Tires can often power through many different conditions, but when it comes to the winter season, you’re better off getting different tires to cope with the ice and snow.
They will guarantee your winter driving goes off without a hitch and spare your usual tires from getting stuck.
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite ATV snow tires below and included pros and cons so you can see what makes them stand out at a glance.
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We’ve written a small buyer’s guide complete with a FAQ section so that you can read about what makes certain ATV tires suited to different terrains and surfaces and so better decide which tires are the best for what you want to do with them.
That way you won’t make the wrong purchase and get left out in the cold.
In a hurry? This is Our Winner!
- Tire only; rim sold separately; non-highway use only
- The Kenda Bearclaw features angled knobs to do dig into the terrain for maximum traction and a 6-ply rated extra-tough casing to resist punctures
- The center lugs provide extra traction and better control; the built-in rim guard protects your wheel from dings and dents
- Long-range tread compound
- 6-ply rating; 340 pounds load capacity; tubeless
Got snow coming in fast? If you need to get your hands on some snow tires in a hurry, we have our top choice right here.
We thought that the Kenda Bearclaw K299 ATV Tires were the best for snow performance, being a mid-cost wheel that has a short and simple list of features that translate into increased performance in many environments, one of which being snow-covered conditions.
See why we thought that below:
- Angled knobs and centered lugs work in tandem for maximum direction fidelity and traction.
- The tires are tough and protective thanks to their six-ply rating, which is also puncture resistant, as well as wheel-protecting rim guards to keep the rest of the wheel safe.
- The tires have long-range tread compounds so that they last longer and go further, and during that journey they can carry up to 340lbs of load capacity.
Best ATV Tires In Snow – Comparison Table
Best ATV Tires In Snow – Reviews
Kenda Bearclaw K299 ATV Tire - 25X8.00-12
The top snow performing tires we found were the Kenda Bearclaw K299 ATV Tires. Note that the product page for this listing is the one tire, not a bundle, so be sure to get four or as many as you need. Also note that it’s the tire only, the rim is not included.
The tubeless Bearclaw tires use angled knobs on their surface to better grip the terrain that you’re moving on, something very much needed when you’re riding on snow that can be tough but slippery in equal measure. The angled knobs also work with centered lugs between them to allow for maximum traction that keeps you and your ATV safely on the intended trail.
Speaking of safety, the tires have rim guards built into them so that your wheels don’t get scratched or dented by any of the environments you can roll through on these tires. The tires themselves are tough too, being rated at six-ply and having puncture-resistant casing so that your driving isn’t stopped short by a stray nail.
These tires are designed with the long haul in mind, having tread compounds that are manufactured to go the extra miles where other tires might fail, as well as boasting a 340lbs load capacity.
The only real downside we can see to these is that they’re not suitable for driving on the highway or other similar roads, but we’re assuming that if you’re on the search for snow tires you’re venturing off the beaten path anyway.
- Features angled knobs and centered lugs for maximum traction
- Built-in rim guard protects wheels from denting
- Six-ply rating tough, puncture-resistant casing
- Long-range tread compound
- 340lbs load capacity
- Non-highway use
Set of 4 New WANDA ATV/UTV Tires 25x8-12 Front & 25x10-12 Rear /6PR P350-10163/10165 …
Our second set of tires on our list are the WANDA ATV/UTV Tires at 25×8-12. The immediate attraction of these tires is that they can handle themselves in mud, which often bodes well for snow performance too, and gravel, and they have increased traction to make it through woodland environments. That added traction is also a plus for these being used as snow tires.
They’re heavy six-ply rated tires that are made with a nylon construction designed to stop abrasions and punctures, and on their shoulders are lugs that defend the rims and sidewalls of these tires from any external damage.
Part of the performance of these tires comes from the fact that their tread depth is a deeper 0.79 inches. This depth accompanies the lugs of the tire faces to maximize their aggression, chewing into the ground and not letting go until you want to pass over it.
Since they’re designed to tackle a wide array of environments, they’re not exactly proofed against them all either. This means that the tires are best used as a temporary winter measure rather than a year-round replacement.
- Handles well in all environments
- Heavy six-ply rated nylon construction stops punctures
- Shoulder lugs protect the rim and sidewall of these tires
- Deeper 0.79-inch tread depth
- Better for temporary use, not constant use
SunF 26x8-12 26x10-12 ATV UTV Tires 6 PR Tubeless A033 POWER I [Bundle]
![SunF 26x8-12 26x10-12 ATV UTV Tires 6 PR Tubeless A033 POWER I [Bundle]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SEVIaldZL._SL160_.jpg)
Our third tires are the SunF ATV Tires A033 Power Bundle, a set of tires that also boast their ability to traverse a wide range of terrain thanks to their directional and angled tread designs. The tread is also patterned and deeper to add traction control.
They’re heavier and thicker tires at six-ply, meaning that penetrative damage is going to have a harder time interrupting your rides. The lugs are larger too, making these tires easy to control when skidding, which can be invaluable for stopping in icy conditions.
There are also shoulder knobs that, aside from adding protection to the entire wheel itself, also add side bite to churn away at the snow when it’s deep enough to come up the sides of your wheels.
This set isn’t ideal for those of you on a budget, however the most expensive on the list, but they’re great, aggressive tires for the money.
- Directional angled tread design drives through most terrain
- A thick six-ply tire that resists punctures and other penetrative damage
- Lug depth and tread patterning offers skid and traction control
- Shoulder knobs add side bite and protection
- Some of the pricier tires on this list
- Loses its tread quickly on rocky surfaces
FOUR 26x9-12 26x11-12 KT MASSFX big TIRE SET FOUR ATV TIRES SIX PLY 26" horn
Our fourth set of tires is the Big Tire Set of Four ATV Tires from MASSFX, who have used their brand-specific side bite tread pattern design to help these wheels cut through deep snow.
It seems MASSFX have taken special care to bolster the sides of these thick tires, increasing the durability of the sidewall too so that it doesn’t sustain damage when plowing through snow and skirting over ice.
The wheels are rated at six-ply, so they’re thick enough to resist any damage the terrain could do to them from repeated contact, but they’re also quite heavy which can make handling difficult, especially at higher speeds where the tires can shake.
This heaviness still works in their favour for slow to mid-speed driving through snow.
This is helped by the multidirectional tread lugs on them, however, which work to provide more traction and braking power that allows you to have more control over how, when, and where you stop when you brake.
- Uses new MASSFX side bite tread pattern
- Multi-Directional tread lug design provides braking control
- A thick tire rated at six-ply
- Increased durability on the sidewall
- Heavy tires can make handling difficult
- They can shake at higher speeds
Complete Set of 4 All Terrain ATV UTV Tires 25x8-12 Front & 25x10-12 Rear 6PR Tubeless
Our final tires on this list are the All-Terrain ATV Tires from MOTOOS, a set of tubeless front and rear tires that are thick in width so that they can better plough through obstructions like snow.
This girth also gives you traction control when drifting. You can’t buy these individually from what we’ve seen, and they aren’t great for deep snow hence their place on the list, so they’re better for lighter snow cover.
The surface of these tires is also thick in-depth, which helps repel punctures, and feature 0.79-inch depth treads carved into them so that they can be more aggressive and stable, and should last longer since there’s more tread there to burn.
This allows these tires to handle themselves in most environments, from mud and rock to wooded areas and, of course, snow to an extent.
- Set of tubeless front and rear tires with 6.5-inch and 8-inch rim widths
- 0.79-inch depth treads
- Thick six-ply keeps punctures away
- Handles well in most environments
- Suitable for snow up to an extent, not great for deep snow
- Can’t buy individually, must come in a pack
Best ATV Tires In Snow – Buyer’s Guide
How to pick the best ATV tires for snowy conditions
As the seasons change you need to expect different conditions, but most tires will be able to handle both dried up, uneven ground and rain-soaked, wet ground. That said, conditions often get the most treacherous in winter.
This guide is to help you choose the best winter tires so that you can be prepared for when the snow starts falling. You’ll need to consider the types of tire you get based on the weather conditions and the terrain you’re driving on, as well as qualities of the tires themselves such as their lugs, their ply rating, and their tread depth and pattern.
Types
For the purposes of this guide, we’ll focus on the types of tires that you should focus on based on their performances in different terrains and weather conditions, particularly in snowy and wintery conditions.
Your average ATV tires will be off-roaders for driving off the beaten track, or all-purpose tires so that they can drive on the road and off-road terrain. These should do you fine for the majority of the year, and aren’t really the focus of the list above, but it’s useful to explain the usual tires so that you don’t buy them thinking that they’re winter ones.
These all-terrain and mud tires differ in how aggressive they are, the mud tires being more aggressive than off-roader tires. Aggressivity in this context means that the tires have longer, more penetrative lugs and two inches of tread depth. The lugs are often spaced out to allow for mud to fall away, acting as a self-cleaning mechanism.
All-terrain tires aren’t as aggressive since that would hamper their ability to traverse roads and other calmer surfaces, so they have less tread depth and often squarer lugs. Sand ATV tires exist too, being bouncier and having more grip, but these are irrelevant for the purposes of this guide.
Snow tires, which are the ones we’re interested in for this guide, tend to have features of both mud and trail tires since they must be both durable against hard, icy surfaces but also able to churn through softer snow. This often means shorter lugs but larger spaces between them.
Tire Lugs
Lugs are rubber blocks or protrusions that stick out of your wheels to provide traction so that the tires don’t lose their grip and slip around, coming in varying lengths and curvatures depending on their intended performance. Most products that are designed to tackle mud will have them, from shoes to tires, and in this case, lugs are also essential on your snow tires.
As mentioned, lugs tend to be shorter than mud lugs but spaced out like you’d see on mud-performing tires, though there may be variations in design across brands and products.
Ply Rating
Ply ratings will generally fall between two and six-ply. The higher the ply count, the stronger the tire will be. Stronger tires also tend to be more aggressive and have more traction, so try and opt for tires with more ply that’ll fit with your ATV.
There are two other types of tires whose differences are based entirely off of their ply, radial and bias-ply. Radial is usually better for light off-roading and can be found on commercial on-roader passenger vehicles. Bias-ply has sturdier sidewalls and so are more suited to heavy off-roading. This also means they’re usually six-ply, and so we’d recommend this type for snowy conditions.
Tread Depth
Tread depth is the vertical measurement of tire grooves, and its measurement needs to be considered because it’s correlative to how long tires will generally last. Deeper treads are often on larger tires with thicker rubber, meaning heavier overall tires that come with their own benefits and detriments. For the purpose of driving through snow, heavier tires can be a good thing to have.
Since they provide added security and longevity to your tires, we’d recommend aiming for tires that have deeper treads, especially since they tend to be the heavier, six-ply rated tires that you should be looking at anyway when shopping for snow-performing tires.
Tread Pattern
In order to guide them where the terrain may throw them off track, tires have tread patterning on their surfaces. Tires are usually symmetrical, directional, or asymmetric in nature. Symmetrical tires are good for smoother driving and low rolling resistance, whereas asymmetric tires handle better and are more stable during turns.
A lot of ATV tires are directional since they’re off-roading tires. Directional tires perform better on snow and mud, hold well at higher speeds on uneven ground, and have high protection against hydroplaning. This is good as avoiding moisture is great for deep, snowy conditions where tires can get slippery and slide over the trails you’re riding on, especially if those trails are solid, like concrete or asphalt.
FAQs
Are chains or studs better for winter-proofing?
Winter-proofing your ATV tires often use either chains or studs. You’ve probably seen chains being wrapped around tires for snow performance before. That’s also an option if you’re using your ATV for low speed on ice and snow, otherwise, you’re better off going with studs.
Studs are generally cheaper too, and you can get more use out of them by leaving them in all year round if they’re small enough. They also reduce the surface wear on your tires when compared to the chains and are better for traction at higher speeds. Chains are better than studs if you’re focusing on plowing and being able to ride on a variety of harder surfaces like concrete and asphalt where studs would wear down faster.
How long do ATV tires last?
This depends on a lot of factors so there isn’t one universal answer. Depending on the tire style, hardness of the rubber, general quality or age of the tires, and the surface those tires are riding on, ATV tires can last from a few hundred to 5k miles, so try to look after them as much as possible if you can.
This can roughly be translated into one or two years with heavy usage and five to ten years with light usage, but these are very general numbers that won’t apply to everybody. Just change your tires when you deem necessary, usually when it starts having a negative effect on the traction they offer. Older tires often do not perform as well, regardless of their mileage.
Are wider ATV tires better?
Bigger tires aren’t always the better ones, so be careful of falling into that trap. That said, for the purposes of driving through snow and mud, or uneven terrain, the added tire width is beneficial. This is the foremost mechanical advantage you’ll get out of wider tires. You should be sure that your ATV can support the weight of the tires, especially if they’re oversized for the ATV you’re riding on.
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