27 WINTER TIRES - SWEDEN’S BIGGEST TEST
Car
1g2es!
pa
7 salsa with Aftonbladet 1-2 October 2009 • Price 20kr
7
pages with everything from Frankfurt
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The Volvo-boss: We shall make more sporty cars
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Finally! Audi R8 with V10
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The stud free tires result in very long braking distances - and are probably not even better for the environment. But worst of all are the embarrassingly poor and cheap tires from China. TEXT ROBERT COLLIN FOTO LASSE ALLARD
2
Car
27
WINTER TYRES IN THIS YEAR’S BIG TEST
Car
3
Prohibiting good tires - encouraging bad tires The city of Stockholm wants to prohibit studded tires this winter. At Aftonbladet Bil we do not want to do that. Not after studying this year's big test of winter tires. Really long braking distances with stud free tires may be good for the environment. But not for safety. And, making matters worse, perhaps not even for the environment. And if Stockholm politicians do not read our tire test at all, they are embarrassingly sloppy when reading the research results. Sure, studded tires tear up asphalt particles. But ALL tires are grinding down gravel and sand which snow in turn is spreading out to particles. And what is what? How much can be blamed on the studs? And how much of the particles are coming from the sand the city is spreading? Nobody knows.
In our tire tests we have many times shown how bad the stud free tires are on ice. As summer tires And we have also warned for the increasingly popular stud free high speed tires. I call them “Autobahn tires”, just because they are designed for high speeds on the Autobahn. Those tires are more similar to summer tires than the winter tires we are familiar with up here in the North. They have a rubber composition and a rigid structure that can withstand speeds over 200 km / h on hot, dry asphalt. They have a dense pattern that provides excellent stability at high speeds. The only difference with summer tires is that they have a certain preparation for coping with snow and slush. But they have virtually no grip on ice. That is why we have mass collisions with up to one hundred cars on the German Autobahn every winter. Ice is on the road and motorists have no chance to avoid the accident when driving fast, close to each other and lack grip on ice. This is the tires our politicians and authorities opens the door to when lobbying against studded tires. Who takes responsibility when the German accidents become common in Sweden? Claes Tingvall? Stockholm Environment Mayor Ulla Hamilton? Infrastructure Minister Åsa Torstensson?
Who takes responsibility when the German accidents become common in Sweden?
“Real men drove stud free” The debate regarding studded and stud free tires has been around for many years. From the beginning it was lead by “real men” who certainly not needed studs to drive during winter. They did not even need winter tires. You could just as well use decent summer tires. If you were a real man. Then came the Law on winter tires. Sure, hesitant politicians weakened the proposal quite much before it was voted on. There were exceptions for cars with foreign number plates, for trucks and buses - and for days with bare roads! But after all, the law was a good contribution to safer winter traffic. But the debate on studded tires never stopped. It was escalated by the big multinational tire companies that made everything to avoid development of studded tires just for the small Nordic markets. Authorities with financial responsibility for the asphalted roads and streets are more than willing to follow their arguments, and lean against the various researches on how particles affect health. 4
Car
Right and wrong on asphalt Many believe that stud free tires are better than studded tires on asphalt. Right and wrong! Wrong - if we are talking about solving the stud free tires developed for our climate. Those tires are at least trying to have a grip on ice. For that reason they are extremely soft. It is soft rubber and tire lugs splitted into lots of “fins” in order to get a grip on ice.
TEST.
Acceleration on ice Nokian Pirelli Gislaved Michelin Goodyear Bridgestone Continental Hankook Vredestein Nankang Kumho Toyo Michelin Nokian Bridgestone Goodyear Continental Yokohama Sonar Falken Roadstone Linglong Goodyear Michelin Continental Dunlop Pirelli
5,0 5,3 5,4 5,4 5,6 5,7 5,7 6,1 6,1 6,3 6,5 6,5 6,6 6,8 7,0 7,1 7,2 7,2 7,7 8,4 8,4 8,6 9,1 9,3 9,4 9,8 10,4
sec 2 0 sek
4
6
8
10
We throttle, let the car’s traction control systems work and measure the time from 5 to 30 km / hr.
Moose test on ice Nokian Bridgestone Pirelli Michelin Goodyear Hankook Vredestein Kumho Gislaved Continental Toyo Nankang Michelin Nokian Roadstone Goodyear Bridgestone Yokohama Continental Sonar Linglong Goodyear Continental Michelin Falken Dunlop Pirelli
31,2 31,8 31,8 31,9 32,2 32,9 33,1 33,7 33,8 33,9 34,0 35,2 38,1 39,1 39,3 39,7 40,0 40,1 40,7 43,0 44,0 44,8 45,3 47,5 47,7 48,0 48,1
0 m 10 20 30 40 50 ModiďŹ ed moose test. We brake from 80 km / h and turn the steering wheel a half turn in order to avoid an accident. Then we measure the distance before the car has moved four meters laterally. Studded tires
Photo: LASSE ALLARD
Stud free tires
Autobahn tires Car
5
Think about this before buying You find all information on the sides of the tires. 205/55 16 (which we tested) means that the width is 205 mm, the “profile”, i.e. the height from the asphalt to the edge of the rim is 55 percent of the width and 16 is the rim diameter - in inches. Also check the four date digits: 4908 means week 49 in 2008. Never buy (without knocking down the price) an old tire. The rubber gets harder when aging, furthermore the tires use an older technology, it is not the ‘most recent model”. Our prices are from online stores. Fitting of the tires is not included. Would you like to do business with the “rubber man”? Call a couple and check their prices! Half an hour on the phone can reduce the price with a few hundreds - per tire.
Kumho Nokian Continental Pirelli Nokian Bridgestone Bridgestone Goodyear Continental Michelin Vredestein Hankook Gislaved Yokohama Michelin Goodyear Toyo Continental Sonar Linglong Dunlop Nankang Goodyear Pirelli Michelin Roadstone Falken
The test is done at Test World in Ivalo. The results are compiled by Jukka Antila.
71,9
Nokian Michelin Gislaved Bridgestone Pirelli Continental Continental Nokian Goodyear Kumho Vredestein Yokohama Goodyear Hankook Michelin Bridgestone Toyo Continental Sonar Dunlop Pirelli Goodyear Nankang Michelin Roadstone Falken Linglong
Michelin Goodyear Dunlop Continental Pirelli Falken Linglong Roadstone Vredestein Nankang Kumho Goodyear Sonar Hankook Continental Gislaved Pirelli Toyo Bridgestone Michelin Yokohama Michelin Nokian Bridgestone Nokian Continental Goodyear
27,8 27,9 28,5 29,4 29,4 31,6 32,0 32,5 33,5 34,0 34,4 35,1 35,1 35,2 35,3 35,7 36,0 36,1 36,6 36,7 36,9 37,2 37,4 37,6 39,0 40,3 40,5
0m
20
40
We brake hard and let the ABS work. The braking distanc is measured from 60 km/h to a standstill. Stud free tires
Autobahn tires
37,1 37,2 37,3 37,4 37,4 37,5 37,7 37,8 37,9 38,1 38,4 38,9 39,0 39,0 39,0 39,6 40,0 41,2 41,3 41,6 41,6 42,1 42,1 42,3 43,0 43,3 43,6
0m
40 30 35 Modified moose test. We are doing a modified form of the moose test to get an accurate measure. We do as we did on ice, the metering instrument is a Race Logic VBox III GPS.
Brake test on wet asphalt
Studded tires
46
58,0 58,1 58,4 58,4 58,5 58,6 58,6 58,7 58,8 58,8 58,9 59,0 59,8 60,3 60,9 61,2 61,4 61,8 61,8 62,7 63,0 64,0 64,2 64,7 64,9 65,6
0m 50 60 70 We are braking from 80 km / h to a standstill on a relatively hard packed surface.
How we do the test In 1984 when I began to test tires with Test World we did it properly. Everything was done again and again. Always in blind tests, not to be influenced by brand names. Always on well prepared courses. We knew even back then that variations in the surface could affect the results more than the tires. The driver’s skill was another hidden factor. Even then, the tire industry respected our results and our methods were considered world leading. Our methods have improved even more with computers and satellite-based instruments. But we have not changed the most important. We still do all the tests again and again. With different drivers, different temperatures, on courses that have been prepared again since the last test round. We still use reference tires which are being tested again in each subtest in order to see how temperature affects the results.
Moose test on snow
Brake test on snow
Moose test on dry asphalt Falken Michelin Continental Goodyear Nankang Pirelli Roadstone Vredestein Continental Dunlop Michelin Linglong Pirelli Sonar Yokohama Bridgestone Hankook Kumho Continental Gislaved Nokian Goodyear Michelin Toyo Bridgestone Nokian Goodyear
28,9 29,0 29,1 29,1 29,4 29,8 29,9 29,9 30,0 30,0 30,0 30,1 30,3 30,4 30,5 30,6 30,6 30,7 30,8 30,9 30,9 31,2 31,2 31,2 31,4 31,4 31,8
0m
10
20
30
Modified moose test. We are braking from 80 km / h and turn the steering wheel a half turn in order to avoid an accident. Then we measure the distance when the car has moved four meters laterally.
Acceleration on snow Nokian Bridgestone Continental Gislaved Kumho Nokian Pirelli Vredestein Bridgestone Continental Goodyear Michelin Michelin Yokohama Continental Dunlop Goodyear Hankook Toyo Nankang Sonar Linglong Pirelli Goodyear Michelin Roadstone Falken
5,2 5,3 5,3 5,3 5,3 5,3 5,3 5,3 5,4 5,4 5,4 5,4 5,4 5,4 5,5 5,5 5,5 5,5 5,5 5,6 5,6 5,7 5,7 5,8 5,8 5,8
Soft tires mean poor stability on asphalt. This means long braking distances and poor lateral grip. Right - if we are talking about the increasingly popular stud free tires developed for Central Europe. But - those tires are of course extremely poor on both snow and ice.
We have to put up with wear
6,5
0 sek 2 4 6 We throttle. We let the car’s traction control systems work and measure the time from 5 to 30 km / h.
Moose test on wet asphalt Michelin Continental Goodyear Pirelli Dunlop Falken Linglong Vredestein Roadstone Goodyear Nankang Hankook Continental Kumho Pirelli Sonar Gislaved Toyo Bridgestone Bridgestone Michelin Nokian Michelin Yokohama Nokian Continental Goodyear
26,4 26,8 26,8 26,9 27,0 27,7 28,1 28,3 28,4 28,6 28,6 28,8 28,9 28,9 28,9 29,1 29,2 29,2 29,4 29,6 29,6 29,9 30,0 30,0 30,3 30,7 31,3
0m
10
20
“Tires from China are not even worth the money”
Tire manufacturers are doing everything they can to develop a good, stud free winter tire, but so far all attempts have failed. That is why we cannot do without studs. Studded tires are good on all surfaces. They have grip on snow and ice and has decent stability and braking distances on asphalt. Well, they wear on the roads. But that is a disadvantage we have to endure. For road safety. What about the air in the subway? Why do politicians in Stockholm want to prohibit studded tires? Is it really all about the particles and our health? Or pure economics, when streets and roads must be asphalted more often? If it comes to our health Stockholm ought to do something about the particle level in the subway immediately. It is much higher and more dangerous than the particles in Hornsgatan a dry spring day. Are there any more people than I who suspect that there is a dog buried in the alleged particle mountain? There are three types of winter tires: stud free tires - model Nordic and Central European - and studded tires. The Nordic stud free tires which are acclaimed in some tire tests and by the authorities and environmental
organizations are, in principle, bad on all surfaces except snow, where they may even be better than studded tires. The Central European tires are excellent alternatives to summer tires. They are bad on snow and slush and even bad on hard packed snow and ice. And the studded tires that work on all surfaces. But there are of course differences between good and bad within each group.
Enormous differences Expensive tires from major manufacturers are usually better than the cheap tires from China. It sounds obvious. “You get what you pay for”. But the difference is often so big that China-tires are not even worth the money. They are often so poor that they should not be allowed. But there are no rules about how tires should work. If the manufacturer says they are winter tires, they are recognized as winter tires.
Encouraging crappy tires Somewhere there must be quite distressing for the authorities: They allow any crap you want as long as it says “winter tires” on the side. And they want to stop people in buying the best available on the market and who are willing to pay extra to travel safely on winter roads. Good studded tires will be prohibited. Crap stud free tires from China will be allowed. Yes, even encouraged. It is quite frustrating. Both for us doing tests of the tires. And probably for those who are trying to produce the best and safest winter tires.
30
Modified Moose test. We are braking from 80 km / h and turn the steering wheel a half turn in order to avoid an accident. Then we measure-the distance when the car has moved four meters laterally. Car BiL 47 7
TEST. ABS - braking on ice Nokian Pirelli Goodyear Michelin Gislaved Continental Toyo Bridgestone Vredestein Hankook Kumho Nankang Michelin Goodyear Nokian Bridgestone
Robert Collin, Test Manager:
Continental Yokohama Roadstone
“Really long braking distances with stud free tires are not good for the environment nor for safety”
Sonar Linglong Goodyear Falken Continental Michelin Dunlop Pirelli
0m
20 m
Take a look - this differs the worst from the best tires 81,3 m
AUTOBAHNDÄCK
8
Car
ODUBBAT
49,1 51,4 53,0 53,4 54,0 54,5 54,5 54,9 55,1
So did we do the tests
59,4 60,1 61,1 61,8 63,0 63,7 64,4
Brake testing was done on polished ice and shows the car’s braking distance in 50 km / h. Every tire had 16-20 brake tests and the entire test series was done three times at different days and at different temperatures. Every attempt was performed on a new, unused part of the test course. The results were calculated 66,3 using standard methods. 67,7
68,8 68,8
Studded tires Stud free tires Autobahn tires
72,4 73,5 74,1 75,3 75,5
78,0 81,3
40 m
60 m
80 m
63,0 m
49,1 m
DUBBAT
Car
9
TEST.
STUDDED TIRES
This is how we found the prices Importance of the result: The prices to the tires in the test are the lowest we found when we checked online tire stores. The prices are for 205/55 16 “. In a few cases where we did not find the tires on the net, we called dealers and got their prices. The price includes only the tires, not balancing and mounting. Note that tire prices vary dramatically, sometimes it can vary with up to 500 crowns from various stores - so you can save money if you put some time in searching.
ICE ABS braking on ice Acceleration on ice Moose test on ice Driving performance, subjective SNOW ABS braking on snow Acceleration on snow Moose test on snow Driving performance, subjective SLUSH Slush driving WET ASPHALT ABS braking on wet asphalt Moose test on wet asphalt Driving performance, subjective DRY ASPHALT Moose test on dry asphalt Driving performance, subjective ECONOMY AND COMFORT Noise, subjective Stability, subjective Rolling resistance
Michelin X-Ice North XIN2 Pris: 1 355 kr Speed category: T 190 km/h
Continental ContiWinterViking 2 Pris: 1 211 kr Speed category: T
Pirelli Winter Carving Edge Pris: 986 kr Speed category: T
Vredestein Arctrac Pris: 1 685 kr Speed category: T
30% 10%
8
10
8
9
7
5%
8
10
7
9
6
10%
9
10
8
9
9
5%
9
10
9
8
9
10
10
10
10
10
5%
9
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9
9
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5%
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9
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5%
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5%
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5%
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8
5%
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5%
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4
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5%
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7
4
3
3
5%
9
7
7
6
7
5%
8
8
7
7
7
7,5
7,5
7,4
7,4
7,4
20% 5%
10% 10% 15%
10%
15%
OVERALL RESULT 100%
?+?+?+?+
?+?+?+?+
?+?+?+?+
?+?+?+?+
?+?+?+
This is a brand new tire with an old name, check that it is named “XIN2”“so you get the correct tires. Michelin wins when it comes to general performance, it is very good and safe on snow and ice, never gives you a surprise, and is almost not affected of roads having wheel tracks. However, the asphalt grip could be better.
An incredible winter tire! The new Hakka 7 is superior on ice, but it beats its competitors even on snow. The tire is ridiculously easy to drive and predictable even in the worst crisis. Its weakness is the grip on asphalt, but not even on bare roads the tire behaves badly.
Slightly behind the very best, but perhaps the choice for driving on asphalt. Conti produced its compromise for bare roads, which can be costly on winter roads. The tire has good steering qualities and good control when almost skidding. The tire is easy to drive on bare roads in all situations.
The Italians have improved their Carving tires and fixed an impressive grip on winter roads. The steering characteristics are precise which makes driving a pleasure. On asphalt you get average qualities, with sudden rear axle drops as sad surprises.
The Dutch Vredestein is another manufacturer that gives priority to safety qualities on bare roads at the expense of winter grip. On snow it works fine, but on ice it is a bit behind the best. On asphalt, it is very good even in tough evasion manoeuvres.
+
Easy driving on all surfaces, stable.
10 Car BiL 50
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 Pris: 1 431 kr Speed category: T
Grip on wet asphalt.
+
+
-
-
+
+
Grip and Grip and Grip and Handling driving driving driving and grip on qualities on all winter roads and qualities on snow qualities on snow and ice. and asphalt. winter conditions. bare roads Very poor on wet and dry asphalt.
No weaknesses.
-
Overboard on asphalt.
-
No weaknesses.
Gislaved NordFrost 5 Pris: 1 211 kr Speed category: T
Goodyear UltraGrip Extreme Pris: 1 244 kr Speed category: T
Kumho I’zen KW22 Pris: 1 465 kr Speed category: T
Hankook Winter I*Pike Pris: 1 080 kr Speed category: T
Nankang Snow Winter SW-5 Pris: 675 kr Speed category: T
Toyo Observe G2S Pris: 1 795 kr Speed category: T
Roadstone Winguard 231 Pris: 825 kr Speed category: T
8
7
8
5
6
5
8
3
8
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5
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5
2
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10
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2
4
7
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3
2
6
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6
8
8
6
7,1
7,0
6,9
6,8
6,7
5,8
5,7
4,77
Now we skid from Korea to Taiwan with a bad grip on ice and snow, but most of all poor driving performance. It can suddenly lose the grip and without warning the front wheels may spin, and sometimes the rear wheels. You never know in advance. But on asphalt, it is really good. It feels wrong for the winter.
Now we skid on to Japan, though this time it is the bare road that creates the worst problem. Toyo is tricky with serious rear skids. It is not good on snow either. When steering or braking, you risk to skid. In fact, it is only on ice it works somewhat.
?+?+?+ German Conti is slowly dismantling the Gislaved legend who used to be “Best in Test “. Now the tires with Conti’s own brand is to be the best. Nordfrost is ok in all areas but not sticking out. The tire is quiet but rapid steering movements can create skids.
+
No serious weaknesses, qualities on snow and ice.
-
Bridgestone Noranza 2 Pris: 1 236 kr Speed category: T
Grip on asphalt
?+?+?+
Finnish Nokian is generous to its Japanese partner, and this year they are building a really decent winter tire for Bridgestone. Winter qualities are good even if the feeling can be diffused. It works fine on slush, but it is uneasy on asphalt and do not like abrupt manoeuvres.
+
?+?+?+
Good on ice, decent on snow. Calm and quiet, and sometimes a bit too slow in reactions, which can make driving a bit complicated. The same is true on asphalt, its steers away a bit too late during evasion manoeuvres. The best quality is perhaps that it is so quiet.
+
Grip on ice, Noise snow and Level, grip slush, stability. on ice.
phalt..
Qualities on as-
Driving dynamics on asphalt.
-
?+?+?+
The best of the Asian tires, but that does not say much. It is the best on snow, where it is really good. But the grip is not good enough on ice, the tire responds late to steering and it is easy to lose control. The tire is stable on asphalt, but can create skids on the rear wheels during evasive manoeuvres.
?+?+?+
The next Korean is nervous and tricky on ice. The grip in curves is good, but when braking, throttling or steering in a curve the grip disappears right away and it is difficult to regain control. It is better on snow and best on asphalt where it handles abrupt steering movements and have short braking distances.
?+
+
+
Grip and handling on bare ground.
-
-
The qualities on winter roads, noise.
Noise Noise Level, brakLevel, braking and ACC on ing and ACC on the snow. the snow. Grip on ice Grip on ice
+ -
?+
+
Brake grip on ice.
Driving dynamics of snow and bare ground.
-
_
Korean Roadkill has probably never been tested on snow and ice until we took the tire to Ivalo. The test team was cheerful going 20 years back in time. 20 years ago it could stand a chance in the middle of the crowd. Winter grip is really bad. Summer grip much better.
+
Grip on asphalt.
All quali ties on winter roads.
-
Car 51 11 BiL
TEST.
STUD FREE TIRES
Importance of the result: ICE ABS braking on ice Acceleration on ice Moose test on ice Driving performance, subjective SNOW ABS braking on snow Acceleration on snow Moose test on snow Driving performance, subjective SLUSH Slush driving WET ASPHALT ABS braking on wet asphalt Moose test on wet asphalt Driving performance, subjective DRY ASPHALT Moose test on dry asphalt Driving performance, subjective ECONOMY AND COMFORT Noise, subjective Stability, subjective Rolling resistance
OVERALL RESULT
30%
Michelin X-Ice XI2 Pris: 1 247 kr Speed category: T 190 km/h
Yokohama Ice Guard ig30 Pris: 1 480 kr Speed category: Q 160 km/h
Continental ContiViking Contact 5 Pris: 1 172 kr Speed category: T
Bridgestone Blizzak Nordic WN-01 Pris: 1 100 kr Speed category: R
Goodyear Ice Navi Zea Pris: 1 325 kr Speed category: Q
10%
5
4
3
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4
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8
6,4
6,1
6,0
6,0
5,7
5,7
20%
10% 10% 15%
10%
15%
100%
?+?+?+
?+?+
Michelin is by far the best of the stud free tires. This is the best tire on ice with good grip and silent qualities. But the best is the balance between the winter and bare road qualities, which represents a challenge for the stud free tires.
Nokian is second best in the group, but a far worse choice than Michelin. Safe on snow and ice and possible to maintain control even when skidding. But far to weak on bare roads. Braking grip is poor and it is difficult to control when driving fast. Lowest rolling resistance in the test!
+
Grip on ice, the performance on asphalt
52 BiL
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R Pris: 1 238 kr Speed category: R 170 km/h
No weaknesses.
+
Qualities on snow and ice, friction.
-
Grip and driving qualities on asphalt.
?+?+ Here is a tire with good balance between its qualities: grip on snow; ice, slush and snow free. It means that the driver has pretty good control when not demanding too much from the tire. Unfortunately it is too little of everything.
+
Even, driving quality on asphalt.
-
No weaknesses.
?+?+
?+?+
?+?+
Best stud free tire on snow with good grip and precise steering. On ice the grip is not as good as the best competitors. Good steering qualities, but pushed too much the result may be long and difficult skids. It is safe on slush but slow braking qualities on asphalt.
The old best seller Blizzak made the rear tires skid on asphalt and was really dangerous. The new tire built by Nokian has come to grips with the rear tires, but is still unstable on bare roads. On winter roads the tire is a medium performer in most things.
The American multinational giant is using its Japanese tires as the “Nordic alternative”. It is not a success. Just as Blizzak is qualities on asphalt miserable. It is difficult to drive and it has a bad grip. On snow and ice the grip is good, but it is difficult to control without skidding.
+
+
Even friction.
-
-
No weaknesses.
Grip and handling qualities on snow, noise. Qualities on wet asphalt.
+
Slush qualities, braking grip on snow. Poor on asphalt.
-
HIGH SPEED TIRES
Falken Eurowinter HS439 Pris: 977 kr Speed category: T
Continental ContiWinterContact TS830 Pris: 1 172 kr Speed category: H 210 km/h
Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D Pris: 1 183 kr Speed category: H
Michelin Primacy Alpin Pris: 1 143 kr Speed category: H
Sonar Polar Fox PF-1 Pris: 600 kr Speed category: H
2
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5
8
8
6
8
7
8
3
4
7
7
5
6
7
7
5
5
9
9
8
8
7
9
5
6
9
9
9
9
9
8
7
7
3
7
5
7
8
5
7
4
6
5
5
5
4
6
7
6
5,3
4,8
5,0
5,0
4,8
4,5
4,33
4,33
Pirelli Sottozero Winter 210 Serie 2 Pris: 1 250 kr Speed category: H
Goodyear Ultra Grip 7+ Pris: 1 095 kr Speed category: H
Linglong Winter-Hero Pris: 545 kr Speed category: H
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Yet another winter tire without any grip for winter surfaces. But it is marketed as” designed for the real winter “. Falken has no grip on ice and is even worse on snow. It loses grip everywhere and at all times. It is a dangerous, But: Approved by Vägverket (SRA)!
The German wins the group by a small margin, and epitomizes an Autobahndäck. It is best on snow and asphalt, but not that good on ice, which is hardly found in Central Europe. It is easy to drive with good steering qualities, it is stable and very quiet, but has high rolling resistance.
Dunlop demonstrates the dilemma of high speed winter tires - they are often very dangerous on snow and ice. The tire is nervous under all winter conditions, but worst on ice, and to gain control after skidding is virtually impossible. Good on wet asphalt, but lose grip here too.
With Pirelli WINTER 210 you do NOT want to end up on an icy spot, do not experience sudden frost, do not drive on black ice. But it is a winter tire and the type Vägverket (SRA) and many municipalities want you to change to. Without studs! However, on wet asphalt, it works really well. Congratulations, Tingvall!
Here is a high speed tire which oddly enough has ok grip on ice, but is falling through on any other road conditions. It is mediocre on snow, not good on slush, and strange enough - it’s not even really good on bare roads. Furthermore, it has an extremely slow roll.
A high speed tire with safe qualities on asphalt, the braking distance is the shortest in the entire test, and the rear axle never loses its grip, but it is diffuse and slow. Grip on ice is decent - good! But when it is snow or slush on the road, stay at home or find a parking spot!
Chinese Sonar surprised on ice with the best grip in the group. But on snow the grip is worse, and on asphalt and in slush, it is really bad. The problem is that the grip can disappear in a fraction of a second, especially on wet asphalt when you really want to feel safe.
“Chinese Plingplong has a surprisingly good grip in the longitudinal direction on both snow and ice. It drives and brakes well. But it loses grip with the rear wheels and it is just as hopeless to drive both on snow and ice. You may risk to collide with an oncoming car with your rear.
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Grip and handling on asphalt. Grip and handling on winter roads.
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Wet grip.
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Rolling resistance.
Wet grip Grip and and hanhandling dling qualities on qualities on wet dry asphalt. asphalt Grip on ice, Grip on Grip and rolling ice, rolling driving resistance. resistance. qualities on ice. Grip on snow, driving qualities.
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Handling and grip on wet asphalt.
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Grip on snow.
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Grip on ice.
Driving dynamics on all road surfaces, noise!
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Longitu dinal grip on snow and ice. Driving dynamics on all road conditions. Noise.
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BiL 53 Car 13