More than a century ago, when the first studded tire appeared, there was no worthy alternative to it on the winter road. Today, soft "Velcro" are direct competitors to "spikes" (which is confirmed by the results of tests ZR), they are present in the gamut of each well-known manufacturer. The main advantage of studded tires is better grip on ice thanks to hard claws. Disadvantages are also known. In modern cars, the thunder of thorns against the background of a quiet engine and transmission is heard especially well. In addition, with the loss of spikes, the coupling properties noticeably deteriorate, an imbalance occurs. And the mass of such tires, as a rule, is greater - higher than the load on the suspension. Not to mention the wear of the roadway - for many this is an abstract concept, like environmental standards.
In a matter of hundreds of kilometers, the spikes are as good as new, but the rips of rubber around them are eloquent: under load, the spike warps, lifting the rubber around itself - it erases on the coating. In a matter of hundreds of kilometers, the spikes are as good as new, but the rips of rubber around them are eloquent: under load, the spike warps, lifting the rubber around itself - it erases on the coating.
So is the game worth the candle? The points above i are intended to place a comparative test in real conditions of Russian winter roads. Cars - Skoda Octavia, tires - Nokian HKPL5 (spikes) and Michelin X-Ice (without spikes). The Moscow-Tolyatti route was laid along various roads: from multi-lane asphalt roads to country roads.
Many twisty slats at different angles - almost no signs of wear. The soft rubber of modern tires has good wear resistance. Many twisty slats at different angles - almost no signs of wear. The soft rubber of modern tires has good wear resistance.
The run was nearly ruined by the weather. Last winter turned out to be snowless, but the long-awaited blizzard swirled the day before the scheduled date, such that snow drifts by the morning, and the asphalt of the Moscow Ring Road and the Yaroslavl Highway disappeared under a thick layer of snow porridge. The traction control system on both machines had to be turned off - it did not allow to move, strangling the engine. But with slipping and exchange rate stability, and acceleration on both sets - no complaints.
[caption id = "attachment_204714" align = "aligncenter" caption = "In the snow on the bumper, both Skodes move confidently, only the moment of starting is difficult (it is generally impossible to move off with the traction control on). It is better to leave both.
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In the snow on the bumper, both “Skodes” move confidently, only the moment of starting is complicated (it is impossible to get off with the traction control system on). Leave both better in reverse. In the snow on the bumper, both “Skodes” move confidently, only the moment of starting is complicated (it is impossible to get off with the traction control system on). Leave both better in reverse.
[/caption] We left early from Yaroslavl to Nizhny Novgorod - the plans included a virgin walk (there was already enough snow in the fields, 10-15 cm). Clay broken country road, captured by twenty-degree frost, turned into a washboard with erratic "stone" ruts. The congress in the field is at the crossroads of Skoda. On even snow both those and other tires rowed without difficulty, but here on the road I had to torment. The Michelin, desperately skidding, took the lift on the second attempt. “Nokian” dug spikes into the deep ditches in frozen clay, but couldn’t get onto the road without outside help.
Test climb: under a layer of snow - frozen hummocky clay. Both front-wheel drive cars drove almost on the belly, but still overpowered the slope. Test climb: under a layer of snow - frozen hummocky clay. Both front-wheel drive cars drove almost on the belly, but still overpowered the slope.
The next test was slalom on the ice road. We found a deserted wide highway leading to a village (not otherwise - once it was visited by the head of the regional administration, that’s where we built the “Avtoban”). After blocking a five-kilometer stretch of road, turns took turns, evaluating handling, acceleration and braking on ice and packed snow. Both cars responded with a skid to the provocation - a sharp turn of the steering wheel for a gas discharge - but the rolling of the Nokian’s rolling more sharply, like a blow to a curb. Michelin reacted at the same speed softer, more predictable. Perhaps that is why many people think that the “spikes” hold the road better - they have a sharper response. However, both tires forgive almost everything except outright hooliganism, and the difference in behavior is minimal. But in braking, “Nokian” has a noticeable advantage. Although the convenience of controlling the brakes (if there is no ABS), both tires are similar.