The question comes up every year without fail: Which all-season tires are best in the snow? Ten years ago, the simple answer would have been “none,” but times have changed. Advancements in tire technology have delivered a new generation of all-season tires that are genuinely good for every season. That includes some that can truly be considered all-season tires that not quite snow tires, but provide good snow traction and high performance during the winter season.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s important to point out the fact that even with optimal tread design, softer rubber and the best treat compounds, the best all-season tires that can handle some snow, aren’t quite to the point of being winter tires. If you live in an area that remains in sub-freezing temperatures through long periods of winter and gets significant snowfall and the potential for ice, then dedicated winter tires are still your best option. However, for those who want the best all-season tires that are okay for snow when it’s periodic and not deep, you’ve got great options that offer good performance through every season.
If you’re shopping for all-season tires, you’ve already decided you need tires that are good in most weather conditions. Most tires in the all-season category offer good performance in warm to mild to cold weather conditions. High-performance all-season tires are designed with compromises that put warm-weather performance ahead of cold-weather performance. Some all-season tires that are better than others in near-freezing temperatures and light snow because they prioritize cold-weather and mild winter performance.
Do I need all-season tires or snow tires?
If you live in a part of the country where winter gets too cold for summer tires but doesn’t stay below freezing for extended periods and only has a dusting to a few inches of snow per year, then winter-optimized all-season tires are what you’re looking for. They’re the closest thing you can find to real all-weather tires.
Unless you get significant winter weather, it might not be necessary to own dedicated winter tires, so all-season tires for snow can save a lot of money in the long run and save you from figuring out when to change tires every fall and spring. Plus, when the weather in fall does suddenly change to winter-like conditions, you’ll be prepared with the best all-season tires already mounted on your car.
Are standard all-season tires okay for snow?
When you’re looking for all-season tires, the bare minimum most people tend to look for is the M+S (mud and snow) rating on the sidewall. Unfortunately, that rating was developed in the 1970s and is used on just about all tires in the all-season category without giving any real insight into actual snow performance. The M+S rating only means the tire offers a very basic level of traction in snow.
That doesn’t mean M+S-rated tires are useless in winter, however. Manufacturers like Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli, and many others have standard all-season tires that are well known for their ability to get drivers through adverse light-winter conditions safely. Those tires will generally have larger tread blocks than other all-season tires, as well as more siping to ensure the ability to grab onto light, freshly fallen snow on uncleared roads. They’ll also have modern rubber compounds that offer very good cold-weather performance in anything above sub-freezing conditions.
What to look for in all-season tires for snow performance
Beyond the typical M+S all-season tires that most drivers are familiar with, there’s a new breed of all-season tires that can be considered all-weather tires for their ability to get you around safely in real winter weather where light snow has accumulated. These tires have been designated with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol (3PMSF) by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).
This is the rating that was previously reserved for true winter tires only and means that a tire has met strict winter performance requirements for traction. The 3PMSF symbol means you can have the confidence in knowing that tire meets the minimum requirements for severe snow service. While standard all-season tires tend to lose some traction when cold temperatures get below 40°F, 3PMSF tires work well in icy conditions, as give you more snow traction in order to get you around safely in less than optimal snowy and slippery road conditions. As with all winter driving, caution is still required for optimal safety.
While the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake all-season tire category is small, it is growing and will likely become the new standard as tire manufacturers push the all-weather performance envelope. Tires that have the 3PMSF symbol, including this new breed of all-season tires, are tested to meet minimum standards of performance for winter traction. All-season 3PMSF tires might not match up to the full winter performance of true winter tires that are required in the snow belt, they’ll certainly get you by in anything but the foulest of weather conditions.
All-season SUV and truck tires that work well in snow are easier to find because of their inherent tire design, but many sizes and options for all-weather tires for cars are available, too. Nokia WR G3, Michelin CrossClimate+, and Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tires are popular 3PMSF all-season tires, but the Vredestein Quatrac 5 is growing in popularity, and more options will become available as manufacturers continue to develop new winter-biased all-season tires.
As with high-performance all-season tires that emphasize performance in warm weather and rain at the expense of traction in cold weather and light snow, all-season tires designed for winter have compromises, too. Because the rubber compounds need to be able to offer safe traction in near- and below-freezing temperatures, they won’t be ideal for high-performance driving when temperatures are hot.
All-season tires with the 3PMSF symbol can be used all year with confidence, though. They’re good for summer weather under normal driving conditions, ideal for just about any mild weather condition, and since they’re rated for severe snow service, they’re great for winter throughout much of the country.
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake all-season tires will likely be the wave of the future, as they’re ideal for everything other than extreme winter weather conditions. And it’s not absolutely necessary to find 3PMSF all-season tires if your vehicle is only driven in light winter conditions or rarely sees cold temperatures on or below the 30s. The best standard all-season tires from major tire manufacturers are more than capable of mild winter weather and light snow in most situations. When it comes to more serious winter driving, however, tires with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake will give you better traction, and the peace of mind in knowing your vehicle is equipped with tires that will never let you down during the winter months.
Need help choosing the best all-season snow tire for your vehicle?
Choosing the best tires, whether it be all-season tires or snow tires, to meet your specific driving needs can seem tough with all the information and choices available... but it doesn’t have to be. We’re happy to help choose the best tires for your car, truck, or SUV. Contact Zohr online or call/text us at 816-800-9175 and we’ll help figure out what’s best for you and your vehicle. Plus, we specialize in mobile tire installation, so our certified mobile tire technicians will deliver all-season snow tires directly to you and install them at your home or office.
When are All-Season Tires a Good Option? | Zohr
