A new product from the tire line on the Russian market. As they say, it's piping hot.
On ice, the grip properties are high, the balance is reasonable. Braking and lateral grip are good, acceleration is average.
They are also quite strong in the snow. Longitudinal grip properties are good, transverse grip properties are average.
On a snowy road they yaw slightly, but do not leave the trajectory. There was insufficient information content of the steering wheel and a slight delay when adjusting the direction of movement.
Slips and slips in corners are harsh, the car slides longer than we would like, but traction recovery is soft and smooth.
In deep snow they do not move very confidently; if they slip at the moment of start, they tend to bury themselves. They walk in reverse confidently.
On asphalt, they force the car to float along the strip. The wide “zero”, delays in reactions, steering of the rear axle and insufficient information content interfere.
The brakes are weak, both on dry asphalt and on wet ones.
Comfort notes: slight vibrations from small bumps and increased general noise typical of studded tires.
At a speed of 60 km/h, fuel consumption is below average, at 90 km/h - the most economical.
The amount of protrusion of the spines and the rate at which the protrusion increases are normal. There was no loss of studs during the test.
+ Good braking and lateral grip on ice, longitudinal grip on snow, economical at a speed of 90 km/h.
- Weak braking on dry and wet roads.
Verdict: Suitable for any winter roads.
Product page.
In anticipation of winter, Russian and foreign specialists in testing automobile tires became more active. Several tests of both studded and friction tires of running sizes have already been presented to the attention of car enthusiasts. This is an extensive test from the famous Finnish organization Test World, including 12 friction and 13 studded tires of size 205/55 R16, a test of studded tires of size 215/65R16 SUV from the magazine "Za Rulem", a test of friction tires from the German publication Auto Bild of size 235/65 R17 for SUVs.
According to experts from the Finnish organization Test World, choosing winter tires from a large selection of different manufacturers is a difficult task. Finding the perfect winter tires that provide excellent grip in all weather conditions is impossible. In the foreseeable future, it is unlikely that it will be possible to create tires that have the ability to change their characteristics and behave like summer tires on a snowless asphalt surface, like friction tires in slush and snow, and like studded ones in icy conditions.
Our St. Petersburg winters behave unpredictably, they can be both mild and severe, so choosing tires for winter is always a bit of a lottery. Despite the improvement in the characteristics of friction tires every year in Russia, in places with cold winters, studded tires are more popular. Therefore, we will start the review with studded tires.
STUDED TIRES
Finnish organization Test World Studded and friction tires were purchased and tested to determine their suitability for use in northern winter conditions. All tires were tested in several standard disciplines on ice, snow, wet and dry asphalt, after which an overall rating was compiled.
Studded tires that took part in the tests:
- Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01
- Continental ContiIceContact
- Dunlop Ice Touch
- Gislaved Nord*Frost 100
- Jinyu YW53
- Michelin X-Ice North 3
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
- Nokian Nordman 4
- Pirelli Ice Zero
- Sunny SN3860
- Vredestein Arctrac
Test indicators from the Finnish organization Test World
| Studded tires | Nokian | Continental | Pirelli | Goodyear | Gislaved | Hankook | Dunlop | Michelin | Bridgestone | Vredestein | Jinyu | Nordman | Sunny | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICE | 40% | |||||||||||||
| Braking | 15% | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Acceleration | 10% | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Controllability | 10% | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Controllability (subject.) | 5% | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| SNOW | 20% | |||||||||||||
| Braking | 5% | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| Acceleration | 5% | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| Controllability | 5% | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| Controllability (subject.) | 5% | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Wet asphalt | 15% | |||||||||||||
| Braking | 5% | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Controllability | 5% | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| Controllability (subject.) | 5% | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| DRY asphalt | 10% | |||||||||||||
| Braking | 5% | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| Controllability (subject.) | 5% | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| COMFORT and economy | 15% | |||||||||||||
| Directional stability | 5% | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Noise | 5% | 5 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Rolling resistance | 5% | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| FINAL GRADE | 100% | 8,8 | 8,6 | 8,6 | 8,5 | 8,3 | 8,1 | 8,0 | 7,9 | 7,7 | 7,5 | 7,1 | 7,1 | 5,9 |
Magazine experts "Behind the wheel" We chose 215/65R16 SUV tires for testing. These tires are in great demand because they fit many small and medium-sized trucks. The most popular models took part in the test:
- Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01
- Continental ContiIceContact 4x4
- Cordiant Snow Cross
- Formula Ice
- Gislaved Nord*Frost 100
- Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
- Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV
- Nokian Nordman 5 SUV
- Pirelli Ice Zero
- Toyo Observe G3-Ice
Indicators of the test of the magazine "Behind the wheel"
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Indicators |
Nokian |
Goodyear |
Pirelli |
Nordman |
Continental |
Gislaved |
Hankook |
Cordiant |
Formula |
Bridgestone |
Toyo |
| Braking distance (30-5 km/h) on ice (Maximum 120 points) |
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Ice lap time |
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Acceleration time (0-30 km/h) on ice |
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Braking distance (30-5 km/h) on snow |
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Shift speed on snow |
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Acceleration time (0-30 km/h) on snow |
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Braking distance (60-5 km/h) on wet asphalt |
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Braking distance (80-5 km/h) on dry asphalt |
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Fuel consumption at 90 km/h |
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Fuel consumption at 60 km/h |
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Total |
Expert assessment (rating/points) of the magazine “Behind the Wheel”
| Indicators |
Nokian |
Goodyear |
Pirelli |
Nordman |
Continental |
Gislaved |
Hankook |
Cordiant |
Formula |
Bridgestone |
Toyo |
|
Acceleration control on winter roads (snow - ice) |
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Handling on winter roads (snow - ice) |
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Passability in deep snow |
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Directional stability on snowy roads |
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Directional stability on asphalt |
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Internal noise |
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Smooth ride |
Test participant tires
The leader in the overall standings in all tests for studded tires is Nokian and its famous new tires - Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 size 205/55 R16 showed in Finnish tests excellent grip on ice and the same on snow, high directional stability, and fuel efficiency. Among the shortcomings are average braking properties on wet asphalt, increased noise levels and a high price.
| Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and its off-road version place in tests Test World And "Behind the wheel" |
Studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 received excellent marks in ice and snow disciplines. The tires have very effective braking and a high level of safety in difficult winter conditions. Nokian was slightly behind the leaders in the wet braking and directional stability tests, as well as in the noise test, but received first place in terms of total points. The most balanced, safe on all roads and off-road. |
But the distribution of lower places for studded tires in the tests of Za Rulem magazine and the Finnish organization Test World do not coincide. Probably, the peculiarities of the tests, the choice of indicators used for comparison, and the slightly different composition and size of the tires have an impact. But if we do not take into account the distribution of seats and exclude the budget version of tires for Nokian Nordman 5 SUVs, which were absent in the Finnish test, then the composition of the top five following the leader is the same. ThisGoodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic, Pirelli Ice Zero, Continental ContiIceContact, Gislaved Nord*Frost 100 andHankook Winter i*Pike RS W419.
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Continental ContiIceContact
|
Number of studs: 130 At the tires Continental Excellent performance on ice and snow. Disadvantages - weak braking properties on dry asphalt and low cross-country ability. These tires have reliable stud fixation: they are the only tires in the “Behind the Wheel” tests in which the protrusion of the cores above the rubber did not change during the running-in and tests. The noise level of tires from Germany is high despite the smaller number of studs. For any winter roads, dry asphalt and deep snow are not favored. |
|
Pirelli Ice Zero |
Number of studs: 130 Pirellis also don't offer any nasty surprises in winter conditions and have very good stability on rough roads. However, like many other studded tires, the Pirelli has a relatively long track on wet surfaces. In addition, the noise level could be lower. For any winter roads and off-roads. Well balanced - serious comments only on comfort. |
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Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic
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Number of studs: 130 Sufficiently balanced winter tires suitable for all conditions. Goodyear tires have good average performance on both ice and snow, as well as on asphalt. In winter disciplines, Goodyears are slightly inferior to their rivals, but have good cross-country ability and understandable handling, For any winter roads, off-road is the best. |
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Nokian Nordman 5 SUV
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Number of studs: 128 According to test results, budget Nordman tires have the best braking properties on dry asphalt and excellent braking properties on wet asphalt. The tires hold their course well both on winter roads and on asphalt. For any winter roads, they don’t skimp on off-road conditions. |
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Gislaved Nord*Frost 100
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Number of studs: 95 Gislaved tires score well in most disciplines, especially on snow. On ice they are slightly inferior to the leaders, but they have high performance on wet surfaces. If we talk about the disadvantages, then these are a relatively long braking distance on dry asphalt, modest acceleration and lateral properties on ice and snow, and increased fuel consumption. For any winter roads, good off-road. Some of the most comfortable. |
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Hankook Winter i*Pike RS W419
|
Number of studs:170 The braking distance on ice of Hankook tires is longer than that of the best tires, but on snow they have excellent braking properties. On wet asphalt, the Hankook received high marks for predictability and ease of control, and clearly maintains its course on the asphalt. On dry conditions, Hankook tires perform lower. At the same time, pilots noted that on snow these tires may behave a little more unevenly than others. For snowy and icy roads. On dry asphalt - with caution. Helpful in deep snow. |
Nokian Nordman 5 SUV tires made in Finland showed a good average result in the tests of the magazine “Behind the Wheel”, but Nokian Nordman 4 tires made in Russia turned out to be one of the worst in Finnish tests.
Seventh, eighth and ninth place in the Finnish test respectively took Dunlop Ice Touch, Michelin X-Ice North 3(these tires did not participate in driving tests) and Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01, and the last places are Dutch tires Vredestein Arctrac, Russian tires Nokian Nordman 4 and Chinese tires Jinyu YW53 And Sunny SN3860.
Za Rulem magazine tested Russian-made tires Cordiant Snow Cross And Formula Ice which, according to the test results, outperformed Japanese tires Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01 And Toyo Observe G3-Ice.
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Dunlop Ice Touch
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Number of studs:130 On ice the Dunlop lacks a little grip and |
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Cordiant Snow Cross
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Place of manufacture: Russia Cordiant tires have good performance on snow surfaces, For careful and leisurely driving on icy and snowy roads. |
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Michelin X-Ice North 3
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Number of studs: 95 Michelin tires showed good results in tests on snow, but on ice their performance was worse than that of the leaders, but not so much as to expect unpleasant surprises. On dry and wet pavement, Michelins are one of the best, and they are also the quietest among studded tires. Average tires, high level of comfort, but also high price. |
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Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-01
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Number of studs:130 Bridgestone performs well on snow, where they score 9 out of 10 in most disciplines. On ice they stop the car quickly, but in other tests on slippery surfaces they have only average results. The tires have low performance on wet pavement, which cannot balance out the high performance on dry pavement. For careful driving on icy and snowy roads. |
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Vredestein Arctrac
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Number of studs: 130 The Vredestein tires perform only averagely on ice, and while they brake very effectively on snow, drivers noted that their behavior did not inspire the same confidence as the best tires. On wet asphalt, the performance is also only satisfactory, and plus the directional stability is not good enough. The use of Vredestein tires in northern winter conditions raises doubts among experts. |
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Jinyu YW53
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Number of studs:114 Cheap Chinese Jinyu tires provide such poor grip on ice that they can hardly be recommended. In the snow, however, everything is a little better, but still not enough - the pilots said that winter tires should definitely behave more confidently. On wet pavement the results are good, but directional stability is not particularly good, and the Jinyu is noisier than most studded tires. Experts do not recommend Chinese Jinyu tires for cold winters. |
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Toyo Observe G3-Ice
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Place of manufacture: Japan Toyo tires have quite a few advantages - they are satisfactory handling For leisurely driving on slightly icy roads. |
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Nokian Nordman 4
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Number of studs:130 Russian-made Nordman tires showed very poor results on ice, so experts cannot recommend their use. In tests on snow, the performance was better, but even here the pilots did not feel Experts do not recommend Nordman tires for cold and harsh winters. |
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Sunny SN3860
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Number of studs:130 The studded Sunny took a place at the very bottom of the standings. In many of its characteristics, the Sunny is similar to studless tires for the Central European winter - they have high grip and good handling on asphalt, but everything is much worse on snow and ice. Not suitable for use in northern winter conditions. |
Read about which friction tires, according to experts, were the best in tests in the following review.
At the TestWorld site (northern Finland)
The presentation took place at the world-famous TestWorld commercial site, located in northern Finland. Meticulous readers probably know that even in the Arctic Circle the temperature is now above zero, and there is no trace of snow or ice. But Hankook solved this issue.
We were asked to carry out the asphalt part of the tests on the public road Ivalo-Murmansk, but only in Suomi and only to the Russian border. The air temperature during the short run was plus 10–14 degrees. But we tried some tires on snow and ice at a temperature of minus 11 degrees - in unique rooms recently built by the Testvoldians with powerful climate control units. Acceleration and braking on “white” surfaces were assessed in a huge hangar 160 m long and 16 m wide. But that’s not all!
We were asked to carry out the asphalt part of the tests on the public road Ivalo-Murmansk, but only in Suomi and only to the Russian border. The air temperature during the short run was plus 10–14 degrees.
We also had the opportunity to evaluate the behavior of the tires in the snow - also in a light frost of minus 11, also in a clever room, shaped slightly like the body of a classical guitar. The total length of the track is 350 m with a “track” width of 9 m. The compressed snow in these rooms is real, stored up last spring. The ice is artificial, frozen, almost the same as on an indoor skating rink. From March to December, real winter reigns in these rooms. The snow is periodically slightly loosened and ice is added. All summer tire and car manufacturers conducted winter tests of their products here. By the way, vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tons and height up to 2.7 m can operate in these rooms. That is, not only cars, but also crossovers and minivans. Boxes with lifts are attached to the sides of these huge hangars - here you can change tires or other automotive components.
But in winter, when there is snow and cold outside, the climate control units are switched to heating mode, and inside you can evaluate the behavior on the asphalt, both dry and wet. For this purpose, watering the “path” is provided. Just a real paradise for testers!
On snow and ice we tried some tires at temperatures of minus 11 degrees
Hankook Kinergy 4S- all-season tire with an asymmetric tread pattern for year-round use. It combines the characteristics of a summer tire (short braking distance on dry asphalt and good handling on dry and wet roads) with good longitudinal grip on snow in moderate frost. They don’t skimp on slush either - highly efficient drainage grooves help with this.
Tires are available in sizes from 14 to 18 inches, with speed limits from 190 to 240 km/h. The advantages of the new all-season vehicle have already been appreciated by well-known automakers. rolls off the assembly line on Hankook Kinergy 4S tires of size 225/50R17 with a “maximum speed” of 240 km/h.
Hankook Kinergy 4S
Hankook Winter i*cept R.S. 2 - for compact and mid-size cars, optimized for winter in Central and Western Europe. The directional tread pattern with grooves that widen in the shoulder area perfectly removes water and slush from the contact patch. Due to this, the speed at which aquaplaning begins increases and traction on slushy roads increases.
Three-dimensional sipes, which dot all the tread blocks, improve grip on icy and snowy roads. Additional “traction” on roads with a low coefficient of adhesion and wet surfaces is provided by silica components in the tread rubber.
Tires are produced only in Hungary, in a factory with the most modern equipment. Available in sizes from 14 to 17 inches, speed limit - from 190 to 210 km/h ().
I liked the tires on asphalt. The reactions are quite clear for winter tires, the grip on dry and wet asphalt is also quite good. True, this is a subjective opinion, since, let alone comparison, was not provided for at the presentation.
Hankook Winter i*cept RS2 cross-section
Hankook Winter i*cept evo 2 in the passenger version and Hankook Winter i*cept evo 2 SUV in crossover design they continue the direction set by the first generation Winter i*cept evo tires. The new product is intended for prestigious and sports cars. The “gaining momentum” models have not been forgotten either - an SUV version is offered for them. All tires are designed for mild Central European winters.
The asymmetrical tread pattern, as usual, is responsible for traction on ice and snow on the outside, and on asphalt on the inside.
The performance of the drainage grooves has been increased by 30% compared to the previous model. Due to this, more water and slush are removed from the contact patch, and the ability to resist hydroplaning increases. The reinforced sidewall and wider shoulder improve handling precision and improve cornering traction. Silica nanodisperse additives in the tread rubber improve grip on snow, ice and wet roads.
The bulk of both passenger and crossover tires Winter i*cept evo 2 are produced at a modern plant in Hungary. A passenger line from 16 to 20 inches, speed indexes H-W (from 210 to 270 km/h), and a crossover line from 16 to 21 inches, with speed indexes H and V (210 and 240 km/h), are already available this year.
Now about new products that will certainly arouse interest among Russians, since these tires are capable of operating in harsh Russian winter conditions.
Hankook Winter i*cept evo2
Hankook Winter i*pike RS Plus- the development of the Winter i*pike, well-known in our market, moving in the direction already “trampled” by the Nokian HKPL 8 and ContiIceContact 2 studs. The Plus in the name implies an increased number of studs and a slightly modified tread. Here the studs contact the road in as many as 22 rows instead of 17 on the previous model, resulting in improved grip on ice. The tires are equipped with Finnish Turvanasta 8–11/2 HT-2 “Torx-Grip” studs.
The snow removal grooves are slightly wider, which improves the tire's ability to resist hydroplaning and slashplaning. The manufacturer claims excellent grip on snow.
We have already tested these tires in size 205/55R16. Material with test results can be read in the October issue of “Behind the Wheel”. The Hankook Winter i*pike RS Plus among the tested ZRs really turned out to be the best in terms of longitudinal grip on snow. Now they are available on the market only in the most popular sizes - 205/55R16 and 215/65R16.
Hankook Winter i*pike RS Plus
Hankook Winter i*cept iZ 2 - soft friction tire for a comfortable ride. It is a significantly modernized Winter i*cept iZ of the first generation. The main external difference is the directional tread pattern. This better and faster cleans the contact patch from snow, slush and water, which means it improves the contact of the tire with the road. The number of checkers compared to the previous model has been increased by 20% due to a reduction in their size. This solution increases the number of working edges, which has a positive effect on traction on ice and snow.
Silicon dioxide present in the tread allows it to maintain its elasticity even in the most severe frosts. The manufacturer promises “excellent snow traction and reliable handling on snow and ice.”
On a snowy “road” I really liked the behavior of these tires. The reactions are clear and precise, the beginning of the slides are well predictable. I was especially impressed by how well and clearly the car controlled when sliding.
Hankook promises that new items will appear on our market in the near future in a wide range of sizes - from 155/70R13 to 255/40R19.
Hankook Winter i*cept iZ2
P.S.: not a single car or wall of TestWorld structures was damaged during the tests.
Hankook has everyone's shoes: presentation of six winter tire models
The South Korean tire company Hankook held an unusual event, presenting to European auto journalists six new winter products for different climatic zones on the eve of the winter season. Among the tire experts was Sergei Mishin.
Hankook has everyone's shoes: presentation of six winter tire modelsHankook Winter I Pike RS W419 is a medium-class winter studded tire with a directional tread pattern for city and medium-sized passenger cars.
Country of origin: Korea.
Test of Hankook W419 Winter I Pike RS from the Finnish Test World, conducted in 2016
In 2016, experts from the Finnish organization Test World tested the winter tire Hankuk I Pike 419 at size 205/55 R16 and compared it with 21 budget, mid-range and premium tires. To illustrate the results, the test used similar studded and friction tires, as well as two high-speed Eurowinter tires.
Test results
According to the results of the test, Hankook Winter I*Pike RS W419 took 5th place among studded tires. The tire performed well in “winter” disciplines on ice and snow, and even outperformed more expensive premium models. But on asphalt, the tire fares noticeably worse: it brakes worst on dry surfaces and averagely on wet ones (although the lag in results from similar studded tires is small). Hankuk also turned out to be one of the noisiest tires in the test.
Feedback from the experts who conducted the test:
The tires brake well on ice and snow and provide sufficient control over the vehicle in difficult situations. On asphalt there is a very long braking distance, poor grip and little controllability.
| Discipline | Place | A comment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braking on dry asphalt | 22 | Worst result. a) with the leader of the test (European type tire) - 6.6 meters longer; b) with better friction tires - 3.3 meters longer; c) with the best studded tire - 2.8 meters longer. |
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| Braking on wet asphalt | 9 | Difference in braking distance: a) with the test leader (European type tire) - 10.1 meters longer; b) with better friction tires - 1 meter longer; c) with the best studded tire - 3 meters longer. |
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| Handling on wet asphalt | 15 | a) with the test leader (European type tire) - 5 seconds longer; b) with a better friction tire - 0.9 seconds longer; c) with a better studded tire - 2.3 seconds longer. |
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| Braking on snow | 1 | Best result. Difference in braking distance: a) with a similar studded tire - 0.1 meter shorter; b) with better friction tires - 2.8 meters shorter; c) with a European type tire - 10.7 meters shorter. |
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| Handling on snow | 2 | Lap time difference: a) with the leader of the test (studded tire) - 0.7 seconds longer; b) with a better friction tire - faster by 0.4 seconds; c) with a European type tire - faster by 5.7 seconds. |
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| Acceleration in the snow | 1-3 | Difference in acceleration time to 35 km/h: a) with a studded tire - the same result; b) with the best friction tire - the same result; c) with a European type tire - 1.2 seconds faster. |
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| Braking on ice | 6 | Difference in braking distance: a) with a test leader (studded tire) - 6.7 meters longer; b) with better friction tires - 9.3 meters shorter; c) with a European type tire - 31.5 meters shorter. |
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| Handling on ice | 6 | Lap time difference: a) with the test leader (studded tire) - 1.8 seconds longer; b) with a better friction tire - 1.6 seconds faster; c) with a European type tire - faster by 19.9 seconds. |
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| Acceleration on ice | 5 | Difference in acceleration time from 5 to 20 km/h: a) with the leader of the test (studded tire) - 0.5 seconds longer; b) with a better friction tire - faster by 2.9 seconds; c) with a European type tire - faster by 6.3 seconds. |
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| Noisiness | 19-22 | Worst result. Subjective assessment of noise level - 5 points. | |
 | Economical | 9 | Compared to the test leader, fuel consumption is 1.4% more. |
The Finnish organization Test World tested 26 models of studded and friction winter tires.
List of tested tires:
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80;
Bridgestone Noranza 001;
Continental ContiVikingContact 6;
Continental IceContact 2;
Falken Espia Ice;
Gislaved Nord*Frost 200;
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2;
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic;
Hankook Winter i*cept iZ2 W616;
Hankook Winter i*Pike RS+ W419D;
Kumho WinterCraft ice Wi31;
Landsail Winter Lander;
LingLong Green-Max Winter Ice I-15;
Michelin X-Ice North 3;
Michelin X-ice Xi3;
Nankang Ice Activa Ice-1;
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9;
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2;
Pirelli Ice Zero;
Pirelli Ice Zero FR;
Sava Eskimo Ice;
Sava Eskimo Stud;
Triangle IceLink (PS01);
Vredestein Wintrac Ice;
Yokohama iceGUARD iG65.
Tests of Test World winter tires ultimately resulted in a triumph for the German concern Continental, whose tires won in both categories - studded and non-studded tires. According to TW experts, this was not surprising since Continental is well known in Scandinavia for its high-quality winter tires, and this result should be considered natural.
“IceContact 2 is simply an excellent tire. They provide pleasant ease of handling and behave very predictably even in extreme situations on icy surfaces, experts said. “They also guarantee optimal handling on snow, and overall we can say with confidence that you can feel safe in all winter conditions with Continental tires.”
If everything is clear with Continental, then the tires in second place in the classifications of studded and non-studded tires showed such results that they can be considered a sensation. In the end, the inexpensive Hankook Winter I*Pike RS+ unexpectedly received silver in the test of studded tires, beating not just anyone but the formidable Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 model. Perhaps the Koreans were helped by the fact that not so long ago they opened their own testing ground for winter tires in Ivalo (Finland). The new center is located next to the indoor Test World facility, so Hankook can test winter tires throughout the year without the cost of transportation.
In the non-studded tire category, second place went to Sava Eskimo Ice tires, which, like Hankook, do not belong to the premium segment and were also able to outperform competitors from much more well-known brands. It is worth noting here that Sava is produced by the American giant Goodyear, and their high result speaks in favor of the opinion that with a small budget it is worth choosing tires produced by large manufacturers under their second-tier brands.
This time, several cheap tires from brands from Asia also took part in the test - Landsail, Linglong, Nankang and Triangle. TW noted that they again took places at the bottom of the ranking, but the performance of budget Asian tires is getting better year after year, and perhaps a change in the balance of power is just a matter of time.
TW also noted that tires of various brands produced in Russia are increasingly participating in tests. This time around, Russian factories produced Michelin and Pirelli tires, and experts say the trend is likely to continue in the future as major manufacturers build factories in Russia, in part to cut costs.
In conclusion, it is worth saying that there are no tires that would be most effective in all conditions, and you need to make a choice based on your individual preferences.
WEIGHT OF ASSESSMENTS
Braking - 10%;
Traction force - 10%;
Controllability - 10%;
Controllability (sub.) - 10%.
Braking - 5%;
Traction force - 5%;
Controllability - 5%;
Controllability (sub.) - 5%.
Wet asphalt - 15%:
Braking - 5%;
Controllability - 5%;
Controllability (sub.) - 5%.
Dry asphalt - 10%:
Braking - 5%;
Controllability (sub.) - 5%.
Comfort/efficiency - 15%:
Exchange rate stability - 5%;
Fuel consumption - 5%.
EXPERT OPINIONS
