Summer 15 inch tires

Today about 60 percent of the world market of automobile winter and summer tires belongs to "the big three” — to companies Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear. These and other whales the industries gradually absorb small firms — during the last years the number the companies in Europe was reduced with 111 to 83. However in the market still there are small independent players who, despite a rigid competition, continue to develop new models of summer tires independently. There are also new marks of summer tires — cheap production from South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia. Whether it is necessary to save, buying inexpensive summer rubber of little-known manufacturers? And if not to save, what of the checked up marks to prefer?

We have tried to answer these and other questions during the next comparative tests of summer tires.

In the list of participants of ours the test — thirteen import models of dimension 185/65 R15. Half of summer tires already took part in last year's tests is Continental PremiumContact, Goodyear Eagle Ventura, Pirelli P6, Michelin Energy, Dunlop SP Sport 01 and Barum Bravuris. Other summer tires — debutants: Nokian NRHi, Marangoni Vanto, Firestone Firehawk TZ200, Vredestein Hi-Trac, Euromaster VH100, Toyo Roadpro R610, Champiro 65. Additional representation need unless Euromaster (it is a new trade mark of tires which in 2000 was deduced on the market by English firm Avon) and Champiro — tires from Indonesia, which well-known in the homeland, and now appear and in Europe.
The Russian summer tires in the list aren't present — our factories don't favor dimension 185/65 R15. And experience of last years shows that summer rubber of a domestic production can't compete to import analogs yet. After all the program of tests assumes a number of "wet" tests in which our summer tires strongly lag behind the foreign. One of the reasons to the insulting is simple — domestic factories simply have no place to carry out natural tests. For example, to estimate resistance to hydroplaning it is impossible even on the central autorange under Dmitrovom — there there are no special tracks. But they are in Finland, in territory of range of company Nokian Tyres about the city of Nokija. There in September of last year we also were developed fights. Cars Alfa Romeo 147 served.

By the way, and whence in the list of tires-participants there was tire cover Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q? Same the winter tire without thorns! What sense to compare it to summer models?

The sense is. On this example we will show, it is how much dangerous to hesitate with seasonal replacement of rubber and than the one who continues to go in the spring on asphalt by winter tire covers which for a season already rather have worn out risks. Specially for this purpose out of offset we have included in the test program the complete set of half worn out tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q — with residual depth of a protector of 3,5 mm.

The technique of tests has developed for some years similar tests. As before, we give the basic attention to "wet" characteristics of summer tires is a length of a brake way on the asphalt covered with water, resistance to planning... The Reason is simple: on wet, slippery road above probability of that you should mobilize all possibilities of summer rubber that “to leave dry water”.

Planning — one of the most unpleasant and dangerous "damp" effects. How with it to struggle? If the car "has emerged", having flown in a pool, it is not necessary to beat on a brake pedal, it is not necessary to turn out a wheel sharply. Is better to dump smoothly gas, to wait the moment when wheels will find again contact to road, — and only after that to brake or turn.

In our tests we operate just what isn't needed — we cause planning and we fix speed of the beginning of "emersion". It becomes so. The car drives on the track which has been filled in with water, the driver disperses the car — and Alfa begins dispersal until the protector of driving wheels won't cease to cope with tap of a moisture from a contact stain.

As well as one year ago, the greatest stability to planning summer tires Goodyear Eagle Ventura have shown — contact loss has occurred at 89 km/h. For comparison — the Indonesian summer rubber Champiro "emerge" already at 79 km/h. At tests for resistance to planning in turn leaders and outsiders remained the same, but the difference between them has appeared even more — 28 km/h!

Brake tests — the most simple and at the same time most important part of the test program. What does the majority of drivers in an extreme situation? Truly: beats that there are forces on a brake pedal. Before occurrence ABS it was a gross blunder — wheels were blocked, and the car became uncontrollable. But by any car equipped ABS, and it is necessary to arrive — for peak efficiency at braking it is necessary to press simply on a pedal “in a floor”. During our brake tests since the speed of 80 km/h the best results have shown summer tires Nokian NRHi, and the Indonesian tire covers Champiro were the worst again.

One more "wet" test — check of limiting clinging properties in a cross-section direction. The car circles, constantly increasing speed — until tires won't start to slide off outside. In leaders here Goodyear, in outsiders — again Champiro.

Now — tests for controllability for a twisting line in length about kilometer. Summer tires are estimated by two experts, and "blindly" — verifiers aren't informed, which of complete sets is established now on the car. To offset goes not only time of passage of a line, but also value judgment of reliability of driving. And if eight complete sets have shown about identical time of passage of a circle summer tires Continental and Nokian have received the higher estimation only. And summer rubber Toyo and Champiro — again the worst: on them to overcome the twisting line which has been filled in with water, most difficult.

The most interesting that this parity between leaders and outsiders remains invariable and at a controllability estimation on dry asphalt. And "dry" characteristics passed check not only on a ring line, but also at "shift" performance — imitations of a detour of unexpectedly arisen obstacle. And again the best are Continental and Nokian, and the worst — Toyo and Champiro.

As the curtain fell experts have arranged to all complete sets of summer rubber run on public roads — for an estimation noise. The difference between the majority of complete sets is small, but Michelin nevertheless is hardly more silent than competitors, and Nokian and Champiro — is hardly louder. And last stage of the test — laboratory researches, a resistance estimation at the stand with a running drum. After all the is better tires slide, the there will be a fuel consumption and hardly above — the maximum speed more low. Summer tires Michelin Energy which have been named so for ability to save up energy Here took priority.

However, actually the lowest losses of energy at possess... Worn out winter tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q! But look at results in all other tests — loss in comparison with summer tires is huge. And it is clear: even such "thoroughbred" winter tire covers as Hakkapeliitta Q, aren't intended for driving on asphalt, and the worn out protector resists to planning is much worse.

To deduce a final rating of participants of the test, we translate all results in points (on a ten-mark scale). Then points are summarized taking into account weightiness of this or that indicator — big weight, from our point of view, have results of "wet" tests.

Indisputable leaders — Continental PremiumContact and Nokian NRHi: we recommend them on set of qualities. Summer tires Goodyear Eagle Ventura have once again amazed with the firmness to planning, but on wet asphalt they still behave better. Tires Pirelli, Michelin, Dunlop and Firestone have shown equal and worthy characteristics — they only have slightly lagged behind leaders. Summer tires Vredestein have got to the same company also, Marangoni and Barum — let they aren't so prestigious, however on road can easily argue with "giants". That is even rather inexpensive summer rubber of "the second line” (Barum) or new models of small European firms (Marangoni and Vredestein) differ now from eminent tire covers not much more, providing worthy level of active safety.

But still it is necessary to show consideration for a choice of summer tires. An example — summer rubber Toyo, Euromaster and Champiro which low price doesn't justify low characteristics.