Tires are in vogue today large sizes, and there is a perfectly logical explanation for this. speed 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 a measure that is partly forced. Thirteen-inch tires are gradually losing ground to 14-inch ones.

And even the most popular foreign brand 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 performance of the car: what wins 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 evaluation are given in the tables.

As you can see, a convincing victory of some tires over others did not work. In some ways, the “fifteenth” size turned out to be ahead, but the “sixteenth” took its toll in another. good tires, summer or winter - always a compromise. It is almost impossible to improve all properties at the same time. The improvement of some indicators entails the deterioration of others.

Why is the size 195/65R15 good? These tires have a little better braking in the snow, visible better overclocking on snow and ice, lateral grip when "rearranging" on packed snow. In addition, braking without electronics is more informative, ride smoothness is better, as well as patency in deep snow.

And what wins 16-inch? Quite a bit in lateral grip properties on ice on the verge of slips, and when switching to slip, the advantage increases. They also slow down 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 has been spent? Just a little better handling, but only on ice and asphalt. Of the more noticeable differences - less noise and a clearer course on the pavement.

But the price of a 16-inch tire is significantly superior to its 15-inch counterpart (on average, 6200 rubles against 4700 apiece).

Are these costs worth a few percent gain in some exercises?

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

Fifteenths have some advantage over sixteenths in snow disciplines. Therefore, we recommend giving them preference if your “travel menu” includes snowy roads- the main course. And for those who have to drive more on cleared and / or icy asphalt, you 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!" not amenable to constructive analysis.

Unfortunately, there are still drivers who do not understand why it is worth changing completely new summer tires to winter ones. After all, the novelty has stable blocks, large checkers of snow can be removed.

• The first reason: its composition. At 0 degrees, the tire will become oak, like a plastic car from Detsky Mir.
• The second problem: the destruction of rubber in winter time, so in the summer you will not have a new set, but a pretty shabby one. A tire for the warm season is needed to remove water, but not snow.

It is worth choosing the wrong type of rubber, as this will reduce all the advantages of the best winter tires. But decide on this case extremely difficult, because the forums are constantly arguing about which is better.

We offer to consider narrow and wide tires from different points of view.

What it is?

Before you start talking about choosing rubber, you need to figure out what the profile width is. This is the distance between the sidewalls of a tire that has been inflated to normal state. The width of the profile and tread do not always coincide, but a pattern can be identified: the wider the profile, the wider the tread. But we should move on to the question of what tires to choose for the winter.

For those motorists who do not understand some of the intricacies at all, the best option will be the rubber proposed by the manufacturer. It is based on the fact that a particular model is better to ride on a particular tire. For this, the parameters are prescribed in the instruction manual. Studies are being carried out, during which they find out at what width of the ramp and load the machine will operate in the optimal mode. Experts will always be able to advise which tires to choose for the winter.

The pros and cons of a narrow tire

Have you ever wondered why some motorists choose wide tires, while others prefer narrow ones? In most cases, the choice is influenced by the type of road on which you have to drive. Outside the city, as you know, pits and large puddles often form, the snow is not cleared. Therefore, they put narrow rubber, because it quickly removes water and snow, overcomes drifts, helps the car overcome an obstacle. Definitely answer what Winter tires better, impossible.

When should you choose wide tires?

Ideal for urban environments where there is little snow and ice on the roads. But it’s not worth it to “scorch” and try to turn around on such a tire. It is extremely difficult to cope with the management in this case. But she also has disadvantages. More high price compared to narrow tires, high weight, fuel consumption.

Are you looking to buy new tires for your car? Then, before heading to the store, read the next block. In this case, you will know exactly what you need. Choice winter tires requires special attention.

In this case, the following parameters should be taken into account:

• car brand;
• weather in the area where the machine is supposed to be used;
• road condition;
• driving style;
• the type of rubber recommended by the manufacturer.

For many car enthusiasts, value for money is often extremely important. It's no secret that supernova, heavy-duty tires exist, but the cost is high. If they do not provide special speeds and other advantages, then is it worth going to extremes and overpaying for a brand or a novelty?

Usually choose wide summer version and narrow winter. The explanation is simple. In the warm season, we mainly drive on asphalt. Wide tires improve anti-contact. A narrower wheel will more easily pierce a rut both in loose snow and on a snowy track. This has a positive effect on the handling and driving characteristics of the car.

Studded tires or not?

This question was asked by every motorist, for sure. Studded tires have a number of advantages, such as stability on snow and ice due to anti-skid spikes. There is only one drawback, but it is almost impossible to get rid of it: noise. If trips out of town are a frequent occurrence for you, you should choose a studded option, since the roads are not always cleaned there, and the likelihood of ice formation is high.

The advantage of not having spikes is comfort. Such rubber does not publish unpleasant sounds improve the acoustic performance of the vehicle. But there are also disadvantages: grip on a surface such as ice. The degree of safety is much less compared to a studded tire. This option is suitable for urban conditions due to increased comfort.

Tread patterns car tires have three main forms:

• asymmetric;
• symmetric;
• directed.

Each has its own benefits. Let's take a brief look at each.

asymmetrical pattern the most modern. It has an outer and inner side. What are they made for? If we compare tires with a directional pattern, then the disadvantage of the latter will be excessive noise. It arises from the snow that flies out of the aisles. In asymmetric tires, snow removal occurs due to the presence of longitudinal channels and additional blocks.

Symmetric– Tires can be changed seasonally without reboarding from rim to rim. The sign is that the drawing on right side completely symmetrical on the left.

Directed- maximizes improvement driving performance on the snow. Due to the directionality, good self-cleaning occurs, which maximizes chain characteristics.

The directional pattern must be installed in the direction of rotation, which is indicated on the sidewall of the tire. Asymmetrical - on the outside and inside from the car.

The optimal choice of tires is as follows. A large number of lamellae, due to which traction occurs in winter, a sufficiently discharged tread and spike. Such a wheel has a more rigid sidewall, which reduces the braking distance on asphalt from 2 to 4 meters less.

Obviously, the purchase should be taken responsibly, because the rubber not only provides a comfortable ride, but also the safety of the participants. traffic. We hope that now the question is what kind of rubber better in winter: narrow or wide, no problem for you.

In the process of choosing winter tires, no unnecessary questions should arise - in the instructions for the car, the manufacturer clearly gives all the sizes of tires that can be installed. But, wanting to give the car a sporty character, to make it taller and softer, motorists are ready to violate the recommendations of manufacturers. And they break them. Yes, and the automakers themselves in the recommendations indicate several different sizes tires for discs. Larger and wider wheels look more spectacular. But is everything so simple? Let's try to figure out which tires are better in winter - narrow or wide.

What is the profile width?

Before talking about the characteristics of wide and narrow rubber, it is necessary to find out what the width of the profile is and what it affects. So, this is the distance between the side parts of the tire, which is inflated to the usual state recommended by the manufacturer. The profile size and tread width may not always match. However, there is a pattern - the greater the width of the profile, the greater the width and tread. Everyone needs to know this.

Wide and narrow

There have always been disputes about which tires are better in winter - narrow or wide. Thus, fans of narrower tires claim that they have a higher specific pressure with a smaller contact patch with the roadway. Opposite side I am sure that wide tires have longer sipes that are responsible for traction in slippery areas.

Experts compared two tire sizes on ice and on snow. So, Nokian Happelita tires with dimensions 205/55R16 and 225/45R17 took part in the experiment. To compare grip performance, four tests were carried out. The car was accelerated on ice, then the braking was checked. Next, acceleration was carried out on snow, followed by a decrease in speed. The test results were mixed. Winter tires should be narrower or wider - it all depends on the characteristics of operation and the climate of a particular region.

On slippery surfaces, wider tires brake best. Due to the sipes, the total length of which is longer, the grip properties on ice are really better. But it can be taken into account that the car was accelerated to 30 kilometers per hour. Braking was carried out from 30 to 5 kilometers per hour. On a packed snow surface, the test results were the opposite. In the snow, the length of the lamellas has little effect. Important role also plays a reduced area of ​​contact with the road. And, therefore, the pressure in the contact patch is also greater. This allows the tire to push through the snow. As for the dynamics of acceleration, then on the snow it is the same.

Test results

Let's see a comparison of narrow and wide winter tires. On snow on narrow tires, the car accelerated to 50 kilometers per hour in 3.66 seconds. On wide - also for 3.66. And here are the results of braking tests - on narrow tires, the car slowed down from 50 to 5 kilometers per hour with a stopping distance of 27.11 meters. On wide the result was - 28.99 seconds.

And here is how the rubber performs on ice. Acceleration on narrow wheels took 3.84 seconds. On the wide car accelerated a little longer - in 3.55 seconds. Braking performance on ice are as follows: the stopping distance on narrow ones is 17.91 meters, on wide ones - 17.62 meters. Braking was carried out from 30 to 5 kilometers per hour.

As can be seen from the results, what are wide and what are narrow are approximately the same, and in different conditions needed different tires. Therefore, it is difficult to answer the question of which tires are better in winter - narrow or wide.

Wet road tests

The shortest stopping distance wet pavement provide wider tires. In addition, a car equipped with such tires drives better. But as far as aquaplaning is concerned, here the wide tires proved to be bad, much worse than the narrow ones.

Dry winter road

Here, winter tires are not in their element. But, as tests of winter tires (wide and narrow) have shown, the first ones significantly improve the car's handling characteristics and shorten the braking distance. But you have to pay for it in fuel consumption. The wider the rubber, the higher its rolling resistance. This means that fuel consumption goes up.

Spikes or Velcro

It is also a topic of constant debate between motorists. Someone thinks that non-studded winter tires are ineffective in our country, someone thinks the opposite. Let's see what to choose for an ordinary motorist for winter operation car.

Studded tires

In my own way chemical composition Winter tires are much softer than summer tires. But it should be noted that it is rougher, unlike Velcro. Naturally, these tires have special inserts, spikes. You can often hear that these very spikes are erased on the pavement, and also fly out. Yes, indeed, it is. But modern technologies are constantly evolving - today you can find on sale the most modern tires who can hide spikes on the pavement. But when the car hits a snowy track, the spike reappears and bites into the ice or snow.

In addition, a water film may be present between the tire surface and the road surface. This significantly reduces tire grip on ice. The spike is teeth that literally cut this film, thereby significantly improving grip. Studded wheels are very popular and effective, which is why they are now sold in huge quantities in countries with harsh climates.

Advantages and disadvantages of studded tires

Reviews say that these tires are distinguished by high grip on ice and snow surfaces under any loads exerted on them. It can be turns, acceleration, braking. They provide shorter stopping distances on icy roads. Patency in deep snow they have a very big one.

Among the minuses, reviews highlight high noise, especially when driving on asphalt. On the wet grip not just bad, but terrible. Due to the protrusion of the stud, the contact area between the tire and the road is reduced. The grip decreases already at a frost of minus 20 degrees - the ice becomes stronger and denser, and the spike is no longer able to break through it effectively. Fuel consumption also increases due to the fact that the tire is very rough. There are slight vibrations on the steering wheel. Spikes often fly out and also grind off. Service life - no more than 4-5 seasons. At first glance, there are more pluses than minuses. But it will not give comfort, as the reviews say. She will give you confidence high permeability, as well as manageability.

Velcro

Velcro or non-studded winter tires are a completely different thing. She can solve two problems. The tire is able to keep the car on wet pavement with slight ice. It can also keep the car on ice. To do this, soft rubber is used so that the tire can stick to the road surface. But at the same time, the tire material must also be rigid enough to provide normal handling. Riding on dry asphalt is contraindicated for Velcro - as a result, it overheats. Because of this, controllability will deteriorate. And in all other conditions, these tires are only slightly inferior to their studded counterparts.

Among the advantages can be identified the lack of noise. Fuel consumption will be only slightly more than summer tires. There are no vibrations in the steering wheel, tires behave well on wet pavement. The service life is higher than that of studded counterparts. There are also disadvantages. A car on such tires will be worse controlled on ice and snow compared to spikes. The braking distance on icy roads is also increased. In snow conditions, the permeability is slightly lower.

What's better?

Experts give advice on choosing winter tires. If the region is characterized by severe winters, then here you need to buy a studded tire. But for the southern regions, you can get by with Velcro. As for parameters such as width, everything is not so simple here.

Narrow tires are needed, for the most part, in order to rut in snow and snowdrifts. Then, when she hits the asphalt, she will hook onto it with spikes. Therefore, narrow tires for the winter are suitable for those places where there is a lot of snow, and the roads are not cleaned. Here, narrow tires will allow you to be king on the road. But there is also a minus - this is a contact patch. Reviews say that narrow tires have a smaller contact patch on hard surfaces. In addition, it is simply uncomfortable to move on ice or icy asphalt on narrow tires.

With wide studded tires in winter, you can be really confident on icy roads, but without snow. The contact patch here is maximum, so the car will hold well on the ice. Significantly increases directional stability from side drift.

Now it’s clear which tires are better in winter - narrow or wide. For most cases, wide is better.

Most often, disputes among motorists in various forums on the network are conducted around the topic of the width of car tires that 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 regarding their width.

The choice of the width of the rubber itself often comes down to the width of its tread. What it is? Tire width is the distance between the two sidewalls of a tire that is inflated 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.

Considering requirements safe ride, the width of the tire profile should never exceed the width of the rim by more than 30%. It should be borne in mind that often the width of the disk is indicated in inches, and the width of the rubber profile in millimeters.

A tire that is too wide can flare or get side cuts due to a sharp turn or curb.

Tire width - what exactly can it affect?

Tire width, in case of specific models quality tires, corresponds to the tread width, and therefore also coincides with the area of ​​the main area of ​​contact of the tire directly with pavement. 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 length stopping distance car.

Summer

Wide tires are best used in summer, for sharper steering, less slip at start, and lower general temperature tires for active driving. If you drive at a measured pace and do not make sudden lane changes, it is better to leave the wheels of a standard size. Reducing the width will reduce fuel consumption by reducing frictional losses.

in winter

In winter, it is better to take narrow tires, which, due to the increase in pressure on the roadway, will cut their way through the snow, get out of the rut, and pass through the frozen mud.

Pros and cons of wide tires

The positive and practical properties of wide tires are often as follows:

• Improved overclocking options;
• Ease of braking;
• Improved exchange rate stability and stability;
• Ideal off-road capability.

One of the important parameters is appearance car, because wide tires look solid and impressive.

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

• Low resistance to hydroplaning;
• 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 in country trips and not getting carried away by extreme types of driving, as well as having subcompact car, the choice of narrow tires is the most best option. Traveling around the city on wide tires will not affect the quality of the ride, and the costs will definitely affect the family budget. Driving on the track on narrow tires will require you to carefully drive carefully, especially on sharp turns, but practice has shown that the elementary compliance with traffic rules- this is the best remedy prevent hazards and accidents.
2. Often making country trips and having an interest in fast driving, you become a real contender for buying wide tires. But the risk of driving on such tires on a wet road or during heavy rain does not become less than if you were driving a car shod with narrow tires.

The listing above does not include any specific figures. The reason for this is that the choice of tire profile width begins with the study of the operating instructions. specific car, which shows all the allowable tire parameters that are recommended by the manufacturer for installation on this model. And among the allowable parameters, the maximum allowable figure will be considered a wide bus, and the minimum allowable one will be considered a narrow bus.

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

Tire selection video

Wide or narrow tires: which is more practical in summer and winter was last modified: April 25th, 2017 by abc-tyre

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 considered the advantages and disadvantages of studded and non-studded tires. Basically, this choice is influenced by the operating conditions of the car in the city or on a suburban highway. But there is one more important characteristic tires and it is worth talking about it in more detail - this is the width of the tire. There are two opposing opinions among motorists - some say that narrow tires should be installed for the winter, while others prefer wide ones. Let's try to consider the pros and cons of a narrow and wide rubber.

Benefits 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 grip properties tires with surface increase. As a result, you can count on increased grip during acceleration and braking, as well as when cornering. But there are some concerns when driving on a road with a pronounced wet surface, with the presence of puddles - the effect of aquaplaning may occur, i.e. the wheel will “float” and sharply lose its grip. This phenomenon is extremely dangerous for the driver, because. the car can get completely out of control. Another disadvantage of wide rubber is the weight. The wheel becomes heavier, increasing unsprung weight 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" in narrow tires. This is where the second, opposite opinion came from, that it is better to put a narrow tire in the winter. It can be assumed that a narrow wheel “cuts” the snow porridge more efficiently and allows you to drive with increased speed. But that's all well and good in sporting conditions where drivers have special training. It is difficult to say how it will be during normal operation, it can only be verified empirically. But there is one indisputable advantage of a narrow spike compared to a wide one - it is lighter, therefore, the load on the suspension of the car is less. And the price of narrow tires is slightly lower, which can also be attributed to the pluses. 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.