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What good is 200 HP if you don't get a single HP on the road? And who said a few inches more or less didn't matter? In an emergency stop, a few centimeters can make the difference between “everything is good” and “everything is stupid”. What is particularly noticeable when cornering in summer, the grip level of a tire, is even more important in winter. That is why the legislature has also introduced the obligation to use appropriate tires in the StVo:
Since 2010 the StVO keeps more precise information Winter tires are mandatory ready in Germany. The law prescribes winter tires or tires which comply with Directive 92 / 23 / EEC must be used when "black ice, snow fall, slush, ice or frosted ice" prevails (§ 2 paragraph 3a StVO).
Winter tires - another important topic in 2018/19
We at autohub.de drive around 80.000 km per year on our own axis. That we switch to winter tires in winter is completely normal for us. It does not just belong to the good sound, we also like to learn the advantages and disadvantages of different tires. Summer, like winters. Usually, our test cars have already got the right tires mounted by the manufacturer. It is exciting to find out which preferences the manufacturers maintain. For our own fleet we usually equip the vehicles with test tires in cooperation with the tire manufacturers. This year, the choice fell on the new:
NOKIAN WR SUV 3 in size 265 / 65-17
This was mounted on our editorial Ford Ranger. The pick-up has a 5-cylinder diesel with 200 hp and is rear-wheel drive in everyday life. Drivers of all-wheel drive vehicles in particular tend to believe that all-wheel drive replaces the right tire.
In this constellation, we pay particular attention to the factors of comfort, especially rolling comfort and noise, braking distances in snow and aquaplaning behavior. There is grip anyway in a SUBARU with permanent all-wheel drive - more important are therefore the “soft factors”, the points that you do not immediately feel when you “drive off” for the first time.
TEST: NOKIAN WR SUV 3
Traction and safety - the first 3.000 kilometers with the NOKIAN WR SUV 3
You have to retract tires. At least 500 kilometers, only then is a first assessment. What struck me from the beginning was the ride comfort of the
NOKIAN WR SUV 3 - both in the noise and in the self-cushioning comfort of the tire, you can feel the massive progress in tire development, which, although all tires are still black and round, are made from year to year.
A coarse and big tire like the NOKIAN WR SUV can not be denied acoustically, but compared to the hard MT tires of the original equipment, the winter tire is simply an acoustic treat.
Special features of a four-wheel drive vehicle
Winter tires on a four-wheel drive vehicle require a changed view of the tire. Since grip is always present, one must pay particular attention to the test in the snow, the cornering forces and the teeth during braking. Our test vehicle, the FORD Ranger model year 2018, with the 200 PS five-cylinder diesel engine drives in everyday life purely by rear wheel drive. A tire with a clear liability limit is particularly necessary. The lightly loaded rear axle with empty cargo area presents itself on smooth roads as a special challenge for each tire.
The NOKIAN WR SUV 3 impressed with what felt like a safety gain on the first snow of the year. When cornering in the snow, the tire fully exploits the advantages of the technology NOKIAN calls “TwinTrac”.
The Nokian profile also convinces in important disciplines. In heavy rain and wet roads, the NOKIAN WR SUV 3 scores with very good aquaplaning behavior. Effective drainage of water from the treads provides security and a controllable steering feel.
To solve the contradictions in the tires between cold and dry road and snow or wet as best as possible, the NOKIAN tire developers rely on a silica mixture.
Is the NOKIAN WR SUV 3 a Buy recommendation?
Absolutely. Even if, of course, a premium tire always costs more than a “cheap tire”. However, from our point of view and the, outweigh the advantages NOKIAN WR SUV 3 is in the free online tire trade in our dimension from around 140 € been available. And that's what comfort and safety are definitely worth to us!
