The best mid-level winter tires 205/55 R16

Debica Frigo HP 2 is a non-studded winter passenger car tyre from the Polish subsidiary of the well-known tyre company Goodyear.

The working surface of the tyre is represented by a W-shaped tread pattern with classic directional symmetry. From more venerable colleagues in the winter tyre shop, the model borrowed interlocking sipes that improve grip and braking performance under loads. With sharp edges of the slots in the tread blocks, the tyre effectively bites into the slippery surface of the roadway, preventing the car from sliding and planning.

Due to the uniform distribution of pressure over the entire plane of the contact patch , Debica Frigo HP 2 maintains stable driving performance both when moving along a straight path at high speeds and when maneuvering dynamically in the stream. In all weather conditions of the winter season, the tyre demonstrates a short braking distance (with the exception of pure ice under the wheels of the car).

An extensive aquatic drainage network of circumferential and diagonal channels is responsible for the outflow of water and melted snow in the model. In parallel, the tyre is characterized by low rolling resistance and good wear resistance. Of the shortcomings, tyres note only average handling on wet roads, but this does not change the overall positive picture.

For the European market, Uniroyal tyres are produced under the leadership of the parent corporation Continental AG. WinterExpert friction rubber adapts well to different driving styles in the winter season.

The model uses a symmetrical directional tread pattern, the central segment of which is formed from figured blocks stacked on top of each other. Through the "straits" of the circumferential hydroevacuation channels there are wide shoulders formed by oblique rectangular macroblocks. The working surface of the tread is streaked with 3D sipes - they enhance the edge effect on a slippery roadway and limit the mobility of the blocks to ensure sensitive responses to steering commands.

The technological know-how of Uniroyal WinterExpert is the special texture of the bottom of the Shark Skin grooves, which is exactly reminiscent of shark scales. This texture is used to quickly disperse copious amounts of water and, as a result, reduce the risk of hydroplaning. The tyre also boasts stable grip on all types of road surfaces and high braking performance.

The main ingredient in the rubber cocktail of a tyre is silica. The tyre differs in thermal stability, softness and elasticity. In addition, it has been awarded a high rank of fuel efficiency. In terms of mileage, there are no questions to the model either. On sale, rubber is presented under the slogan “Winter offers problems. Our tyres offer a carefree ride” – in practice it is.

At the beginning of 2022, Hankook's range of winter friction tyres was expanded with the balanced I*Cept RS3 W462. And that's what makes her so good.

The tyre has received an inverted V-shaped tread design, which shows high performance on snow, wet roads and dry pavement. What does "inverted" mean? The tread pattern in the tyre is complemented by diagonal sipes, directed in reverse order relative to the placement of the main drainage grooves. This scheme is used to enhance the traction and braking properties of rubber on snow.

The work of zigzag three-dimensional sipes, which are tightly cut in the functional blocks of the tread, is aimed at improving the tyre's grip. The model quickly responds to steering turns and provides quick braking in emergency situations on winter roads. Additional small grooves along the edges of the main drainage channels of the tyre are responsible for the lateral stability of the machine in snowy corners.

The tasks of removing water, dirt and melted snow from the contact patch of the tyre with the roadway are assigned to a developed drainage network with profiled water grooves. Rubber quickly self-cleansing, preventing the possibility of the car falling into aquaplaning. The compound of the model is prepared according to a special recipe with the addition of coniferous oil. This means that the tyre does not lose elasticity at low negative outdoor temperatures.

The Dutch Vredestein Wintrac tyre is positioned as an all-weather “shoe” for cars that live in regions with mild climatic conditions without heavy snowfalls in winter.

The basis of the tyre design is a tread of a directional symmetrical structure with a V-shaped arrangement of blocks in the central core. The working surface of the model is dotted with many adaptive three-dimensional slats. Slots in the tread blocks increase the overall length of the active catching edges and maintain stable grip properties of the tyre throughout its entire service life. In comparison with the predecessor model in the face of the Vredestein Snowtrac 5, the tyre has added up to 10 thousand kilometers.

Hydraulic evacuation grooves in the working area of the tyre guarantee effective drainage of water, slush and melted snow in the longitudinal and transverse directions. In addition, the model captivates with excellent lateral stability and a short braking distance (on dry and wet pavement). Rubber is suitable for safe operation in changeable winter weather.

Vredestein Wintract rubber compound is made from silica with the addition of polymers, additives and functional elastomers. Such a "cocktail" retains proper elasticity in severe frosts and acts as a guarantee of low rolling resistance, increasing the rank of tyre fuel efficiency. The tyre shows mediocre results only in the "Hydroplaning Resistance" discipline, which is displayed as part of an independent model testing according to the methodology of the German edition of Auto Motor und Sport in 2021.

In terms of ride quality, the Goodyear Ultra Grip 9 Plus tyre is a very tasty acquisition in the middle segment of friction winter tyres. Its success is based on several important factors.

In small tyre dimensions, the key feature of the directional tread pattern is the central drainage groove, which divides the tread into two equal parts. On the sides of it, expanding channels diverge to organize a quick and efficient removal of moisture together with melted snow. As a result, the tyre is not at all afraid of hydroplaning and slashplaning.

The design of the model remained exactly the same as the regular version of the Goodyear Ultra Grip 9. The composition of the rubber compound was subjected to improvements in order to maintain elasticity at low temperatures and ensure reliable grip on snow and ice. Tyre tread blocks are studded with three types of sipes - zigzag, straight and interlocking. The well-coordinated work of the slots is aimed at the stability of grip properties, high braking efficiency and excellent vehicle stability when maneuvering.

The Goodyear Ultra Grip 9 Plus features informative snowflake tread wear indicators. With a residual tread depth of less than 4 mm, it disappears, which indicates the need to replace the rubber with a new one. In general, the model is characterized not only by a high degree of safety for winter movement, but also by a good level of driving comfort and low fuel consumption.