Review of the new studded tire Viatti Nordico 2

One of the most well-known questions in the tire industry is what to choose for winter: "studs" or "friction", and in Russia, car owners most often prefer the first option, which was recently confirmed by Timur Sharipov, Executive Director of the Trading House "Kama".

“Traditionally, Russian car owners prefer studded tires for equipping their passenger cars, SUVs, and crossovers. This trend does not lose its relevance from year to year,” noted the representative of the TD "Kama", and this year the Nizhnekamsk tire complex presented a new studded model called Viatti Nordico 2.

In the Viatti lineup, the novelty replaces the Brina Nordico tire, and first, we need to say a few words about it. Brina Nordico of the first generation was presented in 2013 and was positioned as a kind of hybrid that combines the qualities of studded and friction tires, i.e., the central part was "frictional", and studs were installed on the edges, which was supposed to provide good controllability in any conditions of unpredictable winter.

At that time, there were only 92 studs in the size of 205/55 R16, and the manufacturer reduced their number in accordance with the new rules in the Scandinavian countries. As it was, later manufacturers realized that they could increase the number of studs if the tires fit within the norms for road surface wear, and they began to make their new products more "toothy", and Michelin even set a record with its X-Ice North 4 (250 studs in the size of 205/55 R16), which was later beaten by Chinese tire manufacturers.

Since the increase in the number of studs has proven its effectiveness in terms of enhancing traction on ice, the most important parameter for tires of this type, the 92 studs in the Brina Nordico now look like an anachronism, and, as could be expected, the Nordico 2 has significantly more studs, namely 80% more.

The number of studding lines has also increased, which now reaches 34, depending on the size, and this approach has increased traction both on ice and on compacted snow during acceleration and braking, which has improved safety in the most challenging winter conditions.

The studs themselves are also new and have a steel body that increases their wear resistance, and a tungsten carbide core with a reduced cross-sectional area, which is designed to effectively pierce the ice surface. In addition, the studs themselves are also smaller in size, and the increase in their number did not increase the overall mass of the tire, while the shape of the body was optimized so that the studs work in all directions, as well as to ensure their reliable retention in the tread. According to the manufacturer, on an icy road, the new studs work 25% more efficiently compared to the previous ones.

The developers have also changed the design of the area around the stud, where special depressions are located, which create a "brush effect", clearing the tread surface of ice or snow particles, which, again, increases the effectiveness of the anti-skid studs.

The asymmetric pattern that was in the Brina Nordico has been replaced with a V-shaped directional one, while the saturated contact patch with the road increases the reliability of traction and the level of safety in various weather conditions.

In the central zone of the tread, there are blocks of a rhombic shape, which, according to the manufacturer, improve stability both when driving in a straight line and when turning, while the zigzag edges of the blocks create additional traction edges.

The pattern also includes wide transverse channels, which, in combination with the open design of the shoulder zones, increase the effectiveness of braking and acceleration on snowy and icy roads. In addition, the angle of the channel walls was optimized to accelerate the self-cleaning of the tread from dirt and snow.

The lamellas have been given a wavy shape, which improves traction in various conditions, including on asphalt, and their patented 3D structure enhances the stiffness of the tread, improving handling during high-speed maneuvers.

Between the central and shoulder blocks, there are connecting bridges that increase stability at high speeds. In addition, the tread bars in the shoulder sections are of different sizes and "go out" onto the sidewalls, enhancing traction in deep snow and helping the tires to cope with transverse loads when turning.

To ensure a balance between optimal handling and good shock absorption, the tires have been optimized in terms of profile and material distribution in the sidewalls, and another feature of the novelty is a patented step indicator that allows you to monitor the level and uniformity of wear on both sides of the tread. In Russia, winter tires cannot be used when the tread depth is reduced to 4 mm, and the indicator will signal the need to replace the tire.

The new Viatti will enter the market in 23 sizes from 175/70 R14 to 225/50 R17.