No skidding and slipping: top-end winter tyres R17

The history of the American company Goodyear dates back to the XIX century. With a wealth of experience in tyre manufacturing, the brand is constantly expanding its product range and adapting it to the relentless innovations of technological progress.

The Ultra Grip Performance G1 model with a directional tread pattern belongs to the European type of winter tyres, i.e. its capabilities are revealed to the best extent in mild winters when traveling on wet and dry asphalt. Deep drainage channels between the tread blocks on a solid "five" cope with the removal of dirt, snowmelt and water from the contact spot. And taking into account the fact that most of the grooves are located at an acute angle and against the movement, increased resistance to slashplaning is achieved.

There are several thousand 3D lamellae on the tread surface, which increase the rigidity of the tread and, accordingly, provide better grip of the tyre with the roadbed. The increased number of slats has a positive effect on braking efficiency and responsiveness in driving when traveling at high speeds.

A snowflake is "tattooed" on one of the tread blocks of the model, which acts as a tyre wear indicator. With a residual tread depth of less than 4 mm, the symbol disappears, making it clear that the tyre ceases to provide the proper level of safety when driving on snow-covered roads. However, this does not prevent you from "rolling out" the tyre in the off-season, while simultaneously looking for a replacement option.

The Finnish Nokian WR D4 tyre was awarded the highest score for grip on wet asphalt, which is marked with A mark "A" according to the European tyre marking.

The basis of the central part of the tread of the model is a massive rib with slats cut in it (not across the entire width) to improve control over the road situation. To the right and left of it are separate blocks with thick lamellization, which form a directional tread pattern. Finally, another type of lamellae is found in the shoulder zones — they increase traction on a snow-covered canvas and improve responsiveness when manoeuvring.

Drainage grooves cut the tread in a variety of places, contributing to the rapid and efficient removal of meltwater from the contact spot. As a result, the tyre is not afraid of either hydroplaning or slashplaning — the effect of sliding a car through a snow sludge that occurs at a speed of movement over 50 km/h. The tyre also goes well in deep snow, clinging to the road by means of chamfers at the ends of the shoulder blocks.

Preference should be given to the tyre during its further operation in a mild climate — the Nokian WR D4 guarantees a comfortable ride and safety in the conditions for which it is designed. With all this, the tyre has good walking performance and provides a short braking distance, which is required from a good representative of premium-level winter tyres.

The fifth version of the "Alpine" from Michelin is recognizable only by sight — the characteristic shape of the directional tyre tread is remembered from the first acquaintance.

In addition to the fact that the tread leaves a beautiful trail on the snow, it also has very important qualities as a representative of the segment of top winter tyres. Thus, directional drainage grooves form a "cesspool" design, and the grooved structure of the tread surface improves traction properties on a slippery canvas and prevents cars from entering drifts.

The surface of the tread blocks is streaked with numerous lamellae, many of which have the so-called "claw effect". With their help, the tyre clings better to ice and snow, demonstrating the confident passage of snow-covered trails. The second type of lamellae used is self-locking. It increases the stiffness of the rubber when entering turns and improves the traction of the tyre in the snow.

Michelin Alpin 5 is good not only in words, but also in deeds, which is confirmed by an abundance of positive feedback from the happy owners of the model. The minus of rubber is only one, and even that is "far—fetched" — as the tyre wears out, the noise level increases. However, it still remains quiet and soft regardless of the outside air temperature, which makes the tyre equally good both in the winter cold and in the warm days of the cold season.

The German concern Continental AG is one of the largest players in the tyre market. Its products have won the recognition of the public around the world thanks to advanced performance characteristics, which is confirmed by numerous first places in various ratings.

The predecessor of the model in question (Continental ContiWinterContact TS 850) took the podium almost fifty times in comparative tests of winter tyres. The tyre with the TS860 index, which replaced the "winner", is able to break this record, since improvements in it affected almost everything. The tyre has absorbed the features of both "European" and "Scandinavian", which makes it universal in all weather conditions, whether there is rolled snow, slush or dry roadbed under the wheels of the car.

When developing the model, the features of mixed winters in the countries of Central and Western Europe with characteristic drops of plus to minus temperatures and vice versa were taken into account. The tyre is not afraid of low temperatures either — the special composition of the rubber compound with an increased percentage of silica and the inclusion of special resins contributes to the preservation of its elasticity. In combination with a variety of 3D lamellae on the tread, increased stability is achieved on snow-covered surfaces.

The directional V-shaped pattern of the tyre tread cuts through numerous drainage grooves for rapid removal of water and melted snow masses from the contact spot. And the braking efficiency on the winter roadbed is enhanced by a special Liquid Layer Drainage technology, thanks to which a film of water is formed under the tread, reducing the contact surface area between the tyre and the road. Even though there are no spikes, the rubber shows an impressively short braking distance on ice.

The Continental ContiWinterContact TS860 is one of the best universal solutions for the cold season, together with which the confident behavior of the car in difficult winter operating conditions is ensured.

The premium-level friction tyre from the Italian brand Pirelli has the properties of studded rubber, demonstrating confident driving qualities both when traveling on asphalt surfaces and on snow-covered off-road.

The secret of successfully overcoming ice, snow porridge and wet winter roads lies in the coordinated work of all tyre zones. Thus, the central part of the directional tread provides traction with the snow-covered canvas, deep longitudinal grooves effectively remove water and melted snow from the contact spot, and the narrow shoulder area is designed to improve grip on ice. In the "shoulders", a fairly soft composition of the rubber compound was used, due to which the vertical stiffness of the tyre decreased with a parallel increase in the contact spot.

All Pirelli Ice Zero FR tread blocks are streaked with a huge number of 3D wave-like lamellae, which allow the tyre to cling to the snow more confidently, and also increase the stability of the car when entering turns, along with improved traction and braking characteristics.

Italian developers paid increased attention to the composition of the rubber compound, which resulted in the preservation of elasticity by the tyre when the air temperature drops to about -50 °C. In general, the tyre is characterized by a quiet and soft ride in all conditions of winter movement. The disadvantages of the model will not be found even with a thorough search, for which she takes the time to earn a well-deserved place at the top of the Olympus of winter friction tyres.