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A reprint from Consumer Search



Snow tires for light trucks and SUVs

In climates with mild winters, owners of trucks and SUVs can probably get by with all-terrain tires. SUVs and trucks are heavier than cars, giving them a traction advantage. Still, installing dedicated winter tires will further improve traction and handling in snow and ice. The prices that follow are for 245/70-17 tires, such as those appropriate for a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado or Jeep Grand Cherokee, or for the closest size offered.

The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 (*Est. $130) is Bridgestone's newest winter tire for trucks and SUVs. It replaces the critics' perennial (and now discontinued) favorite, the Blizzak DM-Z3. The two tires are very similar, but Bridgestone says the new Blizzak DM-V1 tire gets better grip on snowy, icy and wet roads.
The Blizzak is the runaway favorite of both experts and owners. It is a top pick at CanadianDriver.com, Canada's Automobile Protection Association (APA) and a leading U.S. testing organization. Testers say its deep tread works well in deep snow, and its performance on ice is excellent. Owners who post at TireRack.com agree, giving the DM-V1 the highest possible ratings on wet, snowy and icy roads and slightly lower (but still excellent) scores for dry cornering stability and steering response. Owners report dramatic success with this tire in the horrendous winter of 2009, including one customer from Baltimore who had no problem cruising through snow so deep that it fell into his Chevy Suburban when he opened the door. Two separate TireRack.com experts recommend the DM-V1 as the best winter tire for trucks and SUVs, and the one they run on their personal vehicles.
TireRack.com customers' runner-up tire, the Michelin Latitude X-Ice (*Est. $150) also delivers outstanding snow traction and very good ice braking in one leading U.S. test -- but owners say that when the roads get really messy, the Blizzak winter tire has the edge. The new Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 (*Est. $170) is now for sale alongside the regular X-Ice. We found no expert tests of this tire yet and only a handful of owner reviews, but Michelin says this new snow tire gets a slightly better grip on ice.
If winter in your area means deep snow, Canada's APA recommends the studdable Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 (*Est. $170), which is critics' favorite studdable tire for passenger cars as well. Although the Hakkapeliitta 5 outclasses most other tires on snow and ice, passenger-car reviews find it mediocre on wet and dry roads. The Hakkapeliitta 5 is also more expensive than most winter truck tires, the APA reviewer notes. TireRack.com customers recommend the much cheaper Firestone Winterforce UV (*Est. $85) among studdable truck/SUV tires, although it doesn't rate as well on any road surface -- not even ice -- as the studless Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1.
The APA points out that truck and SUV owners can sometimes save money by "minus-sizing" -- buying a smaller wheel and a narrower tire for snow use -- even considering the expense of buying the second set of wheels. This can expand the number of brands light truck and SUV owners can choose from, as smaller winter tires are easier to find. It is also cheaper than having a garage swap your tires on the existing rims, particularly if your vehicle is equipped with a tire-pressure monitoring system: "This can save up to $50 each time you swap tires," the APA says.
Your tire retailer has guides that list appropriate substitute sizes for your vehicle. "Savings of $80 to $200 per set of four are possible by downsizing the wheel and tire combination, depending on the tire chosen," the APA says.