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

Dunlop adds two Nordic winter tyres for 2026/27

Dunlop has announced two new winter tyres for cars and SUVs in the Nordic and Baltic countries: the Winter Snow1, a studless Nordic friction tyre, and the SP Winter Ice 03, a studded tyre. 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 Tyre Europe, the Sumitomo Rubber company that took over the Dunlop car tyre brand in Europe in 2025 and traded as Falken Tyre Europe until February 2026.

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

Positioning

Nordic drivers choose between three kinds of winter tyre: 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 tyre each. The Winter Snow1 is for drivers who want a quieter studless tyre 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 tyre depend on each country's rules.

Winter Snow1: the friction tyre

• 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 tyre

• 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 tyre quieter.

Studded tyres are outside the EU tyre 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 tyre 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 tyres 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 tyres, 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 tyres, 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 tyres, 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 tyre, the UltraGrip Ice 3.

The SP Winter Ice 03 finished fifth of the seven studded tyres, 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 tyres. On bare roads it was the weakest tyre in the test. It was the slowest of all 18 in the elk test, the evasive manoeuvre 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 tyres 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 tyre 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 tyres in both categories. We will be testing the Winter Snow1 ourselves, and will update this article as more results come in.