It should come as no surprise that the Ford F-150 is one of the best snow-driving vehicles currently available. There is no doubt that the F150 is a great vehicle capable of taking on any situation Mother Nature may throw at it.
It is possible to select either a full-time four-wheel drive system or part-time four-wheel drive system, as well as a variety of driving modes.
Those who drive their F-150 or Super Duty vehicles on snowy or icy roads more than once a year may find that a good set of winter tires are essential for their vehicles.
There are many types of tires, but winter tires are the ones which offer the best traction and braking. A softer rubber compound is used to make these tires so that they provide better traction in dry weather.
Consequently, they will wear out faster in dry years, so you will need to have two sets of them available at all times.
The general opinion is that if you buy a second set of cheap wheels to mount them on, you should buy a second set of wheels of that kind. That will save you money as well as give you protection against road salt while driving.
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
Pirelli introduced the Winter Sottozero 3, which is dedicated to premium vehicles and features new compounds and a new sipe design for the high-end, premium market.
This tire was co-developed with luxury-vehicle OEMs, has been homologated by brands such as Bentley, Maserati, and Tesla, and is available in rim sizes ranging from 16-21 inches.
The front bumper also has 3D sipes to improve handling in dry conditions, while the back bumper’s high sipe density provides a better grip in snow conditions.
The bumper also features two wide longitudinal grooves intended to enhance braking and handling in wet conditions.
The ‘Seal Inside’ technology inside the tire is said to be capable of preventing the loss of air pressure even after a puncture, and is estimated to cover about 85% of possible accidental causes of air pressure loss.
Goodyear Winter Command (CUV)
There is also a studdable Winter Command that is available for cars and minivans, but the CUV/SUV version is aimed at the performance demands of light pickups, SUVs, and crossovers.
This means that there are variations in the tread pattern, which has full-depth, zigzag sipes that are positioned throughout the tread.
Based on Consumer Reports’ testing, the Winter Command received maximum points for snow traction and solid scores for ride comfort and fuel-saving rolling resistance, but was much less impressive in wet weather.
Michelin X-Ice SNOW
A totally new ski brand, the X-Ice SNOW will be available for the winter of 2020-21 and it will be a replacement for the much-loved X-Ice Xi3 and the Latitude X-Ice Xi2.
Michelin developed the X-Ice SNOW in its Nordic test Centres and produced it largely in house.
This new tire offers improved braking and snow grip performance compared to its predecessor.
Michelin also claims that the newcomer performs well in treadwear testing against manufacturers of leading products.
This model features a new, V-shaped tread which is designed to maintain its shape – and therefore its performance – even when worn, as well as the deployment of the Ever Grip technologies that we have seen on Michelin products before.
The company’s ‘Flex-Ice 2.0’ tread compound is said to be composed of “a unique rubber mix with a full silica-based compound,” in order to maintain flexibility in extremely cold climates.
Sailun Terramax A/T 3PMS
The company recently upgraded its Terramax A/T tires for better winter performance, enabling the tires to obtain a 3-peak mountain snowflake certification.
The tire is designed to deliver superb traction and handling both on and off the road, while also delivering durability, stability, and a quiet, comfortable ride for SUVs, pickups, and vans.
The tire has an aggressive, open-shoulder tread design designed to improve traction by expelling water, slush, snow, and mud from the bottom.
This tire is equipped with a solid center rib that should improve ride comfort and handling precision while the deep, multidirectional tread sipes are said to enhance comfort without sacrificing traction.
Yokohama ice GUARD iG51v
Yokohama’s iceGUARD family contains a wide selection of winter tires, including the G075 for vans, crossovers and SUVs, as well as the iG53 for cars and minivans.
There are a number of applications for the Iginio iG51V including crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks. To improve snow traction and disperse slush and ice, the tread design features zigzag circumferential grooves with a 3D-shaped wall to pack and expel snow, in addition to grooves for dispersing slush and snow.
Interlocking and adaptive 3D sipes, which help create friction between the tire and the road when it hits ice or dry pavement, are said to help enhance stability and grip, and a variable-angle centre rib should make the tire more rigid on dry surfaces.
We covered the iG51v extensively in our review of the tire, highlighting its excellent traction in snow and how the tread squirm – usually a problem for winter tires due to the softer tread compounds – was much less than on some design we had tested.
Please see our complete review of the iG51v, in which we noted the tire’s outstanding grip in the snow and demonstrated that its tread squirm was less than other designs we had tested, which is always an issue with winter tires owing to the softer tread compounds.