M+S (mud + snow) tyres are a type of tyre with a tread and compound specifically designed to perform optimally on difficult surfaces, beyond asphalt, in broken and slippery areas. In principle, they should be the ones used by cars to go off-road… but in our car test section we see that most SUVs use asphalt tyres.
No one doubts the benefits of a good 4×4 traction (remember that there are several types of all-wheel drive on the market, each more or less suited to the use you are going to make of it), but in the end the tyres are the only element that remains in contact with the ground. And with good M + S tyres it is possible to obtain more than remarkable results in complex off-road terrain.
Why are M+S tires better off road?
Many M+S tire models that you will find on the market achieve that extra performance on difficult surfaces thanks to a aggressive tread (In the drawing you can see larger grooves and indentations to better “grip” the ground and not lose traction.
Others add a silica and rubber compound to the usual tyre, with softer compounds… and even so that they operate at maximum performance when temperatures drop. And it is precisely with this last aspect that doubts and questions like the following begin to arise.
Are M+S tires winter tires?
M+S tyres are not necessarily winter tyres, although all tyres designed for driving in winter conditions carry the M+S code. Not all of them are designed to perform in snowy or icy conditions.
For this purpose, there are different types of M+S tyres, depending on whether they are more or less suitable for the most adverse weather conditions:
- All-Season Tires: They carry the nomenclature “All Seasons (all-season) tires. These are tires with a tread pattern with more grooves, better prepared than summer tires to evacuate water and not lose traction with a little snow or ice. As their name indicates, all-season tires can be used all year round, since they behave in high temperatures much better than winter tires (with similar performance to summer tires). They may have the M+S code, So, in addition to performing reasonably well on ice and snow, they can also drive off-road with ease. They are perfect for SUV owners who regularly drive on dirt tracks and live in environments with cold, but not extreme, winters.
- Winter tires: They are specific for moving on snowy and icy roads, at very low temperatures, thanks to the fact that they have larger evacuation routes, their compound is indicated to work better in cold weather and they have some blades on the studs which is what makes them grip the snow. They are substitutes for chains. Also called “alpine”, you will recognize them because the letters appear on their profile M+S next to a drawing of a three-peaked mountain with a snowflake symbol inside. It is the 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake), a 3-peak mountain with a snowflake, a symbol that is awarded after exhaustive testing. They can be used in summer… but they wear out very quickly when the thermometer rises. These are the questions you should ask yourself if you are thinking of riding them.
- Nordic tires: They are only used in places with very extreme winters, close to the Arctic Circle. They have more pronounced grooves and sometimes metal spikes on the sides that allow them to dig into the ice (they are not allowed in all countries because they cause a lot of damage to the asphalt if it is not very icy).
Much of the confusion stems from the fact that the compound used in M+S tyres for their properties is also used in extreme tyres. This is why they are also called All Season tyres.
In principle, all high-end all-season tyres produced by major manufacturers sold in Europe carry the M+S and 3PMSF label. Problems arise when using M+S tyres from the North American market (where many states use them) and those from unknown Asian manufacturers (note that not all of these are bad). Old tyres older than ten years should also be avoided, when tyre labelling regulations were more lax.
What is the regulation for M+S tires?
No performance test is required for a tyre to be awarded the M+S label. It is a self-certification by the manufacturer but does not imply any kind of guarantee of objectively measured performance. Note that this is very different if it has the 3PMSF marking, because then it must prove its worth in a regulated test to guarantee its performance in winter.
That’s true. In general, a tire marked M+S meets a series of requirements:
- Have at least one 25% of area without contact surface (according to mold dimensions).
- Dispose of grooves and fissures with angles between 35º and 90º from the direction of travel along the tread.
- Slit with a cross-sectional width minimum of 1/16 inch (0.16cm), measured perpendicular to the centerline of the tread.
- Have good sized slits from the edges of the tread towards center. At least half an inch (1.27cm) from the edge of the tread.
Advantages and problems of M+S tires
It seems clear that by using this type of tires you will obtain greater comfort and safety when driving on terrain where there is snow or mud.
But obviously, equipping an M+S tire also has its side effects:
- Price: There is talk of a difference of 30 or 40 euros more than a summer tyre, although the boom in SUV and crossover sales is gradually making the difference smaller. It is interesting that you can use them all year round and you won’t have to replace them when the season changes.
- Increased sound and vibrations: There is also a lot of talk about this problem, but after testing numerous cars with them we have observed that it is very minor and you have to be driving a car with exceptional interior insulation to notice it. Driving comfort is not the same as with summer tyres, but there is not a huge difference.
- Worse cornering grip: When they first came onto the market, it is true that they were guilty of this and it was easier for them to squeak when facing a fast turn. But, with each new tyre that comes onto the market, these differences are mitigated… and will continue to do so.
- Shelf life: Its evolution has been abysmal in this regard thanks to the new silica compounds. These have achieved a lifespan almost comparable to that of a summer tyre and there is barely a reduction of between 5% and 15% (depending on the use and the specific tyre model).
