should. But if you drive in winter on summer off-road tires, in a car with all-wheel drive and ABS, then you will be safer than the driver of a front- or rear-wheel drive car on summer city wheels.

Good luck on the roads!

A fairly common myth is the idea that jeeps and other large vehicles are safer in winter conditions. In fact, SUVs are the main risk group, and therefore they definitely need to change their shoes before it snows and the thermometer drops below zero degrees.

You shouldn’t flatter yourself with hopes that an all-wheel drive SUV will by default protect you from an emergency on a snowy road. As practice shows, winter tires for SUVs are even more important than for ordinary cars, and when buying winter tires in Kyiv you need to be extremely careful. This is due to the fact that cars with a 4x4 formula only accelerate faster than front- or rear-wheel drive ones, but this does not affect the quality of braking and the length of the braking distance. Therefore, it is naive to believe that a jeep that has not been re-shod with the correct type of tires will withstand the test of a slippery road. In addition, SUVs are characterized by high ground clearance, and this is an additional risk factor on snowy or icy roads. On slippery roads, cars with high ground clearance are less stable, their aerodynamics are much worse than conventional cars, and they also have increased windage.

SUV manufacturers adapt them as much as possible to off-road conditions, but they are not intended for use in icy conditions. The fact that a powerful jeep can easily cover any distance over difficult rough terrain does not mean that it will also cope brilliantly with a straight section of road covered with rolled snow or ice. Heavy SUVs tend to have longer braking distances when driving on slippery roads, which can cause an accident. Therefore, such cars are usually equipped with the highest quality winter tires that can provide maximum traction between the wheel and the road surface. For SUVs, experts recommend using tires with a combined tread pattern, where part of the wheel has longitudinal lines and part has transverse lines. A deep aggressive tread pattern and the presence of studs are welcome.

Thus, if you are planning to purchase an SUV or are already the proud owner of an all-wheel drive vehicle, you should know that it is not suitable for driving on snowy and icy roads, and therefore requires the use of a special tire option. Tires for SUVs are made of rubber of a special chemical composition, have a deep, specific tread pattern and are often equipped with studs that improve traction between the wheel and the road.

SUVs are one of the most popular cars, largely due to the mythical increased safety of driving them in winter conditions. New owners of jeeps naively believe that they are equipped with all-season tires, which can be driven in both winter and summer. However, the similarity of the tread pattern of SUVs with all-purpose tires is misleading and often becomes the cause of accidents on the roads in the winter season.

Winter tires are even more necessary for an SUV than for a regular sedan. This is true even when we are talking about the 4x4 wheel arrangement. There is a misconception that all-wheel drive SUVs are safer and more adaptable to winter conditions than front- or rear-wheel drive ones. However, in reality this is a big misconception. All-wheel drive cars only accelerate faster, but their braking distance is the same as that of conventional single-wheel drive models. Therefore, the increased safety of jeeps in winter is a myth, and nothing more. And such cars need to be worn with special care. Reviews about studded tires from different manufacturers allow you to navigate the sea of ​​rubber for SUVs and other types of cars. For jeeps, it is best to choose tires with an aggressive deep tread pattern and pronounced studs that improve traction. Reviews about car batteries help you choose them taking into account the specific operating conditions, and with tires everything is exactly the same: reviews of tires for SUVs posted by different car owners allow you to make the right choice for a specific region with its unique climatic conditions.

Owners of SUVs need to be especially careful in winter and change their driving style from summer to winter. Driving speed in winter should be at least 20% lower than in summer. You also need to maintain a greater distance between the jeep and the cars in front so that there is enough space for maneuver or emergency braking. Most SUVs are characterized by high ground clearance, which in winter does not play into the hands of drivers. The fact is that cars with high ground clearance cannot boast of stability on the road, and this increases the risk of getting into a traffic accident. SUVs have one common problem - windage and poor aerodynamics. In difficult road and weather conditions, this may well cause an accident, since an unstable car with poor aerodynamics on a slippery road is a source of danger not only for the driver and passengers of the vehicle, but also for other road users.

The ideal elements for an SUV are sections of the road with loose, unplowed snow, but in city conditions you usually have to deal with a different situation, namely, rolled snow and ice. And in such conditions, SUV drivers need to be doubly attentive and careful than owners of regular sedans. And it is very important to choose good winter tires, since the comfort and safety of driving a jeep in winter depends on this. It is generally accepted that since SUVs are quite heavy vehicles, this plays into the hands of traction. Yes, indeed, the force of gravity makes itself felt. However, there is also the other side of the coin, namely increased inertia. All other things being equal, a massive SUV will coast on an icy road one and a half times longer and further than a less heavy sedan. That’s why you can’t do without studded, high-quality winter tires with deep tread and increased anti-slip properties. They provide the necessary comfort, a sense of security and good control of the jeep on slippery roads.

Do you know the difference between motorists and utility workers? For the former, winter does not come UNEXPECTEDLY.

Most drivers are so used to their cars that they drive them all year round. That’s why they “change their shoes” not at minus 20, but when the first morning frost appears on the asphalt. However, for this you need to have a set of winter tires. It’s more difficult for jeep owners, because... these cars are a special caste.

1 are they needed?

A large and strong car gives the driver confidence. The main thing is to make sure that it does not develop into SELF-confidence. And this is exactly what happens quite often to jeep owners.

There are still drivers who DO NOT “re-shoe” such cars for the winter. They say that the SUV itself is heavy, plus all-wheel drive - it will get out of any snowdrift. You can’t argue with that - he’ll get out, but is that the only thing? Winter tires for SUVs are, first of all, about road safety, and only then the ability to cope with snowdrifts.

It turns out that drivers do not change tires because they are confident in their car? Not really.

Manufacturers often include all-season tires with SUVs. This is an excellent reason not to buy winter tires for jeeps, but to drive on the same tires all year round. Of course, this option has a right to life - it all depends on the specific operating conditions of the vehicle.

But generally speaking, all-season tires are like a universal football player. It seems that he can play in any position, but those who have a narrow specialization are weaker.

So are all-season tires: they are worse than summer tires in the warm season and inferior to winter tires in the cold season.

Although, again it is worth noting that much depends on the region and the severity of winter.

In addition, winter tires have a unique composition with special additives that make the rubber soft, and therefore the car is more stable on the road. Summer tires will simply freeze, becoming hard, with all the ensuing consequences.

2 Studded SUV tires: Yes and no

Of course, in Russian winter conditions, studded tires for SUVs look preferable. But there are some nuances.

Pros of spikes:

• Excellent traction on the road in icy conditions and slushy snow
• High directional stability
• Reduced acceleration time (approximately 10% faster than studless counterparts)
• Shortened braking distance.

Sounds good. But! If suddenly at the end of January the utility services come to their senses and clear the road, then all the advantages of studded tires turn into disadvantages.

Because of the studs, the contact area between the wheels and the asphalt is reduced, therefore the braking distance increases and the stability of the car decreases. And the studded tire itself quickly wears out in case of prolonged contact with asphalt, which it also destroys. Therefore, if the route of an SUV in winter is standard (home-work-home) and the car drives on the roads of a metropolis, whose authorities monitor timely snow removal, then studded winter tires should not be recommended.

Some car enthusiasts act cunningly: they go to a tire shop, where studs are “soldered” into all-season tires. Yes, there is such a method. True, in most cases the thorns fall off within a week at best. You need to have confidence in the tire service staff to carry out such an operation. But even if this is so, being the owner of a massive SUV and saving on buying normal studded wheels... Somehow this is not respectable.

If you still choose this option, then reviews of SUV tires show the popularity of oval studs. Both drivers and experts consider them an ideal option.

By the way, there is another precedent. In European countries (the exception is the Scandinavian region) studded tires are prohibited. Fans of traveling in a jeep in winter should take this into account.

Considering the cataclysms that have torn Europe apart in recent years, something may change, but for now the ban is in force.

3 Winter tires for jeeps: distinctive features

In general, all winter tires are characterized by their tread pattern. It can be European and Scandinavian. Interestingly, SUV tires have their own special pattern. It features free-standing rectangular or diamond-shaped elements.

So, here are the parameters by which you need to buy tires for SUVs:

• 1

  Tread width. In the dimension marking this is the first number. The smaller this parameter is for the selected tires for SUVs, the better;

• 2

  Profile (height). The second number in the marking. The relationship is the opposite - the larger value has priority. This parameter shows how the car will feel on a snowy road or surface consisting of water and snow. Low-profile tires make it easier to get out of snowy debris without damaging the tires;

• 3

  Load capacity index. Are the tires suitable in size, quality, price, etc.? There's no need to rush. A parameter such as the load capacity index requires attention. In no case should it be lower than that recommended by the manufacturer. Otherwise, the tires may collapse, which affects safety.

How to choose winter tires
for SUVs?

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  It is necessary to cooperate only with professionals. Otherwise, they may advise something like this... There have been situations when studs were installed on summer wheels.

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