Snow Tires: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentThis comprehensive test, published in the Norges Automobil-Forbund (Norwegian Automobile Federation) member magazine Motor, is conducted in Finland in conjunction with other Scandinavian and Russian auto publications (Auto Motor & Sport, Tekniikan Mailma and Autorevue). This test covers passenger-car tires, tested on a Ford Focus. Ten studded and nine studless snow tires are tested on ice and snow, as well as on wet and dry asphalt, earning numeric scores for performance, economy and comfort. The top studded tire, the Continental ContiIceContact, is not available in the U.S., but the top studless tire is: the Michelin X-Ice Xi2. Testing methods and scores are clearly delineated and the article is available online -- but only in Norwegian.

Our AssessmentThis Swedish publication, whose name translates as World of Technology, tests 18 winter tires -- studded, Nordic studless and performance studless -- on its test track on dry, wet, snowy and both polished and roughed-up ice surfaces. Experts rate each tire on its braking, hydroplaning, road performance, comfort, rolling resistance and the moose test -- how well the tires handle a sudden swerve, as if to miss a moose standing in the middle of an icy road. Editors then rank the tires from best to worst. As in Motor magazine's Norwegian test, the studded Continental ContiIceContact outclasses them all on ice, but it's not available in the United States. The studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is, though, and it also earns a nod for its even performance on all road surfaces. None of the top-performing studless tires are available in the U.S.; some popular U.S. models prove mediocre or worse here.

Our AssessmentThis Canadian nonprofit association is dedicated to protecting consumer interests in the marketplace. It's funded by individual consumers' membership fees, with no subsidies from the automobile, oil or insurance industries. The APA picks the top winter tires based on both its own tests and ratings from tire experts and retailers. It has rated more than 50 winter tires for passenger and performance cars and for SUVs.

Our AssessmentEven without snow, winter tires can give you better traction in the cold, TireRack.com says. Three performance winter tires are recommended for cold, dry climates -- the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60, Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3.

Our AssessmentThis Canadian online auto magazine (formerly CanadianDriver.com) doesn't rank the winter tires it tests, but the in-depth, road-test write-ups provide a wealth of information to help readers pick the best winter tire for specific driving needs. Testers enthusiastically recommend certain tires. Haney Louka says the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R and Continental ExtremeWinterContact are the two tires that have impressed him the most on his own personal car over many Canadian winters of testing.