Snow Tires: Reviews

Updated November 2008

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Best winter tire

Michelin's newest winter tire shows no weaknesses in tough Scandinavian tests. It's trustworthy in all road conditions -- dry, wet, snowy or icy -- 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 Dunlop Graspic DS-2 (*est. $70), and it can't handle wet and dry roads as confidently as the performance-oriented Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 (*est. $80). Critics also wonder whether this shallow-treaded newcomer will wear out quickly.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Motor magazine: Motor, the member magazine of the Norges Automobil Forbund (Norwegian Auto Club), publishes this comprehensive test of 20 winter ...

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 ...

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

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Discount/Am- erica's Tire

Budget snow tire

Dunlop Graspic DS2

*Est. $70 Compare Prices

For an inexpensive, competent, durable snow tire, reviewers like the Dunlop Graspic DS-2. The Dunlop snow tire doesn't handle ice and snow quite as well as the more expensive Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (*est. $90), and it can't… compete with the Continental ContiWinterContact TS810's (*est. $80) nimble performance on wet and dry winter roads. The Dunlop is noisier, too. But experts and consumers both find it dependable; it accelerates and corners on icy roads nearly as well as more expensive tires. And experts say it won't wear out as quickly as other winter tires.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Tire Rack: This test pits three often-recommended studless tires (the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60, Dunlop Graspic DS2 and Michelin X-Ice) ...

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

Tire Rack: Nearly 400 owners rate the Dunlop Graspic DS2 at this retail site. This page includes written reviews, as well as a chart showing ...

Epinions.com: Epinions' user reviews are often longer than user reviews at retail sites, and they include helpful pro-and-con lists. However, ...

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eBay

for $125.95

Discount/Am- erica's Tire

for $225.00

tires-easy.- com

for $97.40

Studded snow tire

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5

*Est. $165 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:

Motorforaren: The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 ties the Michelin X-Ice North for second place behind the Gislaved Nord Frost 5 in Motorföraren's ...

Motor magazine: This Norwegian magazine participates in a comprehensive, multi-publication test of 20 winter tires. The tires are put through ...

Auto Motor & Sport: Sweden's Auto Motor & Sport is one of several Scandinavian publications that participates in the winter tire test found in Motor ...

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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tires-easy.- com

for $156.70

Mild-winter performance tire

Continental ContiWinterContact TS810

*Est. $80 Compare Prices

If winter in your area brings rainy or dry roads most days, with bouts of snow and ice, experts say the Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 will keep you ready to handle any road condition. Testers find it agile on wet… and dry roads, and it holds its own on ice and snow. Still, critics note the Continental TS810 isn't a workhorse tire for harsh winters. It also has a high rolling resistance, which can translate into poor gas mileage. The TS810 is recommended for cars as well as small SUVs and minivans.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports tests the Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 in comparison with other performance winter tires. Experts rate ...

Motor magazine: Several Scandinavian publications, including this Norwegian magazine, joined to sponsor a comprehensive test of 20 winter tires. ...

Auto Motor & Sport: Experts at this Swedish magazine rank the Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 against other studless snow tires, based on the ...

Auto Zeitung: This article is in German, but a Google translation provides the gist of the test results. Editors rank nine performance tires ...

The Toronto Star: The Toronto Star's tire expert names the Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 to his list of top winter tires. Pros and cons are ...

Tire Rack: The Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 had accumulated 60 consumer ratings at this retail site when we checked. Its numeric ...

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SUVs/Light Truck winter tire

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3

*Est. $120 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 find the Bridgestone DM-Z3 outperforms other winter tires of this size. It handles ice and snow confidently, although it brakes poorly on wet and dry roads (as do other winter tires for light trucks and SUVs).

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports' unbiased tests compare the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 with other winter tires for light trucks and SUVs. A ...

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

Tire Rack: The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 winter tire has accumulated 350 consumer reviews here, where it earns top ratings for snow and ice ...

1010Tires.com: About 20 owners review the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3 at this Canadian retail site, giving it an average 3.9 stars (out of five). ...

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Discount/Am- erica's Tire