Snow Tires: Reviews

Updated November 2009

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Best winter tire

Michelin's newest winter tire aces even the toughest Scandinavian tests. It clings tenaciously to snow and ice, while driving more quietly and offering less rolling resistance (and therefore better gas mileage) than other… winter tires. However, the Michelin Xi2 is more expensive than the competent General Altimax Arctic (*Est. $65), and it can't handle wet and dry roads as confidently as the performance-oriented Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 (*Est. $145).

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests 32 winter tires, including the Michelin X-Ice Xi2. Editors rank the tires according to their ...

Motor: Motor, the member magazine of the Norges Automobil Forbund (Norwegian Automobile Federation), publishes this comprehensive test ...

Auto Motor & Sport: This Swedish magazine is one of several Scandinavian publications that sponsors the winter tire test published in Motor. However, ...

Automobile Protection Association: This Canadian nonprofit rates 29 winter tires for passenger cars. Reviewers summarize their opinions in one or two sentences and ...

Tire Rack: This retail site also conducts tire tests. This test, part of a Michelin media event, pits the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 against the ...

Wheels.ca: Wheels.ca is the Toronto Star's auto website, where reviewer John Mahler posts his yearly winter tire roundup. He names his top ...

Tire Rack: The Michelin X-Ice Xi2 is the top-ranked studless winter tire among customers at TireRack.com. More than 140 owners post reviews ...

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Budget snow tire

General Altimax Arctic

*Est. $65 Compare Prices

The General Altimax Arctic handles winter roads almost as well as the pricier Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (*Est. $95) in tests. The General grips almost as well on ice, just as well in snow, and it actually outclasses the pricier… Michelin on wet pavement -- but the General Altimax Arctic is also noisier and less comfortable, with higher rolling resistance (which can mean lower gas mileage). Unlike the Michelin, the General can be studded for maximum ice grip. Neither tire brakes or handles well on dry roads; for that, experts say you need a performance winter tire like the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 (*Est. $145), but it's suitable only for mild winters.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: The General Altimax Arctic is one of 32 winter tires tested at ConsumerReports.org. Editors rate each tire's performance on snow, ...

Automobile Protection Association: This Canadian nonprofit gets its funding from individual membership fees, not manufacturers. Out of 29 winter tires rated here, ...

Wheels.ca: The General Altimax Arctic makes this list of the top 10 winter tires by John Mahler, a longtime tire columnist at Wheels.ca (the ...

Tire Rack: This retail site also conducts tire tests. A few winter tires are recommended, including the General Altimax Arctic in the ...

Tire Rack: The General Altimax Arctic is TireRack.com customers' favorite studdable winter tire. It gets better ratings for wet-road ...

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TireBuyer.c- om

for $114.15

Studded snow tire

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5

*Est. $145 Compare Prices

For drivers in harsh winter regions who find they get the best results from studded tires, experts say the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 is the best of the bunch. In tests, the Hakkapeliitta 5 slogs through deep snow and brakes… on slick ice better than studless (and most studded) tires. However, the Hakkapeliitta 5 is best for truly harsh winters; it doesn't handle wet asphalt as well as a good studless tire, and critics note it is expensive. Be aware that some regions restrict the use of studded snow tires, since they contribute to road damage. The Hakkapeliitta 5 is recommended for cars as well as light trucks and SUVs.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org editors thoroughly test 32 winter tires, including the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5. The tires are ranked from best ...

Motor: This Norwegian magazine tests studded and studless winter tires for SUVs and pickups on a snowy, icy test track near the Arctic ...

Automobile Protection Association: Experts here rank 29 winter tires for passenger cars. Each tire gets only a one- or two-sentence review, but star ratings show ...

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TireSavings- .com

for $174.55

Mild-winter performance tire

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60

*Est. $145 Compare Prices

If winter in your area brings rainy or dry roads most days, with bouts of snow and ice, experts say the best performance winter tires will keep you ready to handle any road condition. The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 takes… top honors in this category, with better snow and ice traction than its predecessor, the Blizzak LM-25 -- although not nearly as much as a severe winter tire like the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (*Est. $95). But performance winter tires aren't designed for harsh winters; they're designed to keep performance cars sure-footed in cold weather, and experts say they're far more agile on wet and dry roads than traditional winter tires with slow speed ratings.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Tire Rack: TireRack.com, a retail site that also tests tires, recommends the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 first on its list of top performance ...

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org ranks the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 alongside other performance winter tires, based on expert tests. However, ...

Automobile Protection Association: The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 is awarded four stars (out of five) in performance winter tire reviews at this Canadian nonprofit. ...

Tire Rack: The Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 had just hit the market as of this update, but TireRack.com tends to quickly accumulate many ...

Epinions.com: The Bridgestone Blizzak is a perennial favorite among users posting at Epinions.com. The 30 reviews posted here are for all ...

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TireBuyer.c- om

for $231.00

SUV/Light truck winter tire

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1

*Est. $135 Compare Prices

Many SUV and truck owners stick with their all-season tires in winter, but if you live in a harsher climate, experts say you'll appreciate the better handling and grip that comes with dedicated winter tires. Trustworthy… U.S. and Canadian tests have long recommended the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3, now being replaced by the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1. Experts say the Blizzak handles ice and snow confidently, and Bridgestone promises improved performance on wet roads with the DM-V1.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org conducts unbiased, thorough tests. Four winter tires for light trucks and SUVs are tested, including the ...

Automobile Protection Association: Based on tests, this independent Canadian nonprofit organization selects the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 as a top pick for SUVs, ...

Canadian Driver: Reviewer James Bergeron highly recommends the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3, describing how much better the tires perform on Ottawa ...

Tire Rack: This retail site also conducts expert tire tests, but staffers had not yet tested the brand-new Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 when we ...

Epinions.com: The Bridgestone Blizzak series gets the highest possible rating (five stars) at Epinions.com, with more than 30 reviews. Reviews ...

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TireBuyer.c- om

for $151.89

Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 *Est. $80

3 picks including: Canadian Driver, Automobile Protection Association…

Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D *Est. $95

2 picks including: Aftonbladet.se, Auto Motor & Sport…

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R *Est. $110

2 picks including: Aftonbladet.se, Auto Motor & Sport…

Yokohama Ice Guard iG20 *Est. $140

2 picks including: Automobile Protection Association, 1010Tires.com…

Firestone Winterforce *Est. $60

2 picks including: Automobile Protection Association…

Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 *Est. $125

2 picks including: Automobile Protection Association, 1010Tires.com…

Toyo Observe G-02 Plus *Est. $85

2 picks including: Automobile Protection Association, 1010Tires.com…


	185/70R14 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-60 Tires from Amazon.com New: $114.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	205/65R15 Yokohama Ice Guard IG20 Tires from Amazon.com New: $148.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	195/60R15 Firestone Winterforce Tires from Amazon.com New: $119.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	235/45R18 XL Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 Tires (Quantity: 1) from Amazon.com New: $276.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	185/65R15 Toyo Tire Observe G-02 plus Tires (Quantity: 1) from Amazon.com New: $95.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Snow Tires: Reviews

Best winter tire

Budget snow tire

Studded snow tire

Mild-winter performance tire

SUV/Light truck winter tire

Snow Tires by Price Range