In the realm of winter tires, both the Kleber Krisalp HP3 and Fulda Kristall Control HP2, are pretty underrated, and go go head-to-head in terms of their performance values. But still there are a few things you should know about them.
Table of Contents
Tread and Fuel Usage
The relationship between tread life and fuel economy is primarily linked by rolling resistance, which is significantly affected by factors such as tire weight, tread composition, and design.
In terms of fuel efficiency, the Kleber Krisalp HP3 emerges as the superior choice, as its more streamlined lugs and less aggressive tread voids, particularly in the central area, allow for a smoother and uninterrupted central rib.
This design minimizes obstacles during linear rolling, thus enhancing fuel economy.
However, when considering tread life, the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 excels. It benefits from a harder tread compound and deeper tread, which contribute to its ability to resist wear more effectively.
The deeper tread also implies a longer duration before reaching the legally required 2/32″ tread depth, extending the tire’s lifespan.
Review Krisalp Hp3 in detail: https://snowytires.com/kleber-krisalp-hp3-review/
Wet Performance
A crucial factor in determining wet grip is the presence of grooves and sipes on the tire.
This is because both of these are the main dimensions that tell the tire’s ability to effectively displace water.
Having said that, although both tires aren’t going to disappoint you at all, it would still be wise to go with Kleber Krisalp HP3 here, as the tire features slightly faster handling (as seen on laps), and better directional grip (showcased by it’s shorter stopping abilities).
So why is that?
Well, because the tire incorporates a variety of sipes, which are more adept at absorbing and channeling water, thereby enhancing its grip on damp roads.
In addition, the tire features numerous tightly-packed, sturdy yet flexible sipes that provide added performance when navigating corners.
On the other hand, the Fulda Kristall Control HP2, (while not significantly behind), exhibits less aggressive siping and a stiffer rubber compound, which affects its performance on wet surfaces.
With stiffer rubber compound, basically, the tire’s tread isn’t able to as efficiently breath in water particles, as seen on its counterpart.
Snow Grip
When it comes to snowy conditions, the Fulda Kristall Control HP2 takes the lead, especially when dealing with light and fluffy snow. (Though it does fall short when it comes to icy or compacted snow, so I’ll be talking about in a separate topic).
So the thing is, this tire features a tread design which is able to offer better snow grabbing abilities.
It’s tread is laced with a significant number of in-groove notches and voids, and both of these key elements act as snow trappers in a better way, providing greater friction, as snow has a better adherence to itself than to rubber.
On the other side, the Kleber Krisalp HP3, with its less spacious and simpler tread design, does not offer the same level of effective snow-to-snow contact, especially in heavy snow conditions.
Vibration Dampening
Tires play a crucial role in absorbing road irregularities and providing a smoother ride. In a way, they act as the initial barrier between the vehicle and the road, effectively functioning as supplementary suspension systems.
But which out of these boys here is better at it and why?
Well, in terms of vibration dampening, the Kleber Krisalp HP3 takes the lead with its innovative tread compound. This compound is designed to effectively manage uneven surfaces, absorbing road disturbances and delivering a remarkably smooth and comfortable ride.
Whereas the Fulda Kristall Control HP2, with its stiffer rubber compound, falls short, providing a relatively more jittery ride.
Ice Traction
On surfaces covered in ice, the Kleber Krisalp HP3 shines due to its design features such as angled slits and multi-directional snow vices.
These elements, along with the tire’s robust siping, facilitate faster braking and enhanced handling on icy surfaces.
On braking tests, it showed a remarkable 2 feet shorter distance on average, and in case of handling, it showcased an average of 1.5 seconds quicker lap times.
The Fulda Kristall HP2 on the other hand, lacks with it’s missing aggressive enough biters. I mean, sure, there’s a ton of siping on this tire too, along with in-groove resonance, if you look closely, you’d note that those biters, aren’t as interlocking as you see on its counterpart.
Noise Generation
Tire noise primarily originates from two sources. First, air colliding with the tread walls, mainly entering through shoulder voids. Second, in-groove resonance caused by echoing noise within the tread.
And in both the Kleber HP3 gets to be quieter.
The tire offers a relatively more closed up shoulder voids, restricting the entry of air (which is the main source by the way).
Moreover, it’s rubber compound is also built in a way, so as to minimize the echoing effect too.
Fulda tire, in comparison, allows more air particles to collide around, on the other hand, and it’s rubber geometry also allows greater in-groove resonance production too, because its variable pitch technology is not as sophisticated, as seen on its counterpart.
Dry Gripping
The effectiveness of a tire’s (directional/longitudinal) grip on dry surfaces depends largely on the central tread area, where the majority of the tire’s load is concentrated during linear cruising.
In this aspect, the Kelber HP3 offers superior performance, as it features a more continuous central ribs that ensure constant road contact.
This design results in a significant reduction in braking distance, with tests showing an average improvement of 4 feet compared to its counterpart.
Dry Handling
The ability of a tire to handle or maintain lateral grip is largely dependent on the shoulder lug design and overall tread flexibility.
And here the opposite happens. Where the Kleber showcased better directional grip, the Fulda offers superior lateral g forces, and dry lap times.
And this is majorly because of the tire’s stiffer rubber compound, and lugs having more powerful reinforced foundational supports underneath.
Simply put, these allow for better steering response values, as the tire is not prone to oversteering and understeering.
To Sum Up
The Kleber Krisalp HP3 outperforms in the following aspects:
- Wet Performance: Thanks to its variety of sipes and numerous tightly-packed, sturdy yet flexible sipes, the Kleber Krisalp HP3 provides superior handling and grip on wet surfaces.
- Vibration Dampening: The Kleber Krisalp HP3’s innovative tread compound effectively manages uneven surfaces, absorbing road disturbances and delivering a remarkably smooth and comfortable ride.
- Noise Generation: The Kleber Krisalp HP3’s more closed up shoulder voids restrict the entry of air and reduce in-groove resonance, making it a quieter tire.
- Ice Traction: The Kleber Krisalp HP3’s design features, such as angled slits and multi-directional snow vices, facilitate faster braking and enhanced handling on icy surfaces.
- Dry Gripping: The Kleber Krisalp HP3 features more continuous central ribs that ensure constant road contact, leading to improved performance on dry surfaces.
- Fuel Efficiency: The Kleber Krisalp HP3’s streamlined lugs and less aggressive tread voids allow for a smoother and uninterrupted central rib, enhancing fuel economy.
The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 excels in:
- Snow Grip: The Fulda Kristall Control HP2’s tread design offers better snow grabbing abilities, performing well in light and fluffy snow conditions.
- Dry Handling: The Fulda Kristall Control HP2’s stiffer rubber compound and lugs with reinforced foundational supports underneath allow for better steering response values, thus enhancing lateral grip and dry lap times.
- Tread Life: The Fulda Kristall Control HP2 benefits from a harder tread compound and deeper tread, which resist wear more effectively, thus extending its lifespan.
