If I ask you a trivial question: “what types of winter tires do you know?”, I’m sure that you won’t have to wait long for an answer: studded and friction. Sit down, as they say, five! But that's not what I'm talking about. Russia occupies a huge territory, with completely different climatic conditions, sometimes terrible roads, lack of storm sewers, constant repair of asphalt concrete, etc. Use the so-called in such “military” conditions. “Alpine” tires, those supplied by European and Asian manufacturers who know little about Siberian frosts, may be prestigious, but unsafe. ((material_113701))At the same time, few people realize that there is a competent alternative - the “Nordic” type of tires. These are the same models that have a wide temperature window of application. I'm talking about Scandinavian products and some domestic companies. This rubber has a more aggressive tread pattern, a special compound formulation, and perhaps (due to design features) makes a little more noise, but at the same time behaves much more adequately on the road. On such tires you can move equally confidently both at +5 and at -53 degrees. “Alpine” models, alas, cannot boast of such a temperature fork, even if the manufacturing company has a name with knee-length orders. In the 2016 season, every tenth winter tire sold in Russia bore the “clawed” Cordiant nameplate. The young but ambitious Russian brand is proud of its success, since not many world giants are strong enough to take 10.9% of the market like this. The brand's tires are positioned in the mid-price “B” segment. That is, they are not the most expensive, but not downright cheap either. This is the “fruitful” niche that consumers today are especially willing to “peck” at. Again, based on the results of 2016, this product is, in fact, the best alternative to its premium counterparts. ((gallery_753)) As confirmation of the words, an introductory test of the new Snow Cross 2 studded tires was recently carried out in the highlands of Armenia. The products will appear on official sale only in the fall of 2018, and the tires provided for testing are just single engineering samples. They emphasized to us twice that this is not the final product, changes are possible in the tread pattern and rubber compound formulation, work will continue on the branded stud, etc. The fine-tuning will last at least another six months, after which perhaps the next final tests will take place at the Finnish testing ground in Ivola. ((photo_text_34)) Whether you like a tire or not is a subjective question, you see, especially when you are evaluating only one brand of tire and only on one car . Truth, as usual, is learned through comparison. And in order to achieve greater adequacy in our assessments, we were provided with several models for testing - Cordiant Snow Cross and Snow Cross 2, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 and 8, Dunlop SP Winter Ice 02. The company, as you can see, is motley: Finnish (share 7.8% without Nordmann) stood firmly in defense of the “premium”, the British (4.7%) took the rap for the mass segment. In the first exercise, using the Racelogic device, we had to verify the objective length of the car's braking distance. Dunlop did not participate in this tour - the rivalry was between representatives of two northern neighbors. The organizers found a quiet icy street in the resort of Dzhemruk and drove a BMW 318i along it, as they say, race after race. Initially, by the way, they wanted to use the ice of a local lake for this, but the weather in the mountains, as you know, is unpredictable: a sharp drop in the mercury column from -22 to almost 0 degrees. forced me to change plans. ((gallery_752)) Mobile tire fitting worked quickly - they alternately mounted Snow Cross, Snow Cross 2, or the eighth Hakka on the Bavarian three-ruble ruble and sent it to the track, where they gave 6-10 attempts. The scheme is simple: you accelerate to 60 km/h, Racelogic gives a voice, the brake pedal is sharply pressed to the floor, and you roll, waiting for complete deceleration. The braking distance was measured in the range from 40 km/h to 5 km/h. For the final figures, the average was taken. It clearly pleased the Cordiant representatives: Snow Cross 2 - 17.8 meters, Snow Cross - 18.4 meters, Hakkapeliitta 8 - 18.9 meters. ((material_111562)) Not least of all, the success of Snow Cross 2 is due to the side blocks of the tread pattern, a kind of braking activators. The new item has an uneven shape. The higher the hardness of the toe on the pattern block, the more the tire clings to the road surface. Hence, as you understand, more confident braking. By the way, about some discrepancy in the above figures. They are explained simply: different drivers chose different sections of the road to accelerate, including the side part, where the ice crust gave way to rolled snow. In any case, the contenders for victory showed approximately the same braking results; there was not a large gap between them, which is very important. The subjective stage of testing brought us to the runway of a local airfield. Just like a year ago, in Karelia, the day before (and even on the day of the races) there was heavy snow, and the proposed “snakes” with permutations simply “drowned” in its abundance. A couple of attempts at speed - and a decent parapet would form in the turns. The “aviation” slalom with the stabilization system turned off was reminiscent of the alpine skiing “white circus”, when the chances of winning were higher for those participants who were among the first to take the distance. ((gallery_755)) As we approach the next cone, we turn the steering wheel, simultaneously release the gas, then stabilize the course and press the accelerator pedal to the floor. Everything, as you understand, is relatively simple, but on loose deep snow, under which there is an icy base, and in the turns there is a knurled hole, following the instructor’s instructions was not as delicate as it could be on an ordinary winter road. In addition, the car was constantly thrown into a well-worn and badly damaged rut, which it was not always possible to get around. It is difficult even for an experienced expert to thoroughly assess tire handling in such conditions, but we still managed to learn something. On the linear “snake”, the Finnish test participant turned out to be a priority: the seventh “Hakka” has the best behavior in a skid and a quick recovery from it. On the “alpine” Dunlops, the car kept getting buried, losing precious seconds to free itself from snow captivity, and had difficulty coping with drifts in turns. In turn, I was pleased with Snow Cross 2: the “snow pockets” used in the design of the new product showed that they can work on loose snow. It seemed that the side lugs were also in place. They make it much easier to get out of a snow rut, helping the car follow the laid course. Interestingly, Cordiant uses similar elements on its light truck tire models, for which drivers appreciate them. During the “rearrangement” I did not find any particular difference between the Finnish tires and Snow Cross 2. The difference, perhaps, is in the nuances. But where the premium brand is definitely better is when exiting a turn linearly. It’s like an “old soldier” uses all his life experience and clings to any unevenness in the base of the runway. Later, when a line of cars moved onto public roads, I felt how competent the work of Snow Cross 2 had become in the so-called mode. mixed ice, which from the point of view of danger is equivalent to pure ice. The new tire uses self-locking 3D sipes. When we move in a straight line, the lamellas open and close in the contact patch under the weight of the car. This is the well-known micro-drainage (when the lamellas narrow, they push out the mixture and water). The complex shape of the lamellas improves handling. When we turn the steering wheel and maneuver, the 3D sipes behave more rigidly and, accordingly, the tread pattern holds its shape better and the car drives a little faster. ((gallery_756)) The “second” Snow Cross uses a completely new tread pattern, which is easy to distinguish from the first generation of the model. Wide longitudinal and transverse grooves effectively resist the effect of aquaplaning and sliding in mixed doubles. Spikes are used on the central rib of the tire. Moreover, the manufacturer is talking about a new studning scheme - thanks to the pins of the new mold design, keeping the stud in the “saddle” has been taken to a different level. ((material_117960)) And during movement, in any situation there are at least 10 studs in the contact patch, which is extremely important. The signature “Cordiant” spike Spike-Cor, as stated above, will most likely have an even more advanced form, but it is too early to talk about this. The contact patch of Snow Cross 2 is in the shape of a rectangle. This is ideal. It is known that with increasing speed this spot becomes smaller as the pressure in the tire increases. If the spot suddenly takes the shape of a small oval, this means that all the technologies used to develop the tire have stopped working. With Snow Cross 2, all elements of the tread pattern work optimally in the contact patch. And the pressure level in the spot is also optimized. What else should I add? The amount of silica has been increased and rapeseed oil has been used. This is a well-worn topic: it gives the tire characteristics a wide temperature window, which, as you remember, is where we started our review. What its digital values are will become known after upcoming tests in the Arctic. But they definitely won’t turn out to be worse than the results of the Snow Cross model, which, let us remind you, is from +5 to -53 degrees. ((gallery_754)) In the mid-price tire segment, this is the best indicator on the market. And among premium competitors, the Russian tire is not destined for the very last place. At the same time, one of the most important parameters for the sale of goods - price - plays into the hands of Cordiant Snow Cross 2. We will find out only in 2018, but, according to industry experts, it is reasonable to expect an increase of 5% (for example, from the current 3 500 rubles for standard size 205/55R16), no more. This, you see, is a trifling increase for a new, higher level of security.
The task initially boiled down to preparing for production tires with a seat diameter of 17 and 18 inches for premium segment cars. However, these require products that are not just good, but very good. The tread pattern of the Cordiant Snow Cross tire has been kept the same, but the compound has been redeveloped. Its chemical composition made it possible to provide a wide operating temperature range: +10…-53 °C. Before modernization, the lower limit was -45 °C.
To improve traction on ice, lightweight Spike-Cor studs from Scason were used. A carbide octagonal insert made of tungsten carbide is introduced into the aluminum body of the new “claw”. The previous spikes were encased in a stainless steel body; their carbide insert was not cut.
There are always a dozen of these “claws” in the contact patch. According to Cordiant, the braking distance when decelerating from 30 to 5 km/h on modernized tires was reduced by 8% compared to the previous ones, and acceleration from 5 to 30 km/h became 3.7% faster.
The modernization affected not only the expensive 17‑ and 18‑inch models, but also the more affordable 13–16‑inch models.
On the snow-covered field of the Sortavala airfield, tire manufacturers assembled rear-wheel drive cars of premium brands. The test program for the modernized Cordiant Snow Cross model included an assessment of longitudinal grip: after intense acceleration to 60 km/h - sharp braking until a complete stop, first with ESP on and then off. Well-functioning electronics drive the car without skidding or slipping. But even without electronic stabilization, I confidently controlled the behavior of the BMW Five in the snow.
I tried to evaluate lateral grip while driving a Mercedes E-Class, performing a “moose” test. I didn’t hit a single cone while performing maneuvers, but I can’t say anything about the advantages of the new tires without comparing them with the previous ones.
In the tire test conducted by the Za Rulem expert group (ЗР, 2016, No. 9), the updated Cordiant Snow Cross studs performed well. In the 15-inch dimension they are ahead of their famous rivals Michelin and Dunlop. And the price is a third lower: depending on the size, Cordiant Snow Cross tires cost from 2,000 to 4,000 rubles.
Early in the morning of the first day of the test drive, a noisy and bright Audi convoy started from the center of Reykjavik deep into this magical country. The air warmed up to +3°, cloudy, the asphalt was wet. But as soon as about 10 minutes later we left the city limits, the weather picture changed dramatically: a fast wind and a road surface covered with a quite noticeable layer of snow - these were the first tests for our wheels. Well, let's move on!
Iceland turned out to be an ideal place to test the characteristics of winter tires: intricate road serpentines, narrow bridges, unexpected ruts with water collected in it, snow-covered steep shoulders and dry cold asphalt.
Over the course of several days, we drove about 1,000 kilometers at different speeds and roads, we can say that the ride was quite comfortable, there were a minimum of downright dangerous moments even when driving at a speed of 180 km/h from snow to a puddle. The tires behaved well and did not make me nervous while driving.
| Are you choosing tires for the winter? Then we recommend reading our review. |
The tires are moderately noisy. I did not observe any unpleasant acoustic sensations from the studs and tread. But, of course, you feel more comfortable in the city and on roads with moderate snow cover. In deep snow and wet snow “porridge” the car drifts and controllability drops - the tires cope with their task worse.
The climate in Iceland is as diverse and unpredictable as Iceland itself is beautiful and unusual. The bright, spring-like warmth of the sun is instantly replaced by a stormy wind, throwing handfuls of fine snow onto the windshield. And immediately we are covered in torrential rain, but as soon as we drive down the next winding hill, there is dry asphalt and not a hint of bad weather. We can say with all responsibility - in a couple of days, Cordiant Snow Cross tires were in almost all possible weather conditions and showed themselves worthy!
The main technologies of the new Cordiant Snow Cross tires:
– the studs on the tire are installed in 16 rows. This improves braking and acceleration dynamics on icy and snowy winter roads;
– two-layer tread design. This ensures the operational reliability, safety and efficiency of the tire;
– tire breaker of a combined design. This gives the tire strength and reliability, puncture resistance, improved handling, and shape stabilization;
– studded with star-shaped spikes. This form of studs provides increased safety on icy and snowy roads;
– “Z-shaped” slats. High adhesion of the tire to the winter road surface is ensured by additional edges and increased siping of the tread pattern.
And here is a short video about testing Cordiant Snow Cross tires in Iceland:
The current crisis forces us to save on everything, including tires. After all, a set of even budget tires costs a pretty penny. Therefore, when choosing tires, many motorists first look at the price, and only then study their characteristics and get acquainted with the test results. We also decided to talk about the rating of the winter tires we tested, based primarily on their price. The most expensive on our list is the “Nokian-Hakkapelita 8” spike with an average price in online stores of 3,700 rubles per piece. Not cheap, of course, but in our rating it is ahead of the rest - 944 points. “Hakki” has first places in almost every exercise. Moreover, as we managed to notice, the high performance remains the same even after a fairly long run.
A little cheaper - at a price of 3,500 rubles per piece - you can buy Continental-ContiIceContact tires. The manufacturer has been hinting at replacing this model with the next one for a couple of years now, but is in no hurry to move from words to action. And is it necessary? Second place, 915 points scored and very good results clearly indicate that ContiIceContact still has great potential, and it is too early to write this model off.
The German “Gislaved-Nord Frost 100” and the Japanese “Bridgestone-Blizzak Spike-01” are much cheaper - 2,700 rubles per tire. Which one should you choose? To answer, you will have to study the table with the results. According to the measurement results, these tires are comparable, the only difference is in the subjective assessment of experts. However, Gislaved received 884 points and fourth place, and Bridgestone received 859 points and only sixth place in the rating.
For 2,400 rubles you can buy the fifth Nordman (the younger brother of the Nokian). The characteristics are no worse than those of the more expensive Bridgestone and Gislaveda. The offer is tempting because in our table of ranks this tire scored 886 points, which allowed it to take an honorable third place and climb onto the podium.
The Japanese Toyo-Observ G3-Ice is only 100 rubles cheaper than the Nordman. In the protocol, “Toyo” has 853 points and the eighth final place. If cross-country ability is not so important, if you are willing to put up with insufficient comfort and mediocre handling, then the choice of “G3-Ice” is justified.
You can save even more if you choose Formula Ice tires (this is a new brand from Pirelli). About 2000 rubles apiece, 863 points and fifth place in the ranking - a good combination. The cost of saving is slightly “weakened” performance on snow and insufficient directional stability on asphalt. Cordiant-Snow Cross competes with Pirelli-Formula Ice - 1950 rubles per tire. The result is 856 points and seventh place. Translated from the language of numbers, this means that on asphalt at a speed of 60–80 km/h you will have to maintain a distance increased by a body and a half due to low braking properties by modern standards. Snow Cross does not have the best handling, directional stability and comfort. But the car on these tires handles quite confidently on ice and snow.
Finally, Amtel-Nordmaster ST is sold for 1,700 re. More than two times cheaper than the leaders! And - a modest 829 points and ninth place on our list. If you are a hot pilot, then before choosing Amtel, we advise you to carefully study the test results and only then go to the store. Mistakes in driving a car on such tires can be dangerous. "Nordmaster" is suitable for leisurely and experienced drivers.
TEST RESULTS
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(Score/Points)
Expert opinions on each tire are presented below
| Place | Tire | Expert opinion | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed 8,7-8,9 Number of spikes, pcs.: 174 1,3-1,6/1,6-1,9 Tire weight, kg: 7.2 3700 Price/quality: 3.92
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Sergey Mishin: Reliable and safest on any winter roads and off-road. |
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| 2 |
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Place of manufacture: Germany Tread pattern: asymmetric Tread depth across width, mm: 8,9-9,1 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 56 Number of spikes, pcs.: 110 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,8-2,0/1,8-2,0 Tire weight, kg: 7.4 Average price in online stores, rub.: 3500 Price/quality: 3.83
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Sergey Mishin: Reliable and safe in any winter conditions. |
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| 3 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed Tread depth across width, mm: 8,8-8,9 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 53 Number of spikes, pcs.: 110 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,3-1,6/1,5-1,8 Tire weight, kg: 7.3 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2400 Price/quality: 2.71
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| 4 |
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Place of manufacture: Germany Tread pattern: directed Tread depth across width, mm: 8,9-9,1 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 53 Number of spikes, pcs.: 90 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,5-1,7/1,7-2,0 Tire weight, kg: 7.0 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2700 Price/quality: 3.05
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Sergey Mishin: Suitable for any winter roads. |
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| 5 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed Tread depth across width, mm: 9,0-9,3 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 52 Number of spikes, pcs.: 110 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,3-1,7/1,3-1,7 Tire weight, kg: 7.0 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2000 Price/quality: 2.32
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Sergey Mishin: They will reveal their best properties on icy roads and in urban conditions on cleared streets. |
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| 6 |
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Place of manufacture: Japan Tread pattern: directed Tread depth across width, mm: 9,0-9,4 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 49 Number of spikes, pcs.: 110 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,6-2,0/1,6-2,1 Tire weight, kg: 7.7 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2700 Price/quality: 3.14
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| 7 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed Tread depth across width, mm: 9,7-10,0 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 54 Number of spikes, pcs.: 110 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,6-1,9/1,2-2,2 Tire weight, kg: 7.3 Average price in online stores, rub.: 1950 Price/quality: 2.28
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Sergey Mishin: They are better suited than others for the outback with icy, snow-covered roads and snowdrifts. |
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| 8 |
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Place of manufacture: Japan Tread pattern: directed Tread depth across width, mm: 8,7-9,0 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 55 Number of spikes, pcs.: 90 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,6-1,9/1,8-2,3 Tire weight, kg: 7.8 Average price in online stores, rub.: 2300 Price/quality: 2.70
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Sergey Mishin: Suitable for any winter roads, but will not help in deep snow. |
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| 9 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed Tread depth across width, mm: 9,1-9,3 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 53 Number of spikes, pcs.: 112 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,3-1,8/1,3-1,8 Tire weight, kg: 6.8 Average price in online stores, rub.: 1700 Price/quality: 2.05
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Sergey Mishin: They will reveal their best qualities on cleared asphalt roads. |
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| 10 |
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Place of manufacture: Russia Tread pattern: directed Tread depth across width, mm: 8,3-8,9 Rubber hardness Shore, units: 59 Number of spikes, pcs.: 112 Protrusion of spikes before/after tests, mm: 1,1-1,5/1,2-1,5 Tire weight, kg: 7.9 Average price in online stores, rub.: 1800 Price/quality: 2.20
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Sergey Mishin: For a leisurely ride on cleared asphalt and lightly snowy roads. |
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Over the past 3 years, the tires of the Cordiant concern have really pleased us, their quality has been growing, and with it the army of satisfied fans of inexpensive, high-quality tires has been growing. In today's review we will look at a new product for 2013, which has been trending for 2 years now and is collecting a huge number of positive reviews. Meet the Cordiant Snow Cross studded tire.
All the users, seeing the tread pattern, start screaming - this is a clone of Hakka 7, don’t think that you buy Cordiant and get the same Hakka, the difference is huge and blah blah.
Of course, comparing a Finnish tire and ours with a 3-fold difference in price is wrong. Anyone who has money takes Hakka without hesitation and doesn’t worry. Those who don’t have money have to look for reviews on the internet, dig through mountains of information, look for tests, videos and other information. Yes, even when testing tires, they are taken from the same “weight” category - premium, comfort, budget. And comparing budget class tires with comfort class tires is simply pointless. In most tests, the expensive tire will be ahead, but by how much? And is this really important for daily use? In general, let's talk about Snow Cross - based on the test results and numerous reviews - it's really worth paying attention to. Photo:
The previous model Snow Max also showed excellent results, people are happy as an elephant. And Snow Cross is a continuation of Max’s technologies, Cross is even better, more adapted, more technologically advanced if you like. Tire production technologies do not stand still and the best tires of 2005 will now show very poor results. This is why people are studying new products on the market, because they will probably be better than the previous ones. Progress cannot be stopped.
Cordiant Snow Cross is studded tires, the composition of the rubber mixture has been further improved, there is even more silica, and therefore the tire remains soft even in severe frosts (-30), thanks to which the tire after a long night of frosty parking will not be square, but will remain round)) Well and a winter tire should always be soft - this is a priori!
The tread pattern is similar to the Hakku-7, but purely externally, but structurally there are significant differences. However, according to people’s reviews (a lot of them have accumulated over 2 years), the tire digs deep snow excellently, and loose snow is also excellent. Snow porridge is great; water and moisture-saturated snow are well removed from the contact patch. Photo of Snow Cross:
But here is a photo of Hakka 7 for comparison, there is a difference and it is noticeable, so don’t la-la that the tread is the same (on Hakka the studs run almost non-stop throughout the entire tire, on Cordiant - noticeably less often):
Cross studs are again a new technology, the shape of the tire and its insides, the fit. As a result, the loss of studs is minimal, it exists, but compared to its competitors, Cordiant is really better. Which competitor lost? Such a popular Nokian Nordman 4, which is good for everyone, but it doesn’t hold the spikes as well as we would like. Of course, no one has yet canceled the correctness of running-in, but still, based on people’s reviews, it is clear that Snow Cross’s studs actually hold up better. And if you compare it with the Yokohama IG35 - then you yourself know that the Yokka handles ice perfectly only the first season, in the second - it is already without spikes))
By the way, we recommend another chic option, but this time a Velcro splint - the quality is the highest, the reviews are overwhelmingly excellent. Well, a great price. If the city is being cleaned and the temperature allows, be sure to take it.
On ice, the Snow Cross shows excellent results for a budget tire (and the difference between tires in other price categories is minimal). It is not always possible to let a car skid on purpose, but if you drive headlong on a winter road, then the grip on the ice will be 5 points.
Video - loose snow test
In the snow - this tire is simply made for it. Packed snow - 6 out of 5 points, loose, wet, deep - ideal. It digs snow beautifully, the side hooks for “digging” and for draining water are wide and deep.
What are the disadvantages? We read in the reviews that the brakes are poor on bare asphalt at +5. Hehe, these are spikes and a priori they should brake poorly. Hakka 7 will also slow down poorly, but probably a little better than Snow Cross))
Another disadvantage is poor balancing. This is not a fact, it all depends on the tire you get. In most cases the balance is completely normal, but there are exceptions. This means that the quality of workmanship is not up to standard and this is bad. On the other hand, buy tires immediately from a tire shop and if there are too many weights, ask for another tire, they will replace it without any problems.
In general, we confidently give the tires 4.5 points; they are truly one of the best in the budget class. Not long ago, like yesterday, we saw a Shevik on these tires, came up and talked - the owner is terribly happy, he drives a lot in the snow and likes to park in snowdrifts when there is no parking space. He has no problems with these tires at all. All types of winter road surfaces are ideal, except for bare asphalt - here it’s a little worse. Definitely recommend for purchase, excellent inexpensive stud.
