Winter is when the safety stakes are at their highest, so it’s best to use a set of winter (also called “snow”) tires this cold season.
SHOP ALL WINTER TIRESAmerica's Tire strongly recommends equipping your vehicle with winter tires if your region experiences true winter conditions with temperatures consistently below 45F.
Despite common thought, winter tires are not designed just for snow and ice. Winter tires are constructed to function in temperatures at or consistently below 45F when all other tire types will stiffen up and become less effective. Tires need to remain flexible in order for their tread elements, like siping, to be effective.
All winter tires should come with a three-peak mountain snowflake designation for severe weather.
You can also check out our recommendations.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SNOW TIRES?
Our winter tire picks cover a large range of vehicle types, from coupes and sedans to SUVs and pickup trucks. We talk about snow and drivetrains elsewhere but we will note that you should install winter tires on all four wheels, regardless of your vehicle’s drivetrain type (even 4x4s).
Here are our picks:
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Part of Bridgestone’s hugely capable and popular Blizzak line, the WS90 is a great option for passenger cars, crossovers, and even minivans. Features include:
Impressive traction on snow and ice via Multicell™ tech
Updated winter tread compound with large contact patch
Short stopping distances
Improved wear life
Huge range of available sizes
Our store manager, Ty, at our 28th St Boulder, CO America's Tire store says, “They’re the Kleenex of winter tires!”
SHOP BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK WS90Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2
Another member of the Blizzak family, the Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2 is one of the best winter tires for your SUV, light truck, or even crossover. It has the chutzpah to handle tricky icy and snowy roads. Features include:
Confident grip in frosty conditions
Enhanced control when temps drop
Reliable handling on slick and sheer ice via bite particles and grooves
Hydrophilic-coated and multi-cell tread spits out water and snow
Dependable dry traction
The DMV2 has a loyal customer following and some claim they like it better than a studded tire!
SHOP BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK DMV2Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 SUV
When it comes to winter tires, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta tire family of winter tires is world-renowned thanks to their design to withstand the world’s harshest winter conditions possible. The Hakkapeliitta 10 SUV is one of the best options for your SUV that faces extreme conditions. Features include:
Run-flat available in some sizes
Studded and non-studded versions available
Eco-Stud design offers next-level grip, reduced road damage, and 'green’ construction
Sustainably manufactured
Muffled road and stud impact noise for winter comfort
Glue-like grip for braking, accelerating, and cornering on ice and snow
Reduced rolling resistant and eco-friendly rubber compound for efficient performance
Puncture resistance, boosted steering response, and supported ride
Great option for hybrid and electric SUVs
Michelin X-Ice Snow
The Michelin X-Ice Snow is one of our most frequently recommended winter tires. Engineered to deliver powerful traction in winter weather utilizing cutting edge technology, the X-Ice Snow is the leading preferred tire in many of our cold region stores – and for good reason:
40,000-mile warranty (a rarity for winter tires)
High-performing winter touring option
Groundbreaking tread compound allows for consistent traction through tire’s service life
Three-peak mountain snowflake and M+S designations for severe weather
Flex-Ice 2.0™ maintains flexibility in most extreme cold temps
V-shaped tread for superior grip in ice, snow, and slush
One of our highest customer rated tires, it’s been called “unstoppable”! If you like Michelin tires, be sure to check out our Michelin snow tire buyer’s guide.
SHOP MICHELIN X-ICE SNOWPirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Like with any Pirelli tire, you can expect exceptional performance out of the Winter Sottozero 3. This is a great tire for your premium, high-powered vehicle. "Sottozero” in Italian means “below freezing,” by the way (an apt name for this tire)! Features include:
Run-flat available in some sizes
Powerful grip on ice and snow
Improved drive and braking distances in dry conditions
Stable, responsive handling
Co-developed with premium and prestigious manufacturers for optimal design
Hydroplane resistance and rapidly clearing contact patch
Precise dry steering control
Double arrow directional tread pattern with dense siping for high traction in snow
Great option for electric vehicles
Sound absorbent tech available on select sizes
If you normally equip your vehicle with Pirelli performance tires, you’ll be pleased to see its spirited and high-level handling continues on in their winter catalog.
SHOP PIRELLI WINTER SOTTOZERO 3Ready to roll?
Like these suggestions? If you want to explore more or have additional questions, feel free to drop by or give us a ring for more help.
Winter is no time to be caught with shoddy wiper blades. There’s nothing worse than losing visibility through your snowflake crusted windshield! Check out our blog article on the best winter wiper blades for snow and ice to help!
SHOP ALL WIPER BLADESWalk-ins are always welcome, but we encourage you to book an appointment so we can help you ASAP. Buy and book online to save time in-store!
For more information on this and other tire and wheel services, check out our YouTube Channel or reach out to us on X, Facebook and Instagram.