Choosing winter tires R16 for a crossover - 6 best options

Winter is coming, which means it's time to think about buying new winter tires. Saving on this is a bad idea, because not only comfort is at stake, but also the safety of you and the road users surrounding your car. This time we will look at 6 options for R16 winter tires for crossovers, which are 100% suitable for a combination of low price and acceptable quality.

Nokian Tires Nordman 7 SUV 265/70 R16 112T

16-inch winter tires from a well-known brand are equipped with a solid longitudinal rib in the central part of the tire, which ensures high directional stability when driving on a slippery road. The reinforced frame of the model compensates for the large mass typical of crossovers, which plays a particularly important role for cars with four-wheel drive.



The tire is covered with numerous anchor spikes, securely fixed in the tread. Each element is in a special air cushion - this is due to the almost silent movement on the road, which is rare when using tires of this nature.

Rubber Nokian Tires Nordman 7 SUV has a symmetrical tread and allows you to accelerate the car to 190 km / h without compromising handling and stability. Maximum load - 1120 kg.

Pros:

• ✅ good dry handling
  
• ✅ low noise level while driving
  
• ✅ simple and fast wheel balancing
  

Of the shortcomings, only one can be distinguished: insufficiently high grip on wet roads.

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V3 215/70 R16 100S

Tires designed specifically for crossovers are made from a unique blend of polymers. It is produced in strict accordance with the Active Foam Rubber 2 technology. Due to this, numerous bubbles are formed in the compound, forming a porous structure, which in turn prevents the negative effect of auto hydroplaning.



Due to the special composition, winter tires are 25% more wear resistant when compared with no less worthy competitors from the previous generation. The tire tread has longitudinal channels for draining fluid and triangular blocks of various sizes. Both of these factors provide excellent grip rubber with any road surface during the winter.

Pros:

• ◈ great choice for machines with a high center of gravity
  
• ◈ soft rubber - excellent grip on dry roads
  
• ◈ relatively low noise level while driving
  
• ◈ fast braking regardless of the nature of the surface
  

The only negative is the insufficiently high carrying capacity of the tires. The maximum load is 800 kg. Be sure to consider this before buying so you don't run into surprises.

Tigar SUV Winter 215/70 R16 100H

Non-studded winter tires from this brand are designed specifically for installation on light SUVs and crossovers. The model is completed with the strengthened sidewalls and rather strong power framework. The compound is based on plasticizers and components that provide high resistance of the material both to low temperatures and to their differences.



The directional symmetrical tread has a positive effect on the stability of the car while driving, minimizes the effect of aquaplaning, and creates quite acceptable grip.

Pros:

• ★ deep tread with a large number of sipes
  
• ★ silent movement due to the absence of spikes
  
• ★ soft rubber - optimal for a comfortable ride
  

Due to the lack of studs, Tigar SUV Winter tires are not suitable for driving on icy surfaces and directly on ice. For these tasks, you should look at studded tires.

Continental IceContact 2 SUV

The model appeared on the Russian market relatively recently, but quickly gained popularity among local drivers. All this is largely due to the unique composition of the rubber compound, which includes a package of polymers to maintain the elasticity and flexibility of the material even at negative air temperatures. Thanks to this, rubber is well suited for regions of Russia with extreme weather conditions and harsh climates most of the year.



The outer elements of the Continental IceContact 2 SUV tires are oriented in such a way that the entire surface of the product is firmly attached to the road surface and makes the car the most controllable regardless of the weather. As for the internal parts, they support the tire as a whole even under high longitudinal and lateral loads, and allow the car to accelerate to speeds of up to 190 km / h.

Pros:

• ✪ confidence in safety when driving on a winter road
  
• ✪ clear lane and rut retention in snow or ice
  
• ✪ low noise level despite the presence of spikes
  

When braking, slippage is noticeable on areas with a smooth surface. In general, if you drive carefully, this minus will not cause much discomfort, which means you need to take it.

GOODYEAR Ultra Grip Ice SUV

Winter tires combine good dry road performance without snow and ice with excellent snow grip. Specially designed for crossovers and balanced just for them. The frequent and sufficiently deep tread retains the optimal level of elasticity regardless of the air temperature outside due to the unique composition - it includes silica with special plasticizers.



Pros:

• ? uniform distribution of pressure in the contact patch
  
• ? reduced stopping distance and high level of grip
  
• ? innovative tire inner carcass structure
  
• ? special wear indicator in the form of a snowflake on the tread
  

On the downside, GOODYEAR Ultra Grip Ice SUV tires wear out relatively quickly. Of course, they are guaranteed to be enough for one winter season, but who knows if they will survive until the second.

Nokian Tires Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV

Rubber with patented double stud technology will be a great addition to your crossover. Each tire adapts to any, even the most extreme conditions.



Pros:

• ✅ enhanced longitudinal grip with the road surface
  
• ✅ balanced cross contact with the surface
  
• ✅ Aramid-reinforced sidewalls for greater durability
  
• ✅ decent handling on wet and dry surfaces
  
• ✅ resistance to tearing when hitting various obstacles
  
• ✅ due to double studding, rubber retains grip on ice
  

Two types of spikes at the same time is good, but, on the other hand, it significantly increases noise and does not have the best effect on the safety of the road surface. Perhaps this is the only serious drawback, and for many drivers it will not seem like a significant reason to refuse the Nokian Tires Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV, especially considering their quite affordable price.

Conclusion

Which option you prefer in the end - the choice is yours. What definitely should not be done is frankly saving money, trying to drive in winter on summer tires or postponing the moment of buying new “shoes” as much as possible until later. In the long run, this approach will cost you dearly, so don’t take risks and don’t wait for the first snow, but start choosing tires in the near future.