2 minute read
Winter tires
from Modern Tire Dealer - March 2023
by EndeavorBusinessMedia-VehicleRepairGroup
a recent, industry-established ice grip symbol has been adopted. Passenger tires that meet or exceed the ice performance criteria qualify for M+S, 3PMS and an ice grip symbol, identi ed by a pictograph of a mountain with ice. e new ice grip symbol has been introduced in Europe and is expected to roll out in North America in the future.
Aaron Neumann, product development manager, Nexen Tire America Inc.: A 3PMS marking does not represent maximum winter performance. It is more a minimum. 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.
ere are many sub-categories of winter tires that qualify for the 3PMS marking, which I will list here, from best to worst: studded arctic winter tires for Scandinavian countries and far north regions; non-studded Arctic tires for those same regions where studs are banned; ice tires with semi-porous treads; alpine winter tires, which sacri ce a little snow and ice performance for more wet and dry performance for those who venture into the snow only on weekends; and nally, all-season and four-season tires that meet minimum winter performance levels but can be used year-round. e 3PMS (designation) signi es a tire has met certain performance conditions in winter weather, but it’s a starting point — a helpful way to know a tire is an option for areas that experience winter conditions. However, (3PMS) does not capture all aspects of a tire’s winter performance, including braking and cornering. As a result, tires with the symbol may still vary in quality and we encourage consumers to research other factors before buying a tire with 3PMS. ere are generally three types of tires that would carry the 3PMS symbol — allweather, all-terrain and winter products — with winter tires having the best traction in winter/snow conditions, based on their tread design and compounding.
An all-season tire that meets 3PMS is still a remarkable tire in the balance of performance it can deliver and for that reason, they represent the top 10% of the all-season tire market. But the best dedicated winter tires out there can deliver up to 50% more traction and control on snow and ice. e downside, of course, is that dedicated winter tires do not perform well outside of winter conditions and need to be taken o in the summer.
Steve Bourassa, director of products, Nokian Tyres Inc.: e 3-Peak Mountain Snow ake is not the ultimate indicator of winter tire performance. It’s a helpful tool, but an additional tool is now available — an ice grip marking that signi es strong braking on ice, too.
Nokian Tyres has recently adopted a new ice grip standard and the ice grip marking indicates that superior level of winter performance.
Jayden Lee, head of product marketing, U.S./Canada, Pirelli Tire North America Inc.: Currently, there are two tire markings signifying snow performance — the M+S marking and the 3PMS marking. e 3PMS marking represents more rigorous winter tire performance certi cation, as it is awarded to tires that have passed speci c 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. e 3PMS symbol identi es that the tire has passed a minimum traction rating in the snow, but the certi cation doesn’t cover braking or other performance attributes.
Right now, there are no industry standards beyond (the) 3PMS marking and no plans in the future for introducing something beyond that level of certi cation for winter performance.
James McIntyre, vice president of sales, Canada, Sailun Tire Americas: At this time, 3PMS is the certi cation that most would look to (in order to) ensure the safety of drivers in extreme weather conditions. e mountain snow ake symbol is an easy way for a consumer to know the tire will perform at an increased level of traction.
