Consumer Reports Best Winter/Snow Tires 2023

Now Is the Time to Get Your Winter/Snow Tires

With winter approaching, tire shops, dealerships, and big-box stores are currently stocked with winter/snow tires. So, now is the time to get this winter-prep chore out of the way before supplies begin to drop for your particular model of vehicle and the tire type you will need depending on your local winter driving conditions.

Related article: The Best Tire Brand of 2023 You Should Be Buying Today

CR Winter Tire Tests and Recommendations

Just two weeks ago CR analysts reported on the most and least satisfying winter/snow tires with a focus on the best consumer-recommended tire brands you should choose and those to avoid.

Today, CR analysts added to their list of tires for this winter by selecting those tires they say are the top-scoring winter/snow tires, as well as all-season models that are proven to provide a good grip on snowy roads this winter.

According to their latest newsletter:

“CR has tested dozens of tires specially engineered to provide cold-weather traction, including 16 winter/snow tires for cars and crossover vehicles, seven performance winter/snow tires for sporty cars, and eight specifically designed for pickups and SUVs. All these tires are designed for seasonal use with special tread features to provide sure-footed grip for ice and snow.”

These tread features include a specialized tread compound that helps the rubber stay pliable in the cold with numerous biting edges for gripping snow and ice.

To identify these tires you will want to look for those tires that have the mountain and snowflake symbol on the sidewall, indicating they meet snow traction requirements of winter/snow tires.

Caveats to the Tire Selections

While all of the tires are reported to be suitable for any vehicle—front-, rear-, or even all-wheel drive—you should remember to always use them in sets of four for the best grip and balanced handling.

Related article: Consumer Reports Car Experts Explain and Compare 2WD vs. AWD vs. 4WD

And, if you decide to go with winter/snow tires over all-season tires, you will also want to remember to be sure to switch out your winter-snow tires for models more seasonable for the spring as winter/snow tires have less gripping power on dry and wet roads and tend to wear out more quickly under non-winter conditions.

Consumer Reports Best Winter/Snow Tire Recommendations

That said, listed below is a summary of their top-scoring winter/snow tires, as well as all-season models that have a good grip on snowy roads.

Best Winter/Snow Tire: Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 (Price: $131)

Alternative tires: Michelin X-Ice Snow and Continental VikingContact 7. 

Best Performance Winter/Snow Tire: Bridgestone Blizzak LM005 (Price: $278)

Alternative tires: Hankook Winter I*cept Evo 3, Vredestein Wintrac Pro, and Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4.

Best Winter/Snow Truck Tire: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 SUV (Price: $246)

Alternative tires: GT Radial IcePro SUV 3

Best All-Season Tire: General Altimax RT43 (Price: $129)

Alternative tires: none listed

Best Performance All-Season & All-Weather Tire: Michelin CrossClimate2 (Price: $199.99 - $202.99)

Alternative tires: none listed

Best All-Season SUV Tire: Michelin CrossClimate SUV (Price: $205.50)

Alternative tires: Vredestein HiTrac.

Best All-Season Truck Tire: Continental TerrainContact H/T (Price: $213.99)

Alternative tires: none listed

Best All-Terrain Truck Tire: Continental TerrainContact A/T (Price: $259.99)

Alternative tires:  Michelin LTX A/T 2 

For additional winter-related articles, be sure to check out these selected two: “Everything You Need To Know About Buying Car and Truck Tires” and “Insulate Your Garage Door for This Winter.“

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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