In the process of choosing winter tires, no unnecessary questions should arise - in the instructions for the car, the manufacturer clearly gives all tire sizes that can be installed. But, wanting to give the car a sporty character, to make it taller and softer, motorists are ready to violate the recommendations of the manufacturers. And they violate them. And the automakers themselves in the recommendations indicate several different sizes of tire covers. Larger and wider discs look spectacular. But is it that simple? Let's try to figure out which tires are better in winter - narrow or wide.
What is the profile width?
Before talking about the characteristics of wide and narrow rubber, it is necessary to find out what is the width of the profile, and what it affects. So, this is the distance between the side parts of the tire, which is pumped up to the usual state recommended by the manufacturer. Not always the size of the profile, as well as the width of the tread, may coincide. However, there is a pattern - the greater the width of the profile, the greater the width and tread. Everyone needs to know this.
Wide and narrow
The debate about which tires are better in winter - narrow or wide, has always been. So, fans of narrower tires claim that they have a higher specific pressure with a smaller spot of contact with the roadway. The opposite side is sure that the wide tires are distinguished by the greater length of the lamellas, which are responsible for adhesion in slippery areas.
Experts compared two tire sizes on ice and on snow. So, Nokian Happelita tires with dimensions 205 / 55R16 and 225 / 45R17 participated in the experiment. Four tests were performed to compare traction characteristics. The car was dispersed on ice, then the braking was checked. Further, acceleration in the snow was carried out, followed by a decrease in speed. The test results were mixed. Winter tires should be narrower or wider - it all depends on the characteristics of the operation and climate of a particular region.
On slippery surfaces, wider tires work best. Due to the lamellas, the total length of which is longer, the adhesion properties on ice are really better. But you can take into account that the car was accelerated to 30 kilometers per hour. Braking was carried out from 30 to 5 kilometers per hour. On the rolled snow surface, the test results were opposite. In snow, the length of the lamellas has little effect. An important role is played by a reduced contact area with the road. And, therefore, the pressure in the contact patch is also greater. This allows the tire to push through the snow. As for the dynamics of acceleration, it is the same in the snow.
Test results
Let's see a comparison of narrow and wide winter tires. In the snow on narrow tires, the car accelerated to 50 kilometers per hour in 3.66 seconds. On the wide - also for 3.66. But the results of braking tests - on narrow tires, the car from 50 to 5 kilometers per hour braked with a braking distance of 27.11 meters. The result was wide - 28.99 seconds.
And here is how the rubber shows itself on ice. Acceleration on narrow wheels took 3.84 seconds. At wide, the car accelerated a little longer - in 3.55 seconds. The braking performance on ice is as follows: the braking distance on narrow - 17.91 meters, on wide - 17.62 meters. Braking was carried out from 30 to 5 kilometers per hour.
As can be seen from the results, that wide, narrow, are about the same, and in different conditions different tires are needed. Therefore, it is difficult to answer the question of which tires are better in winter - narrow or wide.
Wet tests
The smallest stopping distance on wet asphalt is provided by wider tires. In addition, a car equipped with such tires is better driven. But as regards aquaplaning, wide tires showed themselves poorly, much worse than narrow ones.
Dry winter road
Here winter tires are not in their element. But, as shown by tests of winter tires (wide and narrow), the former significantly improve the handling characteristics of the car and reduce the braking distance. But you have to pay for it with fuel consumption. The wider the rubber, the higher its rolling resistance. This means that fuel consumption is increasing.
Spikes or Velcro
It is also a topic of ongoing disputes between motorists. Someone believes that studless winter tires in our country are ineffective, someone thinks the opposite. Let's see what to choose an ordinary motorist for the winter operation of the car.
Studded tires
In its chemical composition, winter tires are much milder than summer tires. But it should be noted that studded tires are rougher, unlike Velcro. Naturally, these tires have special inserts, spikes. Often you can hear that these very spikes are erased on the pavement, and also fly out. Yes, indeed it is. But modern technology is constantly evolving - today you can find on sale the most modern tires that can hide spikes on the pavement. But, when the car hits a snowy track, the spike reappears and bites into ice or snow.
In addition, water film may be present between the tire surface and the roadway. This significantly reduces tire grip on ice. The spike is teeth that literally cut this film, thereby greatly improving grip. Studded wheels are very popular and effective, so now they are sold in large numbers in countries with harsh climates.
The advantages and disadvantages of studded tires
Reviews say that these tires have a high grip on the ice and snow surface at any load exerted on them. It can be turns, accelerations, braking. They provide a smaller braking distance on an icy road. Passage in deep snow is very large.
Among the minuses, the reviews emit high noise, especially when driving on asphalt. On a wet paved road, the grip is not just bad, but terrible. Due to the protrusion of the spike, the contact zone of the tire with the road decreases. The grip decreases already in the cold at minus 20 degrees - the ice becomes stronger and denser, and the tenon is no longer able to penetrate it effectively. Also increases fuel consumption due to the fact that the tire is very rough. There are light vibrations on the steering wheel. Spikes often fly out, and also grind off. Service life - no more than 4-5 seasons. At first glance, there are more pros than cons. But studded tires will not give comfort, as the reviews say. It will give only confidence, high traffic, as well as handling.
Velcro
Velcro or studless winter tires - this is completely different. She can solve two problems. The tire is able to keep the car on wet pavement with little ice. It can also keep the car on an ice surface. For this, soft rubber is used so that the tire can adhere to the road surface. But at the same time, the tire material must be rigid enough to ensure normal handling. For Velcro, riding on dry asphalt is contraindicated - as a result, it overheats. Because of this, controllability will deteriorate. And in all other conditions, these tires are only slightly inferior to their studded counterparts.
Among the advantages, one can distinguish the absence of noise. Fuel consumption will be only a little more than on summer tires. There are no steering wheel vibrations, on wet asphalt tires behave well. The service life is higher than that of studded analogues. There are also disadvantages. A car on such rubber will be worse on ice and snow than spikes. The braking distance on an icy road is also increased. In snow conditions, patency is slightly lower.
What's better?
Experts give advice on choosing winter tires. If the region is characterized by severe winters, then you need to buy a studded tire. But for the southern regions, you can do with Velcro. As for parameters such as width, then everything is not so simple.
Narrow rubber is needed, for the most part, in order to break through the track in the snow and snowdrifts. Then, when she hits the asphalt, she will be hooked on him with spikes. Therefore, narrow tires for the winter are suitable for those places where there is a lot of snow, and the roads are not cleaned. Here, narrow tires will allow you to be king on the road. But there is a minus - this is a spot of contact. Reviews say that narrow tires have a smaller contact spot on hard surfaces. In addition, on ice or icy asphalt on narrow rubber, it is simply uncomfortable to move.
On wide studded tires in winter, you can be truly confident on icy roads, but without snow. The contact spot is maximum here, so the car will be well kept on ice. Significantly increases directional stability from lateral drift.
Now it’s clear which tires are better in winter - narrow or wide. For most cases, it is wide that is better.