When the severe winter conditions make any driving experience difficult, it's time to think about "new shoes" for your vehicle. There are plenty of all-season tires that cope decently with moderate winters. However, none of them perform as high-quality winter tires can. They make a difference with solid traction and confidence in any type of snowy or icy roads, regardless of whether you're driving to the grocery store or to the neighboring state to celebrate Xmas.
Just as you choose your footwear according to your individual needs, you must do the same with the winter tires for your vehicle. It is not enough just to choose "any" winter tire. They differ in their capabilities and your job is to determine which one meets your needs better.
If you are having trouble finding the right winter "shoes", we can help you. Just as we measure different types of shoes for different conditions and occasions, we apply the same rule about tires. As such, the Neotires team has tested various winter models that are said to perform phenomenally. And while this is true, there still are several differences between them that we will talk about below. Read on to find out what are the selling points of each of them and which one is more compatible with your needs and driving conditions.
Winter Tires Tested
In the testing process, we studied different winter tires from premium class to budget ones. The first conclusion drawn is that each winter tire has its benefits. Precisely for this reason, it is extremely important to define well what your priorities are. Consequently, you will be able to choose the winter tire that best suits your needs.
In short, we have some leaders regarding the best winter tires. One of them is Michelin X-ice Snow. This stood out for superior handling both in ice and snow from all tested. Another leader is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 tire. This took the lead through its handling in dry winter and through its superior level of comfort. Last but not least, the Continental VikingContact 7 stood out for its superiority in dry and wet winter scenarios. Also, it expels water like no other tire, being the best in its hydroplaning control.
As you can see, each tire has a certain positive side that makes it superior to others. Still, they all share superior performance in terms of winter handling. Below you can see illustrated the models that stood out the best out of all the ones tested, which, believe me, have been a lot. Here are the heroes that stood out the most:
What Did We Prioritize During Winter Tire Testing?
A good winter tire is not only about stability on snowy surfaces. We believe that its performance must be measured from various perspectives such as:
- ice handling
- snow traction
- overall comfort
- dry and wet handling
These performance factors are critical for any reliable winter tire. Namely, these criteria were under our radar during testing. As an evaluation grid, we used the ranking from 1 to 10, the latter being the superior performance score of a winter tire.
Further on, we performed tests in the most difficult winter conditions for each tire. From the multitude of tires tested, 5 stood out the most. Below you can find the graphic conclusion of the results according to the performance criteria. As you can see, 5 leaders share the title of the best winter tires. It is about Michelin, Nokian, Continental, Yokohama, and Pirelli. Bridgestone also stood out with its Blizzak model. However, this is the sixth according to performance criteria. I think any winter tire in the top 10 deserves to be under your radar whenever it corresponds to your winter needs. So if Blizzak is closer to your need, go ahead. Let's take a closer look at the first 5 winter tires that stood out the most.
Important Factors For Winter Tires
For a winter tire to be considered optimal, it must meet these 5 criteria. It's ok if not all of them are 100% efficient. However, they must have an above-average rating to be maximally reliable in severe winter conditions.
Snow Handling
The most important criterion for a winter tire is snow handling. This is its essence and a tire cannot be called "winter" if it does not have this performance factor. Snow handling means the way the tire behaves on snowy surfaces. Does it feel confident? Can it handle heavy snowblocks? Is it traction powerful? Does it bite sufficiently well through the snow? These are the questions that determine the snow-handling performance of a competent winter tire.
Ice Handling
Testing a tire in icy conditions is very challenging. But, very necessary, though. Hard winters are necessarily accompanied by thicker or thinner ice surfaces. Our focus was to see how agile and controllable the winter tire is on these surfaces. So, the testing took place on a fully frozen lake. What interested us was the way the tire bites through the ice, how capable its biting edges are, how sensitive is the tire to slipping, and how big the tendency is to under or oversteer while cornering on ice.
Wet Handling
Wet handling is a primary aspect in all tires, and not only in winter tires. The way the tire behaves in wet conditions is critical for the driver's safety, especially in critical situations. Braking distance on the wet increases substantially. In addition, water on the road is likely to seriously make driving difficult if the tire does not have solid wet performance. During testing, I drew attention to the way the tires evacuate water, the braking distance in wet conditions, the speed at which it loses its stability on wet surfaces, and the threshold at which it becomes unstable in highly humid conditions.
Dry Handling
Dry handling is also an important criterion in winter conditions. Our test team evaluated the cornering mode of the tires, their braking properties, and the dynamics of the tires while changing snowy lanes. This aspect is important in winter stability and safety, especially on long journeys.
Comfort
While not the most critical factor for safety, comfort is also a priority in any tire, including the winter one. By the term comfort, we refer to how the tire inhibits road irregularities and how it suppresses noise. These 2 properties of the tires determine the ride's smoothness in the hard winter conditions.
Winter Tire Reviews
Apart from the critical factors mentioned above, some secondary criteria are also important for drivers. It is about the high or cheap price of winter tires and their fuel efficiency. Ultimately, we want our tires to be a long-term investment. The scenario in which a winter tire is very expensive and at the same time consumes a lot of fuel is not the most attractive for consumers. So, the ratio between price and fuel consumption is a critical element for choosing an optimal winter tire. Below, you can find a graphic illustration of the relationship between price and tire fuel efficiency.
Note that the lower the rolling resistance, the less fuel it burns. So your goal is to opt for LRR tires to reduce fuel expenses in the long run. In addition, please leave a margin of error for the prices shown. The prices below are estimates and might differ depending on the dealer and the tire model size.
This is the rating of the 5 winter models that stood out the most. Each has its strong points, whether it's price, ice or snow performance, or fuel efficiency. Either way, all 5 models have the 3PMSF standard which officially confirms their reliability for the most severe snowy conditions.
Below, I will go into specific details for each of the 5 models. So, stay with me if you want to learn more about the construction, technologies, and performance aspects of these models.
The Best Winter Tire: Michelin X-Ice Snow
This tire is the leader not only in our testing but also that of many other independent testing teams. And rightfully so, this tire stands out for its astonishing snow stability and confidence. Michelin launched a wide range of sizes, which are compatible with vehicles from coupes to crossovers and everything in between.
The X-Ice Snow tire is rich in advanced technologies, which is why it delivers superior confidence and power during winter months. Its solid ice and snow traction is explained by the tread compound that generates micro roughness. In addition, it contains a high concentration of silica compound. The component is responsible for the flexibility and grip of the tire even if the temperature drops well below zero.
Michelin has combined 2 types of full-depth sipes in this model. It is about variable thickness and notched sipes. This tandem creates plenty of biting edges and substantially increases contact with the snowy road. As befits a high-quality winter tire, the Michelin X-Ice Snow studless tire is certified with the 3PMSF standard. It is available for a price starting at $149, which justifies its potential to the fullest.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5: Best Tires For Ice
The Hakkapeliitta R5 tire's strong selling point lies in its ice-handling abilities. In addition, the tire stood out for its superior comfort. The tire maker created the Hakkapeliitta R5 line for any vehicle that falls into the passenger cars category. The beautiful part is that its construction is also compatible with electric vehicles.
The Hakkapeliitta R5 studless tire increases superior comfort through phenomenal noise suppression with solid traction and reasonable fuel consumption. This performance spectrum is a great combo for those looking for up-to-the-mark winter reliability. The Hakkapeliitta R5 architecture remains flexible at low temperatures, which increases comfort and ride smoothness.
Nokian has endowed this model with microscopic crystals that play the role of built-in studs for solid traction. In addition, the tire has an innovative double-block grip that solidifies firm handling and reliable stability.
The tire feels very friendly on icy surfaces. This establishes a confident grip regardless of the direction in which you change the route. However, it does not have enough grip when on wet surfaces. For this reason, the Hakkapeliitta R5 undergoes hydroplaning at a slightly lower speed than the competition. The dry performance is very decent.
Continental VikingContact 7: Best Winter Tires For Dry Roads
The selling point of the VikingContact 7 tire is, without a doubt, the dry conditions. This tire includes specially engineered components that bring about both superior winter performance and phenomenal dry handling. Architecturally, the VikingContact 7 has a smart pattern combined with well-thought-out siping. This makes it impressively confident even in wet conditions. This design approach expels everything derived from water: slush, ice, snow, or water in its natural form.
The probability of hydroplaning of this tire is close to zero, literally. It also resists superbly at high speed without being somehow compromised by the accumulation of wet material. I mean, the wet material doesn't even manage to accumulate in the tire because it is already evacuated.
As for the winter performance, which interests us the most, the VikingContact 7 feels very confident. The tests indicate that while the front end is at a higher level while cornering, the rear one is still better in the previous Nokian model. This tire also loses a small score in steering feel, which is slightly sluggish.
However, the grip on ice is a solid advantage of the VikingContact 7. It feels pretty balanced and exudes a lovely confidence. Also, the tire is stable while changing lanes. It tends to oversteer sometimes, but this happens in a mild and controllable manner.
Pirelli Ice Zero FR: Best Snow Tire
As you can see in the table above, the Pirelli Ice Zero FR is a little more expensive than the other models. Let's see how this price is justified.
Pirelli designed this model keeping the extreme winter conditions in mind. To ensure its power and traction, the tire maker integrated an arrow-shaped directional pattern placed on a special winter compound. This design is highly beneficial for increasing longitudinal traction. In addition, the highest sipe density in the central area of the tire plays an essential role in efficient braking and acceleration capabilities in winter conditions.
According to the test data, the tire feels very confident on snow-covered surfaces. Its level of grip is hard to outbeat. Our testers noticed a little backend wandering, but this, in the end, was beneficial for the tire's lap times.
If you talk about the icy conditions, this manifested itself quite decently. However, the braking distance is slightly longer than in other models in this post. Still, it didn't lack grip on the ice, whenever the driver is careful on the throttle.
Yokohama iceGUARD iG53: Best Budget Winter Tires
This tire deserves praise for the ratio between the reasonable price and the winter performance it has. The iceGUARD iG53 is a great option that combines long-term fuel efficiency with a phenomenal ride quality far superior to what the competition offers at the same price point.
If we talk about the snow handling aspect, the Yokohama iceGUARD iG53 still has room for improvement. It lacks the tight and firm grip that I felt with other tires in this article. It feels quite balanced, but agility is not its strong side. The steering is softer than in other tires. So, I see this tire as suitable for those who align themselves with lazy but determined driving.
if we talk about the icy test, it performed very decently. This is not at the same level as its Nokian competitor, however, it does not tend to slide or lose control.
The behavior on dry and wet roads is stable, but pushing the limits is not recommended. The iceGUARD iG53 tire exhibits a relatively longer dry braking distance than other offerings when driving at high speeds. On the other hand, its dry handling is fairly reliable and responsive, even if a bit more lazy. Either way, the overall winter performance is positive, which makes it optimal for those looking for good offerings at a reasonable price.
Winter Tires: FAQs
When To Put On Winter Tires?
Many drivers ask what is the appropriate snow level to change to winter tires. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question. Experts recommend taking into account the capacities of your current all-season tires. If they lose traction due to the cold weather, it means that they are no longer viable for the upcoming winter. So, that's the time when you have to change the all-season tires to the winter ones.
Also, if the weather indicates constant temperatures of less than 45 Fahrenheit, then it's time to change, as the all-season rubber compound becomes stiffer and less performing in such weather.
How Much Are Winter Tires?
The price of winter tires differs greatly from one tire maker to another. The price takes into account the type of tire and the technologies included in it. For example, studless winter tires are more affordable than studdable or studded ones. Still, there are exceptions to this rule. Also, winter tires for passenger vehicles are more affordable than tires for CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks. In general terms, a winter tire varies between $100-150 for small and medium-sized vehicles, while those for larger vehicles - between $200 and $400. Some high-performance winter tire models can reach up to $600 per unit.
Do I Really Need Winter Tires?
Many drivers question the necessity of winter tires considering that they involve additional expenses. However, the driver's safety is above all else and it is not worth saving on it. If the winters in the area where you live are harsh with heavy snow and ice, winter tires are indispensable. These grip the snowy roads the most efficiently and provide short braking and confident traction. All-season tires might be a solution but only when the winters are mild with temperatures around zero degrees and above and with light and infrequent snow.
What is the Purpose of Winter Tires?
Cold weather conditions impact tire traction. The harsher the conditions, the poorer the traction. Add to this some heavy snow and ice layers on the road, driving can turn into a nightmare if the vehicle is equipped with the wrong tires. Winter tires are specially designed to withstand extreme weather conditions very well. Their special tread pattern and rubber formula provide superior traction and grip that no other type of tire can surpass.
Do Winter Tires Really Make a Difference?
According to tests and performance ratings, winter tires do make a difference. They grip much better on wintry roads, provide better traction, and handle icy surfaces more confidently. Winter tires resist impressively well to extreme temperatures without losing their capabilities, unlike other types of tires. All-season tires might be an option but only when winters are mild. For heavy winters, snow tires are the best and safest way to go.
Can I Use Normal Tires in Winter?
If by "normal tires" you mean "summer tires", then the answer is an empathetic but categorical NO. Winter tires are the most rational decision when winter conditions are difficult, with a lot of snow and ice. Regular summer tires are absolutely unsuitable for these conditions. The rubber formula of summer tires does not take into account low temperatures. They will slide on the roads, putting the driver's safety at risk. An acceptable alternative to winter tires is all-weather tires. They do well with winter conditions, but only if these conditions are not extreme.
What is The Disadvantage of Winter Tires?
If the winter tire is used according to its purpose, it has almost no significant disadvantages. The winter traction is superb, the grip on snowy and icy roads is phenomenal, and the braking and driving confidence is at the highest level. The only drawback is that most tire makers are not too generous with the winter tire warranty. In most cases, they are available without a tread life warranty, although there are some exceptions. Disadvantages occur when winter tires are not used in the right conditions. If you use them in summer conditions, they wear out early and significantly reduce their performance ratings.
What Temperature is Bad for Winter Tires?
Winter tires perform best in cold conditions below zero degrees Celsius. Their rubber formula is specially designed to remain flexible at extreme temperatures. Once the temperatures rise, they become too soft and begin to deteriorate prematurely, reducing performance. As such, specialists recommend not to use winter tires in temperatures higher than 7 degrees Celsius or 45 degrees Fahrenheit. In these circumstances, it is better to switch to all-season or summer tires.
Do You Need 2 or 4 Winter Tires?
For safety reasons, it is highly recommended to opt for 4 winter tires. This combination ensures optimal performance and fewer risks associated with winter driving in extreme conditions. In exceptional cases when mounting 4 winter tires is not possible for some reason, mounting only 2 winter tires is only accepted on rear-wheel-drive cars. In the rest of the cases, combining 2 winter tires with 2 other tire types is risky and not recommended.
Why Trust Us?
Neotires is more than a tire deals platform. Our team is dedicated to the study, analysis, research, and testing of various tires. We are interested in learning more about tire technology and performance. For this, we created our own technical center where we analyze tires from all perspectives.
In order for our analysis to be as unbiased and objective as possible, we brought in specialists from the field to our team. Our expert mechanics, professionals with extensive experience in the automotive field, as well as quality assistants, ensure the veracity of the information we present in our blog. In addition, we collaborate with experts in the field of tire technologies who share their knowledge about driving tips and tire reviews.
With this in mind, for more than 5 years we have been loyal allies to thousands of drivers who have already enjoyed our services and products. We offer professional assistance in any question related to tires and driving practices. Last but not least, we find the best deals for the best tires. Our ultimate goal is not only to sell tires but to match them with drivers' needs. Feel free to join them and benefit from quality services and products. We want you to have a safe, high-performance, and cost-efficient driving experience! Drive safe!
