Types of Winter Tires

Snow tires, popularly also known as winter tires, have better capability on ice or snow than all other types of tires because of their chunky treads, specialized shoulder blocks, and additional siping (thin slits).

All these (and others) increase traction and restrain hydroplaning (thanks to the effective water ejection) making you safe when behind the wheel in a winter storm.

This guide reveals the assorted types of winter tires that you can install on your vehicle to help you beat the winter slush.

Types of winter and snow tires

Here are the winter tires you can count on in adverse weather.

1. Studded snow and winter tires

Studded snow tires feature metal studs planted in the tread to help the tire dig into ice to deepen the traction on slush-covered roads.

These types of winter tires produce perhaps the best possible ice traction and will give you more peace of mind even when you’re up against extraordinarily harsh conditions.

You need to be aware of their potential limitations such as the possibility of damaging the road (in the summer)- in fact, states such as Minnesota and Texas (among others) expressly prohibit the use of studded snow tires for this very reason.

Also, unlike the best tires for quiet ride, when using these best wet traction tires, you have to live with unpleasant road noise.

We recommend these tires for persistently wet, harsh ice, and packed snow below 44.6°F (7°C).

Nokian Nordman Studded Winter Tire

2. Studless snow tires

Even though they lack metal studs, contemporary studless winter tires maintain flexibility in chilly weather due to the advanced rubber tread compound.

They establish powerful traction and dislodge water through their enlarged, deeper grooves and other revolutionary technologies such as water-absorbing agents.

The modern rubber has the flexibility to maintain tolerable traction even on dry driving surfaces.

These tires are most dependable on conditions such as rough ice again when temperatures drop below 44.6°F (7°C).

Michelin Studless Ice & Snow

3. High performance winter tires

Driving at a high speed during the winter months can be nightmarish if your winter tires aren’t designed to handle the hazards of accelerating in thick snow.

And this is where high-performance winter tires comes in-   they sacrifice part of the traditional winter tire features such as deep V-shaped grooves to bring in performance boosters like silica tread compound and will remain steady at higher speeds (sometimes up to 130 mph!).

This class works best in high performance vehicles that are often driven in moderate snow.

4. All season snow tires

The harder tread compound of the best all season tires for snow is advantageous in terms of tread life but it cripples the traction in freezing temperatures.

They are, therefore, only desirable in situations where incidents of the roads being covered by thick carpets of snow are rare.

Even then, try to pick brands with a tread depth of 3.5 mm (and above) for a safe winter outing in your car.

5. Best all weather tires for snow

Another set of tires that can help you fight the heightened dangers of prolonged periods of testing winter weather is all weather snow tires.

You will love their slush dispersion abilities and solidity in the snow (they bite into wet roads brilliantly because of the rugged tread).

Additionally, they ride smoothly on dry roads again on the account of the more flexible rubber.

This category of winter tires fits milder winter conditions as they lack advancements such as studs that ensure the utmost cold weather grip.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the best winter tire will depend on your preferences, budget, and the typical snow and winter conditions where you live.

Also, check for the presence of the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol on the sidewall- it means that the tire has met the specified performance criteria (in severe snow) and it could make the cut.

Seek the assistance of the tire dealer if still unable to make any headway.