The Best Tires for Plowing Snow

Snow tires are designed to plow through snow with ease and traction, improving the safety of the ride while traveling in snow and icy weather. All-season tires do not have the flexibility that snow tires have because they remain hard and brittle when weather is cold. Installing snow tires on a vehicle in preparation for inclement weather can prevent accidents.

  1. What Are Snow Plowing Tires?

    • Snow tires are also known as winter tires and they are particularly designed for low temperatures and snowy, inclement weather. The tires are made of soft rubber that remains flexible in cold weather, unlike typical tires. The tread patterns are designed to bite down into ice and snow to hold traction dramatically better than everyday tires. They enable drivers to travel when conditions would typically not allow it and prevent the vehicle from sliding into potentially dangerous situations. Several snow tires are studded to ensure the best grip on snow; however, they are damaging to state-maintained roads. Many states are trying to get them banned, so before you purchase studded snow tires, make sure they are still legal in your state.

    All Weather vs. Snow Plowing Tires

    • Snow tires are optimized for the specifics of snowy weather conditions. They are not designed to be used on a car year-round. They will actually wear out much quicker because the rubber is softer. The tread is much deeper and larger than on all-season tires, which will also makes driving with them on dry roads very noisy. The tread is the main component of snow tires and when it wears out the tires become less effective as the tread erodes away. Many drivers believe that all-weather tires are just as efficient in snowy weather as snow plowing tires, but it's important to realize the two types are designed for two separate functions. All-weather tires are made with handling all conditions in mind, including wet rainy roads. They are not optimized specifically for snow and will not perform nearly as well as snow tires.

    Obtaining Snow Plowing Tires

    • Obtaining snow plowing tires is not difficult. They are sold at automotive garages, specialty tire stores, online and at many hardware stores. Most sellers do not carry a large selection of snow tires in their inventory because they are typically only used during the one season. Some of the best snow plowing tires are made by popular brands that have been studied and tested for the best performance. Bridgestone's Blizzak winter tires are designed to grip snow and ice with millions of microscopic pores and studs. Goodyear makes an Ultra Grip winter tire with different levels of performance. Other popular brands that carry outstanding snow plowing tires are Continental Tire, Dunlop, Firestone, Michelin and Pirelli.