Winter is one time of the year we can’t do without. Just like we are certain to have the sunshine on us, the same can be said about the snow when winter comes. But, what are the best tires for snow plowing?
If you make a business out of snow plowing during this time of the year, then you should know that moving in the snow would require that you get the best tire for plowing snow, not just for the sake of moving effectively in the snow, but for your safety as well.
As a snow plow driver, working with the right tires can make a significant difference in both safety and performance. Whether you are a professional or looking to clear your driveway, this guide is definitely for you.
Let’s get started and find the perfect set of snow plowing tires for your snow plow.
In A Hurry? Here are Our Top 3 Picks Of The Best Tire For Snow Plowing In 2022
| Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
| (Our #1 Picks) Nitto Terra Grappler G2 All-Terrain Radial Tire – 285/65R18 125R | Perfect for off-road traction terrains,Good on wet surfaces,It comes highly recommended | Check Price |
| (Best Overall) Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial – 31X10.50R15LT 109Q | Snowflake symbol – which is its own way of saying it is very snow-worthy,Good traction properties,Good traction properties | Check Price |
| (Best Value) Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire – 245/75R16 120Q | Comes with a 5-year materials and workmanship warranty,It has a good wet and dry handling,A very good fit for snow driving | Check Price |
We wear winter clothes during winter, and not summer because it’s the right time to wear them. The same goes for other must-have items based on the situation we find ourselves in.
When it comes to snow plowing, getting the right tires cannot be overemphasized due to how effective they make your vehicle in the snow.
These tires are built for harsh conditions and are also known to withstand the severity that comes with cold weather. Here are some of the benefits of having the right tire for snow plowing and snow driving in general.
Best Tire For Snow Plowing – Benefits Of Using The Right Tires For Snow Plowing
Improved Performance On Snow Roadways
Rubber can freeze and solidify in very cool temperatures. This can reduce traction and cause the tires to skate on ice.
Both studded and studless snow tires are made with rubber mixes that stay delicate and adaptable in cold conditions. This causes it to have good traction compared to AT (All-terrain) tires on snow streets.
Winter Technology
Winter tires have a soft rubber compound that is still flexible as temperatures drop to conform to the road for more controlled handling.
They have unique tread patterns to reinforce traction on snow and ice by providing spaces to empty water and to remove snow. Typically, they need deep sipes, which are small slits within the tread that help traverse water and slush, avoiding hydroplaning and improving grip.
The grip is critical, not just to avoid getting stuck, but to assist in ensuring that the car can stop and steer(Read Also: 4 Best Tire for Enve 4.5 Ar In 2022)
The Best Tire For Snow Plowing a Buyer’s Guide
There are lots of snow tires in the market, but if you truly want the best, then I strongly suggest you look out for the following factors before making a purchase.
Tire size
If you’re buying a replacement set of wheels and tires, you ought to check what your car was originally offered with from the factory to form sure you retain things consistent. Using an equivalent tire size because the OEM is usually the simplest choice.
for instance, if you’ve got 18-inch wheels on your car, but the bottom model came with 17-inch wheels, you’ll definitely minus-size your wheels and tires because the car came from the factory designed to utilize the smaller size. You’d probably save money that way, which is good.
narrow tires generally prevent your tires from getting stuck. To determine what size tires to shop for your car, consult the placard within the sidewall, usually located on the driver’s side. (Read Also: 4 Best Jack For Lifted 4runner In 2022)
Have in mind that you simply should keep the general diameter of the wheel and tire together according to what the car first came with.
Various aspects of the car are calibrated to supported this diameter (traction control, speedometer, etc.), so messing this up without first properly doing research is often harmful.
The Type Of Road You Ply
This is very necessary when picking winter tires. Do you drive fundamentally on tarred pavements, rocky terrains, or expressways? If you drive a lot, ensure you put resources into excellent tires.
This is particularly significant if you drive a small vehicle, which is bound to slip in helpless conditions.
If you drive mostly in the city, tires with a decent quality should suffice.
Consider The Break Performance Of The Tires
Snow tires majorly affect braking and handling due to their design, which is one of the primary reasons why winter tires are compulsory.
At the point when the temperature dips under 7°C, AT tires, lose an excessive amount of traction and adaptability for safe driving. With better tires, your vehicle will slow down more adequately and dependably and will do better when turning.
Change All The Tires On The Wheels
Don’t just change the rear wheel or the front wheel tires when making a switch to snow tires. Rather, change the entire wheel of the vehicle to ensure that your vehicle is properly balanced on every side.
Experts have also strongly advised that you change all tires with a specific brand to ensure that they wear out uniformly. This will also give your tires a good second-hand value.
Snowflake Symbol
A good snow tire should have the snowflake symbol on it. this symbol makes it legal for winter use. It might not mean much though, but the snowflake symbol goes a long way in implying that a tire is snow-worthy.(Read Also: 5 Best Jack for Honda Civic In 2022)
Having known all these, here are the top 5 best tires for snow plowing based on the recommendations and suggestions I was able to pull from popular forums on the internet.
These tires have been tested and trusted to meet all the required specs for snowing plowing, but just like everything else, they have their own pros and cons which I will be highlighting at the end of every review. Here we go!
1. Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q
First on my list is the Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q. This tire comes highly recommended on various forums online due to the following features.
Product Features
Improved Tractive Groove Technology
For a non-car enthusiast, the new tractive grove technology means that the Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q offers you very sufficient traction in snowy conditions, and other unpleasant conditions such as mud and where there is good traction, it means that you have no issues with your vehicle skidding on slippery surfaces or when the brakes are applied.
Snowflake Symbol
The Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q comes with the snowflake symbol that makes it completely legal to be used in snowy conditions. This helps just in case you have any doubts.
Reduction In Road Noise
It is also designed with high angled center tread blocks that help in increasing the traction properties of the tire, while also reducing the noise tires are known to generate especially when being used to plow snow. (Read Also: Can You Drive Without A Wheel Well?)
Rim Protector Design
The Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q is designed to protect your wheels from any sort of curb damage that can happen accidentally, especially during snowy times when such areas are covered by thick snow.
Section Width
The narrow a tire is on snow, the better, and the Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial tire having a section width of 10.5 inches just fits the bill.
Taking an average of all the forums I used for my research, the Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q has an overall rating of 4.8 which is pretty high in its own rights.
Pros Of The Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q
- It comes highly recommended. Most of the reviews I saw on this product were nothing short of positive
- It comes from a trusted brand
- Good traction properties
- Snowflake symbol which is its own way of saying it is very snow-worthy
- Users have been pleased with the road noise design
Cons
There have been slight concerns with some users who have had issues with the Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q being used in rocky terrains, although, they accept it works perfectly on the highway, they had issues when they rode on mountainous surfaces filled with rocks.
2. Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire 245/75R16 120Q
Next up on my list is the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire. Just like every tire on my list, the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire comes highly recommended, and here are some of its amazing features.
Product Features
Zigzag Sipes
This feature in the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire helps to Improve the snow traction by increasing the biting edges of the tire. The aggressive off-shoulder tread blocks also help the tire to bite into the terrain it encounters.
It doesn’t matter if you are plowing commercially or personally, the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire tread blocks are designed to improve the overall traction of the tire as attested by a particular user who uses the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire on his delivery trucks.
Multi-Cell Compound Design
The multi-cell compound design feature in the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire helps to repel water on surfaces which helps to improve its grip on road terrains in general. According to the manufacturers, this is made possible by the microscopic pores in the compound.
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CO-CS Optimization
The computer-optimized component system (CO-CS) of the Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire makes it possible to blend the tread design with the materials and another construction process to improve the general performance of this tire on snow.
The carbon long-link feature incorporated into the design by the manufacturers also helps it to improve the overall tire life. It has an overall rating of 4.3
Pros Of The Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire
- Very durable
- A very good fit for snow driving
- Comes recommended
- It has a good wet and dry handling
- Comes with a 5-year materials and workmanship warranty
Cons
- The Bridgestone Blizzak W965 Winter Radial Tire is quite heavy, especially when you compare it to other tires in the same category. This could lead to less fuel efficiency within the region of 1-2 mpg based on my findings.
- Some users have also had slight concerns about road noise. It’s generally good, but not great.
3. Nitto Terra Grappler G2 All-Terrain Radial Tire 285/65R18 125R
The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 all-terrain Radial tire is one of the few all-terrain tires that are actually good on snow. It comes very highly recommended, and the following features below will tell you why.
Product Features
All-Terrain Versatile Compound
The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 all-terrain Radial tire is designed to suit all terrains perfectly, and the snow terrain is no different. Users who have used this product have commended its impact on snow, and the comfort they felt while using it.
Improved Tread Compound
The new tread compound is designed for the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 all-terrain Radial tire to increase its rough terrain durability, and also expand its tread life.
The tread design has depth sipes for improved traction on wet road surfaces. This new blend conveys brilliant execution generally.
Shoulder Lug Design
The shoulder lug design of the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 all-terrain Radial tire brings added contact while experiencing soil, mud, sand, and other off-terrains while resisting puncture from other forces of nature.
The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 all-terrain Radial tire has made coupling joints that connect the external middle blocks to the outer blocks. This makes the tread blocks of the Nitto Terra Grappler G2 all-terrain Radial tire tougher for improved traction and handling purposes.
Low Noise Emission
Noise has consistently been an issue that puts a significant number of the present off-road tires from being ones that offer a cool driving rodeo to one that can be likened to a nightmare.
The manufacturers of Nitto Terra Grappler G2 all-terrain Radial tire have taken time to address the noise concerns that would have generally been a problem for drivers and users alike by using a computerized variable pitch tread design.
Sidewall Enhancement
Nitto has made two diverse sidewall designs on this tire. One is like the first Terra Grappler design with the thunderbolt outlay, while the other is a more forceful-looking cutting edge design that highlights sidewall lugs that run from the shoulder to the sidewall.
It has an overall rating of 4.5 based on the overall research I carried out.
Pros Of The Nitto Terra Grappler G2 All-Terrain Radial Tire
- It comes highly recommended
- Low noise emission
- Perfect for off-road traction terrains
- Good on wet surfaces
Cons
Users have found it challenging to navigate through deep mud situations, so you might want to watch out for such terrains.
4. Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 Tire
The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 Tire comes as an upgrade to the older Geolander M/T+, and it is designed to be used on all-terrain surfaces. Here are some of its features.
Product Features
Sidewall Armor Design
Yokohama utilizes a high-thickness triple-polymer tread compound to go with their Geo-Shield design that comprises of various sidewall steel belts, a full nylon cap, and a high turn-up body for added safety.
High-Density Polymer Tread
The unique tread design of the Yokohama Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 Tire coupled with the G003 gives it a good grip in off-terrains that comprises of mud, sands, and rocks. This makes it ideal for off-road terrains in general.
Improved Traction
An improved square to void ratio and its unique tread configuration give the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 Tire a trustworthy grip in soil, sand, mud, and rocks. Advanced sipes around the tread region further improve the traction properties in rough terrain territory.
Noise Reduction
When used on a tarred surface, you’ll discover the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 Tire is a lot calmer than you may anticipate from a snow-landscape tire.
Yokohama uses a PC aided variable pitch track sequence that significantly lessens undesirable noise. This is an observable improvement over the more seasoned model and one of the calmer MT tires in its group.
Long-Lasting Tread Life
According to the manufacturers, the tread life has been upgraded through the triple-polymer compound, which Yokohama claims is 8% longer enduring than other tires.
Presently, Yokohama offers a scope of 16-20 inch sizes in both LT and buoyancy models, with extra sizes being delivered all through the rest of the year.
It has an overall rating of 4.7 based on the research I carried out.
Pros Of The Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003
- It has a very good off-road rating by users
- The noise level is very much accepted by users
- The tread life of the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 has been greatly improved to last way longer than the previous edition
Cons
Users who used the Yokohama Geolandar M/T G003 in rocky terrains have had some issues with the tire, but this shouldn’t be a problem, especially when you are not faced with such terrains regularly.
5. Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 All-Terrain Tire
Finally, on my list is another all-terrain tire in the product of Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 all-terrain tire. Here are some of the features I came across during my research.
Product Features
Tough Design
This is one of the components of the Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 all-terrain tire previous owners enjoy.
The Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 off-road tire is constructed with an improved support rib design that gives a rough appearance and just as an improved rough terrain foothold to make it match the complexity of ridding on snowy surfaces.
The Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 off-road tire is built to prevent lug tearing in the tires.
Good Traction Properties
Most users have applauded the traction design of the Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 off-road tire because of the totally open circumferential groove that gives it its adapting edges which permits it to clear water out and about while keeping ideal traction.Â
Shoulder Design
The shoulder is designed to help lessen the noise recurrence despite the rugged design of the Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 off-road tire.Â
Anti-Puncture
There have been wide praises from owners of how their tire has had the option to withstand hazards in nail-pervaded zones. There was approval from a specific development laborer in one of the discussions I staggered on during my research he said he has never had any issue with puncture since he started using the Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 all-terrain tire in these sorts of areas.Â
Angled Edges
The sloped edges combined with the ribs design guarantee that there is no space for snow to join itself to the thread of the tire.
It has an overall rating of 4.5 based on the research I carried out.
Pros of the Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 All-Terrain Tire
- Suitable for outdoors
- Very durable
- Very compatible with wet pavements and rugged terrains
- It comes highly recommended
Cons
As I stated in a previous review post on this product, the stiffness of the Mickey Thompson Baja ATZP3 all-terrain tire has always been a concern, but this is down to the anti-puncture properties of the tire.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Tires Are Best For Snow?
In reality, the best tires for snow are the tires with the snowflakes sign just like the Goodyear Wrangler Dura Trac Radial 31X10.50R15LT 109Q I reviewed in this article. The snowflakes sign signifies that it meets the basic requirement for driving on snow.
How Fast Can You Drive With Snow Tires?
This usually depends on the car, but on a general note, you are advised to drive at about 31 miles per hour (50 kilometers per hour). However, Toyota has recommended that you don’t exceed the speed limit of 75 miles per hour when driving with snow tires on a Toyota Corolla.
Are all terrain tires good for snow plowing?
Yes, they are. As you would have observed in the course of this article, all-terrain (AT Tires) make up more than half of the recommended tires based on the research I carried out. They have a good overall rating in terms of plowing through snow.
Can I Use Winter Tires All Year?
You can, but you shouldn’t. Winter tires are specifically designed for cold climates, and as such, using them during the summer will cause them to wear faster on dry pavement, decreasing the performance in the process, as winter tires won’t give you the same handling as AT tires or summer tires.
What To Put On The Plow To Prevent It From Sticking?
There are lots of items you can use on your plow to prevent it from sticking, and some of them include the following;
- Oil (vegetable oil will do a good job). Click here for more info.
- Floor wax. Click here for more info.
- Petroleum jelly. Click here for more info.
- Cooking spray (PAM comes highly recommended). Click here for more info.
- Car wax. Click here for more info.
Best Tire For Snow Plowing – Conclusion
Having a reliable tire for snow driving activities is essential to enjoying not just the season, but the art of driving.
I hope this research article will go a long way in ensuring that you pick the right tires for snow plowing. Kindly drop any observation and comment you might have with regard to the topics discussed in this article.
Enjoy every fun moment winter brings.
Cheers!!!
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I am passionate about all things automotive and have a deep understanding of the topic. As a mechanic, I use my free time to share knowledge of everyday challenges that any car owner can experience – helping you make informed decisions about tires.