Winter tires

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TPMS Hyundai Elantra – 2023

Nick Gutierrez, sales director, Sentury Tire USA: When you are at altitude, the weather can change fast. ese changes can happen more quickly than the Department of Transportation can send out warnings or implement mandatory chains. For this reason, it is important to recommend the right snow tire for your customers. When a tire carries the 3PMS symbol, it communicates to the consumer that it has improved traction over the standard M+S rating.

Today, the industry does not o er a higher rating than 3PMS. However, drivers can attain performance beyond this certi cation by purchasing tires that also have a nano-silica compound, in addition to the 3PMS (designation.) When you combine these two features, drivers can rest assured that they have maximized performance, stability and safety in the snow. Until the USTMA identi es a higher certi cation, combining these two features is the best recommendation for drivers.

Tsuyoshi Johnson, product manager, PCR tires, Falken Tires, Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc.: Just because a tire has earned the 3PMS certi cation does not mean it’s fully capable of handling the harshest winter conditions. For a tire to earn the industry’s severe snow rating, it must perform at a rate of 112% when compared to the standard reference test tire (SRTT).

We’re seeing more and more all-weather tires starting to earn this certi cation by performing at a level above this mark. However, this does not mean all-weather tires deliver the same winter traction expected from a dedicated winter tire. Winter tires typically perform somewhere between 130% and 150% above the SRTT.

Andrew Hoit, executive vice president, brand division, Tireco: Although 3PMS proves the tire has passed an industrystandard traction test, it’s not enough to be named the ultimate in winter tire performance certi cation because the standard testing is not comprehensive and does not demonstrate the tire has a well-rounded winter performance.

It would be great to see additional testing requirements to indicate the performance levels.

“For a tire to earn the industry’s severe snow rating, it must perform at a rate of 112% when compared to the standard reference test tire,” says Tsuyoshi Johnson, product manager, PCR tires, Falken Tires, Sumitomo Rubber North America Inc.

Joaquin Gonzalez Jr., president, Tire Group International LLC: When it comes to weather-speci c applications in tires, compounding is paramount. Speci c to snow, dedicated winter tires will provide the most balanced performance across the di erent road conditions. When it comes to severe conditions, the 3PMS certi cation ensures the compounding used will maintain its qualities even at below-freezing temperatures — making it the highest-level certi cation you can currently get on a winter tire.

Chris Tolbert, director of sales, Trimax Tire: Retailers and consumers have an understanding that 3PMS represents a tire technology for winter weather conditions and safety con dence. I’m sure as vehicles keep evolving with technology and electric vehicles, there will be an even more superior advancement. With global warming in North America, the four seasons have shi ed and changed. All-weather product lines with advances in technology should continue to grow.

“Although the 3PMS (designation) proves that the tire has passed an industry-standard traction test, it’s not enough to be named the ultimate in winter tire performance certifi cation,” says Andrew Hoit, executive vice president, brand division, Tireco.

Winter tires

(Alyeska Tire also carries Nokian brand winter tires.)

Providing educational materials — both online and in-person — also is important, according to Ramirez.

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