Review of the 2025/2026 Winter Season Tire Novelties

The 2025-2026 winter season has been rich in new products from domestic brands, which have released six new studded and friction tires in the premium and mid-range segments. In our article, we will tell you about the new products from the Russian tire industry, as well as from foreign manufacturers.

Cordiant Sno-Max 7000. We start with a novelty that may seem familiar to many, and this is due to the fact that the pattern for it was taken from the Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 tire, which was later released in an updated version, the Ice Cruiser 7000S. However, there are also changes, and, for example, it was reported that in terms of sizes, instead of French studs from Unitgrip, domestic studs from the company "Tecom" are now installed, and in the future, it is planned to switch to them completely. The difference is that the imported studs have notches in the body, while the Russian ones, also round in shape, do not have them, but the manufacturer claims that the longitudinal grip on ice has remained the same, and handling on icy surfaces has improved.

To ensure that the studs are reliably held in the tread, a more rigid rubber compound was developed for the under-rib layer, and the studding scheme with 16 lines is designed to provide reliable traction both on straight and when maneuvering. The pattern includes a solid wide rib that improves directional stability, while the paired shoulder blocks help the tires to get out of the snow track. The tires are manufactured at the former Bridgestone plant in Ulyanovsk in sizes from 13 to 17 inches.

Gislaved ArcticControl. Another product from "Cordiant", which is an analogue of the tire from the former owner of the plant, acquired by the holding. This time, we are talking about Continental VikingContact 7 tires, from which the novelty inherited the pattern with rhomboid blocks, the design of which increases the contact patch and improves the even distribution of loads, which improves both handling and tire durability.

The rubber compound has been supplemented not only with increased amounts of silica, but also with rapeseed oil, which increases traction on snow and ice, as well as polymer additives that, according to the company, make the tires more durable, including during intensive operation. The size range is from 15 to 21 inches.

Gislaved IceControl (analog of Continental IceContact 2). A studded tire with an asymmetric pattern, the sections of which perform separate functions: the inner one, with an increased number of stepped notches, increases traction on snow, and the outer one, with converging sinusoidal lamellae, improves stability when maneuvering.

The studding scheme is designed so that the contact patch always contains a constant number of studs, which increases the effectiveness of acceleration and braking, while also reducing noise, and the studs are also located both in the center and at the edges of the tread, which improves the reliability of traction in various situations. The tires are available in sizes with a diameter from 15 to 21 inches. (In fact, IceControl, like ArcticControl, appeared on sale last year, but the full release on the market took place only now, so they both already appear in the list of new products for the second time.)

Gislaved SpikeControl (analog of Bridgestone Blizzak Spike-02). Another new studded tire, but with a directed pattern, accelerating the removal of water and slush from the contact area with the road. In the central zone, two-dimensional notches are located, which open to enhance traction on snow, while 3D lamellae in the shoulder zones increase the stiffness of the tread, reducing braking distances.

In SpikeControl, studs with a square body are installed, which do not allow them to rotate in the mounting hole and helps to hold them in the tread, while the hard alloy insert was given an oval shape, and its location increases longitudinal traction on ice (at the same time, there are not many studs by modern standards - no more than 60 pieces per meter of tread). In addition, the rubber compound was developed, among other things, to improve wear resistance, and rectangular shoulder blades with additional ground hooks should help the tires "dig" into deep snow. Sizes: from 13 to 20 inches.

Hankook iON Nordic ice. Hankook has a whole line of tires for electric cars and hybrids under the name iON, and sooner or later, a studded tire should have been added to it, which is now released on the Russian market. Since electric vehicles have almost all of their maximum torque available right from the start, the developers have increased the reliability of the stud mounting, and also worked on the fact that the tires do not slip when accelerating, which increased traction on ice compared to tires for standard cars.

Electric cars have almost noiseless powertrains, so it was also necessary to minimize the noise emitted by the tires, for which artificial intelligence was used to optimize the stud placement scheme. According to Hankook, when used on electric vehicles, the tires can wear out 20% faster, as a result of which the novelty has also been made more durable, including due to the even distribution of pressure in the contact patch, and it must be said that all modifications will be more than relevant when operating the tires on vehicles with internal combustion engines. These tires are not intended for the mass market and are only produced in sizes with a diameter of 19 and 20 inches, mainly for crossovers and SUVs.

Ikon Autograph Ice 10. The Ikon Tyres company, which previously only produced analogues of Nokian Tyres tires, and works on the former capacities, this year presented its first own developments, including the studded Autograph Ice 10, which has a directed pattern, the central zone of which with a rigid support rib improves directional stability, and the shoulder sections, with deep channels, help the tires to work effectively in deep snow.

Over the two years since its creation, Ikon has developed studs of the fourth generation, which have been used in the Autograph Ice 10, and the novelty features studs of two types, created specifically for the central and shoulder zones, which increases both longitudinal and transverse traction on ice. In addition, a double textile carcass in all sizes for SUVs and in most sizes for passenger cars increases the strength of the tires and, according to the company, improves directional stability, which is especially important in the case of vehicles with a high center of gravity. The tires are available in over 100 sizes with a diameter from 16 to 22 inches.

Ikon Autograph Snow 5. A new friction tire from Ikon, which, like the Autograph Ice 10, has a directed design that accelerates the removal of water and snow slush from the contact patch. In the central section, a support rib of a zigzag shape is located, which also improves the efficiency of liquid drainage, while paired shoulder blocks are designed to improve handling on snow and ice.

In this segment, the design of the lamellae plays a special role, which in the new Ikon are arranged in different directions relative to the central rib. The point of this solution is that the lamellae in the center "turn on" during acceleration and braking, and in the shoulder zones - during maneuvering, that is, traction increases in any situation. Another important aspect is the composition of the rubber compound, and for the novelty, a compound with a "Nordic bias" was developed, and the range of negative temperatures at which it does not lose its effectiveness was increased by 35%, that is, the tires should be optimal for extreme conditions of the Far North. Available sizes: from 16 to 22 inches.

Kumho WinterCraft WP52+. Friction tires of the European type, designed for those who live in regions with mild winters. The V-shaped pattern with wide water-dispelling channels reduces the risk of aquaplaning, the optimized shape of the contact patch reduces uneven wear, maintaining a high level of comfort, and sunflower oil was added to the rubber compound, which helps the tires to maintain their effectiveness at low temperatures.

The tires also have a reinforced design that increases their strength and improves stability at high speeds, and are available in sizes with the HL (High Load) designation, which indicates increased load-carrying capacity compared to tires with the XL marking. Tires of this type are designed for heavier vehicles, such as electric cars and hybrids, as well as large SUVs, and new Kumho tires are produced in a wide range of sizes from 13 to 21 inches. The tires have already participated in independent tests, and their debut was extremely successful, as the WinterCraft WP52+ took third place in the tests of Auto Bild, in which 51 tires were compared.

Pirelli Ice Zero FR 3. A friction novelty from Pirelli, which has also already appeared in magazine tests and has shown itself from the best side, receiving silver in the tests of both Vi Bilägare and Teknikens Värld. The tires have a directed pattern with increased width of longitudinal channels, which reduces braking distances on wet roads, and compared to the previous generation model (Ice Zero FR), a number of other parameters have also been improved, and, in particular, according to the manufacturer's statements, traction on ice has increased.

The tread blocks feature lightning-shaped and G-shaped lamellae, the design and placement scheme of which were developed to increase both longitudinal and transverse traction on snowy roads, and the rubber compound contains plasticizers based on vegetable oil, which expand the operating range of the tires. In addition, the upper and lower layers of the tread are made of different compounds (the upper one is softer), which combines high traction in winter conditions with the necessary stability on asphalt. Size range: 16-22 inches.

Triangle EffeXIce TF402. A non-studded tire from a Chinese manufacturer, designed for harsh winters and made from a rubber compound that is designed to provide the necessary traction in a wide range of conditions, including frost.

EffeXIce TF402 has an asymmetric pattern with a zigzag-shaped channel in the inner section and wide blocks in the outer zone, designed to provide both rapid water and snow removal and improved stability when cornering, while numerous lamellae enhance grip on slippery surfaces.

Yokohama iceGUARD iG70. Four years after the premiere in Japan, the seventh-generation iceGUARD friction tires have reached the Russian market, which surpass the previous model primarily in terms of traction on icy surfaces, thanks to the pattern with the largest number of edges for the entire history of the line.

The asymmetric pattern with large blocks and zigzag-shaped channels in the inner zone is designed to improve handling in various conditions, and the tires also feature lamellae of a new type, the thickness of which in the worn state of the tread has been increased by 50%, thanks to which the iceGUARD iG70 retains a high level of traction on icy roads for a long time. In addition, the compound contains a water-absorbing "super gel" and solid particles that also enhance traction on ice, and the manufacturer emphasizes that, since rubber compounds become harder over time, which worsens their properties, a special compound has been developed for the "seventh" that preserves its qualities on icy surfaces even after four years. The pattern with a tread width of 235 mm features an additional longitudinal channel (this option is called iceGUARD iG70A), and the tires are available in sizes from 14 to 21 inches.