Dunlop Launches the Winter Snow1 and SP Winter Ice 03 for Nordic Winters

Dunlop adds two Nordic winter tires for 2026/27

Dunlop has announced two new winter tires for cars and SUVs in the Nordic and Baltic countries: the Winter Snow1, a studless Nordic friction tire, and the SP Winter Ice 03, a studded tire. Both are on sale for the 2026/27 season. Dunlop says they were developed for the snow, ice and low temperatures of Scandinavia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. They are also among the first products from Dunlop Tire Europe, the Sumitomo Rubber company that took over the Dunlop car tire brand in Europe in 2025 and traded as Falken Tire Europe until February 2026.

The announcement comes after the tires have already been tested. Both took part in the 2026 Teknikens Värld winter tire test, so there is already independent evidence to set against Dunlop's claims.

Positioning

Nordic drivers choose between three kinds of winter tire: studded, Nordic friction (studless, with a very soft compound for ice) and Central European, which is built more for wet and cold roads than for ice. Dunlop now covers the first two with one tire each. The Winter Snow1 is for drivers who want a quieter studless tire and spend most of the winter on snow and ice. The SP Winter Ice 03 is for persistent ice, in the markets that allow studs. Dunlop says sales of the studded tire depend on each country's rules.

Winter Snow1: the friction tire

• Compound. Dunlop calls it 4D-Nano Design, using its Ultra Grip compound with a high share of silica and plasticisers. The company says it stays soft enough to keep good contact with the road at low temperatures.
• Edges for ice. Dunlop says double edges on the blocks help grip, traction and steering on snow and ice.
• Sipes and blocks. Closely spaced Miura-Ori 3D sipes, which run in more than one direction, are combined with a high number of blocks. Dunlop says this keeps the blocks stiff while adding grip on ice.
• Snow clearing. Extra grooves with crossing points are meant to clear packed snow from the edges of the tread, according to the company.

SP Winter Ice 03: the studded tire

• Anti-Tilt Stud. The stud has a bevelled, directional tungsten carbide pin. Dunlop says the shape is meant to reduce road wear and noise while keeping traction on ice.
• Water grooves. Grooves Dunlop describes as naturally shaped are there to clear water and slush.
• V-A pattern. The flat tread pattern places blocks in a V with Miura-Ori 3D sipes running in an A direction. Dunlop says this keeps the blocks stiff, which it claims helps traction and keeps the tire quieter.

Studded tires are outside the EU tire label rules, so there are no label grades for the SP Winter Ice 03. The release also does not mention the new stud-wear rules that apply to every studded tire sold from 1 January 2027. Teknikens Värld described the SP Winter Ice 03 it tested as built to the older stud rules.

What the first independent test found

Teknikens Värld tested 18 winter tires in 235/45 R18 on a Volvo V60: seven studded, five Nordic friction and six Central European. Neither Dunlop finished near the top of its class.

The Winter Snow1 finished last of the five Nordic friction tires, tied for tenth place overall. On snow and ice it held its own. The testers gave it full marks for snow braking and said its ice braking matched the best Nordic tires, although its ice handling score of 7 out of 10 was behind the Continental VikingContact 8 (10) and the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 (both 9). It fell down on wet roads. Its wet handling score was the lowest of the Nordic friction tires, and the testers described slow, imprecise steering, heavy understeer and a sensitivity to standing water in corners. Comfort was average for the field, and it used about 6% more fuel than the most efficient tire, the UltraGrip Ice 3.

The SP Winter Ice 03 finished fifth of the seven studded tires, ahead of the Bridgestone Blizzak Spike 3 and the budget Trazano IceMaster Spike Z 506. It also took full marks for snow braking, scored 9 out of 10 in snow handling and was good in ice braking, and only the Blizzak Spike 3 resisted aquaplaning better among the studded tires. On bare roads it was the weakest tire in the test. It was the slowest of all 18 in the elk test, the evasive maneuver on dry asphalt, and the testers noted poor stability. Only the Blizzak Spike 3 was rated less comfortable.

That is one test in one size, so it does not settle how the tires compare across the range. But it points the same way for both: competitive on snow, short of the best on ice, and behind the leaders on wet and dry roads.

Sizes and availability

• Winter Snow1: 27 sizes for cars and SUVs, 15 to 20 inch, widths 195 to 265 mm, profiles 45 to 65, speed rating T.
• SP Winter Ice 03: 27 sizes for cars and SUVs, 15 to 20 inch, widths 195 to 265 mm, profiles 45 to 70, speed rating T. Whether it is sold in a given country depends on its stud rules.
• Both are aimed at Scandinavia and the Baltic states.

What it means for drivers

Dunlop now has a studded and a studless Nordic tire in its European range. On the evidence of the first independent test, both are worth considering if most of your winter driving is on snow. Drivers who spend a lot of the season on wet or cleared roads will find stronger all-round tires in both categories. We will be testing the Winter Snow1 ourselves, and will update this article as more results come in.