The search for budget tires for an inexpensive car sometimes turns into an almost unsolvable quest, as a result of which there is a high probability of acquiring something that is not necessary in a particular case. How to facilitate the task and find inexpensive, but at the same time quite functional tires?
Often, user reviews or reviews from real people can help. Let's look at an example of such an analysis. In this case, the hero of the review will be the Amtel winter tires, reviews of which are often found on the Web. After analyzing them, as well as factory characteristics, we can conclude whether this rubber is suitable in your case.
A little about the manufacturer
The Amtel company itself, which produces products under the Fredestein brand on the European market, is a Dutch-Russian manufacturing community. Both countries in the winter are faced with rather severe weather conditions, so designers, when developing rubber, are primarily able to rely on specific parameters necessary for comfortable operation.
According to statistics, the company is on the list of the three most popular manufacturers on the tire market in Russia, and Amtel Nordmaster studded winter tires for cars or specialized for trucks and even special equipment are quite well-known.
General impression of the manufacturer
High level of production and enviable popularity make us think of good quality products. After all, if this were not so, over time, demand would begin to fall, but it does not decrease. At the moment, the level of sales per year reaches 14 million units, and this is a very high figure.
A large number of legal entities and entrepreneurs cooperate with the company, choosing its products as the main one for their vehicles. A key role in this choice is played by the cost, which is quite acceptable and thanks to which the Amtel Nordmaster winter tires occupies a budgetary niche in the market.
What are winter models of rubber
This article is devoted specifically to models designed for the cold season. Winter tires "Amtel Nordmaster" is the main representative of this manufacturer on the market. This name was given to the entire model line, as well as general distinguishing features. The main advantages, according to the developers, should be good cross-country ability regardless of road conditions and reliable grip, as well as low cost, so every car enthusiast can afford this rubber. Is this really so, we will find out a little later.
Addressing the tire model range
Basically, winter tires “Amtel Nordmaster”, reviews of which we will consider at the end of the article, are proposed for use by motorists living in regions characterized by heavy winter snowfalls and frost on roads, alternating with periodic thaws. It should cope well with both movement on a slippery surface, and with snow porridge and even just water. As will be seen from the reviews, some drivers continue to operate it even in the spring, when night frosts are possible, since it behaves well during rain when passing through deep puddles, as well as when driving along a dirt track.
The main goals that the designers tried to achieve
First of all, the task was to achieve maximum driving comfort, regardless of the option of winter covering the track, whether it be dry asphalt, a snowy road or even a mirror ice surface. Apparently, these tasks were worked out in full, as a result of which the Amtel high-quality winter tires turned out. Reviews show that she behaves well on almost any surface. To achieve this result, a unique tread pattern was created, the arrangement of the spikes was thought out, experiments were conducted with the composition of the rubber filler itself.
As a result, it was possible to achieve the maximum level of safety in these conditions when driving along problem sections of the road. Rubber turned out to be durable and wear-resistant, which has been proven over the years in which it is on sale. The tread also fulfills 100 percent, providing high-quality grip. Let us consider in succession how it was possible to achieve one or another indicator.
Adverse Driving Safety
One of the key factors that ensure grip reliability is a unique tread pattern. The abundance of Z-shaped slats, placed quite often, allows you to keep the car on the track and does not allow it to go into a side skid. This moment can be seen by reading some reviews of the Amtel Nordmaster winter tires. The tread edges on the sides of the lamellas play the role of limiters when cornering. And do not allow the wheel to slip. As a result, the car remains obedient even in very slippery areas.
In addition, drainage is provided along the edges of the lamellas, which can remove snow porridge and water from the working surface, which also increases the area of ​​contact. For the same reason, the Amtel winter tires, the photo of which you can see in this article, are suitable for passing dirt tracks in the cold season, even if they have not frozen and are clay mud. A high tread confidently clings to the protrusions of the soil on the road, and grooves clear access to hard ground, reducing the likelihood of aquaplaning.
Competent studding
The spikes were also not scattered over the surface of the tire according to the “as necessary” rule. They form a clear pattern in which 10 individual planes are traced. Due to this, even with the formation of slippage on the ice surface, the following spikes do not fall into the grooves made by their predecessors, and allow you to confidently catch on the surface. They also reduce the braking distance on slippery surfaces. The main thing at the same time is not to slow down the pedal to the floor, but to give smooth, but sure impulses, otherwise it is likely that the car will become uncontrollable.
All spikes are firmly fixed by means of fasteners adapted for long service life. The tire is quite capable of departing for several seasons and, as reviews on the Amtel winter tires say, to lose a large number of spikes only until the tread wear is close to critical, and this is not so easy to achieve even with an aggressive manner drive.
Durability and the role of the composition of the rubber compound in it
When developing the composition for the rubber filler, the manufacturer did not lower this moment to the last level. As a result, it was possible to derive an acceptable formula that made it possible to create inexpensive, but at the same time resistant to wear tires.
Amtel Nordmaster EVO winter tires are made, reviews of which were also analyzed in the preparation of the article, both from natural and artificial rubber. Such a combination, on the one hand, gives the rubber elasticity, even despite low operating temperatures. On the other hand, artificial rubber has properties that reduce the degree of wear when using rubber in adverse conditions.
Life-saving tread
In addition to this point, the technology of two-layer deposition of the tread pattern is used in the manufacture. Thus, you can make a more rigid inner layer that will protect against punctures and other problems such as hernias and cracking. The outer layer, which is in direct contact with the road, gets a lot of elasticity, just necessary for reliable adhesion to the surface.
All these factors in total allow you to create tires that can boast of high strength and wear resistance, but at the same time do not lose the basic necessary characteristics for driving. This is a kind of perfect balance, the achievement of which is achieved thanks to the painstaking work of a team of professionals.
Chemical additives and adhesion enhancement
However, durability and elasticity alone are also not enough. To increase adhesion to various types of road surfaces, chemists decided to add some fine carbon black and silicic acid to the rubber composition. As it turned out, it was a very correct decision.
The result became visible when testing tires. Significantly increased grip in traffic on deep snow or slippery ice compared with the same tires, but without the above additives. Undoubtedly, this moment should please experienced motorists, especially considering the fact that this practically does not affect the cost.
Every year, updated models from this rubber range enter the market, which shows the active interest of the manufacturer in relation to end consumers. Direct evidence of this is the updated Amtel Nordmaster-2 winter tires, reviews of which are already found on specialized sites. Tires are constantly being upgraded, they increase the parameters necessary for driving. The main feature - it all happens without hitting the wallet of the car owners themselves.
Positive user reviews regarding rubber
Among the main advantages, drivers distinguish several that stand out especially against the background of solutions from other manufacturers. These points help to get a general idea of ​​the rubber and even determine in what conditions it will be best exploited. Reviews generally provide a ton of useful information. Amtel winter tires are not an exception, reviews of which emphasize the moments described below:
- The first and most important feature is low cost in comparison with foreign competitors available on the market. This aspect is especially important when you consider that the main audience is motorists with a low income level and, as a result, an inexpensive car. Indeed, you see, it looks silly when the cost of a set of rubber is almost equal to half the cost of the car itself. But in the case of most foreign manufacturers the way it is.
- High wear resistance rightfully earned an honorable second place in the ranking of drivers who have already tested this lineup in recent years. On average, the Amtel Nordmaster winter tires, which we are reviewing, can survive 4 seasons without much damage, many did not find a single spike at the end of the first season of operation, but much depends on driving conditions and road surface .
- The third place is occupied by excellent stability in deep snow and snow porridge. An interesting feature is that even on clean asphalt, the rubber feels worse than in snow and water. Due to this feature, this model is so loved by "nivovody" who use cars to go hunting or fishing.
- Designers were inspired by the Russian conditions of winter roads, so this aspect can also be safely attributed to positive aspects, because Amtel winter tires, reviews about which are mostly plausible, because they were written by ordinary drivers, came out adapted to the harsh snowy climate.
However, in spite of these features, there were some few dissatisfied statements. This is quite logical, because none of the manufacturers has yet succeeded in achieving perfection, and everyone has his own concept of ideal.
Negative aspects of operation, according to drivers
Among the minuses, the reviews about Amtel winter tires are especially distinguished by two main points. The first is the high noise of the rubber, even on a snowy track. The peak falls on a speed in the range from 60 to 90 kilometers per hour. Considering that noise insulation of inexpensive cars often suffers, for some this can be quite a serious disadvantage.
The second negative feature is a decrease in the softness of the rubber at a temperature below -20 degrees, or rather, its subduation. In fairness, it is worth noting that such a state affects only when moving on ice, where its characteristics noticeably fall. In the snow, it retains its properties, and the effect of freezing is almost imperceptible. The same statement is true for clean asphalt.
Output
In general, rubber receives a positive response, and it can be recommended to those who are looking for inexpensive, but practical winter "shoes" for their car. It has a number of disadvantages, which, however, are more than compensated by virtues. Nevertheless, if the icy weather prevails in your area in the winter, you should refrain from buying such a model and choose something more stable. But for the snowy tracks this is the thing. It does not matter if the Amtel winter tires are set to Duster or the ordinary Six, it behaves equally well.