The approaching winter is making significant adjustments to the family budgets of motorists. To feel confident on a snowy icy road you have to change your iron horses into winter tires. And the law clearly requires you to move in the cold season only on wheels, correspond to the season. The cost of new tires sometimes exceeds, and you want to spend your blood, receiving in return a quality product. Before contacting a dealer or car dealership, it is worth studying the rating of winter tires 2017.
Winter tires
What winter tires are
The range of wheels, offered by manufacturers for operation in the winter, quite wide. They differ in cost, the presence of spikes, technical characteristics and consumer feedback. It is not easy for an unprepared motorist to navigate this abundance.
Basically, the whole range of winter tires can be divided into three groups:
- studded wheels of the Scandinavian type - they are intended for operation in severe conditions of the northern winter with plentiful snowfalls and constant icings;
- studless tires of the Scandinavian type - better suited for travel in northern cities, where you can often find areas of dry asphalt;
- winter tires without spikes of Central European type - ideal for traveling in moderately mild winters with frequent thaws and low frosts.
Which winter tires are best for your climate, solve, Of course, only to you.
The difference between summer and winter tires
Who is testing
Many respected European motorist clubs and specialized automotive magazines have been testing winter tires for many years and regularly publish the results of their research.. These data often play a crucial role for the average consumer when choosing tires for the winter. Strict legislation, backed by significant fines, forces Europeans to take seasonal tire changes seriously. There are also domestic studies and tests of wheels. All of them allow you to confidently make a real rating of winter tires.
Winter tires on the car
From European organizations, engaged in professional examination, such structures should be distinguished:
- ADAC - This respected German car club has existed for over a century, its tests are carried out with special care;
- Car picture - The magazine is published in almost forty countries, the expert judgment of the famous publication is beyond doubt;
- Windscreen - a specialized Finnish magazine is considered a recognized professional appraiser of the quality of automotive products;
- The World of Technology - The Swedish publication has rightly earned the status of a respected European expert.
The domestic list is not so wide, but no less professional:
- "Driving" - one of the most famous Russian magazines for motorists;
- "Auto Review" - a popular domestic publication constantly conducts independent tests, involving professional experts for evaluation.
Based on the findings of these researchers, we can make a brief overview of winter tires 2017.
How to choose winter tires. Instructions for motorists
Rating of winter studded tires
The following criteria are mainly used to evaluate these tires:
- acceleration and braking dynamics in different road conditions - ice, snow, wet asphalt, dry highway;
- degree of controllability;
- loudness.
How to ride in the winter on ABS?
The best winter studded tires 2017 year, according to international experts, ranked in the ranking as follows:
Pirelli Ice Zero. This is the first year that this popular model of the Italian manufacturer has won the palm of the championship. Among its undoubted advantages are excellent performance on all types of coatings. The main disadvantage of researchers is the high noise level. Experts believe, that such results are achieved due to the original carbide double insert spikes.
Pirelli Zero Ice winter tire
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9. Some experts give gold to this product of the famous Finnish brand. The new representative of the Hakkapeliitta line-up has been refined for four years in the company's production laboratories. The peculiarity of the model is two types of spikes. This allows you to better keep the road and increases handling.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tire 9
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7. Agree, a manufacturer from the north knows the secrets of driving on ice and snow. The seventh model from this model range confidently ranks in the top five of the best studded wheels for several years. "Bear's Claw" - so called thorns, used in this product. They are not prone to tilt and provide reliable traction in difficult road conditions.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tire 7
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. This is a serious application for the title of the best manufacturer of studded rubber. Three models at once, who took the highest rankings - such success requires no comment. Thirty percent more spikes were used in the G8, than in the previous model. On the downside, experts point to the soft sidewall, which can cause damage to the slope when trying to leave the track.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tire 8
Continental Ice Contact 2. This is not a novelty in the tire market, but leave the top lists of the German manufacturer, it seems, not going. Experts note good handling and predictability on all types of pavement. The disadvantages include the increased ability to aquaplaning. Rubber has 196 thorns, but at the same time differs in a quiet course.
Continental Ice Contact winter tire 2
Rating of studless winter tires of the Scandinavian type
It is generally accepted, that studless rubber behaves better on asphalt, than studded. It is more suitable for constant city driving, if in your metropolis, of course, it is customary to remove snow, rather than waiting, until it melts.
Continental ContiVikingContact 6. The German design is really commendable - excellent dynamic qualities, low braking distance, good handling, low noise. The examination showed only one negative point - the tendency of the wheel to aquaplaning.
Continental ContiVikingContact winter tire 6
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R. These slopes will provide you with confident movement on the icy snowy winter road. On dry asphalt, their performance will be slightly worse, than competing German leaders. In general, the feedback from experts is very positive.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R winter tire
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2. The famous model of the respected manufacturer is not the first year included in the first lines of ratings. Excellent performance on ice and snow is somewhat lubricated by uncertain driving on wet asphalt. On a dry track, tires behave exclusively - the highest estimates of experts.
How to ride in winter?
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice winter tire 2
Sava Eskimo Ice. Opinions of expert commissions differ somewhat on these wheels. However, this does not prevent them from taking an honorable place among the leaders. Disagreements over recommendations, where rubber still behaves better - on snow or on asphalt. Unambiguously, that Sava Eskimo Ice provides comfortable movement on a winter road.
Sava Eskimo Ice winter tire
Pirelli Ice Zero. The Italian leader of the previous rating was in fifth place due to low results on the ice. However, braking performance on snow and wet asphalt allows the driver to feel confident behind the wheel of a car.
Pirelli Zero Ice tire
The best winter tires of the Central European type
For mild winters, which characterize the southern part of the Russian Federation, you need just such a seasonal tire.
Continental WinterContact TS 860. All tests, in which this German product took part, proved his unconditional leadership. Experts did not comment on the work of the wheel - all ratings are set at the highest level.
Continental WinterContact TS winter tire 860
Nokian WR D4. Very good option for a mild winter. All experts agree on one disadvantage - behavior on wet asphalt. Rubber is prone to early aquaplaning, but this is more than offset by confident behavior on the ice and complete predictability.
Nokian WR D4 winter tire
Pirelli Cinturato Winter. The Italian manufacturer once again confirms the high quality of its products, getting to the top of the rankings. The tire works confidently on wet asphalt, feels good on ice and in the snow. Experts commented on the behavior on dry roads.
Winter tire Pirelli Cinturato Winter
Goodyear Eagle UltraGrip. One of the best tires for snowless winters. For the balance of properties and characteristics, these tires were especially awarded by the German car club ADAC. Its experts talk about the confident behavior of the wheels on all types of pavement.
Goodyear Eagle ultra grip winter tire
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001. These tires are less prone to aquaplaning, well managed in the snow, confidently behave on dry asphalt. Disadvantages include a long braking distance on a wet road. Despite the good overall results, tires in none of the tests did not score the highest.
Bridgestone Blizzak LM001 winter tire
Security comes first
Many motorists approach the question, which winter tires are better to choose, from the wallet side. Making a purchase, they select rubber based on planned and available means. This approach is due to high prices for quality products. It is worth noting, that the purchase of inexpensive models from little-known manufacturers turns into the following problems:
- unpredictable behavior on slippery snowy roads;
- poor handling;
- high noise level;
- aquaplaning;
- reduced service life.
Creating an emergency situation on the road can not only cause an accident, but also harm the health of road users. The choice of winter tires should be made, taking into account the operating conditions, the nature of the climate and the recommendations of experts. Remember, that imaginary savings can affect your safety.