ADAC tests. What to consider when choosing tires?
Each year, many of us face the challenge of choosing summer or winter tires. How to make a choice? Where to get objective news? What to consider when choosing a tire brand and model. In this article we will try to answer these questions, whose declarations to believe and who cares only about their own interests.
The first place we visit to consult on the choice of tires is still vulcanization plants, there we can meet an employee, not necessarily a? Specialist ?. Many of us, even in the age of the Internet, trust face-to-face contacts more than computers. Is it a good idea? Not necessarily, let's note that these people run companies and their main goal is simply profit, they will offer you the tires that they have in stock.
So who to believe?
The above-mentioned internet comes to our aid here. There are many sites where we can get unbiased opinions, read articles about tire tests. The tests are carried out, among others, by the most popular magazine in our country, AUTO ŚWIAT. The most important source of objective information is the largest German automobile club in Europe, ADAC, now it is more of an organization, a company that carries out, among other things, tests on a global scale.
ADAC - Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club
Automobil club has over 18 million members, which makes the club the second largest in the world. Its origins date back to 1903. ADAC tests summer, winter and all-season tires independently and professionally. As a result, its results are widely accepted and respected. ADAC performs tests according to the following criteria, evaluates them and makes a final evaluation. The summer tires with the current practice were evaluated in terms of 5 parameters, winter? 7. When it comes to SUV tire tests, traction on grass was additionally checked. Each tire can achieve a rating on a scale of 1.5 to 5.5
The ADAC club for the winter season 2014/2015 set the criteria and their priority as follows:
- behavior on dry surfaces - 15%
- wet performance - 30%
- snow performance - 20%
- behavior on ice - 10%
- generated noise level - 5%
- impact on fuel consumption - 10%
- tread strength - 10%
In 2014, ADAC changed the way of presenting the final result. The numerical values replaced the verbal marks: good, mediocre, etc. To make the result more accurate, a partial evaluation was additionally introduced
- very good 5
- good 4
- satisfactory 3
- mediocre 2
- insufficient 1
For example, to test tires in size 175/65 R14 T, ADAC used the 14th set. tires. Has the Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 tire won with a rating? Okay.
- 2nd place - Dunlop SP Winter Response 2 ? ocean of good
- 3rd place - Michelin Alpin A4 ? good grade
- 4th place - Firestone Winterhawk 3 ? good grade
- 5th place - Esa + Tecar Super Grip 7+ - ocean sufficient
EU tire labels
The European Union also came out against us, introducing on November 1, 2012 tire labels similar to those we can see on household appliances. These stickers have three main categories with a letter scale from A to G where the first letter of the alphabet is the best result and the values in decibels.
- the first category defines fuel economy, i.e. the rolling resistance of the wheels,
- the second is wet grip,
- the third category is the noise level generated by the tread. It is marked with a drawing of a tire and a loudspeaker from which sound waves are emanating. There is a numerical value in decibels next to it.
It is worth knowing that these stickers are useful information, but we cannot consider them as oracles. The measurements that are on them are made by the producers themselves , and the conditions in which they can be carried out are defined by the legislator with a large margin of discretion. For example, the grip of summer tires on wet asphalt can be tested at a temperature of 5 to 35 degrees Celsius, and in the winter season between 2 and 20 degrees. As it is easy to see, the behavior of the rubber compound in such different conditions is completely different, which, let's face it, may distort the result.
Choice of tires for given conditions
Another issue worth addressing and considering in more depth is the conditions under which we will be moving, whether we drive more at high speed on routes, or on the contrary, only in the city for short distances, such as school, work, shop. The price range and the choice of brands is huge, so in some cases we do not have to overpay when choosing top-shelf tires. Each of us has more or less experience behind the proverbial wheel and can judge things such as the conditions and speeds in which we travel most often.
Summarizing, it is worth approaching the purchase of tires calmly, not being influenced by stereotypes that well-known, massively advertised, expensive brands are the best for all weather conditions and that's enough, because looking at various tests, we will come to the conclusion that this is not the case.