Tires in this section are suitable for front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive passenger cars and minivans. Owners of rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive performance and luxury cars may prefer performance winter tires. Prices indicated are average for Canadian metropolitan market retailers, for tires with installation and balancing. Prices apply to the 195/65R15 size, which is suitable for compact cars like the Chevrolet Cobalt LS, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla. Rebate information is current as of October 2013. Tires are listed in alphabetical order within each ratings group.
A small percentage of mostly rural drivers may be looking for studded tires. We have indicated the models that are offered with factory European-style diamond-shaped studs. These are supposed to run quieter and bite more effectively than conventional studs.
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Top Rated
Bridgestone Blizzak WS 70
Price: $143
Directional tire, optimized for snow and ice; compared to the X-Ice Xi2, this tire has a somewhat deeper tread and better traction in slush. Very good overall performance; a good choice for severe conditions. Bridgestone reduced prices in Canada this year; they used to sell for much less at retailers in the U.S. $70 mail-in rebate when you buy four tires.
Michelin X-Ice Xi3
Price: $154
Among Consumer Reports’ preferred tires in testing because of its superior performance on wet and dry roads, and for ride comfort. Optimized for ice and snow, this tire was among the favorites with tire dealers and experts surveyed. Some consumers using the previous version of this tire reported that traction in slush was unimpressive, and that the shallow, conservative tread limits its traction in deep snow. Superior performance on pavement. Quiet and soft riding. Tricky mileage warranty requires the tires to be virtual banana peels before you can collect. Michelin says the tire will be long wearing.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7
Price: $179
Top tire for deep snow and poor winter weather conditions, coupled with good ice traction. Expensive, about 25 percent higher than Toyo or Bridgestone, but it comes standard with a road hazard warranty (this year, the warranty carries an administration charge and has more limitations). Noisy on dry pavement. Tire rotation a must to ensure even wear. In large sizes it is siginficantly cheaper at a US tire retailier, if you travel to the U.S.
Toyo Observe GSi 5
Price: $142
Tire optimized for deep snow and ice. One of the best choices at any price even though it is not the best performer on cleared or wet roads and can be noisier than average in some applications. Superior durability due to the deep tread and relatively long-wearing rubber compound. Well suited for heavy vehicles. Mail-in rebate of $30 to $80 based on the tire diameter when you buy four tires.
Very Good
BF Goodrich Winter Slalom KSI
Price: $142
Michelin’s second tier brand; this tire is a big improvement on the old Winter Slalom (it's now designated KSI). Good all around performance. Acceptable ice traction. Mail-in rebate of $50 when you buy four tires.
Continental ExtremeWinterContact
Price: $120
Tire optimized for ice, effective in deep snow. A favourite in testing conducted by Tire Rack, the big U.S. retailer, because of its superior handling and balanced all-around performance. A very good alternative to the Michelin X-Ice Xi3, at an excellent price. $65 Prepaid Mastercard gift card when you buy four tires.
Dunlop WinterMaxx
Price: $120
Replaces the Dunlop DS-3. The tread compound is similar to the DS-3. Assymmetric tread design, a bit shallower when new than the DS-3, which will likely improve handling on dry roads. Good performance predicted on snow, but ice traction is likely average. Competitive price. Durable. Mail-in rebate of $40 on a set of four.
Gislaved Nord*Frost 100
Price: $132
Replaces the old Nord*Frost 5. Predicted to be very good in snow, good on ice. The tread design is similar to the General Altimax Arctic; performance on dry pavement should be a little more responsive. Can become noisy as it wears. A good choice for buyers looking for a tire available with European-style diamond-shaped factory studs.
Nokian R2
Price: $179
New for this year, this tire supercedes the old Hakka R. The ranking is provisional as APA's experts have no field experience with it. Nokian's version of a non-studdable ice tire like the Blizzak WS 70. The ice braking champion in European tire tests. The shallower tread, and higher R speed rating suggest that performance in snow will not equal the Hakkappelitta 7; that tire accounts for a much larger percentage of Nokian's sales in Eastern Canada. Expensive. This year, the factory road hazard warranty has more limitations and carries an administration fee when you make a claim.
Yokohama Ice Guard IG52C
Price: $152
Provisional ranking for this new directional winter tire that resembles more closely the Bridgestone WS70 and Toyo GSi 5, than the IG20 it is replacing. The new solid, circumferential grooves mean it is likely to track better than the IG20. Quiet, smooth riding. Average treadlife predicted. May eventually rank higher as APA gains more experience with this tire.
Good
General Altimax Arctic
Price: $118
Very good in deep snow, and competent overall performance at a competitive price. A bit less grip on ice than the top-rated tires and tire noise can become noticeable as it wears. Tire rotation important to reduce undulating tread wear. This tire was highly-rated by Consumer Reports and Tire Rack. Long wearing. Low price. $35 prepaid Mastercard gift card when purchasing a set of four tires. Can accept studs.
Nokian WRG3
Price: $162
Provisional ranking for this new tire that replaces the old WRG2. It is an "All-Weather" year-round tire that meets the snow performance standard applicable to winter tires. A possible solution for the last year of your lease, if your original snow and summer tires have all worn out. APA members who used the previous version of this tire were pleased with its winter performance when new; the four-season rubber compound is likely a compromise on ice. Good handling on cleared roads for a winter tire. No long-term information to predict its durability in extended summer driving. Expensive. Popular on the Canadian West Coast as a winter tire for year-round use.
Yokohama Ice Guard IG20
Price: Liquidation
Being phased out and replaced by the IG51nd IG52. Good overall performance on snow and ice. Owners of Mazda3 cars reported their cars tended to wander with this tire. Low clearance prices. Mail-in rebate of $70 when you buy four tires.
Acceptable
Firestone Winterforce
Price: $119
Good deep snow traction; handling on dry pavement is inferior to the similar General Arctic Altimax. Fairly noisy. Pricing no longer advantageous. Can accept studs.
Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter
Price: $108
Relatively new tire, introduced last winter. Design comparable to the General Altimax Arctic. Very low prices, just above the private label Chinese make imports. Aggressive tread for good snow traction. Noisy. Will accept studs.
Hankook Winter i*Pike
Price: $121
This tire has been on the market for a few years. Good snow traction, unexceptional in other conditions. Prices similar to higher-rated tires.
Uniroyal Tiger Paw Ice & Snow II
Price: $123
Michelin’s lowest-priced brand, this is among the cheaper winter tires from a major tire maker. A redesign of the old Tiger Paw, the tread is now directional and of a design that appears similar to the Firestone Winterforce and General Altimax Arctic. Made in China; tire uniformity as it wears is an issue.
Below Average
(Tires in this section are ranked in order of preference, not alphabetically)
Goodyear Nordic Winter
Price: $133
Goodyear’s lowest price snow tire offered exclusively at Canadian Tire and often on sale. $40 off when purchasing a set of four.
Cooper WeatherMaster ST-2 and Dean Wintercat XT
Price: $114
These tires are made from a common mould, of the old-style clamshell type; the Dean is made in the US. Good grip in deep snow but performance on other surfaces lags. Reasonably durable. Pricing can be high for the older technology and quality of tire.
Saxon Snowblazer Passenger
Price: N/A
This Chinese-made off-brand tire is priced low. A possible solution if you’re turning in your leased vehicle during its last winter, particularly if it is equipped with large original-equipment tires, where the savings can be substantial. Note that some lessors require a tire of like kind and quality as at delivery (except for tire wear, which can be “normal”), so check beforehand to ensure the Snowblazer will pass muster when you turn the car in. The private label importer has changed before; in the event of a large recall, there could be problems getting compensated.
Winter Claw Extreme Grip
Price: N/A
Inexpensive private label import from Multi-Mile (TBC Corporation) of Memphis Tennessee. Decent traction in deep snow, below average on ice. Uneven wear can affect longevity. The APA’s reservations in the event of a major recall are similar to the Saxon above.
Champiro Ice Pro GT Radial
Price: $99
Chinese-make copy of the General Altimax Arctic. Mediocre handling, noisy. Very low price compared to the competition, especially in the larger tire sizes. Will accept studs. The hard rubber compound is long wearing.
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