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Honda: Winter Tire Reviews

Just as you wouldn't wear snowshoes in the summer or sandals in the winter, neither should you let your Honda handle the elements without the right "footwear." This article will give you some information about choosing the best tires for winter driving.

By Tom Cavanagh - April 2, 2015

This article applies to the Honda Civic/Del Sol (1992-2000), and Accord (1990-2002).

As temperatures fall during the winter months, road surfaces become hard and slick. In very cold weather, a car's exhaust can freeze on the pavement causing "black ice," which appears simply as wet pavement. Of course, there are also the problems with ice, snow, freezing rain, and sleet. The tread design and rubber composition of your summer tires aren't optimized to give you the traction and braking control you need to deal with the challenges of driving in winter weather.

This article will compare and contrast five major brands of winter tires. It will also say whether or not the tire carries the "mountain/snowflake" symbol, meaning that the tire meets or exceeds winter traction and handling criteria jointly established by U.S. as well as Canadian tire organizations. The prices quoted are an average of prices from different suppliers. Also, proximity to the winter months will impact pricing and availability. Just before winter, the prices are higher as demand increases. And as winter ends, prices begin to decrease.

Honda Civic Winter Tire Review
Bridgestone

Blizzak WS60
Dunlop

Winter MAXX
Yokohama

iceGuard iG52c
Goodyear

Ultra Grip
Michelin
X-Ice Xi3
Price
 $87 $90 $79 $75 $90
Dry Grip
 Good Good Good Good Good
Wet Grip
 Best Better Better Better Better
Size
 P185/65R14 P185/65R14 P185/65R14 P185/65R14 P185/65R14
Studded
 N/A N/A N/A Where Legal N/A
Best Quality: Michelin X-Ice Xi3

Best Value: Yokohama iGuard iG52c

Bridgestone Blizzak WS60

Price – $87 each

Looks – 3-D zigzag stripes channel water away from center channel contact area

Weight – 16 lbs.

Performance – Snow, Ice, Rain

Tread Life – N/A

Warranty – Pro-rated replacement for up to 5 years

The Blizzak WS60 is the third generation of the Bridgestone WinterBiter tire series. One of the main features of this tire is the addition of their Tube Multicell compound embedded with silica particles and layered on top of their winter tire. This addition helps to wick away water, and provide for extra traction on wet surfaces. The tire's flexible rubber composition helps to grip the road in cold conditions.

This tire receives high marks in all consumer reviews. Professional tire writers generally laud the Blizzak for its handling and traction characteristics in ice as well as snow. As with most winter tires, the handling becomes slightly sloppy on dry roads because of the tire's soft rubber composition. These tires are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol. Recommended for its enhanced traction on wet surfaces.

Dunlop Winter MAXX

Price – $90 each

Looks – An asymmetric tread design with wider grooves to improve handling

Weight – 17 lbs.

Performance – Ice, Snow, Rain

Tread Life – N/A

Warranty – Pro-rated replacement for up to 6 years

The Dunlop Winter MAXX combines a number of features and technologies to provide solid traction and control in winter driving conditions. Their Nano-Fit Rubber compound enhanced with silica particles is molded into an asymmetrical block design. Specially cut Miura-Ori sipes help to pull water away from the tread. Professional reviewers comment on the smooth acceleration and sure-braking features it provides in the nastiest of winter driving conditions. Consumer reviews talk of good to excellent performance, and lack of appreciable tread wear; a weakness with soft rubber winter tires. The tires are branded with the mountain/snowflake symbol. Recommended for its enhanced braking and acceleration capabilities.

Yokohama iceGuard iG52c

Price – $79 each

Looks – Features include an extra wide center rib, large control blocks, and slush grooves.

Weight – 17 lbs.

Performance – Snow, Ice, Rain

Tread Life – 2/32"/60K

Warranty – Free replacement up to 60K miles (restrictions apply)

Yokohama claims that this tire was developed to withstand Canadian winters. This might be one of the reasons that the tire is so popular there. Small air pockets built into the rubber compound (Yokohama calls them "absorptive balloons") help to wick water away from the tread surface. Professional reviewers point out that iceGuard is a capable performer. The tire provides traction and handling, but some reviewers say that the car's "responsiveness" suffers. Consumers, on the other hand, generally praise the traction and handling saying that's the reason they bought winter tires. Many spoke of the tire's relative value for the money. The tires carry the mountain/snowflake symbol. Recommended for its high quality coupled with a low price.

Goodyear Ultra Grip

Price – $75 each

Looks – Directional tread pattern, wide tread grooves designed to push away slush and water.

Weight – 17 lbs.

Performance – Snow, Rain, Ice

Tread Life – N/A

Warranty – N/A

Ultra Grip tires provide outstanding traction on ice and packed snow. Goodyears Ice Over Winter (IOW) tread compound, containing silica particles, is applied over the tire's rubber compound. A feature of this tire is that indicators appear as the IOW wears off. The deep grooves in the tread help to avoid hydroplaning on wet surfaces. Reviews are positive, with most mentioning the traction and handling capabilities of the Ultra Grip. Some mentioned that the only limiting factor for them was in driving in deep snow when it would pile up underneath the car, lifting weight off of the wheels. There was some negative comments about handling on dry roads, but that was mentioned across all tire brands. The Ultra Grip can accept studs where they are legal. This tire carries the mountain/snowflake symbol. Recommended for its durability and deeper tread, creating better traction on wet surfaces.

Michelin X-Ice Xi3

Price – $90 each

Looks – "Cross Z" sipe design, directional tread design

Weight – 16 lbs.

Performance – Ice, Snow, Wet Roads, Dry Roads

Tread Life – 40K miles

Warranty – Pro-rated to 60K miles

The X-Ice Xi3 is the the third generation of Michelin's studless winter tires. The tire meets their Green X standard for low rolling resistance, which improves gas mileage. Their FleX-Ice rubber compound is silicon-based, and provides firmness at high temperatures for improved stability on dry roads. Snow platform indicators built into the tire let the driver know when traction and handling will be reduced by tread wear.

ConsumerSearch.com ranked it as the best all-around winter tire, citing it's handling, durability, and quiet. Other professional reviewers echo many of the same sentiments. Consumers on TireRack.com rated it an average 8.63, one of the highest ratings of any winter tire. Consumers talked about the fine handling, cornering, and stopping capabilities. The X-Ice Xi3 carries the mountain/snowflake symbol. Recommended for its highly competitive handling and durability.

Pro Tip

You may want to invest in a set of inexpensive wheels, and have your winter tires mounted over them. This will save you time as well as money as you will not have to take your regular tires off, mount your winter tires, and then reverse the process when the weather warms. This will also help to maintain the appearance of your regular wheels as you will not be exposing them to the salt and slush of winter driving.

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