When my friend bought Haval Dargo, he first installed aggressive off -road tires on his new crossover. I can’t condemn him: patency and style was added. But at the presentation of the IKON brand tire, I happened to drive about a thousand kilometers through the soils and asphalt of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria on the Purely Highway Model Character Aqua SUV. And to check whether in order to see the beauty of the mountain nature, you need class bus or even more off -road. Or maybe there is enough car of slightly increased cross -country ability, all -wheel drive and just good road tires?
However, about the good, this is only a hypothesis that has to be checked. And the reason for this was the renaming of Nordman brand products in Russia in Ikon Character. To date, the re -release of Nokian and Nordman tire models in the framework of the new unified IKON brand has been completed. The first (ex-nokian) now make up a premium line called Ikon AutoGraph, and the latter belong to the mass market and are now called the Ikon Character.
And this is not all the metaforts of naming that happened to the products of the once Finnish factory. Instead of dry models indices that Nordman had (SZ2 and SX3 in the passenger line) are now more understandable Ultra names (high -speed model) and ECO (does not need interpretation). And the word Nordman itself, due to its semantics, many users used to be associated exclusively with winter tires, although the brand had a summer ruler. Now it is not Nordman, but Ikon Character-still with winter and summer models in the assortment.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
Among the latter there is a tire for crossovers and SUVs Ikon Character Aqua SUV, which was previously called Nokian Tires Nordman S2 SUV. In addition to the name, the design of the sidewall has also changed: recently, applying an intricate graphics next to the name and technical information on the wheel has become fashionable among tire companies. Perhaps Michelin and Continental were asked him, and now many manufacturers were picked up, not excluding the Chinese.
Dmitry St. Petersburg
Ikon also decided to be in trend and made a schedule for all their updated (from the point of view of the name) models. The Ikon Character Aqua SUV bus got a small wavy ripples in almost the entire height of the profile. In my opinion, the accent on water is somewhat pretentious and great – this is not a “rain slide”, in the end. But representatives of the company said that according to their research, the graphics on the sidewall are in demand among consumers. Therefore, the aesthetic component here is so pronounced.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
And what is the “skillful” of the tire in comparison with ordinary passenger models? First of all, this is not about increased cross -country ability, but about compliance with the characteristics of crossovers and SUVs. Firstly, the SUV model has a different set of sizes-with higher profiles. Secondly, an enhanced design, designed for a large static and dynamic load. A stronger frame inside and small, but important features outside. Such as, for example, additional jumpers between the shoulder blocks to enhance this zone.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
There are also a couple of interesting solutions for more comfort of asphalt. For example, nano-groups on the sidewalls. Their height is minimal, but the presence of even such small “spikes” can make the tire a little more passable on loose surfaces or reliefs with ruts and deep potholes. In addition, in the longitudinal grooves of the tread there is a convex dashed of special stone -drivers. By the way, there are the same on the more expensive Ikon Autograph Aqua 3 SUV model. This decision is aimed at ensuring that stone fragments do not get stuck in the protector and do not damage the tire, and also do not worsen the comfort of the movement.
Dmitry St. Petersburg
The tire carriers for this dough were chosen by Haval cars – a Dargo -shaped H7 crossover, a utilitarian SUV H5, a flagship h9 ramp and the H3 city SUV. As part of this test, I managed to ride on all models, except for the latter – and the impressions of tires did not change when changing cars. Most of the time of the wheels did not attract attention, and this is perhaps their best characteristic. After all, it is difficult to enjoy universal tires, somehow reinforce them. They simply do their job – and if they cope with it well, then this is a minus one reason for stress for the one who is driving.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
But this does not mean that there is nothing to talk about. The first thing that makes attention in the behavior of tires on the asphalt is the low noise of rolling. Haval cars do not indulge in high acoustic comfort, and the choice of low -speed “rubber” is one of the most effective solutions to this problem. An interesting constructive nuance: a non -heating perforation is made on the walls of longitudinal protrusions of the tread – as on the surface of golf balls. This reduces the turbulence of air in the arches and thus slightly reduces the noise created by the bus.
Dmitry St. Petersburg
The next asphalt impression is an unexpectedly powerful “holder”. Even the massive 2.5-ton Haval H9 stood tenaciously on the arc while trying to have a little fun in the virabs of the serpentine in the Baksan gorge. And I liked it so much that I almost ceased to restrain myself on the high -mountain highway of Jila Su! Just look at the photos below and imagine yourself on this species alluring road. Yes, this is an ideal location for the “mental train”! And what’s the difference, what is the car at your disposal now.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
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Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
A heavy frame was desperately lacked on the ups of the diesel engine, and there was no stock in the brakes. And at the same time – at the same time – at least what! Not a hint of overheating. If you get a move, aim at the trajectory and fill up in the turn “for all money”, then the SUV how it will stand on the arc, so it will not move from it until the exit. If only the speed was originally selected correctly. And good tires differ from mediocre just, including the ease of forecasting the coupling properties. And as a result – a simplicity of choosing speed during active driving.
Dmitry St. Petersburg
Another pleasant feature of asphalt controllability is the nature of the progression in case of lining. This happens very smoothly and gradually, the driver always has the time to cover the gas or rewind the steering wheel to interrupt the slipping of the tire. The process is accompanied by informative sounds in the form of a rustle and a light creak. They help to well understand the state of affairs in the contact spot at each particular moment.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
But the route along Elbrus included not only asphalt serpentines, but also ground passes with a coating of varying degrees of hardness. On a dusty and rocky road, the tire did not turn into “soap”, despite the purely asphalt pattern of the tread. The hawiles were controlled clearly and slowed down quite efficiently for such an unprofitable combination of the coating-nine. The stone lane in the longitudinal grooves seemed to work – everything that was clogged into the tread was exclusively in the narrower transverse lamellas of the shoulder zones, where such a “dashed” was not provided.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
I didn’t have to ride the water – the weather in the days of the dough stood sunny and dry. Therefore, it remains only to mention that the manufacturer has been announced an improved resistance to aquaplaning due to variable grooves. They did not find wet soil and dirt in the mountains, but there is nothing to check there – these tires are not intended for such conditions, there is nothing in their design to push effectively in the slurry. But in the steep climb along the rather thick grass, the Haval H7 rode confidently, until the hood was at all aimed at the sky. The Ar bearer would have passed, of course, a little further, but the result achieved by purely road aikons impressed the result.
Dmitry St. Petersburg
Finally, what about strength and wear resistance? In two days of merciless abrasion about endless turns of asphalt mountains, as well as overcoming several ground passes at a vigorous pace – no signs of degradation. Surprisingly, after the sink, the tire looked natural as new, even the most loaded shoulder zone did not rub. Perhaps, just due to the fact that the external blocks are connected by thick walls in the area of the first longitudinal groove.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
On the soils of the Ikon Character Aqua SUV, they also stood confidently: there were only one torn sidewall for ten crews. And even then this happened only when a colleague decided to play in a rally on a stone placer of one of the passes. The conventional Treadwear parameter, by which you can judge with some degree of accuracy of the wear resistance of the compound, is not applied to the IKON tires. Because this is part of the American standard, and for obvious reasons the export of tires of the Russian brand has not yet been discussed. But even without a controversial “threaded”, there is reason to believe that Character Aqua SuV should be worthy.
Dmitry St. Petersburg
Conclusions? How colleagues joke when there is nothing to say without full -time comparison with competitors: the tire as a tire is round and black. So, but not really. Ikon Character Aqua SUV in practice proved that the car that is planned to be used on asphalt requires ordinary highways. On which you can quickly ride and confidently slow down on the roads, and, if necessary, go from the asphalt and see the wealth of nature. Actoprac, Bermamyt, Jila Su and some less well -known, but no less beautiful locations of the Elbusya are quite accessible in dry weather and on a high -quality road tire.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
The key is an all -wheel drive car, a sufficient clearance and an intelligent driver. And with the weather to be lucky. But the tires of the AT class (and even XT, which my friend acquired) is not at all a lifesaver, when it becomes wet in the mountains and forests. If the driver does not have sufficient experience, then they can not be delivered to the goal in the same way as the “highway”. Only simultaneously, to involve the crew in undesirable adventures, provoking its increased offroood potential. But I still can’t say that the asphalt tire will be enough for any crossover in the hands of any driver.
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg 
Dmitry St. Petersburg
But I argue that as a universal tire for use mainly on the Ikon Character Aqua SUV asphalt, this is a balanced and understandable choice. They have no subsidence for any of the consumer qualities and there is a pleasant user experience when the wheels do not become the subject of doubt and experiences. Therefore, if you like waves on the sidewall, it arranges the price and the scenario of operation coincides with the above – this tire is suitable for without reservation on the crossover and SUV. And adventure lovers have reasons to wait from IKON in the foreseeable future of the tire of the corresponding class. /m
What winter tires are produced in Russia? Why produce new old tires? New Haval H7
