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Driving with confidence can be challenging during winter. Snowy and icy roads can make it difficult and even unsafe to operate a vehicle if you don’t have the right tires. That’s why you’ll want to invest in a new set of winter tires before winter rolls around.
Winter tires are designed with rubber compounds that stay flexible even in cold temperatures, which allows them to retain control and grip. They also feature aggressive tread patterns that enhance traction, handling and shorter stopping distances.
There are many tires to choose from, but the best models, such as the Michelin X-Ice Snow Tires, are compatible with a wide range of vehicles and feature advanced technology for improved grip.
Editors’ Favorite
Size: 235/50R18 | Load Range: XL | 3PMSF: Yes | Speed Rating: H | Studdable: Yes
The Michelin X-Ice Snow Tire makes driving in snowy and icy conditions easier and more reliable. It’s designed for sedans, crossovers and SUVs and performs best when temperatures are consistently below 45 degrees.
This tire features a flexible winter compound that stays soft in cold weather, and a V-shaped tread pattern that channels snow, slush and water for improved grip and braking. Its 3D sipes create biting edges that enhance traction and stability, while the optimized contact patch promotes even wear and longer tread life.
It’s one of the best winter tires for handling severe weather, thanks to its dependable traction and excellent braking control on snow and ice, which helps you stay safe and in control all winter long.
Great Value
Size: 225/55R18 | Load Range: XL | 3PMSF: Yes | Speed Rating: T | Studdable: Yes
The General Altimax Arctic 12 Tire provides more controlled and reliable driving in snowy or icy conditions, giving you peace of mind all winter. It’s suitable for sedans, coupes and crossovers, and is best used when temperatures are consistently below 45 degrees.
This tire can be equipped with studs for improved traction on icy roads, and it features a directional tread pattern that helps channel away slush and water for enhanced grip. Its angled tread blocks and high-density sipes create biting edges that improve acceleration, braking and cornering on snow and ice.
It’s one of the best winter tires for driving in harsh weather conditions, thanks to its deep tread grooves and durable construction, which deliver dependable traction and handling performance on snow, slush and ice.
Reliable Performance
Size: 225/55R17 | Load Range: SL | 3PMSF: Yes | Speed Rating: H | Studdable: No
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 Tire is advanced engineered to help keep control of your vehicle, even in the harshest conditions. This tire provides superior control and secure handling on snow and ice.
The 3PMSF rating means that you can drive safely in severe snow conditions, making this tire a must-have for anyone living in an area with extended winter seasons. It’s approved for driving speeds of up to 130 miles per hour and features Multicell technology that enhances grip on ice to help reduce slippage. It also has enhanced block stiffness for improved handling and responsiveness.
Many customers report that it works well with larger vehicles, such as SUVs. It’s also praised for its durability, which many users note can withstand several months of consistent driving in harsh weather conditions.
Most Value
Size: 235/65R17 | Load Range: XL | 3PMSF: Yes | Speed Rating: T | Studdable: Yes
The Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 is an excellent winter tire with an XL load that delivers superior traction for sedans, crossovers and SUVs. The cold-weather compound stays flexible even in freezing temperatures, and the 3PMSF certification ensures optimal performance.
The directional tread design has wide grooves that improve handling, reduce hydroplaning and enhance braking. The dense siping provides extra bite for enhanced performance, and the molded design allows for optional studding, offering even more control when driving over snowy or icy roads.
This tire is an excellent, budget-friendly choice, best suited for those who live in areas with shorter winter seasons. It’s not as reliable as other tires for driving over ice, but for slush and snow, it’s more than capable.
Best for Large Vehicles
Size: 235/40R18 | Load Range: XL | 3PMSF: Yes | Speed Rating: T | Studdable: Yes
The Continental VikingContact 7 Tire delivers outstanding performance on snow, ice and slush. Its size makes it well-suited for sedans, crossovers and SUVs, while the winter-optimized tread compound remains flexible and stable even in freezing temperatures.
This tire features a directional tread pattern and interlocking sipes that create extra biting edges for superior grip, braking and cornering. It’s studdable for optional added traction, and its design meets 3PMSF standards for severe snow performance. Snow-trapping grooves enhance traction by promoting snow-on-snow contact, which improves handling.
For drivers who face harsh winter conditions, the Continental VikingContact 7 is one of the best options for dependable performance. It delivers excellent traction and stability on icy and snowy roads, and customers consistently praise its durability and reliability throughout the winter season.
We considered price, technology and design when compiling our list of best winter tires. The best models offer advanced technology for trapping snow and improving traction, as well as a studdable design for further enhancing grip and control. We also ensured that all our top picks are certified to meet requirements for safe and reliable driving in severe snow conditions.
All modern radial tires are made of a combination of fiber cords coated in rubber; steel wires (sometimes with Kevlar added) made into belts and layered together with more rubber; and an outer tread layer. These components give the tire a combination of flexibility (which it needs in order to absorb the sideways pressure exerted during cornering), overall strength, and grip.
The tread is what distinguishes summer tires from winter tires (also called snow tires).
Summer tires: These are constructed to put as much rubber on the road as possible. When the rubber warms up sufficiently, it gives maximum grip. Two minor compromises on summer tires include treads cut to disperse water when it rains, and comparatively hard rubber compounds – a middle ground between optimum traction and wear rate.
Winter tires: These tires have a much deeper tread, more defined tread blocks, and additional tiny cuts (sipes) in the individual tread blocks. They’re designed to do two jobs: slice through and claw into packed snow, holding some of it in the tread to provide increased traction.
The rubber used in winter tires is softer and more pliable and therefore provides more grip at low temperatures. Tire profiles tend to be taller, with squarer shoulders to maximize the contact area.
More aggressive tread blocks provide better directional control, resulting in you being able to steer the car where you want to go rather than the common problem on ice and snow of losing grip and drifting sideways.
One of the things that cause loss of grip on ice isn't the ice itself but a very thin layer of water resting on top of the ice. It creates an effect like aquaplaning in which braking makes little or no difference. Recently developed cell technology is being used to counteract this problem on high-end winter tires. Tiny pockets pull the water away from the surface of the ice and eject it behind, just like a summer tire does with rain.
Metal studs were first used in tires in the 1960s. The idea was that each stud would cut into the ice, giving extra traction as the wheels rotate. They’re very effective, too. Nothing gives a better grip – as long as there's ice to cut into.
The problem comes when there is patchy coverage or slush. The studs then either lose traction or cut up the pavement. As a result, studded tires are restricted or completely banned in large parts of the country. If you want to use studded tires, it's important to check your local statutes.
While most major manufacturers do offer studded winter tires, treads have to be thicker to allow for securing the stud. This means there's less choice.
For those who want the option, studdable winter tires are available. Supplied without studs but molded to accept them, studs can be added at the user's discretion.
Overall, there's a definite emphasis on rubber and tread technology that provides enhanced grip in all weather conditions and not just when there is thick ice on the roads.
The Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) refers to a certification that all winter tires must meet. It indicates that a tire meets the standard for safe driving over snow. The Mud + Snow rating is also common, but it’s a looser standard, so it’s in your best interest to get a tire with the 3PMSF symbol, which looks like a snowflake.
Modern all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering systems offer increased traction and control compared to standard front- or rear-drive counterparts, but fitting winter tires to these vehicles still makes a significant difference. A survey by one major nationwide tire supplier found that stopping distances were shortened up to 35% using winter tires.
Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and traction control are also perceived as helping grip in poor weather conditions. Unfortunately, that's not what they do.
ABS: ABS will stop your brakes from locking up if you press the pedal too hard. You may not skid, but if there's no traction between the tire and the road, you won't stop, either!
Traction control: Likewise, traction control will stop wheel spin if you're heavy on the accelerator, and it does a great job of balancing grip across all four wheels, but if you've got almost zero traction to start with, you're going to go nowhere fast.
The bottom line is that winter tires increase control no matter what you drive.
Safety has to be the primary concern, so we always recommend fitting winter tires in areas where weather conditions warrant it. However, it's only fair to point out a few negatives you ought to be aware of:
Fuel consumption can be considerably higher.
Deeply cut tread blocks make these tires noisier.
Hydrophilic treads can wear quickly because they’re restricted to the surface of the tire. The tire still retains winter properties but not the advanced water dispersal.
Cheap winter tires are not something we would recommend. Your safety is more important than saving a few bucks.
Good winter tires are more expensive than standard tires, but they don't have to be prohibitive. Bear in mind they'll probably last several years. Tires you can trust from well-known brands start at around $80, depending on your vehicle.
Tires for SUVs and high-performance vehicles are normally more expensive than those for the average family sedan, but even top-rated winter tires rarely exceed $200.
Never buy partly worn or retread winter tires. At best, they're ineffective; at worst, they're dangerous.
Change all four tires, not just two. If you don’t, you'll dramatically affect the balance of your car. You'll have one end that grips the road and another that doesn't. Handling and braking will both suffer.
Check tire pressure regularly. Doing it once a month is a good habit to get into. However, your tires can lose one pound per square inch per 10°F temperature drop, so if you're traveling from a warm area to a cold one, it's a good idea to check the pressure along the way – or at least when you arrive. Don't forget that you'll have the opposite effect when you go back.
Follow the same winter driving precautions if you use studded tires:
Turn slowly.
Don't tailgate.
Brake gently, well in advance.
Take your foot off the gas if you start to slide. Turn toward the slide, not away, to straighten out the vehicle.
Clean winter tires with a stiff nylon brush and soapy water before storing. If you're changing wheels and tires, store upright and rotate by 45° once a month so that the weight doesn't always rest on the same area of the tread. If you’re storing only tires, store them flat and stacked on top of each other.
Check under your car for winter damage or corrosion. When changing over to summer tires, have a good look around under your vehicle to check for any damage.
A. It depends on where you live and where you intend to travel. Even using winter tires, snow chains still offer additional grip on roads that are completely covered with snow and ice. And there's another aspect: in some states (and National Parks) snow chains are mandatory in certain conditions regardless of the vehicle you drive or the tires fitted.
A. All-season radial tires are certainly better than standard summer tires when the temperature drops. If you seldom see ice or snow, they’re a reasonable compromise. However, experts tell us that even new all-season tires only offer half the traction of winter tires, and half-worn all-season tires offer no benefit at all when the temperature is below 40°F.
A. You don't want to get caught out by sudden bad weather, so it's better to be early than late! October is a popular month. Tire manufacturers recommend fitting winter tires when the temperature drops below 45°F (7°C).
