The Winner In Ultra-High Performance Winter Tires For 2013

Consumer Reports just released their list of the best UHP winter tires for 2013 and not surprisingly, the Nokian WR G3 was at the top.

According to the Consumer Reports study, the WR G3 proved to be an “exception tothe usual trade offs.” While the tire didn’t offer the best scores in snow and ice traction, it offered better dry and wet grip then the other UHP tires. Consumer Reports recommends the tire for “areas where the roads are often plowed.”

Taking a very close second in the ratings is the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4. Consumer Reports mentions this model performs “almost as well” as the Nokian WR G3, which after reviewing the tire we feel it is the best in this category.

Taking third place was another Nokian model, the Hakkapeliitta R2. CR says this is a tire that is ideal in “a place where you’ll be driving more on snow and ice than on pavement all winter.”

All in all, Consumer Reports put eight different UHP winter tires through tests on dry, wet, and ice braking, handling, hydroplaning, snow traction, ride comfort, noise, rolling resistance and treadlife. Overall scores in each category were then added up to determine the rankings.

The difference in scores between the top 3 tires was just 10 points. All three tires are recommended by the magazine as best buys.

Rankings for the other 5 tires in the category included, Hankook Winter I*cept Evo at number four, followed by the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D, Pirelli Winter 240 Sottozero Serie II, VredesteinWintrac Xtreme and Cooper’s Weather-Master Snow at number eight.

You can read all of our winter tire reviews here.