The current winter was unusually demanding quality winter tires. For several months the weather has changed dramatically: from solid ice to dry pavement.
But winter tires, usually buy one every season, so they must ensure perfect grip in various conditions of the roadway. Especially in heavy SUVs, whose weight and moment of inertia is much greater than that of conventional cars.
And are there any tires at all? Read about it in our long-term test
At this time we decided to take a test winter tires for SUVs and test them in the city. In the experience of previous winters, we felt it would be sufficient and non-studded models.
Set Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV, we started to set in turn to various off-road vehicles, checking its behavior for various coatings. In this case, we did not pay attention to the peculiarities of the car, the differences in the operation of the ABS, stability and exchange rate stability, and have focused only on the behavior of the tires. For this reason, we did not give details of measurements, since they are too different, depending on the vehicle on which they were held. But the nature of the Hakkapeliitta R SUV became evident immediately.
But first, look at what's different Hakkapeliitta R SUV from previous models.
According to official information to us: Hakkapeliitta R SUV tire designed specifically for urban crossover, and she is not afraid to meet in the winter.
The balance of reliability and security
Innovation, embedded in the tread and rubber compounds, their properties traction on ice and wet roads up Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV to a level higher than usual rates. In the manufacture of tires used brand new rubber for winter conditions, which complements the natural rubber compound of silica and canola oil.
This rubber compound improves grip on icy and snowy roads, but also enhances the durability of the tire to rupture.
In addition to adhesion performance in winter driving in the development of bus task was to improve the stability and traction on wet surfaces. Confident and stable steering feel is particularly important when dealing with large and heavy SUVs. Reliable sensation threshold coupling, obedience and accuracy improve driving, especially on slippery winter roads.
For SUVs are also important durable sidewall tires. All sizes Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV has a solid two-layer framework, created for SUV. For sides, a special rugged rubber compound more resilient to shocks and discontinuities.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV fits almost all SUVs, the range of the widest tire on the market. Most of the 17 standard sizes of 16-20-inch tires is marked XL, means, capacity sufficient for the massive car brands. A new frictional tire SUV has an index of the rate R (the maximum top speed 170 km / h). Similar competing products often have an index rate of Q (maximum speed 160 km / h).
Even in spite of the fact that many SUVs and crossovers now have a top speed at 200 km / h, the developers felt that in winter conditions at such speeds navryadli someone would ride.
Dry finish. Temperature +5 +10 deg.
As it should, as soon as temperatures began to fall to 10 degrees, we went to the tire and pereobuli "test car. When installing any comments to the tires were no. The wheels quickly otballansirovali and we went to the mileage.
Compared with catabatic tires at Hakkapeliitta R SUV car became softer, but noisier than expected. On the SUV was pleasant to overcome the "speed bumps" and "fall through" to road junctions. But on the highway, we began to celebrate the unstable behavior of the car.
The reason was in a loose weights, because of what one wheel razballansirovalos. Repeated ballansirovka situation corrected, but the crossover is still at high speeds was less docile than a rubber drain. But at speeds up to 120 km / h no complaints to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV have been encountered. She is predictably slow, not bad keeping in the rotation. Is that under braking, "the floor" somewhat frightened another algorithm triggering the ABS.
Wet coating. Temperature is above 2 degrees.
The rain did not spoil the behavior of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV. She continues to keep the road stable, predictable ottormazhivalas and easily overcame the puddles. No surprises in and braking in a pool (it is better not to check. Ca. Ed.) Bus - not bad fights with aquaplaning.
Snow. Temperature -5 deg 5 deg.
Snowfall not find user Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV in rasploh. SUV easily wrestled with the permissible virgin snow, zaezhal nechischennye on sidewalks, park in a snowdrift and holding of 100-120 km / h on nechischennyh snowy slopes.
Due to the special form of the tread, the tire gauge rolled into virgin soil cover up to 15 cm and under ABS chatter slowed already rolled in a rut. With this coverage the car's behavior was entirely predictable and expected. It is clear that the stopping distance, compared with the wet asphalt-increasing by 2-5 m depending on speed, but in the modern sport utility vehicle with an ABS system, any move were feasible.
Snowfalls the end of December and did not become an obstacle for Hakkapeliitta R SUV. She copes with snow porridge as the main roads and in yards.
At this SUV tires we could to park almost anywhere allowed clearance and common sense. It was in this weather and with such coverage Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV showed their best qualities. In our opinion, this temperature range to -10 degrees, with snow and mixed coverage - is the most optimal conditions for the tires.
Ice. Temperature -18 - 10 deg.
True test became ice-covered slopes, especially when there were clearly marked track. Because of the uneven obledineniya width wheels do not always coincide with the shape of a track, and because of this car starts to drop, adjusting the trajectory. But this is not the fault of tires, but rather the utility, which this year decided to withdraw from the clearing of snow.
But on a flat icy conditions or machine compacted snow, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV continued until recently to keep the clutch, thanks to the shallow cutting in lamellae and special composition rubber compound. It is true that in such circumstances, of course, is preferable to spike model.
Nevertheless, Hakkapeliitta R SUV provided to reduce the rate of movement and allows for the icy track, but its former self anymore.
Note that for the test, the total mileage set of tires was more than 12 thousand miles, and eventually we did not notice the correction in behavior. Tread is still in excellent condition and are able to keep the road.
Verdict
During the test, we tried prolonged Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV in different modes in different SUVs and could easily recommend it as a tire for urban conditions, provided that the trip to the ice-covered slopes are short duration and careful .
For example, last year's winter Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV - all came to a near-perfect. Snow, slush, ice and a rare wet and dry asphalt - all of these cover bus overcomes stable and predictable. SUV, shod in these tires, we can easily find a parking place and will leave from any court.
But this winter has already shown that spikes are not redundant. And while we all got on icy hills, where other cars helplessly polished ice, in spike ruts would not stop.
Alas, the perfect tire does not exist yet, but compared to other "non-road" model Nokian WR G2 SUV, at the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV feel confident, even on ice.
