What is the Ice Grip Symbol?

Note: This is a separate symbol from the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) (Learn More); and we recommend reading those articles if you’d like to know more about the benefits and limitations it carries.

We’ve all grown accustomed to seeing the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake on tires, often abbreviated as 3PMS or 3PMSF, as one of the de-facto identifiers of snow performance. While testing has shown that 3PMSF branded tires do generally fare better in winter environments than tires without them, the symbol does not account for ice, a serious winter condition that drivers in colder, Nordic Climates, Canada, the Northern U.S. and Central Europe are likely to encounter. The renewal of the EU Tyre Label in 2021 and a push by consumers and manufacturers for tires that could handle specific winter conditions led to the adoption of a new testing standard. Thus, the introduction of the Ice Grip Symbol, sometimes abbreviated as "IGS."

The Ice Grip Symbol assessment uses an agreed-upon reference tire as a standard baseline to test over the ice. In order to pass the IGS exam (ISO 19447:2021) tires must display a minimum of 1.18 index (18% better) for on-ice braking as compared to the standard reference test tire, defined per ASTM F2493. While the exact properties that make a tire handle well in wet snow and slippery ice may not always coincide, they are close enough that tires with the IGS brand may also earn a 3PMSF symbol, as the USTMA has stated:

"Passenger tires designed for use in ice conditions that meet the performance criteria above, qualify for marking on at least one sidewall with the letters "M" and "S" (e.g., MS, M/S, M&S, M+S, etc.) plus a pictograph of a mountain with a snowflake and a pictograph of a mountain with ice."

In other words: tires with the Ice Grip Symbol are permitted to be 3PMSF branded as well as "M+S" badged.

Ultimately, the IGS represents an evolutionary approach to tire certification, and anything that clarifies the variety of tire options by specialty will ultimately benefit drivers, or their friendly Tire RackTire Rack Wholesale representative, looking to select the correct tires for their individual situation.

As the Ice Grip Symbol is a new standard and adoption is ongoing, it’s important to note that the research, production and testing process often takes years to bring a tire to market. Many existing tires very likely meet or exceed the standards for qualification, even without branding. Tire performance is a complex field, and Tire RackTire Rack Wholesale recommends checking the latest testing results for more in-depth information on winter performance.