The Best All-Season Tires for Snow: CoPilot’s 2023 Picks
Photo by Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash
Tire shopping is one of those life experiences you only do when it’s needed. So, when the time comes to replace those radials, the average car owner can be overwhelmed by choice and unfamiliarity.
All-season tires are among the most popular tire options because of their versatility in different road conditions. This is especially important if travels take you across snow-covered streets and highways. With this in mind, let’s look at the best all-season tires for snow.
Tire Shopping Considerations
Your search for the best all-season tires for snow begins with the basics. Start your buying journey by considering these essentials.
Sizing: Shopping begins with identifying the correct size tire for your car. You can look at what’s on your car now or use an online tire finder. For example, a newer Toyota RAV4 in the base LE trim will use P225/60R17 tires. Let’s translate this into plain English.
P = passenger car tire
225 = width of the tire in millimeters
60 = height of the sidewall
R = radial
17 = wheel diameter
We’ll skip the technical jargon, but this gives you an idea about what the numbers and letters on your tire mean. Different models of the RAV4 and many other cars on the road may use different tire sizes. However, you can’t start looking for new tires without knowing this information.
Car Ownership: How long are you planning on keeping your car? If the lease is up in a year or you’re considering getting a new car soon, then buying top-of-the-line tires may not make sense.
Usage: How many miles a year do you drive? Do you drive many highway miles, or is travel mainly dealing with stop-and-go suburban traffic? Knowing these answers will help you choose a tire that matches your driving lifestyle.
Cost: You can find tires in every price range, but you do get what you pay for. Budget tires may meet your needs for the short term but don’t expect great longevity or stellar on-road performance. At the same time, buying top-tier tires may be way more than you need, given your driving situation.
Upgrade: Are you happy with your current tires? While swapping things out, would you prefer tires with improved features like reduced road noise or better winter traction?
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What Features To Look For
All-season tires are all about finding the sweet spot for your driving lifestyle. They should be able to handle moderate winter weather while still offering competent performance during the summer.
Truthfully, if you encounter snow-covered roads and below-freezing temperatures for months, you will be best served using dedicated winter tires. Let’s look at what makes for the best all-season tires for snow.
Tread life: Compared to a summer tire, an all-season tire will have a more robust tread life that typically lasts from 50,000 to 90,000 miles.
Composition: Closely related to tread life, suitable tire composition (what it’s made of) provides balanced performance, so it doesn’t wear too quickly during extreme summer temperatures. Simultaneously, the tire needs to offer enough flex and give during winter to minimize harsh ride characteristics.
Tire Height: The ideal sidewall height for an all-season tire sits between more low-profile summer tires and taller winter tires designed to handle deeper snow.
Noise: If your driving involves many stoplights and signs, you may not even be aware of the road noise caused by your tires. On the other hand, you may notice nothing else if you’re on the highway for hours.
Fortunately, the very nature of all-season tire tread design tends to minimize road noise compared to regular winter tires. However, don’t assume that all all-season tires are quiet.
Handling: Even economy cars have precise handling characteristics designed to provide a confident and safe experience. At best, new tires can improve your car’s driveability, especially during cornering. At the very least, the right all-season tire maintains a car’s driving traits.
Traction: It all comes down to grip. The right all-season tires can provide traction in snowy conditions. Properly designed, a tire’s tread pattern can also help channel water from the road.
Unlike a dedicated winter or summer tire, all-season radials are engineered to provide decent traction in all but extreme road surface conditions. Keep in mind that overly strong tire traction can reduce fuel economy.
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Our Picks For The Best Snow Tires
Here’s our list of favorite all-season tires that are good for everyday use and snow. Note that tire prices will vary based on your vehicle and the tire merchant.
Michelin Defender LTX M/S ($150 and above)
This tire receives high marks from the customers at Tire Rack. Designed for SUVs and light-duty trucks, the Defender LTX uses Michelin’s advanced compound for improved tread life, providing traction on varying surfaces.
Customer reviews praise the tire’s wet and dry performance and noteworthy ride quality with minimal road noise. Warranty coverage extends up to 70,000 miles.
General Altimax RT43 ($75 and above)
The General Altimax RT43 provides a capable, budget-friendly tire for passenger cars and some SUVs. In its recent review of all-season tires, Consumer Reports praised the Altimax RT43 for its performance in hydroplaning, snow traction, and ice-breaking tests. Tread life warranty extends up to 75,000 miles.
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Continental TerrainContact H/T ($160 and above)
Also scoring high in Consumer Reports testing, the Continental TerrainContact H/T is noteworthy for SUV and light-duty truck traction. The TerrainContact H/T slots nicely between budget and high-end tires with reasonable pricing. Continental warranties tread life for up to 70,000 miles.
Hankook Kinergy PT ($74 and above)
Another budget tire, the Hankook Kinergy PT, gets a 99% recommendation score from Discount Tire customers. Ideal for passenger cars and SUVs, the Kinergy PT is designed for high mileage use on both dry and wet surfaces. Hankook’s warranty covers tread life for up to 90,000 miles.
Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady ($155 and above)
The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady tire is an everyday, all-season tire designed specifically for use in severe snow conditions based on Goodyear’s tread design and composition formula. Suitable for passenger cars, SUVs, and minivans, Goodyear backs the tire for up to 60,000 miles.
Are Snow Tires Worth It?
If you live in a region with harsh winter weather, snow tires are some of the essential safety investments you can make. According to testing conducted by Consumer Reports, FWD vehicles with snow tires offer better grip than an AWD cars with all-season tires.
For the most part, whether you get a set of snow tires will depend on the area you drive. For people in the north with higher elevations, snow tires are pretty much a requirement. Meanwhile, drivers in the south won’t find it necessary to invest in snow tires.
If you’re thinking of investing in snow tires, keep in mind that you’ll need to do at least change your tires twice a year. In some cases, there might be some added costs for having a professional mechanic install/swap your tires during the proper seasons.
Fortunately, some insurance providers may help you recoup some of the associated costs with winter tires. Insurance providers will typically offer discounts on your monthly premiums to encourage the use of snow tires. Furthermore, alternating between two sets of tires can keep wear and tear to a minimum.
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