For each motorist, the winter season is not an easy choice - what kind of winter tires should you buy? Safety of movement, life of people and observance of the law in general depends on it. According to clause 5.5 of Annex No. 8 of the Customs Union, the law stipulates a mandatory period for driving on winter tires from December to February of each year. However, the weather conditions in our country are different every year, and the snow can “lie down” in October, and it will melt at the end of January. That is why the term mandatory "pereobuvki" determine the regional authorities. Allowed as studless winter tires, and spiked. Rules of traffic rules regulate the required size of the tread and the size of winter tires for each car.
In addition to creating road safety, the presence of thorns (as authorities believe) poses a threat to modern road surface, on which there is no snow. This leads to the destruction of the layers of the road, so the traffic police thoroughly check the "obuvka" cars in the offseason.
Winter tire features
If you all know about winter tires, choose a model and want to buy winter tires already - go to the store "Wheels for nothing" - proven! Not once ordered on it, the prices are always cheaper than others. Large selection of tires, wheels and various automotive products. Order can be made online with delivery even in the regions.
Before you consider TOP 10 winter tires rating, let's look at the features of rubber and what winter tires are better to buy. Ordinary summer tires in the cold hardens and cracks. Therefore, manufacturers of winter tires are trying to use innovative approaches in tire making, which will keep rubber intact at any negative temperature. In inexpensive winter tires, tires may not be of high quality, which is why its service life is much less. It should be remembered that winter tires, unlike summer ones, are almost not erased, therefore it can serve for more than 5 years.
Before buying rubber, sellers, for obvious reasons, will not let the winter tire test run, so they will have to rely on the reviews and product reputation. Winter Tire Reviews You can read at the bottom of the article, as well as on the websites of manufacturers, on special automotive portals and in groups of social networks.
New or used winter tires
In addition to a wide variety of tire manufacturers in the store, motorists choose between new and used wheels. And those and others have their pros and cons.
New winter tires
These wheels are guaranteed not to blow up during the first ride (in the case of quality production). If this happens, they can be returned under warranty. New tires will last longer without repair, they will not be difficult to install new spikes, if there is such an opportunity. For some car models it is difficult to find used tires, so you have to buy or order only a new product. The only downside is the high price. But it turns into a plus, if you count the data in the ratio of depreciation and the life of a new rubber.
Used tires
If you want to buy winter tires, many car owners first turn to popular sites that sell used goods. There, the owner indicates how long the wheels have been operated. Information is presented from the words, to verify the authenticity of the information is impossible, so the buyer has to believe. The price for winter tires that have already been used by another car owner will be lower than for new products. But when taking into account the average service life of 2 to 4 seasons, in the end such an acquisition is unprofitable.
Which winter tires are better
As already mentioned, tires for winter can be studded and non-studded. The difference between them is not only in the presence of thorns.
Non-studded tires:
- Scandinavian winter tire- it is created for the maximum coupling with a snow-covered or icy road surface. It has an average pattern depth of 8 to 10 mm, with a discharged effect. The drawing is made in a checkerboard pattern, rectangular or diamond-shaped patterns. The protector is equipped with lamellae. Between the drawing a large distance. This form is designed to push the surface;
- European winter tire - created for movement on a wet road from rain or snow. All slots are thin, with a large number of channels for water.
Studded tires:
The spikes on such tires are arranged in a different order, depending on the manufacturer. Most often they can be 2 types: round or rhomboid. The most reliable are "drowned" in the coating. They are deeply soldered, while the tip of the outer part strongly protrudes and interacts well with the road.
Interesting fact! In some countries, the use of spikes on wheels is prohibited.
Spikes can help in coupling with an icy and snowy road, but when it rains they can, on the contrary, fail by increasing the braking distance. Spikes add noise and fly out quickly when driving on a surface without snow or ice.
All-season tires:
Often heard the definition of "all-season tires." Such products are actively used in Europe, but in the harsh Russian climate they are not suitable for use. The ranking of the best winter tires for Russians consists of studded and not studded wheels, which should be oriented.
Top Winter 2018 Tire Rating
So let's get down to the best winter tires. The most top brands and the most time-tested models of winter tires will participate in the rating.
The best winter tires of 2018 presented from several popular manufacturers. On the whole, last year's situation in the market of offers did not change much, the annual leaders in quality according to the rating of winter tires firmly hold their positions
1 place. Opens our winter tire rating - Nokian
Popular winter tires with a large assortment of wheels adapted for the harsh Russian climate. Nokian winter tires are designed specifically for each car and for different weather conditions. Despite the large range of products, in the reviews there are negative opinions about this brand. One of the drawbacks is called noise while driving. They complain about the slight difficulties of braking and care in the skid. For the price of the wheels are in the golden middle of similar offers.
Recommended article: Mercedes-Benz W203 with mileage and features when buyingNokian winter tires are popular among Russian car owners in 2 models: Hakapelita and Nordman. Both models are announced for the best in the line specifically for the harsh Russian winters.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta Studded Winter tires
A series of winter tires, designed specifically for harsh climatic conditions. The presence of thorns makes the coupling with the road reliable, the rubber is not very noisy, does not cause strong complaints about the reviews. This rubber is leading among studded tires since 2009. In total, there are 8 models in the Hakapelita winter tire line. The popular Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 has a vacuum clutch technology, for some sizes the technology “RunFlat” is provided. Radii from 13 to 22. In the line of "Sun" from 14 to 22 specifically for SUVs.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 on the assurances of the developers created for fuel economy, lack of noise and excellent adhesion to the road surface. The test of winter tires 2018 showed that this model really does well with ice, but the reviews say about the strong noise of rubber.
The latest model lineup Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 - even more balanced and adapted to winter conditions. Equipped with two different types of spikes, which gives even better adhesion to the ice coating, under different temperature conditions.
Also in the top, got the second most popular winter tire from Nokian:
Studded winter tire Nokian Nordman 7
The range is presented from 13 to 17 radius with a profile width in the range from 155 to 235. The rubber is equipped with spikes, tubeless, radial. It promises excellent grip on ice, snow and wet surfaces. In fact, it gets along well only with snow and partly with moisture. Ice contributes to drifts, prevents successful braking. Another version of the series - the Nokian Nordman 7 Sun with radii from 15 to 18 and with a profile width of up to 285 is produced specifically for SUVs.
2nd place. Bridgestone tires
Bridgestone winter tires are manufactured by a Japanese company since the 1930s. Since then, car models and production technology have changed dramatically. The company produces several model lines for summer, all-season (velcro) and studded tires. The most popular models of winter tires are Blizak and Ice Cruiser.
Studless winter tires bridgestone blizzak VRX and DM
Bridgestone Blizzak VRX for passenger cars and DM for crossovers is considered the most versatile rubber, very well proven. Designed for durable service on complex icy coatings. A feature of these models is a clear instruction for mounting the wheels - they have the outer and inner sides for more efficient operation. The creators of this series took care of the reliability of rubber coating. When the outer layer is erased, the porous surface does not lose grip for a long time. Bridgestone tires Blizak long serve, while remaining soft and elastic. Despite the difficulties of covering domestic roads, they are very resistant to natural features.
Also in the line of winter tires bridgestone blizzak is the increasingly popular model SPIKE-01 and SPIKE-02, which also deserves attention.
But she didn’t get into the rating; more favorite tires shifted her:
Studded winter tire bridgestone ice cruiser 7000
Created for even more difficult climatic conditions. The new arrangement of spikes in 16 lines instead of the previous 12, increases the chances of maximum stability of the car. Winter tires Bridgestone Ice Cruiser repel moisture and have a good steady on the road. Rubber specially developed as a multi-component with the ability to retain spikes longer than other manufacturers. The latest model of studded winter tires, bridgestone ice cruiser 7000, has proven itself well among motorists and has taken pride of place not only in our ranking, but throughout the world.
3rd place. Michelin tires
The French manufacturer of winter tires is quite popular throughout Russia. Winter Michelin tires have several rulers specifically for the harsh weather with a negative temperature.
Studless winter tires michelin x ice 3
The line of winter tires michelin x ice is developed on the unique system "APS: Adaptability". It allows the rubber to bend only in the right places, fixing the position of the car on the road. The slats of winter tires michelin x ice 3 are made in a Z - shaped form, the shoulder area with sharp edges. This allows you to get a car equipped with such rubber from any snowy "porridge", the wheels simply grind the substance, throwing it back and pushing the car forward without skids.
Studded Michelin x winter north tire
The winter tire Michelin X-Ice North 3 is equipped with a system of "smart spikes." With a large negative air temperature, the rubber around the spike sets, hardens and contributes to a better retention of the spikes and greater aggressiveness on the road. This may increase the noise, but safer grip. In general, the tire is quite soft and behaves well on any snowy surface.
4th place. Continental tires
The durable frame of products of the German manufacturer won the hearts of the Russians back in the 90s. Tires were imported into the country with second-hand foreign cars. Their endurance made the products popular and gradually the Continental winter tires entered the top three in popularity.
Continental ContiVikingContact 6 Studless Winter Tires
Rubber has proven itself, allowing you to drive on any surface while maintaining good handling. Adaptive Twin Block's proprietary double block technology allows for good grip even on dry roads.
Recommended article: Engine overheating: how to save a car's motor?The product includes high-quality synthetic rubber and silicates. A tread with a drainage pattern and many small dashes on the tread well remove the liquid. The tire is equipped with hard diamond-shaped checkers, which remarkably keep the car in corners.
Continental Conti Viking Contact 6 winter tires are ideal for all-wheel drive cars. They easily cope with off-road, literally throwing snow slush and keeping the car from drifting.
Studded Winter Tire Continental Icecontact 2
They interact well with asphalt, have an asymmetric tread, radii from 12 to 24. They are designed for fuel economy and good handling on ice with smoothness. A large number of spikes gives a good grip on the ice, and a deep tread cleans snowy road sections well.
According to reviews, tires are quite noisy and do not pull out of the drifts with snow "porridge". But a good distribution of tread zones, with a fairly plural number of toothy spikes, give a sense of security and a confident feeling behind the wheel.
5th place. Cordiant tires
Unlike previous tire representatives, the Cordiant winter tires have an average price category. They are available to most car owners in Russia, so there are more product reviews.
Winter tires Cordiant Polar
The cordiant polar series of winter tires is produced in both studded and non-studded form. Rubber developed on the basis of the predecessors of the cordiant polar. It has a florid pattern on the tread in the form of a snake, which allows you to easily get rid of moisture on the go. The tire is designed for 128 spikes in 4 rows. Longitudinal and transverse grip, effective braking and successful driving. The disadvantages include acoustic features and increased fuel consumption. Cordiant Polar 2 weakly pass along a snowy road, can contribute to drifts under heavy braking. The main reason for buying from many owners is an affordable price and a satisfactory number of spikes.
Studded Winter Tire Cordiant Snow Cross
Cordiant snow cross - tires for compact and middle class cars. Stabilization of maneuverability is created thanks to the V-shaped tread pattern and contact spot, which removes moisture from the tire. The tire Cordiant Snow Cross is not suitable for winter with air temperatures above +5 degrees. This does not apply to the beginning of the off-season - despite the “mess” on the roads, at night it is often frost and the use of studded rubber is necessary. But if this winter throughout the season, and the asphalt is not covered with snow at all, this model is not suitable for use. When driving on a road without a snow cover, it creates a lot of noise, wears quickly, and the spikes fly off quickly.
6th place. Dunlop tires
Dunlop winter tires are less popular in Russia compared to previous titans of rubber production for cars. It has the widest range of models specifically for the harsh snow-covered winter. The durability of tires of this brand allows you to successfully use them for several seasons. The company has several popular series, each of which is divided into a list of models with tread pattern and tire structure features.
Dunlop produces quite a few good models of studless tires, such as Maxx SJ8, Maxx WM01.
Radii of tires from 13 to 21, there are one and a half sizes. High-quality rubber, withstands long trips at low temperatures. The minimum noise on the road, the tires do not “dubet”.
But the most popular and best winter tire among the entire line is Dunlop sp winter Ice 02 and Dunlop Grandtrek Ice 02
Studded winter tires Winter Ice 02 for passenger cars and Grandtrek 02 for crossovers are well suited for the region with harsh winters and difficulties on snowy roads. Rubber Winter Ice and Dunlop Grandtrack is equipped with 3D Maura-Ori lamellas and a unique triangular pattern in the middle, which effectively removes moisture. Dunlop winter tires have unique spikes with carbide cores. This makes them practically unkillable on the ice and effective in the fight against the snowy roads.
7th place. Pirelli tires
Manufacturer of the world's only tires for racing on snowy terrain. The Pirelli speed model is designed for speeds up to 270 km / h. More modest models designed to pass through the weather in its various manifestations.
In the rating of winter tires Pirelli hit only studded options:
Winter tires Pirelli Ice Zero
Produced by the innovative technology "Pirelli Dual Stud", which produced special double spikes, literally soldered into rubber. Pirelli winter ice zero sharpened by the rapid acceleration. The rest is not very well showing the braking properties of the snow, quite noisy.
Winter tires Pirelli Formula Ice
Equipped with hexagonal spikes, fastened in special flanges. Available from 13 to 21 radius for SUV class vehicles. Pirelli formula ice is the most "long-playing" model of the manufacturer. It’s almost impossible to lose or damage reliable spikes, so Pirelli winter tires retain their properties for a long time.
8th place. Hankook tires
One of the best adapted to the diversity of the harsh climate of Russia is the hankook winter tires. The special structure of the lamellae, the tread snowflake and the “traces of the husky” in combination with an elegant functional tread pattern won the hearts of Russian motorists. The affordable price of rubber has finally influenced the popularity.
Hankook Winter I Pike winter tires
The hankook winter tire line has 14 models, each designed for specific conditions and created according to the wishes of customers.
Hankook Winter I Pike gained good popularity among motorists and was well established in the market, gaining its fans. The line also has a sports version of the Hankook Winter I Pike RS and the Hankook Winter I Pike RS +.
Under heavy braking, the winter tires of the Winter I Pike “grab” the road, preventing the car from going into the skid and holding the device securely in place. Through drainage systems are present and the number of tread blocks is doubled. Externally, the picture is very elegant, which also catches the eye of buyers.
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9th place. Kama tires
Despite the active efforts of foreign manufacturers of winter tires, they cannot fully understand the difficult climate of Russian roads. In this matter, the expert is the domestic plant Nizhnekamskshina. Over the years, they have produced reliable, inexpensive and practical tires for modern cars.
The only option KAMA winter tires that deserve attention:
Studded winter tires Kama Euro 519
Kama 519 tires do not have intricate designs or complex spike systems. They are developed on the Finnish system "Irbis" - one of the most reliable in the world studded rubber. Winter tires Kama euro 519 have spikes of 2.45 millimeters, securely seated in high-quality tires.
Modern rubber used in the manufacture of products perfectly adapts to difficult weather conditions. The winter tire Kama Euro 519 has a two-layer tread. The duration of the operational period of this model is achieved precisely because of the two-layer, where the lower layer is hard, holding the spikes, and the upper layer is softer and able to change depending on the type of road surface. This model is the most adapted to all types of roads. The only dissatisfaction is expressed in the reviews regarding the handling of the car “shod” in such tires on the ice. But the cost and braking quality - at a suitable level for most buyers.
10th place. Yokohama tires
The uniqueness of this manufacturer for Russian consumers is the universality of the range. The company produces not only tires for passenger cars, but also wheels for agricultural equipment, airplanes, etc. Regarding modern production methods, it is one of the leading leaders in the whole world. Yokohama analytics is based on test drives, the scientific study of rubber properties and customer reviews.
Yokohama winter tires are popular among Russian car owners. The use of an asymmetric tread pattern makes the tires as resistant to slipping as possible and has a good effect on traction.
В рейтинг попали spike winter tires Yokohama Ice Guard IG35 PLUS
These tires have been on sale since 2013. During this time, has already had a general opinion about the quality of tires. The wide middle in the tread pattern favorably affects the stability during maneuvers. Modern 3D lamellas also contribute to the quality of the tire on the road surface with ice and snow. Of the shortcomings - quickly loses spikes.
Let's sum up the rating:
All listed winter tires are the best in their classes for winter. The rating was compiled primarily by polls of owners, reviews on forums and general comparison of characteristics.
If you want to buy the best winter tires, pay attention to all the options listed. If they are in our rating, then they deserve attention, and even more so purchase.
Proven and profitable sites where tires were bought - not only for the test!
- Online store "Wheels for nothing" - Large selection of winter tires, wheels, car oils and other automotive products.
- Online store S-tire - Large selection of winter tires, a convenient search for the selection and free consultation of specialists.
If you carefully choose winter tires, be sure to read the reviews. This list of reviews about winter tires will be constantly updated.
Winter Tire Reviews
Konstantin, Volgograd
“I bought Yokohama Ice Guard as soon as it went on sale. Before that I used other models of this company, I like everything. Tires are still rolling normally, no complaints. ”
Igor, Samara
“I go to Continental, the third season goes, everything is fine. It makes some noise, sometimes it doesn’t immediately start from a place if there is a lot of snow under the wheels, but on the whole everything is fine. I drive around the city, I haven’t gotten into hard-to-reach places. ”
Camille, St. Petersburg
“Took Michelin on his head. Very praised in the reviews, but in fact it turned out poorly noisy tires doing poorly on the road. The only plus is the spikes on the spot after 2 seasons, but the price is simply exorbitant.
Anna, Ryazan
“For a long time I chose winter tires between the constitutional and the national Kama. Behind the wheel recently, there are no special advisers, so I had to read the reviews and go shopping. Chose all the same Kama, not regretted. The wheels are reliable, never failed. The seller advised the Euro 519 model, all the spikes in place. ”
Kirill, Moscow
“Took the Nokian Nordman 7 Sun for an SUV. I realized that it was possible not to acquire such powerful tires for the capital’s roads, but I often travel in other areas, and it really saves. He keeps maneuvers well, he arranges everything, I think a couple more seasons will pass. ”
Anatoly Ivanovich, Vitebsk
“I am a fan of domestic producers and I take only Kama for my“ swallow ”. Already not the first season of the wheels help out. Another big plus is that no one bores on it, so I don’t worry that they are “breaking up”. I recommend to everyone who cares about quality, not the brand. ”
Igor, Krasnodar
“Our winter is mild, so I’m taking Bridgestone velcro. Wet road keeps well, the price is normal, never failed. This season it's time to change, I think again I will get the same tires. ”
Reviews of winter tires will be constantly updated!