TO THE COLUMN FOR SIX
This time evolution did without revolutions: all the same single-flange spikes with a classically round “nail”, a two-layer tread, V-shaped grooves and many zigzag lamellas. But you should take a closer look - you will find many differences.
The new tire has six rows of spikes instead of four, as on its predecessor. And the more spaced “claws” thrust into the ice, the better, especially when braking, when there is a risk of “pedaling” the pedal and blocking the wheel (recall that ABS is so far only on a small part of the Russian fleet vehicles).
Another visible difference is that there are more zigzag lamellas and they are located at an acute angle to each other and to the axis of rotation of the tire (on the WT-17, the slots are oriented in parallel). If the previous lamellas are "scraped", then the new ones are also "cut" - the falling snow "wedges" each cut, improving adhesion.
On the previous model, there was a drainage groove in the center of the tread, on the new one there was an edge, a path and mottled with lamellas, but still relatively rigid. This improved handling on dry surfaces. By the way, the lamellas here are three-dimensional, tightly closed under load - a solution that has already proven its effectiveness.
Instead of the “three and a half” narrow longitudinal grooves of the WT-17, two were left on the “ice drift”, making them wider and placing them closer to the center. The throughput of the transverse and inclined slots also increased, as a result of which the snow and drainage improved, despite the fact that the designers increased the tread width by about 7.5%. The tire profile is now more rectangular, with steep shoulders, saturated with additional lugs (in shape they resemble the mythical "letter si").
However, many know-how is not visible to the naked eye. We listen to Japanese designers.
NEW SONGS ABOUT THE OLD
The tread IC5000, like the WT-17, consists of two layers of rubber - internal, more rigid and external, soft. But if before the solid layer did not even reach the spike heel, now it covers the “nail” to almost half the height, it is better to keep it under load.