Winter tires: which one should you choose?

French manufacturer Michelin is certainly one of the favourites among Canadian winter tire users. Its recent X-Ice Snow lineup quickly convinced motorists that these tires could very well be an ideal weapon against snow and ice.

However, every technology has its limits, and Michelin engineers continued to improve the X-Ice Snow to make it more effective and safer, particularly on wet roads. This led to the development of the new generation of Michelin winter tires, the X-Ice Snow+ lineup, which we covered in detail in our special tire edition last spring.

For those looking for a studded tire, Michelin also offers the X-Ice North 4.

This tire brand comes from Finland, a Scandinavian country that experiences winters similar to ours. Its engineers have succeeded in creating spectacular winter tires that are now well recognized in Quebec and in several other regions of the country.

Among its most recent models are the relatively aggressive Hakkapeliitta 10 — a name inspired by an old battle cry — available with studs. Nokian also offers the R5, a non-studded configuration capable of competing with certain studded tires.

Bridgestone is a Japanese brand that made its mark in the winter tire segment quite some time ago with its Blizzak lineup, which has been greatly improved over the years.

For the coming season, Bridgestone is offering an all-new version of its Blizzak, the IcePeak, which replaces both the popular WS90 for passenger cars and the DM-V2 for SUVs, CUVs and certain pickup trucks.

The manufacturer says this new winter tire was developed using ENLITEN technology, which should provide improved fuel efficiency, greater durability and impressive grip on both ice and snow.

It is also the first Bridgestone tire to display both the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol and an ice-grip certification.

Continental is a major German brand that has built a strong reputation for effective winter products.

Last winter, it introduced the logical successor to its popular VikingContact 7, the VikingContact 8. However, one of its products particularly well suited to our country remains the IceContact XTRM, developed specifically for Canadian winter conditions.

This tire, which has now been on the market for several years, has already proven itself and is also available with studs.

The WinterContact TS 860 S also remains one of Continental's recognized winter products.

Italian manufacturer Pirelli offers more than one winter tire depending on the type of vehicle being fitted.

The true newcomer is the Ice Friction lineup, but the Scorpion Winter 2 should not be overlooked. For performance cars that are still driven during the winter, Pirelli offers the Sottozero 3 as well as the P Zero Winter.

More conventional passenger cars can benefit from the Cinturato 2. Among the manufacturer's innovations is also the Ice Zero Asimmetrico, designed to deliver performance approaching that of a studded tire, but without studs.

Another Japanese brand, Toyo may be somewhat more discreet, with fewer new products, but its tires remain highly effective.

Among the brand's top winter products are the Observe GSi-6 tires, promoted as offering strong grip without the use of studs. Toyo even produces an HP version for performance vehicles.

Over time, South Korean manufacturer Hankook has succeeded in building a strong reputation.

Among its winter tires are the Winter icept iZ3 for passenger cars and the Winter icept evo3 X for SUVs and CUVs.

Hankook also manufactures a range of tires aimed at compact cars, the i*cept RS3, which features a more elaborate tread design.

Perhaps less well known in the winter tire segment, Nexen is another South Korean brand offering products under the Winguard name.

These include the Winguard Sport 2, a studless performance tire, the Winguard Winspike 3 with studs and the Winguard Ice Plus (WH43), designed for snow and ice without the need for studs.

It can also be recognized by its distinctive tread pattern.

After an initial attempt about 20 years ago to break into the Canadian market, Dutch brand Vredestein is now making a more targeted return.

Its high-quality tires, once associated with renowned designer Giugiaro, now include genuine winter products.

The standard Wintrac model is primarily aimed at small and midsize cars, while the Wintrac Pro is positioned as a performance winter tire. The more recent Wintrac Pro+ is an ultra-high-performance winter tire designed for vehicles capable of very high speeds, with a Y speed rating of up to 300 km/h.

This major North American manufacturer returns with its proven WinterCommand Ultra and Ultra Grip series, which stand out in part thanks to rubber compounds designed to remain flexible and pliable in cold temperatures, as well as technologies developed for wet roads and slush.

Add to that a tread design that helps evacuate water efficiently from beneath the tire. Despite relatively few notable changes, Goodyear tires remain among the most effective, often at a more attractive price.

Japanese manufacturer Yokohama needs little introduction. Its IG53 model has earned a strong reputation in the non-studded winter tire segment and has been on the market for several years.

Also worth mentioning are the V905 and V906, the latter being the more advanced of the two and aimed primarily at performance cars. Yokohama markets them under the BluEarth name, which represents one of the Japanese manufacturer's more recent technologies.

Finnish manufacturer Nokian is widely recognized as one of the pioneers in the development of the all-weather tire approved for winter use.

Introduced in the late 1990s, the technology has now evolved through several generations. The most recent WRG5, also known as Remedy, is quite possibly one of the more interesting investments in this category.

It is also worth remembering that this Nokian tire comes with protection against certain types of sidewall damage caused by potholes.

While our European friends already have access to a newer generation of Michelin CrossClimate tires, the French manufacturer continues to offer the CrossClimate2 here, one of the best-known tires in its category.

In many comparisons, the Nokian WRG5 and Michelin CrossClimate2 are among the products regularly considered by motorists looking for this type of tire.

Naturally, major Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone could not let the competition advance in this field without responding.

That is why it introduced its own all-weather tire approved for winter use, the WeatherPeak, which is offered with an attractive warranty.

In the case of American giant Goodyear, it quietly introduced its own version of an approved all-weather tire, called the WeatherReady 2.

Drawing on its experience with tread designs capable of efficiently evacuating water, Goodyear incorporated some of that technology into this product, helping it earn an enviable reputation for wet-weather handling.

At Italian manufacturer Pirelli, the all-weather tire approved for winter use is called the Cinturato WeatherActive.

Given the manufacturer's reputation for tires offering impressive handling, this product should appeal to many motorists.

More recently, major South Korean tire manufacturer Hankook launched its own all-weather tire approved for both winter and summer use, the WeatherFlex GT.

It can be recognized in part by its relatively aggressive tread pattern, which nevertheless remains quiet. The manufacturer also offers mileage warranties of up to 110,000 km depending on the product.

Hankook also manufactures, under its Laufenn brand, a more accessible tire of the same type, the G Fit 4S, which also displays the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol.