Car rubber is one of the key elements that ensure traffic safety. Although some drivers neglect its quality, it is best not to do this, as the results may be the most unpredictable. It is the right choice of tires that avoids most emergency situations thanks to a more confident grip on the road. It is worth considering the fact that a universal solution does not exist, and weather conditions are very different.
The most problematic season for drivers, of course, is winter. In the frosty months, the weather can change countless times. Depending on the region, this can be rainy weather, followed by night ice, and intense snowfall, after which snow porridge remains on the road. For each specific case, you should choose your own type of wheels. For example, Hankuk winter studded tires, reviews of which we will discuss a little later, are better suited for driving on snowy roads with compacted snow. And the so-called "Velcro" allows you to confidently stay on ice.
A bit about Hankook
The company itself appeared in Korean Seoul back in 1941. It is worth noting immediately that since then its head office is located in the same city. True, its name was rather dissonant, which did not allow it to confidently gain a foothold in foreign markets, despite the high quality of the products. And only in 1968, after rebranding, a corporation well-known to all motorists appeared that continues to this day to please with new inventions in the field of tire production.
Officially, in America, products began to be sold in 1981, and reached the European continent only in 2001. Despite this, today the company takes its place of honor in the ten largest manufacturers of tire products. And in favor of her reputation speak contracts with such well-known car manufacturers as Hyundai, Ford and Toyota, thanks to which some models of these brands are equipped with Hankuk tires from the factory. At the moment, the latest novelty is the produced winter tires "Hankuk 419", reviews of which we will consider.
How to choose winter tires
In this article, we will successively analyze what types of winter tires are, and which one should be considered. To begin with, it is worth noting that the main criterion for choosing should be the prevailing weather in your area. To be more precise, it is not the weather itself that matters, but the condition of the road surface, which is formed due to the effects of weather phenomena.
Each motorist is obliged to clarify one simple truth that there is no such thing as universal Hankuk winter studded tires, which are suitable for moving on slush, snow, ice, dry asphalt or ice at the same time. And the point here is not in the "lazy" developers designing the design of such products, but in the ordinary laws of physics.
Each tire on the market is designed for certain conditions. If there is a tire that claims to be universal, then do not forget that this universality is achieved due to the fact that the properties that should be suitable for a particular road surface are evenly distributed between all options. So, this rubber is unlikely to be good with very pronounced problems with the road. Let's take a look at all the available types of winter tires in order to figure out which one is best for you.
Winter tires with tread for off-road
Outwardly, this tire can always be recognized - it differs from other options thanks to a large high tread, separated by no less large and deep lamellas, in common people called grooves. The tread is positioned so that its individual blocks are oriented against the movement of rotation of the wheel.
This form is designed to cope with off-road conditions or heavy snow conditions as efficiently as possible. Thanks to this tread, the tires are able to rake in snow and push off from it, and when braking, they reduce the braking distance to the minimum possible, since they are practically not able to slip.
It is interesting that this type of tire may be relevant even for large cities, in which winter is characterized by heavy snowfalls. The fact is that utilities often do not have time to remove snow, and it accumulates quite a lot.
Typically, these products are made in studded form. An example is Hankuk RW11 winter studded tires. We will review reviews about them a bit later. If there are no spikes, they can be independently installed on almost any tire fitting. We will talk about the benefits and disadvantages of these elements a little later.
Speed winter tires
This type of tire has a fairly low tread and, as the name implies, is primarily designed for high-speed movement. It allows you to comfortably navigate on dry, clean asphalt. These tires show no less excellent results even during rains, because the shape of the lamellas allows you to quickly drain water and increases adhesion to the road surface. Sometimes produces such winter tires and the company "Hankuk". Owner reviews praise such wheels, which can be seen by going to numerous car forums.
If the window has low temperatures, you can count on a fairly short braking distance in snow or ice. However, a low tread, although it reduces drag when driving, has a number of serious drawbacks. Tires of this type cope poorly with movement on loose snow, especially if it has fallen recently. At the same time, both controllability and dynamics are reduced, and the ability to go into an uncontrolled skid increases sharply. If the driver is inexperienced or makes serious mistakes when starting after parking in the snow, there is a danger for him to dig in driving wheels. Hankook winter studded tires , reviews of which are mostly positive, get rid of these problems.
Most of these products are delivered without spikes and are rarely completed in the future. If the conditions of your area provide for the presence of open asphalt in the winter, then they will be an excellent choice, otherwise it is better to refrain from buying them.
Tires with universal tread
In them, designers tried to combine what is not compatible by nature. The result is tires with characteristics that cannot be called outstanding, but they have something from each of the types listed above. With this rubber, you can move around all types of coatings, but in each case you will have to be especially careful and careful. Such tires are suitable for those regions in which every day you do not know how to expect a surprise from the weather. Drivers whose cars are equipped with this rubber should be careful not to tempt fate.
Some models of such products come with spikes from the factory. An example is Hankuk 419 winter studded tires, reviews of which are quite common on the Web, despite the novelty of the model. Do you really need studded options? You will receive the answer to this question at the end of the article.
Asymmetric rubber
This is another attempt to combine incompatible. Such tires are easy to recognize, because there is a feeling that they are composed of two completely different models, cut in half. In general, the idea is pretty good. One half of the tire is responsible for increased cross-country ability, while the other is designed to improve handling during high-speed movement.
Everything would be perfect, if you do not take into account the fact that in such a situation, the efficiency of each indicator decreases exactly as much as the area of each type of tread is reduced compared to a specialized tire, and this in most cases is 50 to 50. Therefore, expect good results from this rubber do not do it. As in the previous version, it is suitable for measured drivers who rarely rush somewhere. If you want to increase the patency, you can use the spikes that are already installed conceived in the winter tires "Hankuk". Reviews of them speak in favor of just such an acquisition.
The benefits of having studs
Probably every driver wondered: are the spikes on winter tires really important? We will try to clarify the situation a bit, having examined in turn the pros and cons of studded tires. Ultimately, after weighing the pros and cons, everyone will be able to come to their own conclusion and answer the question: is it worth buying Hankuk winter studded tires? Reviews can also help you navigate.
The first and main plus that appears in the presence of spikes is increased road grip on two types of coating, on packaged snow and ice, or when ice is icy. The consequence of this is to improve the handling of the car, which makes the ride much more comfortable. Spikes can sometimes be useful on loose snow. In this case, they work as a "propeller", increasing the area of contact. We will discuss the problem that the driver may encounter when doing this, when we analyze the negative sides that Hankuk winter studded tires 215 55 R18 and other similar products have.
The second plus is also shown on the same coatings. On rolled snow or ice, spikes, in addition to handling, also add dynamics. This means that it will be possible to accelerate the car much faster and easier than without spikes. However, without effective braking, acceleration could be dangerous. Therefore, in most modern products, the spikes are arranged so that braking with them is most effective. Hankuk winter studded tires have this feature. Reviews on the Nissan Qashqai, equipped with such rubber, allow you to verify everything personally.
We should not forget that the presence of spikes does not magically transform your rubber on such coatings into one that can behave as if you are moving on dry asphalt. Many different factors should be considered, such as the temperature of the air overboard, the tread pattern or the condition of the road itself.
Negative moments appearing with the presence of spikes on rubber
No solution can be perfect. So in the case of studded tires - along with the pluses and minuses follow. However, if you are aware of them, you can avoid driving errors or completely abandon studded tires. Let's look at everything in order.
The first and most unpleasant moment is a decrease in adhesion to dry or wet asphalt. This is due to the fact that part of the area in contact with the road surface is metal that can slip, unlike rubber. Therefore, when leaving on a cleared road, you can forget about high dynamics or good handling. If other drivers are especially careful on ice, then with studded tires the opposite is true, and clean asphalt requires close attention. Therefore, with frequent driving on dry surfaces in the winter, you should consider why you need Hankuk 419 winter studded tires, the reviews of which speak for themselves.
In addition to reducing dynamics due to metal slip, the braking distance on asphalt pavement also increases. Therefore, when driving on a clean road in winter, it is better not to rush, but first of all to think about safety.
The second unpleasant moment was partially mentioned in the list of positive properties. Studded tires can help a lot when moving in loose snow, but not at all when starting from it. When touching, it’s enough to make a little extra effort, and the drive wheels can easily dig into the snow. This can happen with ice, but there the likelihood of such an outcome is extremely small. Agree, pushing a car out of the snow is a task from the list of unpleasant. Therefore, if you move away from a place where there is loose snow, let go of the clutch as smoothly as possible. This will allow you not to dig a hole under your wheels, and the Hankuk winter tires are studded, reviews of which we will now consider, will be your allies, not enemies.
What they say about Hankook studded tires
Motorists with many years of driving experience are of the opinion that this rubber is one of the best of its kind. Balanced indicators of quality and cost allow you to purchase it even for inexpensive cars. Hankuk winter studded tires, the photos of which are presented in the article, are often cheaper to buy on the Internet. This saves even more, even considering shipping.
Some unflattering reviews can be heard from those. who expected studded tires to be a panacea for any road surface in the winter. As practice shows, this is far from the case. You should always remember that spikes have both their strengths and weaknesses. Understanding this, each owner of the "studding" will be able to avoid possible errors that appear due to unnecessary hopes assigned to the rubber.
The rest of the Hankuk tires are studded with enthusiastic winter reviews. They have good wear resistance, which is also repeatedly emphasized by drivers. It is worth noting the reliable mounting studs, so that they do not fall out after a short time, and they do not have to be reinstalled soon. Owners of heavyweights note high resistance to stress.
Output
For most experienced drivers living in regions with a harsh winter season, studded tires can be a great help, increasing the safety and comfort of the vehicle. Among the pluses, one can highlight the main point, which concerns increased grip on roads with snow or ice. It is he who positively affects the following parameters:
- Increased dynamics, faster acceleration and effective braking.
- The increased controllability and maneuverability of the vehicle.
- Increased safety, minimizing the risk of skidding.
Among the negative points that should be remembered for each driver installing the Hankuk studded winter tires, the reviews of the owners of which we discussed, one can distinguish one main one. All parameters are significantly degraded on roads that are cleared of winter precipitation due to direct contact of the roadway with stud metal. Therefore, in case of departure on a clean road or during the thaw, you should be especially careful.
Otherwise, the choice is yours. Among many manufacturers, it is possible to recommend Hankuk for high quality products and reasonable prices. Thanks to this, even those motorists who do not have a lot of money will be able to experience the comfort of riding in a truly safe rubber.