The Best Tyres for Winter

With winter weather comes slippery roads, snowy trails and icy surfaces – serious hazards that challenge vehicle safety and performance. Tyres for winter are specifically engineered to handle these conditions by offering enhanced traction, stability and control.

In this article, we’ll explore the key requirements for driving in cold environments, and present our top three recommendations for winter tyres and snow tyres. 

Can any tyres be used for driving in winter conditions?

Many Aussie motorists don’t make any changes to their tyres for winter – this approach is generally fine if you live in a mild climate and don’t do much long distance driving. However, equipping your vehicle with a quality set of tyres for winter can help you to maintain control, which ultimately delivers a safer ride. 

Winter tyres are designed to significantly improve handling, braking and overall stability in cold, wet, icy and snowy conditions. If you live somewhere where sub-zero temperatures during winter are normal, you’ll benefit from a set of tyres that are built for the job. 

Good tyres for winter usually feature the following:

Rubber compounds

The best tyres for winter use specialised rubber compounds that remain flexible in low temperatures. This helps to maintain traction on all types of cold surfaces.

Deep tread patterns

Look for a tread pattern with deep grooves and wide channels. This design helps to channel snow and slush away from the tyre. The tread should also have a high number of biting edges, i.e. small, sharp projections that improve grip on ice and snow.

Sipes

Sipes are tiny, slotted grooves in the tread blocks that provide additional traction on slippery surfaces. Tyres for winter typically have numerous sipes to enhance grip on ice and packed snow.

What are the best tyres for winter?

Here, we’ll provide detail on our top three winter tyre picks. Our selection is based on their ability to handle diverse challenges – from frosty roads to muddy tracks. With superior traction, stability and control, these tyres will deliver a safe and comfortable ride.

1. Pirelli Scorpion™ All Terrain Plus

Best tyre for wet conditions and snow

The Pirelli Scorpion™ All Terrain Plus offers unmatched winter performance for light trucks and SUVs. Regarded as one of the best 4×4 tyres for wet roads, it provides exceptional traction and handling. The tread features irregular block shapes and high intensity siping, giving this tyre incredible grip and a reduced risk of hydroplaning.

As a severe snow service rated tyre, the Pirelli Scorpion™ All Terrain Plus can take on the nastiest winter conditions. Plus, the aggressive sidewall design adds to its durability in low temperatures. For those seeking dependable tyres for winter with surprisingly low road noise, this legend is a top choice. 

2. Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015

Best tyres for snow driving

The Yokohama Geolandar A/T G015 is a standout for snow driving thanks to Yokohama’s new Enduro Compound – a proprietary material developed to tackle varying temperatures across any surface. With exceptional traction and stability, the tyre gives excellent grip on icy and snowy roads, ensuring safety and control in harsh conditions.

The Geolander A/T G015 is one of the best all terrain tyres for wet roads and snowy off-road conditions thanks to its aggressive tread design. It also features wide circumferential grooves to effectively channel away snow and slush. From wet highways to snowy trails, the Geolandar A/T G015 delivers traction where others fear to tread.

3. Kumho Road Venture AT52

Best all-terrain tyre for wet roads and snow conditions

We rate the Kumho Road Venture AT52 as one of the best tyres for wet conditions due to its rugged tread blocks that provide exceptional grip. This tyre also features dense zigzag siping that efficiently evacuates water, providing stable traction on wet roads and slushy trails.

Shoulder lugs boast 5-pitch block variation to minimise road noise, and the tie-bars improve steering response and confidence when cornering. Whether commuting in heavy rain or navigating off-road challenges, the Road Venture AT52 is one of the best tyres for wet roads.

Shop winter tyres with Mobile Tyre Shop

Mobile Tyre Shop has a wide range of tyre options to suit your specific driving needs. Explore our range to find the right tyres for your vehicle — whether you’re driving through rain, hail or shine.