5 summer tires of confident middle rank R17

Tire products under the Marshal brand are aimed at the European market and are rarely found in other regions. The brand itself is run by the parent company Kumho.

In Marshal's summer portfolio, the Matrac FX MU12 model seems to be an interesting option in terms of price/quality ratio. Judge for yourself, the tire has an asymmetrical tread pattern with equally confident driving properties on dry and wet road surfaces. In the central tread area there are three wide ribs of beveled blocks that create many sharp edges. The shoulder areas of the tire are formed from rectangular blocks at a considerable distance from each other to increase rigidity when driving.

The signature character traits of the tire are improved handling on dry terrain and high efficiency of “wet” braking. Also, Marshal Matrac FX MU12 is sensitive to steering commands. The tire demonstrates constant grip properties in all driving conditions during the warm season.

Removal of water from the contact patch of the tire with the road surface is carried out not only by wide longitudinal hydro-evacuation grooves, but also by narrow lamellas cut into the central ribs. Getting into a “wet” slip when overcoming water obstacles on the road while driving a vehicle is extremely unlikely. The only complaint about the model is that the sides are too soft. If you drive carelessly, “bumps” may appear on them from hitting a curb.

Tires with a sporty character Kumho Ecsta PS71 are designed for use in the summer season on the wheels of dynamic passenger cars. What are their advantages? Let's figure it out.

The model has an asymmetric tread pattern of a directional design. This is what provides the tire with high performance. The tire sensitively responds to steering commands, maintains a straight trajectory when driving at high speeds, and on a wet road surface it will have to look hard for equals. The tire's developed drainage system is aimed at maximizing the acceleration of water removal from the contact patch, which eliminates the risk of hydroplaning.

On a wet road, rubber sometimes behaves even better than on a dry road surface, as noted in many reviews of the model. The use of Kumho Ecsta PS71 tires gives confidence in the fast and effective braking of the car. But common sense should still come first - there is no need to rush headlong in a “wheelbarrow” along public roads.

Styrene-butadiene rubber and special polymers were added to the rubber “cocktail” of the tire, which made it possible to increase the proportion of silica content. As a result, the tire tread adheres tenaciously to the road surface, which ensures even wear. The model guarantees a smooth and comfortable ride with a minimum noise level in the vehicle interior.

Finnish tire makers from Nokian know a lot about good summer tires with excellent all-weather driving properties. A good confirmation of this is the “blue” model Hakka Blue 2.

Following trends in the tire industry, the tire has an asymmetric tread pattern with three circumferential ribs in the medial segment of the tread. Dry Touch 2 sipes in the tread blocks quickly drain water from the contact area into wide annular channels through the central rib groove. The special shape of the slots with a widening at the base maintains the reliability of the “wet” clutch until the tire wears out completely.

The tire in question clings particularly tenaciously to the wet road surface, in parallel with which the driver has the right to count on the sensitive responsiveness of the tires regarding steering commands. The high-hardness breaker of a summer tire is made of durable High Tensile Steel wire.

The tire adapts to temperature fluctuations in the mercury column of the street thermometer thanks to the “blue” Blue Hybrid rubber compound. A couple more technological know-how in the design of the model are Silent Sidewall and Silent Groove, the joint work of which is aimed at increasing the level of acoustic comfort when rolling. Nokian Hakka Blue 2 gives you safe movement on dry and wet roads.

The “predatory beast” Hankook Ventus Prime2 K115 will overcome any road surface under the wheels of a passenger car, be it dry asphalt, wet gravel or light off-road.

The model received its “predatory” nickname for the special design of sharp grooves in the circumferential stiffening rib adjacent to the outer shoulder area. “Jaguar teeth” allow the driver to confidently take turns and maintain directional stability of the car during sharp accelerations. At the same time, excellent feedback to steering commands is maintained.

The design of the tire tread pattern uses a popular technique with an asymmetrical “seating” of functional blocks. In general, the protector is developed using MRT (Multi-Tread Radius) technology with a triple radial profile, which guarantees a balanced pressure distribution along the surface of the contact patch. Happy owners of the model indicate that it easily “nurses” over 50 thousand km of operational mileage.

The tire tread perfectly transmits traction and braking forces on dry and wet road surfaces, and effectively captures and removes excess water in rainy weather. Quiet Ride Technology block design reduces tire rolling noise. Hankook Ventus Prime2 K115 is intended for those who travel often and a lot.

“Green” eco-tires have been a trend in recent years in the automotive “footwear” industry. Models in this category include the Bridgestone Ecopia EP300 summer tire.

The tire is available in a variety of “calibers” for mid-size passenger cars. The configuration of the contact patch it forms has an almost square shape, which results in the most uniform distribution of pressure along the entire plane of contact of the tire with the road surface. In practice, this ensures low rolling resistance and, as a result, fuel efficiency of the tire, as well as its long service life.

The increased depth of the asymmetric tread is aimed at long-term mileage of the “green” tire. And due to the beveled edges of the blocks, their deformation is eliminated, which ensures effective traction and braking on wet and dry road surfaces. Bridgestone Ecopia EP300 combines excellent driving performance and characteristic eco-properties in one bottle.

In the manufacture of the model , a NanoPro-Tech rubber mixture is used, a mixture with special polymers and highly dispersed silica. It maintains the elasticity of the compound in a wide range of outside air temperatures, incl. with light frosts in the off-season. The high-quality Bridgestone Ecopia EP300 tires withstand the highest loads in extreme road and weather conditions.