The best inexpensive winter studded tires

Studded tires Dunlop SP winter Ice 02 and Dunlop Grandtrek Ice 02

Winter Ice 02 is great for cars, and the Grandtrek Ice 02 series is for SUVs and crossovers. These tires are suitable for any region and can easily withstand even the lowest temperatures and harsh winters.

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Winter Ice and Dunlop Grandtrack tires with 3D Maura-Ori lamellas; these tires also have a unique triangular pattern in the middle, thanks to which moisture is well evacuated.

Dunlop winter studded tires are distinguished by unique studs, which are made using carbide, thanks to which these studs last a very long time and do not wear out during use on ice.

What to pay attention to

Winter tires have a number of features and selection criteria. Such tires are required to provide optimal performance for the car when the outside temperature is below freezing. If there is snow, slush or ice on the road, the tires must guarantee good grip on the surface. For this purpose, manufacturers develop a special tread pattern. As the practice of motorists shows, it is not necessary to equip the wheels with spikes so that they can cling to the road. Many modern friction solutions are not much inferior to studs, and in some respects they are even significantly superior to them.

The driver has a natural question about which winter tires he should choose for his car. To begin with, when choosing winter tires, it is worth considering the material from which the tires are made. It is recommended to use both durable and elastic compounds. They, unlike summer sets, will not tan in the cold, but will retain their elasticity and softness. Entire laboratories and a large number of people are responsible for the development of rubber composition. This is one of the reasons to turn to products from trusted companies. Most well-known manufacturers always have tires in different price segments in their assortment. Small companies or little-known firms do not have such staff and equipment, and therefore some doubts remain about the quality of tires.

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The top winter tires designed for passenger cars include studded and friction solutions. And here you need to know some of the features of such developments. All winter tires can be divided into 2 large groups.

1. Studded. These are ordinary tires with additional anti-skid studs attached to them. They have a positive effect on cross-country ability on ice and snow, but worsen performance on dry asphalt. In most cases, studs increase the noise level when driving.
2. Frictional. It is more common to call them Velcro. They are distinguished by special lamella surface finish. Adhesion to the coating is created due to a special tread and dense cutting of the lamellas. Friction clutches perform well on dry asphalt, but are inferior to studs in cross-country ability in snowy areas.

If studded tires are not suitable for you, then you should opt for Velcro. Only they are further divided into 2 subcategories:

• European clutches. They do not have a very prominent tread, they are somewhat reminiscent of summer rain tires, which have grooves for drainage. Excellent for regions where slush and sleet prevail in winter;
• Scandinavian Velcro. The rubber composition itself is softer, and the tread has an increased number of sipes and sipes. Due to this design, the level of cross-country ability on snow and ice is significantly increased.

Since the rating includes representatives of all types of winter tires, this will allow you to make a choice and purchase the optimal composition for each case.

TOP 5 best winter tires R17 for crossovers

1. Continental ContiWinterContact TS 830 P SUV

Winter non-studded tires have an increased number of blocks and sipes for quick water drainage and reliable traction on any type of slippery surface. A frame with a reinforced belt contributes to wear resistance. The tread blocks are located so as to evenly distribute pressure across the contact patch. pros

• holds compacted snow, ice, asphalt well;
• moderately soft rubber;
• low noise level;
• confident braking on any type of surface;
• does not tan in the cold.

Minuses

• rubber starts to float in warm weather.

Reviews of Continental ContiWinterContact TS 830 P SUV

2. Hankook RW08

Thanks to a large number of sipes and semi-sipes, these studless tires maintain strong grip on various types of surfaces. This also helps to increase traction in the snow. Rubber contains silicon and silica, which are responsible for maintaining elasticity and grip. pros

• high cross-country ability;
• quick self-cleaning from snow;
• low noise level;
• do not tan in the cold;
• confident grip on snow, ice, and asphalt.

Minuses

• It is a little noisy and loses traction in warm weather.

Reviews of Hankook RW08

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV

Studded tires demonstrate good grip on ice and compacted snow. In the center there are specially shaped spikes that speed up acceleration and braking. On the sides there are metal inserts in the shape of a trefoil, which are responsible for traction in the direction of travel. pros

• high cross-country ability;
• confident grip and handling on snow and ice;
• wear resistance;
• quick self-cleaning from snow porridge.

Minuses

• high price;
• noise during break-in;
• There are comments about braking on asphalt.

Reviews of Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV

4. Yokohama Geolandar I/TS G-073

The directional tread pattern of studless tires provides good directional stability. Longitudinal grooves facilitate rapid drainage of water, dirt, and slush. Multi-format blocks minimize noise when moving. pros

• moderately soft rubber;
• high cross-country ability;
• hydroplaning resistance;
• confident braking on ice, snow, asphalt;
• acoustic comfort;
• low fuel consumption.

Minuses

• There are comments regarding acceleration and handling on ice at low temperatures.

Reviews of Yokohama Geolandar I/TS G-073

5. Michelin Latitude X-Ice XI 2

The micro-pump tread is responsible for quickly draining water and maintaining traction even on slippery surfaces. Flex-Ice compound with high silicon content provides fast braking and sufficient elasticity. Zigzag sipes help drain water and increase the number of hooks, which is good for maintaining traction on the snow. pros

• fast braking on ice and snow;
• directional stability;
• low noise level;
• does not tan in the cold;
• wear resistance.

Minuses

• average braking performance on dry asphalt:
• grip decreases at zero temperature.

Reviews of Michelin Latitude X-Ice XI 2

Leaders and outsiders of the middle class of studded tires

First place

Tires Hankook W419 iPike RS

These tires have a unique rubber compound that provides increased elasticity to the rubber at fairly low temperatures. Silicon, which is part of rubber, increases the wear resistance of products.

Advantages:

• good braking performance on winter roads;
• excellent grip of tires on the road surface when driving on compacted snow or a road covered with a shallow layer of snow;
• provide directional stability of the car when driving on asphalt;
• help reduce fuel consumption;
• high wear resistance.

Flaws:

• poor cross-country ability when driving on slush or a road surface covered with snow porridge;
• unpredictability of tires when performing maneuvers on dry asphalt;
• not the quietest tires.

Second place

Tires Gislaved Nord Frost 200

The rubber was developed by a Swedish company using new technologies. Improved performance of these tires when tested on snowy roads is ensured by a large number of small tread blocks. The tread sipes have a different design, providing greater adhesion between the rubber and the road surface.

Advantages:

• ensure confident movement of the car on a snow-covered or snow-covered road;
• good braking performance on asphalt;
• tires make virtually no noise;

Disadvantages:

• tires respond to steering commands with a slight delay;
• poor handling on icy tracks.

Third place

Tires Nordman 5

The tires are designed with a special tread that ensures good adhesion of the tires to the road surface. A design feature of the tread is the location in its central part of a longitudinal rib, which has zigzag-shaped edges - this improves the vehicle's directional stability.

Advantages:

• light spikes that reduce the weight of the product;
• good braking performance on snowy or icy road surfaces;
• help reduce fuel consumption.

Flaws:

• compared to competitors, handling is not the best;
• poor braking performance on dry asphalt surfaces;
• weak side part of the tread is often damaged;
• noisy.

Fourth place

Tire Yokohama IceGuard Stud IG55

Designed with a special tread design that ensures good adhesion of the tires to the road surface. The spikes are located on the surface of the product in such a way as to reduce the amount of noise while driving.

Advantages:

• good indicator of directional stability and controllability;
• studs rarely fly out due to their deep seating in the rubber;
• almost silent.

Disadvantages:

• braking performance on icy or snowy roads is not the highest among competitors;
• poor maneuverability on surfaces with icy ruts;
• average directional stability when driving on asphalt roads.

Fifth place

Tire Kumho WinterCraft ice WI31

The tire tread is covered with a large number of sipes to ensure good tire adhesion to the road surface. The aramid fibers that make up the tires give them rigidity and serve as microspikes.

Advantages:

• excellent performance when driving on dry and wet asphalt;
• deep-set studs reduce tire noise;
• good performance on packed snow.

Flaws:

• weak braking on ice;
• slipping on slurry of snow;
• poor handling on snowy roads.

Budget segment

The top 10 among budget winter tires included representatives of different companies. Some are well known to car owners, others are not. But all these tires have managed to gain quite a bit of popularity and increase their level of credibility during the time they have been on the market. Look at the top, study the tires offered for the winter and decide for yourself which manufacturer’s products will be more profitable and correct for you to choose. Let's start from the top outsiders and gradually come to the best solution. If you wish, you can compare these winter tires and try to determine which tire is better.

• MA STL. Products of the Chinese company Maxxis. If someone compared the quality of these tires with other representatives of the rating, then the Chinese are unlikely to win. But the main advantage of the model is its low price. At the same time, the tires perform well in snow conditions. The composition is not the softest, which creates additional noise during movement. Braking and acceleration are standard, nothing special should be expected.

• Snowprox S941. The developer is Toyo. Well-known company with a good reputation. This tire model is budget, aimed at middle-class cars. The tires easily overcome slush and slush and cope well with snowy roads. Due to the inclusion of silicone, the rubber remains soft, and therefore does not hum or create unnecessary noise.

• KrisAlp HP. Its developer is the company Kleber. Not the most famous company, but in fact it is a subsidiary of Michelin. Therefore, it borrows technologies and materials from it, which has a positive effect on the final quality of the tires. This model is aimed at high-power cars, although the price range is very affordable.

• Winter I Sept. Another representative of a well-known company. This time Hankook. Korean winter tires, which contain silicon, are offered for little money. This allows you to guarantee excellent traction, provide good traction when moving and maintain elasticity.

• Nordmaster ST. Tires from Amtel that combine good price and quality. Tires from a domestic manufacturer with a unique tread pattern and reinforced edge. This provides the necessary grip on winter roads.

• Polar 2. The manufacturer is Cordiant. Domestic development with curly grooves on the tread. To make the rubber stable on the road, engineers provided additional sipes. The studs are installed in four rows, due to which the required quality of grip is created.

• Blizzak Spike. Bridgestone products. Good, but inexpensive tires from a Japanese developer. Cross-shaped studs are used to provide good grip on ice. Special development for the Russian climate.

• Continental is responsible for the development of tires. Rubber from Germany, which works well in any weather, is easy to control and does not create unnecessary noise in the cabin. The Germans specifically created such a model for regions where severe winters occur. Suitable equally well for passenger cars and SUVs.

• Nordman 4. Product of Nokian. Domestic product for little money. Each of the spikes has a support pad. This provides the desired elasticity and softness.

• Hakkapeliitta 8. The leader was rubber from Finland. Studded tires with excellent grip. Special sipes, tread pattern and composition allow you to reliably grip the snow, overcome ice and other delights of a harsh winter.

All presented tires are offered at prices up to 3 thousand rubles. This allows us to confidently classify them as budget winter tires. So the concepts of cheap and poor quality are not always comparable. There are excellent tires for little money that will ensure you can confidently overcome snowy and icy roads.