If you live in a part of the country that regularly sees heavy snowfall that sticks around on the roads for weeks at a time, you already know that all-season tires just can’t get the job done. They’re okay if there’s an inch or two of snow on the pavement, but they can’t provide the kind of traction and control you need when winter weather turns rough. That’s where purpose-built winter tires are really the only thing that can get you from point A to point B with any measure of safety and confidence.

Winter tires used to mean heavy, clunky, noisy, “snow grips” or “mud grips”, but today’s winter tires are designed to perform in winter conditions without a serious trade-off in terms of ride comfort, noise levels, handling, cornering ability, and road manners.

Firestone tires are known worldwide for their excellent performance, and that includes the Winterforce 2. Designed for use on coupes, sedans, and minivans, the Winterforce 2 utilizes Firestone’s robust engineering and knowledge to deliver a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified tire that can tackle the toughest winter weather. Maybe best of all (certainly if you ever have to contend with a sheet of ice on the roads), the Winterforce 2 is pre-drilled for easy installation of #11 studs in case of severe winter conditions.

So what is it about the tire that makes it such a great performer? We’ll take a closer look with this Firestone Winterforce 2 review.

Features and Benefits

Here’s some of what you can expect with the Firestone Winterforce 2:

• Advanced winter rubber formulation is designed to stay flexible at subfreezing temperatures for enhanced traction
• A combination of deep circumferential grooves, open slotted shoulders, and wide lateral notches all help move water and slush away from the tire’s contact patch to avoid hydroplaning
• Dense network of sipes provides thousands of hair-thin biting edges to dig in and claw through snow, slush and ice
• Twin steel belts on top of a polyester casing for high-speed stability, great ride quality
• Tread pitch is randomized and computer tuned to keep road noise low
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rated for severe winter service
• Pre-drilled for installation of studs, where permitted, to enhance traction in severe ice, slush, and snow
• Semi-solid center rib improves straight-line stability and steering response

Pros and Cons

So, is this the right tire for you and your budget? Let’s take a look at its strengths:

PROS:

• Tenacious grip on snow and slush
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rated
• Good road manners and handling
• Can be pinned with TSMI #11 studs, where permitted, to further boost traction

Unfortunately, no tire is perfect, and that’s true of the Winterforce 2:

CONS:

• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Noisy when studs are installed
• Not backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty

SimpleTire’s view on Firestone Winterforce 2 tires

While others bemoan winter weather, you’re ready for it with the Firestone Winterforce 2 as Firestone didn’t miss a trick with this tire. Its winter rubber formulation stays supple enough to give you the traction and confidence you need (remember to not use these tires if temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit) and the interlocking sipe pattern gives you a real edge when you have to get through deep snow.

Tires that have a continuous center rib really do tend to have better road manners on the interstate, and the Firestone Winterforce 2 is no exception. The Winterforce 2’s grooves and slots help resist hydroplaning, and the overall tread pattern means less tendency to oversteer or understeer on snow and improved braking so you don’t go sliding off into the ditch or (heaven forbid) other cars.

As for the Cons listed above, well…no tires are quiet when studs are being used. Studs are notoriously rough on paved surfaces, which is why they’re illegal in many states and restricted in ones where they are legal. Check local and state laws before using them and remember they’re only for the roughest winter conditions. Also, we should note that most winter tires do not come with a treadwear mileage warranty; however, Firestone guarantees the Winterforce 2 against defects in workmanship, manufacturing and materials down to the last 3/32” of tread depth.

Vehicles the Firestone Winterforce 2 is a replacement tire for

The Winterfore 2 from Firestone is designed for sedans, coupes, minivans and crossovers. It could be a great fit for vehicles like the Buick Envision, Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Explorer, Honda Accord, Hyundai Elantra, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Kia Forte, Subaru Outback, Kia Rio, Hyundai Tucson Mazda CX-5, Nissan Murano, Subaru Forester, Toyota Highlander, or Volkswagen Passat.