the new ISO 19447 pictogram was designed to be distinguishable from the 3-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) pictogram, which has a long history in the tire industry.
The origins of the 3PMSF pictogram can be traced back to 1999. The Canadian government wanted a performance-based snow tire definition specific to severe snow conditions.
The Rubber Association of Canada (now the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada) teamed up with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (now USTMA) to develop a rigorous acceleration test on medium-pack snow. Only tires that demonstrate a traction index of 110 or greater (with the SRTT 14) or 112 or greater (with the SRTT 16) are eligible to include the 3PMSF symbol on the sidewall.
The 3PMSF has been adopted by regulatory bodies worldwide. NHTSA incorporated 3PMSF criteria into FMVSS No. 139 in 2007. Around that same time, the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation (ETRTO) defined its own snow braking test equivalent to ASTM F1805 that included 3PMSF. 3PMSF was incorporated into UNECE R117 just a year later.
