The best friction (non-studded) winter tyres 215/55 R17

The Japanese company Bridgestone is one of the generally recognized world leaders in the tire industry. In the brand’s winter tire line, the friction model Blizzak LM005 occupies a strong position.

The tire has a classic directional tread pattern with a V-shaped “drawing” design of the central ridge of blocks. With the sharp edges of the tread elements, the model “bites” better into the slippery road surface, plus the work of 2D lamellas in the blocks of the medial segment and 3D slots in the shoulders is aimed at enhancing the adhesion properties of tires. In practice, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 performs well in wet and slippery driving conditions. In terms of “wet” clutch, the model is one of the best in the class of friction winter tires.

High adhesion properties are the main, but by no means the only important plus in the arsenal of rubber. It also focuses on the efficiency of transferring traction and braking forces in winter driving conditions, sensitive and responsive handling, efficiency and ride comfort. All this together adds up to a high-quality product, the Bridgestone Blizzak LM005.

The rubber compound of the tire is made according to the proprietary Nano Pro-tech recipe with a high silica content. The model's tread remains soft and elastic over a wide range of temperatures and adheres tightly to the road surface. This ensures low rolling resistance and rational fuel consumption of the vehicle. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 is not only safe and comfortable, but also economical winter tires without studs.

To replace the popular Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance G1 model ahead of the 2019-2020 winter season. a friction tire with a “plus” prefix in the expanded name came out. Its tread pattern remained unchanged, but the behavior of the tire on winter roads has improved significantly due to the optimized rubber compound.

The compound of the new tire is made using Winter Grip technology, which implies increased elasticity of the rubber compound over a wide temperature range. Side by side with this know-how is the Traction Protect technology. Its meaning boils down to the inclusion of special resins in the rubber “cocktail” of a tire, which contribute to the rapid restoration of shape after deformation. As a result, the tire effectively converts braking forces into grip.

Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance Plus features a directional tread pattern with a symmetrical V-shaped structure. The central zone of the tire tread is separated from the shoulders by volumetric hydraulic evacuation channels. By placing the tread blocks at a slight angle, their edges form sharp gripping edges. Multiple wavy lamellas in functional blocks are also designed to improve grip on slippery roads.

The suitability of a tire for winter use can be assessed by the remaining tread depth indicator in the form of a snowflake. As soon as it wears off, the tire must be replaced with a new one. The advantages of the model also include a high level of driving and acoustic comfort, long service life, and fuel efficiency. A tiny pebble in her garden - not the best handling on dry asphalt in the class according to the test results of the German publication Auto Motor und Sport. However, this flaw did not prevent the tire from taking first place on the podium among all tested winter friction tires.

In 2018, the popular Michelin Alpin 5 winter tire was replaced by the sixth edition of the model. Its target audience is passenger vehicles living in the mild climatic conditions of European winters.

The tire uses a recognizable symmetrical tread pattern with a pronounced directionality. Its central part is characterized by dense lamellaization of the blocks. And it’s worth noting that the slots here are not simple. The model features EverGrip technology, which provides consistently good grip regardless of the degree of tire wear. As the tread wears, hidden drainage grooves appear in place of the zigzag sipes, which maintain a constant negative profile area.

The tire's rubber formula contains functional polymers and plasticizers. Carefully selected components provide improved traction properties of rubber on snow, at the same time guaranteeing excellent grip on wet and dry road surfaces. The ribbed surface of the shoulders is designed to enhance the traction properties of the tire in loose snow.

Michelin Alpin 6 has been awarded a high level of fuel efficiency, and the tire also impresses with its long service life and ride comfort. The tire does not care about any weather vagaries of the cold winter season. Finally, for greater clarity, the model provides an informative indication of the degree of tread wear. Characteristic “steps” on individual blocks indicate the remaining tread depth as a percentage.

In the top segment of winter tires, products from the tire company Continental hold consistently high positions. The WinterContact TS870P model, which debuted in 2021, was no exception to the rule.

The asymmetric tread pattern used in the Continental WinterContact TS860 tire has been replaced by directional symmetry. A distinctive feature of the new style of “drawing” is a quartet of wide circumferential hydraulic evacuation channels, supported by auxiliary drainage grooves at an angle, which are directed against the path of rotation of the wheel. The developed aquadrainage network quickly and effectively drains the contact patch, preventing the risk of the car drifting into aquaplaning and slashplaning.

The rubber compound of the model has a high content of silica and organic resins. It's called Cool Chili. The tire retains proper elasticity at low negative outside temperatures, and the composition of the rubber mixture causes low rolling resistance. And this, as we know, is the key to saving fuel and reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

The tread blocks of the Continental WinterContact TS870P are generously studded with three-dimensional sipes at different inclination angles relative to the direction of movement. The edges of the sipes form sharp gripping edges, allowing the tires to have maximum contact with snowy and slippery roads. As a bonus, the model impresses with its quiet and soft ride, as well as a long mileage before the tread wears out.

Winter tires of the Italian “breed” Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 are designed for installation on the wheels of middle and premium class cars. The tire is intended to be used in mild European winters.

The tread pattern of the tire has a V-shaped arrangement of elements, and its axis of symmetry periodically shifts in one direction or the other. This design feature allows you to quickly clean the contact stain from water, slush and water-ice liquid. Well , the “herringbone” structure of the medial tread zone improves the tire’s grip on snowy and slippery roads.

The technological know-how in the model is the special geometry of the lamellas in the shoulder areas of the tire. As they wear, their straight shape turns into a zigzag shape, which adds up to 10% of the grip edges and maintains the stability of the rubber grip, regardless of mileage. Self-closing 3D sipes in the medial tread area ensure predictable vehicle behavior during emergency braking or aggressive maneuvering.

The model's rubber compound is made using technologies used in tires for sports competitions. The compound based on polymers and silicic acid filler has a homogeneous structure, which has a positive effect on the grip, ease of rolling and endurance of tires. Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2 is a quality product from Italian tire manufacturers with balanced winter driving characteristics.