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Winter tire Winter Touring tires Updated September 2026

Imperial Snowdragon 3 review

The Imperial Snowdragon 3 is generally perceived as a budget-oriented winter tire that offers acceptable performance in snow and ice but struggles significantly in wet conditions. Users frequently report issues with manufacturing quality, specifically regarding tire runout and vibration, leading to a lack of confidence in handling and overall driving stability.

Relative score
57/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
67/100
4 reviews
Road tests
42/100
3 published tests

Owners rate it 25.2 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Imperial Snowdragon 3
Scores

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

By owner reviews

67%
Would buy again 43%
Dry
Overall dry
77%
Corner stability
65%
Dry traction
75%
Steering response
65%
Wet
Overall wet
40%
Wet traction
55%
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
100%
Comfort
Overall comfort
63%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
70%
Handling
Overall handling
57%

By road tests

41.8%
Wet
34.9%
Snow
1%
By discipline (% of best in test)
Wet Braking
58.5%
Snow Braking
45.3%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 4 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Imperial Snowdragon 3 is generally perceived as a budget-oriented winter tire that offers acceptable performance in snow and ice but struggles significantly in wet conditions. Users frequently report issues with manufacturing quality, specifically regarding tire runout and vibration, leading to a lack of confidence in handling and overall driving stability.

Pros

  • Strong traction on snow and ice surfaces
  • Reasonable levels of ride comfort
  • Low road noise
  • Affordable price point

Cons

  • Significant manufacturing runout causing persistent vibrations
  • Poor wet weather performance and unpredictable handling
  • Nervous and uninspiring steering feedback
  • Inferior grip compared to high-quality summer tires in cold, wet conditions

Worth knowing

  • Users reported inconsistent handling characteristics on compact vehicles like the Ford Fiesta
  • The tire's performance limitations are most apparent during spirited driving or when pushed beyond moderate speeds
Test results

3 published test appearances

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2023 Winter tire Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18

50th of 54
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking50th of 54

2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18

44th of 48
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking44th of 48

2019 Winter tire Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17

30th of 45
Best: Wet Braking · 24th Weakest: Snow Braking · 30th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking24th of 45
Snow Braking30th of 45