General – Altimax Arctic The Altimax Arctic has unique grooves and sipes, combined with a modern compound, offering high performance at low temperatures. Its innovative Quad-Tech Smart Tire Technology provides improved handling and exceptional traction on snow and ice. It also features a multi-angle sipe system with 270 degrees of sipes and biting edges that maximizes traction in any direction of travel. The directional tread pattern with its centre stability rib provides enhanced straight-line stability and water evacuation, while the Reactive Contour Technology reacts to different road conditions to maintain optimum contact with the road surfaces. And of course, its silica tread composite allows for cold-weather flexibility for increased snow and ice performance.
Goodyear – Ultra Grip Ice WRT The Ultra Grip Ice WRT stops shorter on ice versus its leading competitors, thanks to a specialized ice tread compound that offers enhanced traction on snow- and ice-covered roads from season to season, as well as its two-dimensional blades in the centre zone of the tire that provide increased stopping and starting power on ice and snow. Add to that the 3D TredLock technology blades in the shoulder that provide wet and winter traction by locking together for confident grip in the corners and a directional tread pattern that channels away water and slush. Hankook – I*Pike RS The new I*Pike RS from Hankook is the next generation of studdable winter tire, packed with advanced technologies to enhance performance and drivability. Some key design features include 3D grooves and sipes which offer efficient water evacuation and maximum braking and handling, innovative spuit holes which perform by absorbing and evacuating water from the tire`s contact patch, and an aggressive 2-in1 tread block design to provide increased snow traction. Hankook has also optimized the stud pin arrangement used in the design of this tire to include 16 stud rows, ensuring effective braking and handling on icy surfaces. A two-layered “Snow Tread Design” tread structure helps to secure the pins. And by placing the stud rows closer to the tire’s centre compared to conventional studdable tires, they are able to offer superior ice grip.
Kumho – WinterCraft ICE Wi31 An advanced new stud design gives the WinterCraft ICE Wi31 an exceptionally quiet hold on the ice and snow. The wide turbine studs provide excellent snow clearance, in a low profile design that cuts road noise dramatically. Excellent braking and acceleration on ice, through advanced stud design and placement. Enhanced winter grip from the 3D honeycomb sipes. Engineered for cold traction with a high-dispersion compound.
Michelin – X-ICE® Xi3™ The MICHELIN® X-ICE® Xi3™ tire provides ultimate winter confidence over many kilometres, enabling you and your loved ones to fully embrace winter even in the harshest conditions. This third generation X-ICE® winter tire provides the necessary traction to safely overcome extreme winter conditions featuring Cross Z Sipes™, Micro-Pumps, and the FleX-Ice™ compound. The MICHELIN® X-ICE® Xi3™ tire provides winter performance that lasts for 60,000 kilometres with Michelin MaxTouch Construction™ which features a unique contact patch shape - maximizing even and longer tread life. The MICHELIN® X-ICE® Xi3™ is also designed to be environmentally friendly to help reduce fuel consumption in addition to having excellent winter grip and long lasting tread life.
Nexen – WinGuard Sport Winter driving and long mileage performance are raised to the next level with the WinGuard Sport. Its high-density multi-sipe elevates grip for braking on icy and snowy roads, simultaneously increasing longevity. Snowy or dry traction and cornering are improved with the asymmetric tread. Large wide grooves effectively drain water for anti-hydroplaning performance.
38 CARS PLUS MAGAZINE OCT/NOV 2016