Today, the choice of winter tires is huge - dozens of sizes, almost all brands, expensive and cheap models. How to do right choice, how to spend a lot of money and then not regret the choice? We have already looked at the advantages and disadvantages of studded and non-studded tires. This choice is mainly influenced by the operating conditions of the car in the city or on a country road. But there's another one important characteristic tires and it’s worth talking about in more detail - this is the width of the tire. There are two opposing opinions among car enthusiasts - some say that you should use narrow tires for the winter, while others prefer wide ones. Let's try to consider the pros and cons of narrow and wide tires.

Advantages of wide winter tires

From a physics point of view, wide tires have a larger area of ​​contact with the road surface, in other words, we have a larger contact patch. Hence, it can be assumed that the adhesion properties of the tire to the surface increase. As a result, you can count on increased traction when accelerating, braking, and cornering. But there are also some concerns when driving on a road with a clearly wet surface, with the presence of puddles - the effect of aquaplaning may occur, i.e. the wheel will “float” and abruptly lose its traction properties. This phenomenon is extremely dangerous for the driver, because The car may go completely out of control. Another disadvantage of wide tires is their weight. The wheel becomes heavier, increasing unsprung mass wheels and, as a result, the load on the suspension.

Features of driving on narrow winter tires

Probably many have seen rally cars prepared for races on a snowy track - they are “shod” with narrow tires. This is where the second, opposite opinion came from: that it is better to use a narrow tire for the winter. It can be assumed that a narrow wheel “cuts” the snow porridge more effectively and allows you to ride with increased speed. But this is all well and good in sporting conditions, where drivers have special training. It is difficult to say what will happen during normal operation; it can only be verified experimentally. But there is one undeniable advantage of a narrow stud compared to a wide one - it is lighter, therefore, the load on the car’s suspension is less. And the price for narrow tires is slightly lower, which can also be considered a plus. In addition, there is a common misconception, taken from school physics lessons, that a narrow tire puts more pressure on the road and, therefore, has more grip.

Tires are in fashion today large sizes, and there is a completely logical explanation for this. Fast car You need good brakes, but you can't squeeze them into small wheels. So it turns out that increasing the diameter of the wheels is partly a forced measure. Thirteen-inch tires are gradually losing ground to 14-inch ones.

And even the most popular foreign-made size in Russia, 195/65R15, is gradually being replaced by the upcoming 205/55R16.

We decided to check how the transition from fifteen to sixteen inches in winter tires affects the car's performance: what does the owner gain and what does the owner lose?

Tires of one model "Nokian-Hakkapelita 5", car " Skoda Octavia A5", for which both sizes are standard. The tests were carried out after a thorough running-in according to the traditional ZR method. The results of measurements and evaluations are given in the tables.

As you can see, there was no convincing victory for some tires over others. In some ways, the “fifteen” size was ahead, but the “sixteenth” took its toll in others. Good tires, summer or winter, is always a compromise. It is almost impossible to improve all properties at the same time. The improvement of some indicators entails a deterioration in others.

What is good about size 195/65R15? These tires have a little better braking in the snow, noticeable better overclocking on snow and ice, lateral grip when “rearranging” on compacted snow. In addition, braking without electronics is more informative, the ride is smoother, as well as cross-country ability in deep snow.

And where do 16-inch ones win? Quite a bit in the sides adhesion properties on ice on the verge of sliding, and when transitioning to sliding, the advantage increases. They also brake a little better on asphalt and save fuel. Although, what is 100 grams per 100 kilometers? Who will notice the saved liter of fuel when a hundred was spent? Handling is just a little better, but only on ice and asphalt. The more noticeable differences are less noise and a clearer course on asphalt.

But the price of a 16-inch tire is significantly higher than its 15-inch counterpart (an average of 6,200 rubles versus 4,700 per piece).

Are the few percentage gains in some exercises worth the cost?

However, the test clearly showed how a very slight change in size affects performance characteristics tires of the same brand.

The “fifteenth” have some advantage over the “sixteenth” in snow disciplines. Therefore, we recommend giving them preference if on your “travel menu” snowy roads- main course. And those who have to drive more on cleared and/or icy asphalt should choose wider “low-profile” tires. Unless, of course, you pay excessive attention to the exterior of the car. After all, the argument “I want!” does not lend itself to constructive analysis.

The most lively debates usually flare up on popular car forums regarding the width of summer tires: some car enthusiasts argue that the wider the better, while others, on the contrary, prefer to choose tires with a medium profile width. As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle - the optimal tire width is different for different operating conditions. But let's talk about everything in order.

What is tire section width? Section width is the distance between the sidewalls of a tire inflated to the nominal pressure (when calculating this parameter, elevations on the sidewalls, type of markings, trim, etc. are not taken into account). The profile width does not always correspond to the tread width, but for one tire model there is always a direct relationship - the wider the profile, the wider the tread.

Based on safety requirements, the width of the tire profile cannot exceed the seat width of the rim by more than 30%.

What does tire section width affect?

First of all, the profile width (for a specific tire model) determines the width of the tread, and, as a consequence, the area of ​​the tire contact patch with road surface. well and last characteristic, in turn, directly affect controllability, directional stability, braking distances, fuel consumption and anti-hydroplaning.

TO positive properties wide tire can be attributed: best parameters acceleration and braking, better directional stability (the car holds the road better when turning high speed), as well as several better cross-country ability in off-road conditions. And of course, appearance- a wide tire always looks more solid on a car.

To the main disadvantageswide tires include reduced resistance to aquaplaning, increased consumption fuel, as well as increased weight (increases the load on the suspension) and a higher price.

If we summarize the advantages and disadvantages, we can come to approximately the following conclusions:

1. If you drive in the city most of the season and don't get carried away extreme driving, and also if you have a small car (engine displacement up to 2000 cc) - for you rational choice is definitely narrow tires- in the city you won’t feel the benefits of a wide tire, but the extras will significantly hit the family budget. At the same time, when driving out onto the highway, you should exercise some caution when entering sharp turns at speed. However, banal compliance with the Rules traffic(traffic rules) will be more than enough.

2. If you often drive on the highway and like to “step on the trigger” , and if, in addition, the engine power allows it, your choice is a wide tire, but at the same time, you will have to be especially careful in the rain and on a wet road - if you get into a puddle, such a tire will behave worse than its narrower sister.

Have you noticed that there is not a single number in the recommendations above? It's because you need to start choosing the width of the tire profile by looking at the car’s operating instructions , where all acceptable tire sizes that can be installed on your car are indicated (such a list is also in the tire pressure table glued to the gas tank flap or in the opening driver's door). And the maximum (of those indicated) profile width will be a “wide tire”, and the minimum, accordingly, will be a “narrow” one.

Installing tires on a car with a profile width not specified by the car manufacturer is extremely unsafe. , even if you don’t need to use spacers for the wheels, don’t play with fire, tires are your safety (and often your life).

Most often, disputes among motorists on various online forums are centered around the topic of width. car tires, which are used in summer time. On the one hand, wide summer tires- this is definitely a practical option, on the other hand, narrower ones are considered more effective. As practice shows, the most ideal option is when the tires have golden mean, as for their width.

The choice of the width of the tire itself often comes down to the width of its tread. What it is? Tire width is the distance between the two side parts of the tire, which is inflated with air to optimal pressure. Tire width is not always the same parameter as tread width, although in some cases there is a direct relationship between the two.

Taking into account the requirements safe driving, the width of the tire section should never be more than 30% higher than the width of the rim. It is worth considering that the width of the disk is often indicated in inches, and the width of the rubber profile in millimeters.

A tire that is too wide can disassemble itself or get a side cut due to a sharp turn or driving onto a curb.

Tire width - what exactly can it affect?

The width of the tire, in the case of specific models of high-quality tires, corresponds to the width of the tread, and therefore also coincides with the area of ​​the main area of ​​contact of the tire directly with the road surface. But it is the area of ​​contact with the road that directly affects the comfort of driving a car, its stability on difficult sections of the road, fuel consumption and the length of the car’s braking distance.

In summer

Wide tires are best used in the summer for sharper steering, reduced slippage at start, and also reduced general temperature tires during active driving. If you drive at a leisurely pace and do not make sudden lane changes, it is better to leave standard size wheels. Reducing the width will reduce fuel consumption by reducing losses due to friction forces.

in winter

In winter, it is better to take narrow tires, which, by increasing the pressure on the road surface, will cut their way through the snow, get out of ruts, and go through frozen mud.

Pros and cons of wide tires

The positive and practical properties of wide tires often include the following:

• Improved overclocking options;
• Ease of braking;
• Improved directional stability and stability;
• Ideal off-road performance.

One of the parameters that is of no small importance is the appearance of the car, because wide tires look solid and impressive.

Among the disadvantages of wide tires, as a rule, there are:

• Low resistance to aquaplaning;
• High fuel consumption;
• Higher weight;
• High price.

Which tires are better, wide or narrow?

To summarize, comparing the disadvantages and advantages of wide tires, we can highlight several key factors:

1. Spending most of the time on country trips and not getting involved in extreme types of driving, and also having subcompact car, choosing narrow tires is the most best option. Traveling around the city on wide tires will not affect the ride quality in any way, and the costs will definitely affect the family budget. Driving on the highway on narrow tires will require careful, careful driving from you, especially on sharp turns, but practice has shown that elementary compliance with traffic rules- This the best remedy preventing dangers and accidents.
2. Frequently making out-of-town trips and having an interest in driving fast, you become a real contender for the purchase of wide tires. But the risk of driving on such tires on a wet road or during heavy rain is no less than if you were driving a car shod with narrow tires.

The above list does not contain any specific figures. The reason for this is that choosing a tire section width starts with reading the owner's manual. specific car, which shows all the permissible tire parameters recommended by the manufacturer for installation on this model. And among the permissible parameters, a wide tire will be considered the maximum permissible figure, and a narrow tire will be considered the minimum permissible.

Warning: Installing car tires with a certain profile width that is not specified by the manufacturer as optimal for a given car model is dangerous not only for driving, but also for life. Even if this excludes the use of wheel spacers, it’s not worth the risk, because life is the most valuable thing we have!

Selection of tire width video

Wide or Narrow tires: which more practical in summer and in winter was last modified: April 25th, 2017 by abc tire

The beginning of winter in the European part of Russia once again makes us doubt the need for studded tires. winter tires. Is there any point in traveling in winter? low profile tires? I tried to find the answer in German AutoBild magazine, taking seven new friction, or studless, tires for the test.

What's better: remount the wheels twice a year, putting them on the same rims different tires, or have two sets assembled - summer and winter? And if summer tires low-profile, then is it necessary to follow the “experienced advice” that says that tires for winter should be taller and narrower, that is, have high profile, and mounted on wheels of a smaller diameter. After all, everyone knows how large openwork wheels and wide “rollers” decorate almost any car. And you want to be beautiful not only in the summer, even if you have to sacrifice something. How great were these victims, and the Germans undertook to find out by comparing the behavior Volkswagen car Golf in different conditions on standard studless tires of size 205/55 R16 and in more fashionable tires 225/40 R18 of seven new models. All these models, by the way, are also presented on the Russian market.

The good news is that modern tire technology can minimize the impact of tread width itself on vehicle performance. Today much more important role play lineup rubber compounds, where every self-respecting manufacturer has its own know-how, and the tread pattern is modern tires, as a rule, either directional or asymmetrical. It is believed that a directional pattern, which requires compliance with the direction of rotation of the wheel during installation, better resists hydroplaning, that is, the tire floating in puddles. A asymmetrical pattern, when the tire has an external and inside with different properties, allows you to achieve better driving comfort and reduced noise when driving. The test results confirmed this only partly: in the hydroplaning test the most high speed, in which the wheels maintained contact with the coating in a layer of water, actually showed two directional patterns - Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 2 and Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D, but only in straight-line driving. In the wet turn, the asymmetric Pirelli Winter SottoZero Serie II tire came out ahead: it was on this tire that the Golf began to drift off the line later than on any other. Two more asymmetric tires-- The Continental ContiWinterContact TS 830P and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 proved to be average in these exercises. And the outsiders were the Chinese product Maxxis MA-PW Presa Snow, which has a directional pattern, and, oddly enough, the asymmetrical Finnish Nokian WRg2. True, the latter was rehabilitated on a dry road, where the car shod with it demonstrated better handling, and was also recognized as one of the quietest and most economical, losing only to the loudest Michelin tire in the rolling resistance test. By the way, in almost all dry tests the tires are of the same model, but with different profile showed almost equal results, thereby calling into question the very meaning of using low tires.

There is one more fly in the ointment for those who like to show off: in terms of noise and comfort, it is definitely preferable standard tires. In addition, tests have confirmed that a narrower tread actually does a better job of removing water and snow and mud from the contact patch: the speed at which hydroplaning begins on wide low profile tires is significantly reduced. For example, a 16-inch Dunlop can travel almost 10 km/h faster through water than a wider 18-inch. But tests on snow revealed the unconditional advantage of wide wheels: they transmit traction force more efficiently, hold better in turns, and the braking distance is shorter on them (as, indeed, on a wet road). The most slippery ones in the snow were Michelin tires, because of which in the final table they slipped to penultimate, sixth place with a “satisfactory” rating, and the Maxxis tires earned a “failure” for their disgusting behavior on wet surfaces. Overall a C German experts Nokian was also rated, and Goodyear, Continental, Dunlop and Pirelli tires were found to be well suited to the conditions European winter. It is curious that all four models showed quite high rolling resistance, that is, you will have to pay for tenacity with some increase in fuel consumption.

But the topic of costs for the tires themselves is much more important, because with an increase in the tire diameter and width, the price of the same models, as a rule, grows exponentially. And here the test results primarily warn against purchasing budget tires manufacturers with a dubious reputation, who have recently been actively developing both the European and our markets. In other words, 16-inch tires from a well-established brand are better than luxury ones. Chinese tires 18th diameter. Otherwise, options are possible.