Sadly there are very few professional tire tests conducted in North America, however the magazine Consumer Reports does an excellent job of educating the market with a number of huge tire tests every year.
While the public data is limited, you have to be a member to see the full results, we thought it would be important to database the information we have to help our American audience pick the right winter tire.
The 2020 Consumer Reports Winter Tire Test has tested seventeen of the best winter tires on the market in the popular 215/60 R16 size.
If you've seen the 2020 Tire Reviews Winter Tire Recommendation Video you won't be surprised at the winner, it's the new Bridgestone Blizzak WS90, which we also recommended for the North American market.
Cooper, who also did well in our 2020 UHP All Season Test, finished a strong second with the Cooper Discoverer True North, which is a tire we will have to test in the future, and Hankook took third place with the new Winter I*Cept IZ 2 W616.
Results
1st: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 | |
| Excellent snow traction and braking on ice. Fair handling, but typical of many winter / snow tires. Read Reviews |
2nd: Cooper Discoverer True North | |
| This highly rated Cooper winter/snow car tire gets an Excellent rating for comfort, as well as for snow and ice performance. Read Reviews |
3rd: Hankook Winter I cept iZ2 W616 | |
| This is that rare winter/snow car tire that earns Excellent ratings for snow and ice handling and braking but also earns Excellent ratings for low rolling resistance, which can aid fuel economy. In addition, it’s also near the top of the index for ride comfort and is relatively quiet for a winter/snow tire. Read Reviews |
4th: Continental WinterContact SI | |
| High marks for braking on ice and snow traction, as well as Very Good ratings for ride comfort and low noise, combine to make this one of the top-rated tires in the winter segment. This Continental tire also rates Very Good for resisting hydroplaning, though both wet- and dry-braking scores are, as with most winter tires, underwhelming. Read Reviews |
5th: Michelin X Ice Xi3 | |
| Strong winter performance, low rolling resistance, and a quiet ride are highlights of this tire. It gets a Very Good rating for resisting hydroplaning, and its Excellent rating for rolling resistance can help improve fuel economy. Read Reviews |
6th: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 | |
| This is one of the highest-rated winter/snow tires. It earns top marks for braking on ice and snow traction, and earns a better-than-average rolling resistance rating of Very Good. (Low rolling resistance can lead to improved fuel economy.) But note the merely Good ratings for noise and ride comfort—there are quieter, smoother-riding alternatives. Read Reviews |
7th: General Altimax Arctic 12 | |
| The General Altimax Arctic 12 scores high among other winter/snow tire options in most of tests. Its Excellent ratings for snow and ice are on a par for the category, but it's quieter than most alternatives. Read Reviews |
8th: Nexen Winguard Ice+ WH43 | |
| Winter/snow tires in general have weaker handling and wet- and dry-braking performance but Excellent ratings for winter traction and braking. Still, this Nexen earns a Poor rating for handling, fairing worse than the segment as a whole, even while it earns Excellent ratings for ride comfort and low noise, as well as for snow/ice handling. Read Reviews |
9th: Falken Eurowinter HS449 | |
| The Falken is a good choice for climates where wet snow and wet roads are common, because it scores better than average in the winter tire category, with Good ratings for braking in both wet and dry conditions—where most winter tires lag. It also earns Good ratings for handling. If you’re looking for a quiet winter tire, however, there are less noisy options. Read Reviews |
10th: Dunlop Winter Maxx 2 | |
| Though it earns Excellent ratings on tests for braking on ice and handling on snow, and was deemed comfortable, this Dunlop sits at the bottom of the winter car tire pack for noise. It offers worse-than-average rolling resistance, which can degrade fuel economy. Read Reviews |
11th: Toyo Observe G3 Ice | |
| Impressive snow traction and stopping grip on icy roads. Toyo winter/snow tire is quite loud, scoring near last in that category and earning a Poor rating. On a brighter note, an Excellent rating for rolling resistance means that this Toyo can help improve your car’s fuel economy. Read Reviews |
12th: Uniroyal Tiger Paw Ice & Snow 3 | |
| This Uniroyal earns an Excellent rating for snow traction, but its Very Good rating in tests of ice braking slightly lags other brands—meaning there are stronger choices for winter performance. Also note its Fair rating for noise; there are quieter tires to consider. Read Reviews |
13th: BFGoodrich Winter TA KSI | |
| This BFGoodrich studless winter/snow car tire earns Excellent ratings for handling in snow and for stopping on ice in testing. However, it earns a Poor rating for stopping in the wet, and there are more comfortable winter tires on the market, as well as ones that offer better handling. Read Reviews |
14th: Yokohama iceGUARD iG52c | |
| Excellent ratings for snow handling and braking on ice are offset by bottom-of-the-heap Poor ratings on tests of wet braking and handling. It's a loud tire, too. Read Reviews |
15th: Falken Espia EPZ II | |
| The Falken Espia EPZ II suffers from Poor ratings on tests of wet braking and handling. It’s also a fairly loud tire. But it earns Excellent ratings for stopping on ice and cornering on snow. Read Reviews |
16th: Laufenn I Fit Ice | |
| Impressive snow traction and stopping grip on icy roads. Fairly noisy, fair rolling resistance, and long wet stops. Read Reviews |
17th: Firestone WinterForce 2 | |
| Impressive snow traction and a hydroplaning resistance champ. Relatively long wet stops and low wet cornering grip in our handling test. Read Reviews |
Best UUHP Tires
Best All Season Tires
Best Winter Tires
