Increased cross-country ability: winter tyres R17 for SUVs

The world-famous French concern Michelin produces low-cost products under the wing of its subsidiaries. One of these is the Serbian brand Tigar, whose model range was replenished in 2017 with winter tyres for SUVs with the name Tigar SUV Winter.

The tyre has good traction qualities on winter surfaces and wet asphalt. This is facilitated by a well-designed arrangement of directional tread blocks, cut with high-density lamellae. As for a state employee, the tyre demonstrates excellent traction in the snow and a small braking distance during emergency stops.

The rubber compound of the model is diluted with a "cocktail" of silica, due to which the tyre does not lose elasticity in the cold. At the same time, when the air temperature rises above +7...+10 °C the tyre becomes too soft, increasing the roll of SUVs and crossovers in turns. Against the background of other representatives of the low-cost segment, Tigar SUV Winter stands out for the opportunity to save on fuel costs — low rolling resistance ensures a reduction in its consumption.

It is noteworthy that a similar tyre is available in the lineup of other large Michelin "daughters". It is known by the names Taurus SUV Winter, Strial SUV Winter, Riken SUV Snow and Kormoran SUV Snow. All of them are united by an attractive cost and wear resistance, which has a positive effect on the durability of the tread.

In addition to the popular passenger studded tyre Kumho WinterCraft Ice Wi31, the South Korean manufacturer has released an almost similar modification of the tyre designed for use on SUVs and crossovers.

The off-road version of the winter tyre has retained an identical directional tread pattern, but is designed for increased loads and has an increased contact area. From the factory, the model is supplied without spikes, but only with holes for an optional stud. In their absence, the rubber shows the qualities of a typical representative of the winter friction tyres squad, but together with the spikes, the model turns into a harsh "Scandinavian" who confidently overcomes snow-covered roads and feels good on clean ice.

3D lamellae in the form of bee zones contribute to the better tenacity of tyres with snow and ice. Opening up, they form a set of coupling faces with the roadbed. In turn, this has an impact on improving traction characteristics and braking efficiency. The tyre is slightly lost only in deep loose snow, so you should not arrange rides on a snow-covered field on it.

The drainage system of the Kumho WinterCraft SUV Ice WS31 consists of many transverse channels with a width increasing from the centre to the edge. This geometry contributes to the rapid removal of meltwater from the contact spot and increases the tyre's resistance to slashplaning and hydroplaning. The model is available on the market in 14 standard sizes (from R16 to R20), among which most owners of all-terrain vehicles will be able to choose a modification for their needs.

Fulda has no experience in the production of tyre products — in this field, it feels confident for more than one century. For the last 55 years, the brand has been a part of the tyre giant Goodyear, producing middle-class tyres for cars, SUVs and trucks.

The Fulda Kristall Control SUV winter friction tyre is designed taking into account the heavy weight and high centre of gravity of off-road vehicles. At the same time, the popular passenger tyre Fulda Kristal Conrol HP 2 was taken as a basis. A directional tread pattern with characteristic hump-shaped grooves between the central blocks is borrowed from it, which help to increase the rigidity of the checkers when moving on dry asphalt.

The tyre clings to the snow with sharp edges and rectilinear lamellae, and the improvement of traction and ensuring excellent manoeuvrability is achieved thanks to an extensive interconnected chain of grooves that work as snow catchers. As a result, the car is just as confident driving on a snow-covered canvas as on a clean road. This technology of building a single network of grooves is called SnowCatcher.

The shoulder area of the tread with its own lamellization helps to reduce the braking distance on winter roads. In addition, the rubber compound of the model includes an increased content of silica — the tyre remains soft on frosty days, which has a positive effect on comfort when traveling. And given the many positive reviews about the driving qualities and wear resistance of the passenger version of rubber, it is possible to recommend an off-road modification to all owners of the corresponding cars without exception.

The absence of spikes in Japanese off-road tyres did not prevent her from acquiring confident handling not only on a snowy roadbed, but also on clean ice, to which the tyre clings with an almost death grip.

The directional symmetrical pattern of the tyre tread forms a set of coupling edges, and 3D lamellae act as an additional link in the tenacity of the tyre for slippery coatings. The entire perimeter of the tread is streaked with zigzag radial channels for better removal of thawed snow masses from the contact spot. As a result, the tyre provides a confident taxiing on a snowy road and reacts sensitively to all the actions of the driver.

The merit of the excellent grip of the tyre is not only in the abundance of edges, but also in the special composition of the rubber mixture with absorbent microbubbles and white gel to combat the formation of a water film in the contact spot. They act like a sponge, reducing the risk of slipping tyres on icy road surfaces.

According to the manufacturer, the braking distance of the tyre in comparison with its predecessor (Yokohama Geolandar I/T-S G073) was reduced by more than 20%. In fact, more effective braking is confirmed in fact both during tyre tests on ice and in real conditions of winter operation. In addition to everything else, rubber boasts low rolling resistance, which allows you to reduce the amount of fuel consumed and leave more money in your wallet.

Running—in in the harsh Finnish winter is the best test for the Nokian Nordman 7 SUV tyre, released just for use in snowy regions with an abundance of uncleaned roads.

The tyre is not afraid of the vagaries of unpredictable winter weather, because it confidently clings to any roadway with its spikes. They are turned with a wide side perpendicular to the direction of movement, which increases the contact area of the spike with the road surface during acceleration and braking. The blocks are supported in an upright position by the so-called "bear claws", which at the same time take on most of the load during braking.

In the depth of the tyre under each of the spikes there is an air cushion that allows them to absorb without causing damage to themselves and the tread blocks. In parallel, the noise of rubber is minimized and the destruction of the roadway by spikes is prevented (Air Claw shock absorption technology, based on another innovative branded "bun" — Eco Stud pinching technology). It all sounds cool and in fact works no less wonderfully in fact.

From the classic version of the Nokian Nordman 7, the modification with the SUV prefix is distinguished by a reinforced frame and a more durable rubber compound. The off—road model is offered in 37 different sizes of the most common radii — from R15 to R20. Accordingly, the vast majority of SUVs and SUVs can be shod in it, without fear of the insidious intentions of winter to affect your plans.