Rating of the best winter tires 2022 for Russian roads

There is very little time left before winter, so it's time for every motorist to think about winter tires. After all, it is on the type of rubber chosen with the onset of cold weather that not only the safety of the driver during icy conditions and heavy rainfall will depend, but also comfortable driving on domestic roads. Taking into account many important factors, we have compiled a rating of the best winter tires 2022 for Russian roads.

How to choose

Before settling on any particular brand, you first need to figure out the type that is right for your situation.
There can be two varieties:

• Studded. Suitable for areas where the driver regularly needs to deal with ice and heavy rainfall in winter. The spikes on the tires are designed to cut into the road surface and thus allow the driver to avoid slipping. The disadvantage of such tires is that they greatly harm the asphalt.
• Friction or Velcro. They do not have studs, but are distinguished by a greater sipe of the tread blocks. Velcro grip on dry asphalt is worse than studded rubber.

Other selection criteria

There are some important tips that drivers should not forget:

• If a driver decides to give preference to all-season Russian R14 tires, instead of getting even inexpensive winter tires, he must understand that such a decision can be very risky. All-season tires harden faster because they are not made from the same flexible rubber as winter tires. Subsequently, "all-weather" badly adhere to the road surface, and it will be more difficult to drive on ice or snow.
• In order not to get confused when choosing, you need to pay attention to the designations that are on the side of the tire. They will help determine what weather conditions are optimal for a given type of tire.
• It is necessary to pay attention to the tests and reviews of experienced motorists, they conduct tests for rubber in various areas, including wet and dry pavement. The tests are characterized by measuring acceleration, fuel consumption and noise. The braking properties and comfort conditions for a certain type of tires are also determined.

winter roads

Before thinking about which company is better to choose tires for the winter season, you need to decide what type of road prevails in the area where the car is constantly located, for example, icy or snowy asphalt, slush or ordinary dry coverage.

If rubber is selected for a car that constantly drives in mild winter conditions in a city where road services work stably and well, then friction tires will come in handy, the ride will be more comfortable with them, and the road surface is safer.

But in the conditions of the northern winter, with poorly cleaned roads and frequent driving on unpaved and off-road surfaces, it is better to opt for studded tires, and of the best quality, because the safety and ease of use of the vehicle depend on this.

driving style

For drivers who prefer a quiet slow ride, friction tires are suitable, but for reckless drivers with an aggressive driving style, frequent abrupt starts and choosing high-speed modes, it is definitely better to take studded tires.

An experience

For beginners driving, it is better to look at studded tires, they are safer and will help to avoid many critical situations on the road. And for drivers who are confident in their professionalism with good driving experience, Velcro will be just right.

Size

After the type of tires you need is determined, you need to start choosing the size for your car and wheels. In order not to guess for a long time, you can use the recommendations of the manufacturers, they are usually displayed on the tires themselves next to the indices.

Indices

There are two indexes that you need to determine for yourself before buying winter tires.

• Speed ​​index.For each type of tire, it is determined at the test drive stage and later marked on the rubber itself. This is the maximum allowable speed setting for safety and gentle operation. If, while driving, the speed is exceeded above the parameter value, there is a risk of an accident, as well as early wear and deformation of the tires.

The speed indices assigned to different types of rubber can be as follows:

• T (up to 190 km / h) - typical for studded tires.

All other indices are assigned, as a rule, to different types of Velcro:

• S - up to 180 km / h;
• R - up to 170 km / h;
• Q - up to 160 km / h;
• H - up to 210 km / h;
• V - up to 240 km / h;
• W - up to 270 km / h.

2. Next to the first index, an index is usually indicated that determines the allowable load. It is calculated based on the indicator of the maximum possible weight of the car. For passenger cars, this indicator is not as important as for crossovers or SUVs.

By price

When all other selection criteria are determined, you can pay attention to the cost of the most suitable brand in all respects.

Sales statistics

According to the indicators of past years, it can be seen that motorists for the winter period largely prefer studded models - almost 75%. Velcro typically accounts for about a quarter of total sales each year.

average price

Popular models of winter tires can be divided into three classes according to pricing policy:

1. Budget - inexpensive, with different functionality and quality levels, can do within:

• R14 up to 2500 rubles;
• R15 up to 3000 rubles;
• R16 up to 4000 rubles;
• R17 up to 6000 rubles.

2. Middle class. Here, the minimum cost starts from 3000 rubles and can reach up to 8000 rubles.
3. Premium class - these are the most expensive and high-quality tires from well-known brands, the range of their pricing policy can be in the range of 4000-10000 rubles. influenced by the country and the popularity of the models of the manufacturer.

Video tips on how to make the right choice of winter tires:

Rating of quality winter tires

NOKIAN HAKKAPELIITTA R2 SUV

A new product from the Finnish manufacturer for SUVs and crossovers. In this model, good braking properties can be emphasized on almost any road surface. All the advantages of a similar product for cars are present, but other properties are noticeably improved. They are distinguished by a symmetrical tread with crystal particles in rubber, the number of sipes is increased, ideal for driving in any winter conditions.

How much does it cost - 10800 rubles.

• Good road holding;
• you can not be afraid of falling into a rut;
• confident braking on any type of asphalt;
• excellent handling;
• practically silent;
• quite soft;
• the sidewall is durable;
• reliability;
• long service life.

• There is a slight yaw on the asphalt;
• price;
• designed more for urban conditions.

Professional review of tires of this brand - in the video:

GOODYEAR ULTRA GRIP ICE 2

Considered ideal based on the ratio of the two parameters, an affordable price for good quality. Production - Poland. Excellent braking properties are noted for Velcro.

They have proven themselves on the world market as a reliable, wear-resistant and safe product. Upgraded technologies that have been successfully used in previous models and innovations have made GOODYEAR ULTRA GRIP ICE 2 tires in demand among motorists throughout Russia.

Price - 5600 rubles.

Video review of characteristics:

• Directional tread pattern;
• thoughtful arrangement of hybrid lamellas;
• excellent self-cleaning;
• optimized tread pressure;
• sure acceleration.

• Acoustic discomfort due to unevenness on the road surface;
• Side thickness.

Bridgestone Blizzak Revo GZ

One of the most popular models among domestic motorists, with above average quality at an affordable price. When creating, a modern rubber compound was used, as a result of which the rubber has a microporous structure that is able to break a thin water film, thereby increasing the grip of wheels on wet surfaces.

The unique pattern on the tread has an asymmetric structure. Due to the small grooves, excess water cannot reach the contact patch and thus the effect of hydroplaning is prevented, which means more safety when driving on wet roads.

The average price is 6500 rubles.

• Excellent traction and grip on wet roads;
• good directional stability in different driving modes, including high-speed and maneuvering;
• comfort with low noise and vibration;
• short braking distance, regardless of environmental conditions and the quality of the road surface;
• modest fuel consumption during high-speed driving.

• Low lateral grip on ice;
• weak braking on wet pavement.

Michelin Alpin 5

The novelty from the French brand is focused on use in regions with mild winters.The main emphasis is made to ensure increased driving safety, these tires are not suitable for riding on ice, but they will perform well on wet and snowy asphalt.

The Michelin A5 features a high directional tread pattern that helps create your trail in the snow and provides increased stability. The location of the lateral grooves in the shoulder areas contributes to the effective removal of water and reduces the risk of aquaplaning. And multiple sipes help improve traction in the snow.

The average price is up to 9000 rubles.

• Good grip;
• Rubber compound with a high content of silicon-containing components, providing elasticity at low temperatures;
• The increased number of tread blocks provides excellent grip when driving on snowy roads;

• Not designed for driving on ice;
• noisy;
• Price.

Overview of winter tires Michelin Alpin 5 - in the video:

Michelin X-Ice Xi3

It is valued for the stability of indicators according to all criteria in any winter conditions. The manufacturing company is located in France and deservedly occupies a place among the leaders in the manufacture of car tires. This model is a novelty, which included a complex of innovative technologies. Manufacturers have managed to realize the concept of "Smart Spike" and have created a truly unique product.

The inner tread layer consists of a thermosetting rubber compound that can change elasticity under the influence of the environment. The removal of ice crumbs takes place according to the Ice Powder Remover technology, which is a system of 6 wells around each spike, which absorb the crumbs into themselves. The spike is designed in the form of a cylinder with a cone-shaped tip on a wide base, which provides a more secure fixation of the spike.

Price - up to 8500 rubles.

• Performed well on snowy pavement;
• Excellent handling;
• Braking performance at a high level;
• exchange rate stability;
• Comfort in operation;
• Good permeability;
• Quiet work.

• Coupling properties and directional stability on ice are still rather weak;
• Increased fuel consumption.

Professional assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of these tires - in the video:

Hankook W419 iPike RS

The manufacturer of these tires is one of the top companies in this area from South Korea. Tires of this model have a V-shaped directional symmetrical tread, it consists of three longitudinal rows, which provide directional stability and grip on winter road surfaces.

Also on the tread on each side are separate shoulder blocks, which are responsible for flotation on a snowy road. The rubber compound used in this model does not lose its elasticity even at fairly low temperatures; it contains silicon, which improves grip with asphalt.

The average price is up to 6000 rubles.

• Excellent braking on any road surface;
• Good grip when driving on rolled and light snow cover;
• exchange rate stability;
• Long service life.

• Not suitable for driving in slush or deep snow;
• there is an annoying noise.

Dunlop SP Winter Ice02

This English brand is the oldest in the tire industry. It is famous for constant innovation in this segment and therefore the new development will no doubt please many car enthusiasts.

The first thing you notice is the unique bizarre tread pattern, which consists of a large number of drainage grooves located against the movement and at an acute angle. Tires guarantee slip resistance on slush, and studs, which are arranged in 16 rows, provide optimal grip on ice.

Price - up to 7500 rubles.

• Excellent braking on snowy roads;
• Normal permeability.

• On ice, grip leaves a lot to be desired;
• Not very good braking when driving on wet asphalt;
• Noise;
• Noticeable fuel consumption.

Video review of Dunlop SP Winter Ice02 tires:

Continental ContiIceContact 2

This is a modernized model of one of the most popular products from manufacturers from Germany. The number of spikes in a new tire reaches almost two hundred. The studs are thoughtfully smaller to minimize disruption to the road surface.

Also, in the manufacture of spikes, an even more reliable adhesive was used, which is able to withstand a greater load than the previous model of the brand. The rubber compound is also of improved quality, which allows the tire to maintain elasticity in an extended temperature range.

Price - up to 11,000 rubles.

• Excellent braking in all conditions;
• Good grip when driving on ice and snow;
• Comfort in management;
• patency;
• Silence.

• Price.

A detailed video review of this rubber:

Types of winter tire treads

1. Rubber with a directional image on the tread means increased and lateral stability of the car. Also, such tires, as a rule, have very good hydroplaning resistance, due to the fact that the structure of the pattern contributes to the timely and high-quality removal of water from the point of contact between the tire and wet asphalt. This type of tire has a significant drawback - they are installed on a strictly defined side of the car.
2. With a non-directional image, the situation is a little different, these are universal and affordable models. They are easy to operate and can be installed on any side of the machine. True, tires with a non-directional pattern are practically not produced for the winter season.
3. Off-road tire treads are distinguished by large blocks located at a noticeable distance, the sipes are wide and deep with an orientation mainly across the tire. This is done so that the car has the possibility of high cross-country ability.
4. But for high-speed tires, the treads look, on the contrary, with a large number of compact and low blocks and lamellas of small depth. The nature of the image of such tires is mainly directional, there are also deep discharge channels located longitudinally, which contributes to a more tangible directional stability.
5. A symmetrical tread is typical for universal inexpensive models, without any special advantages or disadvantages, indicators for all characteristics are usually average.
6. But if the tread is asymmetric, then it combines quite a few different qualities. The blocks of such a protector consist of two parts, each of which is responsible for its own scope. Both parts can also differ in rubber stiffness to achieve better lateral stability when cornering and changing lanes. Such tires have disadvantages - the area of ​​contact with the road is smaller, which means that the effectiveness of the properties of each part of the tire also decreases, moreover, due to the complexity of production, models with an asymmetric image turn out to be quite expensive.

Which one is better to buy

Based on what characteristics to make a choice, we described above.For motorists living in standard winter conditions of the Russian Federation, who want to purchase a model of winter tires that is optimal in terms of cost and compliance with the usual characteristics for this area, while preferring driving at moderate speeds, tires with a directional symmetrical tread pattern for off-road driving are ideal.

Run Flat

This is a technology that is used in the manufacture of tires for the middle and premium class, thanks to which the car will be able to drive even with a complete loss of pressure in the wheel in case of force majeure. The presence of this technology in the tire can be identified by the side tires thickened in size, which are distinguished by a heat-resistant rubber composition. Thanks to this design, the weight of the car is held by the rest of the wheels, preventing the flat tire from deforming.

When is the best time to change

According to recommendations from tire manufacturers, it is necessary to switch to winter tires when the average daily air temperature is kept at around 5-7 degrees for several days.