Winter tires

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TPMS Hyundai Elantra – 2023

Michiel Kramer, director, product marketing, consumer, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.: The 3PMS designation is an indicator that a tire has a strong level of winter performance, per the U.S. Department of Transportation’s requirements. Several tiremakers, including Goodyear, are developing all-season tires with 3PMS designation. These are tires that carry the 3PMS symbol, but can be used year-round. These products offer more snow traction than a traditional all-season tire, and they are a great alternative for customers.

However, for someone who drives in harsh and unpredictable winter conditions, such as during a winter travel advisory, Goodyear would still highly encourage motorists to consider a dedicated set of winter tires. To designate a tire with the 3PMS symbol, the tire must maintain standards, including a certain level of grip on a surface covered in mediumpacked snow.

Moonki Cho, product manager, Hankook Tire America Corp.: 3PMS is the industry standard when it comes to grading a tire’s performance in severe snow conditions. Through a grading process known as the

“A tire that just meets the 3PMS level is a good step up in winter performance from most all-season tires, but has nowhere near the traction and control of a dedicated winter tire,” says Aaron Neumann, product development manager, Nexen Tire America Inc.

ASTM F1805-20 testing method, this procedure enables the accurate measurement of the driving traction of a tire while traveling in a straight line on snow- or icecovered surfaces. In order to obtain a 3PMS symbol and meet U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) requirements, a tire must achieve a traction performance index of 110 or higher. At Hankook Tire, we conduct the test through an authorized external assessment authority.

It is not clear if there will be something beyond that in terms of industry-recognized winter tire performance verification or certification in the future. However, it is possible that advances in tire technology and testing methods could lead to new certifications or performance standards.

“The 3PMS marking represents more rigorous winter tire performance certification, as it is awarded to tires that have passed specific performance tests in winter weather conditions compared to M+S, which is a more generic indicator which does not have any specific performance tests it has to pass,” says Jayden Lee, head of product marketing, U.S./Canada, Pirelli Tire North America Inc.

Chris Jenkins, programs and marketing manager, automotive division, Maxxis International-USA: 3PMS is a winter tire performance certification that measures a tire’s acceleration traction on medium-packed snow. It is expected to provide improved snow traction beyond a standard M+S-branded all-season tire, but it is not a replacement for dedicated winter tires. 3PMS-branded all-season and all-terrain tires cannot match the traction of dedicated winter/snow tires in all winter weather conditions.

While 3PMS-certified tires are good at low-temperature braking and cornering and clearing slushy muck or mixed-condition snow at higher speeds, they cannot match the winter performance of traditional winter tires — studless or studdable.

Farell Scott, product category manager, Michelin passenger and winter tires, Michelin North America Inc.: The 3PMS certifies a tire on snow traction. The 3PMS symbol indicates tires meet or exceed the minimum snow traction requirements needed to determine if a tire is fit for use in severe snow. However, we know dedicated winter tires must perform well beyond minimum traction levels and for more than just snow conditions, because winter conditions are more than just snow. So understanding how a tire performs on ice conditions is equally important, as well as considering the tire’s performance in wet (conditions and) slush and overall handling.

As tire technology continues to improve, all-season tires that meet the 3PMS requirement offer customers an additional tire choice to handle their specific winter climates. These tires do not replace true, dedicated winter tires that typically offer better cold weather, snow and ice performances. To help differentiate between all-season tires that have 3PMS and dedicated winter tires that have 3PMS,