Tire markings. Explanation (tread wear indicator, color marks, etc.) Part 2.

Nokian summer tires

Nokian summer tires are distinguished by many positive qualities that are inherent in modern tires.
High-quality grip on the road surface and environmental composition ensure that rubber can be used in any climate conditions and at any latitude. Based on customer reviews, summer tires perform well on hot road surfaces, even if the air temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius. Nokian car tires

Note!

These tires are not afraid of slight ice and wet roads, so they can be used even in the autumn season.

The grooves between the blocks of the shoulder area of ​​Nokian summer tires have a special arrangement. Thanks to the unique shape of the rubber, drainage water is easily carried out, and in places where the grooves narrow, throttling occurs. As a result of this phenomenon, water does not stagnate, but is effectively removed from the top of the wheel, which allows maximum hydroplaning to be achieved even at speeds of 100 km/h. The main advantages of Nokian summer tires include the following:

• excellent grip on wet road surfaces;
• noiselessness.

As for the disadvantages, they are represented by a short service life, not exceeding 5 seasons, and a soft sidewall that can be easily punctured. That is why experienced motorists strongly discourage driving over curbs.

Parameters and size of brand summer tires

Nokian summer tires are distinguished by good grip, safe braking distance, and excellent functionality even at high air temperatures. As for the optimized pattern, which is applied by the manufacturer, it is necessary for driving at high speed on wet roads.

Important!

It is strictly forbidden to use Nokian summer car tires in the winter season, since their properties are lost in winter. The wheels become tanned and become unsuitable for driving on ice and snow.

Nokian summer tires

When purchasing tires from a Finnish manufacturer, you need to pay attention to the tread pattern, because only an asymmetrical pattern and deep grooves located on the sides and in the center can help achieve normal grip. For driving on dry asphalt, it is recommended to give preference only to those Nokian tires that have a V-shaped pattern, and tires with round blocks are suitable for the following soft surfaces:

• country roads;
• off-road;
• dirt roads.

You might be interested in this About studding winter tires

With the help of numerous test drives, experts have established that Nokian car tires are resistant to water - this allows you to confidently drive on a 15 mm layer of liquid at a speed of 90 km/h. As for the length of the braking distance in a particular emergency situation, it is 30 m.

By appearance

This method is the easiest, but it will not provide one hundred percent results. Its essence is a visual inspection of tires. There are a number of factors that unmistakably indicate that they can no longer be used:

• If the rubber shows cuts, cracks and other defects.
• The tread shows uneven wear, when one area is in normal condition, and the other is completely worn down to the cord layer.
• Worn inner part of tires - sometimes it can touch some element of the car and wear off.
• The presence of lumps also indicates that the degree of wear is higher than acceptable.

Workers at service stations and tire shops, and even some motorists, are able to detect the level of tread wear by eye, determining its approximate height.

Winter tire wear

As a rule, tires wear out less, as it may seem, in winter. At least, this is what an inexperienced car owner who has not yet driven more or less actively through his first winter might think. Here it is very important to pay attention to the fact that the factors of tire wear during winter are no less than in summer, despite the fact that the roads, it seems, should be covered with snow.

Due to the fact that they are regularly cleaned, there are constantly chemicals, salt and sand on the road, which have an extremely negative impact on the condition of the rubber. It is impossible to wash it all the time, and all these factors have the strongest impact while driving on the road. We recommend: How to easily unscrew the crankshaft pulley - simple instructions

The biggest danger is that in winter you can use a larger number of types of rubber, which you can buy in the ShiniCom.ru store, and it does not always “hit” exactly at the moment of use. So, for example, the owner of an SUV can “shod” the car in studded tires for a trip outside the city, where he will have to deal with real snow drifts and drive on ice.

However, upon returning, he encounters a snow-cleared and freshly treated road, covered with a mess of pieces of ice, snow, sand and chemical reagents. In addition, the low quality of asphalt greatly contributes to the loss of studs. So the driver can cope with this situation without significantly compromising the integrity of the tires only if he uses a very careful and high-quality driving style, which does not happen often.

Winter tires wear out the most if the driver does not have experience or specially learned and practiced winter steering skills. In this case, he is almost guaranteed to end up in skids, too long braking, in dangerous situations that will require him to make emergency braking, which even in the snow leads to the tires wearing out significantly and losing their studs or breaking small sipes. Snow and especially ice can cause damage that is more similar to hitting dangerous hard objects such as bottles or nails on the road.

Proper warming up of the engine and starting the chassis also leads to minimal wear and tear, which saves the car from frequently having to slip. When the wheel turns in one place, it heats up and experiences a lot of friction against snow particles, as a result of which it wears out very much.

Technologies in Nokian tires

Nokian is known as a major innovator in the tire industry. To introduce new technologies, the Finnish brand uses its own laboratories and engineering resources. Nokian rubber is the product of careful research, detailed development and multi-level testing. On the manufacturer's official website you can find detailed information about the tests carried out on Nokian tires and the stage-by-stage work of engineers.

The Nokian tire model range includes a number of tires with the well-known puncture-free Run Flat technology. To ensure safety, the manufacturer has proposed a new DSI wear indicator. In addition, Nokia tires from the winter line are equipped with a patented anchor stud in the form of a hexagon. The official website of Nokia tires describes in detail the technology of placing a stud in a hole with the same geometry, which guarantees its stability.

The innovative technologies in Nokian tires can be described for hours. The aquaplaning indicator located on the sidewall of all new tire models deserves special mention. Air shock absorbers in Nokian tires contribute to comfortable driving. The rubber mixture uses natural oils from Scandinavian coniferous trees, which increases the environmental friendliness of the tires.

According to the manufacturer's official website, Nokia tires are created with improved environmental friendliness, fuel efficiency, safety and comfort. The Finnish concern also strives to create original technologies that its competitors are unable to replicate.

Let's shake the air - “general” phrases.

Also see on our new website Part 2. (winter season 2012 – 2013)

The production of rubber products in the Finnish city of Nokia began in 1904, the production of tires began in 1925 (bicycle) and 1932 (car). In 1936, the first tire of the Hakkapeliitta series was born - the first winter tire in the world.

As a separate company, Nokian Renkaat was formed in 1988 by spinning off from the Nokia conglomerate (since 1967, Nokian was its “rubber” division). Now Nokia (which has become a major mobile phone manufacturer) has nothing to do with Nokian.

In 2003, the Japanese company Bridgestone, which owns more than 60% of the shares, became Nokian's largest shareholder.

In 2004, the project began to build a plant in Russia, in Vsevolozhsk, near St. Petersburg. The project was given a quick start and construction work began immediately. The first Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires were released in June 2005.

This is the official version. To put it simply, everything happened like this: Nokian (since 1932) made good tires, especially winter and studded ones. The tires were intended for the Scandinavian market; a certain number of tires were also sold in continental Europe. But!

• None of the world tire brands considered Nokian as a serious competitor;
• Nokian has never been a leader in the production of summer tires.

Nokian was lucky (as we know, those who help themselves are lucky) - after the collapse of the USSR, “new Russians” (primarily from St. Petersburg and Moscow) got the opportunity to join the “delights of Western civilization” and the flow of Russian tourists in the early 90s was an avalanche walked across Europe, sweeping off the shelves everything that was not available to them before. Finland also suffered, especially since St. Petersburg and Helsinki are only 380 km away. This is how Finnish tires, among other goods, came to Russia.

Good winter tires, inexpensive winter tires, high-quality winter tires... Nokian tires were inexpensive (relatively inexpensive), their quality was very high and there was no question of any summer tires! Inexpensive, high-quality goods made in Finland - what else do people need for absolute happiness? Nokian winter tires quickly gained popularity in both capitals, and from there the fashion for them spread to the provinces (including Ukraine).

After the collapse of the USSR, 250 million people got the opportunity to buy imported goods, respectively, foreign manufacturers received 250 million not very sophisticated and not very demanding consumers. Other goods included tires. For various reasons (successful geographical location, low price with high quality, specialization in “Scandinavian” type winter tires, etc.), it was Nokian products that our compatriots began to associate with the standard of winter tires.

The money earned by the company was profitably invested - the plant in Russia today is the largest production site for Nokian, which is not surprising - today the main sales market for them is Russia and Ukraine (this is according to official data, and if you take into account the huge scale Nokian smuggling from Europe, the CIS becomes almost the only market for their products, besides Scandinavia). Russia has significantly lower labor costs than Finland, more tolerant environmental legislation, etc.

And then Nokian suffered - the highest prices on the market and not only for winter tires, but also for summer ones, the chain of retail stores "VIANOR", huge quantities of tires in which these stores were choking, a sea of ​​aggressive advertising (including through test results in Russian automobile publications that raise doubts about their objectivity). Plans to build a plant in Ukraine and even in Kazakhstan (on the basis of the destroyed plant in Chimkent). With all this, we should not forget that an increasing number of “Finnish” tires had the inscription “Made in Russia” on the sidewall and an increasing number of customers paid attention to this.

As a result, fewer and fewer tires were sold and more and more were produced. I won’t talk about Russia (the situation there is unknown to me), but in Ukraine this year it is almost impossible to buy Nokian (especially in large sizes) produced in 2010. Even “VIANOR” (officially representing Nokian) mainly offer their customers 2008 tires (sometimes 2009) year of release. Many Ukrainian companies that collaborated with Nokian in 2007-2008, and later were not included in the VIANOR system, still continue to sell tires produced in those years. A huge number (thousands) of tires produced in 2006 - 2008. entered Ukraine from Poland. All this has been mixed up, as a result of which today different sellers can offer absolutely identical tires at a price that may differ, for example, by two times.

Reasons for rapid wear

Mid-priced tires can usually last from 2 to 4 seasons. It all depends on wear factors. Among them are the following:

1) Aggressive driving on hard surfaces, using drift to negotiate turns. This is the most destructive factor for tires - the tread wears off very quickly, which can lead to an accident.

2) Driving at high speed follows from the previous factor and puts more stress on the tires, which ultimately significantly reduces their service life.

3) Poor quality rubber composition. Everyone can be careful, but sometimes careful driving doesn't help prevent tire wear. The reason for this is cheap and low-quality tires. Modern high-tech tire compounds have an extended service life. Therefore, you should not buy protectors without first reading customer reviews - 5 minutes spent looking at information about the tire model on the Internet can save a lot of time and money in the future.

4) Exceeding the permissible load on the tires. When a car is loaded to capacity, it affects not only its suspension system, but also its treads. The more the car weighs, the more friction the tires experience. While driving, friction is minimal, but when it comes to emergency braking or pulling away, everything changes dramatically. In these cases, the tread wears off much faster if the car is loaded to the top.

5) Violation of tire pressure standards also negatively affects the treads. Too low a pressure can lead to cracks on the sidewalls, too high - increases the load on the entire plane of the rubber.

6) Skipping the tire break-in period is a common mistake among inexperienced drivers. Do not immediately overload the tires with high speed and aggressive driving; this will ensure longer service life for them.

Reviews

What are the reviews from real motorists? We will present two of them.

Leonid L. from Stavropol: “I drove Hakka Green for two seasons, without getting out from behind the wheel for days. There are no hernias or significant wear. On asphalt the tires are very quiet, only a slight buzz can be heard. If you don’t accelerate and drive adequately, these tires will last for several seasons.”

Alexandra N. from Moscow: “I installed Nokian Haka7 for the winter. The cost, in modern times, is more or less adequate, friends also responded well. What can I say, the tires did not disappoint. They hold the road confidently, there are no drifts. The only remark is that the sidewall is rather weak for our roads. However, where Nokian is produced, they probably don’t know about them.”

Briefly about the main thing

First of all, in view of the above, a reasonable question arises: can rubber, the development of which was carried out more than ten years ago, really be called modern? As it turned out, quite, because many of the discoveries and conclusions made at that time are still used in the elite series from this manufacturer.

First of all, the Finns tried to adapt their tires as much as possible for the harsh winter conditions that are so familiar to a large number of car enthusiasts. Therefore, to the question: “Where is Nokian Nordman 5 produced?” you can confidently answer: “In Russia, closer to real operating conditions.” It is designed for confident passage on any type of winter road surface, be it icy asphalt or slushy snow on the ground. And its strength should be enough to cope with collisions with various obstacles that may be encountered on the roads. Is this really so, the reviews that we will turn to at the end of the article will tell you.

All-season tires for passenger cars

It is also worth considering all-season passenger tires. Universal tires have appeared on the tire market for a relatively long time, and as sales figures show, they are quite popular among motorists. First of all, this is due to a certain fact of saving money, because when purchasing such tires, there is no need to purchase a second set.

The best all-season passenger car tires for all types of vehicle drive. Models with an aggressive tread pattern are ideal for driving not only on asphalt, but also off-road. A good tire should combine reliability and stable stability while driving as additional advantages. The pressure inside the wheel is distributed in such a way that the tire has an optimal spot size at the point of adhesion to the road surface.

It's time to sum up a little. As positive reviews about all-season tires show, motorists who drive such a set of tires are satisfied with the purchase. And to understand whether it is possible to drive on all-season tires all year round, you need to take into account several factors: climatic conditions and driving style. Such tires are absolutely not suitable for aggressive driving; they are also not suitable for operation in very negative temperatures or driving on hot asphalt.

There are still drivers who believe that all-season tires are a universal option for any weather and any time of year. Typically, such drivers simply do not think about the fact that the characteristics of tires for summer and winter are very different, and all-season tires are no exception to this rule.

Nokian tire classification

The Finnish organization, as befits all worthy manufacturers, produces tires for all seasons. Each class of tires has individual characteristics and is manufactured using different technologies.

Features of winter tires

Winter tires for cars from Nokian are famous for their strictly positive reviews. It is worth noting that the process of making this type of tire is completely different from creating summer tires. The range of winter tires includes a huge selection of rubber, but not all of it is studded. But absolutely each of the tires has unique properties. In the rubber manufacturing process, lamella technology is used, thanks to which the car stops smoothly during braking, without changing its direction. It is because of this that skidding when braking is almost impossible.

It is even interesting that non-studded tires can boast of such good grip as many studded tires from other manufacturers. Winter tires from the Finnish company proudly take first place in the European market and never lose in quality to their analogues. Of course, winter tires from Nokian are quite expensive, but this price is justified by the quality. If the driver loves his car and respects maintaining a clean environment, then purchasing such tires will be the best decision.

Characteristics of summer tires

Absolutely every summer tire from the Nokian manufacturer has unique technical parameters that will ensure the best road travel with maximum comfort. Among the wide range of tires, the overwhelming majority of summer tires have excellent durability, wear resistance and strength. These tires are not afraid of mechanical deformations.

Such durability and strength of rubber is achieved thanks to a special composition that is used during the manufacture of the product. The composition includes absorbent gel, rubber and silica. This is only a small part of the known ingredients, since the rest is strictly classified. Still, the average driver should not bother with the detailed manufacturing process. The most important thing is the best performance of the tires, even during constant use on the road. The tires grip the road perfectly in all weather conditions. This is facilitated by the excellent tread profile, coupled with excellent quality materials. Each model of summer tires at the beginning of the manufacturing process can be designed and formed with an individual pattern. Next, with the help of computer programs, the tire is optimized for the conditions of use.

In some countries, motorists use this tire even in the winter season, provided that there are no snowdrifts or ice on the roads. Of course, in our country it’s better not to take such risks, because Russian winters are much harsher than in other countries, and the quality of roads leaves much to be desired. The main advantage of summer tires from the Finnish manufacturer is durability. These tires can be used for at least five years.

Nokian studs are one of the most effective in the world

The effectiveness of Nordman 7's grip on slippery roads is ensured by a unique stud. The Nokian company has supplied its rubber with several of its own developments, which have proven themselves well on more expensive models.

The tire stud has:

• Anchor fastening. Holds the metal part firmly in the socket using an extended flange.
• Air Claw technology. Near each stud in the rubber there are 3 small depressions through which air penetrates, creating an air cushion. Thanks to this, the stud is in soft contact with the road surface, creating less noise.
• Shock-absorbing cushion. Inside the tire, under each stud, there is a soft rubber insert. It helps to securely hold the part in the seat and ensure smooth operation during sudden maneuvers.
• Bear claw technology. Keeps the spike in a vertical position, which allows you to start without slipping, brake faster and make it easier to control the car on ice and snow.

Spikes on Nokian Nordman 7

The eight-row stud is symmetrically located on both sides of the central axis of the wheel. A carefully thought-out place for each stud allows you to reduce their number, which means reducing the noise and weight of the rubber without compromising grip.

Tread height

The best way to determine tire wear is to use a caliper. It will allow you to know exactly how high the tread is. A ruler with a depth gauge or other tool is also suitable for these purposes.

To accurately understand how many millimeters are left and determine tire tread wear, it is recommended to measure the thickness in different areas, since the percentage of wear may be uneven. If all measured values ​​are greater than the minimum acceptable values, then the tires are still suitable for use.

If the value is less, then it is not recommended to continue operating the car with these tires, since they will not ensure safe driving, especially in emergency situations.

If you don’t have a caliper at hand, you can measure the tread height using a coin. It will allow you to understand how much height is left, but it does not guarantee the accuracy of measurements, but only allows you to roughly compare the indicators of uniformity/unevenness of rubber abrasion.

Types of tread wear indicators

Manufacturers solve the problem of label placement in different ways. First of all, they are located in different places.

• At the bottom of the grooves. This is the most common option.
• On tread blocks. Color identification is used here. It is not considered the most reliable method.
• On the sides. Primarily focused on the wear of shoulder blocks, it is often used on off-road tires.

Knowing where the indicator is located, it is much easier to find it.

In addition to location, there are different types of indicators. This must be taken into account so that you do not have to look for a non-existent mark.

• Tubercle. Usually located deep in the groove. Has the minimum height allowed for a specific type of tire. For summer tires the height will be 1.6 mm. The level of wear is easy to determine; if the groove is level with the tubercle, the tire should be replaced.
• Colored marks. The principle of operation is simple - to show that the tread block has worn down to a minimum value. Sometimes such indicators are erasable, in which case the mark is made to a certain depth. As soon as it disappears, it is worth changing the tires. Another option is a recessed mark; in this case, the colored mark appears only when the rubber before it is worn off, which indicates the tire has failed.
• Digital tags. They work similarly to color ones, but they use numerical values ​​that tell you how much tread depth is left. Valued by drivers who often travel long distances. Also, such marks allow you to determine the time of changing tires between axles.

The location of the mark can be found by the triangle on the sidewall. It shows where the indicator is located on the tread.

Types of tire wear

Numerous reasons that cause tire wear lead to a variety of its manifestations. As a rule, the following types are distinguished:

Normal Wear

It depends on the location of the wheel and manifests itself differently for each of them (front and rear). The tread changes that occur are shown in the figure below.

To correctly determine the condition of the tires, it is necessary to inspect all the wheels of the car. The reasons for such uneven wear will be clear from the figure.

The steered wheels experience significant lateral loads when cornering, causing wear on the sides to be higher. On the drive axle, rubber wear is higher in the middle, since this is where the interaction between the wheel and the road occurs to a greater extent. The picture below, which describes tire tread wear, is typical for a car with a classic drive. In a car with front-wheel drive, wear on the rear and front wheels occurs more evenly.

To avoid uneven tire wear, manufacturers recommend periodically changing the wheels together according to a certain pattern, for example, as shown in the figure.

A detailed scheme for rearranging wheels (rear and front) for a specific car brand is given in its operating manual.

One-sided wear shown in photo

Such uneven tire wear can be due to several reasons, but is usually associated with a violation of the suspension geometry. To accurately determine the causes of such uneven tread wear, it is necessary to check the alignment/camber. Tire wear on the outside is usually caused by excessive camber/toe, and on the inside - by negative camber/toe.

However, the possible reasons for this behavior of rubber are not limited to this. They can be caused by a lack of alignment or a defect in the axle shafts. In addition, cornering at higher speeds causes additional wear on the tires.

Bilateral and central wear

This is most often caused by incorrect tire pressure. If it is low (or the car is overloaded), then the contact area of ​​the wheel with the road increases and wear occurs along the edges. If, on the contrary, the pressure is increased, then the contact patch decreases and the rubber wears out mainly in the middle. So, if you check the tire pressure in a timely manner before your trip and do not overload the car, many problems can be avoided.

Wear around the circumference in several places or in patches

The source of numerous spots on the wheel will be its imbalance. First of all, this is typical for those of them that are located on the steering axis. Such a defect can be partially eliminated by balancing, but if the wheel has lost its shape, then even this will not help. If damage appears in the same places even after replacing it, then the reason is a faulty suspension (springs, levers, shock absorbers). So before installing any wheel, it is a good idea to check that it is properly balanced.

Damaged tires should not be used; this will affect traffic safety and the general technical condition of the vehicle. A single spot on the tread can be caused by emergency braking with locked wheels.

Sawtooth (comb) wear

What it looks like is shown in the figure

It appears most often on tires with block tread located on the drive axle. The reason for this is the deformation of the wheel surface upon contact with the road (the blocks are crushed and when the car moves, they are dragged along the surface, as a result of which some of them are simply pressed together). It is impossible to avoid such wear, but you can reduce the degree of its impact on the tires by swapping wheels.

Tire wear level indicator: implementation methods and possibilities

The tire wear level indicator is designed quite simply - it is a part of the tread that has a certain position and differs in shape and size from the main part of the tread. There are two main types of tire tread wear indicator:

• Volume (convex) indicators are a volumetric element that is usually located in the tread groove;
• Digital indicators - numbers and other figures embossed in the tread, having different depths;
• Indicators in the form of extruded strokes or other elements of varying depths.

Volume indicators are the simplest and most informative. As the tire wears out, the tread height decreases, and at some point it is compared with the height of the indicator - this indicates that the tire has critical wear and requires replacement. Many tires have not only main, but also intermediate indicators - aligning the tread height with these indicators warns the driver that he needs to be careful and take care of looking for new tires.

Digital indicators are pressed into the tread, and they have different depths: the largest number (usually “8”) has a shallower depth, the smallest (“2” for summer tires and “4” for winter) has the greatest depth. As the tires wear, the numbers disappear, and the largest remaining number indicates the current tread height. The disappearance of the last digit indicates that the tire is critically worn.

It should be noted that today there are three main types of digital indicators:

• Indicators with a series of numbers from “2” or “4” to “8”, markings are made in millimeters;
• Indicators with one segmented digit, made like the digits in electronic seven-segment indicators - each segment is extruded to a different depth, and as it wears, different digits appear. Markings are usually made in millimeters;
• Indicators with a series of numbers, markings are made as a percentage of the tread height.

Indicators pressed into the protector work in the same way as digital ones, but they are not always convenient, as they require decoding. Digital indicators are more convenient because they are intuitive, and therefore have become quite widespread.

One tire has several (usually six) wear indicators spaced evenly around the tread circumference. The location of the indicator is indicated by a special marking placed opposite the indicator in the shoulder area of ​​the tire. Tires from different manufacturers use different markings:

• A triangle with its apex pointing towards the tread;
• Abbreviation TWI (Tread wear indicator) with a triangle;
• Snowflake (usually on some brands of winter tires);
• Branded figures and logos (for example, Michelin tires use the recognizable Bibendum figure).

The presence of several indicators on one tire allows you to determine the uniformity of its wear, but the main thing that six indicators provide is the convenience of determining tread wear, regardless of the position of the wheel. If there was only one indicator, then finding its location and determining wear would be complicated and would require moving the car.

The lineup

For passenger cars

For SUVs

For light trucks and minibuses

How to determine the wear level of tires using an indicator?

Hello everyone, dear motorists! Any normal driver strives to drive a car not only with the maximum level of comfort, but also safety. This criterion is directly influenced by the steering and braking system, as well as the quality of car tires. And we have already discussed which tires are better to buy, friction or studded, for the winter, and we talked about the advisability of buying all-season tires. The degree of wear plays an important role; in determining it, a tire wear indicator can be a good assistant - what it is and where it can be found, we’ll talk in today’s publication.

Classification of Continental tire indicators

In order to correctly determine tire wear, it is necessary to systematically inspect the corresponding marks located on the sidewall of the tread of the Continental tire:

1. Triangle;
2. Trademark sign;
3. Company `s logo.

One of these signs is the main indicator of tire wear, but in addition, the Continental company has provided an intermediate wear indicator, the erasure of which signals the disappearance of the optimal technical characteristics of the “rubber” when in contact with a wet surface. Reviews from professional drivers indicate that this situation is the most unsafe in adverse weather conditions on the road.

The Continental company also places on the surface of its products special indicators for visual adjustment of correct wear, which are paired grooves located on both sides of the Continental tire at 5 points along the circumference of the tread shoulder. While driving, with constant use of car tires, it is necessary to compare the grooves, the depth of which can be different, depending on the size, in the range from 1 to 4 mm.

If you visually examine the wear of the tires, it does not appear to be

It is possible and accurately determine the height of the residue, you can use the means at hand; consumer reviews indicate that this is one of the simplest methods:

• Ruler;
• Calipers;
• Depth gauge.

Special shape of the spike

We have already dealt with the base of the tenon, which is a square plate. And with such a structure, one could well expect the same shape for the spike itself. Moreover, the originals from ten years ago had a tetrahedral one. Why was the decision now made to abandon such a concept?

The answer turned out to be much simpler than one might expect. One could debate for a long time which shape would be better suited for confident traction with the road and better bite into the ice, if not for one “but”. Whatever the material from which each stud is made, after rolling, regardless of the original shape, these elements still become round. This means that this can reduce the cost of production without bothering with giving certain shapes to the spikes from the factory.

In addition, elements with a four- or hexagonal shape, as tests have shown, wear out faster than round ones, since they resist more when driving on clean asphalt. So this concept in the Nokian Nordman 5 SUV also made it possible to extend the service life of the studs, which allows you to avoid spending extra money on re-studding.

Decoding the marking of Nokian car tires, how to find out the year of manufacture

Each car tire has designations and signs.

Many believe that this indicates the standard size of the rubber, as well as their design and load parameters. In fact, even the most inexperienced driver can decipher the markings of a car tire, since all designations are represented by the following characteristics:

• tire type and weight, which helps determine tubeless and tube tires;
• load index and tire size;
• speed index and warranty for Nokian tires;
• date of manufacture, indicated by a four-digit code, and seasonality;
• weather conditions (for example, if there is an umbrella symbol on the tires, then the wheels are designed for driving on wet road surfaces in rainy weather).

Car tire markings

The corresponding marking will help you find out the year of manufacture of a particular tire, but many inexperienced car enthusiasts wonder where it is located. Vehicle components are produced in batches, and each of them is marked with a four-digit code, which indicates in which year the wheels were produced.

Note!

In most cases, this four-digit code is located on the rim of the tire. To make it convenient to detect such a mark, place it in an oval stamp.

The production date includes no more than 3-4 digits, which indicate not only the year, but also the month of production of the components. For example, the code “0914” can be deciphered as follows:

• 09 - the ninth month of the year, that is, September;
• 14 is the year of production.

The corresponding designation indicates that the tires for the car were produced in September 2014. The mandatory introduction of a four-digit designation was adopted in 2000. In this regard, when you see 3 numbers instead of 4 on the wheels, you can understand that the components were produced back in the last century.

Ways to solve the problem

List of malfunctions under which operation of a vehicle is prohibited List of malfunctions and conditions under which operation of vehicles is prohibited

If you let go of the steering wheel, a serviceable and properly tuned car should move straight in the absence of obstacles on the road. At the same time, drivers cannot immediately figure out why the car pulls to the left or to the right when you let go of the steering wheel.

Many motorists practice checking the car's behavior by releasing the steering wheel. If the vehicle does not jerk or start to move to the side, this is a good sign. But the opposite situation also happens.

There are several reasons for this. Each of them requires a specific approach and the implementation of special measures in order to eliminate the problem.

1. Tires. If you have problems with your tires, you can try to fix them yourself. To confirm your suspicions, simply try swapping the wheels. Place the rear tires forward and the front tires will go to the rear axle. If after such manipulations the roll disappears and the car no longer drifts, then it is worth temporarily placing a spare tire on the side where the car tilted. When everything works perfectly after this, you just have to remove the problem wheel and buy a new one in its place. But when changing one wheel on one axle, it is better to replace two tires at once.
2. Directional wheels. Many cars have directional wheels. But not everyone knows how to handle them correctly. Therefore, first, check whether the arrow on the tires is pointing correctly. If yes, then you will have to carry out wheel alignment diagnostics. Here you cannot do without visiting a car service center, since such a procedure is impossible in a garage environment. It is the wrong angles that often cause the car to pull to the side when you just let go of the steering wheel for a second. Additionally, the stability of the vehicle deteriorates, the rubber quickly wears out, and the tread wears off. If everything is fine here, but the car continues to pull to the side, you should look further for reasons.
3. Steering ends and rods. This is another reason why the car begins to pull to the left or right when driving. If there is an inspection hole in the garage, you can check for problems with these elements on your own. But those motorists who have never repaired the steering system themselves should seek help from a car service center. If the steering tip wears out or if the steering rod breaks, they will have to be replaced. The procedure is not the easiest, especially on some car models.
4. Hub. In the case of a malfunction of the hub, most often we are talking about wear of the wheel bearing. It is this that can easily cause such uncharacteristic behavior of the car, which begins to move to the left or right, as soon as you let go of the steering wheel a little. Bearing wear can be detected by a characteristic sound. There is a kind of knocking, crunching or grinding noise in the area of ​​the wheel where the element has worn out. If there is a problem with the bearing, the wheel will not be able to rotate smoothly. This will be noticeable in the behavior of the vehicle on the road. And therefore the trajectory changes. It is better to change the bearing or the entire hub in a workshop. Moreover, choose only those car services that you really trust. The work is not easy, and even a minor mistake can lead to immediate wear of a new bearing.

This is not a complete list of reasons why a car is capable of spontaneously changing its trajectory.

It is also worth paying attention to the condition of the brake discs and pads, checking the suspension arms, and making sure there are no body problems. Sometimes the reason lies in incorrect power steering settings

Don't forget about modern electronic assistants on cars. There are special safety systems that automatically steer to avoid oncoming traffic. They are triggered when sensors detect increased fatigue of a person, if he falls asleep or becomes ill while driving.

If you notice that the car is starting to pull to the side, you should not ignore this problem. The very fact of having to steer a little isn’t too scary

But here it is important to understand that this happens due to certain malfunctions and problems. If you do not eliminate them in time, the situation will gradually only get worse.

This may result in an unexpected and very serious breakdown related to the steering, braking system or suspension. Therefore, at the first symptoms, seek help from qualified specialists or try to find the source of the problem on your own. It depends on your skills, knowledge and abilities.

The best prices and conditions for the purchase of new cars

Tire rotation direction. Asymmetrical tires

Not all tires are the same. There are tires for which the direction of rotation of the wheel matters, and which side of the wheel faces outward and which side faces inward. Such tires are called directional , or with an asymmetric tread pattern .

The correct direction of wheel rotation is indicated by an arrow and the word Rotation.

There are also inscriptions like outside . Which means you need to install the tire with this side facing out.

How to determine the side of a tire

Such measures are due to the asymmetrical or directional tread pattern, which is designed for effective adhesion to the surface. If the pattern is directional, it means that it only provides the desired tire performance when rotated in the desired direction.

Symmetrical and asymmetrical tread types

Tire wear indicator

This method helps the driver to easily determine whether the tires need to be replaced at the moment. For example, well-known companies Nokian and Bridgestone put such indicators on their products.

Bridgestone

This company is widely known in the domestic market. Its products have found great popularity among car owners due to the increased durability and reliability of tires, as well as ease of use. The rubber of this company contains a wear indicator, or even several.

Usually there are two such indicators on a tire. The first of them indicates the urgency of replacement and shows the critical height. The scales are located in six places on the tire. To quickly find them, there are white marks located on the outside of the rubber.

Another wear indicator shows when the tread is half worn. Only winter tires are equipped with such scales. This is an ordinary protrusion with stiffening ribs. There are 4 of them in the entire structure. If at least one indicator is worn out, then the tires should be replaced with new ones.

Tire wear indicators are convenient because there is no need to perform calculations. You need to look at the locations of the indicators and the need to replace the tires immediately becomes clear.

Nokian

This company equips tires with wear indicators, which are made in the form of numbers indicating the tread height. There is a snowflake in the marks. When it disappears in operation, the tires can no longer be used in winter. The normalized height for rubber of this brand is 5 mm. Only with this value can tires be used in winter.

Main characteristics of Blizzak tires

Bridgestone produces the Blizzak range of winter tires, which are designed for use in harsh winter conditions and are available in studded and studless models.

Stickers on new tires

You've probably all noticed the colored stickers on new tires, but not all of you know what they mean. let's take a closer look.

Stickers on new tires

RRC (Rolling Resistance Coeficient) - Rolling resistance coefficient.

RRC - Rolling Resistance Coefficient

Indicated by a letter index from A to G. The best indicator is considered to be index A. The rest increase fuel consumption on the reference car in accordance with the table. a passenger car that consumes 6.6 liters. gasoline per 100 km.

Noise level outside the car

Noise level outside the car

It is measured in decibels (dB) and is indicated by a picture of a speaker and a wheel. Completely black waves mean a noise level of 75 dB or higher, which will be prohibited in EU countries from 2021. The remaining data is shown in the figure.

Grip on wet asphalt

Indicated by letters from A to G. A - the best performance, that is, the shortest braking distance on wet asphalt.

Grip on wet asphalt

WGI - wet grip index , measured in % relative to the reference width.

The table shows the differences in braking efficiency for different grip classes on wet asphalt.

Nokian Hakka Blue 2

The Finnish manufacturer of summer tires of this brand positions them as a commercially successful product that combines a relatively low price with sufficient performance and demonstrates:

• optimal elasticity for a wide temperature range due to the new compound;
• reduced tread heating with reduced wear and rolling resistance due to the addition of pine oil to the composition;
• reduced specific pressure on the surface area, its uniform distribution, increased service life, improved handling and good grip due to increased belt stiffness and optimized tread profile.

Among the disadvantages of Hakka Blue 2 tires, car enthusiasts highlight increased wear.

What can you say about rotation?

Every 50-70 thousand kilometers, it is recommended to move asymmetric tires from one axle to another. This is necessary in order to avoid as much uneven wear on the tread as possible. But you need to remember a few more rules.

1. Bridgestone tires can be rotated crosswise if the direction of travel is not specified. For example, you can put a front right tire on the left rear. And the back right is the front left, and so on.
2. If the direction of movement is specified, the tires are rearranged on the same side when the front axle is changed to the rear.

What does tread wear indicate?

If the indicator shows uneven wear on the Continental tread, this may indicate the following:

1. More wear in the center means the tires have been constantly overinflated, placing unnecessary stress on the tire carcass. Reviews from motorists indicate that such tires should no longer be used.
2. There is much more wear around the edges, indicating that the tires have been used underinflated, or even been slightly lowered for some time. These tires can still last for some time.
3. The wear of only one edge of the Continental tire demonstrates that the car’s suspension is not in order, i.e. The wheel camber on the car is not adjusted. Such “rubber” can last for some time, having carried out the necessary repairs, the wear will quickly equalize, but at this time, special care must be taken on the road.

4. Abrasion on the wheel along the perimeter of the wheel circumference at different points indicates that the “rubber” was used for extreme driving: sudden acceleration and braking. This caused changes in temperature conditions, and as a result influenced changes in the structure and carcass of the tire. In the future, such tires should no longer be used.
5. In the past, wear on the pattern of a Continental tire has meant long-term driving on slightly lowered tires. In this case, the elasticity of the power part of the frame is reduced and the statistical balance is damaged, which can only be corrected in specialized service centers using balancing weights. Reviews from car owners say that a tire with such damage can no longer be used.
6. Uneven wear on two tires from a pair along the same axle requires a mandatory inspection of the date of manufacture and release of the tire batch; it may be that the pair was paired from different batches or even spare wheels. If the difference between the tread heights of one pair of tires is more than 1 mm, this poses a major threat to road safety, especially if Continental tires are installed on the front wheels of the car.