Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
The timing belt is a very important component of engine performance. Thanks to this belt drive, torque is transmitted to various nodes: the fan, the gas distribution mechanism itself, the generator and others provided for by the specifics of the car itself. According to their technical design, timing belts are divided into three types: wedge, poly-V and toothed, the most difficult from the design point of view (since its teeth along the entire perimeter must have an involute profile with a minimum relative position error).
Due to the widespread use of cars with internal combustion engines and belt drives, a huge number of companies are engaged in the production of timing belts. Accordingly, users are faced with the elementary question over and over again: who is better? And, after conducting its own market analysis, the magazine selected the eight coolest timing belt manufacturing companies that received the highest ratings from users and a group of experts.
How to choose a timing belt
Choosing a timing belt is, in general, very similar to choosing any other spare part: it has its own identification marks and labels, which make it possible to identify the degree of originality and the accompanying quality of the product. In order to make the right decision when buying, the editors of the magazine advise you to pay attention to four key characteristics:
- Belt numeric designation. Many people mistakenly believe that timing belts (regardless of type) are made individually and are marked accordingly in the same way. In fact, they are cut from a large workpiece, which is preliminarily subjected to the process of applying a differentiated digital code. Often on the market you can come across belts with a designation, all the numbers in which are the same – this is a sure sign of a fake and a reason for refusing to purchase such a product.
- Manufacturer's hologram and certificate of conformity. As a control mark for the originality of timing belts, manufacturers began to glue special holograms on boxes, and also equip each of them with a small accompanying certificate. We advise you to carefully study both the packaging box itself and its composition before buying: if you do not have a certificate, be sure to ask the seller for it. If he cannot issue one, feel free to refuse to make a purchase.
- Cost level. An indirect sign by which you can distinguish a quality belt from a cheap fake. To do this, you need to know at least superficially the hierarchy of the issuing companies – who sells the product at a high price, and who even belongs to the budget segment. Here it is worth remembering the main rule: only those goods from which you can get hold of money are amenable to falsification. Thus, the main risk group is timing belts in the middle and upper price segment.
- Presence / absence of damage to the belt and packing box. The last criterion on the list, but by no means the least important. Before making a purchase, arrange for a careful inspection of the belt for cuts (even minor), tooth breaks or segmental fracture. Also pay attention to examining the box: whether there are any rough abrasions or breaks on it, whether the manufacturer's data and the applied hologram are intact. Most often, chalices and box defects are attributed to delivery flaws, but in 80% of cases such excuses do not correspond to reality.
Rating of the best timing belts
| Nomination | a place | manufacturer | rating |
| Rating of the best timing belts | 1 | Contitech | 4.9 |
| 2 | Gates | 4.8 | |
| 3 | Dayco | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Bosch | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Lemforder | 4.7 | |
| 6 | INA | 4.7 | |
| 7 | Optibelt | 4.6 | |
| 8 | Hutchinson | 4.5 |
Contitech
Rating: 4.9
The first place in the ranking goes to Contitech, a division of Continental that was canceled in 2018. In fact, it was a close analogue of Dayco, with the only difference that the development of belts was carried out on the material and resource base of one of the largest tire manufacturers. Naturally, there was a continuity (both methods and technologies), an in-depth study of the features and the development of fundamentally new methods of manufacturing a quality product.
However, the management staff of Contitech was prudent enough to restrain the rate of saturation of new products with fresh developments, thereby preventing price increases and violation of the delicate ratio of consumer costs to quality. To date, it is unclear how the products of the disbanded brand will be promoted to the market. Most likely, rubber-metal products (including timing belts) will be released under the Continental logo … fortunately, the very essence will remain unchanged.
Advantages
- the largest research laboratory and experience gained over decades of working with rubber-metal products;
- partial withdrawal of technologies from the field of tire development;
- optimal balance between price and quality of the finished product;
- widespread in the market and loyalty to the consumer.
disadvantages
- not identified.
Gates
Rating: 4.8
One of the most renowned manufacturers of timing belts, renowned as a good company not only in the engineering industry. Since its inception, Gates has positioned itself as a company for conveyors, and has entered into exclusive contracts for the supply of parts for the largest automotive lines.
The products of the Belgian grandee in question meet the highest quality and safety requirements, and also captivate users with a very large work resource (about 150-200 thousand kilometers of run until complete destruction). The only problem is that belts (neither toothed nor V-belts) from Gates are almost impossible to find in retail sale: as mentioned above, more than 90% of the total volume of goods produced goes to conveyors, and only 10% is thrown into the free market.
Advantages
- the presence of its own research center and constant work on the modernization of belts;
- the highest quality and safety parameters;
- up to 200 thousand kilometers of possible mileage;
- cooperation mainly with car manufacturers.
disadvantages
- high cost of products.
Dayco
Rating: 4.8
The American company with Italian roots occupies the third line of the ranking, being, in fact, the most loyal supplier of timing belts for cars of various brands. Nevertheless, their product began to appear on domestic sites (online catalogs and retail outlets) relatively recently, which led to the not the highest level of Dayco's popularity in Russia.
It is noteworthy that of the entire leading triad, Dayco has the most balanced level of product shipment to the conveyor and the retail market, at 50/50%. Among the features of their belts, one can note the unique technology of applying a Teflon protective coating that reduces operating noise and protects the base material from wear. In addition, there is support from the manufacturer and the domestic auto industry: all models, starting from Kalina and Priora, received one more high-quality analogue of a timing belt, and, moreover, for a small amount. In terms of the budget and its relation to quality, only Contitech can impose the struggle on Dayco – the Belgian Gates is much higher in terms of price.
Advantages
- a unique technology for processing belts by applying a Teflon coating (to prevent wear and reduce noise);
- production of a large number of high-quality analogs for domestic cars;
- competent pricing policy;
- high quality standards.
disadvantages
- a small number of fakes on the market, spoiling the reputation of a solid manufacturer.
Bosch
Rating: 4.7
An old German company with origins in the village of Gerlingen, it is a very renowned manufacturer of household / construction equipment and auto parts for any request. This is its strength, and this is also its main weakness, because ensuring quality in such a diverse activity is an extremely difficult task.
However, both experts and users urge not to worry about timing belts – this is one of the most stable niches in the Bosch range. Despite the huge species diversity, the Germans manage to maintain surprisingly equal quality in all aspects, including performance and working life. Which, by the way, is enough on average for the same 100 thousand kilometers as the main competitors in the rating. The excellent sales picture is completed by the average price level, which is very beneficial for ordinary consumers and from the standpoint of long-term costs.
Advantages
- average price level for the entire range of goods;
- surprisingly even quality of belts in all their species diversity;
- an exclusive cooperation agreement with the company BMW;
- the ability to withstand small overloads in terms of speed.
disadvantages
- it is necessary to run in a new belt (for grinding the teeth to the pulley).
Lemforder
Rating: 4.7
The representative of a well-known concern in Germany ZF, belonging to the category of brands in the middle price segment. He lost his position as a major manufacturer, becoming nothing more than a simple supplier of goods under a well-known logo. True, Lemforder still keeps its name unblemished: in the branded box, either spare parts from friendly (included in ZF) enterprises BOGE and Sachs, or products of little-known Korean factories, also strong in terms of quality stability, are supplied to the market.
The stated fact is not a big secret for the entire world community, and, what is most surprising, does not prevent Lemforder from concluding multimillion-dollar contracts for the supply of timing belts to the conveyors of many world automakers. Among their buyers are American Chevrolet (General Motors) and Ford, Korean Hyundai and KIA, Japanese Honda and Lexus, European Volkswagen and Russian VAZ. For the latter, by the way, the belts turn out to be very hardy: consumers chanting praise the Germans for a large supply of working resources.
Advantages
- abundance of belts for all price categories;
- high quality products sold under the auspices of the Lemforder company;
- high popularity among car manufacturers;
- as a rule, a large supply of the working resource of timing belts.
disadvantages
- the brand gradually becomes a supplier of products from other manufacturers.
INA
Rating: 4.7
The reputation of the most circumspect manufacturer of timing belts was won by another representative of Germany. INA is the main supplier of rubber-metal products for conveyors Mercedes – Benz, Peugeot, Toyota, Audi and others, famous for the introduction of a rigid control over geometric parameters and product characteristics. Moreover, compliance with this production system is the prerogative of not only the basic German workshop, but also other factories scattered around the globe.
In particular, one of the INA enterprises also operates in Russia, regularly supplying timing belts for VAZ vehicles to the market. Consumers speak well of the experience of using them, noting among the main advantages excellent quality conditions, durability and the virtual absence of low-grade counterfeits. The verdict of the experts also did not differ much from the popular opinion, however, having noticed some overstatement of the price by the company relative to its main competitors.
Advantages
- good quality belts, ensured by the introduction of operational control from the stage of supply of raw materials to the stage of cutting and packing;
- cooperation with a number of major car brands;
- stable performance;
- a long interval between replacements (more than 100 thousand kilometers).
disadvantages
- high price for products.
Optibelt
Rating: 4.6
A very original and honorable manufacturer of timing belts from Germany, invariably following the once chosen development path. It consists, by the way, not only in an interesting presentation of goods (as a rule, the manufactured products are supplied in very distinctive and recognizable boxes), but also in manufacturing technologies. Thus, the characteristic feature of Optibelt timing belts is a very low tendency to wear, which excludes the possibility of any slipping of the belt along the gear for a long period of time. The selected material is partially responsible for ensuring this result – chloroprene rubber, treated with a special antifriction compound.
According to the classics of the genre, the main consumers of Optibelt belts are German automakers (Mercedes – Benz, Vlokswagen), however, a large flow of the company's products is also produced in the retail market. Domestic owners of VAZ cars could also touch the quality – from the now out of production 'Grants' to the updated 'Vesta'. Be that as it may, the German company enjoys great trust in experienced circles, so the issue of including it in the rating was not even considered.
Advantages
- adherence to one class of manufacturing technology;
- very high quality and durable belt base with unique anti-friction impregnation;
- original presentation of products;
- concern for reliability and active opposition to falsification;
- high marks from users and experts.
disadvantages
- not found.
Hutchinson
Rating: 4.5
The French grand for the production of rubber-metal products, striving to achieve high performance indicators from the entire range of products. It is the main partner of a number of car manufacturers (including Toyota, Huyndai, Ford, Citroen, etc.), which is an indirect proof of quality and popularity.
Experts point to the systematic implementation of new technologies at Hutchinson (at least in the production process of timing belts), which improve accuracy and modernize performance. Some users claim that a belt purchased and delivered instead of a standard one can travel up to 100 thousand kilometers, and this is not the maximum possible limit. No matter how great the feeling of sympathy for the French company was, cases of mass falsification of their goods have become more frequent lately. The company's engineers and promoters are trying to come up with workarounds to combat this, but neither the notorious holographic tags nor the accompanying certificates stop copycats from copying a quality product. All this negatively affects the company's image, but we hope that the situation will eventually find a positive outcome.
Advantages
- high technical and operational performance of original belts;
- cooperation of the company with the world's leading car manufacturers;
- the working resource is often enough for 100 thousand kilometers;
- The optimum ratio of price and quality.
disadvantages
- a large amount of counterfeits on the market (even though they show a good result in terms of mileage).
Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
