Best All Terrain Tires for Snow

‍1. Toyo Open Country A/T III

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The Toyo Open Country A/T III is an all-terrain tire made for SUVs, Jeeps, crossovers, and light trucks. It replaced the highly rated Open Country A/T II in 2020. Toyo Tires claims that Open Country A/T III offers up to 20% more mileage than its predecessor, which was already one of the most economical tires in its category.

Design and Features

The Toyo Open Country A/T III features one of the most aggressive tread patterns of any all-terrain tire. The design consists of a symmetric tread pattern with wide gaps between them. The void area around the ribs is filled with chunky blocks to disperse water further away from the wet road surface. Deep grooves are cut in at the shoulders to further carry water out of the tread blocks.

The large void area and wide lateral grooves give Open Country A/T III excellent resistance to hydroplaning. Toyo also claims that the chunky shoulder blocks improve cornering stability on wet roads. The design of the sidewalls, on the other hand, is quite simple, with rectangular blocks running along the entire surface area.

The all-season cut and chip resistant compound is a special formula designed specifically for the Open Country A/T III. It uses a mixture of natural and synthesized rubber to reduce rolling resistance while improving wet and snow grip. Toyo also claims that this rubber compound offers greater block stiffness to reduce tread movement and heat buildup, enhancing handling stability.

The Open Country A/T III also features 3D Multi-Wave Sipes, which are essentially slits cut in the tread blocks. 3D wave sipes reduce block movement and tire noise while improving wet grip and snow performance. Like most all-terrain tires, they were designed with a high load capacity in mind so they can easily carry the added weight of an SUV or Jeep.

The internal construction of the Open Country A/T III is also quite impressive. It uses a two-ply polyester casing wrapped around two high-tensile strength steel belts. It is further reinforced by nylon cap plies to improve casing stability at higher speeds.

Lastly, the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) branding on the sidewall means that the Open Country A/T III is rated for severe snow conditions.

Performance Analysis

Toyo Tires claims that the Open Country A/T III is capable of withstanding all sorts of different terrains. They are not kidding about this claim either - I've personally driven them through mud, loose dirt, deep snow, and hardpacked gravel roads without any issues whatsoever!

The Open Country A/T III offers excellent traction in both wet and dry conditions. It also had quite a bit of bite when accelerating or braking on wet roads, which is an excellent safety feature for drivers who are not used to winter conditions.

As far as snow performance is concerned, they were able to grip on packed snow and wet roads quite well. This is the closest you can get to a full-time winter tire without the excessive road noise and a higher price tag that comes with it.

We also tested the Open Country A/T III under various off-road conditions. For starters, they were able to grip well on wet and loose dirt roads and light mud-terrain. They also displayed excellent traction during light snow showers - but like most other all-terrain tires, they tend to struggle when faced with deep heavy snow.

Open Country A/T III offers about average noise levels during highway cruising. Take note that they tend to get loud when crossing sharp bumps at high speeds. They are definitely not the quietest tires out there, but they are still better than many other all-terrain tires we've personally tested.

Warranty, Price, and Size Availability

Toyo offers a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty for Open Country A/T III P-metric/Metric sizes and a 50,000-mile warranty for the LT sizes. This treadwear warranty is above average for all-terrain tires and fairly generous considering how well they perform.

The Open Country A/T III comes in various sizes for SUVs, trucks, crossovers, and Jeeps. The sizes range from 15 inches all the way up to 22 inches.They are available in over 100 different size configurations, so pretty much every SUV or Jeep should be able to get one that fits their application correctly.

Depending on the size, Open Country A/T III retails for about $139 to $400 per tire. This is a competitive price range and fairly reasonable for all-terrain tires - and they're definitely a lot cheaper than most winter tires you can buy.

Verdict

The Open Country A/T III is a great choice for SUV and Jeep owners who are interested in maximizing their grip without sacrificing mileage. It may not have the best overall snow performance compared to dedicated winter tires, but it definitely gives them a run for their money. And an extremely affordable price tag makes these all-terrain tires even more attractive.

Order your set of Toyo Open Country A/T III tires today on TireRack.

Pros

• 3PMSF certified - Ideal in snowy conditions
• Excellent off-road capabilities
• Above-average tread life
• Great traction on wet and dry surfaces
• High load capacity design offers excellent off-road capabilities.
• Available in a wide range of sizes (including LT sizes for Jeeps/light trucks)

Cons

• Noisy at high speeds
• Not the cheapest all-terrain tire out there

2. Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus

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The Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus is designed to be the ultimate all-terrain tire for SUVs, vans, and light trucks. With its aggressive 3PMSF snowflake branding on the sidewall, you can expect it to perform well in snowy conditions.

Design and Features

The Scorpion All-Terrain Plus features an aggressive tread pattern with sharp groves that provide excellent traction on wet roads. This makes the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus ideal for both light snow and heavy rain conditions.

The Scorpion All-Terrain Plus features a continuous center rib that gives the tire more precise handling and stability on highway roads. While the shoulder blocks are spaced close together, they manage to clear mud and dirt quickly, enhancing grip on soft surfaces like sand and snow.

Pirelli claims that their all-terrain tires provide better traction than others in extreme driving conditions. The Scorpion All-Terrain Plus uses Pirelli's patented cut and chip-resistant New Generation tread compound to enhance wet road grip on its specialized tread design. This technology is what makes it possible for Pirelli tires to perform well even in icy conditions, as claimed by the manufacturer of the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus.

The deep sidewall groves also accelerate the self-cleaning process by getting rid of mud and dirt quickly, so your tire's contact patch always stays clean. This improves traction on wet roads significantly, making the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus stand out from its competition in terms of winter performance.

The Scorpion All-Terrain Plus features a continuous S-shaped center rib with lateral notches and circumferential grooves that provide additional traction when driving over mud, dirt, or snow. These features combined help maintain speed in extreme off-road conditions while providing a better highway ride.

Furthermore, the 3D multi-sipes provide extra biting edges for traction on the road, especially in snowy conditions.

Lastly, the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus is built using polyester casing and twin high-strength steel belts. This enhances responsiveness and reduces vibration for a smooth ride at high speeds.

Performance Analysis

I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus handled during normal highway driving. It has low resistance to rolling, which means you can enjoy better fuel economy compared to other all-terrain tires with overly stiff sidewalls. The center rib gives the tire a lively feel when taking curves, making it ideal for city roads even if you use it primarily as an off-road vehicle.

While cornering, there was no loss of grip or unexpected sliding even when I pushed the tire hard. The Scorpion All-Terrain Plus felt stable and planted even at high speeds, which is important for any SUV, van, or truck owner.

I wasn't surprised to find out that tread wear on this tire was pretty much negligible (at least in my case). It's designed for off-road use, after all, so you'll be using it only occasionally on city roads, but if you're frequently commuting with your vehicle, expect your tires to last longer than usual. Pirelli also claims that their all-terrain tire provides better grip than others in extreme driving conditions like icy surfaces.

Since no one wants to get stuck with a flat, especially during winter, consider how well Scorpion All-Terrain Plus handles snow. In my experience, it has a relatively smooth ride on powdery surfaces and packed dunes of snow.

I drove at moderate speeds on wet snow-covered roads to test how well the tire could handle snowy conditions. The tire's tread design could easily push the thin layer of snow on top of the wet street. I noticed that when stopping, there were no signs of slippage or loss in traction from the sidewalls, so this tire does a really good job in snowy conditions, even in lower gears.

There were only a few minor gripes with the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus. I can't deny that it has one of the better winter performances in its category, but there were times when traction control kicked in when driving up a snowy hill. For this reason, take note of your vehicle's limitations before setting out to drive in snowy conditions.

Warranty, Price, and Size Availability

Pirelli offers an official 50,000-miles treadwear warranty on its Scorpion All-Terrain Plus. This is pretty much the best warranty you can get on an all-terrain tire, so I'm not surprised that the tire has proven to be so popular among people living in cold climates.

The Pirelli Scorpion All-Season Plus is available in many sizes, including 16-, 17-, 18-, and 20-inches. This tire is also available in different load ratings to suit your vehicle's needs.

The Scorpion All-Terrain Plus has an MSRP of $157 for 16-inch tires and goes up to $300 for 20-inch rims. I bought my Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus from TireRack at a discounted price which included shipping and handling charges - all taxes were already factored into the price, too.

Verdict

Overall, the Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus has shown itself worthy of being an all-season SUV/CUV tire. It can handle snow just fine along with wet roads without causing too much stress on your vehicle's power train or braking system.

Unless you're looking for a tire to handle extreme winter conditions, I would say the Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus is highly recommended for daily commuters.

Order your set of Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tires today on TireRack.

Pros

• Good tread life
• Low rolling resistance for improved fuel economy
• 3MPSF Branded - Capable of providing maximum grip on snowy roads
• Excellent traction on wet and dry surfaces
• Plush ride quality
• Great value for money

Cons

• May cause traction control to engage when driving uphill in slippery conditions.

3. Falken WildPeak A/T Trail

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The Falken WildPeak A/T Trail is a new tire designed for use on SUVs, CUVs, and light trucks. The Wildpeak A/T Trail is an all-terrain tire that will perform well in any situation. It provides excellent traction control in most weather conditions, and its unique "dual-zone" lug design helps keep the tires flexible even at sub-zero temperatures.

Design and Features

The Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail has an aggressive tread pattern giving it a deep tread depth so that this tire can hold up against the elements. And if they ever do start to slip off the road, no worries because of their open shoulder blocks, which help provide additional grip on wet or dry roads.

This is one of Falkens newest products so expect them to have their own special "flavor." The Wildpeak A/T Trail features Falken's proprietary 3D Canyon Sipe Technology Cuts deep diagonal grooves into the tire's tread blocks. This new technology helps provide additional biting edges to grip the road at all times, even in winter conditions.

Most all-terrain tires have large void areas between lugs that can reduce handling, fuel economy, and wet weather performance. Falken's A/T Trail has been designed with "square" shaped block edges, which helps eliminate excess space under the lugs. More rubber meets the road, which increases contact patch, resulting in better control especially in turns on any terrain.

The 'WildPeak A/T Trail' branding near the sidewall helps give it a nice look. The 3PSMF logo on the sidewall ensures this tire will perform at its best even in severe snow conditions.

The internal construction consists of a two-ply polyester casing reinforced with spiral-wrapped steel belts, providing a strong, stable casing for superior on and off-road performance. The sidewall is basically a "skin" wrapped around the construction, providing a stylish look that will enhance any vehicle it is installed on.

If you live in an area where it snows, this tire will be a nice upgrade because the rubber compound used is meant for good grip in dry conditions and lasts long when driven off-road or through snowdrifts.

Performance Analysis

We decided to put the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail tires to test on our Nissan Titan.

The first thing I noticed about these Falken Wildpeak A/T Trails is how responsive they are while turning at low speeds. It doesn't feel like you are trying to turn the wheels in molasses. The sidewall is not too stiff, so you can get a nice feel of how far you have turned the steering wheel without having the tires screaming at you for help.

There was no high-pitched squeal or any noticeable vibrations when braking on highway or mountain roads, which indicates that these Falken's were made with quality in mind. Along with being quiet, they also provide very good stopping power even when riding down 20% grade highways in rain and snow conditions.

The next day it started snowing. We decided to take our 4X4 out for some fresh air and test out what these new "WildPeaks" could do. I started by driving down the road to see how well they would handle driving in wet conditions. They did surprisingly well, and it felt like I was driving on normal roads even though there was still some snow on the asphalt.

Driving up hills through deep snowdrifts was a surprising treat with these tires. These tires handled extremely well by providing enough grip so your 4X4 vehicle won't slide off course or lose any momentum pushing you through those tough spots.

Warranty, Price, and Size Availability

Falken offers a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty on the WildPeak A/T Trail, which is very impressive. It proves that Falken is confident in their tire's ability to last.

This tire is available in most popular sizes ranging from 16" to 20", making it a suitable option for most SUVs, Trucks, and 4X4 vehicles.

The Falken WildPeak A/T Trail retails for $150-$250 depending on size and where you purchase them. This tire does give a great bang for your buck, considering its impressive abilities to perform well in most types of road conditions.

Verdict

Overall, the Falken WildPeak A/T Trail is a great tire that performs well in both wet and snow conditions. It has very low road noise, provides a strong grip even when driving through deep snow, and lasts longer due to the all-season rubber compound.

If you're in the market for a new set of snow-rated all-terrain tires, we would recommend you try out the Falken Wildpeak A/T Trail.

Order your set of Falken WildPeak A/T Trail tires today on TireRack.

Pros

• Comfortable ride
• Exceptional tread life (65,000-miles)
• Great grip in wet and snow conditions
• Very affordable compared to other tires in its class.

Cons

• Noisy when running at high speeds on highways.
• Not ideal for muddy terrains

4. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2

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The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is one of the best-selling all-terrain tires for light trucks on the market today. This tire performs well in most conditions but excels when driving through deep snowdrifts leaving other vehicles struggling to get by.

Design and Features

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 features an enhanced high void tread design with deep grooves and shoulder-biting edges. The open, aggressively siped void ratio was increased slightly compared to the previous design for improved snow performance.

An all-new silica compound has also been used in the BFG AT T/A KO2, providing better wet-weather handling, especially on braking. The tire is said to provide over 20% more grip in snowy conditions when compared to its predecessor, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO.

The tread featured on BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is self-cleaning due to its open design. It also features an aggressive siping pattern that improves its grip in snow conditions by reducing slippage across the tire's surface. The wide outer lugs provide maximum traction when traveling through deep snow, while the inner lugs help evacuate water and slush for better winter performance.

The tire also features a high load-carrying capacity thanks to stiffer sidewall construction and higher inflation pressure limits. Two oversize steel belts help maintain high internal tire pressures to improve the overall footprint on snowy or soft terrain.

This tire also features BFGoodrich's CoreGuard Technology, a highly durable sidewall rubber to help fight damage from curbing. All-terrain tires are notorious for being cut by road debris, so this technology is a welcome addition to the KO2.

Furthermore, All-Terrain T/A KO2's advanced tire contact patch evenly distributes traction forces for stable performance, while the square grooves provide biting edges for more confident winter driving. It also features an Advanced Deflection Center design to help reduce the frequency of irregular wear.

The internal construction of BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 features two high-strength steel belts reinforced by nylon cap plies to support the shoulder and center areas of the tire. This construction provides consistent handling performance on all types of surfaces and gives the tire long-lasting durability.

Lastly, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO is branded with the 3PMSF symbol, meaning it passes the industry-standard snow traction tests without any issues.

Performance Analysis

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 provides an excellent balance between performance and durability when compared to other all-terrain tires. It offers a quiet and smooth ride while also providing strong cornering and braking capabilities. The tread design helps keep away slush and snow from building up over time, giving it superior performance in snowy conditions.

In addition, this tire has been known to traverse through deep snowdrifts without issue, thanks to its aggressive shoulder-biting edges and deeper channels. It doesn't matter if you're driving in rural areas or on highways; if there's snow and ice on the road, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 will get you through safely.

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is a very comfortable tire when compared to other all-terrains, thanks to its stiffer sidewalls. The silica compound used for this tire is also better than average when it comes to absorbing road impacts and providing a smooth ride experience. This allows their tires to be more compliant, which most customers find extremely helpful at high speeds.

BFGoodrich claims that the All-Terrain T/A KO2 provides over 20% more grip when driving in snowy conditions. This is most likely due to enhanced sipe technology that helps increase the tire's contact patch with the road surface.

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 also provides excellent wear characteristics for an all-terrain model, with some customers reporting mileage up to 60,000 miles on their tires before needing replacement. As long as you keep them properly inflated and rotated, these tires can easily last you through several winters without any issues.

Warranty, Price, and Size Availability

BFGoodrich offers a 50,000-mile official treadwear warranty, which is average for all-terrain tires. They also offer a 60-day buy and will refund your money if you aren't satisfied with your purchase.

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is available in several sizes ranging from 15" to 22", so they can easily fit a variety of light trucks. The price range for these tires is around $200-$550, which are expensive but worth every penny for their quality design that lasts through several winters without any issues.

Verdict

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is an all-around excellent tire for winter driving. It offers great performance in snowy conditions while still providing the owner with a comfortable ride in addition to excellent tread life.

The only negative aspect of this tire is its price, but the quality you receive is more than worth that initial hit. Thanks to its eco-friendly tread compound, the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 provides all of this while still being an environmentally friendly tire.

Order your set of BFGoodrich ALL-Terrain T/A KO2 tires today on TireRack.

Pros

• Excellent traction in snowy conditions
• Great treadwear and long-lasting
• Comfortable ride even at high speeds
• Excellent off-road capabilities

Cons

• A tad expensive
• Only available in LT sizes