Best All Terrain Tires for Snow: Ultimate Review And Buying Guide

Best All Terrain Tires for Snow

If you drive anywhere other than on pavement, such as if you have an affinity for off-road driving, you take a lot of weekend trips, participate in a racing event every now and then, or inclement weather is a common occurrence in your location, you need the best all-terrain tires that can give you both performance and safety.

This is because all-terrain tires are perhaps the best type of tires that can help you navigate and take on any surface. These tires are designed with a specific tread pattern that can handle difficult terrains, along with a tough overall construction that protects them from damage and helps them last longer.

In this article, we’ll review the ten best all-terrain tires for snow, and list down everything you need to know about all-terrain tires so you can find the best model for your vehicle. Let’s get started!

Read also related articles: Best tires for jeep wrangler, best mud tires, and best tires for SUVs.

Product Name Image Ratings Item Weight Load Index Amazon Link
Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar 47.3 lbs 125 Check Price
Falken Wildpeak AT3W Falken Wildpeak AT3W 46.5 lbs 115 Check Price
Toyo Open Country AT III Toyo open Country AT III 55.7 lbs 118 Check Price
Michelin LTX A/T 2 Michelin LTX AT 2 40.9 lbs 114 Check Price
General Grabber AT2 General Grabber at2 41.6 lbs 112 Check Price
BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2 BFgoodrich All Terrain KO2 53 lbs 123 Check Price
Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT 54 lbs 126 Check Price
Continental TerrainContact A/T Continental TerrainContact A T 43 lbs 115 Check Price
Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3 Bridgestone Dueler A T Revo 3 53.2 lbs 125 Check Price
Kumho Road Venture AT51 Kumho Road Venture AT51 41.9 lbs 114 Check Price

Top 10 best all terrain tires for snow

Here are the ten best all-terrain tires that can run on dirt roads, pavement, and snow. These tires have been chosen based on their performance in different conditions, along with their durability, reliability, and treadwear warranty.

1.  Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar

This first one’s not just the best all-terrain tire for now, but also the best all-terrain tire for all other categories. The Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain adventure with Kevlar is an aggressive tire that boasts of both off-road power and on-the-road stability.

It offers outstanding traction no matter the terrain, whether it be hard packed surfaces, rocks, or mud. This traction, along with grip levels, is still excellent once you reach the highway, regardless if the road is dry or wet.

To top it all off, it comes with the 3PMSF rating, which means it works great in driving over ice, unpacked snow, and other extreme wintry conditions. This is because of the tire’s symmetric, multifaceted tread design that features traction ridges and open shoulder blocks.

Pros

Cons

2.  Falken Wildpeak AT3W

Taking the second spot is the Falken Wildpeak AT3W, which features the most aggressive and deepest tread pattern among all all-terrain tires. This means it works immensely well for driving in snowy conditions. It also features rugged tread blocks and the 3D Canyon siping technology to improve braking and traction as well as offer more biting edges.

Furthermore, this aggressive tread pattern makes this tire well equipped for off-road driving, even making it so much better than its counterparts. It’s also highly durable thanks to its rugged sidewall protection and internal cooling protection. And, it’s a great value for money, too, thanks to its 55,000 mile treadwear warranty.

The best part? You can drive this tire safely over wet and dry surfaces as you get to enjoy excellent levels of traction and grip. It provides an overall comfortable drive even over rough road spots, so all in all, it’s really one of the best all-terrain tires out there.

Pros

Cons

3.  Toyo Open Country AT III

Another amazing option is the Toyo Open Country A/T III, which is designed with a really aggressive tread pattern even for all-terrain tire standards. Coupled with lots of zig-zag sipes, this tire gives you outstanding traction and strong braking over snowy conditions. It even features a 3PMSF rating, which really shows you the tire’s excellent snow traction.

To add to that, its tread pattern is a gift that keeps on giving. This is actually one of the best all-terrain tires to go off-roading with, since it works over any surfaces, including mud. It even makes use of a highly durable tread compound that prolongs its treadlife, and it comes with an impressive 65,000 mile warranty for treadwear.

Perhaps the only downside is that it doesn’t work as well on the road as compared to some other all-terrain tires, especially as it makes the most noise on the highway, but it’s still completely safe to drive on pavement, even when it’s rainy.

Pros

Cons

4.  Michelin LTX A/T 2

In fourth place is the Michelin LTX A/T 2, which is an all-terrain tire designed with snow driving in mind. This is evident in its busy tread pattern that features plenty of the brand’s signature biting edges, a technology that really improves the tire’s traction and braking on snowy surfaces. This is what makes it easily one of the best in the category.

It also makes use of the Comfort Control technology to make the tire roll quietly on the highway, which is something you’ll be hard pressed to find on an all-terrain tire, no matter the price point. As such, it delivers a superb ride quality, even when driving over large bumps on the road.

Aside from its excellence in on-road driving over both wet and dry surfaces, it’s also really excellent for off-roading over hard packed surfaces, shallow mud, sand, and rocks. That said it’s not as suitable over deep mud.

Pros

Cons

5.  General Grabber AT2

Ranking fifth is the General Grabber AT2, a popular all-terrain tire in the off-roading world thanks to its excellent combination of off-road traction and on-road abilities. It features a tread pattern that has been computer-optimized with various sipes and blocks to operate amazingly over rocks, mud, and hard packed surfaces.

This tread pattern also works surprisingly well on snowy surfaces and over slush, giving you strong braking and excellent levels of traction. The tire even boasts of the 3PMSF rating to signify its strong winter abilities.

What’s more, this tire performs outstandingly well on the road. It offers safe and precise handling over dry pavement, and traction on wet roads is still decent. It also promises exceptional ride quality and comfort, save for a bit of road noise.

Pros

Cons

6.  BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2

You should also check out the BF Goodrich all terrain KO2, which is another all-terrain tire that’s immensely popular to off-roading enthusiasts due to how well it works on various off-road surfaces. It makes for a responsive ride on gravel and dirt, and offers superb traction levels to let you escape deep mud and crawl over huge rocks.

This tire features an aggressive tread pattern that helps with providing outstanding snow traction and strong braking in the winter. In fact, it’s actually one of the first tires to receive the 3PMSF marking out of all all-terrain tires.

The best thing about this tire, however, is that it also performs really well on the pavement. It delivers exceptional highway stability for an all-terrain tire, and it offers plenty of traction and grip over wet and dry surfaces. It also rides comfortably over rough patches and bumps.

Pros

Cons

7.  Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT

If you’re looking for an all-terrain tire designed specifically for light trucks, the Cooper Discoverer AT3 XLT is the best in this mini category. This tire model even comes in the most commonly bought LT metric sizes to accommodate pickup truck drivers who use their vehicles for utility.

This is, in fact, a great all-terrain tire all around: It’s one of the best when it comes to hard packed surface driving performance, It features a tread pattern that prevents sharp rocks from shredding the tire.It delivers an amazing on-road performance over both dry and wet surfaces.

And, it promises exceptional traction and braking on the snow thanks to the tread blocks’ zig-zag sipes. As if all that weren’t enough, the AT3 XLT is also really quiet and comfortable on the road, a unique trait for all-terrain tires in the LT-metric category.

Pros

Cons

8.  Continental TerrainContact A/T

Meanwhile, the Continental TerrainContact A/T may not look as aggressive as most of the other all-terrain tires on this list, but that’s actually because this one’s designed for an improved dynamics on the road. And, it works, too!

As a matter of fact, it’s one of the best all-terrain tires for the street, as it performs amazingly well over wet and dry surfaces while offering high traction and grip levels. It’s also really comfortable and quiet on the highway, a rare treat from an all-terrain tire.

Most importantly, however, the TerrainContact A/T also delivers a great snow performance that is easily on par with the best league of all-terrain tires for snow. Finally, it also offers a great treadwear warranty for 60,000 miles.

Pros

Cons

9.  Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3

We also really like the Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3, which delivers excellent traction and responsiveness over hard packed surfaces. It’s also tremendously great on the highway and on paved streets, giving you superior levels of traction and grip, along with strong braking.

While it may not be as great as specialty snow tires, it still works on snowy surfaces just fine, as it does feature the TractionClaw technology to really help you tackle unpacked, deep snow.

That said, another issue is that it’s not that great in deep mud, so it’s far from the perfect off-roading tire. But, a great silver lining is its excellent 50,000 to 60,000 mile treadwear warranty.

Pros

Cons

10.  Kumho Road Venture AT51

Last but definitely not the least is the Kumho Road Venture AT51, which is an affordable all-terrain tire that’s packed with some really amazing features that help it compete with its more premium counterparts.

For one thing, it’s highly durable and very tough, it features a cut-resistant casing, and it even comes with an impressive 55,000 mile treadwear warranty. It also features an aggressive tread pattern equipped with zigzag central blocks, meaning the AT51 works great on snow, which is evident with its 3PMSF marking.

This tire gives you strong braking and usable traction for most slippery surfaces, and even performs great on the road. It’s performance over hard packed surfaces is also commendable. Perhaps the only downside is its mud traction and lack of smoothness over road bumps.

Pros

Cons

Why you should buy all-terrain tires for snow

Why you should buy all-terrain tires for snow

All-terrain tires are great for so many different reasons. First, these tires are cost-effective and highly versatile, since they can be used for pretty much any road condition and surface thanks to their superior tread compound and exquisite engineering and design.

A common feature of all-terrain tires is an aggressive pattern on the tread block, which offers the traction and grip levels needed for off-roading. The shoulder blocks are also designed wider to provide better handling performance and balance.

That said, all-terrain tires generally suffer from reduced performance on the road, especially when it comes to braking and handling, but aside from the increased noise levels, all-terrain tires are still safe and capable for driving on pavement.

These are just a few of these tires’ pros and cons. Below, we’ll talk about each key feature of all-terrain tires so you better understand how they work:

All-conditions versatility

Like we mentioned earlier, all-terrain tires are designed and engineered in such a way that they work great on different surfaces and terrains, including both on and off-road conditions.

Many all-terrain tires even feature the M+S label or 3PMSF marking to signify that they are suitable for snowy and muddy conditions. Simply put, they’re good for rugged terrains and highways come rain or shine.

As such, all-terrain tires are compatible with a variety of vehicles such as SUVs, four wheel drives, pickups, and even light trucks. You can also use all-terrain tires for hauling and towing heavy loads in travel trailers and recreational vehicles.

Unparalleled traction

In comparison with many other tire types, all-terrain tires have some of the greatest surface areas and largest treads in order to offer excellent biting edges for on-road driving and high levels of traction for both rough and smooth surfaces. Grip is also maintained at comfortable levels when driving over mud, rock, snow, and other wet surfaces.

Off-road capability

The real beauty of all-terrain tires lies in their capability for off-road performance, which is the reason why they are preferred by drivers who like to deviate from the highway streets.

A common feature of all-terrain tires include rubber compounds and reinforced walls to make them highly resistant to cuts, scrapes, and punctures. Traction levels are also kept at an optimum, while road vibrations are significantly reduced in order to improve ride quality.

Strong sidewall

Another key feature of all-terrain tires are strong sidewalls with some form of protective element. This does not only protect the tire against puncture from sharp objects, it also enhances its cornering capabilities, along with its liability to carry heavier loads.

Open tread pattern

Most all-terrain tires, especially those geared for off-roading, make use of open tread patterns. This design features wide and deep voids that let the tire effectively take on snow, mud, and other wet conditions without slipping or getting stuck. These voids also make for a great self-cleaning function.

Value for money

All-terrain tires are huge money savers in the sense that you can use them anywhere, anytime, all year round, so you don’t have to buy another set of tires for specific purposes. With an all-terrain tire, you get pretty much the same performance as you would from an all-season tire, and it’s  more affordable than specialty off-road and winter tires.

All terrain vs all season tires

Speaking of all-season tires, these are designed to handle the different demands of summer and winter driving. When compared to an all-terrain tire, here’s how they differ:

     All-terrain tires are great for extreme off-road conditions, thanks to their tread patterns and use of resilient rubber compounds, whereas all-season tires are more comfortable to drive on paved roads, thanks to their symmetrical tread designs.

     All-terrain tires are slower when it comes to turning and braking on paved roads, while all-season tires are more responsive due to their tapered blocks and smoother treads.

     All-terrain tires are also noisier on the road because of the aggressive tread blocks.

Simply put, all-terrain tires are beasts for off-roading, but all-season tires are more suitable for on-road driving.

All terrain vs winter and winter rated tires

All terrain vs winter and winter rated tires

All-terrain tires are generally great in snowy conditions, thanks to their increased biting edge and superior traction. However, they do have a limit, and cannot perform in extremely cold temperatures and particularly snowy or icy surfaces.

To address this, there are all-terrain tires that are winter rated, meaning, they still have much of the capabilities of all-terrain tires, but with some improvements for snow driving. That said, nothing still beats specialty winter tires that are unbeatable in deep snow conditions thanks to their flexible tread compounds and tremendous traction at below zero temperatures.

Things to consider when buying all-terrain tires for winter

Things to consider when buying all-terrain tires for winterIf you want to find the best all-terrain tires for snow (or other purposes), here are the main factors you need to look for:

UTQG

This is a tire rating that determines the tire’s treadwear, traction, and heat resistance. Basically, the higher the treadwear rating, the longer the tire’s tread life and the more durable the tire is, which is important for tires that are subjected to various harsh conditions.

All-terrain tires also need to be made with thicker rubber compounds that feature good thermal insulation, which is what gives the tire better resistance to cuts, chips, intense friction, and heat.

Speed rating

The tire you buy should always match your vehicle’s running speed, unless you want a prematurely fast treadwear. This is particularly important if you’re driving a high-speed vehicle, in which case your tires should have a matching speed rating. This also protects you from blowouts, which happens when the tires are rolling faster than they are made to do.

Load index

Another consideration is the tire’s weight capacity, which becomes increasingly important if you’ll be using the tires on large utility vehicles that carry and tow heavy loads regularly. Keep in mind, always get tires that have a higher load index than your vehicle’s weight.

Tread design

All-terrain tires can come with either symmetric or asymmetric tread patterns. Symmetrical treads are great for noise reduction, fuel efficiency, and reduced rolling resistance, which all means more on-road ride quality and comfort.

On the other hand, asymmetrical tires are better for rigidity, treadwear resistance, wet traction, and hydroplaning resistance, making them better for off-roading.

Other factors

Finally, you also need to consider the tire’s voids, sidewalls, central ribs, and shoulder blocks.

Voids should be deep and wide so they are self-cleaning, sidewalls should be tough to make for stable drifting, shoulder blocks should be wide and a central rib should be present in order to promote better handling, steering performance, and balance. Tapered tread blocks even allow fore better ground contact.

Final Verdict: Which is the best all terrain tire for snow brand?

As you can see, all-terrain tires are some of the most versatile and well-performing tires out there, making them a favorite for owners of SUVs, campers, light trucks, and pickups.

When choosing the best all-terrain tires for snow, it all boils down to understanding your vehicle, your driving needs, and the tire’s capabilities, all of which are different for every driver. That said, our top recommendation is the Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar. It’s the best for everything- snowy conditions, off-roading, and on-road driving!

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