Choosing good winter tires for a car is a very difficult task. A huge number of manufacturers offer products that differ not only in price, but also in quality. According to surveys, the Japanese company can rightfully be considered the leader, and its models, which we will consider below, are extremely popular among car owners around the world.
Brand information
The history of Bridgestone begins in 1930, when company founder Shojiro Ishibashi created the first tire. Over time, the brand's founder, Shojiro Ishibashi, realized that he would like to become the first rubber manufacturer in Japan. His dream came true already in 1953.
Currently it has its branches in 27 countries around the world and ranks first among other rubber manufacturers. The company's products are used to equip racing cars taking part in Formula 1. The company is a leader in the production of tires using run-flat technology. The tires have reinforced sidewalls, which help maintain the shape of the tire even with a complete loss of pressure. This allows the driver to drive about 80 km on a flat (punctured) tire to the nearest car service center.
The lineup
Bridgestone tires are presented in a wide range. The manufacturer offers high-quality winter, summer and all-season tires. Each model is developed taking into account different weather conditions.
Some of the best summer Bridgestone tire models are Ecopia EP150, Turanza T001, Bridgestone B250, Regno GR-8000. They are characterized by high reliability, reduced rolling resistance and complete acoustic comfort. All-season tires for cars and SUVs are presented in such models as Bridgestone Dueler H/T, Dueler M/T, Dueler A/T 693. All-season tires have increased wear resistance and allow you to fully control the handling of the vehicle on any road surface.
Particularly noteworthy are the winter ones, which are maximally adapted for use in the climatic conditions characteristic of some regions. Such “winter” models as Revo GZ, Ice Cruiser 7000, Blizzak VRX, Blizzak Spike-01 are considered one of the most popular among domestic car enthusiasts.
Winter tire production
The brand manages to maintain global leadership through the creation of high-quality products and the introduction of innovative technologies. Winter tires are in greatest demand. Bridgestone offers both friction and studded models. "Velcro" for the cold season is chosen by most drivers. These tires performed well both on dry asphalt and on slush and ice. It has increased wear resistance. Some of the most popular wheels among consumers are the Blizzak Revo GZ, Turanza T005 RFT, Blizzak Revo DM-V1, Blizzak VRX, Ecopia EP300, Blizzak LM001 Evo and Blizzak LM-30.
Studs from the Japanese brand are ideal for use in regions with harsh winters. They give complete confidence in driving safety on winter roads, have excellent traction characteristics and good handling on flat roads and off-road. The following models have gained popularity in the domestic market:
- "Bridgestone" Blizzak Spike 01.
- "Bridgestone" Ice Cruiser 7000.
- "Bridgestone" Noranza 2 evo.
- "Bridgestone" Ice Cruiser 5000.
- "Bridgestone" Noranza SUV 001.
Bridgestone Blizzak Revo GZ
"Bridgestone Blizak" - winter tire range. Among the many modifications, the Blizzak Revo GZ deserves special attention. Velcro has earned many positive reviews and is considered one of the best winter tires. It was first introduced in 2010 and almost immediately won the trust of car owners.
Friction rubber is designed for operation under serious “minus”. This model received from the developers excellent grip properties, thanks to which the car can safely drive on ice, slush and compacted snow.
Tread
The tire has an asymmetric tread pattern, which was specially created using computer modeling. This made it possible to transfer the entire load to certain areas of the tread surface. The asymmetrical tread copes well with braking and acceleration on any type of surface.
Wide grooves ensure rapid removal of water and slush from the contact patch. Three-dimensional slats and improved shoulder blocks are responsible for safe control. The curves of the sidewall received unusual asymmetrical contours from the developers. This solution made it possible to reduce vibrations and sway of the body when cornering, as well as maintain directional stability.
Expert reviews of Bridgestone winter tires indicate that the outer part of the tread helps protect the rubber from deformation due to tightly spaced blocks and the presence of checkers with peculiar jumpers. The “toothy” internal tread pattern is responsible for the vehicle’s handling on winter roads. Tread wear can be monitored using special indicators.
Rubber compound
The softness of rubber even at very low temperatures can be maintained through the use of special Multicell Compound technology. Its essence lies in the fact that the rubber inside has many micropores, which are designed to absorb the water film as quickly as possible, which impairs adhesion to the road surface. Moreover, the number of these micropores does not decrease during operation. When the tread wears, new cavities appear, which allow you to maintain the technical characteristics of the tires throughout their entire service life.
Reviews and cost
A huge number of car enthusiasts prefer to “shod” their vehicle in rubber from the Japanese tire giant Bridgestone. “Winter” in the Blizak Revo GZ model showed excellent results not only during testing, but also during operation on domestic roads. The presence of high technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer is confirmed by both experts and drivers. The rubber quickly responds to steering commands and moves clearly and confidently on snow, slush, ice and dry asphalt.
You can purchase Bridgestone tires of this model in almost any specialized store. The cost of tires starts from 2400 rubles (R13).
Bridgestone Blizzak VRX
Another representative of high-quality winter tires from Bridgestone is the Blizzak VRX. The model is a friction model and looks very similar to the Blizzak Revo GZ discussed above. The rubber inherited an asymmetrical tread pattern and a unique compound technology.
The central part of the tread was modified - the shape of the blocks and the density of their arrangement changed. The blocks turned out to be shorter and stiffer. This had a positive effect on the behavior of rubber on dry and wet road surfaces. Multidirectional edges and lamellas made it possible to shorten the braking distance and improve acceleration dynamics.
Test results
Numerous tests have proven the excellent performance of this tire model. In winter, when weather conditions are almost aggressive, drivers do not have to worry about passing even the most difficult sections of the road. Velcro "Blizak VRX" will provide good grip on snowy and icy asphalt, allowing you to get out of any snowdrift without slipping.
Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000 Review
From Bridgestone - with a directional symmetrical tread pattern. Among experts and car owners it is considered one of the best in its category and rightfully takes prizes in tests. What is special about this model? First of all, it is suitable for use in the most difficult weather conditions.
"Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 7000" contains components in the rubber mixture that increase its grip properties, repel moisture and reduce rolling resistance. The manufacturer notes that this result was achieved through the use of natural rubber, silica, absorbent gel and other substances. This model is specially produced for use on domestic winter roads.
Source: autocentre.ua
List of tested tires:
- Continental ContiCrossContact Viking
- Dunlop Grandtrek SJ6
- Nokian WRg2 SUV
- Toyo (Toyo) Open Country WT
- Yokohama (Yokohama) Geolandar IT-S G073
The test included 9 tires in size 235/65 R17, of which 6 tires are designed for severe winter conditions and 3 for Central European non-cold winters. Since the tires are primarily designed for SUVs with all-wheel drive, the results on asphalt were more significant than on snow. The results turned out to be very interesting. The absolute favorites on snowy roads, although they received excellent marks, were unable to outperform tires that had balanced results on winter roads and on asphalt. So, upon completion of the winter part of the tests, we no longer doubted that the best tire would be Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 and Michelin Latitude X-Ice 2. These tires were the clear leaders on ice and snow. However, when it was time to try these tires on asphalt, the situation changed radically. They began to lose to their “classmates”, and the leadership was taken by tires “for European warm winters” - Nokian (Nokian) WR G2 SUV, Pirelli (Pirelli) Scorpion Ice & Snow and Toyo (Toyo) Open Country. The Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow tires especially distinguished themselves here, becoming leaders on asphalt. Experts, who did not know what tires the car was shod with, thought that these were all-season or summer tires. As a result, these tires were never included in the top 3 winners.
Winter tests were carried out in New Zealand at the SHPG test site, which is located in the mountains at an altitude of 1500m above sea level.
Summing up the results of the tests, I would like to give a couple of tips to crossover owners. In this class, like in no other, tires must be selected based on your personal driving style. For calm drivers or those who have recently started driving, it is better to give preference to tires with better traction on ice and snow. The top tires in these tests will help on roads that have not been cleared of snow and ice. For experienced drivers who prefer high-speed driving on asphalt, we advise choosing tires that have average or higher performance on all surfaces - snow, ice, dry and wet asphalt. The right choice of tires will allow drivers of different temperaments to feel confident on winter surfaces.
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Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV |
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R | |
| IN: | 108 (XL) | |
| There is | ||
| External/internal side: | No | |
| Weight: | 14,995 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 8,6 | |
| 53 | ||
| Date of manufacture: | Week 13 2011 | |
Results 8.66 |
Manufacturer country: | Finland |
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The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV tires, which shine with grip on icy surfaces in the passenger size, showed completely different results in the “off-road” size. Here they lost to established leaders on winter roads. Thanks to very balanced characteristics, the final test calculations brought the tire to the lead. Yes, this is a rather rare case when tires that are not leading in almost any test took 1st place in the final count, but it is a fact. The best characteristics of the tire are resistance to aquaplaning and braking performance on asphalt. The level of vibration comfort is also good - the tires absorb many irregularities. Overall, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV is an excellent tire for any winter. |
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| + Balanced all characteristics |
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Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 |
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R | |
| IN: | 108 | |
| Direction of the tread pattern: | There is | |
| External/internal side: | No | |
| Weight: | 15,535 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 10,5 | |
| Shore hardness of rubber alloy (at -5 o C): | 45 | |
| Date of manufacture: | Week 4 2011 | |
Results 8.49 |
Manufacturer country: | Japan |
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Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 tires have fully confirmed their purpose: “for very harsh winters.” The spongy tread rubber and microelements in the rubber composition, which act like microspikes on ice, ensured them leadership in ice testing. The tires also have decent results on snowy roads. It handles turns steadily, and in the event of a drift, it allows you to “gas” it to a given trajectory. When maneuvering on wet surfaces, there is no danger of sudden drifts and drifts. If the speed is excessive, this happens quite smoothly, so the driver has the opportunity to reset it in time. But the speed of covering the trails is noticeably lower than that of European winter tires. |
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| + Tenacity and behavior on ice - There are no clearly identified shortcomings |
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Michelin Latitude X-Ice XI2 |
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T | |
| IN: | 108 | |
| Direction of the tread pattern: | There is | |
| External/internal side: | No | |
| Weight: | 14,195 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 8,3 | |
| Shore hardness of rubber alloy (at -5 o C): | 50 | |
| Date of manufacture: | Week 3 2010 | |
Results 8.13 |
Manufacturer country: | Canada |
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Michelin Latitude X-Ice 2 tires with Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 tires were the leaders at the winter stage of the competition. They had the best braking and acceleration on ice. And only in tests for stability and control, due to less grip in the transverse direction, it lost 1st place to the Blizzak DM-V1 tire. On snowy surfaces, the tires also provide excellent braking and provide predictable control of the car, only the acceleration here turned out to be slightly weaker. During sharp turns, drifts may appear on the compacted snow, but they are hardly noticeable. On wet asphalt, the Latitude X-Ice 2 is slightly behind the leader. So, during slalom this tire has large drifts. On dry asphalt, this tire is even a little more attractive than the Erka: at the slip limit during maneuvers, a slight vibration is felt - a kind of danger signal. |
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| + Braking and traction on ice - Resistance to hydroplaning |
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Nokian WRg2 SUV |
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| IN: | 108 (XL) | |
| Direction of the tread pattern: | No | |
| External/internal side: | There is | |
| Weight: | 14,185 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 8,9 | |
| Shore hardness of rubber alloy (at -5 o C): | 58 | |
| Date of manufacture: | Week 22 2011 | |
Results 8.1 |
Manufacturer country: | Finland |
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After testing the 2nd Nokian tire - WR G2 Sport Utility - I got the impression that the inventors of Finnish tires were tasked with making tires with the most balanced characteristics on various surfaces. These “Eurowinter” tires are further proof of this. Obviously, the Finns have perfectly studied the method of evaluating tires, so they do what the end consumer requires. Returning to the tested tire, it should be noted that it was ahead of its 2 “classmate” rivals thanks to its performance on ice - the ability to stop and accelerate on ice turned out to be especially good in this class of tires. The tires performed very well when braking and accelerating in the snow. On asphalt, they lost only to the outsider on ice and snow roads - Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow. |
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| + Balanced performance on different surfaces - There are no clearly identified disadvantages |
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Yokohama (Yokohama) Geolandar IT-S G073 |
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Q | |
| IN: | 108 | |
| Direction of the tread pattern: | There is | |
| External/internal side: | No | |
| Weight: | 15,07 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 10,55 | |
| Shore hardness of rubber alloy (at -5 o C): | 53 | |
| Date of manufacture: | Week 14 2010 | |
Results 7.97 |
Manufacturer country: | Japan |
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According to the final result, Yokohama (Yokohama) Geolandar I/T-S tires are also worthy of attention. On snow and ice they showed average grip in all types of tests. The only complaints are about lateral stability on ice and handling on snow. On compacted snow, a car with these tires is prone to skidding. For experienced drivers, this allows them to cover the distance faster with controlled drifts, but for the majority of car owners this is not very good. In the snake on the snow, the speed is also lower than that of the leaders. On asphalt the tires are average. On wet, winding roads, the car floats slightly outwards when cornering, but this happens very slowly, so the stabilization system is rarely activated. On a dry surface, in a long turn at maximum speed, a drift occurs, which, if you do not slow down, can turn into a skid. |
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| + Consistently average performance on all surfaces - Comfort |
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Continental ContiCrossContact Viking |
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Q | |
| IN: | 108 | |
| Direction of the tread pattern: | No | |
| External/internal side: | There is | |
| Weight: | 15,325 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 8,7 | |
| Shore hardness of rubber alloy (at -5 o C): | 53 | |
| Date of manufacture: | Week 6 2011 | |
Results 7.96 |
Manufacturer country: | Germany |
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Conti Cross Contact Viking tires are also quite interesting from the point of view of stability of performance. Since these tires are of the Arctic type, they have noticeably better performance on snow and ice than on asphalt. In the ice test they are slightly behind the leaders. On snowy surfaces, experts noted stable behavior - the tire has no obvious predisposition to skidding or drifting. On asphalt, these tires performed well in their class. On wet and dry surfaces, Cross Contact Viking generally provide adequate performance, only slightly behind competitors when braking on dry surfaces. |
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| + Balanced characteristics + Braking on packed snow - Braking on dry asphalt |
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Toyo (Toyo) Open Country WT |
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| IN: | 108 | |
| Direction of the tread pattern: | No | |
| External/internal side: | There is | |
| Weight: | 14,895 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 8,7 | |
| Shore hardness of rubber alloy (at -5 o C): | 60 | |
| Date of manufacture: | Week 38 2010 | |
Results 7.77 |
Manufacturer country: | Japan |
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Tires Toyo (Toyo) Open Country - from the category of tires for Central European not cold winters. However, thanks to their tenacity, they were able to overtake even one of the tires for harsh winters. This placement in the final results is mainly due to good grip and behavior on wet and dry surfaces. On asphalt, they are on par with the Finnish competitor Nokian WR G2 SUV and are behind the Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow tire. It has good resistance to aquaplaning and a low level of comfort. On compacted snow on a winding road, the tires are generally predictable - without sudden skids or drifts, but the track time is long. On ice, the tires are noticeably inferior to the test participants. |
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| + Resistance to hydroplaning - Tenacity and behavior on ice - Comfort level |
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Dunlop Grandtrek SJ6 |
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Q | |
| IN: | 104 | |
| Direction of the tread pattern: | There is | |
| External/internal side: | No | |
| Weight: | 14,6 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 10,8 | |
| Shore hardness of rubber alloy (at -5 o C): | 57 | |
| Date of manufacture: | Week 27 2010 | |
Results 7.69 |
Manufacturer country: | Japan |
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Dunlop Grandtrek SJ6 tires for the harshest winter conditions. Thanks to the high tread and large number of blocks on snowy roads, they proved to be very stable. On a winding road, even with the stabilization system turned off, the tires allow you to confidently negotiate turns in a slight skid. On ice, the tires also perform well during braking and acceleration. They didn’t perform very well on asphalt, which is why they fell behind their rivals. A soft tread, small and tall blocks, which are still crushed by lamellas, cannot provide high precision in control and stability on dry and wet asphalt. Braking also suffered due to these design features. |
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| + Grip on ice and snow - Braking on asphalt - Control and stability on asphalt |
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Pirelli Scorpion Ice Snow |
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H | |
| IN: | 108 | |
| Direction of the tread pattern: | No | |
| External/internal side: | There is | |
| Weight: | 15,325 | |
| Tread depth, mm: | 8,05 | |
| Shore hardness of rubber alloy (at -5 o C): | 66 | |
| Date of manufacture: | Week 33 2010 | |
Results 7.22 |
Manufacturer country: | Great Britain |
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We had suspicions that Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow tires would perform poorly on winter surfaces even at the very beginning, where we measured rubber hardness and tread height. According to these two indicators, they were very different from other winter tires and were more like summer tires. Our worries began to come true as soon as we started driving these tires out of the pits. On the way to the track, the VW Touareg stabilization system began to work too often, and it became obvious from the car’s slipping and skidding on small inclines that these tires were poorly prepared for winter roads. On test ice and snow tracks, they were inferior to all test participants by a noticeable margin both in stability and controllability, and in traction and braking properties. But on the asphalt they were out of competition, outperforming their rivals in all respects. |
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| + Tenacity and behavior on asphalt - Tenacity and behavior on ice and snow - Comfort |
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- We officially declare that we are better than our competitors! Didn't a Bridgestone representative speak too boldly at the presentation of the new Blizzak VRX and Blizzak Spike 01 tires, which took place at the Dmitrovsky Automotive Test Site at the end of last winter? Maybe a translation error?
The etymology of the name Blizzak for the Bridgestone line of winter tires is interpreted by the company itself as a mixture of the English word “blizzard” (“blizzard”) and the German “Zacke” (“tooth”). Previously, only non-studded models were designated by this name, but now the Blizzak Spike 01 studded tires have also appeared.
The externally directional tread pattern is reminiscent of early models of Nokian studded tires: an aggressive herringbone pattern with wide grooves is designed to increase traction on snow, and if the snow is deep, sawtooth grooves in the shoulder area should help. As for the “ice” properties, the holes for the studs were modified (grooves appeared around them to remove ice chips), and most importantly, the stud itself changed: a cross-shaped notch is now made at the end of the carbide insert. Are new studs really screwed into the tread body with a Phillips screwdriver? Of course not. These cuts are designed to increase the pressure on the ice and, as a result, increase the tire’s grip on the surface. As with the previous model, Ice Cruiser 7000, the studs are produced by the German company Sitek. In a 16-inch tire, I counted 130 studs - the Japanese have no need to adjust these tires to new European standards that limit the number of studs per linear meter of tread (AR No. 18, 2013). Blizzak Spike 01 tires are designed specifically for Russia.
The cross-shaped notch on the carbide insert is designed to increase the specific pressure of the stud on the ice - the load is the same, but the contact area is smaller. But how long will such a notch last when driving on asphalt?
I also looked at the studless Blizzak VRX tires. There is a new asymmetric tread pattern: its blocks, when compared with the previous model Blizzak Revo GZ (their test results are on the pages of the same issue of Autoreview), have become smaller, the rubber compound has become softer. According to the creators, this should provide better grip on uneven roads. The composition of the Multicell Compound rubber compound has also been updated. Its porous structure allows it to “absorb” 30% more moisture than the rubber of the previous series. Special additives in the rubber mixture increase the wettability of the micropores of the tread, which allows for better drying of the contact patch.
Teana, “shod” in Bridgestone Blizzak VRX, performs “rearrangement” without unnecessary slips
When accelerating on ice, the Blizzak VRX provides about the same grip as the Michelin X-Ice 3
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The driving program began with a comparison of Michelin X-Ice 3 and Bridgestone Blizzak VRX tires on a Nissan Teana. Acceleration and braking, both on ice and snow, did not reveal an absolute leader. And stability during acceleration turned out to be close - cars on both tire models required significant steering. But the “rearrangement” with the stabilization system turned off has already tipped the scales in favor of Bridgestone tires - the Teana did not fall into skids so deeply and not for so long. On the “snake”, the grip limit also turned out to be a little higher - the car responded better to steering turns at higher speeds, however, with a subsequent more abrupt drift. So I’m not sure that Bridgestone tires have proven themselves to be safer in the round.
The next exercise is driving on compacted snow in Volkswagen Touareg SUVs, “shod” with Bridgestone Spike 01 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 SUV tires. On Finnish tires, rolling is accompanied by a high-frequency hum, while Japanese tires were either “silent” or emitted a low-frequency hum. Again, which is better? I don't have a definite answer. But in terms of smoothness, Bridgestone is clearly inferior to Finnish tires: the Touareg rides softer on winter “comb” on Nokian tires. But Bridgestone representatives have a strong trump card in this regard: “Yes, the frame is rigid, but this minimizes the likelihood of damage to it on a bad road.” I won’t argue here: the results of our crash tests, which we subjected both studded and non-studded tires (AR No. 18 and No. 19, 2013), showed that Bridgestone tires are indeed the most durable.
As usual, at the first opportunity we will compare the new Bridgestone tires with competitors - unlike the Bridgestone representative, I am not yet completely confident that what I was shown at the test site were truly the best tires. But one advantage is obvious to me - a wide range of sizes: non-studded Bridgestone Blizzak VRX tires are available in 53 sizes (from the Zhiguli 175/70 R13 to the impressive 245/45 R19), and studded Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 01 tires are presented even wider - in 60 standard sizes, from 175/70 R13 to 265/60 R18. It is important that both will be produced in Japan. And it is very important that prices for Japanese winter tires will remain one of the most attractive on the market.
Ice braking: in the absence of measuring equipment, the difference between Bridgestone tires and competitors' tires is barely noticeable
Comfortable and soft friction tires do not bother you with the crunch and hum of spikes on the asphalt, which you sometimes drive on in winter more often than on ice or snow. And in order to choose the best performance ones, we tested 205/55 R16 tires, which fit almost all golf-class cars.
Friction tires are a complex product; not every manufacturer manages to provide a balance of grip on snow, ice and asphalt, which, in addition, can be dry and wet. There are no “nails” - everything is just due to the composition of the rubber compound and the tread pattern. Here you can’t do without advanced technologies and experience in manufacturing complex molds for 3B lamellas. Therefore, we decided not to take tires cheaper than four thousand rubles: they always slip on at least one of the above-mentioned surfaces. We swam - we know.
The cheapest in our test (4130 rubles) is the Winter i*cept iZ2 model from the rapidly progressing Korean company Hankook. One and a half hundred more expensive is the Japanese Nitto SN2, which has just appeared on our market. Next comes the “Finn” of Russian origin, Nordman RS2, which is very popular among our motorists, and close to four and a half thousand is another purebred “Japanese” that is in steady demand - the Toyota Observe GSi-5.
The famous Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 and Blizzak Revo GZ from Bridgestone, famous for its durable, indestructible sidewall, cost about five thousand.
Pirelli Ice Zero FR sells even more expensive (5,245 rubles). And of course, the leaders of our previous tests were to take part in the tests - Continental ContiVikingContact 6 tires of German quality, the price of which is close to six thousand, and expensive Finnish tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 (6435 rubles). This is not the first year that they have been butting heads with each other for leadership and will not allow the other rivals to relax.
Is it spring again?
This time, for the snow and ice “battle,” we gathered competitors in Sweden, at the Pirelli training ground. The ring was a small frozen lake near the northern town of Älvsbyn and its shores, covered with a blanket of snow. We gathered there in a completely winter month - February. However, a warm front that came out of nowhere heated the air to positive temperatures and melted all the snow and ice in the area. And when the heat receded, the lake quickly returned to its skating rink state. We started the tests on it, somewhat violating our traditional order of exercises due to force majeure.
During testing, the air temperature dropped to -1.. -15 °C.
The tire carrier was the seventh generation Volkswagen Golf, used by almost all tire manufacturers in internal testing - a car with classic front-wheel drive handling and transparent behavior.
Battle on the Ice
The first track to be ready for the “battle” was to evaluate handling on ice. Turns of different radii and a straight line that allows you to accelerate to about 80 km/h are quite enough to evaluate how flexible the Volkswagen Golf, shod with the tested tires, is on slippery surfaces. The assessment is carried out by two experts, replacing each other. Together with the behavior of the car, they evaluate how easy and reliable it is to operate. Moreover, from the position of an ordinary driver who does not have special training. Therefore, in addition to “professional” driving, they imitate the typical mistakes of beginners: when accelerating and braking, in turns they act sharply, as on asphalt.
To increase the accuracy of the estimates, we decided to use halves when assigning points - to separate the results of our opponents. Highest score (nine)
points) Nokian tires earned points in the first discipline: clear reactions, understandable, predictable behavior even when sliding. There are no difficulties in driving, with a full understanding of what is happening under your feet. This test did not reveal any weaklings: the minimum score was seven points for three participants, and higher for the rest.
Handling track on the ice of a frozen lake. It’s hard to believe, but just a couple of days ago it was “spring” here - the water surface was surrounded by those freed from snowshores.
Next exercise: we measure acceleration and braking distance on an ice plateau. We do not disable the ASR and ABS traction control systems. Start from a place. The VBOX measuring system records the time taken to reach a speed of 30 km/h, then the braking distance from 30 to 5 km/h. It's good that the sky is overcast. The bright sun melts the ice, and the results begin to float away. But even in cloudy weather, friction tires on open ice are less stable than studded ones, so we repeat measurements with each set of tires 10-12 times. Moreover, every two test sets we change the Golf to base tires to assess how the condition of the surface has changed. After recalculating the results taking into account the behavior of the car on base tires, it turned out that on ice it accelerates fastest on Goodyear and Nokian tires. Nordman and Touo worsen the record result by one tenth of a second. The longest acceleration is on Pirelli tires, the difference with the leader is almost 20%. 
The shortest braking distance is on Nokian and Touo tires (15.5 m), ten centimeters behind them are Goodyear and Hankook, and the last ones are Bridgestone and Pirelli (17.3 m).
We estimate the time it takes to complete an ice circle - the shorter it is, the higher the transverse (lateral) grip. The driver tries to drive a circle as quickly as possible, making from 20 to 35 “revolutions” - on friction tires it is not easy to find the edge of maximum grip on ice. The scheme for changing wheels is the same as when measuring longitudinal grip: after every two test sets, change to the base one. After the exercise, we figured out how many laps our tester had completed and were horrified - more than four hundred! Anyone who thinks that tire testing is a romantic job is deeply mistaken. It's hellish work.
In this test, the Continental outperformed everyone: it managed to complete the lap in 15.9 seconds. Nokian, its closest rival, was three tenths behind. Bridgestone closes the list - it was not possible to show a time of less than 18 seconds on these tires.
Snow battles Behind the Wheel
At the beginning of the second week, snow fell, and we got the opportunity to evaluate the “snow” characteristics. The first test is to assess controllability. We used not only a set of “flat” turns of different radii, including running ones, where the speedometer needle sometimes reached the “100” mark, but also an interesting hairpin on the hillside, the entrance of which is on the rise, and the exit is on the descent. In some turns, the snow was “worn” to the icy base of the track due to the Golf’s sideways slides. We dubbed it the “Russian road”: snow interspersed with ice is a typical picture for our conditions.
Here we liked the Nokian and Touo tires the most. 
The impressions from them are similar: good reactions and information content, understandable and predictable behavior. The speed on the turning arc is limited by a soft skid, as if steering the car into the turn, which does not require adjustments by the steering wheel or releasing the gas. After some discussion, we decided not to put a nine (half a point was knocked off) due to small flaws in the taxiing - the required steering angles seemed a little larger than we would like. The leaders in the number of complaints were Bridgestone and Nitto. In a Golf shod with Blizzak Revo GZ, the steering angles increase significantly, a skid appears on the arc, requiring compensation, and grip decreases when sliding. On the Nitto SN2, the car behaves unstable, the turning arc passes in jerks, as if along the perimeter of a polyhedron, quite sharply breaks into a skid and recovers just as sharply after sliding.
Directional stability was assessed on a long rectangular plateau, accelerating to 90-100 km/h. They checked how clearly the car maintains a given direction and how it responds to soft maneuvering with small steering angles, simulating changing lanes to overtake or avoid obstacles.
Pirelli tires follow the driver’s commands more clearly than others: good reactions, tight, informative “steering wheel”. The Nitto tires were disappointing: when driving in a straight line, it felt wide, unclear due to the low information content of the steering wheel at small “zero” turning angles. The car scours from side to side, the driver has a feeling of uncertainty. Delays in reactions and delayed steering of the rear axle were noted, requiring additional adjustments.
At the same site, controllability during extreme maneuvering was assessed - during rearrangement, that is, an abrupt change of lane, and due to the insufficiently hard track, they did not measure the maximum speed. The most precise behavior of the car is provided by Nokian tires: when the maximum speed is reached, a soft steering of the rear axle occurs, smoothly turning into a skid that does not require compensation. Nitto tires earned the lowest rating: delays in the first reactions and increased steering angles are complemented by a sharp skid when leveling the car in the second corridor, with a shooting effect.
We finish the “snow” tests with a cross-country ability test. Experts evaluate in deep snow (the thickness of the snow cover is slightly greater than ground clearance) the ability of tires to “carry” a car, move away, turn, and “back up.” Particular attention is paid to how slippage affects traction. If the tires are ready to perform all maneuvers only with tension (the ASR traction control system is disabled), and when slipping the traction drops, we reduce the rating. If at the same time the wheels are buried, we lower it further.
In the snowdrifts, Nokian tires made the best impression: confident movement forward and backward with any degree of slipping, ease of maneuvers. The laggards are Touo. On these tires you can only start and move under tension; at the slightest slipping, the traction disappears and the tires dig in. The car maneuvers and moves in reverse uncertainly and reluctantly.
We go by instruments
It remains to measure the longitudinal grip on snow. Fortunately, the snow plateau for measurements was well compacted so that the snow did not move from the ice.
The work is practically the same as on the ice straight - acceleration and braking - but with minor adjustments. Since the coefficient of adhesion on snow is higher than on ice, the end speed of acceleration and the beginning of braking is increased to 40 km/h. Especially for creative drivers, we measure acceleration in two modes - standard, with the traction control system, and “creative”, turning it off. We brake, of course, with ABS, measure the braking distance from 40 to 5 km/h. Don't forget to take measurements on the base tires every three sets of tests.
The best acceleration under the supervision of electronics for the Golf is provided by the Continental: 6.1 seconds. Bridgestone, Goodyear and Nokian are two tenths behind it. The weakest in overclocking are Nitto and Touo.
Acceleration time on snow was measured in two modes: with the traction control system turned on and with the traction control system turned off. Experienced testerIt maintains the optimal degree of slippage more accurately than electronics.
With traction control turned off, the car accelerates faster. For example, on Continental tires - in 5.6 seconds, and they are again in the lead. The closest competitors are Goodyear, Hankook, Nokian, which are only one “ten” behind. And in the rear, having spent 6.2 seconds on acceleration, was Bridgestone - the difference with the leader is almost 11%. It is noteworthy that on these tires, acceleration with the electronic limiter disabled improved by only one tenth of a second, which means that traction on snow is practically independent of the degree of slipping. While the rest of the test participants, without electronic intervention, accelerate faster by 0.5-1.0 seconds (8-14%).
The results of tests of braking properties on snow were pleasantly surprising. Of course, there are leaders in this exercise - Goodyear, Nokian and Pirelli with the same result of 14.7 meters. But everyone else is no more than half a meter behind - there were no weaklings in this discipline!
Final on home asphalt
Tests on asphalt according to an already proven scheme were carried out in May in Tolyatti, at the AVTOVAZ testing ground - a neutral territory for tire manufacturers.
We start by assessing rolling resistance. One full circle (10 kilometers) along the speed ring at a speed of 120-130 km/h is enough for the temperature of the tires and oil in the gearbox to stabilize. During this time, the expert has time to evaluate the vehicle's directional stability on a straight line, as well as its reactions and behavior during soft changes from one lane to another.
The most important thing during measurements is to move back and forth along the same lane, without maneuvering, with the steering wheel fixed in the “straight” position to eliminate the possibility of lateral forces that could negatively affect the results. By the way, “there” and “back” are one measurement, not two. This eliminates measurement errors due to horizontal deviations in the road surface and wind direction. Three or four measurements, and the result is ready. However, it is not yet final: after two or three sets of tested tires, you have to repeat the “stove” - measurements on the basic set, taking into account which the final results are recalculated.
At a speed of 90 km/h (suburban limit) the three Continental, Nokian and Nordman are in the lead. The Golf is most reluctant to roll on Bridgestone, Goodyear and Pirelli tires. Although the difference between them and the “green” leaders is small - 0.3 l/100 km. At “city” speed (60 km/h), the “green” three retained their positions, but Hankook got into the company. Bridgestone tires have the worst performance in this driving mode: 0.4 l/100 km more than the leaders.
Hankook and Pirelli received the highest marks for directional stability. The reactions of the Golf, shod with these tires, are close to those demonstrated on summer tires. Bridgestone and Too deserved the least flattering words. The Golf has a wide “zero” at the “bridge” and insufficient information content of the steering wheel; on Touo tires there is also a fuzzy, wide “zero” and also rubber, that is, delayed reactions to steering actions. When trying to correct the course, the car begins to scour from side to side.
The previously obtained impressions of the noise and smoothness of the ride can only be clarified by additional driving along service roads with traditional irregularities - holes, potholes, chips and cracks. The results were somewhat surprising. The quietest of all are the Bridgestone tires, although they are also the hardest: the Golf itches and shakes on small and medium-sized bumps, as if pumped up to three atmospheres.
Goodyear tires unexpectedly turned out to be the loudest and loudest, despite the fact that tires from this brand are usually quiet. And experts recognized Touo tires as the softest.
Final exercises - assessment of braking properties on dry and wet asphalt. We brake in the corridor sandwiched by cones so that the tires roll along the same trajectory, “cleaned” before measurements - track after track. After each braking, cool the brakes. The start speed of braking is lower than in summer tests - this way we will protect the soft protector of the friction clutches from destruction.
On wet asphalt we brake from 60 km/h, and on dry asphalt - from 80 km/h.
On average, we brake six times on one set in each case. In these exercises, there is no need to repeat the “base tire”, since a change in tread temperature of several degrees during braking measurements does not in any way affect the grip.
properties - proven by many years of experience.
The shortest braking distance on dry asphalt is provided by Bridgestone (28.6 m). Then in the interval 29.0-29.2 m there are five tires with a difference of less than one percent. And only two tires “left” thirty meters - these are Nitto and Touo with results 7% worse than the leader.
On wet asphalt, the spread is greater: Continental is in the lead here with a result of 17.4 meters, and Nitto and Touo together show the last result - 21.6 meters, which is a quarter more than the leader.
Final parade
As he writes in 2017, first place with a decent margin from the rest is occupied by the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 model, which scored 939 points. These are excellent friction clutches for any winter roads - everyone will like them. They are especially good on ice, and will also delight you with handling, cross-country ability and efficiency. There is only one drawback - the high price.
The Continental ContiVikingContact 6 tires are in second place in our rating, earning 912 points. A worthy choice for drivers of any level - from advanced to beginners. We were pleased with the excellent lateral grip on ice, grip on snow, braking on wet asphalt and efficiency. When checking the cross-country ability and directional stability on the asphalt, they gave a little slack.
The third step of our podium went to the Hankook Winter i*cept iZ2 tires with very even properties: 909 points - an excellent result. And these are the most inexpensive tires in the test! The only remark is that they are tough.
The Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 and Nordman RS2 are included in the excellent tire category, with 907 points each, tied for fourth and fifth place. Both are equally strong, so we recommend them without restrictions. The nuances differ
which only advanced drivers will catch. Goodyear has several extremes: very good in longitudinal grip on snow and ice, but let us down in comfort and efficiency. Nordman is close in character to Hankuk - it is also well balanced in all properties.
The sixth and seventh lines are occupied by the Pirelli Ice Zero FR and Toyo Observe GSi-5, which received no 888 points. Within our grading, these are very good tires, since their final results fall into the bracket from 870 to 899 points. Each has small weaknesses. Pirelli does not like ice (weak longitudinal grip), preferring snow and asphalt. Touo, on the contrary, demonstrates good longitudinal grip on ice surfaces and handling on snow, but is weak in deep snow, as well as on asphalt - both in grip properties and in directional stability.
The eighth-ninth steps were occupied by another couple - Bridgestone and Nitto. In the test they
scored 860 points, confirming the right to be called good tires (this title corresponds to a range from 840 to 869 total points). The level is the same, both are purebred “Japanese”, but their characters are different: Nitto clings to the ice more confidently, Bridgestone to the asphalt.
And on the snow there is parity. According to the results of the expert assessment, there is no fundamental difference between them. Just in comfort. Bridgestone is the quietest, but also the most rigid.
Now let’s compare the results with prices. The undisputed leader in this coordinate system is Hankook: third place in the overall standings at the most modest price. Nordman is in second position, followed by Nitto and Touo. Famous products on this list took modest positions. And it is closed by two leaders. So choose wisely, but also taking into account the thickness of your wallet.
8th and 9th place (840 points): Nitto SN2
Pros: Good maneuverability in deep snow. v Satisfactory handling on ice. Moderate noise level Minuses: Weak braking properties on asphalt and acceleration on snow. Difficult handling during extreme maneuvering on snow. A few comments about handling on Russian roads and directional stability. Low level of smoothness.
8th and 9th place (840 points): Bridgestone Blizzak Revo GZ
Pros: Better braking on dry asphalt. v Satisfactory handling on ice and directional stability on snow. The quietest.
Minuses: Weak grip on ice and snow. Mediocre cross-country ability. Unclear course following on asphalt. Minor complaints about handling on the “Russian road” and during extreme maneuvering in the snow. Worst efficiency and smoothness.
7th and 6th place (888 points): Toyo Observe GSi-5
Pros: Outstanding longitudinal grip on ice. Reliable handling on ice and “Russian roads”. Better ride quality. Low noise level.
Minuses: Worse braking and difficult directional stability on asphalt. Limited cross-country ability in deep snow.
7th and 6th place (888 points): Pirelli Ice Zero FR
Pros: Excellent braking properties on snow. Excellent directional stability. Clear handling when performing extreme maneuvers on snow
Minuses: Poor longitudinal grip on ice. w Low fuel efficiency at 90 km/h. Ride notes
5th and 4th place (907 points): Nordman RS2
Pros: Allows you to confidently accelerate and brake on ice. High efficiency, stable handling on ice and directional stability on asphalt.
Minuses: Minor comments about handling on the “Russian road” and during extreme maneuvering in the snow, cross-country ability, as well as directional stability in the snow. Harsh and noisy.
5th and 4th place (907 points): Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 
Pros: Outstanding longitudinal grip on ice and snow. Clear handling on ice and “Russian road”.
Minuses: Low cross-country ability. A few comments about directional stability and handling during extreme maneuvering on snow. High fuel consumption at a speed of 90 km/h. Noisy and harsh.
3rd place (909 points): Hankook Winter i*cept iZ2
Pros: High braking properties on ice. v Reliable handling. Good directional stability. Attractive price. High efficiency.
Minuses: Notes on ride quality. w Minor comments regarding cross-country ability. Increased noise level in the cabin.
2nd place (912 points): Continental ContiVikingContact 6
Pros: The best lateral grip on ice, acceleration on snow and braking on wet asphalt. Stable handling on ice and directional stability on snow. Low fuel consumption.
Minuses: Mediocre cross-country ability. Minor complaints about handling on the “Russian road” and during extreme maneuvering on snow, as well as about directional stability on asphalt and comfort.
1st place (912 points): Continental ContiVikingContact 6 
Pros: Excellent grip on ice and snow. Excellent handling. Strict adherence to the course. Excellent cross-country ability in deep snow. High efficiency.
Minuses: Minor comments about ride quality. Increased noise level. High price.
Both options have their distinct advantages and disadvantages; with predominant use on country roads, studs are still in great demand, but the explosive quantitative growth of urban vehicle fleets and technical progress in the design and technology of materials for studless winter tires have made the selection process far from straightforward. But in addition to this, the share of all-wheel drive cars (especially SUVs) is steadily growing, for which the effect of using studs in almost all disciplines (except perhaps braking) is less pronounced than for their mono-wheel drive counterparts.
It is quite logical that in the wake of such demand, tire manufacturers are investing heavily in improving the characteristics in which studless winter tires lag behind their studded counterparts (traction with snow and ice, overall service life) while maintaining existing advantages (weight, noise, efficiency).
The most striking result was the appearance of tires in everyday use called “Velcro”. The quality of road grip here is determined not only by the pronounced tread, but also by the material itself from which the tire is made - it tries to “stick” to the road. One of the pioneers of this solution is the Japanese Bridgestone. Previously, its models Winter Dueler DM-Z2, Blizzak DM-Z3 and the recent flagship Blizzak DM-V1 sold millions of copies around the world.
But competitors are not asleep, so on the eve of the next winter season, the Japanese presented their new “Velcro” for SUV, which is destined to be the flagship - Blizzak DM-V2. The manufacturer's expectations for its sales are so high that the construction of a new plant in the Ulyanovsk region is already in full swing, and this model will arrive in the CIS countries even before the start of sales in the rest of the world.
What makes the Japanese optimistic? Preparing for a test drive (it took place last winter at the Dmitrovsky Automotive Test Site) and reading the materials, you understand that due to the amount of know-how used, the real competition for a newcomer on the road can be a tiny number of models from no less famous brands. For example, the well-known Michelin X-Ice 3, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R, GoodYear Ultra Grip Ice+ and Continental Viking Contact 5 (this is the order in which the engineers of the Japanese brand listed their competitors to us).
We started with the basics. The use of Multi-Cell Compound, which had micropores and thereby absorbed water from the contact patch, which was once a breakthrough, was considered insufficient. It turned out that only a third of the potential capabilities of the technology were used! Therefore, in DM-V2, the tread pattern was modified taking into account the specifics of the new material: previously, without going into technical details, the capabilities of the tread and the compound existed rather separately from each other. Due to the introduction of new solutions, the contact patch has expanded, especially on the edges, which gives a stable increase in the quality of road grip, and also the micropores of the tire material become ready for work with virtually no initial running-in, and the overall tread mileage also increases.
Before the trip to the test site, the only question that remained open was why the brand’s marketers convinced their bosses to bring both types of winter tires under one Blizzak brand? It has become more difficult for an inexperienced user, previously little familiar with the brand’s products, to navigate the whole variety of designations, because models are now distinguished only by obscure indices at the very end of the name... Indeed, the previous system of division into separate families was more informative. But it's time to go to the training ground!
Considering that the new model is intended for SUVs, the main emphasis in the evaluation was on the quality of handling at high speeds - this is the “moose test”, performed at an average speed of 80 km/h, and emergency braking from a typical 110 km/h on a country road. After all, even an extra couple of meters of braking distance can cost someone’s life! And insufficient speed reduction when passing a “snake” may indicate whether you will return to your lane after going around an unexpected obstacle or the trip will end in an oncoming ditch.
To visualize the results of test runs (note that we did not have special high-precision equipment), visual, well-understood methods are used: exercises are carried out on identical cars with different tires along the same trajectory several times by each driver until stable results are obtained. Data from the manufacturer, obtained using expensive measurement techniques, is, of course, more accurate, but how can you check it? And the results of certification tests are stingy - “... corresponds to GOST.”
And yet we saw the main difference between the new product. This is exactly the notorious few meters of reduction in braking distance or narrowing of the corridor when passing the “moose test” at speeds above 50 km/h. At lower speeds it was difficult to notice the differences - after all, the previous model was quite good. At the same time, for comparison, the test cars were also wearing tires from one of the competitors (on the test cars, all the inscriptions were cut off from the rubber, so its brand - Nokian Hakkapeliitta R - could only be determined by the sidewalls and tread). Here the advantages of the DM-V2 turned out to be less pronounced; competitors were often neck and neck, but in one area Bridgestone gave a head start - its price was lower for the same amount.
Bridgestone DM-V2 sales are scheduled to begin this fall. The entire main range of standard sizes (more than 50) will be available to buyers. At first, the tires will be made in Japan, and then, when the Russian assembly line is launched in 2016, they will begin to be produced here, and the price will become even more attractive. By mid-2018, the plant should reach full capacity of 12 thousand units per day and fully meet the needs of the Russian and CIS markets.
| Model and competitors | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 | Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 | Michelin X-Ice 3 | Nokian Hakkapeliitta R/SUV |
| Width, mm | 205–285 | 205–285 | 155–255 | 175–255 |
| Series | 40–80 | 45–75 | 40–70 | 40–70 |
| Diameter, " | 15–20 | 15–22 | 13–19 | 13–19 |
| Speed index | R (170 km/h)-T (190 km/h) | R (170 km/h) | T (190 km/h)-H (210 km/h) | R (170 km/h) |
| Load index | 96–116 | 96–116 | 75–104 | 75–107 |
| Price of 225/65R17 tire on the Internet, rub. | 6600 | 6400 | 7600 | 7900 |
