Snow tire

Winter tire, showing tread pattern designed to compact snow in the gaps.
Snow tire with metal studs, which improve traction on icy surfaces.
Tire showing the ASTM 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snow Flake) symbol, denoting a qualifying snow tire, and a separate snow flake symbol, that recommends tire replacement with 4 mm of tread remaining
A Czech road sign Winter equipment, which mandates the use of snow tires
Russian studded tires warning sticker.
Vehicle in cold, dry, powder snow, which offers comparatively better traction than moist snow.
Vehicles in warm, moist, granular snow encounter decreased roadway traction.
Compaction of snow under an advancing snow tire, causing rolling resistance while passing through about {{convert|10|cm|in|sigfig=1}} of snow.
Compaction in about {{convert|5|cm|in|sigfig=1}} of snow left behind a snow tire, showing tread-snow interaction.

Snow tires, also known as winter tires, are tires designed for use on snow and ice.

- Snow tire
Winter tire, showing tread pattern designed to compact snow in the gaps.

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Assorted new automotive road tires, showing a variety of tread patterns.

Tire

Ring-shaped component that surrounds a wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide traction on the surface over which the wheel travels.

Ring-shaped component that surrounds a wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide traction on the surface over which the wheel travels.

Assorted new automotive road tires, showing a variety of tread patterns.
Tractor tires have substantial ribs and voids for traction in soft terrain.
John Boyd Dunlop on a bicycle c. 1915
A winter tire without studs, showing tread pattern designed to compact snow in the gaps.
High-performance rally tires
Off-road tires under transport
Tires on the wheels of a bogie on a Boeing 777
A cross-section of a tire showing ply orientations
Airless tire
Components of a radial tire
Mountain bicycle tires with an open-lug pattern for grip in soft soil
Absence of grooves maximizes dry-pavement friction on a set of slick Formula One tires.
About 50% of tires use the Styrene-butadiene copolymer as a primary ingredient.
A bicycle inner tube with valve stem
Tire performance envelope by Goodyear
Tire showing uneven tread wear to the point of exposing the casing
Tire identification diagram with tire codes
A tire repair shop in Niger
Rolling resistance as a function of tire inflation
Tire showing weather-cracking over long-term exposure to the weather
Flat automobile tire
Tires recycled into water tanks on roof. Cherchen, Xinjiang.
Children on a tire swing

Snow tires are designed for use on snow and ice. They have a tread design with larger gaps than those on summer tires, increasing traction on snow and ice. Such tires that have passed a specific winter traction performance test are entitled to display a "Three-Peak Mountain Snow Flake" symbol on their sidewalls. Tires designed for winter conditions are optimized to drive at temperatures below 7 °C. Some snow tires have metal or ceramic studs that protrude from the tire to increase traction on hard-packed snow or ice. Studs abrade dry pavement, causing dust and creating wear in the wheel path. Regulations that require the use of snow tires or permit the use of studs vary by country in Asia and Europe, and by state or province in North America.

Link-type, diamond pattern snow chains on a front-wheel drive automobile.

Snow chains

Snow chains, or tire chains, are devices fitted to the tires of vehicles to provide maximum traction when driving through snow and ice.

Snow chains, or tire chains, are devices fitted to the tires of vehicles to provide maximum traction when driving through snow and ice.

Link-type, diamond pattern snow chains on a front-wheel drive automobile.
Snow chains at the front wheel of a grader at the Pikes Peak Highway.
Automatic tire chains are permanently mounted near the drive tires and engage by turning a switch, then move into position to fling the pieces of chain under the tires automatically. Automatic chains were invented in 1941 in the United States and Sweden in 1977.
Cable chains on a car tire, with a relatively simple and easy-to-secure design; this is a ladder-type design
Cable chains on a bus tire
chain for motorcycle
Traction chains on a wheel loader

Alternatives include studded tires, which are snow tires with metal studs individually mounted into holes in the treads; emergency traction devices which may be similar to tire chains but mount around the tire through openings in the rim; and snow socks, which are fabric rather than chain or cable.

Zigzag sipes on tire tread

Siping (rubber)

Process of cutting thin slits across a rubber surface to improve traction in wet or icy conditions.

Process of cutting thin slits across a rubber surface to improve traction in wet or icy conditions.

Zigzag sipes on tire tread
Billy Boat siping a sprint car tire

Both Bridgestone and Michelin sell snow tires that are siped at the factory, while Saf-Tee Siping and Grooving sells machines that can sipe most standard vehicle tires.