As the blustery Canadian winter rolls in, many think they all need good all-season tires and their SUV’s all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) to tackle the show-covered roadways. They quickly learn that Canadian winters bring in massive snowfalls and icy conditions that quickly overwhelm all-season tires.
If the weather becomes too much for those all-season tires to handle, you create hazardous driving conditions for you, those in your vehicle, and others on the roadway. This is why a high-quality set of snow tires for your SUV is so important in the wintertime.
Which winter tires are best for your SUV? Below, we outline the best winter tires for SUVs to help you choose the right ones.
1. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
Bridgestone’s Blizzaks are likely some of the first tires you think of when shopping for winter tires. The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 is a studless ice and snow tire that delivers confident control in various winter weather conditions.
Blizzak WS90’s directional pattern and increased block stiffness help it deliver top-notch steering response while offering superior treadwear. These winter tires feature EdgePerformance Technology Package, a series of interlocking sipes — tiny slices across the tire tread — running the full depth of the tread to help it deliver consistent performance throughout the tire's life.
This tire’s enhanced block edges also boost ice traction and reduce braking distances in slippery conditions.
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 rounds out all its great benefits with a next-generation multi-cell compound with bite particles that play a role in removing the thin layer of water between the tread and icy surfaces. This helps prevent freezing and helps the tire grip the ice better.
2. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
Here comes the Blizzak again. This time, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2, which is optimized for slush, snow, and ice, is the tire in question. This tire focuses on ice driving and stopping with its microscopic bite particles and 15% more aggressive block edges to help grip icy roadways. As this tire rolls down the road, an array of small sipes open and close, giving the tire additional snow and ice grip.
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 also excels in wet conditions thanks to a hydrophilic coating and adaptive NanoPro Tech Multicell compound. It also features wide tread grooves that channel snow and water away from the tread for optimal contact with the road.
The tire’s Multicell compound does a great job remaining flexible in freezing conditions, ensuring you enjoy optimal handling on dry roads and a smooth ride in sub-freezing temperatures. This Multicell compound makes up 50% of the tire’s tread, giving it a long life.
3. Continental VikingContact 7
What better way to conquer the cold than with a Viking’s help? Well, a Continental Viking, that is...
The VikingContact 7’s Nordic compound’s canola oil enhances the tire’s flexibility, allowing it to adapt to snowy or icy conditions, while active grip silica improves its wet performance and braking. The Continental VikingContact 7’s tread pattern features grooves that guide water and slush away from the contact patch so the tire has solid contact with the roadway instead of snow or slush.
This SUV winter tire features an optimized void ratio to maximize the amount of rubber that contacts the road, allowing it to deliver confident high-speed tracking and control while cornering. Solid linkages and special interlocked block bridges help stabilize the tread pattern and hold the grooves open to allow water and slush to drain as needed.
The 3D sipes feature varying thicknesses, creating biting edges for enhanced traction in slippery conditions. The wider sipes create snow pockets to collect and hold snow in the pattern, helping enhance snow-to-snow traction in severe conditions. On the outside of the tread blocks are Continental Grip Edges that grab snow and increase the tire’s contact area, enhancing traction on snow and ice.
4. Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
This non-studded tire from Michelin is perfect for the extra weight of light trucks and larger SUVs.
The Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV includes the brand’s FleX-Ice™ 2.0 compound that adds micro-roughness on the tread surface to enhance snow and ice grip. This proprietary rubber compound’s high silica levels ensure the tire maintains flexibility, even in Canada’s frigid winter.
This snow tire’s continuous V-shape gives it a directional tread pattern with broad groove widths. The tread design decreases hydroplaning risk and enhances performance in slushy conditions while increasing snow-to-snow traction.
The X-Ice Snow SUV's tread has two types of full-depth sipes that complement one another for superior traction. The notched sipes give this tire biting edges to enhance traction in poor road conditions. The variable-thickness sipes further aid traction and support the tread elements to maintain efficient contact on packed snow and clear roads.
5. Cooper Evolution Winter Studdable
If you deal with severe winter conditions, only a studdable tire will do the trick. The Cooper Evolution Winter is a studdable tire designed to handle just about anything Mother Nature can throw its way.
The Evolution Winter features a directional pattern to aid acceleration and braking in snowy or icy winter conditions. The tire’s centre rib has wide, rigid tread blocks to enhance stability on dry roads for enhanced steering response and firm shoulders for superior lateral grip.
The Cooper Evolution Winter’s deep initial tread depths, wide circumferential grooves, and open shoulder notches flush standing water and slush away from the contact patch. Plus, high-density, multi-angle siping creates biting edges that help this tire deliver ample traction in wet, snowy, and icy conditions.
The Evolution Winter’s internal construction features a one-ply polyester casing with a high-ply turn-up that creates a two-ply sidewall that’s more durable and impact-resistant.
6. Pirelli Scorpion Winter
If you own a performance crossover, you’ll want winter tires that can handle the snow and ice while delivering great dry-road handling. The Pirelli Scorpion Winter is the tire for you. The Scorpion Winter delivers predictable low-temperature driving performance on dry and wet roads plus great traction in snow and ice.
The Scorpion Winter has enhanced grip and handling in winter driving conditions thanks to its rubber compound that features a new polymer blend and a higher silica content.
The directional tread has a rounded tread profile, modular centre block geometry, and stable shoulders, giving it the grip and structure needed for superior dry-road handling. Circumferential grooves help this performance winter tire maintain good traction on wet and slush-covered roads. Snow-biting ridges and multi-directional sipes chime in to grip hard into snow and on ice for enhanced control.
7. Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter
The Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter is a studdable winter and snow tire with a smooth ride and superior traction for all vehicles, including coupes, sedans, minivans, crossovers, SUVs, and even some light-duty pickup trucks.
This directional tire boasts superior cold-weather flexibility and efficient water and slush evacuation. Its strong shoulder blocks enhance stability when cornering and promote even treadwear on dry roads.
When winter conditions arrive, the Ultra Grip Winter’s wide tread grooves channel loose snow and slush away from the tire’s contact patch for enhanced traction. Multiple sipes also play a critical role, giving the Ultra Grip Winter numerous biting edges for improved grip on ice and snow.
If you’re in an area that requires studs, you can add alternating rows of metal studs in the shoulder and intermediate tread block to increase traction on hard-packed snow and icy roads.
8. Yokohama iceGuard IG51V
The Yokohama iceGuard IG51V is a studless winter tire tuned to tackle cold, wet, slushy, snowy, and icy conditions without needing aggressive studs. Central Zigzag Circumferential Grooves with 3D-shaped walls pack and expel snow, keeping the tread clear. Lateral slush grooves help channel water, slush, and snow away from the tread, further improving grip. Finally, small, horizontal sipes give this winter tire additional bite in the snow and ice.
With its directional tread design and variable-angle centre rib this tire handles dry conditions like a pro too.
9. Toyo Observe GSi-6
The Toyo Observe GSi-6 is a studless winter performance for all types of vehicles, including CUVs and SUVs. It offers superior traction, cornering, and braking performance in winter and dry conditions.Its silica compound and aggressive tread design with advanced sipe technology allow it to deliver confident handling in snowy, icy, wet, and dry conditions.
A unique trait of this tire is its absorbent carbonic powder tread compound, which offers better contact and increased grip on icy roads. This bamboo-derived carbonic powder absorbs the thin moisture film on winter roads, mitigating freezing and enhancing traction. Its MicroBit technology, which is made from ground walnut shells, helps grip deep snow and ice.
10. Firestone Winterforce 2 UV
Firestone’s entry into the studdable snow tire segment is the Winterforce 2 UV. This tire helps crossovers, minivans, light trucks, and SUVs tackle dry, wet, and snow-covered winter roads.
Firestone Winterforce 2 UV snow tires boast a cold-weather rubber compound and a directional tread pattern, allowing a smooth ride in even the coldest conditions. Its deep circumferential grooves, wide notches, and open shoulder slots force slush and standing water away from the tread, minimizing hydroplaning risks. Plus, the high sipe density creates thousands of biting edges for optimal snow and ice grip.
11. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV
Nokian may not be the most recognizable name in tires, but this brand continues rising and now has three SUV tire options for wintertime driving. The Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV gets consistently high marks as one of the best snow tires on the market.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV features double-stud technology for optimized grip and aramid-fibre-reinforced sidewalls for added durability. Those are the same fibres found in bullet-proof vests.
The double-stud technology sets these winter tires apart from the competition. This setup includes a different type of stud on the shoulders to maximize the longitudinal grip. It also leads to a more natural braking and acceleration feel on icy surfaces. Cuts on both sides of the centre portion of the tread also help enhance its grip in deep snow.
Find Your Winter-Ready SUV at Clutch
With a firm grasp of the best winter tires for SUVs, it may be a great time to look into a quality used SUV that is up to handling Canada’s winter. At Clutch, we have a huge selection of quality used SUVs ready for you. Head to Clutch’s 100% online showroom and find the perfect used SUV without setting foot in a dealership.
Are you worried about buying an SUV 100% online? You can put your mind at ease knowing that every Clutch SUV has passed a 210-point inspection performed by trained Clutch professionals, ensuring they’re ready for winter. We also offer an optional 3-month Protection Plan and nationwide roadside assistance for additional peace of mind.
Want even more protection? You can opt for a nationwide Extended Warranty and enjoy even more coverage.
Plus, Clutch’s optional 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee has you covered. If you don’t love your used SUV, you can exchange it for a new one or return it for a no-questions-asked refund.
Check out our inventory of quality used SUVs today and choose a model that suits you this winter—then get it delivered to your door. You can even set up financing and get your trade-in vehicle appraised entirely online.
