For well over 100 years, Goodyear has been one of the most respected names when it comes to premium automotive tires. The WinterCommand LT is a purpose-built winter tire that’s designed for dependable, consistent traction in snow and slush, the kind of conditions where all-season tires just aren’t capable of getting the job done. Best of all, the WinterCommand LT gets you through tough winter weather and changing road conditions without sacrificing noise levels, ride quality, or road manners. It’s more like the kind of civilized behavior you’d expect with a premium all-season or Grand Touring tire, although it’s an LT (Light Truck) size.

If you live in a part of the country where there’s a lot of snow every winter and it stays on the ground and roads for weeks at a time, winter tires are really the only thing for it – the only thing that can get you dependably from Point A to Point B without a side trip to the ditch (or worse). If that sounds like you, the Goodyear WinterCommand LT is a fantastic option. But hey, don’t just take our word for it. Let’s go in for a closer look with this product line review.

Features and Benefits

Here are just a few of the design innovations that make the Goodyear WinterCommand LT such a good value and a strong performer in winter conditions:

• Durable construction with steel belts over a polyester casing and a nylon cap layer beneath the tread
• Tread compound is designed to stay flexible and pliable so it can still deliver traction in subfreezing weather
• Triple zone, directional winter tread pattern with circumferential, lateral, and angled grooves that all channel water and slush away from the tire’s contact patch to avoid hydroplaning and promote winter traction
• Dense network of sipes, hair-thin slits that serve as hundreds of extra biting edges to dig into snow and slush
• Pre-drilled for easy installation of studs, where permitted, in case of severe winter weather
• Available in 54 sizes for a variety of fitments
• Tread pitch is randomized and computer tuned for low road noise
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for severe winter service
• Goodyear quality, engineering, and attention to detail
• Designed for good ride quality on snow, wet or dry pavement

Pros and Cons

So, is this the right tire for your ride and budget? Before you decide, let’s take a look at the tire’s strengths:

PROS:

• Wide range of sizes for a number of fitments
• Outstanding traction in wet, snowy, or slushy conditions
• Can be pinned with studs in case of icy roads

Unfortunately, no tire is perfect and that’s the case with the WinterCommand LT too:

CONS:

• Can be noisy, especially when pinned with studs
• Some reviews note sluggish response on dry pavement
• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit

SimpleTire’s view on Goodyear WinterCommand LT tires

When you’re looking for a dependable winter tire that you can count on for the worst winter weather, you really need a tire that’s pre-drilled so a tech can mount studs into the tread for enhanced traction. The Goodyear WinterCommand LT is that tire. The WinterCommand LT’s aggressive, directional winter tread design, sipe pattern, and groove layout all work together to make their way through deep snow and slush, and then studs are the last part of the puzzle to deliver the traction you need to make it over icy pavement. We have to note here that studded tires are really hard on paved surfaces and aren’t legal in all states. In the states where studs are allowed, they’re only permissible during certain months so make sure that you check state laws before committing to a set of studded tires.

The Goodyear WinterCommand LT is designed for durability and superb performance, but we should address the Cons listed above. Some drivers have reported high noise levels with these tires, past 40 mph or so, and that’s not uncommon for winter tires in general. Also, since they’re really designed for snow, it’s not unusual for drivers to report that winter tires tend to be a little unresponsive on dry pavement. Finally, no winter tire is suitable year-round as an all-season tire. The softer, more pliable rubber formulation of winter tires will wear quickly when temperatures are above 40-45 degrees and tire manufacturers recommend that they be swapped for all-season tires in warmer weather. In fact, using winter tires in warmer weather will void the warranty.

All in all, though, if you’re looking for a mid-priced winter tire that can get through the worst winters (and has the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification to prove it), the Goodyear WinterCommand LT is an outstanding choice.

Vehicles the Goodyear WinterCommand LT is a good replacement tire for

The Goodyear WinterCommand LT is a great choice for drivers of the:

• Buick Encore
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• Chrysler Pacifica
• Dodge Grand Caravan
• Ford Expedition
• Honda Pilot
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Kia Sportage
• Mazda CX-9
• Nissan Pathfinder
• RAM 1500
• Toyota Tacoma
• Volkswagen Atlas