Budget Summer Tire Test by "Auto Mail"

Russian tire tests have been conducted rarely in recent years, making the results of the tests by the "Auto Mail" portal all the more valuable, which compared inexpensive models in the 195/55 R16 size on wet and dry surfaces. The Lada Vesta was chosen as the carrier, which is not only one of the most popular cars in the country but also, as noted in AM, has excellent chassis characteristics, making it easier to evaluate the difference in ride properties of the tested tires. Additionally, the factory equipment of the Vesta includes Russian-made Pirelli Cinturato P1 Verde tires, which were decided to be used as a "starting point".

The Vesta's mileage was 3,000 km, and the Pirelli tires were no longer new, with three being released in 2023 and one in 2021. The other test participants were selected in a price range of from 5 to 7.5 thousand rubles, and three tires - Cordiant Comfort 2, Ikon Character Eco, and Viatti Strada 2 - were manufactured by Russian companies, while the other four - Antares Ingens A1, Hifly HF261, Maxxis Premitra HP6, and Triangle ReliaXTouring TE307 - represent Asian tire production.

The tests were conducted at the NAAMI testing center in Dmitrov, and characteristics such as braking efficiency on dry and wet surfaces, behavior during emergency maneuvers (moose test), and rolling resistance were taken into account. Additionally, the comfort of the ride was evaluated on cobblestone, "betonka", gravel roads, and ordinary roads.

In the summer tire segment, braking qualities are of key importance, and according to this parameter, Maxxis was the best on both dry and, what's more important, wet surfaces, while Antares showed the worst results and were also the cheapest in the test. Experts also shared their impressions, noting that the worst impression was made by the "slippery" Viatti, while the car brakes very confidently on Maxxis and Cordiant.

During the execution of the swerve on dry asphalt, Maxxis again outperformed the competitors due to sharp and precise reactions to the driver's actions, and on wet surfaces, Viatti stood out, confidently maintaining traction in turns.

Maxxis recorded the best time on the dry track, again outperforming Pirelli, and Ikon Character Eco was recognized as the most economical according to the results of the free roll test, thus justifying its name.

Although Maxxis has excellent ride qualities, the same cannot be said about comfort, and the Taiwanese brand's tires were named the worst in terms of ride quality and noise. Antares were found to be the most comfortable, but this does not compensate for the obvious lack of traction, which affects safety.

Maxxis Premitra HP6, presented last year, takes first place in the test results, which was the best in several key disciplines, but the comfort level leaves much to be desired, and AM noted that "Vesta does not leave a single crack in the asphalt without attention, and the noise background seems to add even a small resonant hum of the body".

Silver was awarded to Triangle ReliaXTouring TE307, which performed well in the moose test, conceding only to Maxxis. The traction in the longitudinal direction is not so high, but Triangle has good ride smoothness, and overall, according to the experts, this is a good option for everyday use.

Ikon Character Eco tires (previously released as Nordman SX3) pleased with very low rolling resistance, but this is not their only advantage, and the tires from the company that is part of "Tatneft" also have a short braking distance on dry roads. There is a noticeable lack of lateral traction, due to which the tires tend to skid during emergency maneuvers, but the tires still deserve praise for their overall balance of characteristics and "reliable reactions to steering actions".

Cordiant Comfort 2 took fourth place, allowing the car to stop quickly on both dry and wet surfaces, while the reactions to steering wheel turns were called "sufficiently smooth and not too slowed down". The rolling resistance is quite high, and the testers noted that buyers often complain that "it is not possible to normally balance the wheels".

Viatti Strada 2, released by the Lower Kama Tyres complex, shared a line with Cordiant and received a high rating for excellent traction in turns on wet surfaces. However, the advantages end there, and Viatti has sluggish reactions to the driver's actions, low longitudinal traction on dry surfaces, high rolling resistance, and not the best comfort level. "You can drive, but without pleasure behind the wheel," the experts summarized.

Antares Ingens A1 from the Chinese company Zhaoqing Junhong attracts with a very low price, but in this case, saving money will be unjustified, since, as noted in AM, "Vesta at a harmless speed drives to cut cones when avoiding an obstacle, brakes poorly in any conditions, and what can I say - the results in the table are eloquent". The tires can provide neutral handling on dry surfaces but during a sharp maneuver "fall into deep helpless skidding", and low noise levels cannot justify the purchase.

Hifly HF261 from Shandong Hengfeng Rubber performed even worse, which, according to the testers, "is not worth a single ruble spent on it". The level of lateral traction on dry surfaces was called "awful", as "you had to literally fight to pass the swerve at least at 70 km/h", and on a winding road, there was a strong lack of handling. Additionally, Hifly was one of the worst in terms of ride comfort, so it is not recommended to buy them.

Source (including photos): "Auto Mail"