Top 10 Best All Terrain Tires for Snow: Latest Options

Wintertime always brings happy memories – the snow has that calmness to it, and the most important holidays are during the cold months. However, I bet you don't feel very happy when driving on snow-covered roads – the slippery surface demands constant attention, both on the road and on other vehicles.

Besides, your tires might not be up to the task, causing constant skidding, no braking, and problems with acceleration. Driving on snow is a nightmare with bad tires, but fortunately, you can mitigate those issues with a new set.

Now, a proper winter tire is always the best choice for snow and ice, but for most people, that's not an option. For instance, truck and SUV drivers usually want one set of tires to work throughout the year simply because models in these large sizes are very expensive.

Fortunately, a set of good all-terrain tires can provide your SUV/truck with enough snow traction for you to have peace of mind while driving. Most all-terrain tires will work on snow, largely thanks to the aggressive tread patterns, but not every model will be great.

In this article, I wanted to find the best all terrain tires for snow models that stand out with their ability to accelerate, brake, and turn. Again, they won't be as good as a proper winter tire on snow-covered roads, but thanks to the unique tread design, they are an excellent option for driving on unpacked snow, the type you encounter when off-roading.

Furthermore, a set of all-terrain tires will also give your SUV/truck better off-road abilities. With a set of these tires, you can go camping in the wilderness throughout the year, provided your vehicle is up to the task (AWD or 4x4 is certainly required).

Oh, and I also made sure the all-terrain tires I chose work well on dry and wet tarmac since that's where you'll mostly use them, right?

With that said, I hope you can choose the best tire for your vehicle with the list below.

Top 10 Best All Terrain Tires for Snow Available in 2024

I - Best Aggressive All-Terrain Tires for Snow

1. Falken Wildpeak A/T3W

The Falken Wildpeak A/T3W is an all-terrain tire that was designed with winter driving in mind, hence the "W" in its name. It also comes with a Severe Snow rating (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol), meaning it was independently tested for providing additional longitudinal traction (acceleration and braking) on snow.

But the 3PMSF symbol doesn't always guarantee good snow handling. Fortunately, you shouldn't worry about that in this case since the Wildpeak A/T3W is very easy to drive on snow-covered roads, with an obedient front end that follows your lead and a stable rear end. The traction is also excellent – you won't have issues accelerating or braking on packed snow.

Furthermore, thanks to the aggressive tread pattern with deep grooves and large tread blocks, the Wildpeak A/T3W also works well on unpacked snow, the type you encounter on the trail. Ice traction isn't as good, though, but that's very normal, as neither of its competitors is good on ice.

Falken's aggressive all-terrain tire has other aces up its sleeve. Notably, it's one of the best all-terrain tires for off-road adventures, providing excellent traction on hardpacked surfaces, turf, shallow mud, and even rocks.

The Wildpeak A/T3W also performs well on the street, with very good longitudinal traction and lateral grip on dry and wet tarmac and good behavior at the limit.

Despite the aggressive design, the Wildpeak A/T3W is not very loud at urban speeds, and while you can hear the tires on the highway, the noise isn't tiring. Meanwhile, the ride is superb and doesn't unsettle the cabin, although the tire is designed to be tough and resistant to chips and tears.

One area where I'd like to see improvement is the unresponsive steering – the Wildpeak A/T3W feels numb on-center, and overall, the steering isn't very linear. Nonetheless, that's a small price to pay for what is an outstanding all-terrain tire with a 55,000-mile treadwear warranty.

2. Toyo Open Country A/T III

The Open Country A/T III isn't as accomplished as its Japanese rival, particularly when it comes to wet performance – driving in rainy conditions is an exercise in patience due to the lower overall traction. It's also slightly louder, especially on the highway, though the ride is very controlled.

Nonetheless, Toyo's all-terrain tire is excellent in every other aspect, including snow traction. The Open Country A/T III performs well on packed and unpacked snow, with strong acceleration and braking and surefooted cornering.

Furthermore, you'll get excellent steering, combined with good lateral grip on dry roads and very short braking distances. The Open Country A/T III is also a very capable off-road tire, with excellent traction on most surfaces, except for very deep mud and large rocks.

Finally, Toyo offers a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty on P-metric sizes (50,000 miles on LT-metric), both excellent for the price.

3. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2

The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 has long been my favorite all-terrain tire simply because it offers exceptional off-road traction without sacrificing too much street traction. Lately, though, the competition has moved past the KO2 in rainy conditions and has become much quieter.

Still, the KO2 is a very capable winter tire, thanks to the responsive steering, balanced handling, and high traction levels on snow. The unpacked snow traction is also excellent, accompanied by strong performance on hardpacked surfaces and shallow mud, making the KO2 a true trail tire.

Meanwhile, BFGoodrich offers a good 50,000-mile treadwear warranty on all sizes, and its casing can resist cuts, chips, and punctures.

4. Kumho Road Venture AT51

The Kumho Road Venture AT51 will allow you to drive with peace of mind during the winter, thanks to the balanced cornering abilities and excellent longitudinal and lateral traction. It's also very capable on unpacked snow, the type you encounter while off-roading.

You should also be calm when attacking some off-road terrains in the middle of nowhere – the Road Venture AT51 provides excellent traction on hardpacked surfaces, turf, and shallow mud. Despite the aggressive design, the Korean all-terrain tire is also very capable on dry tarmac, both in terms of performance and comfort.

However, the wet traction isn't as good as on its rivals, although it's not very bad either. Kumho also doesn't provide any warranty on LT-metric sizes – just P-metric sizes get a 55,000-mile treadwear warranty.

5. Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015

The Geolandar A/T G015 is a very balanced tire with almost no glaring disadvantages, apart from the somewhat harsh ride and lower traction on challenging off-road trails.

For everything else, the G015 will work just fine. That's especially true in the winter – Yokohama's all-terrain tire has good snow traction, turns quickly into a corner, and stays stable throughout.

Furthermore, the Japanese tire maker did a great job with the on-road performance – the G015 provides very high levels of longitudinal traction and lateral grip on dry and wet roads and excellent handling.

The Geolandar A/T G015 is also very quiet for the category, even on rough tarmac. Lastly, the manufacturer offers a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty on P-metric and a 50,000-mile warranty on LT-metric sizes, both great for the price.

6. Sumitomo Encounter AT

The Sumitomo Encounter AT is one of the cheapest all-terrain tires that I would recommend, offering a balanced blend of characteristics that few can beat for that price. I was particularly surprised with the traction on wet and snow-covered roads and the stable handling in foul weather.

But the Encounter AT has other aces up its sleeve, like the excellent traction on dirt, gravel, and turf and the very solid traction/handling on dry roads. Sure, this tire isn't the best option for demanding trails, but not many all-terrain tires are, anyway.

Besides, Sumitomo spices things up with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty on all sizes, which is simply exceptional for such a budget-friendly offering.

7. Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T

Mickey Thompson is one of the most popular tire manufacturers among off-road enthusiasts, and the Baja Boss A/T is a perfect example of why. The brand's all-terrain tire provides exemplary traction on most trails, including shallow mud and rocks.

It's also one of the best such tires on unpacked snow, thanks to the aggressive tread pattern, and it also doesn't suffer on packed snow.

Furthermore, the Baja Boss A/T is surpassingly quiet and comfortable on the road, despite the robust construction. That said, it's not the most responsive tire around, and it trails behind the competition in overall traction on dry and wet surfaces.

8. Cooper Discoverer Rugged Trek

The Cooper Discoverer Rugged Trek feels like the all-terrain tires of yore for the first few miles – it's louder than its modern competitors, and the ride isn't particularly smooth. Other than that, though, it's a very capable all-terrain tire, both on-road and off-road.

Notably, it provides excellent traction on dry surfaces, along with balanced handling. It's also usable in rainy conditions, though not enough to upset the class-leading tires. Still, the winter traction is excellent, both on packed and unpacked snow.

Lastly, the Rugged Trek comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty on P-metric sizes and a 55,000-mile warranty on LT-metric sizes, both excellent for the price.

II - Best Mild All-Terrain Tires for Snow

9. Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3

The Dueler A/T Revo 3 is a mild all-terrain tire that's really only suitable for dirt and gravel, and probably turf. However, what it lacks in off-road traction, it gains in on-road performance.

Notably, this is one of the best all-terrain tires on dry and wet tarmac, with excellent longitudinal traction and lateral grip and excellent cornering. The steering is also very quick and accurate, giving the driver a lot of confidence.

It's also very comfortable over bumps, though there is a noticeable tread growl. Still, you won't have issues with treadlife – the Revo 3 comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty on P-metric sizes and a 50,000-mile warranty on LT-metric sizes.

10. Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S

Cooper's family of Discoverer tires has quite a lot to offer, including this likable mild all-terrain option. The AT3 4S is overall a great tire, with performance that should satisfy most people. 

Notably, it provides excellent traction on dry and wet tarmac, with understeer on corner entry as a slight annoyance that you should get used to. The winter traction it provides is also excellent, especially on packed snow.

Furthermore, this is a comfortable and quiet tire on most roads, though there is some secondary motion over repetitive impacts, which shouldn't be an issue for most people.

Lastly, the AT3 4S is pretty good at tackling dirt and gravel and comes with an excellent 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, one of the best in the business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What's the difference between all-terrain and off-road tires?

Generally, every tire that provides more off-road traction while also being street-legal is considered an all-terrain tire.

However, in order to make things clearer, tire manufacturers started to differentiate their off-road offerings. Today, an all-terrain tire is considered a product that offers a blend of 60-80% street and 20-40% off-road traction.

Meanwhile, "real" off-road tires (also known as maximum traction or mud-terrain tires) are designed to be mostly used for off-roading, sacrificing street performance and comfort.

These tires will be loud on asphalt, maybe even cumbersome to drive, but they will provide you with the best possible traction on very demanding terrains, such as deep mud or large rocks.

So, these "off-road" tires are the best option for real enthusiasts or people that simply go off-roading for the sake of it. For these SUV and truck owners, overcoming some challenging terrain is the main course, and they deliberately pick these terrains.

However, if you just want a dependable tire for camping or overlanding, a regular all-terrain tire with a slightly more aggressive tread pattern will do the job just fine.

Most of the all-terrain tires on the list above offer excellent traction on hardpacked surfaces, regardless if they are dry or wet, and can also work in shallow mud and turf.

• Do flotation tire sizes improve snow traction?

Flotation tires come in very large sizes and can accommodate a lot of air. As a result, they can flow over the surface, which can be helpful when driving on sand or over large rocks.

However, it's not that simple with snow. Namely, to get traction in snow, you'll want a narrower tire that can penetrate and do some digging action and keep your SUV or truck stable laterally.

Of course, the tread compound and design also play a big role – a winter tire will always give the best results – but generally, a narrower tire will work better.

Interestingly, that's not always the case. If you drive over very deep snow, like the type you encounter when driving in some Northern areas – Canada and Alaska are the first that come to mind – flotation tires will work better. In this case, narrow tires could sink too deep into the snow, and you might get stuck.

So, if you need a set of tires for some Arctic expeditions or you often encounter deep snow, a set of flotation tires is a good choice. However, if you only drive on public roads in the winter, regular-sized all-terrain tires will give you much better traction and overall better drivability.

• What's the difference between all-terrain and all-season tires?

These categories aren't directly comparable. All-season is a broader term that covers every tire designed to work through all seasons, regardless if it's a touring, performance, or off-road tire.

In other words, every all-terrain tire available to buy in North America is also an all-season tire, but not every all-season tire is an all-terrain tire.

Conclusion

A set of all-terrain tires can completely change your truck/SUV personality, giving you the means to go places you've never been before.

Most all-terrain tires are also capable of providing you with good snow traction and can be an excellent option for people that don't live in areas with the harshest winter conditions. Still, for maximum snow traction, you should always put winter tires on your truck/SUV.

With that said, each product in my list of the best all terrain tires for snow should serve you well in the years to come safely.

I always put tires from reputable manufacturers on my lists simply because they invest a lot in R&D, which makes their products safer, more durable, and more comfortable. However, since every tire has its unique advantages and disadvantages, it's on you to choose a set that will fulfill your needs!