Kal’s Best Winter Tires for 2025

Winter driving in Canada is easier when you have the right tires. With so many different brands and features to choose from, how do you know which ones are the best winter tires for you?  

We’ve taken care of the guesswork. With Kal’s Tire Testing results, you can see how tires performed for independent tire testers in real Canadian conditions, just like the ones you face on the way to work and on weekends.  

Here are the winter tires Canada is asking about, broken out by handy tire-use categories and the best suited tire according to our tire testing results:

Best Studded Winter Tires on Ice and Snow

For many Canadian families, winter calls for driving in the mountains to go skiing, and driving on rural highways to get kids to hockey games. That means traveling on icy and snow-packed roads when they can be at their most hazardous. For many drivers, studded tires are the answer for supreme grip when braking, cornering and changing lanes in demanding winter conditions.  

Once again, Nokian’s Hakkapeliitta 10 studded tires, Hakkapeliitta 10 studded EV tires, and Hakkapeliitta 10 studded SUV tires have earned top marks for braking and cornering on ice and snow. What makes the Hakka 10 so effective? Nokian’s functional stud concept uses two types of stud placements, one at the tire’s centre for front-to-back grip during acceleration and braking, and one at the tire’s shoulder for side-to-side grip while turning and changing lanes. Plus, every stud is positioned (and installed with factory precision) to bite into ice and snow at an optimal angle.  

What are the best studded winter tires when you’re on a budget? Value-minded drivers can get precise, easy grip with the Nordman North 9 studded tire and the Michelin X-Ice North 4 studded tire, both of which offer sizes for SUV's too.  

Curious how much of a difference studded tires can make? Review Kal’s Test Results to compare ratings on these studded winter tires. 

Top Non-Studded Winter Tires on Ice and Snow

Let’s say you don’t drive on a lot of black ice or heavy, hard-packed snow during the colder months, and you don’t need studded winter tires. What are the best winter tires for Canadian roads in general? 

While many still call them ‘snow tires’, what you’re really looking for is a winter tire tread that can give you safe braking and cornering on snow, slush, ice—and cold roads. It’s not just about the snow, it’s about the temperature.  

True winter tires (bearing the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol) have rubber compounds that keep them soft and grippy when the thermometer drops below +7C. When a deer or a child darts out onto a slippery intersection, that shorter braking distance can make all the difference.  

Which winter tire is the best according to Kal’s Test Results for 2025—and what are the best winter tires for SUV’s, Canada’s favourite vehicle? 

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, a popular choice for SUV’s and EV’s, delivers next-level ice grip with crystals that work that like built-in studs, while the unstudded Nordman North 9 and the Nordman North 9 SUV, keeps your vehicle on the road when it counts with snow grip boosters in the centre of the tread digging into snow.  



Best All-Weather Tires for Wet Winter Conditions

With changing weather conditions bringing rain and slush to the roads more often in the winter, and with many drivers living in coastal areas, wet road and slush performance is everything.  

Where can you get snow tires if you don’t see that much snow or ice, and temperatures are milder? The answer may be an all-weather winter tire. These tires bear the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol, proving they’ve passed tests for traction on snow—and yet, with a unique rubber compound, all-weather tires also double as a great summer tire.  

For many families packing SUV’s with a whole lot of gear and precious cargo throughout the year, all-weathers offer year-round stability and durability for heavier vehicles. 

On rainy and slushy days, these tires were our top contenders for braking, cornering and hydroplaning resistance.  

Top-rated Winter and All-Weather Tires for EV Vehicles

With those heavy-lifting batteries, electric vehicles (EV’s) carry a lot more weight, so you might be wondering, how are EV winter tires engineered to deliver impeccable braking and cornering on cold, snowy roads? 

Nokian was one of the first to design a winter tire specifically for EV’s. Nokian’s Hakkapeliitta R5 EV tires give uncompromising winter grip and handling, and even superior ice performance with Arctic Grip Crystals in the rubber compound. If your EV traverses mountain passes and highways where black ice and hard-packed snow can make driving hazardous, check out the Kal’s Test Results for the Hakka 10 Studded EV. 

Looking for tires to drive year-round? There are all-weather tires that are suitable for EV's too - top performers that meet the load index required by these heavier vehicles. The Nordman Solstice 4 was best-in-class for braking in wet, snow and dry conditions—and the WRG5 earned a five out of five for wet and dry cornering and braking.  

Find out how these all-weather and winter tires for EVs performed in the conditions you face: 

Top All-Terrain Truck Tire for All-Weather Conditions

Whether you’re heading out to the job site, the ski hill or your kiddo’s sports game in another community—there’s something to be said for an all-terrain tire that’s surefooted on icy and snowy highways yet quiet and responsive on your street.  

With an all-terrain all-weather tire, you have all the grip and stability you need to have a little fun out there while maintaining precise control. Plus, with year-round all-weather tires on your truck, you’ve got more room in the garage for your toys and don’t have to take time for seasonal changeovers.  

Which is the best winter tires for trucks like yours and the travels you take? Kal’s Tire Testing results for these all-terrain/all-weather tires show top marks for cornering on wet roads, braking on snow and maintaining road contact to resist hydroplaning.  

Best Cargo Tire for Winter Conditions

If this time of year involves last-mile deliveries on roads, intersections and driveways in all kinds of states, you’re probably wondering, what’s the best winter tire for cargo vans? 

Wherever the day takes you, Nokian’s Hakka CR4 brings elevated safety and comfort. It gets better: A low rolling resistance design makes the CR4 lighter so you also save on fuel.  

What about a studded winter tire for cargo vans? The exceptional grip of studded tires is the way to go if your cargo van routes include black ice and heavy, hard-packed snow.