In "Avito Auto" named the most popular winter tires in the 2025/2026 season

While previously many Russian car enthusiasts chose winter tires from European brands, in recent years the situation has changed, and there has been a significant increase in demand for products from domestic and Chinese manufacturers. According to "Avito Auto", in the 2025/2026 season, the most popular winter tires on the portal were Viatti, Formula, and Ikon, all of which are produced in Russia.

The first place was taken by the studded Viatti Brina Nordico from the Nizhnekamsk tire complex Kama Tyres. The tire was introduced in 2013, and although its successor, the Viatti Nordico 2, has already entered the market, it continues to be popular among Russian car owners and is produced in three dozen sizes with a diameter of 13 to 18 inches. The Brina Nordico has an asymmetric tread pattern with a relatively small number of studs, and although the tires did not show high results in tests, many drivers remain satisfied with them.

According to Timur Sharipov, Executive Director of Kama Trading House, "the leadership of Viatti Brina Nordico in the Avito Auto rating once again shows that studded tires traditionally remain the choice of the majority of Russian motorists. This model was created specifically for our winters - with their ice, snow, and sharp temperature fluctuations. We aimed to combine reliability, handling, and comfort in it, and the result confirms the correctness of this approach."

In second place is the studded Formula Ice, which Pirelli introduced to the Russian market in the same 2013. The tires have a directional tread pattern that accelerates the removal of water and slush to the sides, while the solid central rib improves directional stability. For example, in "AvtoReview" they were praised for their high performance on both ice and snow, as well as on asphalt, and it was noted that due to such a balance of characteristics, the Formula is suitable for both city and rural driving. Formula Ice tires are available in sizes with a diameter of 14-19 inches, and in 2023, Pirelli added a model for lovers of friction tires called Formula Ice FR to the brand's lineup.

Next come the Ikon Tyres Nordman 5 tires, which were developed by Nokian Tyres and continue to be produced at the factory in Vsevolozhsk after the Finnish concern left Russia. The tread pattern was "inherited" from the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 tires, and the Bear Claw technology is used, which keeps the studs in a vertical position to enhance traction on ice. Avito Auto notes that the tires receive positive reviews for their high mileage. The size range is from 13 to 17 inches.

The most popular Chinese winter tires on the private ads portal were the studded Triangle Icelynx TI501, which, unlike the tires in the top three, are already made in accordance with current industry trends and have an increased number of studs (200 pieces in the 205/55 R16 size). However, this did not help Triangle in tests, and experts from both Vi Bilägare and UTAC stated that the tires have extremely weak traction on ice. At the same time, drivers often note that the Icelynx TI501 tires made a good impression on them, and they are definitely ready to buy them again. The lineup includes sizes with a diameter from 14 to 20 inches.

Fifth place was taken by another tire from a Chinese brand, namely the studded Sailun Ice Blazer WST3, which has a directional tread pattern with increased longitudinal and transverse grooves, as well as serrated block walls. These tires also did not impress the testers, but car owners write in reviews that the tires, for example, cope well with snow and "do not hurry to part with the studs". Sailun tires are offered in a wide range of sizes from 13 to 20 inches.

In sixth place is the Ikon Tyres Nordman 7 tire, which has been produced under the name Ikon Character Ice 7 since 2025, as the company has completed the rebranding of its mid-range lineup. The tire has a tread pattern from the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7, and its features include, for example, air shock absorbers that soften the impact of studs on the road surface and reduce noise levels. The magazine "Behind the Wheel" in one of the tests awarded the Nordman 7 the status of "good tires". Avito notes that the directional design "copes well with the snowy-water mess typical of roads in large cities", and the main drawback of the tires was the limited size range, as the tire is offered in sizes with a diameter of no more than 17 inches.

Next is the first premium and first non-studded tire in the rating - Pirelli Ice Zero FR, which is being replaced this season by a new model called Pirelli Ice Zero FR 3. The first-generation tires received high ratings in independent tests, including for their excellent traction on both snow and ice, and are available in a very wide range of sizes with a diameter from 14 to 22 inches.

In eighth place is the studded Hankook Winter i*pke RS2 tire from one of the Korean brands that are currently gaining popularity in the Russian market. The directional tread pattern is designed to increase safety in complex conditions, and a special rubber compound is also used to prevent the studs from falling out. In one of the tests, UTAC tires from Hankook were able to outperform such premium products as, for example, Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2 due to their excellent performance on ice and snow. At the same time, experts noted that Hankook tires are quite loud. The tires are offered in sizes with a diameter from 13 to 19 inches.

The ninth line was taken by another "studded" tire - Cordiant Snow Cross, which has an aggressive tread pattern with a solid central rib and expanding diagonal grooves designed for reliable operation on both rolled snow and in ruts. The tires are available in sizes from 13 to 18 inches, and Avito says they are especially popular in regions where roads are covered with snow and ice for most of the winter, which is what one would expect from a studded model.

The rating is closed by the non-studded Triangle Snowlink PL02 tire, which belongs to the UHP category and is available in sizes with a speed index of W (up to 270 km/h), which means it should be attributed to the class of non-studded tires of the European type, designed for regions with mild winters. The Snowlink TL02 has an asymmetric tread pattern with an increased contact patch that improves handling and stability in turns, and is offered in sizes from 16 to 21 inches.