A 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake tire (3PMSF tire) is a tire that meets severe snow service requirements and carries the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol to indicate enhanced winter traction. At the K&M Tire Conference and Trade Show in Kansas City, that designation came up repeatedly as manufacturers discussed new products and category expansion across commercial and light truck segments.

In this episode of What’s Treading, Editor David Sickels and Senior Editor Christian Hinton walked the trade show floor to talk directly with tire manufacturers about 3PMSF-rated products, super regional drive tires, ultra-high-performance fitments, and new all-terrain launches shaping dealer inventory decisions.

What Is a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake Tire?

A 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake tire is certified for severe snow performance and is commonly found on commercial drive tires and all-terrain truck applications. At the show, Kumho Tire highlighted its KXD12 super regional drive tire with 3PMSF certification, emphasizing its role in heavy-duty truck segments. It also showed the new Kumho Road Venture RT.

Yokohama also showcased its Geolandar A/T4, a 3PMSF-rated all-terrain tire designed for light truck and SUV fitments. These examples from the floor illustrate how the 3PMSF designation now spans both commercial trucking and consumer truck categories.

3PMSF in Super Regional Drive Tires

Super regional drive tires serve trucks operating in regional haul applications. When paired with a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating, they provide additional winter traction capability while maintaining durability for commercial fleets. Kumho’s super regional drive tire with 3PMSF certification reflects growing demand for winter-capable commercial products.

For independent tire dealers, understanding how a 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake drive tire differs from a standard drive tire is helpful when serving regional fleet customers operating in variable winter conditions.

All-Terrain and Ultra-High-Performance Segments

Beyond 3PMSF-rated products, manufacturers discussed other key categories. Nexen Tire highlighted its N’Priz S and N’Fera Sport ultra-high-performance tires. Hankook introduced Laufenn's new X Fit AT2 all-terrain tire, debuting at the event. Falken brought its highest-volume tire lines and discussed the launch of the Dunlop Sport BluResponse, alongside efforts to reinvigorate the Dunlop brand.

Why 3PMSF Tires Matter for Dealers

A 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake tire designation influences product positioning in both commercial and light truck categories. At the K&M show, manufacturers underscored dealer relationships, responsiveness, and product alignment as key drivers of success within distributor networks.

For independent tire dealers, this episode provides insight into:

• How 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification applies to drive and all-terrain tires
• Where super regional drive tires fit within fleet operations
• How UHP and all-terrain products complement winter-capable portfolios
• Which manufacturers are expanding 3PMSF-rated offerings