It is getting to be that time of the year; snow, cold, slush, ice. Although you can drive all winter on all-season tires, it is best if you switch to winter, or snow, tires. This is especially true if you live in an area where there is a lot of ice and snow. Driving in snow and ice can sometimes be tricky and dangerous so you want to make sure that you have the best tires on your vehicle to deal with these situations.
In the winter, no matter how great a driver you are, there are still hazards such as black ice, slush, and more that could cause even the most experienced driver to maintain a grip on the road or even lose control. The reason that it is important to change to the best winter tires before this nasty weather hits is that these tires have a special design. This design will allow great performance in the snow with a better gripping force to allow vehicles to power through the snow and ice. Here is a list of the top 10 winter tires in Canada:
Best Treadwear
Michelin X-Ice Xi3
Editor's Pick
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
Most Comfortable
Continental VikingContact 7
Bridgestone Blizzak WS80
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- These best winter tires have a combination of lateral and circumferential grooves. These grooves are designed to direct snow, slush, and water away from the contact area
- 3D Zig-Zag sipes. They give this tire extra biting edges
- A next-generation compound that features microscopic bite particles and water-loving hydrophilic coating
Pros
- Highly rated
- There a plenty of options for popular vehicles
- They get great traction when driving in the snow
- Good braking
Cons
- They are more expensive than most winter tires
- There is no unique warranty coverage
This tire is one of the most effective and popular snow tires that you can buy on the market today. This brand can be used on coupes, minivans, compact cars, and sedans but if you have other vehicles, such as an SUV, you will need to check out the other Blizzak tire versions.
Yokohama iceGuard iG52c
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- Locking sipes help improve cornering stability
- Excellent performance on snow and ice-covered roads
- Slush grooves in the tires help spit out muck in the road as your drive
Pros
- Great cold-weather performance
- Plenty of options for wheel size
- Environmentally friendly
Cons
- These tires don't handle deep snow well
- The biggest size is a 19", however, they do have some unique sizes
- No warranty
This is an ecologically friendly winter tire. This tire has a lot of unique materials that will allow the tire to handle a variety of weather situations easily. These are not tires that are large enough for SUV buyers.
Dunlop Winter Maxx
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- The tires have an aggressive tread pattern that is perfectly suited for ice, snow, and slush
- The Miura-Ori shaped sipes help to give traction on ice and snow. It also helps to improve tread-wear
- Has an asymmetric block design to help out in cold, dry conditions
Pros
- Average in dry conditions but superb snow performance
- Unique tread pattern
- The tire runs quiet
- Has a balanced performance in dry and wet conditions
Cons
- There is a narrow choice of tires, ranging in size from 14-18 inches. If you own a larger vehicle, such as an SUV, you may not find the right size tire.
- Average bounce resistance
- On melting ice, there is poor traction
This the companies first set of winter tires. They are a great buy for those that are looking for high-performance and affordability. It is one of the best inexpensive winter tires on the market that can handle heavy snow.
Cooper Discoverer True North
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- Has the ability to dig into icy surfaces
- The tires are designed for clean roads and roads that are covered in ice and slush
- The tire has two tread designs on one tire
Pros
- Great pricing
- Quiet driving on the winter roads
- Exceptional wet and dry winter performance
- Comes in sizes 15-20 inches in diameter
Cons
- Not a superior deep snow tire
- Not designed with driving on snow as a primary concern
This is a great winter-option tire for both SUV and cars. It has the highest silica content of any tire made by this company. This best winter tire was able to traverse Donner Pass in California without chaining the tires with very little effort during the dead of winter.
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- They come in two styles; run-flat or standard
- They have high-density sipes that help improve braking distances. These tires are great for those that live in an area with limited snow but have cold weather
- Made of a special winter compound that is arranged in a directional pattern. It has an enlarged contact patch
- To evacuate slush and water, the tires have rounded shoulders with arrow-shaped center blocks
Pros
- The tires have a great cold surface performance
- The tread pattern is aggressive looking
Cons
- There is no tread-wear warrant
- Has a low tread life
- Expensive
This is a tire that comes from Pirelli, an Italian tire maker. This winter tire is designed for high-end premium vehicles. The design has taken into account all of the modern revolutions of vehicles in order to achieve maximum safety and performance in winter conditions.
Michelin X-Ice Xi3
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- It has a low-rolling-resistance construction. This can help to improve the fuel economy
- Cross Z-sipes can help to deliver improved wet weather capability
- Built with spirally wound nylon and twin steel belts for high speed performance
- Provides winter performance for up to 60,000 kilometers
Pros
- Has a special wear indicator on the tire that will inform the driver when snow and ice traction needs to be reduced.
- They come with three separate warranties; six-year tread life, one-year uniformity, and a 30-day satisfaction warranty
- Three-year flat changing assistance
- Environmentally friendly tires
- The tires fit most small sports utilities, minivans, cars, and crossovers with dimensions from 14-18 inch rim diameters
Cons
- They are an expensive winter tire
- When compared to other winter tires, they are a bit stiffer
- Can be harsh riding over potholes and bumps
This best winter tire is one of the more capable winter tires in Michelin’s winter tire lineup. This is the third generation of Michelin’s winter tires. It is a great fit for family vans, coupes, small crossovers, and sedans.
Continental Viking Contact 7
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- Has a specialized rubber compound that contains canola oil. It helps the tires to stay more flexible in extreme cold weather
- The tread pattern has sipes for maximum snow tractions and is composed of innumerable biting edges
Pros
- More environmentally friendly to manufacture
- On snow, slush, and ice, they have excellent grip
- In the worst winter conditions, they have a high-quality performance
- On wet and other wintery surfaces, they have enhanced traction
Cons
- They make a little rolling noise
- Compared to studded tires on ice, these tires are not as good
- The tires have a relatively long braking distance
This best winter tire is a new offering from Continental and could be one of their best winter tires. It is manufactured by a company founded in 1871 that was originally a rubber manufacturer. This company was the first to introduce tubeless tires and patterned grooved tires.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
Key Features
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- Has a highly aggressive tread pattern
- The tire has a silica compound that enables it to find grip in ice and deep snow
- Studless winter tire with directional tread
- They are designed for passenger cars
Pros
- Good wet braking handling and distance
- Great ice performance
- Good snow braking traction and handling
- One of the best noise levels compared to competing brands
- Maximum driving comfort in winter weather
- Saves on fuel cost
Cons
- Has no mileage warranty
- Higher priced tires
Nokian has been a pioneer in the winter tire market since 1932. The winter tire was invented by the Finnish manufacturer. This tire is their top-of-the-line winter tire. It is a winter tire that is recommended for hybrid and electric cars.
Goodyear Ultra Grip
This is a very popular best winter snow tire. The reason is that they come in a variety of tires for different vehicles and sizes of tires. They have two different types of sipes that work well in ice and snow. They provide additional biting edges that give good traction.
Performance Ratings
Key Features
- One sype is a 3-D type that will lock together to improve grip and stability
- Another sype is a 2-D surface type that will help to improve braking
- Directional tread pattern to help enhance winter traction in the snow
- Has wide tread grooves to help keep slush and snow away.
Pros
- One-year uniformity warranty
- Six-year material and workmanship warranty.
- It will stop, on average, six feet shorter than most winter tires
Cons
- Some customers say they are not impressive when cornering and they lose their performance quickly but still they were prevented from getting stuck
- When road conditions are not snowy or icy the tires can be noisy and heavy
Benefits of winter tires
Maintains traction
When you have just all-season tires on your car in the winter, the tires can become stiff and frozen so they can lose their grip on ice. Winter tires are made from a different compound. This compound will keep your tires flexible and soft so they can maintain a comfortable grip on ice.
Increased safety
The treads on winter tires are designed to ‘bite’ into the snow. This will give you exceptional handling and maximum traction. These tires will also provide you with outstanding cornering. This will keep you stable and safe on the road during the winter.
Insurance discounts
Some insurance companies will reward their clients with discounts on their car insurance if they switch to winter tires.
Conclusion
When looking for the best winter tires one of the main things you need to check is the traction they will give you in snow, ice, and slush. The right tractions will help to promote your safety on winter roads. Check to see if the winter tires that you are considering purchasing are designed and have been tested for enhanced tractions, even in the harshest winter condition. You also want to check the construction of the tire in regards to tread design and material. Most winter tires will have a lifespan of 30,000 miles. If you want a long tread life, you need to consider winter tires that are of high quality.
FAQs
When is the best time to put on winter tires?
If you live in Canada or Northern USA, you will want to put your winter tires on by the end of October at the latest. It’s important not to put this off too long, as a snowstorm could suddenly sneak up on you.
Is there a speed limit when driving with winter tires?
The maximum safe speed limit of your winter tires should be on the tires themselves. When you go faster than this speed, you increase the risk of an accident while driving. The faster you go in excess of the speed limit, the less traction your tires will offer.
How long will my winter tires last?
There are multiple factors that can affect how long your winter tires remain effective, including the overall condition of the roads you travel on. A standard set of winter tires should last at least four seasons.
Are winter tires loud?
It is true that winter tires produce more noise than all-season tires. This is a result of the high-performance design, which is necessary to handle road conditions in winter.
Why can't I use my all-season tires in the winter?
The fact is that all-season tires are not specifically made for the rigors of the winter season. They are therefore not as reliable or effective when it comes to driving safely this time of year.
Can I keep my winter tires on all year long?
You should only use winter tires in winter, as they are not designed for the mild conditions of the other seasons. If you choose to keep them on past winter, the tread will wear out much faster than normal.
Should I get winter tires for my SUV?
Despite the rugged design of most modern SUVs, they still require winter tires in order to maintain proper traction in slippery conditions. As we mentioned above, all-season tires are not adequate in regions that experience harsh winters.