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Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5RRP (Recommended Retail Price):$170If winter in your area is relentlessly harsh, experts recommend the studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 more than any other tire.

Its metal teeth grab icy, snowy roads better than studless tires — and most other studded tires — in tests. However, critics note that the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 isn't the best snow tire for areas with milder winters; even without studs, its tread can't grip wet or dry asphalt as well as top-rated studless winter performance tires such as the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 (*Est. $135).

The Hakkapeliitta 5 is also expensive. A less costly studdable snow tire is the General Altimax Arctic (*Est. $75), which gets satisfactory reviews. Be aware that some areas restrict the use of studded snow tires because they can damage road surfaces. We found the best comparison test of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 at ConsumerReports.org. Canada's Automobile Protection Association (APA) rates the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 alongside many other snow tires, but it doesn't review any of the tires in depth.

The similar Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is a top-rated tire in every single Scandinavian test we consulted.

Pros

Great on snow and iceStudded tire for cars, SUVs, minivans and light trucks

X cons

Braking performance on dry or wet pavementNoisy on dry pavementExpensive

General Grabber HTSRRP (Recommended Retail Price):$120The budget-priced General Grabber HTS outperforms pricier all-season tires, earning the top spot in reviews. Experts say the Grabber HTS' braking and handling characteristics are excellent on dry and wet roads, while offering a quiet, comfortable ride.

It carries a 45,000- to 60,000-mile treadlife warranty, depending on size and speed rating.

The General Grabber HTS gets good marks for snow traction in reviews, and owners say it grips well on ice, too. Expert tests, however, find its ice-braking ability only fair. Note that this tire is not designed for off-road use; if you plan to hit the gravel and dirt, critics recommend the all-terrain Pirelli Scorpion ATR(*Est. $155). ConsumerReports.org and TireRack.com compare the General Grabber HTS with other all-season tires, but ConsumerReports.org includes more tires and performs more extensive testing than other sources. TireRack.com also collects owner ratings on dozens of tires, including the General Grabber HTS.

The Grabber HTS is one of the few non-off-road tires reviewed at Four Wheeler magazine, but the review says little about how the tire actually performs.

Pros

Best wet and dry performance on pavementGood snow tractionQuiet and comfortable45,000- to 60,000-mile treadlife warrantyOverall value

X cons

Mixed reviews on iceNot designed for off-road driving

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1RRP (Recommended Retail Price):$130Reviews have long recommended Bridgestone Blizzaks as the best snow tires for SUVs and light trucks, especially in harsh winter climates.

The new Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 replaces a former reviewer favorite, the Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3.

The DM-Z3 wowed experts on snow and ice, but not on dry and wet roads. Owners say the DM-V1 gets great grip on dry and wet roads, and it's unsurpassed on snow and ice.

If you prefer studded tires, experts recommend the studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 (*Est. $170).

The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 it is a top pick of both experts and customers at TireRack.com.

The tire it replaces — the Blizzak DM-Z3 — is included in the most recent winter tire tests at ConsumerReports.org and Canada's Automobile Protection Association (APA). CanadianDriver.com also evaluates the DM-Z3 and points out the DM-V1 as a worthy successor.

Pros

Best snow and ice tractionVery good grip on wet and dry roadsDurable, comfortable and quietReplaces the well-regarded Blizzak DM-Z3

X cons

Expensive

Continental ExtremeContact DWSRRP (Recommended Retail Price):$100For the best possible winter grip — short of switching to winter tires — experts recommend the ultra-high-performance (UHP) all-season Continental ExtremeContact DWS. This tire far outclasses other all-seasons in tests at the Arctic Circle, and it gets great reviews from owners slogging through real-life ice and snow. Winter aside, reviews say the ExtremeContact DWS is an outstanding all-around tire, impressing experts in dry and wet road and track tests, even when pushed to its limits.

The Pirelli P Zero Nero All Season (*Est. $130) gains a slight edge for dry-track handling and road comfort in one expert test, and the Goodyear Eagle F1 All Season (*Est. $120) wins the wet test in another, but the Continental is still considered excellent.

The ExtremeContact DWS carries a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty (most UHP tires offer no tread warranty at all), but another high-performance all-season tire — the Michelin Primacy MXV4 (*Est. $130) — comes with an even heftier 60,000-mile treadlife warranty and a long track record of excellence. Experts at TireRack.com have run two separate head-to-head tests involving the Continental ExtremeContact DWS — one on wet and dry roads, and one in ice and snow at the Arctic Circle. TireRack.com customers add more than 200 reviews of the tire's real-life performance. Edmunds Inside Line, About.com and Eurotuner magazine all test the ExtremeContact DWS against other tires at the same Continental press event, and all come to similar — but not identical — conclusions.

Pros

Low priceBest-in-class traction on winter roads50,000-mile treadwear warrantyMolded D, W and S show remaining tread

X cons

Occasionally beaten in dry and wet tests

Firestone Destination M/TRRP (Recommended Retail Price):$175For around $100 less than some other serious mud tires, reviews say the Firestone Destination M/T can take your SUV or pickup mud bogging or rock crawling — and it handles better on pavement than some competitors. Experts and owners say the Destination M/T effectively throws mud from its treads, allowing it to dig through deep muck to grab traction.

Its chunky, over-the-sidewall lugs give the Destination M/T good grip in one rock-crawling test, and they make this tire look tough, reviewers say. Owners note that the Destination M/T can be noisy and washboard-like on the highway, but they point out that most drivers who want a great mud tire probably won't care about that. Like most mud tires, however, the Destination M/T carries no treadwear warranty. Unless off-roading is your main priority, reviews say you'll get a smoother, quieter ride on pavement with the all-terrain Pirelli Scorpion ATR (*Est. $155). Petersen's 4Wheel & Off-Road reviews the Firestone Destination M/T based on lengthy, real-life testing. Other professional reviewers largely ignore the Destination M/T. 4x4Review.com reviews the tire, but the write-up reads like a press release, and every tire at that site gets a glowing review. Owner reviews at TireRack.com are much more helpful. More than 400 owners have posted detailed ratings for the Destination M/T, and editors use those reviews to rank the tire against its peers. Offroaders.com and 1010Tires.com have attracted far fewer owner ratings for the Destination M/T.

Pros

Excellent traction on mud and rockDecent on-road handling for a mud tireStuddable for winter drivingComes in normal (not monster) sizesAggressive appearanceOverall value

X cons

No treadwear warrantyNoisy and rough on-roadPoor ice traction

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