Studless winter tires: reviews and manufacturers

With the arrival of a new snow season, car owners are again faced with the question of choosing winter tires for their vehicles. On how well they will grip the car with the road, the quality and safety of driving depends. The solution of this problem should be approached with all responsibility. And in this article we will give the results of a survey on which winter tires were the best reviews in recent years. Also we will consider, what features the novelties released for this winter season possess. We will tell you what to look for when choosing them, how important is the tread pattern, how to pick the best studless winter tires that will fit for your car, taking into account the conditions of its operation.

Types of products

At the moment, especially for the winter season, two types of tires are used: rubber with and without spikes. In this review, we consider only non-studded rubber, or, as it is also called, frictional. But still I would like to explain what the choice is based on, in winter tires studded or neshipovannye shoe their vehicles.

The most obvious difference between these species is the presence of metal spines. In the tires of the first type they are fixed directly to the surface of the tire. Under the weight of the car, the rubber is squeezed, the thorns protrude. Thus, almost all the pressure falls on them. Over time, their base loosens, and they can fly out. Also it explains why on a clean asphalt a car with studded rubber braking distance increases. Until the winter finally comes, use them with caution.

On sale you can find friction tires with a so-called crystal spike. On such studless winter tires, the reviews are positive. But there are not any integrated spikes, just this name indicates the use of a special additive, which increases the adhesion to the road. Such tires can surely be worn in autumn.

Velcro tires are good for driving on pure asphalt, wet road, thin layer of snow. They are not afraid of either frost or snow drifts. The only downside - on the road with an ice crust or heavily compacted snow, driving will be significantly complicated. Frictional tires are good for urban operating conditions, where asphalt remains clean due to the reagents used, and snow if it occurs, it either quickly melts or it is promptly cleaned by utilities.

How does the friction rubber work?

Studless tires also have other names that reflect the essence of their work. Very often such products are called Velcro. The whole point in principle, due to which they show outstanding characteristics of traction with the road.

These tires are made of special rubber, which retains its elasticity and elasticity at a negative ambient temperature. Due to this, they quickly assume their original form, after they come into contact with the asphalt.

Each manufacturer has a technological recipe for manufacturing a rubber mixture, which determines the optimum number of additives that improve the behavior of tires at minus temperatures. The most known additives are technical carbon, sulfur and a derivative of organosilicon.

The best non-studded winter tires are made of a material whose quality is higher. Determine it can be as follows: near the rim of the tire rubber should not be dry and hard. Its surface can be quite compliant under the fingers and slightly press through, but at the same time resiliently push away the hand. Also visually, it looks more damp, resembling a children's toy "Lizun".

To increase the friction force, in order to more effectively roll along the road and push off from its surface, the tires use a special relief pattern - a protector. It depends on it how well the wheels of the car roll on the snow, asphalt or ice.

Neshipuemye winter tires have a characteristic feature of the tread with small gaps, called lamellas. The distance between them increases, when under the weight of the car the tire is deformed. Thus, a vacuum is formed, and the lamellas work as suckers-Velcro. But one of their availability is not enough, and manufacturers are experimenting with a tread pattern, creating tracks and grooves of varying depths on the tire surface. They divert snow and water, which interfere with the adhesion to the road. The most common patterns are made according to the principle of Christmas trees, drafts or their combination.

In this type of tire, mechanical means that increase friction, that is, metal spikes, are not used. But the producers found them some alternative. As one of the additives in the rubber mixture is introduced glass fiber, and tires with this additive are called products with a crystalline spike. But the use of this technology will not allow friction tires to be called Velcro, because they are more rigid, and the lamellas do not work so effectively.

Types of non-studded rubber

Foreign and domestic manufacturers produce tires of different types. They are designed for different operating conditions, the type of driving the motorist, the high-speed mode. They depend on the class of the vehicle, not to mention the standard size. For each season, new products are produced, often this is due to the use of a new chemical composition of the rubber compound, and not by the transformation of the tread pattern. If it is changed, then only slightly modifying, preserving the characteristics inherent in the previous line. Especially if last year's winter tireless responses from users were positive.

Also, depending on the country of origin, the tires feature a characteristic tread pattern, on the basis of which the products can be conditionally divided into European and Scandinavian.

European tires are designed for cleaned roads, lamellas provide a reliable grip with the roadway. And their aggressive protector copes well with the abundance of wet loose snow, crushed by wheels to the state of gruel. They effectively remove snow and water due to the diagonal and longitudinal tracks made on the rubber surface of the tire. Velcro from European manufacturers are designed for fast driving on clean roads. By the softness of their rubber is very similar to the material for making summer rain tires. But on smooth surfaces, whether it is frost or rolled snow, it is extremely inefficient, and the car owner needs to exercise maximum caution when driving. Also, these tires do not behave very well under severe frost and become stiffer.

The protector of Scandinavian tires is not so prominent, but its pattern is more complex, and the elements are more dense relative to each other. Such products at first glance look more flat, but this is not quite so: the depth of the protector is not less than the European ones. But the contact spot - the area of the tire surface at the point of contact of the tire and the road - more. This allows you to align the snow cover under the wheels. And lamellas provide controllability of the car even on ice. In comparison with the "Europeans" their rubber is softer and suitable for cars with rigid suspension. That is, winter studless tires for SUVs may well be Scandinavian type.

This division is very conditional, and even Japanese manufacturers produce winter tires of both types, and what can we say about Germans or Finns.

Note that the selection of tires depends on the brand of the car, climate belt, driving style and other things. Among the most popular brands in our country I want to highlight Continental, Nokian, Dunlop and Bridgestone.

Tires for cars

All of the above listed manufacturers produce non-studded winter tires. Customer reviews help identify the features that are manifested in the different behavior of the car, shod in such rubber. Some of them are better managed at minus ten, and others at such indicators become too rigid. But regardless of whether you have an all-wheel-drive SUV or not, you should change the full set of tires. But in most cases winter non-studded R16 tires open a model line separating cars from crossovers.

For a product like winter studless tires, the rating is incredibly difficult. All estimates are very subjective depending on the weather conditions. But to bring all the data to a common denominator, we will proceed with our estimates from the manufacturer's description and price, focusing on features related to operating conditions. The review of the tire "Continental" winter neshipovannye from Germany will begin.

Continental

Let's start with the novelties of this season ContiVikingContact 6, which replaced the well-proven fifth version. These tires are made of soft rubber, which allows them to be classified as Scandinavian type. Asymmetric tread pattern, formally divided into three parts, provides reliable control of the car when turning. And the central part, whose slats are zoned in staggered order, causes a reliable grip with the road, covered with ice. There is also a zone with longitudinal grooves that hold the snow, thereby increasing the frictional force. This model is available in sizes from R15 to R20.

The manufacturer set a task to ensure that the data of the tire "Continental" winter neshipovannye surpassed the fifth version, therefore, you can safely rely on feedback on the previous model, the new version did not become worse.

Those who do not want to take risks and take an unproven product, can pay attention to ContiWinterContact TS 850, which came out in 2012. These tires are European. They have a symmetrical directional tread pattern, which allows you to effectively remove thawed snow. These tires are suitable for high-speed driving and active driving. Their central part reliably keeps the car on the ice, and the sidewalls increase friction, allowing you to control the car during bends and reduce the braking distance. The structural feature of the tire frame has reduced the rolling resistance, which minimizes the consumption of gasoline.

Dunlop

Tires "Dunlop" winter neshipovannye for cars better show themselves in the southern regions, where virtually no snow and no frost. For central Russia, and even more so for Siberia, they react too badly to negative temperatures. Freezing becomes too hard, and as a result, transport becomes poorly controlled. But we still consider the two most popular models.

About Graspic DS-3 (studless winter tires) reviews are the best among the products of Dunlop. These are products with a crystalline spike, which should allow them to better manifest themselves on the ice surface. But in reality this does not happen, and judging by the fact that the tires can slip and on a wet road. It's not a rubber compound, but a tread. His drawing is not too complicated, just the cells are staggered. But the longitudinal grooves sufficiently effectively rake the snow, allowing us to climb uphill without problems. Also because of the characteristics of the protector, you need to be more careful when cornering, where the machine can go yuzom.

Model SP Winter Sport 4D has a more complex tread pattern with longitudinal grooves, which divert water and wet snow. This allows the car to confidently stay on the road in mild winter conditions. But here with an ice crust these tires do not work very well, especially with lateral sliding. These are their main features.

Among the undoubted merits can be considered a reasonable ratio of price and quality. This model is suitable for neat drivers, the speed of which slightly exceeds 100 km / h.

Nokian

Finnish winter tire Nokian - one of the recognized leaders of the Russian market. The manufacturer not only produces rubber with a complex chemical composition, but also uses tread cells, combined in a special shape.

What are winter tires studless? The reviews mostly mark the Hakkapeliitta R2 model. This is one of the most outstanding tires for the Russian winter, regardless of the region of residence, tires of Scandinavian type, made of soft and elastic rubber. The rare case where friction tires show better on snow or ice than on bare asphalt. The tread pattern is symmetrical, the central directional cells are made in a wedge shape.

Among the European-type tires were noted Nokian WR G2. Asymmetric tread design is specially designed for cars used in city conditions, but with ice and compacted snow traditionally poorly manage.

Bridgestone

Consider the Japanese Bridgestone tires winter non-studded models of the Blizzak Revo GZ. The manufacturer uses a special microporous rubber, which increases the grip on the road in difficult weather conditions. This allows them to occupy the first places in the list, in which winter non-studded tires appear. The rating presented in the article is based, among other things, on customer reviews.

The tread pattern allows not only to bite into the ice surface. Its grooves effectively drain water, as well as wet snow and mud. At the same time, the design of the picture is such that the indentations do not clog. This model confidently keeps the straight-line course of the car on the road regardless of the weather conditions. True, with lateral maneuvering begins to "swim", but this is a common problem of non-studded rubber.

Model Blizzak VRX is also very good, but all note that it requires a longer run-in. Only then does it reveal all its characteristics to the fullest. Better it still at plus temperature.

Tires for SUVs and crossovers

The review of winter studless tires would be incomplete if we did not touch all-wheel drive vehicles designed for increased patency. But let's start, perhaps, with the novelties that came out to this season.

Winter non-studded tires for crossovers have been replenished with the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2. The composition of microporous rubber is improved, which seems to absorb water. But in fact, due to the capillary effect, the fluid is better diverted from the contact patch, thereby reducing the stopping distance. In addition, it has improved the running characteristics on ice. And the first tests confirm this.

Another novelty is Winter Maxx Sj8 tires from Dunlop. Their feature was a directional tread pattern, made using 4D Nano technology, which allowed to improve the water drainage. To improve the speed properties of the material from which the tire is made, made more rigid. At the same time, the number of lamellas increased by a quarter, thereby compensating for the car's handling on the ice. The grooves in the form of the letter "T" are used for better adhesion to the snow.

CrossContact Winter is Continental winter tires studless. The tread pattern is asymmetrical, which allows the driver to confidently drive the car and on the snow (for which solid external faces are responsible), and on open asphalt (the work is carried out by the inner part of the tread pattern). Also, this design allows for more even distribution of pressure in the contact patch of the tire and roadway.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV are winter studless tires for SUVs that have some special features. Special tapered tread pattern allows you to assign tires to a directional type. Fortified lateral shoulders take on the load associated with the heavy weight of the car. For the softness of the stroke, the rigidity of the frame structure is compensated by a particularly elastic grade of rubber. For its strength in the composition of tires added silicate and rapeseed oil, which do not give rubber to harden at low ambient temperatures.

In most cases for city SUVs and crossovers it is not required to buy special tires. They are quite similar to non-studded rubber for light cars, only the appropriate size.

Summarizing

Are you interested in the question of which is better to buy studless winter tires? The feedback of buyers who actively exploited them increases the chance for a successful purchase. The same tires in different weather conditions behave differently. But this does not mean whether they are good or bad. No, reviews only show whether the product has approached a particular person. Clear winners can not be in principle because of different weather, driving style and other factors.

All the models of friction tires described above have a number of advantages:

• They are almost noiseless in comparison with both summer and studded tires.
• Wear slower when driving on asphalt and do not destroy the roadway.
• They retain their properties at plus temperature, in these conditions their braking distance is shorter.

Whichever winter tires you can buy, with the arrival of heat, do not be too lazy to leave your feedback about them. Perhaps your opinion will help someone decide on a choice.