What to Look For in Snow Tires
Live in an area where you get snow? Then you should seriously consider winter tires instead of all seasons. All seasons are barely suitable in any snow, as their tread pattern can easily clog up with snow.
Winter tires are designated with this snowflake in a mountain logo, which means that the tire passed the Rubber Association of Canada's Snow Traction Performance tests. You can find the logo on the sidewall of any winter tire.
There are different categories of snow tires, as some tires are passenger, some performance and some are studdable.
Passenger
Some of the top rated passenger winter snow tires are:
- Michelin X-Ice Xi2
- Bridgestone Blizzak WS 70
- Toyo Observe G-02 Plus
Performance
Some of the top rated passenger winter tires are:
- Nokian WR G2
- Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D
- Michelin Pilot Alpine PA3
Light truck & SUV Winters
Some of the top rated Light Truck/SUV snow tires are:
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta R Sport Utility
- Continental ExtremeWinterContact
- Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow
Do I need Chains with Winter Tires?
Keep in mind that even though you have put good winter tires on your vehicle, it's still wise to carry chains, in case you hit some deep snow or particularly icy conditions that chains would help with.
Author Notes:
Francis Stanford contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.buying-tires.com.
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