With an evertread compound, the tire lasts a lot longer in the most severe weather conditions. It offers shorter wet stopping distances, so the rain will not affect its performance. The MaxTouch™ construction helps it save fuel over the lifespan of the tire.
Gets a little loud on heated driveways.
Michelin Defender LTX is the best all-winter tire on this list for light trucks and SUVs. Doesn't matter the weather, a set of tires like that will keep you safe on any road. They don't clog with snow and give you the necessary traction and control.
Light trucks, SUVs
275/60
R20
115 (2679 pounds)
T (118 mph)
Evertread™ compound, MaxTouch Construction™
70000 miles
The QuickView indicators let you know the tires' performance in dry, wet, and snow and whether or not you ought to check the vehicle’s alignment. The X-Sipe technology improves braking, cornering, and acceleration in wet, snow, and ice alike.
The low profile makes it feel a little stiff.
A proper sports car deserves a proper set of tires and Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 is as good of a place as any to start. The model is packed full of awesome features that will allow you to utilize every ounce of your car's horsepower.
Exotic sports cars
225/40
R18
92 (1389 pounds)
Y (186 mph)
ExtremeContact™ technology, SportPlus™ technology, QuickView indicators
50000 miles
The Variable Contact Patch 3.0 technology excels at spreading the cornering pressures evenly over the contact patch. The Extreme Silica+ compound stays just as grippy when wet. The large grooves and 3D sipes minimize hydroplaning. Its hidden biting edges grab loose snow to make fast starts and stops.
A touch difficult to install.
Michelin Pilot Sport, like no other all-weather tire, will put you in the proverbial driver's seat as you're sitting in the literal one. It won't allow the weather to dictate the rules. Armed with 4 of these tires, you'll always be the one in charge, able to control your car the way you see fit.
Exotic sports cars
245/45
R18
100 (1764 pounds)
Y (186 mph)
Variable contact patch 2.0, Extreme Silica+ compound, Variable thickness sipes with hidden biting edges
45000 miles
The tire's large tread blocks do a bang-up job delivering a stable footprint and confident handling. The optimized economical tread design gives you the right amount of traction in most weather conditions. Its rugged strength doesn't fall victim to subpar roads.
Doesn't have great friction under heavy rain.
Goodyear Wrangler is affordable, functional, and, for the most part, effective in a variety of conditions. It will prove a great choice for pickup drivers and off-road vehicle enthusiasts. Plus, the high profile makes the tire really comfortable.
Off-road vehicles
235/75
R15
105 (2039 pounds)
S (112 mph)
Optimized tread design, Large tread blocks
40000 miles
Wide circumferential ribs deliver stability, handling, and lateral grip. The lateral siping gives you consistent traction and evenly distributes the temperature throughout the entire tread area, preventing the tire from overheating. Wide circumferential grooves improve water drainage, thus reducing hydroplaning.
The rubber is relatively thin.
Milestar MS932 will help you prepare your car for practically any weather without burning a hole in your pocket. For its ridiculously modest price, the all-weather tire offers solid performance, an adequate amount of control, and enough safety and stability to get by.
Sports Cars
205/55
R16
94 (1477 pounds)
V (149 mph)
Wide circumferential ribs, Lateral siping, Wide circumferential grooves
50000 miles
Three Stars
It can be really difficult to find a proper set of all-weather tires for your SUV. But you can always count on Michelin to make it happen. The company has a huge selection of different tires but even within that selection, the Defender LTX model is one of their most attractive products.
Though advertised as an all-season tire, what we have here is as much of an all-weather model as they come. As it is usually the case with Michelin, they don't pack their products with a bunch of questionable features and gimmicky marketing technologies. Just the bare necessities that ensure the necessary performance in any weather.
The biggest thing is durability. With an evertread compound, the tire lasts a lot longer in the most severe weather conditions. It offers shorter wet stopping distances, so the rain will not affect its performance. And, as any half-decent all-weather model, the tire delivers great snow traction.
Finally, the MaxTouch™ construction helps it save fuel over the lifespan of the tire. The only issue we have with it is that the model does get a little loud on heated driveways but not too much to make it a major pain in the proverbial rear.
In short, Michelin Defender LTX is the best all-winter tire on this list for light trucks and SUVs. Doesn't matter the weather, a set of tires like that will keep you safe on any road. They don't clog with snow and give you the necessary traction and control.
A Proper Tire for a Proper Sports Car
A proper sports car deserves a proper set of tires and Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 is as good of a place as any to start. The model is packed full of awesome features that will allow you to enjoy driving in any weather.
First things first, let's talk about the SportPlus™ technology. Delivering precise handling, the technology gives you more control over the wheels than just about any other tire in this price range. The security on wet, slippery roads it offers is nothing short of excellent and the same sentiment extends to the tread life of the tire.
The model has many selling points. But, for us, the best thing about it is the QuickView indicators. They give you a very clear visual indicator that tells you everything there's to know about the tires' performance in dry, wet, and snow and whether or not you ought to check the vehicle’s alignment.
Having said that, its excellent traction grooves are just as worthy of recognition. Using increased pattern edges, they're able to significantly improve your automobile's snow performance. The X-Sipe technology, on the other hand, improves braking, cornering, and acceleration in wet, snow, and ice alike.
The only issue we have with the tire is that its low profile makes them feel a little stiff but that's pretty much always the case with sports car tires anyway.
Again, an awesome car deserves a great set of tires and Continental Extreme Contact DWS06 is nothing short of great.
The Driver in the Driver's Seat
You don't buy an exotic sports car to drive from Target to your house at 50 miles per hour. No, you splurge on a car like that because you enjoy speed (and nice things too but that's beside the point). And, with Michelin Pilot Sport, you'll definitely get your penny's worth.
Like practically no other tire, it will allow you to corner with exacting control. The company's Variable Contact Patch 3.0 technology excels at spreading the cornering pressures evenly over the contact patch. That doesn't just give you more grip and control but also makes the tires last longer than usual.
The weather will always try to take over. But, with a set of these tires, you'll remain in control. Michelin's very own Extreme Silica+ compound stays just as grippy when wet. At the same time, the large grooves and the tire's 3D sipes prevent hydroplaning.
An interesting thing about this long-lasting all-weather tire is its load index rating of 100. With sports car tires, that's seldom the case, so we can definitely appreciate the model's ability to support up to 1764 pounds.
But not as much as we appreciate the Helio+ technology. Built to stick even in the cold, the technology makes sure that a little snow or some ice won't be enough to slow you down. On top of that, the model incorporates hidden biting edges, a part that's responsible for grabbing loose snow for fast starts and stops.
In short, Michelin Pilot Sport, like no other all-weather tire, will put you in the proverbial driver's seat while you're sitting in the literal one. It won't allow the weather to dictate the rules. Armed with 4 of these tires, you'll always be the one in charge, able to control your car the way you see fit.
Comfort with 2000 Pounds Under You
There's a lot to like about Goodyear Wrangler. First off, the tire is really affordable. Right now, it sells for less than 75 bucks, which is really attractive considering its specs.
Speaking of which, the model boasts a load index rating of 105. That means it will be able to withstand up to 2039 pounds of weight, which is good enough for most pickup trucks and off-road vehicles.
Sure, its "S" speed index isn't quite as impressive. But 112 miles is plenty for these types of cars. At the end of the way, you want to remain confident behind the wheel no matter the weather conditions. And, with this tire, you'll be able to do just that.
Its large tread blocks do a bang-up job delivering a stable footprint and confident handling. The optimized economical tread design gives you the right amount of traction in a variety of different conditions.
Having said that, the tire doesn't perform that well under heavy rain and doesn't offer quite as much traction as one would like to have. But the rugged strength that the model offers in return, for the most part, makes up for its shortcomings in the wet road department.
Taking all of that into account, Goodyear Wrangler is affordable, functional, and, for the most part, effective in a variety of conditions. It will prove a great choice for pickup drivers and off-road vehicle enthusiasts. Plus, the high profile makes the tire really comfortable.
Grippy in any Weather
With Milestar MS932, it all starts at the price. An all-weather tire that fits most sports cars, modern sedans, and sports coupes for around 50 bucks is nothing short of a steal. Sure, it isn't the best option on the market today. The rubber is relatively thin, so you'll have to be on the lookout for sharp objects. But, again, considering the price, there is really not a whole lot to complain about here.
Equipped with wide circumferential ribs, the tire improves your stability, handling, and lateral grip. Speaking of lateral, its lateral siping gives you consistent traction in the nastiest weather. On top of that, it evenly distributes the temperature throughout the entire tread area, preventing the tire from overheating.
With all-weather tires, it is all about the tread pattern. Here, it's been optimized with an enhanced tread compound for proper all-season performance. The tire is just as effective in dry conditions as it is in wet ones. The latter performance is mostly there thanks to the wide circumferential grooves. Grooves like that improve water drainage, thus reducing hydroplaning.
To sum it all up, Milestar MS932 will help you prepare your car for practically any weather without burning a hole in your pocket. For its ridiculously modest price, the all-weather tire offers solid performance, an adequate amount of control, and enough safety and stability to get by.
What Is an All Season Tire?
Some people confuse the tires in question with all-season tires. But let's get one thing straight - the latter only perform well in spring, summer, and fall. They don't give you the same winter reliability and, with that, safety.
All-season tires lose their flexibility when the temperature drops below 45 degrees, while all-weather tires deliver precise braking, superior stability, and grip on just about every surface, from bare asphalt to the freshest snow. All-season models incorporate a tread pattern that is designed with comfort and fuel economy in mind. These small, smooth tread blocks tend to slide on snow and ice. Their all-weather counterparts, on the other hand, feature an aggressive tread pattern with thick, chunky tread blocks. This way, the tires are able to bite ice and snow, which is where you get that winter stability and control that we've been alluding to earlier.
Finally, the tires in question and the subject of this review prevent slushplaning and hydroplaning. Using wide channels and grooves, these tires are able to capture and push away water and slush. This way, the tires get a strong contact patch with the road. All-season tires, on the other hand, clog with snow and slush come winter, which creates a slippery, unsafe surface.
Having said all of that, the line between all season and all weather can often be blurry and you should look at the model and its specs first and foremost. It can be advertised as an all-season option but have the same specs and capabilities you'd get from some of the better all-weather models.
Got yourself a set of all-weather tires? Great, now we would recommend tire shine to keep those tires in a top-notch condition. Drive an ATV or UTV? Well, these tires won't do you any good then. Instead, check out our review of ATV/UTV tires.