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Best All Season Tire for Snow

Best All Season Tire for Snow
Best All Season Tire for Snow

Introducing the Best All Season Tire for Snow: A New Era of Traction and Performance

Gone are the days of traditional M+S (Mud and Snow) labeled tires that focused primarily on mileage, with little consideration for the challenges posed by harsh winter conditions. As drivers demand increased safety, performance, and reliability throughout the year, the tire industry has evolved to meet these needs by developing a revolutionary new category of tires: the 3-Peak Mountain All Season Tire, also known as All-Weather Tires.

Designed to provide exceptional traction and handling in various weather conditions, All-Weather Tires offer a perfect blend of year-round performance without compromising on mileage. With the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, these tires undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are capable of handling extreme winter conditions, including heavy snow and ice. This means that drivers can now enjoy peace of mind, regardless of what Mother Nature throws their way.

Stay tuned as we delve into the features and benefits of the best All Season Tire for snow, revolutionizing your driving experience and ensuring superior performance in every season.

3 Peak Mountain

3 peak mountain logo

As mentioned in our best 225/65R17 tire article, all season tires have always been the go to tires for the American market and this segment has been well established across the years. There are 2 types of all season tires, one with 3 peak mountain & one with only M+S. We have covered these 2 types of tire head to head with Michelin Defender T+H (M+S) vs Cross Climate 2 (3 peak mountain) and the M+S all season tires usually are worst in winter performances but excel much better in mileage.

If you are in an area which snows quite heavily, 3 peak mountain all season tires would be definitely a good choice. However if you have very light snow or in areas where temperatures do not drop below 45°F (7°C), a standard all season tire with M+S logo would be sufficient. Since we are rating the best all season tire in snow, we will only look into 3 peak mountain certified tires as they have best edge in snow.

1. Michelin CrossClimate 2

Michelin CrossClimate 2

The creation of the CrossClimate is a fascinating story that needs to be told from the beginning. In the past, all-season tires without 3 peak mountain certification have always been popular in the American market and have been well-established for years. No one in the tire industry believed it was possible for an all-season tire to have the required snow traction performance to pass the 3 peak mountain certification. However, in 2015, Michelin introduced the first 3 peak mountain certified all-season tire, which caused a stir in the tire industry.

At the time, the then-new CrossClimate didn’t have any competitors and was the only product in its segment. It took 2-3 years for competitors to launch their own 3 peak mountain certified all-season tires, but the first mover advantage had already been established by the CrossClimate. This is a true testament to Michelin’s commitment to being the de facto innovation leader in the tire industry.

In addition to winning 50% of the press tests it has participated in Europe, the CrossClimate 2 was rank 1st in this segment by both TireRack and Consumer Report. Based on multiple test results, the CrossClimate 2 has demonstrated superior target conflict management of summer versus winter performance, as it once again outshined the competition. Not to mention, the CrossClimate 2 tops the charts when it comes to mileage, with an actual tested result of 85,000 miles. This tire is the main reason why you do not need to switch tires every 6 months.

  • CrossClimate 2
    • Launch: 2020
    • Press test wins: 3/6
    • Strength: Well balanced summer & winter performances, excellent wear.
    • Tire Rack score: 9.1/10 (Rank 1st)
    • Consumer Report score: 74/100 (Rank 1st)

Check out our head-to-head comparison of the CrossClimate 2 against its competitors.

CrossClimate 2 vs

Price

You can check out the latest updated snow results below:

Snow Performance:

Snow Braking and Acceleration: The CrossClimate 2 demonstrated unmatched performance in both snow braking and acceleration, earning a score of 100% in each category. The WeatherPeak scored higher in snow braking with 110.1%, indicating a longer stopping distance. Its snow acceleration score was 87.1%. The PureContact LS lagged significantly in these categories with scores of 93.3% and 79.6% respectively.

  • CrossClimate 2: Rank 2nd in snow braking, Rank 1st in snow acceleration

Snow Handling: The Michelin CrossClimate 2 also topped the subjective snow handling test with a score of 100%. The WeatherPeak followed at 95.0%, and the PureContact LS was further behind at 88.4%.

  • CrossClimate 2: Rank 1st out of 3

2. Bridgestone Weatherpeak

Bridgestone’s answer towards Michelin’s Cross Climate 2 is a new product called WeatherPeak. This is Bridgestone’s first foray into America’s all season product with a 3 peak mountain certified tire. WeatherPeak was launched in 2022 and boosted a comprehensive line up covering most A to C segment cars in the replacement market. Based on the latest tire rack results, WeatherPeak excels on comfort but still lacks the top contenders in terms of wet & dry performances. WeatherPeak however has clear strengths in snow braking as it emerges 10% better than its main rival Michelin CrossClimate 2 as shown from the above graph. However when it came to snow handling & acceleration, it still lacks the firepower of CrossClimate 2.

  • WeatherPeak
    • Launch: 2022
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Good comfort.

Check our head to head comparison of WeatherPeak against its competitors.

WeatherPeak vs

Price

3. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady

Goodyear’s Assurance WeatherReady was launched in 2017 and covers a large range of passenger cars and crossovers. Based on the latest test results, it has strong showing in snow with good comfort but lacks the firepower in wet.

  • Assurance WeatherReady
    • Launch: 2017
    • Press test wins: 0/2
    • Strength: Snow & comfort.

Check our head to head comparison of Assurance WeatherReady against its competitors.

Assurance WeatherReady vs

Price

4. General AltiMAX 365 AW

With many competitors yearning to become the best all season tire, General Tires recently announced their latest touring all season tireline called AltiMAX 365 AW. This tireline slightly differs to its previous all season line up as the AltiMAX 365 AW comes with a certified 3 peak mountain label which makes them effectively a legal snow tire. AltiMAX 365 AW was launched in 2021 while serving the grand touring all season segment consisting of 15″-20″ sizes.

Based on the test results, AltiMAX 365 AW fared well in terms of dry braking & handling but still lacked the wet traction needed against competitors.

  • AltiMAX 365 AW
    • Launch: 2021
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Strong dry performer

Check out our head to head comparison of AltiMAX 365 AW against its competitors.

AltiMAX 365 AW vs

Price

5. Firestone WeatherGrip

Firestone WeatherGrip was launched in 2019 and covers mostly passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and crossovers sizes from 15″-19″. Based on the test results, WeatherGrip was moderately ok in dry braking & handling but did not perform well in wet.

  • WeatherGrip
    • Launch: 2019
    • Press test wins: 0/1
    • Strength: Acceptable dry performance

Check out our head to head comparison of WeatherGrip against its competitors.

WeatherGrip vs

Price

Summary

In conclusion, the Best All Season Tire for Snow has ushered in a new era of year-round driving confidence, thanks to the advanced technology and performance capabilities of 3-Peak Mountain certified tires. These All-Weather Tires offer a significant upgrade from traditional M+S All Season Tires, allowing drivers to navigate the winter season with greater assurance and control.

Equipped with the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, these tires have proven their ability to handle the most challenging winter conditions, providing exceptional traction, handling, and safety on snow and ice-covered roads. As a result, you can trust that your All-Weather Tires will support you throughout the year, ensuring a smooth and secure driving experience, no matter the weather.

Embrace the future of tire technology and make the switch to 3-Peak Mountain certified All Season Tires for unparalleled performance in snow and beyond. Drive with confidence, knowing that you’ve made a smart and reliable choice for your vehicle and, most importantly, your safety on the road.

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