Today’s winter tires are a long way from the clunky, heavy, noisy, “snow grips” that were on your grandpa’s Buick wagon a generation ago. Modern winter tires are designed to deliver noise levels, road manners, handling, ride quality and steering response that rival the best all-season or touring tires, but with dependable traction in heavy snow or slush.

Yokohama has a well-deserved reputation for quality and innovation across their entire product line, and their winter tires are no exception.The Yokohama iceGUARD G075 is designed as a winter tire for light trucks and SUVs; while it’s not pre-drilled for installation of studs, it’s loaded with the latest in Yokohama’s winter tire technology, with features that will get you there and back on slushy, snow-covered roads for the roughest winter days.

So what is it about this tire that makes it such a strong performer? Let’s dive in for a closer look with this Yokohama iceGUARD G075 review.

Features and Benefits

Here’s just a few of the great features you can expect with the Yokohama iceGUARD G075:

• Yokohama’s BluEarth package uses fewer volatile hydrocarbons in manufacturing and keeps emissions and fuel consumption lower thanks to low rolling resistance
• Low heat buildup prevents irregular wear
• 3D triple sipes add hundreds of extra biting edges for traction in snow and slush
• Aggressive winter tread pattern with deep grooves for drainage of water and slush
• Tread pitch is computer tuned to help keep road noise low
• Notched, angled grooves at shoulder enhance cornering
• Rubber compound stays flexible for traction in subfreezing weather
• Absorptive tread compound ensures tire is in contact with ice rather than a film of water
• Wide center rib enhances road manners and steering response
• Zigzag main and intermediate grooves with micro diagonal grooves

Pros and Cons

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

PROS:

• Confident traction in winter conditions
• Available 16 through 21 inch sizes for a wide range of truck and SUV fitments
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rated for extreme winter service
• Quiet and civilized ride
• Offers drivers strong fuel efficiency

CONS:

• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Not pre-drilled for installation of studs
• Not backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty

SimpleTire’s view on Yokohama iceGUARD G075 tires

If you’ve got a truck or SUV and you live in a part of the country that regularly sees hard winter weather, you need a tire that inspires confidence and will get you where you need to go and back home again. The Yokohama iceGUARD G075 is definitely the right tire for the job. The rubber industry’s Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating denotes severe winter service, and sets the bar pretty high for that designation – and this tire definitely lives up to those expectations.

Our cons that we mentioned above are actually fairly minor quibbles. Tire manufacturers advise against using any winter tire when daily temperatures are consistently above 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit, since the softer rubber compound will wear prematurely, and most winter tires do not come with a limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Tires that are pre-drilled for installation of studs are suitable for icy pavement (probably the most difficult traction situation for any tire), but the iceGUARD G075 is perfectly capable without studs. Besides, studded tires aren’t legal in all states so you’d need to check state laws first.

With its combination of traction, handling, road manners, ride quality and low rolling resistance, we really feel that the Yokohama iceGUARD g075 is a superlative winter tire.

Vehicles the Yokohama iceGUARD G075 is a replacement tire for

Here’s just a few of the light trucks, SUVs and crossovers that would be a great fit for the Yokohama iceGUARD G075:

• Chevrolet Tahoe
• Ford Expedition
• GMC Yukon
• Honda Pilot
• Hyundai Veracruz
• Jeep Gladiator
• Nissan Rogue
• RAM 2500
• Toyota RAV4
• Volkswagen Atlas