10 Of The Highest Rated Snow Tire Brands, Ranked

Snow tires often seem like more of a luxury than a necessity. For motorists in the northern United States and Canada, however, a set of hoops designed for the unrelenting cold, icy roads, and persistent snowfall of those regions can be a lifesaver.

Snow tires have several advantages over all-season or summer tires on harsh winter roadways. Rubber compounds in summer or all-season tires can stiffen up in lower temperatures, diminishing the tire's ability to grab the road. Snow tires use a different compound, one that can better handle the cold while remaining pliable and providing traction. Tread patterns on snow tires are specifically engineered for snow, ice, and slush, allowing the tires to eliminate the buildup of snow and slush while increasing traction. One look at the tread of a snow tire can reveal "biting edges" — thin, jagged grooves that assist in grip on icy road surfaces or hard-packed snow. We suggest getting a full set of four snow tires to reduce the risk of spin-outs or decreased turning ability due to tire traction differences.

What follows is SlashGear's ranking of ten of the best snow tire manufacturers on the market. Our list is based on test results, reviews, and the author's own experience driving and installing tires for over a decade in both the Chicago and Denver markets — two very different, but equally harrowing, winter driving locales.

Hankook is far from the most popular tire on the market, but its budget-friendly snow tires and great test results could change the misconception that it makes a "cheap" tire. The Korean company has been around since 1941, and established a foothold in America in 1981. By 1992, Hankook opened its first U.S. facility in Ohio, and has been growing ever since. The company has received accolades from magazines like Car and Driver, and also won contracts as the OE supplier for automakers like Audi and Hyundai.

Hankook's "Winter i*cept" and "Winter i*pike" tire lines have consistently great ratings, especially considering the tires' lower price tag depending on size. Road noise and high rolling resistance (resulting in slightly worse fuel efficiency) are often the primary complaints in reviews of these otherwise stellar tires; however, safety and performance on snow and ice are never in question. Many users praise the versatility of Hankook's tires in wet, dry, and snowy conditions, as well as its durability.

For those drivers in areas that don't get bad winter weather frequently enough to justify a separate set of winter tires, one independent test showed that Hankook's all-season Kinergy 4S2s performed better in winter conditions than many dedicated snow tires from other brands.

Goodyear has been a mainstay in America's obsession with the automobile for over 125 years. The company got its start with bicycle and carriage tires, and has gone on to become the largest tire company, as well as the largest rubber company in the world. The company's eponymous blimp is often seen flying over sporting events nationwide, and Goodyear rubber is used in everything from its own tires to Skecher shoes.

Our focus is on snowy weather, and Goodyear makes several lines of winter tires for every application including the Eagle Ultra Grip, popular among police forces and first responders. The Ultra Grip Winter is the company's best-reviewed snow tire on Goodyear's site, with hundreds raving about performance on everything from minivans to Jeep Wranglers. Independent reviewers rave about the UltraGrip Performance 3's excellent performance on wet and dry surfaces, along with decent braking distance and handling and a surprisingly quiet ride. The only consistent negative with that particular tire was somewhat unbalanced handling on snow.

While Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian may not be the most well-known here in the States, the company was actually the first to manufacture a snow tire way back in 1934. Its line of Hakkapeliitta winter tires, available with or without studs, is overwhelmingly well-regarded for its grip, handling, quiet ride, and fuel efficiency. It's almost like designing tires for a frigid European climate has given Nokian some kind of unfair advantage.

Hakkapeliittas carry several unique design choices that help make them advantageous on winter roads. The "Snow Claw" design grips the snow, providing extra traction. The siping is designed to both grab the road and displace water and slush, and military-grade Aramid fibers are used in the sidewall construction to protect both one's wheels and the tire itself from impact.

Hakkapeliittas, Snowproofs, and other Nokian tires are something of a legend among tire stores, in part because the shoppers who ask for them are typically folks who do a lot of internet research or European snow-driving veterans. The tires consistently rate among the best in real-world snow and ice tests. However, it is a lack of widespread availability and some lower marks for wear and aquaplaning that keep these winter tires from the top of the list.

If there's one point you should take away from this list, know that the best tire companies aren't fly-by-night operations. Like the other manufacturers on our ranking, Pirelli has been in business for a while; over 150 years, to be exact. That's not to say that innovation isn't happening. Rather, innovation is happening in the labs of these older tire makers who aren't willing to make the same rubber hoops yearly. Winter tires, especially, see the fruits of this labor in the form of new tire compounds, interesting grooves, and siping patterns. While these features and changes may seem small, the results are dramatic when experienced on a winter road.

While some may know Pirelli more for its performance and racing tire applications, the company also makes great snow tires. Its Scorpion Winter lineup is focused on light truck and SUV applications. At the same time, passenger vehicles have several lines to choose from, including the P Zero Winter, Winter Snowcontrol, and Winter Sottozero. The Scorpions in particular get a lot of love online, with both customers and pro reviewers touting good handling on both wet and dry surfaces, as well as great performance in winter wonderlands like Colorado, Maine, and Ohio.

The French tire manufacturer known as Michelin began as a rubber factory, but a chance encounter with a cyclist with a flat tire changed everything. Tires were glued to wheels at the time, and the brothers Michelin realized a removable tire would save a lot of time. That innovation led to the company moving towards pneumatic tire production, and today Michelin is the most awarded tire brand in the U.S. The beloved Michelin Man, Mr. Bib, has a look inspired by a stack of tires, and his full name, Bibendum, comes from the Latin phrase for "Now is the time to drink," used on the first poster to bear his image.

SlashGear's pick for the best major tire brand also leads our rankings for winter hoops, with its X-Ice line of snow tires beating out the competition. They are consistently rated well, with great traction, braking performance, and low noise frequently mentioned in reviews. Excellent handling of ice and snow is often brought up in drivers' reviews of the tires, as well.

While all the tires on our ranking are designed for winter weather, it's important to remember that snow tires are not designed to be year-round tires. The compounds that give these tires advantages on snow and ice are softer and more prone to quickly wear on dry, hot road surfaces. But for areas with consistently lousy winter weather, snow tires aren't simply a safer option. They are often a necessary investment.