Top 10 Best Snow Tires for Trucks: Latest Options

Winter tires weren’t always a part of the automotive landscape, arriving a bit late to the party in Finland. But they are crucial in improving road safety, as most road accidents happen when the roads are covered with snow or ice, and it’s not even close.

A winter tire will provide you with much higher traction on slippery surfaces, meaning your vehicle will accelerate, brake, and steer better.

Today, every tiremaker that means something produces one or several winter tires, with options for regular passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, and also commercial vehicles. Here we’ll focus on the best snow tires for trucks, both light-duty and heavy-duty. These tires will also fit most SUVs, particularly the larger ones that sit on ladder architecture.

But there is a difference between snow truck tires available on the market today. The first one is load capacity – some models are only available in P-metric sizes, meaning they are designed to fit light-duty pickup trucks, such as the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger. 

These tires do have enough load capacity to tow lighter trailers but aren’t designed for really heavy-duty stuff.

Meanwhile, LT-metric tires have stiffer sidewalls and are designed to fit heavy-duty trucks. These can tow much heavier trailers and allow you to carry very heavy cargo in the bed. Moreover, LT-metric tires usually have a tougher casing, meaning they won’t be easily punctured on dirt, gravel, and rocks.

After you choose the right load capacity for your truck and your needs, it’s time to decide on whether you want studless or studdable winter tires. The former tires are similar to most winter tires for passenger cars, featuring winter-focused compounds and aggressive tread patterns with multiple zig-zag sipes.

Meanwhile, studdable tires feature similar compounds and patterns but also allow you to install studs on the tread. These studs are made from metal and can significantly increase the traction on snow and on ice. Equipped like that, these tires can provide you with exceptional drivability on snow and ice, almost like you drive in the rain!

But, studdable tires aren’t the best solution for everyone. Namely, you’ll need to visit a tire technician to install the studs for you, which can be expensive.

Moreover, you won’t be allowed to use your studs on dry and wet pavement, meaning it’s not the best solution for climates with changeable weather, as you’ll need to change them constantly. On the bright side, most studdable winter tires already work well without the studs!

With that said, let’s have a closer look at my list of the best winter tires for trucks, where I included every type of tire we discussed!

Top 10 Best Snow Tires for Trucks Available in 2024

1. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2

Best Studless Winter Tires for Light-Duty Trucks

Although it’s an old tire by now, the Blizzak DM-V2 still stands head and shoulders above the competition when it comes to winter traction. This is a tire designed for the harshest of winters, despite the fact that it doesn’t accept studs. In other words, it doesn’t even need them.

Snow-covered roads are the usual playground for the Blizzak DM-V2. The Japanese tire excels on both packed and unpacked snow, providing unparalleled braking and acceleration.

Moreover, the handling is equally impressive – your truck will be easy to control on snow, even at the limit. Likewise, driving in slush doesn’t trouble this tire at all, thanks to the excellent hydroplaning resistance.

The lack of studs also didn’t limit the ice performance – this is a tire that accelerates, brakes, and turns on ice very successfully. The wet traction is also impressive, and the dry grip is among the best in the category.

The ride is also quite smooth, though that’s not surprising, as this tire doesn’t come in LT-metric sizes.

Now, if I’m nitpicking, the Blizzak DM-V2 does feel like a winter tire behind the wheel – the steering isn’t very responsive and not very linear. Also, you’ll easily hear the tread growl at medium speeds, though truckers are usually fine with that.

Overall, though, the wintertime traction is so good that it’s easy to brush off those slight annoyances.

2. Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV

Best Studless Winter Tires for Light-Duty Trucks

Michelin’s latest winter tire for trucks and SUVs brings many advanced technologies to combat winter conditions. As a result, it’s one of the best snow tires for trucks at the moment, with exceptional traction on snow, ice, and slush.

Notably, the X-Ice Snow SUV provides outstanding braking and acceleration on snow, accompanied by surefooted handling and easy-to-control nature.

The French tire also doesn’t suffer in slush, where the excellent hydroplaning resistance takes care of traction and stability. Moreover, the ice traction is similar to the Blizzak DM-V2, meaning good braking, acceleration, and cornering.

Like most Michelin tires, the X-Ice Snow SUV excels in rainy conditions, with class-leading braking and balanced handling. The tire is also very responsive and provides a good grip on dry roads, and it’s surprisingly quiet and comfortable.

The X-Ice Snow is the only truck winter tire that comes with a treadwear warranty (40,000 miles), which is impressive, and it should last quite a bit longer than the competition. However, Michelin doesn’t offer LT-metric sizes, and the price is exorbitant.

3. Yokohama iceGUARD G075

Best Studless Winter Tires for Light-Duty Trucks

The Yokohama iceGUARD G075 is an excellent option for drivers of light trucks that aren’t prepared to spend a lot of money but still want a dependable wintertime tire.

Although less expensive than its closest competitors, this tire can still give you advanced snow and ice traction, accompanied by good road-holding on dry and wet roads.

Notably, the longitudinal traction on snow is excellent, meaning short braking distances and good acceleration.

The tire also handles cornering quite well, providing the driver with a lot of confidence. Ice traction is also good for the price, though it can’t unsettle the class-leading tires. Still, I don’t think it will be a problem on public roads, as the differences are negligible.

The iceGUARD G075 also performs admirably on dry and wet roads. Again, it’s not on the level of the premium tires in the category, but it comes very close. More importantly, it’s completely safe, thanks to the strong braking and secure handling.

Now, the steering could’ve been more responsive, and I’d like to hear less tread growl, but overall, this is a very fine winter tire for light trucks.

4. Continental VikingContact 7

Best Studless Winter Tires for Light-Duty Trucks

Unlike other tiremakers, Continental doesn’t have a truck-oriented winter tire. However, its excellent VikingContact 7 is available in light-truck sizes, and if you find a suitable dimension for your truck, you should definitely give it a look.

Notably, the VikingContact 7 provides exceptional traction on snow, with some of the shortest braking distances you’ll encounter. The handling is also excellent – you won’t have trouble steering your truck on packed or unpacked snow.

Furthermore, the tire handles icy roads like the best out there, with excellent traction.

The best thing about the VikingContact 7, though, is how it handles rain and slush. There are only a few tires on this list that can match the wet traction and grip, especially the way this tire drives through the corners. The dry braking and handling are equally impressive and better than most competitors.

I was also surprised at how quiet this tire is, though it does produce slightly more noise when it hits a bump. Generally, though, it’s quiet and comfortable for a winter tire.

5. Bridgestone Blizzak LT

Best Studless Winter Tires for Heavy Duty Trucks

The Bridgestone Blizzak LT is one of the few available studless winter tires for heavy-duty trucks, and just like the DM-V2, it shows that most drivers probably won’t ever need them.

This is a tire that truly impresses on ice, providing the driver with enough traction for a comfortable driving experience. And much like any other Blizzak tire, it handles packed and unpacked snow without any issue, with excellent traction and surefooted handling.

On dry and wet roads, the Blizzak LT does feel a bit cumbersome and not very responsive, but that’s probably due to its heavy-duty nature.

More importantly, it provides safe handling and good braking. The tire also handles well when towing very large trailers, courtesy of the very tough construction.

6. Goodyear WinterCommand LT

Best Studdable Winter Tires for Heavy Duty Trucks

Goodyear’s heavy-duty winter tire is an excellent wintertime performer and easily the best studdable truck tire.

Why? Well, for starters, it works outstandingly well even without the studs, both on snow and ice-covered roads.

Notably, it handles corners with authority, giving the driver a lot of confidence, and stops in a very short manner. Put those studs on, though, and the ice and snow traction will be best-in-class, making the WinterCommand LT the best tire for very harsh wintry conditions.

Goodyear’s product is also very good on wet roads and slush and works well with a trailer attached.

However, the dry grip is slightly lower than the best-in-class tires, and tread noise can be an issue for some drivers. On the bright side, the ride isn’t very harsh, which is very big praise for an LT-metric tire.

7. Firestone Winterforce LT

Best Studdable Winter Tires for Heavy Duty Trucks

Firestone’s Winterforce family of tires is very popular among truck drivers in the USA and Canada, and for a good reason – it provides consistent performance in the winter.

For instance, the Winterforce LT is among the best truck winter tires on snow-covered roads, where it accelerates strongly and provides very short stopping distances.

Moreover, it’s very easy to drive at the limit, which instills confidence. Furthermore, the ice traction is very good, but you can also take it up a notch by installing the studs.

The Winterforce LT also handles well on dry and wet roads, with good stability in the corners and strong braking. The tough construction means it’s great for towing, though it can be noisy on rough tarmac.

Still, that’s an issue I think most truckers are ready to accept, especially since the Winterforce LT is so good in all other areas.

8. Cooper Discoverer Snow Claw

Best Studdable Winter Tires for Heavy Duty Trucks

Cooper’s Discoverer range of tires is very popular among truckers, and especially the off-road community. The Snow Claw is the latest addition to the family, promising strong wintertime traction, along with capable wet and dry performance

Indeed, the Discoverer Snow Claw is a very good performer on snow and ice. The longitudinal traction on snow is excellent for the category, meaning strong braking and good acceleration. The tire is also capable on ice, though I recommend putting the studs on for the best performance.

As for wet roads, the Snow Claw trails behind other tires in the category. It’s easy to drive, but the traction is simply lower than the competition. The tire is also not very responsive on dry roads, though the grip is very solid, and the braking distances aren’t very long.

Unlike most winter tires, though, the Snow Claw is comfortable over bumps and not very noisy, making for an overall positive impression.

9. General Grabber Arctic LT

Best Studdable Winter Tires for Heavy Duty Trucks

The General Grabber Arctic LT is a very good performer during the winter, providing the driver with safe traction in all conditions. However, some owners reported accelerated wear, which might be a detractor.

Still, the tire is no slouch when it comes to performance. Notably, the tire drives on snow like the best premium products out there, and the traction levels are very high. Moreover, the Grabber Arctic LT handles well on ice, especially with the studs attached.

The tire continues to impress in rain and rain/snow combination (slush), thanks to the excellent hydroplaning resistance and excellent traction. It’s not so rosy on dry roads, though, as the overall grip is only average for the category.

10. Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV

Best Performance Winter Tires for Light Trucks

If you have a powerful sporty truck and want a good driving experience in the winter, then the Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV is the best tire for you.

The biggest reason why I recommend this tire is how it steers and grips on dry and wet roads without sacrificing snow and ice traction. Notably, the steering is very responsive and linear, and the overall grip on dry and wet roads is head and shoulders above all other tires on this list.

The snow traction is also excellent for a performance-oriented tire, with the handling again being extraordinary. You might suffer on ice, though, but that’s to be expected. On a more positive note, the ride is reasonably smooth, and there is almost no tread growl entering the cabin.

Michelin even offers a 30,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is simply unbeatable in the category!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Can I use snow tires during the summer?

Technically you can drive with winter tires in warmer conditions, but it’s not an advisable thing to do. Namely, winter tires are made from softer rubber compounds to remain pliable in freezing conditions and increase traction.

However, the soft rubber is detrimental in the summer, as it would deform during acceleration, braking, and cornering, making your truck less table.

Furthermore, the softer compound also wears faster, which is especially true when the temperatures are higher.

So, driving with winter tires during the summer is unsafe, and it will wear them out very quickly!

• Should I put only two winter tires?

Putting only two winter tires on the driven wheels seems like a smart thing to do, especially since it can save you a lot of money.

However, having winter tires on the driven wheels can only increase acceleration traction and will do nothing more. And in the winter, acceleration should be the least of your issues.

Namely, having two winter tires can seriously destabilize your truck, as one pair will provide much higher traction on snow and ice.

In other words, you’ll need to fight with oversteer and understeer constantly. The same applies to braking – if two tires have less traction, your truck could spin more easily!

So, for maximum safety and ease of driving, I recommend always putting four winter tires on your truck.

• Will all-season tires work as well as snow tires?

All-season tires might seem like the jack of all trades, but in reality, they are a compromise on every end. Hence, they won’t be as good on snow as winter tires, with ice traction being even farther behind.

Likewise, all-season tires won’t work as well as summer tires in warmer conditions, both in dry and wet conditions.

Conclusion

Getting your truck ready for the winter is crucial to ensure your safety, but also the safety of your family and other traffic participants. And the single most important upgrade you can make is installing proper winter tires. 

The list above contains carefully-selected products at various price points, so every truck owner can find a set that fits their budget. Just make sure that you choose the best snow tires for trucks according to your needs, and I’m sure you’ll be satisfied with the purchase!

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