All Season Tires vs Mud and Snow

The snow is falling, the road is turning to slush, and the tires that were fine in summer are spinning on a hill that a proper tire would climb.

All-season and all-terrain tires split into two families: road tires that grip in rain and snow, and off-road tires that bite in mud and deep snow but roar on the highway.

This guide compares five verified all-season and all-terrain tires for mud and snow, from a Michelin CrossClimate2 to a Falken Wildpeak, with the honest limits of each one printed alongside the pick.

All season tires vs mud and snow compared

How to choose a tire for mud and snow

Six points decide the purchase, and the first one matters most: name the driving before you name the tire. The same buy-once logic runs through our heavy-duty truck winch guide and our what size winch guide.

All-season or all-terrain

An all-season tire suits highway, rain and snow, while an all-terrain tire suits mud, dirt and off-road use. The CrossClimate2 and the WeatherReady 2 are all-season tires, while the KO2, the DuraTrac and the AT3W are all-terrain tires. Choose by the driving, not the look.

The 3PMSF severe snow rating

The three-peak mountain snowflake means the tire passed a severe snow test, and it is legal where a snowflake symbol is required. All five tires in this guide carry it, which is why they are compared here. A tire without it is not a snow tire.

Tread depth and mud clearing

Deeper tread bites in mud and snow, and the tread pattern clears the mud or it clogs. The DuraTrac has 14 to 18/32-inch tread, the KO2 13 to 15/32 inches, and the AT3W 12/32 inches. Deeper tread is louder on the highway, so there is a trade.

Treadwear warranty and UTQG

The warranty and the UTQG grade tell the owner how long the tire should last. The CrossClimate2 and the WeatherReady 2 are rated 60,000 miles, the AT3W 55,000 miles, and the KO2 and the DuraTrac 50,000 miles. The UTQG grade is a maker test, not a guarantee.

Noise on the highway

All-terrain tires are louder than all-season tires, and the noise grows as the tire wears. The CrossClimate2 scores 8.6 for noise on Tire Rack, the DuraTrac RT 8.5, and owners report the DuraTrac gets loud after a few thousand miles. Test the noise before a long trip.

Recall and DOT date

Check the DOT date and the recall before buying, since a recalled tire is dangerous. NHTSA recall 23T-010 covers 1,900 Falken AT3W tires in one size and date range, and dealers replace them free. A tire older than six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.

Tires by budget

The tiers below assume the size is already known from the sidewall. The recovery side of the same workshop is covered in our come-along winch guide.

Types of tires for mud and snow

Five approaches cover the whole job, and most owners need only one of them. The same sizing maths runs through our best truck winches guide and our Honda Pioneer 1000 winch guide.

Detailed reviews of the tires for mud and snow

Each pick below follows the same format: verified specs first, then owner reports with sources. For the sizing maths behind any winch in the same workshop, see our what size winch guide.

Best All-Season Tire: Michelin CrossClimate2 245/45R17

Best All-Season Tire

Why this is our pick

The Michelin CrossClimate2 is the all-season tire most owners should buy first, and Tire Rack’s survey of 4,242 owners scores it 9.4 for wet traction, 9.5 for dry traction, 9.2 for light snow, 8.8 for deep snow and 8.5 for ice. TireWheelGuide scores it 88 against the Goodyear WeatherReady 2’s 77, ahead in dry, wet and snow. The 60,000-mile warranty, the 3PMSF rating, the UTQG 640BA and the 10/32-inch tread all trace to Michelin’s own listing. The honest complaint is noise: owners report that it roars and mimics bad wheel bearings, and Tire Rack scores it 8.6 for noise, the lowest of its scores.

Key specs

• Size: 245/45R17
• Warranty: 60,000 miles, 6 years
• UTQG: 640BA
• Severe snow: 3PMSF
• Tread: 10/32 in, directional V-shaped
• Compound: Thermal Adaptive
• Sizes: 92 sizes, 15 to 21 in rims
• Tire Rack wet: 9.4 out of 10, from 4,242 ratings
• Tire Rack dry: 9.5 out of 10
• Best for: Highway driving in all seasons

Fits and best for

Owners of a car or crossover who want one tire for the whole year, including snow. The 3PMSF severe snow rating means it is legal where a snowflake symbol is required, the directional V-shaped tread clears water, and the 92 sizes cover most cars. It suits a daily driver, a family SUV or a commuter who sees snow but not deep mud.

Pros and watch-outs

What owners report

Who should not buy

Skip it if the driving is mostly deep mud or off-road, where an all-terrain tire is the honest buy, or if the car needs a quiet tire above all. The BFGoodrich KO2 below is the honest buy then.

Pair it with

A tire pressure gauge and a tread depth gauge, kept in the glovebox. The tire does the work; the gauges tell the owner when it is worn.

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Tip: Check the tread depth each season, and rotate the tires so the wear stays even. Our how to mount a winch guide makes the same point about checking before the season starts.

Best Wet-Weather Tire: Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 235/65R18

Best Wet-Weather Tire

Why this is our pick

The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 is the wet-weather tire in this guide, with a 60,000-mile warranty, a 3PMSF severe snow rating, a UTQG 700AA and 78 sizes. TireWheelGuide scores it 77 against the CrossClimate2’s 88, with the Goodyear behind in dry, wet and snow, which is the honest gap between the two. Michelin’s own wet-braking test reports 142.9 feet for the CrossClimate2 against 198.6 feet for the WeatherReady, a manufacturer test that favours the Michelin and is attributed as such. The honest limit is that it is a road tire: it is not made for deep mud or off-road use.

Key specs

• Size: 235/65R18
• Warranty: 60,000 miles
• UTQG: 700AA
• Severe snow: 3PMSF
• Sizes: 78 sizes
• TireWheelGuide: 77, behind the CrossClimate2 at 88
• Use: Rain, wet snow and highway driving
• Best for: Owners who drive mostly in the wet
• Tread: Not published in sources captured
• Limitation: Behind the CrossClimate2 in dry, wet and snow

Fits and best for

Owners who drive mostly in rain and wet snow, and who want a tire that grips in the wet above all. The UTQG 700AA and the 60,000-mile warranty cover long highway use, the 3PMSF rating covers snow, and the 78 sizes cover most SUVs and crossovers. It suits a commuter in a wet climate, a family SUV or a driver who sees more rain than mud.

Pros and watch-outs

What owners report

Who should not buy

Skip it if the driving is mostly off-road or deep mud, where an all-terrain tire is the honest buy, or if the owner wants the best all-round scores. The CrossClimate2 above is the honest buy then.

Pair it with

A tire pressure gauge and a tread depth gauge, kept in the glovebox. The tire does the work; the gauges tell the owner when it is worn.

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Tip: Check the wet braking distance on a safe road after fitting new tires, so the driver knows what to expect. Our winch battery guide makes the same point about testing before trusting.

Best Off-Road Tire: BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 LT265/70R17

Best Off-Road Tire

Why this is our pick

The BFGoodrich KO2 is the off-road tire in this guide, with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, a 6-year limited warranty, 13 to 15/32-inch tread and the 3PMSF severe snow rating. The Tire Reviews, after 10,000-plus miles on each tire, names the KO2 the best off-road and the best for sidewall strength, against the Falken AT3W. The honest limits are wet traction, which is the KO2’s known weak point, and noise, which grows as the tire wears. The successor KO3 was introduced in 2024, and the KO2 is being phased out size by size, so the buyer should check the size is still made.

Key specs

• Size: LT265/70R17
• Warranty: 50,000 miles, 6-year limited
• Tread: 13 to 15/32 in
• Severe snow: 3PMSF
• Use: Off-road, mud, snow and highway
• Best for: Trucks that drive off-road
• Limitation: Known weak point is wet traction
• Noise: Gets louder as it wears
• Successor: KO3 introduced in 2024, KO2 being phased out size by size
• UTQG: Not published in sources captured

Fits and best for

Owners of a truck or SUV who drive off-road and need a tire with a tough sidewall. The 13 to 15/32-inch tread bites in mud and snow, the 3PMSF rating covers winter, and the KO2 is the tire for a truck that sees dirt, rocks and snow. It suits an off-road truck, a work truck or a driver who tows in bad weather.

Pros and watch-outs

What owners report

Who should not buy

Skip it if the driving is mostly highway in the wet, where the CrossClimate2 above grips better, or if the size is being phased out. The Falken AT3W below is the honest buy then.

Pair it with

A tire pressure gauge and a tread depth gauge, and a spare tire that matches. The KO2 is tough; a flat still needs a spare.

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Tip: Check the size is still made before ordering, since the KO2 is being phased out size by size as the KO3 arrives. Our ATV winch installation walkthrough makes the same point about checking availability before ordering.

Best Mud and Snow Tire: Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac 265/70R17

Best Mud and Snow Tire

Why this is our pick

The Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac is the mud and snow tire in this guide, with a 50,000-mile warranty, 14 to 18/32-inch tread and the 3PMSF severe snow rating. Tire Rack’s survey of the DuraTrac RT variant, with 121 ratings, scores it 9.4 for dirt, 9.3 for mud, 9.2 for light snow, 9.2 for deep snow and 8.2 for ice, with 8.5 for noise; those figures are for the RT variant, not the original. The honest complaint is noise: Bob Is The Oil Guy owners report that the DuraTrac gets loud after a few thousand miles, and some favour the KO3 over it.

Key specs

• Size: 265/70R17
• Warranty: 50,000 miles
• Tread: 14 to 18/32 in
• Severe snow: 3PMSF
• Use: Mud, snow, dirt and highway
• Best for: Trucks in deep mud and deep snow
• Noise: Gets loud after a few thousand miles
• Tire Rack RT dirt: 9.4 out of 10, DuraTrac RT variant
• Tire Rack RT mud: 9.3 out of 10, DuraTrac RT variant
• UTQG: Not published in sources captured

Fits and best for

Owners of a truck who drive in deep mud and deep snow, and need a tire that bites when the road disappears. The 14 to 18/32-inch tread is the deepest in this guide, the 3PMSF rating covers winter, and the DuraTrac suits a truck that works in mud, snow and dirt. It suits a farm truck, a work truck or a driver in a snowy climate.

Pros and watch-outs

What owners report

Who should not buy

Skip it if the driving is mostly highway, where the noise will wear on the driver, or if the owner wants a quiet tire. The CrossClimate2 above is the honest buy then.

Pair it with

A tire pressure gauge and a tread depth gauge, and mud flaps. The tread bites in mud; the flaps keep the mud off the truck.

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Tip: Expect the noise to grow after a few thousand miles, and rotate the tires so wear stays even. Our synthetic winch rope lifespan guide makes the same point about rotating before the wear sets in.

Best Value All-Terrain Tire: Falken Wildpeak A/T3W

Best Value All-Terrain Tire

Why this is our pick

The Falken Wildpeak AT3W is the value tire in this guide, with a 55,000-mile warranty, a UTQG 660BB, 12/32-inch tread and the 3PMSF severe snow rating. The Tire Reviews, after 10,000-plus miles on each tire, names the AT3W the best for daily driving, snow, value and noise. It is sold through Falken tire dealers rather than a verified Amazon listing, so this guide shows it as a written alternative, with the KO2 as the verified buy. The honest warning is the recall: NHTSA 23T-010, December 2023, covers 1,900 AT3W tires in size 265/70R17 115T, mold 1B9610, produced July 24 to August 23, 2023, for a sidewall puncture, and dealers replace them free. Check the DOT date before buying.

Key specs

• Warranty: 55,000 miles
• UTQG: 660BB
• Tread: 12/32 in
• Severe snow: 3PMSF
• Use: Daily, snow, off-road, highway
• Best for: Value and quiet
• Recall: NHTSA 23T-010, 1,900 tires, 265/70R17 115T
• Noise: Noisy after 30,000 miles
• Size: Not published
• Limitation: Check the DOT date and recall before buying

Fits and best for

Owners who want an all-terrain tire that is quiet on the highway, strong in snow and good value. The 55,000-mile warranty, the UTQG 660BB and the 12/32-inch tread cover daily driving and winter, and the AT3W suits a truck or SUV that drives mostly on the road. It suits a daily driver or a commuter who sees snow.

Pros and watch-outs

What owners report

Who should not buy

Skip it if the tire is in the recalled size and date range, or if the owner wants a verified Amazon listing. The KO2 above is the honest buy then.

Pair it with

A tire pressure gauge, a tread depth gauge, and the DOT date written down. The tire does the work; the DOT date tells if it is recalled.

No verified Amazon listing exists for this pick; it is sold through Falken tire dealers. The verified buy we can stand behind here is the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 LT265/70R17:

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Tip: Check the DOT date and the recall before buying, and check the sidewall after every off-road trip. Our portable 12V winch guide makes the same point about checking before the trip.

Spec comparison

The full side-by-side, with every figure traced to the research notes. The wider winch side of the same workshop is covered in our best Jeep winch guide.

How to fit and check tires for mud and snow

Check the size on the sidewall of the current tire and in the owner’s manual before ordering, and check the DOT date and the recall for the Falken AT3W. When the tires arrive, check the DOT date again, and check the sidewall for punctures. Fit them with the rotation arrow pointing forward, since the CrossClimate2 is directional, and torque the lug nuts to the vehicle maker’s spec. Check the pressure with a gauge, not by eye, and re-check it after the first week. Check the lug nuts again after the first 50 miles of driving, since new tires settle and the nuts can loosen. Rotate the tires so the wear stays even, and check the tread depth each season. For the wider workshop habits behind this, our how to mount a winch guide and our ATV winch installation walkthrough cover measuring twice and working methodically. Cable care is covered in our attach cable to a winch drum guide and our winch cable replacement guide.

Safety essentials

Troubleshooting

Real-world notes

Tires fail in the same few ways, and all of them are avoidable. The first is a wrong size, which shows up as a tire that rubs or a speedometer that reads wrong; the fix is to check the sidewall and the manual before ordering. The second is a recalled tire, which shows up as a sidewall puncture; the fix is to check the DOT date and the recall before buying. The third is uneven wear, which shows up as noise and poor grip; the fix is to rotate the tires and check the pressure. Roundup writers report the same pattern across brands: owners who like a tire usually mention the grip and the quiet, and owners who dislike one usually mention the noise or the wear. The same care applies to winch cable as to tires: our electric boat anchor winch guide and winch amp draw guide cover rope care and the electrical side of the same workshop.

Who should NOT buy these

Vehicle needs a dedicated winter tire. An all-season tire with 3PMSF is legal where a snowflake is required, but it is not a dedicated winter tire in deep snow or ice. Buy a winter tire for deep snow; our handheld winch guide covers the heavy work.

Tire is in the recalled size and date range. A Falken AT3W in size 265/70R17 115T, mold 1B9610, produced July 24 to August 23, 2023, is recalled. Do not buy it; dealers replace it free; browse the truck winch archive for the wider workshop class instead.

Budget is under a single tire. Tires are sold per tire, and a set of four costs real money. Buy the right tire for the driving, not the cheapest one that fits; our ATV winch for plowing guide covers the same value question on the winch side.

Owner will not rotate or check pressure. A tire that is never rotated wears unevenly and gets noisy, and a tire with the wrong pressure wears fast. Rotate each season, or the tire will fail early.

Final verdict

Michelin CrossClimate2 245/45R17: The all-season tire most owners should buy first, with the best all-round scores and a 3PMSF rating.

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Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady 2 235/65R18: The wet-weather tire for rain and wet snow, with a UTQG 700AA and a 60,000-mile warranty.

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BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 LT265/70R17: The off-road tire for trucks that drive off-road, with the best sidewall and 13 to 15/32-inch tread.

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Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac 265/70R17: The mud and snow tire for deep mud and deep snow, with the deepest tread in this guide.

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Falken Wildpeak A/T3W: The value tire for daily driving and snow, with the best daily, snow, value and noise scores.

No verified Amazon listing exists for this pick; it is sold through Falken tire dealers. The verified buy we can stand behind here is the BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 LT265/70R17:

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FAQ

Are all-season tires good in mud and snow?

They are good in snow if they carry the 3PMSF severe snow rating, which all five tires in this guide do. They are not good in deep mud, where an all-terrain tire with deeper tread is needed. The CrossClimate2 is the best all-season tire for snow, while the DuraTrac is the best for deep mud.

What is the difference between all-season and all-terrain tires?

An all-season tire is made for highway, rain and snow, with a quiet ride and a long warranty. An all-terrain tire is made for mud, dirt and off-road use, with deeper tread and a tougher sidewall, but more noise. Choose by the driving the vehicle actually does.

What does 3PMSF mean on a tire?

The three-peak mountain snowflake means the tire passed a severe snow traction test, and it is legal where a snowflake symbol is required. All five tires in this guide carry it. A tire with only the M+S mark has not passed the severe snow test.

Which tire is best for mud and snow?

For deep mud and deep snow, the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac is the pick, with 14 to 18/32-inch tread and the best mud and snow scores in this guide. For snow on the highway, the Michelin CrossClimate2 is the pick, with the best all-round scores. For value and quiet, the Falken AT3W is the pick.

Is the Falken Wildpeak AT3W recalled?

Yes, in one size and date range. NHTSA recall 23T-010, December 2023, covers 1,900 AT3W tires in size 265/70R17 115T, mold 1B9610, produced July 24 to August 23, 2023, for a sidewall puncture. Dealers replace them free, so check the DOT date before buying.

How long do all-season tires last?

The CrossClimate2 and the WeatherReady 2 are rated 60,000 miles, the AT3W 55,000 miles, and the KO2 and the DuraTrac 50,000 miles. Real life depends on the driving, the rotation and the pressure. A tire older than six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.

Are all-terrain tires noisy on the highway?

Yes, and the noise grows as the tire wears. The CrossClimate2 scores 8.6 for noise on Tire Rack, the DuraTrac RT 8.5, and owners report the DuraTrac gets loud after a few thousand miles and the Falken gets noisy after 30,000 miles. Rotate the tires to slow the wear.

Can I use all-season tires in winter?

Yes, if they carry the 3PMSF severe snow rating, which all five tires in this guide do. They are not a substitute for a dedicated winter tire in deep snow or ice, but they are legal where a snowflake symbol is required. For deep snow, an all-terrain tire with deeper tread is better.

What size tire do I need?

The size is printed on the sidewall of the current tire, and in the owner’s manual. The CrossClimate2 in this guide is 245/45R17, the WeatherReady 2 is 235/65R18, and the KO2 and the DuraTrac are 265/70R17. Never fit a size the maker does not list for the vehicle.

Sources

Review roundups

• TireWheelGuide CrossClimate2 vs WeatherReady 2
• Compare Michelin CrossClimate 2 and Goodyear WeatherReady 2
• Bob Is The Oil Guy tire debate
• DesignBeep BFGoodrich KO2
• The Tire Reviews Falken AT3W vs BFGoodrich KO2
• BFGoodrich KO2 vs KO3 compared
• Tire Advise BFGoodrich KO2 review
• Tire Near Me Hub CrossClimate 2

Maker and survey evidence

• Tire Rack Michelin CrossClimate2 survey
• Tire Rack Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT survey

Recall evidence

• NHTSA recall 23T-010 Falken Wildpeak AT3W
• Modern Tire Dealer Falken Wildpeak recall
• Tacoma World Falken Wildpeak recall notice

Excluded: the Continental TrueContact Tour, which roundups rate as a touring tire but for which no verified Amazon ASIN was found in the sources captured. Excluded: the BFGoodrich KO3, which is the KO2’s successor, introduced in 2024, but which was not profiled as a pick here. Excluded: the Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac RT, which Tire Rack surveys but which is a different variant from the original DuraTrac pick; its survey figures are labelled as RT where cited. Excluded: the Michelin CrossClimate2 in size 205/55R16, which returned ItemNotAccessible through the PA-API and was not verified. Excluded: warranty claims from The Healthy Attitude, which conflict with the verified 60,000-mile figures and are not cited.

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