Official information

Winter tires Yokohama Ice Guard 35 - last year's novelty in the tire market. Press releases from the Japanese company promised excellent performance in every situation. But in reality, alas, everything looks different.

Here's what the manufacturer promised:

The new high-tech winter studded tire Yokohama Ice Guard iG35 with directional tread was presented at the manufacturer's plant located in Japan. Yokohama engineers said the new product is designed to ensure road safety on any, even heavily snow-covered, icy-crust roads and is designed to justify customer confidence through high technology and an excellent brand image.

The main advantages of the Yokohama Ice Guard 35 tire, as indicated by the manufacturer:

1. Providing excellent vehicle handling on snowy and icy roads thanks to the use of unique 3D-sipes.

2. 3D lamellas with a multifaceted surface improve the performance on ICE and SNOW, increasing the contact patch during deflection and the edge effect without losing block rigidity.

3. Minimize stud fallout by using tabs around the bore.

4. Semi-radial grooves - improve the removal of SNOW, SLUDGE and WATER from the contact patch. Sequential side grooves - improve lateral stability, resist shifting and slip

5. Improved rubber compound almost completely prevents deformation not only in the tread part, but also in the stud bore.

At the same time, the Japanese engineers themselves do not hide the fact that for testing the Yokohama Rubber Co. uses one of the largest indoor test machines for simulating SNOW, ICE and WET COATING.

Rubber test Yokohama Ice Guard 35

On a winter morning in January, a Nissan Tiida hatchback, wearing Yokohama Ice Guard Stud IG35 195 / 65R15 winter tires, was procured for a test. The thermometer read -15 degrees Celsius, and on the roads rolled snow, chunks of ice and bare asphalt were the right conditions for a winter tire test. At first, the movement along the main streets of the city - here is clean asphalt, not yet covered with snow and not stained with reagents, that is, dry and clean. On such a road, the car drives quietly, smoothly and predictably. It is not easy to assess the impact of test tires on driving in this context. There were no obvious tricks from Yokohama Ice Guard 35, but there were no obvious advantages either.

With the change of coverage, the behavior of the car changed. Rolled snow appeared on the road, covered from above with a thin layer of fresh frost. In such conditions, the rubber tread quickly loses its relief and becomes smooth. The advertised grooves for evacuating snow, mud and ice Yokohama Ice Guard 35 do not work in real life at all: the car unstably drives in a straight line even at minimum speeds, prowling around and responding to commands with delay. Sluggish braking, the same acceleration. This behavior is typical for a friction tire, but the Yokohama Ice Guard Stud IG35 is a studded model. Then why is she so helpless in the hard snow?

The answer lies in the condition of the tire. On all four wheels, almost half of the spikes were missing, and those that remained were weak and were set deep. On the front wheels, there are almost no studs left at all, and, upon a cursory examination, the Yokohama Ice Guard 35 tire looked more like a studless, friction model. At the same time, the mileage of tires, exactly like that of a car, was minimal - just over 1000 km, but the life of the studs turned out to be even shorter. Of course, the fate of test vehicles is always more complicated than civilian ones. They are trying to squeeze everything out of them. It is quite logical that the tires are subjected to comparatively high loads here. But regarding the Yokohama Ice Guard Stud IG35, there are many reviews on the Internet by real owners who bought these winter tires. All of them point to the short life cycle of studs as the main disadvantage from which all other rubber problems arise.

The deeper into the snowdrifts, the more problems and torments. Yokohama Ice Guard Stud IG35 cannot master the courtyards and forgotten streets of the city. Usually cars of this class, shod with other winter tires, are quite viable in such conditions.

It is noteworthy that the Yokohama Ice Guard Stud IG35 is not an old model. It appeared on the automotive rubber market for the winter season of 2011, that is, at the time of its release, there were already other models in the market in the same price category, which proved their worth in the conditions of the Russian winter. A striking example is the Nokian Nordman 4. The Finns have succeeded in this model, but the Japanese have clearly failed with their Yokohama Ice Guard Stud IG35.

After 1000 km of run, the Yokohama Ice Guard 35 has lost half of its studs.

The Finnish rubber makers were successful with the Nokian Nordman 4, but the Japanese needed more work on their Yokohama Ice Guard Stud IG35.

Text: Roman Kharitonov

Declared characteristics of Yokohama Ice Guard 35 rubber:

Speed
	Winter studded
Price for 1 piece	3400 - 3600 rubles.

According to the manufacturer, the wide-spread center rib of the reinforced rubber Yokohama Ice Guard 35 improves maneuverability and stability on ice, wet and surfaces.

3D sipes with a multifaceted surface improve the performance of Yokohama Ice Guard 35 rubber on ice and snow, increasing the deflection contact patch and edge effect without losing block rigidity.

The 3D design of the Yokohama Ice Guard 35 is designed to maximize the edge effect, and the lugs around the hole to help press down on the cleat.

For a more reliable grip of the cleat in the Yokohama Ice Guard 35 rubber, new shaped holes are used.

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Sources of

The sources correspond to companies that independently compare tires based on a consistent methodology that includes the maximum number of tire quality criteria, and provide objective ratings based on test results for a group of similar tires depending on the type of use.

This database includes only those sources that meet these criteria. These criteria also apply to each source test.

Sources used to determine tire performance:

• Test results published in specialized publications.
• Figures obtained in accordance with Regulation (EC) 1222/2009 “On tire labeling in relation to fuel efficiency and other relevant parameters”. Or Estimates used in car tire markings (MOBS *) in the absence of official data.
• Data published by independent testing laboratories.

A detailed list of sources (excluding EC Regulation 1222/2009) used to assess the rating of each product is attached to the publication.

Evaluation scheme

The final score consists of 9 baselines, which are complemented by 4 other baselines for winter tires.

The basic indicators are divided into 5 groups: 3 - for summer tires, 2 - for winter tires.

Each core indicator is weighted differently in its group based on the degree of its importance in the category.

Below are the groups of indicators and their basic indicators:

Calculation method

Each baseline is assessed according to the following principle:

• A score of 10 is assigned to the tire that scores the best in a given test.
• The score of the other tires is reduced in proportion to the resulting standard deviation of the discriminant.
• All results 9 times the standard deviation are given a score of 1.

If the source uses its own grading system (which is not based on a 10-point system), then linear recoding is performed.

The final baseline score will be based on the arithmetic mean of the scores obtained for each test.

Note: Tests carried out by automotive magazines or specialist organizations are generally based on the most common sizes on the market. Although the tire performance may vary slightly depending on the size, we have preferred to assign a rating to the entire size panel for a specific tire model.

Correctly selected tires are an important guarantee of accident-free and safe driving. This is especially true in the winter period, when even the slightest negligence can cost you too much. We bring to your attention the Yokohama IG35 tires, reviews of which are distinguished by a rare variety.

Some drivers are preparing for the fourth season on them (and on one set), while others curse the day they visited the store. Who is right? Let's figure it out!

What it is

Rubber Yokohama Ice Guard 35 is a novelty of the year 2012. The attention of car enthusiasts was immediately riveted to a press conference, at which manufacturers promised almost magical characteristics of their new products. As usual, the reality turned out to be not so rosy.

Manufacturer's complaint

At that time, it was really more or less advanced technology, featuring a directional tread. Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that rubber will be produced at a "purebred" Japanese plant in the best traditions of the quality of the Land of the Rising Sun. The engineers responsibly stated that with these tires the car would confidently keep its course even on snowy, ice-crusty roads.

Here are the main advantages that the tires should have had, they do not confirm them, but not about that):

Unique "multidimensional" sipes, thanks to which confident adhesion is provided with almost all types of road surface, even if it is brought in by ice or snow slurry.

The same technology dramatically improves braking performance even on ice and trampled snow, preventing the main tread elements from losing their rigidity.

Minimization of the cases of the thorns falling out, since there are special retaining lugs near each mounting hole. This is what the tires "distinguished themselves" for, indicating that they just fall out almost immediately after entering the road.

Specially shaped grooves dramatically improve the process of water and snow removal from the tread, which increases the quality of tire grip. Lateral grooves contribute to normal braking on a snowy and icy track.

The composition of the rubber compound for tires itself is kept secret, as it is the company's know-how: this formula provides increased strength characteristics and prevents tire deformation, even near a protruding stud.

The company received all these results on its unique one on which it is possible to simulate almost all types of precipitation possible on this planet. So, its employees had grounds for bright advertising of products. So how good are the Yokohama IG35 tires in practice? Reviews show what happens in different ways.

Why is there so much negativity?

If you talk to many city motorists, then they will probably say a couple of unprintable words about this particular model. Why did it happen? After all, the Yokohama brand is known all over the world, and the attitude towards the manufacturer is quite good !? In 2013, a team of domestic "naturalists" conducted their own test, the results of which did not please the official representatives of the company. Let's describe it in a little more detail.

Negative operating experience

Then the Nissan Tiida hatchback was tested, which was "shod" in the well-known Yokohama IG35 tires. Reviews about them at that time no longer inspired much delight. On that day, the temperature outside the window was a little less than -15 degrees Celsius, and a dense layer of rolled snow and ice lay on the roads. On the main city streets (on which there was no longer snow), the car drove perfectly. There were no drawbacks or obvious advantages at that time.

Alas. Snow appeared and everything went down the drain. The Yokohama IG35 tread, as it turned out, instantly loses its rigidity and becomes similar in characteristics to a polished billiard ball. All the grooves we have described for draining water in real life somehow were in no hurry to show themselves: the car scamper dangerously around at the slightest attempt to brake, more or less confidently behaves only when driving at a minimum speed in a straight line.

Acceleration is terrible, braking is even worse. Why did Yokohama IG35 winter tires (reviews of which we are considering) behave so disgustingly on the road?

What is the reason?

Everything became clear when the researchers took a closer look at the tire itself. It turned out that at least half of the studs are missing on each wheel, and the rest are driven so deep that they cannot have any effect on grip by definition. The front wheels were completely "sad", devoid of almost 70% of the studs. Here we can say that the "scientists" just took a car with an exorbitant mileage, but not everything is so simple: the tire roll was less than 1000 kilometers, and the spikes obviously did not last even half of this period.

In general, this is what made the Yokohama IG35 tires "famous", reviews of which say exactly the same. Many motorists who bought these tires in the hope of a normal winter ride were deeply disappointed in them. And the reviews mainly rest on the frankly scanty life span of the studs, from which all other troubles associated with this rubber follow.

Yard drifts on these tires, according to the recollections "from the fields", can even turn into an absolutely insurmountable obstacle. Although almost all passenger cars of similar models, “shod” in more adequate rubber, withstand these tests without any particular problems. What a shame, the Yokohama IG35 is not a new model. Many Finnish tire models of the same season are still warmly loved by motorists, but the Japanese were very unlucky in this regard.

It's not like that, it's all anti-advertising!

Oddly enough, similar headlines can be seen in almost the same magazine in which only negative opinions were published a couple of months earlier. Are Yokohama IG35 winter tires bad or not? Reviews about them often resemble obscene verbal ping-pong. Someone praises, and someone - scolds.

The real benefits of Japanese rubber

There is no need to despair: everything is really not so bad. So, some drivers love Yokohama IG35 tires: positive reviews indicate that these tires have the least noise (among winter tires). On a long journey, this characteristic is good news!

Because of the soft rubber, even a rough suspension “swallows” road bumps much better, which are more than enough in the vastness of our homeland. Until recently, the situation with Japanese tires was pretty good from a financial point of view. How much do Yokohama IG35 tires cost now?

In principle, with this and now everything is pretty decent. A set of rubber will cost you approximately 13-15 thousand rubles. Sheer pennies, if we talk about the proposals of other foreign companies!

Objective reasons for lagging behind

Why does this happen? After all, the Japanese have always been famous for the high quality of all their products, regardless of their type. It's all about the national "mentality": in Japan, winter tires on spikes are generally illegal due to the government's anxious attitude to the state of the roads, so for real tests in the "field" engineers have to be sent to distant countries.

And Yokohama IG35 winter tires (reviews of which we are now analyzing) are not always tested in the conditions of our country. Much more often - in Western Europe, where winter is generally a rather extensible concept. Most likely, in those parts of the tire from the Japanese manufacturer really show really good results.

In addition, these tires are likely to be strongly influenced by the condition of domestic roads. In most cities, the situation is such that even the main streets are often like a washboard. It is not known in what conditions the Yokohama Iceguard Stud IG35 rubber was tested, the reviews of which we are now analyzing, but the engineers hardly prepared their brainchild for this. Most likely, this explains the "passion" of tires for the loss of studs.

In any case, many car enthusiasts note that the rubber on the sides of these tires is too soft. Perhaps the Japanese were nevertheless somewhat cunning when they talked about the increased resistance of their products to wear.

Precautionary measures

Be that as it may, but (we have already sorted out the reviews) are strongly not recommended by experienced wheel lovers for going to the ice. The owners of such tires warn that in these conditions the car can behave quite inadequately, and one can only dream of more or less normal control.

In general, the Yokohama IG35 (the owners' reviews fully confirm this) perform quite well in urban conditions. But if you constantly spend a lot of time traveling on swept snow and icy country roads, it is advisable to turn your attention to something else. The slightest skid when overtaking in such conditions (even if the speed is not higher than 50 km / h) is fraught with very bad consequences.

As the owners themselves say, without normal ABS, it is generally better not to meddle with these tires on a winter road. Any braking may well end very badly.

Buying tires is a responsible business

Unfortunately, many of our motorists are guided when buying not by the real origin of the product, but only by its price and brand. As a result, a satisfied buyer of "real Japanese rubber" turns out to be the owner of a low-grade fake, which may well contribute to an emergency on the road. In a word, you should not save on this in any case.

Is localization to blame?

It should be noted that the manufacturer has partially acknowledged the problems. So, relatively recently, a warning appeared on the official website that the Philippine tire lots are especially often seen in an effort to scatter most of the studs along the road. By the way, another question arises here: why is the production not Japanese? After all, at the very beginning, the company just promised with an oath that all tires will be Japanese? However, this is no longer so important.

So maybe you shouldn't brand the Yokohama Iceguard IG35 indiscriminately? Reviews show that in this case, not everything is so simple. The production of these tires is deployed in our country, and domestic motorists are also not happy with their quality. However, here the question is generally subjective: some people like the "Japanese Russian", while others prefer the "Filipinos".

Some conclusions

In general, the situation is rather confusing. So is the IG35 worth recommending for winter trips? Yokohama spikes (reviews around them and revolve) proved to be not very reliable. In principle, this article can be dismissed, but about half of the reviews on the Internet (even positive ones) say that they are too often lost.

The tires themselves are relatively good, the acceleration and braking characteristics are certainly not very good, but there are many types of winter tires that are much worse in this regard. In a word, the problem is precisely in the spikes - if not for them, then the Yokohama Stud IG35 tires, the reviews of which we have almost finished analyzing, would have been a quality "average". It just didn't work out.

If you are not an avid racer and even moderate aggressiveness on the road is unknown to you, and you live in a small town or rural area, then you can recommend the purchase of this rubber. But if all of the above does not apply to you, it is better to choose something more reliable for yourself.

Who is using?

But still, these tires are still quite popular in the domestic market. What is the reason for such a strange attachment to the Yokohama IG35? Reviews, tests, unfortunately, rarely take into account such a simple circumstance as the price of this product. Where else can you find more or less sane and studded rubber from a decent manufacturer at such a cost? Yes, nowhere.

If there is no money for normal studs, and you really don't want to ride on Velcro (and this is a normal approach), then these tires will not be the worst choice. Rubber is quite high quality, wears out slowly. As an adherent of a quiet ride, you can probably skate at least two or three seasons without losing all the studs.

In general, the owners of these tires give simple advice. They advise when driving to imagine that your wheels are shod with Velcro. So you will not have the urge to unnecessarily recklessness on an icy road. In this case, your impressions of the rubber will probably be quite good. Alas, this is unlikely to help you when "forcing" snow-covered courtyards, which this rubber is clearly not to their liking.

In short, the choice is yours. In the "plus" for these tires, the price and low noise, in the "minus" - everything else.

Car tire manufacturer Yokohama is renowned for the high quality of its products. The tires of the Japanese concern are installed on brands such as Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Lexus, Mercedes, Porshe and others.

Impressions of the winter Yokohama Ice Guard after 8000 km

Among the range of winter tires for passenger cars, the Ice Guard line is one of the most demanded. Aggressive winter tread and studs make it as effective as possible in difficult weather conditions in northern Europe and Russia.

Today we will take a look at the Yokohama IG 35, IG 50, IG 55 and IG 65 models, compare the test results of each of them, as well as read the reviews of the owners.

Yokohama Tire Marking Sample

Winter - Yokohama

Take the Yokohama Ice Guard IG50 165/55 R15M + S snowflake as an example. You can decipher the designation as follows:

Company manufacturer	Yokohama
Model	Ice Guard IG 50
Wheel radius (inches)	15
Tire construction	R (radial)
Rubber type	No camera
Width	165
Height (percentage of width)	55
Seasonality	M + S, 3PMSF (winter)
Speed ​​index	Q (160 km / h)
75 (387 kg)

Model characteristics

	IG 35
Features of thorns	The spikes are arranged in a special order so that the maximum number of them is in contact with the surface. Placed in 16 rows The cores are round
	3D sipes provide grip Snow and slush deflect intersecting drainage grooves The contact patch is enlarged by unique macroblocks in the shoulder of the tread
Exchange rate stability	A rigid central part with swept edges is responsible for stability on any surface
Composition of the rubber compound	Allows you to adapt to both low (up to -45 ° C) and high (up to +10 ° C) temperatures Micropores on the tread surface absorb water film

Set of tires for the winter season

	IG 50
Features of thorns	Non-studded tire
Tread pattern and drainage system	Asymmetric directional tread pattern The outer part has more drainage grooves and is responsible for cross-country ability on snow The interior features large blocks and a high density of sipes to safely navigate the ice
Exchange rate stability	Stability and maneuverability is provided by large blocks in the central part of the working surface.
Composition of the rubber compound	Rubber has an absorbent effect, absorbing a film of moisture from the road surface

Yokohama Ice Guard IG 50 tires

	IG 55
Features of thorns	Flange and core are star-shaped 128 spikes in 20 rows New bore shape completely hugs the flange
Tread pattern and drainage system	Directional symmetrical pattern Wide oblique grooves There are special projections around the blade in the form of blades
Exchange rate stability	Provided by a wide central rib with diagonal grooves
Composition of the rubber compound	A hydrophilic porous mixture is used for manufacturing, which removes water from the contact spot Contains silica and orange oil

ICE GUARD STUD 175/65/14 JAPAN Used

	IG 65
Features of thorns	Increased number of studs (172 pcs. On R16) The location of the spikes over the entire surface, including the central zone The spike core has the shape of a number 8 and a shaped flange There is a round zone of hard rubber around the studs that holds the metal
Tread pattern and drainage system	Directional protector type Longitudinal closing channels Uniquely shaped lamellas
Exchange rate stability	Increased over previous models thanks to spikes in the center
Composition of the rubber compound	Cellular rubber absorbs water from the road surface A large amount of organic oils ensures the elasticity of the mixture

Pros and cons of Yokohama Ice Guard

The products of the Japanese manufacturer are of consistently high quality. But Ice Guard tires also have their drawbacks. They are clearly demonstrated by the tests of Yokohama winter tires, which were carried out by the expert communities from 2015 to 2018.

	pros	Minuses
IG 35	Fast braking on dry surfaces Fuel economy Affordable cost	Noisiness Weak acceleration and deceleration during icing Poor permeability Low directional stability on a snowy track
IG50	Short braking distances on ice Average handling and acceleration	Poor braking and handling on wet pavement Aquaplaning possible
IG 55	Good surface contact on ice and snow High cross-country ability on snow	Noisiness Long braking distances on asphalt Poor maneuverability on snow and asphalt
IG 65	Good cross-country ability High longitudinal grip on ice	Noisiness Below average ride stability and handling

Yokohama winter tires cost

In addition to the test results of Yokohama IG 65 winter tires, the model's popularity is also influenced by its price. As of 11/29/2018, the cost of the Japanese manufacturer's rubber is:

The cost of rubber depends on the point of sale and the range of services provided. Many sellers offer tire fitting and wheel balancing immediately after purchase.

In order to make the right choice of winter tires and not fall for a fake, you must adhere to several rules:

• buy rubber at certified points of sale;
• choose only the tire size recommended by the manufacturer;
• make sure that there are factory markings on the side of the tire;
• negotiate with the seller the terms of the guarantee and delivery of the goods (if necessary).

Ice Guard Tire Life

Yokohama tires are premium tires. They have a balanced composition of rubber, which allows it to remain soft at low temperatures and at the same time do not succumb to strong abrasion.

Comfort tires for wide use

On average, winter car tires from a Japanese manufacturer last 3-5 years. The service life depends on many factors:

• the number of kilometers traveled during the season;
• driving style of the driver;
• the quality of the road surface;
• weather conditions in the region.

An important condition for the long life of rubber is also the conditions for its storage in the summer.

Also participated in the test:

• Avatyre Freeze - domestic development
• Gislaved Nord Frost 100
• Toyo Observe GSi-5
• Hankook Winter I * Pike RS +

On each set of 205/55 R16 tires, before the tests, the pilots drove 500 km to run them in. After that, the organizers checked the protrusion of the studs and the hardness of the rubber.

To assess the longitudinal and lateral grip on ice, the organizers measured the acceleration time, braking distance and lap time on the track. Each kit was tested at least 7-10 times to identify errors in the results. For a more accurate calculation of the lateral grip, a twelve-meter adjustment was used. This maneuver is also called "moose test" - a quick detour of a sudden obstacle (moose on the road).

To avoid the subjectivity of the pilot's assessment, several people tested the same tires. They gave marks for directional stability and handling. Directional stability was tested at a speed of 90-110 km / h. The pilot rotated the steering wheel at small angles and observed the behavior of the car on the tested tires.

Another test tested the permeability in the snow, the ability to overcome snowdrifts, maneuver, get under way and move in reverse. The test organizers considered this to be as important for winter tires as all of the above. Goodyear UltraGrip Ice Arctic performed best in this test. According to the organizers, with these tires, the front-wheel drive car turned into a real all-terrain vehicle!

Ride and noise in the cabin were evaluated on different surfaces and at different speeds. After testing the tires on ice and snow, experts evaluated how well the studs were in the tires.

On tarmac, tires were tested for fuel consumption. All tires were tracked in both directions in order to neutralize the influence of the road slope or light breeze. The braking distances on dry and wet asphalt and directional stability were also evaluated.

And the very last test was the inspection of the tires and the counting of the spikes that flew out. Bridgestone tires lost the most - 18 studs. In second place were Toyo tires, which lost 7 studs.

As a result, according to the results of all tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 became the winner of the test. In second place, with a margin of only half a percent, were the Continental ContiIceContact 2 tires.

The test results for winter studded tires 205/55 R16 are shown in the tables below.