So, the time is coming when all motorists begin to change tires on wheels under the time of year. And then the question arises before them: "What's better, Velcro or spikes?" The answer to this question cannot be one-sided, which is why the article will try to reveal this statement. Also consider what aspects affect the choice of tires.
Types of Rubber
Velcro - winter tires, which tries to hold the grip due to micropores clutching the road surface. The rubber will work exactly the same at any temperature, so which rubber is better in such conditions depends on the manufacturer.
Studded rubber is one in which the standard tread is upgraded with studs that cut into the surface.
All-season tires are a special type of rubber that is suitable for any season. This is achieved with a special tread pattern.
But in any case, each type of rubber will have advantages in a particular situation, so there will be no clear winner.
When to choose and buy tires
Everyone heard the proverb “Prepare a sleigh in the summer,” and this is an absolute truth when buying rubber for a car. Therefore, it is worth knowing and understanding in advance what rubber you need to look for, and not start everything with the advent of frost and bad weather. It can end badly for such an irresponsible person. But there are incredibly many models for each manufacturer, so you need to understand how best to find the right rubber. The article will tell you which rubber is suitable for your car. Here, the Nokia Nordman 5 tires will also be described in detail.
Comparison of Velcro and Spikes on an Ice Surface
Velcro and studs are distinguished by their way of fixing the car and establishing grip. The former use microroughnesses of ice for this, while the latter simply penetrate the surface.
About the same conditions, these types of rubber are at a temperature of 13-15 degrees below zero. If the thermometer column drops below, then the advantage will go towards the Velcro, because the spikes simply do not have enough strength to break through the compacting ice. In addition, ice is rougher at low temperatures, which also gives Velcro an advantage. But the option when even at minus 25 degrees the spikes can show themselves better than their competitor is the sun, which can melt the top layer of ice. In this case, there will be nothing for Velcro to cling to, and this will adversely affect the qualities of such rubber. Spikes also win at high temperatures, when it becomes easy for them to cut through melted ice. If the Velcro is separated from the expensive layer of slush, then they will not be able to cling to the surface. Of course, too softened ice also negatively affects the effectiveness of the spikes, but not as threateningly as with Velcro.
Studded tires rating
After a simple analysis of the current studded tire market, it becomes clear that the brands have taken the lead: Nokian, Continental, Michelin. The choice of tires of any of these manufacturers is a good acquisition, because they are high quality. The difference lies only in small nuances, which will be discussed here.
Foreign options
Nokian Hakkapelitta - Finnish tires that are the best for Russian conditions. The thing is that the weather conditions in Finland on the roads are very close to ours, which gives this particular model such an advantage. But for such high quality you have to pay well. Such rubber consists of a rubber compound and small lamellas. True, all this affects the situation on clean asphalt - here the Hakkapelitta will be helpless, because they are designed specifically to work with ice and snow, where at the height will be handling, traction, indifference to the rut.
Michelin X-Ice North - studded tires, which was originally conceived as one that can show stable results under any conditions, while maintaining ease of driving and silence. In part, the manufacturer did it: tires lose rubber from a Finnish company only in some aspects that are insignificant, so many motorists will not even notice the difference. Slightly worse cross-country ability and increased braking distance - these are the loss parameters. But nevertheless, the company completed one of its main tasks, and now these tires are almost silent, especially in comparison with the products of not particularly well-known manufacturing companies.
Continental Winter Viking is perfect for those who do not travel outside the city at all. If it’s not important for Nokian, it will be a suburban road that few people drive along, or a highway, then Continental may have problems with the first option. But if you are only in the city, then the rubber can cope with ice, with slush, with dry asphalt. Everything is achieved thanks to the tread pattern, as well as the diamond stud technology.
Barum Nor Polaris is another candidate to pay attention to, because his products are called "the best budget winter tires." The company is a subsidiary of Continental, so there is no need to worry about quality. After the tests, it is clear that good tires perform well on all surfaces that can be found during the Russian winter. There are problems only in two aspects: cross-country ability and comfort. But some of the buyers without a twinge of conscience will sacrifice these moments to get a budget and high-quality tires from Continental.
High-quality Russian tires
Cordiant Sno-max PW 401 is a domestic product of a level that Russian automotive rubber manufacturers have not yet reached. The lag behind the best brands of rubber is noticeable only in secondary indicators: comfort, rolling resistance and so on. But for such a price, you can close your eyes to some shortcomings. This is good, so if you want to support our manufacturer, you can buy these good tires.
Studless Rating
Conti Viking Contact is a tire that has been ranked first in the rating for its tire type for four consecutive years, which means quality that has not been falling for a long time. This German company was able to find the very middle ground, which no one has yet been able to achieve. Rubber perfectly shows itself on asphalt and on ice. The reason for this achievement is the asymmetric pattern and the special composition of the tires. Tests carried out on smooth ice also showed excellent results. The car, “wrapped” in rubber from this company, showed good acceleration and braking distance, in no way inferior to the studded options. The car runs smoothly, smoothly, begins to slide. When the overall classification was held, it was these tires that were able to enter the top three. Tests on the asphalt showed that the braking performance is not something outstanding, but the handling is high.
Rubber inferior to Conti Viking Contact
Gislaved - another German tire produced at the same factory as Continental, but their cost is much lower than that of the famous brand. The quality is about the same, but many will pay attention to them because of the pleasant price. Approximately similar behavior on asphalt and ice leaves the best emotions. Rubber is quite quiet, inferior to rivals only in handling on asphalt and slushplening. Universal tires that are perfect for the city and use out of town.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta Rsi - a new type of best tire, as well as a studded version, is great for Russian harsh winters all for the same reasons - similar weather conditions in Finland and Russia. The Rsi registration means that it was tested on the winding highway of the same name, on which a car “shod” in this rubber was able to show better results than other unshipable applicants. Good work at low temperatures, excellent performance on the pavement - this is what Nokian is chosen for. Perhaps, after some time, this rubber will be improved, but so far there has been great progress compared to the previous generation Q. But the same problem for many buyers is the high price that not everyone is willing to pay.
But the Michelin tires showed approximately the same results in all tests. The average turned out to be indicators on ice, and on asphalt, and on snow. A car with such rubber will move smoothly and calmly, so if you are a fan of fast and aggressive driving, then Michelin will not be suitable for your car. If dry asphalt is present, delays will be noticeable, so that it will not be possible to quickly increase speed and overtake. But at the same time, braking indicators on a wet surface make you pay attention, because winter tires are installed specifically for safety.
Yokohama is a rubber that is not afraid of slush and will cope with such a barrier without any problems. But the good news about this Japanese product ends on this, because the rest of the tests failed. Even driving professionals cannot always handle the Yokohama when gliding. Strong imbalance leads to the risk of unforeseen surprises, which will be completely unpleasant.
Nokian nordman 5
Another of the contenders for the championship in the ranking of the best tires. This is confirmed by the individual tread pattern, the unique solutions of the designers that were already used in the Hakkapeliitta 5, but here this idea is complemented and implemented much better. The spikes of this model are round and light, which combine perfectly with the tough rubber compound, the system has already been used on Nokia Nordman 5. Reviews about this system are just excellent, and dubbed it a “bear claw”, this name fully reflects the strength and safety of rubber. The technology acquired this name thanks to special protrusions located on the tread blocks with spikes. When moving, they serve as an emphasis for the spike, supporting it in a strictly vertical position. Thus, the manufacturer "Nokia Nordman 5" provides maximum grip on the road. The information has been verified by many users, as evidenced by the positive reviews.
Prices for tires "Nokia Nordman 5" vary depending on the size of the tires. Thus, the cost can vary from 2500 to 5000 rubles. The strength of such rubber is determined by the design and material of which the tires are made.
Another important innovation is the lateral clutch grooves. Other brands of rubber are rarely produced with this feature. When driving, the steering wheel accurately describes all the movements, this is achieved thanks to the integrated tread cap. The tire rotates easily on the surface and perfectly gives away all the actions of the steering wheel. Grip and reliability are the main terms to describe Nokia Nordman 5.
Nordman 5 Customer Reviews
All the claimed advantages are indeed present, there are no disputes on the road. Winter tires "Nokia Nordman" has already been tested by many buyers who have tested it in action. They unanimously claim that the technology "bear claw" works great.
The lack of slippage at the start is also great news for motorists. But, of course, these tires, like any other studded model, can slip at very low temperatures and lack of sun, which is normal for Nokia Nordman 5.
If you analyze the numerous customer comments, the positive reviews about the rubber can be summarized as follows:
- the absence of noise during operation, the sound can be observed only when installing new rubber, until the spikes "fall into place";
- tires are quite soft and retain their qualities even in severe frosts;
- the quality of braking was also noted - many buyers, comparing the new thing with past tires, noticed a significant difference both in the process of driving and in braking, which again confirms the reliability of the goods;
- riding on partially melted snow does not cause inconvenience, tires do a great job with winter slush;
- safety of spikes, which is rare for most analogues (on average, about 5-10 pieces with 4 wheels are lost per season);
- rubber allows you to leave the rolled snow rut, and this is a significant plus for residents of cities with high rainfall;
- driving uphill does not cause difficulties only if the road is not covered with a solid layer of ice.
Among other advantages, at Nokia Nordman 5 the price also attracts the attention of many buyers. Even despite the fact that there are many pluses, rubber also has disadvantages.
Some of the users, despite the majority assessment, note that the tires begin to lose spikes after one winter, although others are sure of the opposite. But it’s not clear where the Nokia Nordman 5 tires come from. Perhaps this is due to the driving style of the owner or the marriage of the goods.
Another minus of the Nokia tires is a weak sidewall, which sometimes leads to the formation of bumps as a result of frequent operation. Although these are isolated cases, but manufacturers are already concerned about the elimination of these problems in subsequent developments.
Opinions regarding the tires "Nordman 5" are very controversial. Someone says that rubber is the best of all that has ever been bought, while someone insists on the contrary. But in any case, for such a price, this rubber has become an excellent find for motorists that can be used. Here are the received "Nokia Nordman 5" reviews.
How to buy tires?
So, now there are those types and brands of rubber from which you can choose. Now about how not to be mistaken. The first thing you pay attention to when buying is the recommended size for your car. You can choose "Nokia Nordman 5", reviews about which are really excellent. If the buyer often uses his car in snowy areas and roads, then it is better to look at the narrow tires that can deal with such a highway. Some of the car enthusiasts want to save money, so they are already acquiring used tires, but this option should be completely discarded. Indeed, in order to select high-quality used tires, you need to instantly check them for the presence of all the spikes and install on the wheels to see all the hidden defects. If the seller does not allow such a check, then immediately refuse the transaction, because it will not bring anything good. In any case, it is better to buy a new kit and not worry about its operation by the previous owner.
We hope that the article was able to answer the question: “Which rubber is better?”. Now you can find the right tire for you. If you choose an inexpensive option, then Nokia Nordman 5, the price of which is quite affordable, will be an excellent acquisition.