To fully appreciate the new product, "Behind the Wheel" was offered to conduct their own tests. But where in the middle of winter to find a summer oasis in Russia? Nowhere, therefore, the test is carried out in hot Africa, where we were invited. At our disposal are two fresh sets of Nokian-NRT2 size 175 / 70R13. The difference is only in the additional marking: K3427 - according to the old recipe, K3428 - a new mixture.
The tire carrier is a right-hand drive (there are no others in South Africa) of the Daikhatsu Sirion of a local assembly. The measurements were assigned to the Viboks device, which works in the GPS system - communicating with satellites, it determines the exact location of the car on the "ball". The entire measuring complex is a sensor the size of a salt shaker, mounted on the car roof with a magnet, a small box and a laptop computer in the next seat. The accuracy of determining the speed is one hundredth of an kilometer per hour, the paths are one centimeter.
Our main comments on NRT2 obtained during the summer test (see ЗР, 2004, No. 3) are low adhesion properties, especially on wet surfaces, and mediocre controllability. It is to these characteristics that we paid close attention.
We begin with an assessment of the "old" tires - "Daihatsu" in them, as once the "eleventh", begins to slip, it would seem, in harmless situations, especially on wet asphalt. Slides are tight, it’s difficult and unpleasant to operate the machine. The impression is sad - both from the car and from the tires. But as soon as “change shoes” in tires marked “K3428”, the car is transformed: confidently prescribes bundles of turns on dry hot asphalt. In the limit, it begins to glide smoothly, while being perfectly controlled, quickly but gently restores the trajectory. The impression that this is not NRT2, but completely different tires.
