The Best Winter Tires For Safer Driving In Snow

The cold and snowy weather can greatly impact your ability to drive and do anything on the road. Winter tires are designed to ensure that you're comfortable on the road.

Whether you're looking for a performance snow tire that's designed to enhance dry road handling, or you're looking for a studless winter tire to help you brave every day during winter, having a good tire is essential. Even if you have an all-wheel-drive system, winter tires will improve your car’s performance and your confidence on the road.

Here is our list of the 5 of the best winter tires on the market. We've also created a guide outlining features you should consider when buying them.

The Best Winter Tires of 2021

1. Bridgestone Blizzak WS80

Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 Winter/Snow Passenger Tire 235/65R16 103 T
  • Mighty Molecules A New Hydrophilic Coating Reacts To The Elements...
  • Optimized Construction New Cavity Shape Distributes Contact...
  • Serious Tread Bite Particles Act Like Microscopic Studs Providing...
  • MIGHTY MOLECULES - A new Hydrophilic Coating reacts to the...
  • OPTIMIZED CONSTRUCTION - New Cavity Shape distributes contact...

The Bridgestone Blizzak Ws80 is one of the most popular winter tires on the market. The winter tires can be used on minivans, sedans, coupes and compact cars. The snow tires feature a hydrophilic coating that reacts to the elements for confident stopping power on snow and ice.

The Bridgestone Blizzak tires are equipped with Advanced Multicellular Compound with Nano Pro-Tech, which works at a molecular level to remain adjustable in the cold. The tires feature a cavity shape that evenly distributes contact pressure across the entire footprint area for even wear and dry, snow and performance. The snow tires have bite particles that act like microscopic studs providing confident road grip and braking on ice. There are also 3D Zigzag Sipes which give the tire extra biting edges.

Pros

  • Great traction in the snow.
  • Lots of options for mainstream vehicles.

Cons

  • Quite Expensive.
  • Slightly more road noise.

2. Michelin X-Ice Xi3

Michelin X-Ice Xi3 Winter Radial Tire - 195/60R15/XL 92H
  • This 3rd generation X-Ice winter tire provides the necessary...
  • The MICHELIN X-Ice Xi3 tire provides winter performance with...
  • The MICHELIN X-Ice Xi3 is also designed to be environmentally...

The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 radial tire is the third generation of Michelin winter tires. The tires are best suited for family vans, coupes, sedans and small crossovers. One of its best features is that they were designed to be environmentally friendly. The Michelin winter tires feature a low rolling resistance that helps reduce fuel consumption and economy.

The X- Ice Winter tires feature a unique contact patch shape resulting in an even and longer tread life. The tread uses a silica compound and includes independent shoulder and intermediate tread blocks that feature Cross Z Sipes, Micro-Pumps, and FleX-Ice compound. These help improve traction and wet weather capability.

The Cross Z Sipes increase tread and shoulder block stability, providing the lateral and longitudinal stiffness that enhances treadwear and driving precision on dry and wet roads. The X-Ice winter tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced by a spirally wound nylon to optimize the tire profile while enhancing high-speed capability. 

Pros

  • Great in snow and ice.
  • Good Treadwear.
  • Quiet.
  • Feature Low Rolling Resistance.

Cons

  • Expensive.

3. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Performance Winter Tire - 245/40R18 97T
  • The new Nordic non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 winter tire...
  • Maximum Winter Driving Comfort in any condition
  • Excellent Grip And Controlled Handling On Ice And Snow
  • Saves On Fuel Costs

The Finish brand, Nokian, has been a pioneer in the winter tire world since 1932. The tire manufacturers actually invented the winter tire.

The Hakkapeliitta R3 strikes the perfect balance between comfort and safety. The winter tire features a highly aggressive tread pattern. Biobased Cryo Crystal 3 grip particles have been added to the rubber compound to improve on ice by grabbing onto the driving surface.

The winter tires have multi-faceted snow claws that are between the tread blocks and shoulder areas. These create balanced ice and snow grip, especially during braking and acceleration.

The winter tire is designed to adapt to all weather conditions while offering relentless grip and making driving controlled, precise and enjoyable. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 is an ideal choice for drivers who value safety, unique driving comfort and greener driving. The winter tires can also be used on electric and hybrid cars.

Pros

  • Excellent performance on snow and ice.
  • Offers a quiet and comfortable ride for a winter tire.
  • Good grip and handling in winter weather.
  • Great traction in wet, dry, ice and snow conditions.

Cons

  • Snow braking performance could be improved.

4. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

Pirelli Winter SottoZero Series 3 Winter Radial Tire - 235/55R17 99H
  • Directional Tread Pattern Design Enhances Grip On All Surfaces...
  • Fit type: Universal Fit
  • Pirelli Winter Sotto Zero 3 P235/55R17 99H Bsp Winter Tire
  • Item Package Weight: 27.2 Pounds

The Sottozero 3 is the third generation of the Italian tire brand Pirelli. The winter tire is designed for high-performance cars driven in challenging winter conditions. The Sottozero 3 was designed with the philosophy that winter tires should perform in various unpredictable weather conditions. The winter tire is designed to provide traction and handle cool, cold, dry, wet and winter conditions. The tires are not just for winter but are suitable for cold weather and freezing road conditions.

The Sottozero 3 winter tire features a directional tread pattern design that enhances grip on all surfaces. It has an enlarged contact patch comprising arrow-shaped centre blocks and more rounded shoulders to expel water and slush.

The winter tire uses an innovative compound with specialized polymers that improve the tread rubber compound's mechanical, thermal and dynamic properties. The high-density 3D sipe technology improves braking performance and snow-to-snow traction.

The winter tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts reinforced by spirally wrapped polyamide that enhances thermal stability and makes the tires less sensitive to road and air temperature changes.

Pros

  • Quiet and comfortable to drive.
  • Good snow and ice traction.
  • Good dry and wet traction.
  • Relatively Quiet.
  • Affordable.

Cons

  • Sidewall structure not able to keep up with road imperfections.

5. Firestone Winterforce 2 Winter

Firestone Winterforce 2 Studdable Winter/Snow Tire 225/65R16 100 S
  • Built to Keep You Working Through the Winter
  • Winter Performance and Grip You Can Rely On
  • Long-Lasting Performance
  • Great Value

These tires are designed for sedans, coupes, minivans and those looking for traditional wintertime traction on dry, wet and snow-covered roads.

Firestone Winterforce 2 winter tires feature a special cold-weather compound moulded into a directional tread pattern. The snow tire has deep circumferential grooves, wide lateral notches and open shoulder slots that aid in channelling slush and standing water away from the contact patch to help hydroplane resistance. The winter tire features a high sipe density tread pattern that provides thousands of biting edges for snow and ice grip.

The snow tire's internal structure includes twin steel belts on top of a polyester casing to combine strength with ride quality. Firestone provides a five-year workmanship and materials warranty.

Pros

  • Good dry pavement performance.
  • Great snow and ice traction.
  • Deep tread blocks that are predictable and controllable.
  • Relatively Quiet.

Cons

  • Wet braking causes the anti-lock system to activate frequently.
  • Poor wet traction.

Features To Consider When Buying The Best Winter Tires

a) Studded, Studless Or Performance Winter Tires

Winter tires come in three forms: Studded, studless and performance.

Studded tires have metal studs embedded within their tread. The studs physically dig into the ice and provide better traction. The downside is that they not only dig into ice but pavement as well; thus, they damage road surfaces. Some states only allow studded winter tires during certain months of the year, while others ban them altogether. If considering buying these type of winter tires, it's essential to check your States policies on them.

There's also the option of either a studless winter tire or a performance winter tire. This is dependent on what your driving priorities are. For instance, if you have to drive to work every day, studless winter tires would be ideal. On the other hand, if you drive when the roads are cold and mostly clear and dry, a performance tire would be best.

Studless tires are best suited for when the winter weather is at its worst. These tires are designed to have maximum snow and ice traction. They are made from a special type of winter compound that provides traction to suit the texture of the road surface. The tires are designed to grip both the snow and a thin layer of water that tends to accumulate in the tire's footprint. The harsher and colder the weather, the better the tires function. The downside is that they are not ideal for mild weather.

Performance winter tires are designed for use in icy and cold conditions but are ideal for clear roads and warmer days. They are better suited for use in the wet and dry and are more comfortable to drive on. The tires have a higher speed rating compared to the studless tires. Performance tires don't provide as much grip as studless ones in the snow; however, if you live in the city and don't need to drive long distances, they can be an ideal choice if you're searching for a good winter tire.

When buying winter tires, certain markings can let you know if you're buying genuine products. The Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake mark on the sidewall of a winter tire is usually located closer to the rim edge. This symbol is used on tires that have passed the standardized traction test. There's also the M+S symbol that indicates that the tire was also designed to perform well in moderate winter conditions.

b) Tire Sizes

When buying tires, you should check what your car originally came with from the factory to ensure you maintain consistency. Keeping and using the same tire size as the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is usually the ideal choice.

However, you can always change them. For instance, if you have 21-inch wheels on your car, but the base model came with 20-inch wheels, you can definitely minimize your wheels and tires because the car came from the factory designed to utilize the smaller size.

Driving through the snow with narrow tires can help prevent your car from getting stuck. This is because there's less snow to push through hence less resistance.

When determining the right size to buy, consult the placard in the door jam, usually located on the driver’s side. It is essential to note that you should maintain the wheel's overall diameter and tire together consistent with what the car originally came with. This is because various aspects of the car are calibrated based on this diameter (traction control, speedometer, etc.), disrupting that without the right research could cause harm.

To find the size of your tires, you'll come across a code similar to this: P227/60 R19. The numbers signify:

  • 227– This number refers to the part of the tire that touches the road in millimetres or the width of the tread
  • 60 – This is the ratio (as a percentage) between the sidewall height ( the top of the tire) and the width of the tread (section width)
  • 19 – This number indicates the interior diameter of the tire in inches.

c) Tire Pressure

The recommended winter tire pressure in PSI is the same as other tires. To check the tire pressure, you can consult the manufacturer's manual or the placard in the door jam. Your manual will often recommend that you go with slightly higher tire pressure, as this can help handle and fight off fluctuations in air pressure.

Tire pressure drops as the temperature drops. On average, your tires will lose one PSI for every month your drive your car. Depending on how drastic the temperatures, they can lose two or five PSI. Hence it's important to check your tire pressure monthly.

d) Know the roads you drive on

The type of roads you drive plays a big role in helping you determine which winter tires to buy. If you spend a large majority of your time on the road/driving, it's crucial to invest in high-quality tire brands. This is important if you want to drive a compact car that is more likely to skid in poor conditions. If you live in the city, tires with a good price-quality ratio will be ideal.

e)Handling and braking

Your winter tires will have a major impact on handling and braking. When the temperatures drop below 7°C, all-season tires lose a lot of traction and flexibility for safe driving. With good winter tires, your car will brake more effectively and reliably and handle better when turning.


Frequently Asked Question About Winter Tires (FAQ)

- The difference between all-season tires (performance tires) and summer tires

All-season tires are designed with moderate tread depths and rubber compounds engineered to provide longer tread life. They are used by a wide variety of vehicles economy cars to sedans to minivans to pickup trucks.  They perform well in warm weather but tend to offer less grip than summer tires, sacrificing some steering, braking, and cornering capabilities.

Summer tires are ideal for high-performance vehicles and are built for speed and agility. They offer increased responsiveness, cornering, and braking capabilities. This is majorly attributed to specialized tread patterns and rubber compounds that improve precision on the road. The tread patterns of these tires have less grooving and put more rubber in contact with the road.

They have shallower tread depths that allow for more stability when pushed closer to their limits. The downside is they work well at temperatures of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit and above. When temperatures start dropping, the tires can feel jumpy and be unpredictable; they begin losing a large part of their grip to the point that they behave like they are on a wet or even icy road.