by Michael Hlista
As we are still enjoying summer with barbeques and road trips, tire producers and distributors are already moving winter tires to dealers for the upcoming winter driving season. Even more so here in Quebec, because Quebec leads the way in winter road safety as the only province mandating tires with Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) symbol as the only option for winter driving.
So, without further ado, here are the new dedicated winter tires available for Quebec in 2025.
Tiger Paw Ice & Snow 4
Speaking of winter tire testing, this listing is a tip of a cap to Michelin-owned Uniroyal and its Tiger Paw product line, because Tiger Paw represented the base for the original “Standard Reference Test Tire” (SRTT) against which all winter tires are being tested for the 3PMS.
But the Tiger Paw itself has never been a slouch when it comes to winter performance. This new generation in the Tiger Paw tire line offers a winter rubber compound and tread that not only meet requirements for 3PMS but also meet the Ice Grip test performance requirements. Tiger Paw tread design features full-depth interlocking sipes designed to stabilize tread blocks and improve handling and cornering performance in severe weather conditions. The wide, open grooves and staggered tread blocks evacuate water, slush, and snow from under the tire. This new generation also offers 8% improvement in rolling resistance compared to its predecessor. This, off course, translates into improved vehicle fuel economy.
Uniroyal offers 24 sizes of this tire, covering a broad section of the vehicle market including sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and pickup trucks.
Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta R5
Finland native, Nokian Tyres is de facto the inventor of winter tires and the company celebrated the 90th birthday of the invention last year. This makes Nokian’s Hakkapeliitta line the ‘OG’ (original gangster) in the winter tire market.
The R5 tread design offers superior grip and handling along with excellent ice performance delivered through microscopic crystals incorporated into the rubber compound that work like built-in studs. The tire also offers lower noise levels and smoother, steadier sound.
In terms of environmental impact, the R5 has been designed to leave a smaller carbon footprint. The tire consists of a large amount of natural rubber and over one third of the materials in the rubber compound are renewable or recycled. Low rolling resistance results in fuel savings, which lead to lower fuel consumption, which translates into fewer CO2 emissions.
The Hakkapeliitta lineup is available for sedans, SUVs, EVs, vans and trucks. Nokian also offers a studded version in Hakkapeliitta 10.
Continental VikingContact 8
“Practical,” “precise,” “reliable,” and with a penchant for “quality without the need for external validation.” These may be the beloved clichés associated with German personality but they certainly translate well when it comes to German tire engineering, because Continental’s VikingContact 8 offers just that and nothing less. Designed for passenger cars, SUVs, and EVs, and offering 3PMS and Ice Grip symbols, VikingContact 8 is sure to continue to contend in the Quebec winter tire market by providing great value. VikingContact 8’s Nordic rubber compound evolved, and so did the tread pattern with 3D-sipes, snow edges, and three-layer sipes in the shoulder area to swiftly evacuate water, ice, slush, and snow from under the vehicle.
The tire also considers EVs through energy efficient construction that reduces rolling resistance and extends range. Continental’s next generation tread compound also ensures less tire deformation and reduced energy loss.
In terms of comfort, this is a quieter tire with low-noise design and reduced noise levels at all speeds, and the tire achieved the lowest, “A” noise rating within the EU tire labeling system. A quiet winter tire backed by a 72-month warranty should be a true boon for drivers on frigid winter roads.
Pirelli P Zero Winter 2
Pirelli’s P Zero Winter 2 is the new champion for performance car aficionados who seek a sport tire for that winter Quebecois. Developed alongside P Zero R summer tire, the two tires were developed for the first hybrid version of the Porsche 911. So it’s more than obvious the target market are high-performance electric vehicles. P Zero Winter 2 comes in 13 sizes and equipped with Elect technology for BEVs and PHEVs. Conserving energy is a key element when it comes to EVs, and this tire clearly aims to save energy and extend vehicle winter range without compromising safety, comfort and – most importantly – performance. P Zero Winter 2 is the first winter tire to score “Class A” in rolling resistance in the context of the EU tire labeling where Class A represents the most fuel-efficient tire. Pirelli arrived at this industry-first through tread pattern and compound advancements. And, further on the environmental front, the tire is made with over 50% bio-based or recycled materials.
Bridgestone Blizzak 6
Bridgestone has been offering winter tires on for nearly 40 years, and the new Blizzak 6 represents Bridgestone’s new premium winter touring tire that replaces the older offerings in the Blizzak lineup (LM-25, LM-32, LM001 and LM005).
This is Bridgestone’s first winter tire that includes its ENLITEN tire technology. The ENLITEN platform combines a variety of innovations in tread and compound design, such as optimized tread pattern and compound matching, enhanced evenness in the tire wear profile, and optimized sipes distribution. All this to create the key feature of this new tire—32% longer wear life than its predecessor while maintaining all other winter performance aspects such as traction and water evacuation. Extending the tire life by this much can be an equivalent to an additional winter season or more, which unlocks long-term cost savings for drivers.
The use of ENLITEN Technology also means that 25% of the tire is made using recycled and renewable materials and also ensures that the tire is EV-ready. This is all in alignment with Bridgestone’s commitment to making EVs more efficient and accessible. The tire comes in 38 sizes ranging from 17- to 22-inches.
Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3
Sometimes you do all the research and know exactly the right tire for your vehicle and driving style but when you search for the tire … Bam!—the tire you want is not available in the size you need. Well, the good news is that Goodyear UltraGrip Performance 3, could become the fallback option for drivers and dealers alike, because Goodyear announced that throughout 2025 the tire manufacturer will introduce 68 new coverage SKUs to the market, increasing the total offering to 269 SKUs, which makes it Goodyear’s most extensive winter offering to date. With growing demand across SUV and EV markets, the expanded range now includes sizes from 14 to 22 inches. This tire offers grip and confidence in winter conditions, benefiting from Goodyear innovations such as Snow Protect Technology and Wet Grip+ Technology, which together optimize the tire for cold-weather performance. According to Goodyear, “… the increase in available sizes is a testament to the popularity and performance of the product, …” so, to put it plainly: “The proof is in the pudding.”
NEXEN TIRE Winguard Sport 3
Winguard Sport 3 aims to balance not only technological sophistication and winter performance, but also a strong visual design and aesthetic appeal, and this design has already won the Red Dot Design Award in product design.
Winguard Sport 3 offers a performance-driven design tailored for extreme winter conditions. The tire’s V-shaped tread pattern (inspired by the shape of birds’ wings) enhances traction and steering control on snow. Interestingly, NEXEN TIRE incorporated AI-based virtual simulations in the development of this tire to optimize tread design. The NEXEN TIRE winter compound ensures flexibility in order to maintain grip on the road in harsh winter climates such as that of Quebec. As its predecessor, Winguard Sport 3 is likely to sport directional tread, wide grooves to effectively drain water, and high-density, multi-sipe design for braking on icy and snowy roads, while simultaneously increasing longevity.
GOODRIDE ZuperSnow Z-508
If the budget is an issue, there are lower tier tire options on the market that won’t stretch the wallet of your customers. Hailing from China, GOODRIDE brand offers the ZuperSnow Z-508 winter tire. This tire was developed for the demanding snow and ice conditions of Central Europe and Northern Germany, and it’s likely to find its way to Canada in short order as did its predecessor ZuperSnow Z-507.
While not all the product details have been yet disclosed, the tire will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor with asymmetric pattern design that provides solid handing on snow, optimised lateral grooves’ angle that will give strong snow performance, and sipes to improve traction and braking performance on snow.
As a budget tire, it will most likely balance reasonable quality, essential performance, and fair cost, making it a practical choice for tackling winter conditions without breaking the bank.
Picture credit : Nokian Tyres
