The best mid-level winter tires 205/55 R16

Harsh winters are rare in South Korea. However, the Korean "breed" tire Nexen Winguard Ice Plus is perfectly suited for winter driving conditions and will not let you down on slippery roads.

The model uses a popular technique with a symmetrical tread pattern of a directional structure. The double V-shaped tread pattern is designed to ensure confident movement on loose and packed snow. The balance of the tire's grip on snowy surfaces is guaranteed by multiple three-dimensional sipes that stripe the tread blocks. With this type of pattern, the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus should also perform well on ice, but the test results from the Finnish Test World in 2020 say the opposite - on icy roads, the tire shows weak lateral and longitudinal grip. And on dry and wet asphalt, its braking distance was longer than that of some other test subjects.

The tire's drainage system consists of annular zigzag channels and diagonal grooves converging toward the center. It quickly and effectively removes water and snow slush from the contact patch, thereby increasing resistance to aquaplaning and slushplaning. The V-shaped grooves in the shoulder blocks increase the endurance of the shoulders and improve the stability of the car when cornering.

What the tire will definitely please is the high level of driving comfort. On the shelves of tire stores, the model is also presented under the name of the related brand Roadstone. At the same time, it has no differences from the original Nexen. The tire is produced in popular passenger car sizes for the landing diameter of wheels from R13 to R19.

For the mild weather conditions of European winters, the Japanese tire vendor Yokohama has a remarkable friction model, the BluEarth Winter V906.

The tire was rolled out in 2020, replacing its sister model, the V905.. The tire protector is made in a symmetrical directional design Harmony Tread with V-shaped smooth drainage channels. They effectively drain water and melted snow masses, thereby preventing the risk of the car breaking into aquaplaning and slushplaning.

The tire tread blocks are located at angles relative to the wheel rotation vector. The tire literally “bites” into the slippery road with sharp edges of the blocks, and additional grip is provided by multiple three-dimensional sipes in the tread elements. At the same time, Yokohama BluEarth Winter V906 can boast excellent transmission of traction and braking properties.

The rubber compound of the model contains an increased proportion of silica and is mixed using the proprietary ART (Advanced Reaction Technology) technology, which improves the elasticity of the compound in a wide range of outside temperatures. The use of Yokohama rubber allows you to minimize fuel consumption and reduce harmful exhaust emissions. And most importantly, the tire has a long service life before the tread wears out.

Japanese friction rubber Toyo Observe S944 replaced the 943 model from the Snowprox line. In the brand's tire hierarchy, it has risen one step from the advanced entry-level segment to the solid middle class of winter tires.

Among the visible innovations, the tire has gotten rid of the central continuous stiffening rib. Its tread pattern is made in a symmetrical directional V-shaped design. The tire's tread consists of many small blocks that are placed at different angles relative to the vehicle's axis of motion. This ensures the formation of a large number of sharp gripping edges, complemented by abundant lamellaization of the tread elements.

The tire demonstrates excellent traction on snowy roads, holds tenaciously on snow and wet asphalt. But its braking distance in wet weather conditions can be increased - this is how the model showed itself in the independent testing of winter tires according to the methodology of the German publication Auto Motor und Sport in 2020. For the other tested factors, the tire received high scores.

The Toyo Observe S944 uses the proprietary "recipe" of the Nano Balance rubber compound. The compound of the model provides for an increased content of silica and natural rubber. What does this give in practice? At a minimum, the elasticity of the rubber compound is maintained in a wide range of temperatures, the level of rolling resistance is reduced and the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere is reduced.

At the beginning of 2022, the range of winter friction tires from Hankook was expanded with the balanced I*Cept RS3 W462 model. And here's what's good about it.

The tire has an inverted V-shaped tread design, which is highly effective on snow, wet roads and dry asphalt. What does "inverted" mean? The tread pattern in the tire is supplemented with diagonal cuts directed in the opposite order relative to the placement of the main drainage grooves. This scheme is used to enhance the traction and braking properties of rubber on snow.

The zigzag three-dimensional lamellas, which are tightly cut in the functional blocks of the tread, are aimed at improving the tire's grip qualities. The model quickly responds to steering wheel turns and ensures fast braking in emergency situations on winter roads. Additional small grooves along the edges of the tire's main drainage channels are responsible for the car's lateral stability in snowy turns.

The tasks of removing water, dirt and melted snow from the contact patch of the tire with the road surface are assigned to a developed drainage network with profiled water grooves. The rubber quickly self-cleans, preventing the possibility of the car breaking into aquaplaning. The compound of the model is prepared according to a special recipe with the addition of coniferous tree oil. This means that the tire does not lose elasticity at low negative temperatures of the outside air.

The Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance G1 tire belongs to the guard of non-studded models of the European type for use in the cold season. The model "steers" well, tenaciously holds onto icy and snowy roads, and effectively brakes on them. But let's talk about everything in order.

The tire's tread is divided into three parts: a V-shaped "middle" and extended shoulder zones. They are separated by two circumferential aquadrainage channels, which are adjoined by multiple smaller grooves. The medium segment of the tire's contact patch is formed from a huge number of smaller-sized blocks. With their sharp edges, the tire literally "bites" into the slippery road. The model's grip is also "pumped up" by 3D-BIS lamellas with pyramidal protrusions and depressions on the surface of the walls.

When braking, the tire tread blocks change their shape to provide the largest possible contact area with the road surface. In practice, this results in high braking efficiency. And the long transverse blocks in the shoulder areas of the tires increase the stability of the car when maneuvering and making sharp turns.

In the central part of the tire tread there is a small "tattoo" in the form of a snowflake. With a residual tread depth of about 4 mm, it is completely erased, which is a signal of the tire's unsuitability for further use in winter. The disadvantages of the model include a relatively small potential mileage (in comparison with venerable peers), but in general, the Goodyear Ultra Grip Performance G1 receives nothing but praise from its owners.