The Best Winter Tires: Experience a Safer Ride When Snow Starts Falling

To choose the best winter tires on the market, I employed The Drive’s comprehensive research methodology and evaluated dozens of tires before choosing the top contenders. Although I haven’t personally tested these products, my selection is informed by consumer testimonials, expert reviews, discussions on relevant online forums, and my institutional knowledge of the automotive industry. 

I visited Tyre Reviews to see how each set of tires performed against competitors in a variety of conditions and situations. I also visited the Car Talk subreddit to get a more informed opinion of what automotive enthusiasts felt about the products on the market.

Some brands are already well-established in this niche, and priority was given to their products. However, other lesser-known brands were also evaluated. The main features taken into consideration were materials used, tread patterns, performance over snow, performance over ice, performance over wet and dry pavement, lifespan, available sizes, and warranty. Tires were immediately disqualified from consideration if they provided inconsistent levels of grip or weren't 3PMSF certified.

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is one of the most high-performance winter tires on the road. These tires will suit drivers who encounter severely harsh weather, such as ice and snow, on their daily commute. If winter isn't too hard-core where you live, you'll find a better option further down this list. This model should provide excellent grip in snowy and icy conditions thanks to its NanoPro-Tech Multicell compound and larger contact area. The tread compound wicks moisture and slush from the contact patch and works with a dense siping pattern with angled and horizontal sipes, along with thousands of biting edges. As far as icy and wet road performance, this is a top non-studded tire.

It's not a top usual choice in dry- or wet-weather handling, but there are notable improvements over its predecessor. When compared to the WS80, it has 30 percent more tread-block stiffness. There's an audible hum, especially while driving at high speeds, which is one of the few areas that this model is bested by its competitors.

Winter tires aren't cheap, it costs a lot to produce something that provides grip in low-traction conditions, but the Cooper Evolution Winter is arguably the best value winter tire you can get. This tire is great for people who know a harsh winter is coming, meaning they'll need to deal with snow and ice but don't want to break the bank. You have the option to fit studs to the Evolution Winter, making it a great option for anyone who regularly encounters ice. The tread has a wide contact patch and a sawtooth circumferential design for enhanced lateral stability. A center rib combined with multi-angled corrugated siping provides plenty of traction and stability at high speeds and on straightaways. 

The Snow Groove Technology traps snow in the tread, which creates friction and provides good traction over snow. This is a Nordic-style tire, so it will perform considerably better over ice and snow than a regular or even mild-winter tire. However, it doesn't provide the same levels of traction when braking, accelerating, or turning when compared to other Nordic tires on this list. This model has a high rolling resistance, resulting in higher fuel consumption and road noise.

The Michelin X-Ice Snow replaces the X-Ice Xi3 and takes the brand's winter performance tire offering to the next level. Again, this is a tire for people who are likely to encounter extreme weather conditions, such as snow and ice. The tire uses two types of 3D sipes, which results in a claw effect when you meet snow or ice. Michelin has incorporated its Flex-Ice 2.0 compound and EverWinterGrip technology, ensuring this model is one of the best on the list in terms of braking. It has long-lasting biting edges and is one of the very few winter tires that come with a warranty, which is 40,000 miles. 

The X-Ice Snow is less prone to hydroplaning than its predecessor, thanks to its increased void ratio and aggressive V-shaped tread pattern. This tire provides consistent and predictable grip when braking, accelerating, and turning and is easily one of the best models in the game. Unfortunately, all this performance doesn't come cheap. It also loses the wide center groove that its predecessor had, making it less stable at high speeds.

If you live in one of the few states that allow studded tires and think you need a set, we unequivocally recommend the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10. In terms of snow and ice traction, this tire outperforms its competitors in every measurable way. This model features a new compound mix and tread design with a V-shaped center block pattern, which is similar to but not as exaggerated as the previous version. This version has an even softer compound, which combined with its Double Stud technology makes it handle particularly well over ice.

When compared to previous models, this version is more competent on dry pavement. If you meet the pavement, the ride will also be smoother and less noisy than the Hakkapeliitta 9. However, studded tires are noisy and cause excessive vibrations over pavement when compared to regular tires. If you opt for this model, be prepared for the noise that comes with it, and make sure that it's legal in your state and permitted in your parking garage, if necessary. Another thing to keep in mind about studded tires is that they're considerably more expensive than regular winter tires.

If you live in a milder climate where your winters are wet and cold and you still want your car to handle well, check out the Continental WinterContact TS 870 P. This tire will have the edge on most other models on this list when you hit streets that are free from snow and ice. It features Continental's new Cool Chili compound, which increases performance in the wet and provides a lower rolling resistance. To say this tire performs well over wet surfaces is an understatement. The new compound also increases this model's mileage by up to 16 percent compared to its predecessor.

For an all-weather tire, this model performs exceptionally well over ice and snow and isn't hugely behind when compared to some of the Nordic tires on this list. It features an improved sipe and pattern concept, which should help keep everything under control if you encounter snow. Of all the tires on this list, this model arguably produces the least road resistance and noise, making it the most comfortable for long-distance commutes.

We've chosen the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 as our best overall winter tire. This model performs exceptionally well over both ice and snow, and it even holds its own on wet and dry pavement. If you're on a tight budget, then check out our value pick, the Cooper Evolution Winter.

One of the most important things to consider before buying a winter tire is that its compound works in extremely low temperatures. Once temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, regular tires become hard and provide less traction. Different compounds make up winter tires compared to conventional all seasons. This ensures they stay soft and grip the groves of the surface below them. 

The tread on winter tires is arguably as important as the compound used. As the tire rides over snow and ice, it kicks out water. Thick, deep grooves are the norm on winter tires as they provide better traction and allow snow to build up in the voids. The buildup of snow between the groves of winter tires is crucial, as snow-on-snow traction is greater than rubber-on-snow traction. The downside to having deep groves with wide gaps between them is that it increases road noise and decreases fuel economy, so it's a tradeoff that you'll need to consider. 

Sipes are slits within the tread pattern that provide a biting edge to surface irregularities and are a must on winter tires. If you usually travel on windy and relatively low-speed roads when it snows, you should consider getting a tire with no center groove. Tires with a lateral-tread pattern throughout provide better lateral traction. But, if you often drive at relatively high speeds on straightaways, such as highways, then a tire with a central groove is essential for stability. 

Studded tires have metal studs that protrude through the tire to provide more traction and are worth considering if you know you'll encounter the most extreme winter weather conditions. However, these tires perform poorly on wet or dry pavement, are particularly noisy, and increase fuel consumption. Moreover, they're illegal in most states as the studs damage the surface of the road, so you'll need to check the laws in your state before buying.

A better option for many people will be to buy a Nordic-style winter tire that uses a compound specifically designed for ice.

Most winter tires don't come with a mileage warranty, so you'll need to sift through user reviews to find out how long a model generally lasts. Some premium models come with a six-year/40,000-mile warranty, so if you're willing to pay top dollar, you can get a guarantee.  

Unless you see a three-peaked mountain with a snowflake on the side of a tire, it's not a suitable winter tire. This image is found on tires that meet the 3PMSF performance criteria. This certification used to be reserved for winter tires, but some all-season tires now meet the performance criteria.

You've got questions. The Drive has answers.

A: Yes, it can't be overstated how much more traction vehicles have when accelerating, braking, and turning over ice and snow when using winter tires. 

A: It's recommended that you fit all four of your wheels with winter tires, and this goes for FWD, RWD, and AWD vehicles. If you fit just two winter tires, one end of your vehicle will react differently to the other, making it feel less stable. 

A: In theory, you could use winter tires year-round, but it's not recommended. Once temperatures rise, winter tires have less grip on wet and dry roads compared to regular tires. A winter tire's soft compound will also wear away quickly if used throughout the year, costing you in the long run.

A: Winter tires are made with hydrophilic rubber, which provides more traction over snow and ice. Winter tires also have deeper grooves and sipes for added traction. Summer and all-season tires, on the other hand, are made of a stiffer rubber compound that’s designed to be resistant to rough and hot pavements.