With winter fully upon us, for those who reside in Snow Belt states – or really anyone who might see frigid winter temperatures and the occasional snowstorm – now is the perfect time to talk winter tires. Specifically, snow tires for SUVs given their all-consuming popularity. Before we get into the specifics of the best snow tires for SUVs, let’s discuss important considerations when it comes to driving your SUV in the winter.
There’s a common misconception that driving an SUV or crossover with all-wheel drive (AWD) translates to better traction in snow or otherwise slick conditions. However, these AWD systems – even on favorites like the Subaru Forester – are still ultimately limited by how much traction the tires can supply. This is where snow, or winter, tires come in. Most mainstream SUVs come from the factory with all-season tires. But all-season is something of a misnomer as all-season tires are only at their best in the spring, summer, and fall. Once the mercury dips into freezing temperatures, winter tires are worth every penny.
Denoted by an industry symbol embossed on the tire sidewall known as “3PMSF” or the “Three Peak Mountain Snowflake Symbol”, these snow tires feature special construction and compounds that are designed to perform in frigid temperatures and low-traction conditions. Going a step further, look for snow tires specifically designed for SUVs that come with heavier curb weights and often times larger wheel sizes than sedans or smaller cars. Finally, given the different handling a driver will experience when behind the wheel of an SUV with snow tires versus all-seasons, it’s important to install your winter tires in sets of 4. That said, let’s have a look at some SUV snow tire recommendations.
If you’re a car nerd who also likes driving in the snow and finds the topic of snow tires interesting – like a friend of mine, but not me of course – Blizzaks are the Kleenex of the snow tire industry. Bridgestone has done an admirable job building this sub-brand of nearly household-name winter tires and for good reason, Blizzaks are widely regarded as excellent snow tires. In fact, it’s the highest-rated snow tire for a Toyota RAV4 according to consumers on TireRack.com.
Developed specifically for SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks, the Blizzak DM-V2 has more aggressive tire block edges than the DM-V1 it replaces, according to Bridgestone, along with three-dimensional zigzag sipes for increased snow bite along the edges. The tire maker notes these latest Blizzaks use an adaptive NanoPro Tech Multicell compound with a hydrophilic coating and microscopic bite particles, which stay flexible at below-freezing temperatures and improve braking on black ice.
According to a Tire Rack test of multiple snow tires, the Blizzak DM-V2 performed the best in the Snow Traction/Handling test and had “very good capability in all winter conditions”. There are a wide variety of snow tires available for an SUV like the RAV4 with 17” wheels. But, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 at about $164 per tire – on TireRack.com – is within a few dollars of competitors like the performance-oriented Vredestein Wintrac Pro and Continental Viking Contact 7 snow tire, making this long-running option a good value to boot.
The Kia Telluride has been a big hit since it arrived for the 2020 model year and like so many modern SUVs, can be fitted with AWD. But, for the best SUV snow traction, it’s worth swapping the stock all-seasons for a good set of winter tires. Like the Michelin X-Ice Snow rubber, for example. According to buyers on Tire Rack, it’s the best snow tire for the Telluride and according to Michelin, its design is aimed squarely at SUVs, vans, and light-duty pickup trucks that often come with larger wheel sizes.
Featuring a FleX-Ice 2.0 compound, according to Michelin, the X-Ice Snow tire has inclusion technology that generates micro-roughness on the tread surface for relatively high grip on snow-covered and icy roads. A high silica content is what the tire maker points to for how this winter tire stays flexible when it’s frigid outside. The X-Ice Snow tire is also notable for how this advanced compound is molded into a continuous V-shape, featuring a directional tread pattern and large groove widths for high performance in wet, slushy, and snowy conditions.
At $222 per tire on a 2024 Kia Telluride with 18” wheels, according to Tire Rack, these Michelin tires are a bit more expensive than the roughly $201 Blizzaks that would fit the Telluride. However, it may be worth the additional outlay given how highly consumers have rated them.
What if you want a dash of performance with your SUV snow tires? For those who daily drive the expanding universe of hot rod SUVs like the Dodge Durango SRT and Porsche Cayenne, you may want to take a look at Pirelli. Known for building tires that are factory equipment on exotics from the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin, it’s perhaps not surprising that Pirelli also offers a high-performance winter tire in the Scorpion Winter 2.
An interesting application is the Ford Explorer ST. Relatively affordable, the Explorer ST is designed for high speeds and strong handling. It also comes standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD), a configuration that is ideal for exploring the limits in dry conditions, but tricky to manage in the snow. Enter the Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2, a snow tire that was developed specifically for high-performance crossovers and SUVs with the low-temperature-friendly compound common to most snow tires, but featuring a more aggressive directional tread pattern with offset grooves and a staggered V-shaped design.
As an owner of an Audi RS Q8 on TireRack.com that bought these Pirellis noted, “Exceptional quality tires, exceptional grip on snow and wet roads”. However, at $497 per tire for the factory 21 inchers that come with the Explorer ST, these are not exactly cheap winter tires. That said, Michelin’s X-Ice Snow SUV tires run $515 each for the Explorer ST according to Tire Rack. Seems a small price to pay for keeping your high-performance SUV planted with plenty of traction when the road gets snowy.
Even with AWD, an SUV’s traction in the snow will be limited by the compounds used in all-season tires that typically come fitted from the factory. Snow tires are designed for below-freezing temperatures and low-friction conditions, making them ideal for driving an SUV in the winter.
The biggest difference between snow and all-season tires is the rubber compound used during manufacturing. Snow tires feature compounds designed to stay flexible in very cold temperatures versus all-season tires that become more rigid in these conditions. That said, winter tires will wear more quickly in warmer temperatures, so are not ideal for four-season use.
The main feature to look for when shopping for SUV snow tires is making sure they are designed specifically for SUVs and crossovers. Many winter tires, like the Bridgestone Blizzak, offer a standard car version and a dedicated SUV version. With any snow tires, it’s also important to verify it has the 3PMSF symbol indicating it is rated for snow use.
Just like all-season, or really any type of tire used for daily driving, snow tires should be replaced if the tread depth is less than 4/32 of an inch.