Passenger Car Tires

Tires in this section are suitable for front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive passenger cars and minivans. Owners of rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive performance and luxury cars may prefer to look at the section on performance winter tires. Prices indicated are the average from two or three Canadian metropolitan market retailers, for tires with installation and balancing. Prices apply to the 195/65R15 size, which is suitable for compact cars like the Chevrolet Cobalt LS, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla. Rebate information was current in late September 2011. The promising Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7, Toyo Observe GSi-5 and Goodyear UltraGrip Ice WRT are too new for APA to have reviewed them. Tires are listed in alphabetical order within each ratings group.

Top Rated
Bridgestone Blizzak WS 70 Price: $157 Directional tire, optimized for snow and ice; compared to the X-Ice Xi2, this tire has a somewhat deeper tread and better traction in slush. Very good overall performance; a good choice for severe conditions. Expensive in Canada; Bridgestone sells to retailers for less in the U.S. market. $50 mail-in rebate when you buy four tires.

Michelin X-Ice Xi2

Price: $157 Among Consumer Reports preferred tires in testing because of its superior performance on wet and dry roads and ride comfort. Optimized for ice and snow, this tire was among the favorites with tire dealers and experts surveyed. However some consumers reported that adhesion in slush was unimpressive, and the shallow tread may limit its traction in deep snow as it wears. Michelin says the tire will be long wearing. Expensive. Mail-in rebate of $70 when you buy four tires. Tricky mileage warranty requires the tires to be virtual banana peels before you can collect.

Toyo Observe G-02 Plus

Price: $140

Tire optimized for deep snow and ice. One of the best choices at any price even though it is not the best performer on cleared or wet roads and can be noisier than average in some applications. Superior durability due to the deep tread and relatively long-wearing rubber compound. Well suited for heavy vehicles. This tire is being phased out in favour of the Toyo GSi-5, and APA predicts some excellent close-out prices. Mailin rebate of $30 to $80 based on the tire diameter when you buy four tires.

Very Good
BF Goodrich Winter Slalom KSI Price: $132 Michelins second tier brand; this tire is a big improvement on the old Winter Slalom (not designated KSI). Good all around performance. Acceptable ice traction. Well-priced; this tire sold out early in autumn 2010. Mail-in rebate of $50 when you buy four tires.

Continental ExtremeWinterContact

Price: $132

Tire optimized for ice, a bit less effective in deep snow. The favourite in testing conducted by Tire Rack, the big U.S. retailer, because of its superior handling and balanced all-around performance. A good alternative to the Michelin X-Ice Xi2, and offered at a lower price. Mail-in rebate of $40 when you buy four tires.

Continental ContiIceContact

Price: $160

Factory studded tire only. Previously available without studs, this tire has been replaced by the ExtremeWinterContact. Mail-in rebate of $40 when you buy four tires.

Dunlop Graspic DS-3

Price: $135 Good overall performance at a competitive price. Similar performance to the Yokohama Ice Guard IG20 below, the DS-3 is a bit more responsive on pavement, but has less traction on ice. Durable. Convenient instant rebate of $60 on a set of four.

General Altimax Arctic

Price: $125 Very good in deep snow, and competent overall performance at a competitive price. A bit less grip on ice than the top-rated tires and tire noise can become noticeable as it wears. This tire was highly-rated by Consumer Reports and Tire Rack. Durable. No rebates in Canada General offers an entry ballot for a Dream Vacation contest with the purchase of four tires. Can accept studs.

Gislaved Nord*Frost 5

Price: $128 Very good in snow, good on ice. The tread design is similar to the General Altimax Arctic; performance on dry pavement should be a little more responsive. Can become noisy as it wears. Can accept studs.

Yokohama Ice Guard IG20

Price: $150

Very good overall performance on snow and ice. Downgraded because some consumers reported the tire tracked poorly at highway speeds, particularly owners of Mazda3 cars. Mail-in rebate of $30 to $100 based on the tire diameter when you buy four tires.

Acceptable
Firestone Winterforce Price: $127 Good deep snow traction; handling on dry pavement is inferior to the similar General Arctic Altimax. Fairly noisy. Pricing no longer advantageous. Can accept studs.

Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice

Price: $150

A quieter tire than the Goodyear Ultra Grip that features a deeper and more open tread design. Optimized for snow; undistinguished on ice, notwithstanding its name. Excellent durability and low price make it a favourite with taxis and some fleets. Being phased out in favour of Goodyears new Ultra Grip Ice WRT. Convenient $60 instant rebate when you buy four tires.

Hankook Winter i*Pike

Price: $135 This tire has been on the market for a few years. Good snow traction, unexceptional in other conditions. Prices similar to higher-rated tires.

Nokian WRG2

Price: $174 Year-round tire that meets the snow performance standard applicable to winter tires. A possible solution for the last year of your lease, if your original snow and summer tires have all worn out. APA members who used this tire were pleased with its winter performance when new; the 4-season rubber compound is likely a compromise on ice. Good handling on cleared roads for a winter tire. Not enough long-term information to predict its durability in extended summer driving. Very expensive.

Uniroyal Tiger Paw Ice & Snow II

Price: $110

Michelins lowest-priced brand, this is among the cheapest winter tires from a major tire maker, with the lowest price in this group. A redesign of the old Tiger Paw, the tread is now directional and of a design that appears similar to the Firestone Winterforce and General Altimax Arctic. Made in China; the uniformity of the small sample of tires examined was very good.

Below Average
Goodyear Nordic Price: $124 Goodyears lowest price snow tire offered exclusively at Canadian Tire and often on sale. The tire appears to be superior to the Kelly Snowtrakker below.

Kelly Snowtrakker ST-2

Price: $118

Goodyears budget brand. A popular tire in Quebec once-upon-a-time because it was manufactured in Valleyfield. The tread design and technology are dated. The deep tread ensures relatively good traction in snow, but performance on other surfaces lags. Noisy. The Goodyear Nordic available only at Canadian Tire seems like a better value. A viable option for drivers who are looking for a tire that can accept studs. Likely in its last year on the market.

Cooper WeatherMaster ST-2 and Dean Wintercat XT

Price: $105

These tires are made from a common mould, of the old-style clamshell type; the Dean is made in the US. Good grip in deep snow but performance on other surfaces lags. Reasonably durable. Pricing can be high for the older technology and quality of tire.

Saxon Snowblazer Passenger

Price: N/A

This Chinese-made off-brand tire is priced lower than all the other tires evaluated. A possible solution if youre turning in your leased vehicle during its last winter, particularly if it is equipped with large originalequipment tires, where the savings can be substantial. Note that some lessors require a tire of like kind and quality as at delivery (except for tire wear, which can be normal), so check beforehand to ensure the Snowblazer will pass muster when you turn the car in. The private label importer has changed before; in the event of a large recall, there could be problems getting compensated.

Winter Claw Extreme Grip

Price: N/A

Inexpensive private label import from Multi-Mile (TBC Corporation) of Memphis Tennessee. Decent traction in deep snow, below average on ice. Uneven wear can affect longevity. The APAs reservations in the event of a major recall are similar to the Saxon above.