Winter tire for SUVs and crossovers Nexen Winguard WinSpike WH62 SUV was developed based on the same model for regular passenger cars. The key difference from the original version is the increased load capacity and modified size range. In all other respects, both models are practically identical, which cannot be said about the design. The design of this tire is based on a reinforced carcass, breaker, and sidewalls.
Improved handling
When developing this model, the main attention of the South Korean tire makers was paid to ensuring maximum performance on snow and ice, in particular handling and braking efficiency. To do this, they used a whole range of measures that affected almost all elements of the tire's design to one degree or another.
In particular, the design of its tread pattern is characterized by the presence of several thousand lamellas cut into all its blocks. These miniature elements are arranged at a direct or slight angle to the direction of movement. During movement, they create a multitude of transverse gripping edges. Thanks to this, the Nexen Winguard WinSpike WH62 SUV tire demonstrates very high efficiency, first and foremost, when braking, especially on such slippery surfaces as rolled snow and ice, which, in combination with numerous spikes, additionally increases the level of safety when driving on winter roads.
The high efficiency of the lamellas is largely due to the optimized profile of the tread itself. The company's specialists gave it a slight curvature, which allowed them to significantly increase the size of the contact patch and ensure the preservation of its geometric parameters under the continuous influence of dynamic deformation. This, in turn, led to a significant increase in the stability of the gripping properties, and, accordingly, an improvement in handling, which became not only reliable but also predictable.
20 rows of spikes
This model fully complies with the newly introduced requirements of the European Union regarding studded tires. Like most competitors, the South Korean manufacturer preferred to reduce the impact of spikes on the road surface by reducing their size, which made it possible to increase the number of steel elements almost twice. At the same time, they are arranged on the tread in such a way that when moving, the maximum number of spikes is in contact with the road. In addition, they form two dozen continuous rows, which makes the grip on ice and rolled snow even more reliable and stable.
Moreover, it is impossible not to notice the level of noise, which remained at a low level, despite the significant increase in the number of spikes. For this, several solutions were also used. The most significant of these is the use of special damping pads at the points of spike installation. In addition, they are arranged in such a way as to maximize the reduction in the likelihood of resonance noise and vibration.
Excellent traction and stability at high speed
As for the features of the tread design of this tire, the main one is the structure of the central part, which, in addition to its impressive appearance, has excellent functionality and performance. In essence, it is a very wide longitudinal rib, the solid construction of which gives it increased stiffness and resistance to dynamic deformation. It is this feature that ensures excellent stability and stability, which this model demonstrates at high speed. At the same time, the polygonal shape of the rib with a large number of wide protrusions allows combining these operational properties with good longitudinal traction characteristics.
Increased performance in poor road conditions
The next important feature of the tread design of this model is the high performance of the drainage system. To a large extent, it is ensured by the use of original V-shaped grooves located at the junction of the central part and the shoulder zones of the tread. Their effectiveness is due to the significant width and arrangement of both "halves" at an acute angle and against the direction of movement. This significantly increases the throughput, and with it, the stability of the tire to aquaplaning and slushplaning.
Key features of Nexen Winguard WinSpike WH62 SUV
- high efficiency when braking on ice, rolled snow, and wet asphalt, thanks to several thousand cross-arranged gripping edges formed by numerous lamellas;
- reliable and predictable handling in any conditions is ensured by the optimized tread profile and the wavy shape of the lamellas, limiting the transverse mobility of the blocks;
- the doubled number of spikes, forming 20 rows during movement, gives the tire improved stability and reliability of traction on icy surfaces;
- the solid construction and significant width of the central longitudinal rib with numerous protrusions, on the one hand, provide excellent stability and handling at any speed, and on the other hand, increased traction properties on snow.