Which is better: Michelin or Pirelli. Rubber

Choosing the right one car tires- This good grip with the road, and at the same time the safety of the driver and passengers. There is an extremely wide range of tires available in specialized stores and on the market, and therefore most consumers are simply lost in all this variety of brands and models.

In order to at least somehow get your bearings and be, as they say, up to date with events, we will designate a rating that includes the most popular brands that have distinguished themselves by the high quality of their products and have earned the love of car enthusiasts around the world. All companies represented in the top constantly participate in some kind of exhibitions, take high places, receive prizes, awards and are encouraged in every possible way for the next successful series of tires.

1. Bridgestone.
2. Yokohama.
3. Michelin.
4. Goodyear.
5. Dunlop.
6. Pirelli.
7. Nokian.

Let's look at each participant in more detail and note some distinctive features the above brands.

"Bridgestone"

Bridgestone Corporation is a recognized leader in the production of high-quality tires. The brand produces rubber using the latest technologies in this area, and tests its products in a wide variety of weather conditions - from sultry heat to harsh winter.

For decades now, Bridgestone Corporation has been improving its tires year after year and putting a lot of effort into producing high-tech rubber. Plus, the brand is an ardent defender environment, which means that the company’s products are distinguished by appropriate “green” standards.

Features of the models

Bridgestone was included in the rating of tire manufacturers due to the versatility of its products. has excellent traction on both dry and wet roads, and the rolling resistance indicator will save the lion's share of fuel. Winter tire models belong to the elite class of non-studded products and are distinguished by the same excellent grip, whether on a snowy surface or bare ice.

All-season models deserve special attention, guaranteeing safe management vehicle under the harshest environmental conditions. By pure ice They may not be so good, but for a city with its winter problems, this is an ideal option.

"Yokohama"

Yokohama Rubber Company began its history back in 1917. And for a hundred years now, the brand has continued to delight us with excellent tires. Both cyclists and owners of mining equipment will find something for themselves in the assortment of this company.

Tires are sold by Yokohama all over the world. There will be buyers for it both in hot El Paso and cold Yakutsk.

Thanks to a competent marketing campaign and, naturally, extremely high-quality products, this manufacturer has even surpassed Bridgestone in tire sales (the advantage is due to the narrowly focused segment: bicycles, motorcycles, industrial equipment).

Many years of production experience coupled with high-quality products allowed the company to conclude profitable contracts with venerable brands, and now Yokohama (rubber) is a representative of such brands as Lexus, Porsche, Toyota, Mercedes, Aston Martin. , Subaru and Mazda.

Michelin

The history of this world famous company began in 1830. In a modest and unsightly place called Clermont-Ferrand, Michelin’s grandfather organized a small backyard production that produced rubber for wheels. Half a century later, the cyclist who won the France-Germany-France marathon revealed the secret of his victory - Michelin tires. Literally a year and a half later, tens of thousands of athletes have adopted these high-quality products.

Fame followed the company all over the world, and Michelin tires became desirable, because any owner of a vehicle on two or four wheels wanted to have tires that would bring victory. Year after year, the brand developed new technologies, attracted smart specialists and competently developed the market, while expanding its production.

Michelin tires remain true to their victorious traditions to this day. Many racing drivers prefer the Michelin brand to other brands, not only because of some superstitions, but also due to the truly high quality of these products.

"Goodyear"

Marketers at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company did their best. The tires of this company are recognized all over the world. The brand enjoys enviable popularity among motorists not only due to its production quality rubber, but also thanks to a competent marketing policy. On the shelves of Goodyear you can find models of different price categories.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the company entered into an open-ended contract with a network of Henry Ford factories, thereby ensuring a direct path to a bright future. By the middle of the century, the brand produced rubber for almost all types of equipment, and the company became known all over the world.

Goodyear is included in the rating of tire manufacturers due to the use of the latest technologies in the production of its products, which directly affects the comfort of driving. The brand was the first to patent studded tires with a channel for removing liquid. In addition, the technology of “silent movement” (no sound when a wheel is damaged) was also developed by this company. Goodyear carefully tests its products on its own tracks and during production excludes the use of any “heavy” chemical elements.

"Dunlop"

The Dunlop brand may not be well-known to every car enthusiast, but surely everyone has used it at least once tubeless tires. The brand was the first to receive a patent for the use of such technology, and Dunlop tubeless tires began to conquer the world.

In addition, the company's engineers were among the first to introduce steel tire treads into production, which significantly increased the service life of the products. There is a clear expression among car enthusiasts: “If you need tires that last, buy Dunlop.”

Dunlop tires enjoy enviable popularity, and a huge number of branches around the world make it possible to bring quality products to people. Impressive part production capacity The company is located in the homeland of these tires - in the UK, but it also has large representative offices in the USA, Japan and France.

Pirelli

The company's priority direction is the production of tires for sports cars Formula 1 class. Many sports car pilots choose Pirelli tires for their successful and competent combination of characteristics.

The brand's research teams are engaged in the development and implementation of the safest products produced using the latest technology. Pirelli tires have excellent grip and are almost silent on the highway.

The wide range of tires on the brand’s shelves allows any car enthusiast to choose something of his own for his car, taking into account the climatic conditions of the region and the time of year. Summer tires cope well with both dry and wet roads, providing the driver with a comfortable ride. Winter options are just as good as summer ones: modern technologies and high-quality materials allow you to firmly hold the car on an icy surface.

All-season models perfectly adapt to current environmental conditions and are perfectly protected from temperature changes, so they can be fully called universal. Many car enthusiasts, having once tried the Pirelli brand, can no longer refuse the comfort that it offers its owner.

"Nokian"

The Nokian Tires brand is the leader in its segment in Northern Europe. The company not only produces tires for cars and bicycles, but also has long-term contracts with agricultural and mining magnates.

The priority for the brand has been and remains winter tire models that can withstand the harshest frosts. Thanks to this attitude, the brand enjoys enviable popularity among our compatriots. After all, in Russia, snowstorms, ice and cold are commonplace things.

But, of course, the summer versions of this brand’s tires also deserve attention: advanced technologies, excellent materials and numerous awards make the models quite competitive compared to other manufacturers.

The company devotes a lot of time to bench checks and field tests for the strength of products in harsh climatic environments, so when purchasing any winter model, be sure that it will not let you down either on ice or snow.

Today, about 60 percent of the global car tire market belongs to the Big Three - Michelin, Bridgestone and Goodyear. These and other giants of the tire industry are gradually absorbing small firms - for last years the number of tire companies in Europe has decreased from 111 to 83. However, there are still small independent players in the market who, despite fierce competition, continue to independently develop new tire models. New brands are also appearing - cheap products from South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia. Is it worth saving money by buying inexpensive tires from little-known manufacturers? And if you don’t save, then which of the proven brands should you prefer?

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

The list of participants in our tire test includes thirteen imported models of size 185/65 R15. Half have already taken part in last year's tests - these are Continental PremiumContact, Goodyear Eagle Ventura, Pirelli P6, Michelin Energy, Dunlop SP Sport 01 and Barum Bravuris. The rest of the tires are debutants: Nokian NRHi, Marangoni Vanto, Firestone Firehawk TZ200, Vredestein Hi-Trac, Euromaster VH100, Toyo Roadpro R610, Champiro 65. The only ones that need additional introduction are Euromaster (this is a new tire brand that was introduced to market (English company Avon) and Champiro - tires from Indonesia, which are well known in their homeland, and are now appearing in Europe.

There are no Russian tires on the list - our factories do not favor the size 185/65 R15. And the experience of past years shows that domestically produced summer tires cannot yet compete with imported analogues. After all, the testing program involves a series of “wet” tests, in which our tires lag far behind foreign ones. One of the reasons is offensively simple - domestic factories simply have nowhere to conduct full-scale tests. For example, it is impossible to evaluate the resistance to aquaplaning even at the central testing ground near Dmitrov - there are no special tracks there. But they are in Finland, on the territory of the Nokian Tires testing site near the city of Nokia. It was there that our tire battles unfolded last September. Cars served as “aggregate carriers” Alfa Romeo 147.

By the way, where did the tire appear on the list of participating tires? Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q? This is a studless winter tire! What's the point of comparing it with summer models?

There's a meaning. Using this example, we will show how dangerous it is to delay the seasonal replacement of tires and what the risk is for those who continue to drive on asphalt in the spring on winter tires that have already worn out quite a bit over the season. Especially for this, outside of the competition, we included in the test program a set of half-worn Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q tires - with a remaining tread depth of 3.5 mm.

The test methodology has been developed over several years of similar “tire” tests. As before, we focus on the “wet” characteristics of tires - this is the length of the braking distance on water-covered asphalt, resistance to aquaplaning... The reason is simple: it is on a wet, slippery road that there is a higher likelihood that you will have to mobilize all the capabilities of the tires to "get out of the water unscathed."

Hydroplaning is one of the most unpleasant and dangerous “wet” effects. How to deal with it? If the car “floats up” by flying into a puddle, you don’t need to hit the brake pedal, you don’t need to turn the steering wheel sharply. It is best to gently release the gas, wait until the wheels regain contact with the road, and only then brake or turn.

In our tests, we do exactly the opposite - we cause aquaplaning and record the speed at which the ascent begins. It's done like this. The car enters a track flooded with water, the driver presses the gas to the floor - and the Alfa begins to accelerate until the tread of the drive wheels can no longer cope with the removal of moisture from the contact patch.

Just like a year ago, Goodyear Eagle Ventura tires demonstrated the greatest resistance to aquaplaning - loss of contact occurred at 89 km/h. For comparison, Indonesian Champiro tires “float” already at 79 km/h. When testing resistance to hydroplaning in a turn, the leaders and outsiders remained the same, but the difference between them was even greater - 28 km/h!

Braking tests are the simplest and at the same time the most important part of the test program. What do most drivers do in an extreme situation? That's right: he hits the brake pedal as hard as he can. This was before the advent of ABS. blunder- the wheels blocked and the car became uncontrollable. But on any car equipped with ABS, this is what you need to do - for maximum efficiency when braking, you just need to press the pedal to the floor. During our braking tests from 80 km/h top scores Nokian NRHi tires were shown, and the worst were again the Indonesian Champiro tires.

Another “wet” test is to check the maximum adhesion properties in the transverse direction. The car moves in a circle, constantly increasing speed - until the tires begin to slide outward. The leaders here are Goodyear, the outsiders are Champiro again.

Now - handling tests on a winding track about a kilometer long. The tires are evaluated by two experts, and “blindly” - the testers are not told which set is currently installed on the car. Not only the time taken to complete the route is taken into account, but also a subjective assessment of the reliability of driving. And if eight sets showed approximately the same lap time, then only Continental and Nokian tires received the highest rating. And the Toyo and Champiro tires are again the worst: they are the most difficult to overcome on a winding road flooded with water.

The most interesting thing is that this ratio between leaders and outsiders remained unchanged when assessing handling on dry asphalt. Moreover, the “dry” characteristics were tested not only on the ring road, but also when performing a “rearrangement” - simulating a detour around an unexpected obstacle. And again the best are Continental and Nokian, and the worst are Toyo and Champiro.

At the end of the day, experts gave all the kits a run on public roads to assess the noise level. The difference between most kits is vanishingly small, but the Michelin is still slightly quieter than its competitors, and the Nokian and Champiro are slightly louder. And the last stage of the test is laboratory testing, assessing rolling resistance on a stand with a running drum. After all, the better the tires roll, the lower the fuel consumption will be and the slightly higher - maximum speed. They excelled here Michelin tires Energy, which were named so precisely for their ability to save energy.

However, in fact, the lowest energy losses during rolling are... worn out Winter tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q! But look at the results in all other tests - the loss compared to summer tires is huge. And this is understandable: even such “thoroughbred” winter tires, like the Hakkapeliitta Q, are not designed for driving on asphalt, and a half-worn tread is much less resistant to hydroplaning. The conclusion is obvious: as soon as the snow and ice clears from the roads, the car must be immediately “changed” to summer tires.

In order to display the final rating of test participants, we convert all results into points (on a ten-point scale). Then the points are summed up taking into account the weight of a particular indicator - from our point of view, the results of “wet” tests have more weight.

The undisputed leaders are Continental PremiumContact and Nokian NRHi: we recommend them based on their combination of qualities. The Goodyear Eagle Ventura tires once again impressed with their resistance to aquaplaning, but they still perform better on wet pavement than on dry pavement. Pirelli, Michelin, Dunlop and Firestone tires showed smooth and decent performance - they were only slightly behind the leaders. Vredestein, Marangoni and Barum tires also fall into this company - although they are not so prestigious, they can easily compete with the “grands” on the road. That is, even relatively inexpensive tires“second line” tires (Barum) or new models from small European companies (Marangoni and Vredestein) are now not much different from famous tires, providing a decent level of active safety.

But you still need to be careful when choosing tires. Example - Toyo, Euromaster and Champiro tires, low price which does not justify the low characteristics.

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Made in Germany The German concern Continental today ranks fourth in the tire industry rankings. If the members of the “Big Three” control 18-19% of the global tire market, then Continental, despite the mass of subsidiaries (Barum, Gislaved, Viking, Uniroyal, Semperit), controls only 7%. This year, a joint production of Barum and Gislaved tires will start operating on the territory of the Moscow Tire Plant. Continental PremiumContact tires have been taking part in Autoreview tests since 2000. Last year they became the best, and even now, albeit not by much, they were ahead of their competitors, sharing the first line of the final protocol with Nokian tires. PremiumContact are very reliable tires with excellent grip properties. The asymmetrical tread pattern does a good job of draining water from the contact patch - both on a straight line and when turning, the tires float up quite late. But most of all, experts were struck by the handling characteristics: driving a car on wet and dry asphalt is a pleasure. The Alfa responds quite quickly and extremely accurately to steering, cornering very smoothly, exhibiting slight understeer. If the driver makes a mistake, the tires help return to the optimal trajectory. No fatal slips - everything is soft, smooth, predictable. These tires can be easily recommended to both beginners and experienced drivers. Overall rating: 9.2

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 7.7 mm Made in Finland The Finnish company Nokian is one of the small players in the tire market, but is known far beyond Finland - primarily due to its successful winter tires. Now Finnish specialists are mastering the development of modern summer tires, and not without success - the new Nokian NRHi tires have proven themselves much better than the previous NRH2 model and confidently entered the top three. On dry Alfa asphalt Nokian tires responds to control softly and smoothly, which makes it easy to maintain control over the machine when performing the most drastic maneuvers. On wet surfaces, experts were amazed by their high grip properties - in the rain, Finnish tires literally stick to the asphalt! Taking turns in an active style is a pleasure: even in deep slides, the Nokian allows you to control the car confidently and accurately. The asymmetrical and directional tread pattern resists hydroplaning well, and rolling losses are low. The only negative is increased noise. Overall rating: 9.2

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 7.6 mm Made in Slovenia After Goodyear acquired Dunlop, it almost matched the sales volumes of Michelin and Bridgestone. In 1998, Goodyear introduced the first rain tire, the Aquatred, which featured high aquaplaning resistance. The Eagle Venture model is also designed primarily for wet roads. The directional tread pattern with numerous wide grooves perfectly removes water from the contact patch - these tires had no equal in our tests in terms of resistance to aquaplaning! On dry asphalt, the Alfa Romeo 147 on Goodyear tires handles well, but not brilliantly. In addition, the car becomes prone to skidding - when exiting a sharp maneuver, it can “hang” in the sliding of the rear wheels. On wet asphalt, the Alfa becomes calmer, the tendency to skid is less noticeable, and slips are always predictable. Therefore, the “rain” reliability of control has earned a higher rating from experts. Now the Eagle Ventura model is being replaced by Goodyear Hydragrip (see AR No. 3, 2004) - new tires that, with equally high “rain” characteristics, should be noticeably better on dry asphalt. Overall rating: 9.0

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Made in Italy From large companies Pirelli, perhaps more than anyone else, relies on Ultra High Performance tires for prestigious sports cars. But the new Pirelli P6/P7 family, introduced in 2002, is designed for a democratic market: the “six” is more comfortable and intended for mass-produced cars, and the “seven” for those that are more powerful. The Pirelli P6 model has been taking part in our tests for the third year now. Italian tires on Italian car- a combination for gourmets! On dry asphalt, the Alfa reacts to steering inputs quickly, but sometimes not entirely accurately. However, for those who know how to drive a car while sliding, this is not a problem. On a wet track, the Alfa behaves more calmly. Both on the edge and beyond the sliding edge, the reactions are well balanced - it is not difficult for the driver to control the trajectory. Italian tires resist hydroplaning a little worse than the test leaders, and rolling losses are quite high. But according to the length of the “wet” braking distance Pirelli tires P6 are some of the best. Overall rating: 8.8

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Made in UK The French company Michelin offers three models for mass cars - Energy, Pilot Premacy and Pilot Exalto. At the time of this test, the new Pilot Exalto (see AP No. 5, 2003) was not yet ready, so we chose Michelin Energy. On dry asphalt, the tires give the car a “straightforward” character - the Alfa 147 stands confidently in a straight line, the steering wheel has a clearly defined “zero”. But if you need to go around an unexpected obstacle, then the sluggishness of reactions does not allow you to quickly complete the maneuver. On wet asphalt, the handling character is similar - soft reactions are not conducive to fast, aggressive driving. At the entrance to the turn, the drift of the front axle predominates - the feeling is that Alfa thinks for a second whether it is worth following the driver’s command or not. On the other hand, Michelin, even with a sharp release of gas, does not allow the rear wheels to skid. But the resistance to aquaplaning leaves much to be desired - the tread does not drain water well from the contact patch. But Michelin Energy are quiet tires. And truly energy-saving - low rolling resistance will help save fuel. Overall rating: 8.5

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 7.3 mm Made in UK For a long time, a controlling stake in the English company Dunlop belonged to the Japanese trading house Sumitomo, but not so long ago the company became part of the Goodyear concern. Dunlop tires SP Sport - new model, which appeared two years ago not without the participation of Goodyear specialists. On dry asphalt, Dunlop gives the Alfa quick and sometimes even sharp steering responses - it’s not for nothing that the model name has the word Sport in it! But when performing emergency detour maneuvers, this sharpness requires the driver to make quick and precise corrective actions with the steering wheel in advance - otherwise the Alpha may be “unraveled”. On wet asphalt, the Dunlop also offers a sharp ride on the verge of slipping. But even here you need to be careful - too sharp and sweeping steering movements on wet asphalt cause poorly controlled drift of the front axle. But the asymmetrical tread pattern resists hydroplaning well. Overall rating: 8.5

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 6.9 mm Made in Italy The Italian company Marangoni began with the production of retreaded tires, but gradually switched to developing its own models. Having only one plant, the company, in the face of fierce competition, managed to stay in the market and now offers summer and winter tires, as well as tires for SUVs. The debut of Marangoni in our tests was a success - the new Vanto model did not get lost among its famous competitors. Braking properties excellent on wet asphalt - no worse than Continental or Pirelli tires. Handling is also good. On dry pavement, the Alfa has mild understeer and soft responses. On wet surfaces, the tires are pleased with their high grip properties and reliable behavior - except that they slip into a slide rather abruptly. But with hydroplaning asymmetrical tread copes mediocrely - perhaps due to shallow depth grooves (total 6.9 mm). And the rolling resistance coefficient of these tires is one of the highest in our test. Overall rating: 8.5

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 7.5 mm Made in France The American company Firestone is part of the Japanese tire giant Bridgestone. The model name Firehawk TZ 200 translates as “Fire Hawk”. But, alas, there is nothing fiery in the Alpha’s character on these tires. On dry asphalt, the car reacts rather sluggishly to steering wheel turns, which in extreme situations makes it difficult to quickly perform a maneuver. It is difficult to control a car while sliding. On wet asphalt, the car's behavior remains the same - slow reactions will not allow active maneuvering. However, this slowness helps to avoid serious mistakes - the driver always has time to correct the situation in the event of an incorrectly chosen speed or mistake in taxiing. But in terms of resistance to aquaplaning, the Firehawk was second only to Goodyear tires. A good balance of other characteristics kept Firestone in the middle of the test clip. Overall rating: 8.4

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 8.2 mm Made in the Netherlands Vredestein (Vredestein) - small independent Dutch company, which produces and develops its own tire models. Recently, Dutch tire makers have resorted to marketing tricks - for example, it was announced that the tread pattern of new Vredestein models is created with the participation of the famous Italian designer Giugiaro. The large “spit” in the center of the tread of the Vredestein Hi-Trac tires is really beautiful - and at the same time copes well with hydroplaning. At first, the experts liked the handling on dry asphalt - the tires provide good reactive action on the steering wheel, and the reactions pleased them with accuracy and lack of lag. But during sharp maneuvers, the Dutch tires showed themselves less convincingly, showing a clear tendency to skid on the Alpha. On wet asphalt the situation is better - the car clings perfectly to the wet surface and pleases with its balanced behavior even in deep slides. But in terms of braking distance (31 m), Vredestein found itself at the very end of the middle group. Overall rating: 8.4

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 8.0 mm Made in Romania After the Continental concern acquired Barum ten years ago, Czech tires have noticeably improved in quality - they are now developed in Germany and produced in modern equipment and using the same technology as Continental tires. Previously, Barum was produced only in the Czech Republic, now a new production facility has been established in Romania, and this year tires of the Czech brand will begin to be produced at the Moscow Tire Plant. On wet asphalt, Barum Bravuris is not bad - good grip properties, high resistance to aquaplaning. Reactions are a little slow, but not so much as to interfere with difficult situation. On dry asphalt, I liked the Barum less - the Alfa was distinguished by its too “light” steering and sluggish, inaccurate reactions. However, for most Bravuris drivers - a good choice: these tires are cheaper than their more famous competitors, but in terms of characteristics they are quite inferior to them. Overall rating: 8.3

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 8.1 mm Made in UK The new Euromaster brand was launched on the market in 2000 by the English tire company Avon, which, in turn, belongs to the American company Cooper. Euromaster tires are still little known in Europe, not to mention Russia. And, as it turned out, you shouldn’t regret it. Grip properties on wet asphalt leave much to be desired - braking distances four meters longer than the leader. The tires resist hydroplaning poorly - despite the directional tread pattern. On dry asphalt, delayed reactions and a tendency to skid interfere. On wet asphalt the situation is no better - at first it seems that everything is in order, but the car reacts too sluggishly to fast steering movements. Another “achievement” is the worst result when measuring rolling resistance. Well, at least there are no problems with noise... Overall rating: 7.1

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 7.4 mm Made in Japan Earlier Toyo tires(this is a subsidiary production automobile concern Toyota) were known mainly domestically Japanese market, but now they are appearing in Europe. Japanese quality plus a low price - a tempting combination! Alas, the Roadpro R610 model is in fact noticeably inferior to its European competitors. The braking distance on wet asphalt is four meters longer than that of the leader, and the speed at which aquaplaning begins is 8-9 km/h lower. Handling on dry asphalt is not bad only in standard modes, but it’s easy to “lose” the car after a sharp detour maneuver. On wet asphalt the situation is even worse - Alfa starts sliding too early and behaves unpredictably: then rear axle“falls through” into a skid, then the front one goes into drift... Little consolation is low rolling resistance and an acceptable noise level. Overall rating: 7.0

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index H (210 km/h) Tread depth 7.2 mm Made in Indonesia Champiro tires are produced by the large Indonesian company P.T.Gadjah Tunggal, which also has factories in China. The Champiro 65 model is a prime example of a frankly cheap product. The simple tread (they stopped making these in Europe about ten years ago) openly gives in to hydroplaning - the tires “float” too early. Grip properties are low even on dry asphalt - the tires are too soft, and when trying to go around an obstacle, the Alfa at first does not want to turn, and then “hangs” in a deep skid. On wet surfaces, Indonesian tires are even worse - they glide like butter. The braking distance from a speed of 80 km/h in the rain is 34 m, which is 5 meters more than the leaders. Most likely, even Russian tires have better characteristics today... Overall rating: 6.6

Nokian Hakkapeliitta Q (wear - 50%)

Dimension 185/65 R15 Speed ​​index Q (160 km/h) Tread depth 3.8 mm Made in Finland Don’t be fooled by the appearance of the well-preserved tread and the “type” of winter tires - you can’t drive them on spring asphalt! Firstly, winter tires are initially softer than summer tires, which inevitably worsens “asphalt” grip properties - the braking distance in the rain from a speed of 80 km/h lengthens by almost 10 m, and slipping begins in situations that seem harmless at first glance. Secondly, over the winter, the depth of the tread pattern has decreased, and the resistance to aquaplaning is sharply reduced. Getting into an accident on such tires in the spring is as easy as shelling pears - after all, when the sun gets hot, you are already adjusting to “summer” speeds. And half-worn winter tires are not suitable for them! A “partial” change, when summer tires are placed only on the front axle, is also not suitable. The rear tires in this combination will be much more “slippery” than the front, and in wet weather the car may unexpectedly slip into an uncontrollable skid even at low speeds. Overall rating: 5.0

On automotive market A huge number of different tires are sold. Of these, we can highlight the most popular ones, which have a good reputation among motorists. However, how to choose the best one from the manufacturers? Many drivers have long and consistently had their own preferences when purchasing tires, but no fewer car owners still cannot choose the best one. Therefore, we decided to look at Pirelli tires and compare them with products from other manufacturers: are they better or worse?

history of the company

The creation of the Pirelli company took place in 1872 in Milan, where the main office is still located. The creator is Giovanni Battista Pirelli, who at the age of 23 knew for sure that he wanted to open his own business related to the production of rubber products.

The enterprise turned out to be small, the turnover was initially very small. Various rubber products were produced, and tires began to be manufactured only in 1894, and then only for bicycles. First car tires appeared in 1901.

Subsequently, the company began producing tires for sports cars participating in racing. In 1907, one of the participants with Pirelli tires took first place in the competition, which brought popularity to the company.

Another no less significant event in the history of the company is the release of calendars in 1964. They were extremely popular back then. Their release is currently ongoing.

As before, the manufacturer offers high-quality tires. Therefore, many motorists wonder what is better: Pirelli tires or analogues?

Pirelli or Michelin

For comparison, let's take the Pirelli Ice Zero and Michelin X-Ice North 3. Both copies are equipped with studs, and the tread pattern is very similar. Pirelli tires are particularly reliable and are also able to provide minimal braking distances.

Their quality fully corresponds to the price, but there is one significant drawback - at above-zero temperatures the tires lose their properties.

If we look at the model from Michelin, we can note that it has excellent traction on snow and asphalt, as well as effective braking. However, on ice the grip properties deteriorate.

These tires are optimal for those who drive a car for a long time, as they contribute to a comfortable driving experience. If performance is important, then it is best to give preference to Pirelli.

Pirelli or Goodyear

If we compare Pirelli Ice Zero tires with Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice Arctic tires, then the second option, although slightly, is still in the lead. They performed excellently both on asphalt and in difficult conditions off-road. At high speed they have good directional stability.

True, they have one significant drawback - when they hit a rut, they begin to skid. Therefore, Pirelli tires provide safer driving.

Pirelli or Nokian

Nokian is also a well-known manufacturer with a good reputation. Its leading model is the Nokian Nordman 5. Is it better than the Pirelli Ice Zero?

Nokian has good handling and grip on ice, but on asphalt these indicators deteriorate significantly. Also, the studs on the treads fall out quite quickly, which cannot be considered a positive quality.

Pirelli tires have an increased service life, and the studs do not fall out during almost the entire operation. Grip on ice is about the same, but due to wear resistance, Pirelli winter tires win.

As it turned out, winter tires Pirelli is better almost all of its competitors. They have all the necessary properties, but they cannot be used at above-zero air temperatures. This is the only significant drawback.

Tire Rack hosts a Clash of the Titans, pitting the latest Max Performance tires from Michelin against Bridgestone.

A Clash of the Titans is commonly referred to as an epic showdown between truly powerful competitors, so it's a fitting phrase to describe Tire Rack's new test, which pits two of the newest Max Performance tires against each other, as well as two models that have long been considered among the best in the category. Over the past 10 years Max tires Performance have reached an astonishing level of development and now provide exceptional grip on both dry and wet surfaces, but combine their ride quality with a civilized character that makes them suitable for everyday use. Many of today's supercars leave the factory with Max Performance tires included as standard, as these tires allow the car to make the most of its power right out of the box. And besides this, many sports driving enthusiasts themselves install these tires on their cars, which they use every day.

Not long ago, two true titans of the tire world presented their new Max Performance class models - Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position and Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Both are welcome replacements for tires that have already become popular and have proven their worth. But which of the new products is better? To find out, Tire Rack experts compared the behavior of tires in real world conditions and on the race track, and the top-end Max Performance tires - Continental ContiExtremeContact DW and Pirelli PZero - were chosen as opponents for the two newcomers. Tire Rack notes that Continental recently topped tire buyer rankings on the company's website for some time, while Pirelli has always performed well in tests and has been included as factory equipment on many of the world's most powerful supercars since its debut in 2007.

Used in tests BMW coupe E92 328i (2011) with 17x8.0 inch wheels. All tires were taken in size 225/45R17 with full tread depth.

Tires tested:

Road test

The 10.6 km long road track consists of sections simulating highway conditions, local roads and country road, which makes it possible to test tires at both highway speeds and city traffic speeds. In addition, there are areas of smooth and coarse concrete, as well as new asphalt and pavement after pothole repair. This allows you to determine noise levels, comfort, ride quality and handling in everyday life, as conditions are identical to those encountered during a normal commute.

None of the tires were a disappointment road test, and everyone was able to provide good handling in normal life conditions. Michelin and Bridgestone are divided on which tires are better. Both tires respond quickly and accurately to steering inputs, but the Bridgestone's response feels more linear and the cornering force increases gradually, while the Michelin's response is more abrupt. The verdict is that both tires are excellent, but behave slightly differently. The Pirellis also respond clearly and consistently, but not as quickly as the Michelins and Bridgestones, while the Continentals come in last place as they feel less communicative and experts note that there is a pause between turning the steering wheel and their response.

But this shortcoming of the Continental allowed them to take the lead in the ride quality test, and these tires are the best at absorbing sharp surface joints and providing a smooth ride on patched asphalt. The Michelins handle small to medium-sized bumps well, but the driver will feel a slight jolt when hitting a larger bump. Bridgestone is a little stiffer than Michelin over small bumps, but they do a better job of absorbing impact energy when hitting a large pothole. The Pirelli were quite a bit behind the rest, as they were slightly less comfortable.

The noise level of all three tires can be considered quite acceptable, but the Continental was again the best. The Michelin and Bridgestone are outperformed by the Continental as they produce a quiet but audible noise as speed increases. The Pirelli is a bit buzzy at high speed, especially on tarmac.

Race track tests

The test track (one lap length is 0.5 km) includes 90-degree turns, freeway exits, and several lanes to determine how the tires behave during lane changes. Pilots drive on both dry and wet surfaces to evaluate traction, responsiveness, handling, etc. during emergency maneuvers.

On the test track, the Michelins immediately take the lead thanks to excellent steering response and excellent grip on the front axle, allowing them to navigate the apexes of turns with relative ease. Overall, the Michelins' cornering performance was as impressive as their grip during acceleration and braking. Subjective assessments put Bridgestone in second place, which also demonstrated excellent handling and informativeness, but the lap time dropped these tires to last place, as the tires were not able to cover the route as quickly as the others. Less than two-tenths of a second behind the Michelin, Pirelli were second in the test, proving that they can be faster than the subjective assessments would suggest. The Pirellis don't have the same responsiveness or cornering stability as the Michelins, but these tires provide incredible grip. At the bottom of the list were the Continentals, which were less responsive and confident during the slalom and high-speed sections, but their high levels of grip allowed them to edge out the Bridgestones just slightly.

On wet surfaces, the ratings were once again topped by the Michelin, which maintained contact with the road so confidently that it even led to some drivers becoming overconfident, resulting in several skids - even despite such high levels of grip. Continentals also provide optimal grip on wet surfaces, but they are too slow to respond to driver inputs. The Bridgestone's grip was weaker than that of the Continental, but they pleased us with the same responsiveness and informativeness as on dry surfaces. The Pirellis are very balanced tires that communicate grip well to the driver, but they don't stay in contact confident enough to keep up with the first three tires.

Fuel consumption

The test involves driving along a 10.5 km route, including sections of an expressway (speed limit - 100 km/h), a highway (90 km/h) and a country road (65 km/h), as well as two Stop signs and one traffic lights at each section. The pilots drove about 800 km over several days. Since it was important to obtain fuel consumption, which would also be ordinary drivers, the pilots observed speed limits and engaged cruise control wherever possible. No special fuel saving techniques were used.

It is important to understand that while conditions were kept as stable as possible for greater accuracy, long-term testing is required to truly determine the impact of tires on fuel consumption, as the results of this test could be affected by changes in barometric pressure, temperature, etc.

(The higher the number, the better)

The global tire market is occupied by three giants - Michelin, Bridgestone, and Goodyear. Every year they very quickly leave behind small firms and their numbers are continuously decreasing. But, despite this, many companies still take a strong position, trying to develop more and more advanced tires. One can note the emergence of products available in the price segment coming from the countries of South Korea, as well as Malaysia or Indonesia.

Are the savings justified or is it still worth giving preference to the leaders Michelin and Pirelli, which can boast of truly reliable and wear-resistant tires, whose rubber is durable and reliable? What main criteria should be taken into account when choosing?

Pirelli tire options for the winter season

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Pirelli decided to update the rubber and now it has become better in composition, since it contains a mixture of carbon rubber mixed with silicone. This has a positive effect on the movement of cars, especially in winter, more precisely in severe frosts.

Thanks to the presence of a special elastic and at the same time soft briquette belt, which is located under the tread pattern, contact with the road surface is significantly improved. Drivers note a significant improvement when driving a car; it skids less in snowy weather.
The tires are reliable and of high quality, and this has not only been tested by time, but also by the TÜV SÜD commission. Pirelli received the appropriate quality certificate.

Summer also makes its own adjustments. The products are produced in Italy and are intended for true gourmets and connoisseurs of beauty. When driving on dry asphalt, the tires are quick to respond, but lack precision. For drivers who have excellent vehicle control while sliding, this will not be a problem, since the tread depth is 8.1 mm

On wet roads the tires are very quiet. The reactions are completely balanced, everything is clear and streamlined in trajectory control. Tires from Italy are not 10% able to resist hydroplaning; significant losses are observed during rolling. There is also a significant advantage: the wet braking distance is short; the car will quickly stop in case of an emergency.

Michelin tires in cold weather

Michelin has long been the market leader in directional friction velcro tires. To create it, outdated technologies were used, but despite this, thanks to the changed tread characteristics, the company became a leader.

The total number of edges that cling to the snow has been increased by 40%, the lamellas have a length of more than 75%. The tires have a tread depth of 7.4 mm. Their main characteristics can be called steering zero,” that is, the tires are straight. If obstacles unexpectedly appear on the road, your reactions will slow down and you may lose control. In rainy weather it is impossible to drive aggressively.

During turns, the front axle may drift and it may seem that several seconds are lost in order for the car to decide to carry out the command given by the driver. The advantage of Michelin is the absence of skidding during sudden braking. What are the dangers when driving? She simply doesn't exist!

The tires are characterized by a quiet ride; while driving, the budget car rushes along the highway almost silently. And another important point is energy saving, which is achieved due to low rolling resistance and, as a result, significant savings in fuel resources are noted, and this is better than that of competitors.

Unfortunately, aquaplaning is bad, since the rubber practically does not cope with its task, that is, removing water from the contacts of the spot. Michelin has many more advantages than disadvantages, which means it can be called better than Pirelli in all respects.

Formula -1: what will be chosen?

So, it will soon become clear which tire supplier Formula 1 will choose for the coming years 2017-1019, since the future of the sport will largely depend on this. So, two companies act as the main suppliers, namely Pirelli and Michelin.

Pirelli: what is their philosophy?

They create unique tires that have increased wear so that drivers can make about two or three pit stops during a long race. The company produces 13-inch wheels, it is worth noting that they are not easy to see on Vehicle Oh. This fact criticized Pirelli's main competitor Michelin.

Michelin: supernova speed?

Michelin told a wide audience that they are ready to again participate and assist in the work of Formula 1, but subject to a number of conditions. Firstly, the French want Formula 1 to start using summer tires, allowing pilots to cover long distances for a long time with reduced tire wear.

Secondly, there were wishes to use 18-inch wheels instead of 13-inch ones with low profile tires, it is present in many vehicles traveling on city highways.

Be that as it may, 13-inch wheels look a little old, which means that the issue is simply a matter of aesthetic perception, although we should not forget about increasing speed, which means a larger diameter is still necessary.

Summer is a hot time and at all times the quality of tires has been in the first place, this especially applies to Formula 1, since the heat significantly affects their performance. Now the emphasis is on entertainment. When polling viewers, the answer was the same, since they are more focused on unpredictability and dramatic plot.

The tire issue is becoming more and more relevant every day, since it is unclear whether the company called Michelin will remain, as before, the supplier for Formula 1 or its place will be taken by someone else. The management made it clear that they were ready to make contact and conclude an agreement for the supply of tires, but only if their terms were accepted. The main difference between products manufactured by Michelin can be called quality and reliability, since before release they undergo many tests and only after that they go on sale, quality is above all, because the further outcome of Formula 1 will depend on it.

By comparison, Michelin has a slightly different concept than its competitor. She tries to reduce entertainment and give preference to professionalism. Tires must be of high quality from a technical point of view, because summer attracts large crowds of fans to the stadiums who are so hungry for spectacles!

Is quick-wash rubber really necessary?

It is planned to create durable, rather than quickly degradable, rubber, which will further protect the riders. The latter will be focused on winning, and not constantly think about how not to crash or fly off the track due to worn out tires. In any case, rubber rupture is possible, but not as much as with Pirelli tires. The tires here are excellent and are not inferior to competitors.

Most fans will be glad to see the return of French tires, but they do not deny the fact that the excitement of the race will immediately decrease several times. Pirelli quick-wash tires are a must, because in this case the truly worthy will win, the one who can withstand the road and at the same time strives for a leading position.

Thanks to the fact that cars systematically leave the track over the past few years, Formula1 ratings have increased significantly. Unfortunately, real Michelin tires cannot receive as much love and respect from fans as competitors’ tires, which means they are better, but not in the quality category, but in terms of entertainment.

General characteristics

Both world-famous organizations produce tires of various types, ranging from simple tires intended for passenger vehicles to professional tires for racing and trucks. For example, Michelin summer tires are created in several series, among which are Energy, as well as Pilot and Latitude or Primacy. The company tries to design them in such a way that the operational features of a particular vehicle are taken into account.

If you look at the Latitude series, it is intended for crossovers or minivans, Energy is more suitable for cars driving on city highways, luxury vehicles must be “shod” in Primacy.

Tires for drivers with different types of driving

Both manufacturers produce high-quality tires that meet all standards of stability during maneuvers on wet road surfaces, as well as in dry and sunny weather. The same applies to wear resistance, it is at top level and it’s better to take this into account, because summer is just around the corner and it’s important to prepare the car in advance for long runs in the warm season.

The differences are that Michelin tire models are purchased by separate consumer groups. Pirelli is preferred by drivers who cannot imagine themselves without fast ride and are guided not to change tires for a long time, because they know that this company makes them “to last forever” and can last for a long time.

It turns out that the tires, going into the summer, are created with additional rigidity and have a compacted frame, which reduces heating during fast movement on city roads and highways. The tire tread is designed with a pattern that effectively removes water from the point where it comes into contact with the road.

Michelin is preferred by drivers who like a relaxed type of driving. The tires have soft rubber, the frame is created in such a way that the car is able to move smoothly and measuredly. The tread pattern drains water, and the car moves very quietly, almost silently, which is good news.

What to give preference to?

Michelin is distinguished by comfort and low compressibility, and Pirelli, despite its smaller thickness, positions itself as a quality brand, that is, both brands are good, but for a separate group of consumers. Regardless of the driving mode, the tires will perform equally well in all road conditions.

The driver must decide for himself what to choose, guided by his own driving style. For example, in the United States of America, owners passenger cars they unanimously say that Michelin is the ideal brand. This data was taken from research by J.D. Power and Associates. The main topic that was studied was the satisfaction of vehicle drivers. Owners of large cars said that, in their opinion, Pirelli is better in this regard, since it is summer.

In addition, Michelin also gained leading positions in the sports, standard and luxury segments. The survey was conducted with an audience of thousands of drivers of all types of cars to obtain accurate answers.

J.D. In order to get the necessary answers, Power took into account such criteria as: movement and its quality, the nature of the grip, wear resistance and external characteristics. To determine which tires are better, since it’s already summer, from the options offered, you need to take into account your own preferences and seek help from specialists.