Rating of winter studded tires 205/55 R16
05 september 2014
On the eve of each winter season, the online store "Mosavtoshina" offers a wide range of new winter tire models. In this rating, we tried to compare the effectiveness of new and already proven models. A total of eight tires from different price categories participated in the testing.
1. Gislaved Nord Frost 100 (Germany)
The best way to describe the tire that took first place in this rating is with the well-known phrase "not by the number, but by the skill". The Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tread is equipped with only 96 studs with a standard offset. However, this did not prevent the tire from demonstrating better traction on ice than models with 130 studs. It also performed well on snow and asphalt, where it showed off its new tread pattern, providing excellent handling. At the same time, the tire is distinguished by high braking efficiency on wet asphalt, low noise level, and very soft ride. It's no wonder, since its development was handled by Germans (Gislaved is now owned by Continental AG), and it is manufactured in Germany.
2. Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic (Poland)
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tire, presented last year, turned out to be one of the leaders of this rating, but failed to take first place due to production flaws at the Polish plant. The main drawback of this model is the quality of the studs. The stud protrusion of this model is less than 1 mm, which is excessively small compared to the other participants, where this indicator is at least 1.2 mm. This feature had a extremely negative impact on handling on ice. This disadvantage is exacerbated by the imbalance of longitudinal and transverse traction properties. UltraGrip Ice Arctic is much better at acceleration and braking than cornering. The tire fully redeems itself on snow and asphalt, demonstrating excellent traction properties, as well as exceptional resistance to impacts.
3. Michelin X-Ice North 3 (Russia)
Like Gislaved, Michelin preferred to meet the new European requirements for tires by reducing the number of studs. The new X-Ice North 3 has 96 studs, which had a significant impact on the test results. The tire turned out to be less effective on ice than the leader of this rating. However, the lag was not so critical that it would drop below third place. This is a very worthy winter tire, with a pronounced "brand" feature - excellent stability on slippery surfaces with very soft and predictable reactions to steering wheel turns. It is also impossible not to note the excellent braking efficiency, as well as the level of comfort - today this is one of the softest and quietest winter tires on the domestic market. The only thing to complain about is the unreasonably high cost, considering Russian production.
4. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 (Russia)
It would be surprising if a tire with a tread that has 190 studs "failed" on ice. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 demonstrated the best traction properties on icy surfaces among all participants in the test. At the same time, the advantage was not as significant as expected. Moreover, in some disciplines, the Finnish tires lost to other leaders of this rating. This can be explained by the small size of the studs, their diameter, height, and the width of the hard alloy are much smaller than those of the competitors. Nevertheless, many of them conceded to this model due to its excellent traction on snow and dry asphalt. On wet roads, Hakkapeliitta 8, like all its predecessors, turned out to be not so good. In addition, it is impossible not to note another "brand" feature, namely, well-audible low-frequency vibrations from the studs.
5. Dunlop Ice Touch (Poland)
In motion, the Dunlop Ice Touch winter tire is very similar to another participant in this rating, namely the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic. It's no surprise, since in both cases, the development was handled by the same team of engineers from the North American concern. With different tread patterns, both models have absolutely identical hardness of the rubber compound, number of studs, and depth of drainage grooves. Even the disadvantage is the same - Polish production and excessively deep stud seating. The fifth place is due to the differences in the tread pattern, which introduced even greater imbalance between transverse and longitudinal traction properties. However, in other disciplines, especially in terms of braking efficiency on snow and asphalt, as well as the maximum speed of performing a "change", Dunlop Ice Touch turned out to be one of the best. At the same time, it is impossible not to note the much more attractive cost than the similar product from Goodyear.
6. Tigar Sigura Stud (Serbia)
The Serbian company Tigar is not among the leaders of the tire industry, but this does not mean that it cannot produce high-quality winter tires. The Sigura Stud model, which has been present on the domestic market for several years, serves as confirmation of this. Unfortunately, the "age" of the model is noticeable in the form of average traction indicators on all winter surfaces. The strong points of this model include handling on wet asphalt. On ice, it turned out to be one of the worst. It is also impossible not to note the high likelihood of the "whip" effect on dry asphalt - the car can be thrown from one skid to another. At the same time, this model is beneficially distinguished by an extremely attractive cost, especially compared to other participants in the rating.
7. GT Radial Champiro IcePro (China)
Having taken the penultimate place in the rating, GT Radial Champiro IcePro is another confirmation that Chinese manufacturers are not able to create a high-quality winter tire. Especially difficult is the movement on snow, where this model demonstrated openly poor traction, easily losing stability even in the most harmless situations. On ice, this tire is saved by the studs, which provide an acceptable level of control over the car. The beneficial differences of this model include high braking efficiency on wet asphalt and, of course, an attractive price.
8. Effiplus Iceking (China)
The last place in this rating was taken by another tire from China - Effiplus Iceking. This is due to the weak results demonstrated by this model in all disciplines. Especially bad was the assessment of the comfort level. The noise and vibration level of this tire is one of the highest among all participants in the test. In fact, its only advantage is an extremely attractive price.
More details on the rating page: http://mosautoshina.ru/tests/100/.
1. Gislaved Nord Frost 100 (Germany)
The best way to describe the tire that took first place in this rating is with the well-known phrase "not by the number, but by the skill". The Gislaved Nord Frost 100 tread is equipped with only 96 studs with a standard offset. However, this did not prevent the tire from demonstrating better traction on ice than models with 130 studs. It also performed well on snow and asphalt, where it showed off its new tread pattern, providing excellent handling. At the same time, the tire is distinguished by high braking efficiency on wet asphalt, low noise level, and very soft ride. It's no wonder, since its development was handled by Germans (Gislaved is now owned by Continental AG), and it is manufactured in Germany.
2. Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic (Poland)
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic tire, presented last year, turned out to be one of the leaders of this rating, but failed to take first place due to production flaws at the Polish plant. The main drawback of this model is the quality of the studs. The stud protrusion of this model is less than 1 mm, which is excessively small compared to the other participants, where this indicator is at least 1.2 mm. This feature had a extremely negative impact on handling on ice. This disadvantage is exacerbated by the imbalance of longitudinal and transverse traction properties. UltraGrip Ice Arctic is much better at acceleration and braking than cornering. The tire fully redeems itself on snow and asphalt, demonstrating excellent traction properties, as well as exceptional resistance to impacts.
3. Michelin X-Ice North 3 (Russia)
Like Gislaved, Michelin preferred to meet the new European requirements for tires by reducing the number of studs. The new X-Ice North 3 has 96 studs, which had a significant impact on the test results. The tire turned out to be less effective on ice than the leader of this rating. However, the lag was not so critical that it would drop below third place. This is a very worthy winter tire, with a pronounced "brand" feature - excellent stability on slippery surfaces with very soft and predictable reactions to steering wheel turns. It is also impossible not to note the excellent braking efficiency, as well as the level of comfort - today this is one of the softest and quietest winter tires on the domestic market. The only thing to complain about is the unreasonably high cost, considering Russian production.
4. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 (Russia)
It would be surprising if a tire with a tread that has 190 studs "failed" on ice. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 demonstrated the best traction properties on icy surfaces among all participants in the test. At the same time, the advantage was not as significant as expected. Moreover, in some disciplines, the Finnish tires lost to other leaders of this rating. This can be explained by the small size of the studs, their diameter, height, and the width of the hard alloy are much smaller than those of the competitors. Nevertheless, many of them conceded to this model due to its excellent traction on snow and dry asphalt. On wet roads, Hakkapeliitta 8, like all its predecessors, turned out to be not so good. In addition, it is impossible not to note another "brand" feature, namely, well-audible low-frequency vibrations from the studs.
5. Dunlop Ice Touch (Poland)
In motion, the Dunlop Ice Touch winter tire is very similar to another participant in this rating, namely the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic. It's no surprise, since in both cases, the development was handled by the same team of engineers from the North American concern. With different tread patterns, both models have absolutely identical hardness of the rubber compound, number of studs, and depth of drainage grooves. Even the disadvantage is the same - Polish production and excessively deep stud seating. The fifth place is due to the differences in the tread pattern, which introduced even greater imbalance between transverse and longitudinal traction properties. However, in other disciplines, especially in terms of braking efficiency on snow and asphalt, as well as the maximum speed of performing a "change", Dunlop Ice Touch turned out to be one of the best. At the same time, it is impossible not to note the much more attractive cost than the similar product from Goodyear.
6. Tigar Sigura Stud (Serbia)
The Serbian company Tigar is not among the leaders of the tire industry, but this does not mean that it cannot produce high-quality winter tires. The Sigura Stud model, which has been present on the domestic market for several years, serves as confirmation of this. Unfortunately, the "age" of the model is noticeable in the form of average traction indicators on all winter surfaces. The strong points of this model include handling on wet asphalt. On ice, it turned out to be one of the worst. It is also impossible not to note the high likelihood of the "whip" effect on dry asphalt - the car can be thrown from one skid to another. At the same time, this model is beneficially distinguished by an extremely attractive cost, especially compared to other participants in the rating.
7. GT Radial Champiro IcePro (China)
Having taken the penultimate place in the rating, GT Radial Champiro IcePro is another confirmation that Chinese manufacturers are not able to create a high-quality winter tire. Especially difficult is the movement on snow, where this model demonstrated openly poor traction, easily losing stability even in the most harmless situations. On ice, this tire is saved by the studs, which provide an acceptable level of control over the car. The beneficial differences of this model include high braking efficiency on wet asphalt and, of course, an attractive price.
8. Effiplus Iceking (China)
The last place in this rating was taken by another tire from China - Effiplus Iceking. This is due to the weak results demonstrated by this model in all disciplines. Especially bad was the assessment of the comfort level. The noise and vibration level of this tire is one of the highest among all participants in the test. In fact, its only advantage is an extremely attractive price.
More details on the rating page: http://mosautoshina.ru/tests/100/.