# What kind of snow tire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** accord, honda\ **Created:** [October 13, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-kind-of-snow-tire/38058 "2009-10-13T18:31:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![debojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@debojo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/debojo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-kind-of-snow-tire/38058/1 "2009-10-13T18:31:31Z")
I am shopping for snow tires and live in Colorado. Need good ones on a low budget. Anyone heard of the “Arctic Claw” and would the extra money for Blizzak’s really be worth it? ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-kind-of-snow-tire/38058/2 "2009-10-13T18:37:14Z")
I’ve never heard of the “Arctic Claw,” but there are probably hundreds of names for winter tires. In my experience HAVING winter tires is what counts. Brand name or model is less important. And, of course, you need four, not just two. I have a set of expensive Nokian winter tires on one car, and a set of inexpensive Firestone winter tires on the other car. The only difference I can discern is the amount of road noise on dry roads. The Nokians are extremely noisy. The Winterforce are almost as quiet as all-season tires. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-kind-of-snow-tire/38058/3 "2009-10-13T18:37:59Z")
Never heard of “Arctic Claw” - who makes it? You can find out lots of good info at [Tirerack.com](http://Tirerack.com). Also, latest Consumer Reports has a tire review, including winter tires. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-kind-of-snow-tire/38058/4 "2009-10-13T19:15:21Z")
“Artic Claw” is probably an off-brand name that’s actually made by one of the big manufacturers. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-kind-of-snow-tire/38058/5 "2009-10-13T19:46:16Z")
Artic Claw’s(I think Cooper makes as non branded) are studdable tires. Blizzacks are studless design and work quite well especially on ice. Personally I would go with the cheaper one and cross my fingers the Artic claws are not too loud. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-kind-of-snow-tire/38058/6 "2009-10-13T21:25:31Z")
If you want the absolute best winter tire (the term “snow tire” is archaic), that would be the Michelin X-Ice. In addition to having superior traction in winter conditions, it also has the longest tread life, and a short tread life is a major problem in cheaper winter tires. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-kind-of-snow-tire/38058/7 "2009-10-14T13:11:43Z")
My experience with about 6 sets of winter tires including pricey (Nokian, Michelin, Bridgestone) and cheaper ones is they all last between 30k-40k miles. The difference is noise and even price does not matter there. Winter conditions are so variable I don’t think one was better than the other in any condition. A test comparison from a magazine means nothing except testing hopefully on a single day in same conditions. But wait two days and different conditions in consistency of snow and the results will be polar opposite.