The best truck tires for winter, when deep snow and ice present a challenge, are winter-specific tires that feature the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, indicating that the tires are designed to deliver maximum grip on snowy and icy surfaces. 3PMSF-rated truck tires feature optimized tread patterns and special rubber that resists freezing temperatures. These features enable winter truck tires to provide superior traction, improved stability, and shorter braking distances than all-season tires in snowy conditions.
This section helps you decide which truck tires are the best for snow conditions, provides comparisons across the most rated winter tires, and offers tips for maximizing truck performance in winter conditions.
What Are the Best Truck Tires for Snow 2025?
The following five truck tires stand out through superior winter performance: Bridgestone Blizzak LT, Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT 3, Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT, Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw, and Toyo Open Country WLT1. All five winter truck tires mentioned feature 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) marking, confirming their approval for severe winter conditions.
The key features for the best truck winter tires are presented in the below table:
Tire Model | Best For | Key Features |
light trucks, commercial vans, and heavy-duty applications | →rugged LT compound →zigzag center groove →straight outer grooves →tied shoulder lugs | |
heavy-duty, light trucks operating in demanding winter conditions | →Aramid Sidewall Technology →aggressive arrow-shaped tread →tailored sipes for cornering grip →strong body structure | |
light trucks that drive in heavy winter conditions | →3D TredLock Technology →studdable design →rim protector to guard wheels →2D sipes in the center zone →10 ply carcass with a Load Range E | |
light trucks tackling extreme winter conditions | →Snow Groove Technology →studdable design →Armor-Tek3 Construction →dense zigzag siping | |
light trucks and vans that require high load capacity | → wide tread footprint →heavy-duty construction →increased sipe density →waved & straight Siping combination |
Best Truck Tires for Winter: Performance Comparison & Ratings
From the five best truck tires for winter provided, Nokian LT3 delivers the strongest winter performance on ice and snow (10.0), while Cooper Snow Claw follows with an excellent winter grip and comfort rating (10.0). Blizzak LT provides highly consistent all-around performance, while Toyo WLT1 excels in tread life durability, along with decent winter performance. Goodyear WRT LT tires offer decent balance between winter and wet performance, yet provide slightly lower comfort compared to competitors.
Performance ratings of the best truck tires for snow are presented in the table below, which is sourced from independent testing and the brands’ official websites.
Tire Model | Winter (Snow/Ice) | Wet | Dry | Treadwear | Comfort |
9.5 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 8.6 | 8.7 | |
10.0 | 10.0 | 9.6 | 8.0 | 9.6 | |
8.8 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.2 | |
10.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | |
8.1 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 |
Do Trucks Need Winter Tires?
Yes, trucks operating in snowy, icy, or freezing conditions-including cargo vans, pickup trucks, small dump trucks, semi-trucks, and large dump trucks-should use winter-specific tires for safe and optimal performance. Winter tires for trucks and light trucks are designed to effectively handle the additional weight on ice and snow, maintain better contact with the road in slippery conditions, and help compensate for weight distribution challenges in low temperatures. Learn about the Tire E Load Rating Guide to know more about tires specific to trucks.
Why Trucks Need Winter Tires
Trucks require winter tires to maintain grip at extreme temperatures, stop quickly on slippery and snowy roads, remain stable while cornering in winter conditions, and channel away snow and slush to minimize hydroplaning.
What To Look For When Buying Truck Tires for Snow?
The following five aspects can help you buy tires with excellent snow performance for your truck: 3PMSF certification, aggressive block pattern, multi-ply construction, correct load rating, and studded/studdable design.
The 3PMSF rating ensures the truck tire is designed to meet severe snow traction standards in winter conditions. The tire's aggressive block pattern can help the truck provide maximum grip under heavy loads and in frequent starts and stops. Multi-ply construction in tires aids the vehicle in maintaining structural integrity under truck-specific weight and torque demands. A correct load rating is essential for the truck tires to handle a vehicle's extra weight, which is especially important when traction is reduced in winter conditions. The tire studded/studdable design provides ultimate truck grip in extreme winter conditions, where maximum traction is essential.
Studded/Studdable vs Studless Truck Tires: What to Choose?
Get studded/studdable tires for your truck if you frequently drive on icy roads (early morning routes, mountain areas, steep grades with ice buildup) and the local government allows for the use of tire studs. Choose studless tires for your truck if you primarily drive on highways, well-maintained and snow-cleaned urban roads, and when modern winter studless tires meet your winter traction needs.
Winter Tires VS All-Terrain Tires vs All-Season Tires for Trucks
Winter tires are the safest option for trucks when driving in snow, ice, and at freezing temperatures, compared to all-terrain and all-season tires. The flexible rubber that remains soft in cold conditions, combined with the rugged tread design of winter tires, aids trucks in maintaining a firm grip in freezing temperatures.
All-terrain tires lack the specialized pliability of winter-specific tires, remaining a solid option for mixed driving (on-road and off-road use) rather than winter conditions with deep snow and ice. All-season tires focus on year-round versatility with optimal performance within a 45°F to 85°F (7°C to 29°C) temperature range, and become rigid at lower temperatures, which can significantly impact a truck’s traction and overall performance.
Performance Differences Between Winter Tires vs AT Tires vs AS Tires for Trucks
Ready To Upgrade Your Truck’s Winter Performance?
Buying winter-specific tires for your truck means investing in safety and optimal performance, regardless of your driving intent- be it commercial use related to job tasks or daily use related to personal needs. Winter tires can significantly improve your truck’s capabilities on snowy and icy roads compared to AS or AT tires. Just remember to choose the right load rating, a studdable design if required, an aggressive, multi-ply architecture, and a trusted tire brand that gained a reputation through high quality.
NeoTires can help you buy the best truck tires for snow, delivered fast, and offered at competitive prices. Explore our vast catalog of truck tires and find the suitable set by Size, Brand, Season, or Vehicle Type. Learn How To Find the Best Deals and contact us whenever you need guidance; our expert team is ready to match your budget and driving needs with the best tire set.
Drive safe and choose your tires wisely!
