The German publication "Auto, Motor und Sport" tested 14 brands of premium non-studded winter tires on snow, wet and dry roads to find out if the most expensive tires are really the best?

Many buyers research the range of tires on the Internet before buying. In this case, as a rule, tires are sorted by price, from the cheapest models to the more expensive ones. Obviously, the price plays the most important role when choosing. But the experts of the publication “auto, motor und sport” acted in the exact opposite way, deciding in their assessments to rely not on price, but on quality, and first of all, on the level of safety.

GT Radial tires - not recommended for winter. At a relatively low cost, this brand has demonstrated an unsatisfactory level of traction and too long a stopping distance, so that in this case the buyer runs the risk of learning the proverb "the miser pays twice" firsthand. The “recommended” rating was received by the following representatives of the middle price segment: Japanese Toyo, as well as Sava and Fulda, representatives of the Goodyear concern. The latter two demonstrated outstanding performance on snow, but failed to rise to the level of premium tires in the wet test. They disappointed the experts with too long braking distances on wet and dry roads.

Vredestein, which represented the Indian company Apollo, also fell into the category of "recommended" models. Recall that the Indian Apollo recently acquired the Dutch company Vredestein.

The secret of the tire's success in testing is its balanced behavior under all road conditions. Or shine in one category while showing little weakness in others. The best example of such a strategy is the Nokian WRD3, which performed modestly in the hydroplaning test, set the record in snow braking, demonstrated the best traction and the most outstanding driving performance, scoring a hundred out of a hundred possible on a snow-covered track. True, this model did not show the fastest lap time on snow, but it demonstrated high accuracy and incredible ease of control.

Another near-perfect tire is the Goodyear Ultra Grip 8. In the snow, it came close to Nokian's record numbers. And on dry and wet roads, I did not find any problems worth mentioning. The Goodyear delivers fantastic performance even in the top speed range, the only blot on the model's reputation being its sub-optimal dry stopping distance.

The Continental TS 830 also demonstrated balanced driving performance. And although it did not manage to achieve the same high performance on the snow, it demonstrated aerobatics on the wet track. The Continental lagged behind Goodyear in points, scoring nearly as many points as the third-placed Michelin. The Michelin Alpin 4 takes a significant step forward from its predecessors, maintaining Michelin's traditionally high performance while also improving dry performance.

Another model that received a “highly recommended” rating is the Dunlop D4, another brainchild of the Goodyear concern. She showed no weaknesses, but, unlike her “little sister”, who set new standards in hydroplaning protection, she did not shine in any category.

The price issue was not considered in principle in this test. Goodyear, like Dunlop, is a premium brand. Their prices are almost the same. In addition, they have the same rolling resistance index. Tests carried out on a special stand showed that the level of rolling resistance of modern winter tires is almost the same as that of summer tires. However, the best result in the rolling resistance test was shown by Pirelli, and the last place, despite the manufacturer's best efforts, went to the Bridgestone LM 32. It seems that the time has come for Bridgestone to launch a new premium model on the market.

Advantages: impressive driving performance, good traction and short braking distances on snow, good wet performance, high level of comfort.

Flaws:

Advantages: very good handling and short braking distances on wet roads, good performance on snow, low noise level.

Flaws: not optimal braking distance on dry roads.

Advantages: balanced driving performance in all conditions, very short braking distances on wet roads, high level of comfort.

Flaws:

Advantages: best performance on snow to date compared to competitive models, good performance on dry pavement.

Flaws: mediocre wet performance.

Advantages: balanced driving performance in all conditions, short braking distances on wet roads, high level of comfort, low noise level.

Flaws: not optimal traction on snow.

Advantages: good driving characteristics, short braking distances and good traction on snow, good wet performance.

Flaws: mediocre level of hydroplaning protection.

Advantages: good driving characteristics, short braking distances and good traction on snow, very low rolling resistance.

Flaws: unsatisfactory low hydroplaning threshold.

Advantages: good driving performance on dry roads, high level of comfort, low noise level.

Flaws: mediocre snow traction, mediocre aquaplaning protection.

Advantages: very good driving characteristics, good traction and short braking distances on snow.

Flaws: mediocre wet and dry performance, high rolling resistance.

Advantages: very good driving characteristics, excellent traction and short braking distances on snow.

Flaws: average performance on dry and wet roads, too high rolling resistance.

Advantages: excellent comfort, low noise level, satisfactory behavior on snow.

Flaws: too long braking distance on dry road, high rolling resistance.

Advantages: good driving characteristics and very good braking on dry roads.

Flaws: unsatisfactory performance on snow.

Advantages: very good driving characteristics on dry roads, high level of comfort.

Flaws:

Advantages: good performance on dry roads, high level of comfort.

Flaws: unsatisfactory behavior on snow, mediocre - on a wet road.

Best and worst performance in the test:

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These manufacturers spend heavily on new technologies and investments in research and development.

Segment B is budget tires from well-known manufacturers. Sometimes tires from the upper segment, which have been produced for more than 5 years, fall into this group.

Segment B includes the brands Lassa, Hankook, Kumho, Nankang, Barum, Cooper, Mastercraft, GT Radial, Nexen.

Segment C is the products of little-known manufacturers and sometimes of not very high quality. Most of these tires are produced in the South East region and Latin America.

Oksana Starostina

Commercial Director of Auto-Futura LLC

It is quite difficult to determine the quality of tires by eye for a simple consumer. In order not to get into trouble, I recommend not to buy frankly cheap tires. In summer it is better to take asymmetric ones, and in winter - directional ones.

The smoother the tread pattern, the lower the noise. Noise also depends on the transverse slots of the tread pattern on the sides of the tire.

The fewer these slots coincide with each other, the less noise.

There is an opinion that a new tire should be in rubber "hairs". This is not true. Modern tires come out of production almost smooth, and the fibers only worsen the behavior of the wheel on the road.

Pay attention to the fact that the rubber is non-greasy and does not resemble the presence of inclusions such as sand in its composition. Also look at the joints. The smoother they are, the better.

Manufacturer:

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Expensive or cheap tires

Tires differ not only in seasonality and purpose, but also in price categories. On the one hand, it is clear that more expensive tires are made using more advanced technologies and therefore have additional remarkable qualities compared to cheaper ones. On the other hand, it is quite possible that these additional features, which cause a higher price, are of no value to you personally and are not needed at all. In this case, it would be wise to save a little.

To make your choice between expensive and cheap or more consciously, let's see what categories of tires in terms of price exist.

Conventionally, all tires can be divided into three classes. The cheapest tires belong to the economy class, the premium class corresponds to a higher status and, accordingly, the price level, and the sports class is a kind of tire elite.

If you use the car for quiet movement in ordinary urban conditions, do not violate the speed limit and do not like dizzying maneuvers, economy class tires will perfectly meet your needs. This category of tires, as a rule, is distinguished not only by a democratic price, but also by increased durability, which further reduces the cost of rubber. It is these tires that are installed by default on most budget cars.

If you're willing to pay for more comfort and added safety, consider premium tires from the High Performance or Grand Touring series. Tires in this category are distinguished by increased handling, smooth running and extremely low noise levels.

The Max Performance, Extreme Performance and Ultra High Performance sports tires are designed to provide the best possible safety and handling even in the most extreme conditions. However, the level of comfort is not their strong point, as they come in minimal sizes or for summer performance. It is not advisable to use such tires for everyday life.

When planning a budget for the purchase of tires for a car, do not forget about one more important circumstance. By price categories, not only the tires themselves are divided, but also their manufacturers. For example, such well-known brands as Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli and Continental can be attributed to the premium class. The tires produced by them, even those referred by the manufacturer to the economy class line, may well surpass in quality the best tires that some little-known company from Central Asia can produce.

So what are the best tires to buy? With certainty, we can only recommend choosing the most reliable manufacturer, known for the high quality of its products. The choice between economy, premium and sport class is determined mainly by your needs and preferences. It matters, of course, and the amount that you have. But reducing your requirements for the level of security in favor of saving is not worth it. Before agreeing to buy tires from a cheaper manufacturer, it makes sense to study the offer for the sale of used tires. You can easily find high-end premium brand tires there for economy class prices.

The modern market of auto parts, parts, consumables, allows you to make a choice based on personal needs, financial capabilities and other factors, not limited to the "meager assortment" that was recently present in Russia. Manufacturers of car tires have made significant progress. Of course, the leaders were, are and remain Japanese, Korean, European and American designs, but the domestic industry is also developing quite actively.

Difficulties of choice

In this situation, completely different difficulties have come for car owners. Instead of looking for a more or less suitable tire, you have to study the range more deeply, understand the characteristics, properties and try to find the best option in terms of good product quality and affordable price. A fairly large group of car owners has long and successfully used such an option as imported.

One of the main questions that users ask is what is the difference between premium tires and economy products.

Let's try to study the pros and cons of the options offered for comparison. The conclusion that will be made at the end of our little research will be the decision for the subsequent purchase.

Main differences

Car tires differ in a number of parameters, the main of which are:

Appointment,

Seasonality of use

Dimensions,

Manufacturing firm,

protector shape,

Price.

There is another criterion that often becomes decisive for many users. Without trying to "bother" with the study of any issues on the arrangement of automobile wheels, they completely trust the brands. Often the choice is made precisely from premium products.

Indeed, elite car tires are made from the highest quality raw materials, using the most modern, high-tech equipment. Maintaining a high status requires the formation of just such an approach to all manufacturing issues. But the result is obvious. Even
buy buelite tires in quality from a reliable manufacturer, you can be sure that the product will be of the highest quality.

However, one should not forget about the cost of production. As a rule, owners of elite cars can afford not to be interested in such a "trifle" as the price of a set of wheels, including those with disks in addition. Large companies, officials, who are fed from the state and municipal budgets, are also not burdened with the problem of choice. But buying a set of tires for a simple motorist, even with an acceptable level of income, is essential for a personal or family wallet. Nevertheless, every car owner is aware that high-quality car tires cannot be cheap.

Best deal

Offers to make a choice, order and buy tires from Japan. We specialize in the selection, testing, pre-sale preparation and sale of branded Japanese car tires. Products sold on the domestic market are characterized by:

excellent quality,

Lack of mileage in Russia,

Excellent road grip

wear resistance,

Stylish modern look.

And another advantageous advantage of bu rubber sold in our online store Yaponochka is an affordable price. We sell the product and guarantee its quality and the possibility of long-term flawless operation.

High-quality winter tires - without exaggeration can be called a pledge with the advent of cold weather. This question requires the whole seriousness of the approach to the process of their purchase, in which the manufacturer's brand, driving style, vehicle brand and climatic conditions of the region of operation play a role. A significant responsibility is assigned to winter tires, because in cold weather it becomes more difficult to drive a car, especially when it snows, sleet, freezes, etc.

How to start choosing tires for winter weather

Any rating of winter tires should include products from different price segments, since not every car enthusiast can buy expensive tires that still have to be changed every year. At the same time, you should not save on the safety of yourself and your passengers, because mistakes on a snowy road are very expensive. When choosing these products, you need to pay attention to what exists for winter:

• studded. Designs owe their name, since such tires are equipped with metal spikes that play an anti-slip role. On such rubber, neither ice nor snow drifts are terrible, but they are of little use for dry asphalt. In addition, they significantly increase the noise level while driving;
• friction (they are also Velcro). They are characterized by a special lamelized surface. Tightly cut sipes and a special tread ensure a reliable connection with the roadway. In extremely snowy areas, such winter tires may not be effective enough, but on dry roads they behave confidently and do not make noise.

Friction is divided into 2 varieties: European and Scandinavian. The first type is designed for damp regions with a predominance of slush and wet snow. They do not have a relief tread, but they are equipped with drainage grooves. Scandinavian ones are softer in themselves, equipped with slots and lamellas. They are characterized by high cross-country ability on ice or snow.

The most affordable and high quality winter tires

1. SnowPROX S941. This is a budget manufacturer with a good reputation. Production is focused on cars of middle class. Such rubber behaves well both on a snow-covered surface and on wet porridge. It does not make noise and is quite soft due to the inclusion of silicone.

   

2. MA STL from the Chinese company Maxxxis. The main advantage of this product is its low price compared to competitors in the 2019 season. However, this product also behaves normally on snow-covered road surfaces. The tires of this model are characterized by standard acceleration and braking characteristics and an average noise figure while driving.

   

3. KrisAlp HP. The developer is considered to be the well-known company in the automotive world, Kleber, which is a subsidiary of the French Michelin. The decent quality of products is explained by the technologies and materials that are used in the creation of more expensive types of products. The model is positioned as focused on powerful cars that require increased cross-country ability.

   

4. Hakkapeliitta 8. The most famous Finnish manufacturer has "noted" even in the budget price segment. He presented studded tires with special sipes and tread patterns to the attention of our drivers. For the 2019 winter season, they are good because they allow you to literally cling to the ice and overcome various road bumps with a decent level of grip.

   

5. Norman N4. Another example of Finnish products. For a relatively small amount of money, the manufacturer provided spikes equipped with a special support pad. Thanks to these properties, due softness and elasticity are ensured.

   

6. Blizzak Spike, featured in this category by manufacturer Bridgestone. He got into the rating of the best winter tires due to the good quality of production and low price. These tires have cross-shaped studs that not only hold themselves very well, but also provide the right grip on icy roads. Experts consider this a good solution for the domestic climate.

   

7. Nordmaster ST. Tires that combine decent quality at an affordable price. Products are interesting in that they are produced by a domestic manufacturer. It boasts a reinforced side edge and an original tread pattern, which will provide the required grip on winter roads in some of our latitudes.

   

The middle class of winter tire manufacturers are the best representatives

The best winter tires can be in the middle price class. All such products are characterized by high quality at an affordable cost. 3-4 thousand rubles per wheel is a price tag that most Russian car owners are quite capable of pulling. For this price, they can become the owners of quality.

1. The top of winter tires from the middle price category opens with the Winter Contact TS 860 tire. The manufacturer is the well-known company Continental. This model is considered by many experts to be the best in the middle range. First of all, this happened due to excellent sound insulation and driving performance.

   

2. Cinturato Winter is another example of winter tires that approach the premium class in terms of properties. They have proven themselves as an excellent assistant when driving on dry or snowy surfaces in winter. Best suited for climates with moderate winters.

   

3. Alpin 5. An example of good tires, in the development of which the legendary Michelin took part. The optimal solution for driving on snow-covered sections of the road. However, on wet and dry pavement it does not behave so well, and the noise level is far from ideal.

   

4. Blizzak ML-01. An inexpensive representative of winter tires, which may well be the answer to the question of which one is better. For an extremely low price, the consumer receives products with average performance. It can be considered a profitable purchase in a limited budget.

   

5. I Cept RS 2. These products are manufactured by Hankook. It cannot be considered one of the leaders in its segment, since it makes quite a lot of noise. But on a dry surface, it feels great, it overcomes snow drift and ice on the pavement well.

   

Many of the winter tires in this segment could be translated into, given their positive characteristics. However, for most domestic car owners, the decisive factor will still be acceptable quality at an affordable price.

Top premium winter tires 2019

Leading manufacturers will be happy to offer the best tires for snowy roads, ice and severe frosts with the highest performance. Each car owner determines the key criteria for himself, especially since for R15 or R16 tires they may differ slightly. No matter what tire you end up with, premium tires combine high levels of performance with excellent quality.

For the sake of objectivity, we offer some of the most popular varieties:

1. Ice Contact2 from the world famous manufacturer Continental. The main advantages include the studded cover for more efficient and easier work. They are great for both ice and snow. Drivers will definitely be pleased with the low noise level from them when driving on a winter road. The main disadvantage is the high cost among analogues.

   

2. Hakkapeliitta 9. Finnish-made products that know firsthand the realities of harsh, and even extreme, winter weather. This is an ideal solution for those drivers who are forced to live in the northern regions for a long time. These tires are perfect for both urban and off-road use. Another interesting fact: they retain their qualities for a long time under various temperature conditions.

   

3. Blizzak DMV2. Products of this brand, developed by Bridgestone, are not equipped with spikes, that is, they are of the Velcro type. A good sample of tires, in which the developers tried to take into account all the mistakes of the past analogues. They were able to demonstrate a high degree of controllability, a low level of generated noise and other performance characteristics.

   

4. Nord Frost 100. Tires from a German manufacturer based on a composition of rubber and silicone with the addition of technical hydrocarbons, as well as special innovative polymer components. As a result, the products are characterized by impeccable adhesion to the roadway. She is not afraid of ice and snow in the same way as dry asphalt.

   

5. Ice Zero. Products of the world-famous Pirelli studio. The company constantly introduces new developments, seeking to improve performance. The new tires have a significantly improved rubber composition, a changed tread pattern, and the products as a whole undergo more stringent technological selection. Thanks to all these factors, it satisfies the needs of domestic motorists by 100%.

   

6. X Ice XI2. Another representative of the French manufacturer Michelin, which has won tens of millions of fans around the world. In the new tires for the winter of 2019, the manufacturer has managed to implement such innovations, thanks to which water is efficiently removed in order to successfully overcome icy and snowy sections of the road. On dry surfaces, they do not behave so ideally.

   

7. Icept RW08. Few of us know this Korean-made rubber, but in vain, given the totality of its properties. To ensure good grip and maintain the elasticity of the rubber itself, the manufacturer adds ingredients such as silicone and silicon to the composition. Winter requires high-quality new tires, so computer simulation was used to create them. But they have acquired the characteristics of a truly premium product.
8. Ultra Grip Ice 2. This friction-type winter tire is designed specifically for regions with high humidity, frequent low air temperatures and snow drifts. Its composition is so stable that it allows you to maintain performance throughout the resource allotted by the manufacturer.

   

9. Hakkapelliitta R2. Developed by the legendary Finnish factory Nokian. This winter tire is characterized by a low noise level and high cross-country ability on difficult road sections. Some difficulties may be observed on icy sections of the road, but they are within the normal range.

   

This rating of the best winter tires for 2019 is a recommendation. Each car owner makes his choice based on individual preferences and features of his vehicle. Ceteris paribus, experts advise not to save on buying tires for the winter, as this significantly increases handling and safety.