Nokian WRG2 Reviews - Page 5

Given 81% while driving a Subaru Legacy (215/45 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 8,000 average miles
I got these tyres back in the winter of 2008-2009 for a Christmas trip to the Italian mountains via the swiss alps. I must be honest, I was a bit sceptical that they would really make such a big difference (as it seems most in the UK are), well boy was I in for a surprise.

We encountered snow in the Apennines up to 6" deep on mountain passes and had no trouble whatsoever. Didn't get any wheel spin and didn't get stuck despite trying just for the hell of it. They even coped with the steep drive in inches of snow, no problem.

Coming back through a ski resort in the Alps, the resort had over a foot of snow but it had fallen over a week ago and the surfaces were hard packed ice. Again these tyres just gripped and didn't even flinch.

Once back in the UK we had a healthy dose of snow on the moor and I headed up there to brave the steep snow hills. The snow had drifted over 6 feet high which did stop me, but the roads had 6" and more and again it was not a problem.

Grip in snow/ice - outstanding!

On cold but snowless winter days they perform just as well, particularly on cold, wet days they inspire so much confidence.

I wouldn't recommend keeping these on in the summer on a performance car, but I wouldn't really expect that from a winter tyre and other than that I can't fault these.

This will be the third winter on them and they are just above half tread left.
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on November 26, 2010
Given 87% while driving a Volkswagen Corrado VR6 (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 10,000 average miles
Bought a set of Nokian WRG2 tyres for my son's VW Golv GTI last winter as I was looking after it for him while he was away. Because it had been snowy for a couple of days I had chance to compare these 'winter' tyres against the summer ones normally fitted. All I can say is I was 'gob smacked' at the difference on various snow type surfaces, ice slush and just wet. Particularly at the lower temps (7deg and below) there was no comparison. These tyres out performed the summer ones in every department. So impressed was I, I bought a set for my car and fitted them a few weeks ago. Having tried to 'spread the news' about how good these 'winter tyres' were, I should not have been surprised at there total ignorance about these tyres. As with the vast majority of drivers in the UK, they are totally ignorant to the reasons for fitting this type of tyre believing they are just for snow and of course, 'we don't get any snow in the UK do we' type remarks. The big question is 'why do we think the only answer to slippery roads is salt'? In conclusion, these tyres are 'awesome' most of the time from about November to March even here in the UK!
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on November 25, 2010
Skoda Octavia (225/45 R17) on a combination of roads for 18,000 average miles
Bought a set of these for my Mazda 6 estate (diesel) last year and transformed the car during the winter months. My daily commute comprises 60% tiny country roads, some single lane on which snow/ice/slush/mid/deep puddles remain whilst most major roads are clear. These tyres were excellent - you could drive with a lot more confidence. Any tyre will skid on ice, but I was able to get up hills where no others could! I have since changed my car and have just bought another set for this year. By the way, I now use these tyres year round as they seem almost as good as conventional tyres. And only ?63 each for 205/55 R16. A bargain!
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on November 21, 2010
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Given 90% while driving a Mitsubishi Eclipse (205/55 R16) on a combination of roads for 1,500 spirited miles
Astoundingly good in the dry/wet for what's advertised more as a snow/ice tire. Ice grip is excellent, IMO second only to the Michelin Arctic-Alpins which were the best non-studded ice tire I've ever used. Snow grip is very good considering the tread pattern. Doesn't bite in and corner like the knobby Dunlop Graspics I had before (but those had minimal ice grip). Could easily use this tire all-year round if I wanted. First tire I've ever been able to say that for!
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on November 21, 2010
Given 100% while driving a Ford Freestar Sport SE minivan (235/55 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 35,000 spirited miles
I put my first set of Nokian WRG2 tires on my 2005 Ford Freestar minivan just prior to the first snowfall of 2008. These tires have proven to be the most impressive tire I have ever owned. I live in a small town called Innisfail here in the province of Alberta in CANADA. I know what winter driving is like since I am 50 years old and have driven here since I was 14 years old back in 1974.

Currently five or six days a week I need to drive 45 kilometers (30 miles) into the city of Red Deer to work and then back the same 45 km at night to get home. I put the Nokian WRG2 tires on my van at 98,433km. My van is now at 148,745 km for a range of 50,302 km so far. I am actually certain I could easily continue on these tires for this winter 2010 - 2011 as well, they still have 5mm of tread left on each tire. The durability is great, the first tire I have ever had that was looking fresh at 50,000 plus kilometers.

I am so impressed I am going to get a fresh set of WRG2 tires this next week. I am just now checking out which tire dealer to do the deal at. The current set was purchased from a company called Kal Tire here in CANADA and it was a solid deal, at $228.85 Canadian dollars per tire.

As for the actual tire performance ... AWESOME! Truly frikkin' incredible! The highway I travel on almost every day is the main North to South corridor in Alberta. It is a very, very fast four lane highway with a rated speed of 110 km/hr (70 mile/hour) but most traffic moves at 15 to 25 kilometers per hours faster, so 85 to 90 miles per hours!

In the winter there are insane storms and blizzards where the temperture drops to minus 40 degrees Celsius and the wind rips along over 80 km per hour. In Alberta weather like this is common at least 5 to 20 days per winter. No matter how ugly and brutal the weather I am still needing to get to work and home again. My Nokian WRG2 never let me down. Some days I would see dozens of vehicles in the ditch, I never had a moment worry.

The winter performance is as good as some of the dedicated winter tires I have owned. I have never gotten stuck and have been able to drive up hills and slippery streets that were impassible to many other vehicles.

If you are looking for tires, there is no reason to keep searching.
Just go get a set of Nokian WRG2 tires and see for yourself.

Oh yeah, I do not, and have never worked for any tire company, etc.
This is a sincere and appreciative opinion that I have for these tires.
So let me say the following as clearly as I possibly can :

Nokian WRG2 All Weather Tires are remarkably good tires year round, but they are so good in the winter they just might save your life from some nasty accident. I have never been as impressed by any tire I have owned in the past and that includes most of the major names.

In my future I will be a dedicated Nokian tire guy running the WRG2 tires on all my vehicles except my motorcycle. ( that is another story )

- sincerely

Loren Wiberg
Innisfail, Alberta
CANADA
Helpful 11 - tyre reviewed on November 7, 2010
Given 63% while driving a Subaru Impreza (215/45 R17 V) on mostly country roads for 80,000 spirited miles
Having them on Subaru Impreza WRX for about 10.000 miles - first winter. Had Pirelli Sottozero before. Generally a good tires - can be compared to Pirelli on snow/ice/wet... Nokian is better in road noise (really a silent tire) and a little worse on dry road grip (pretty soft tires). BUT - it must have been a complete idiot who designed the tread patern. Thanks to this issue the tires have pretty pure cornering stability on snow. Yes, You can climb snow hills with it, but You just can't steer on it. It's pretty funny on Impreza and in cases You want to have fun, but generally I'd say this is an issue for a quiet driver that just wants to drive safely home...
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on May 15, 2010
Given 93% while driving a Outlander (225/55 R18) on a combination of roads for 3,000 spirited miles
Fitted these just in time for the first snow here in the Uk and they transformed the car. Unbelievable grip in ice, shallow snow and slush. Like other reviewers I have been able to drive on surfaces others couldn't. The ride comfort has actually improved from the OEM tyres. Road noise is slightly higher but not enough to notice. Grip in the wet is superb and the steering stability has improved. Even had some moments entering deep standing water at speed and it was a non event. I cannot praise these tyres enough - looking for summer Nokians now.
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on February 12, 2010
Given 93% while driving a Toyota Yaris (175/65 R14 T) on mostly country roads for 1,000 average miles
These tyres have transformed my winter driving experience. Why did I not fit them sooner?
Previously, I had struggled driving to work on single track, non-salted/cleared roads. With banks, impassable to me before with summer tyres, the level of grip is "jaw-dropping".
This is no joke. I have never driven so safely in these winter conditions for 32 years.
I will seek out Nokian tyres for the summer also.
Helpful 13 - tyre reviewed on February 3, 2010
Given 87% while driving a Mercedes Benz E320 (215/45 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 2,500 spirited miles
First winter on these tyres, fitted to car as soon as the first frosts arrived.

First few days i thought i'd dropped a clanger, wheelspin easily once on a damp road, but after about 500 miles of bedding in that problem vanished and since then they have proved excellent in all conditions, especially good on cold wet roads where standing water is of no consequence and obviously come into their own on ice and snow.
My driveway is very steep, with summer tyres i would not get out without clearing the snow, with these it just climbes out with up to 6" of snow whether fresh, frosted or hard packed...superb.

Uncannily quiet smooth ride too.

Only done a few miles and no wear, nor would i expect any yet.


Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on January 31, 2010
Given 74% while driving a Saab Automobile 9.5 2.0 Turbo Estate (215/55 R16 H) on a combination of roads for 110,000 spirited miles
I live rurally and was considering buying a 4x4, instead I fitted these winter tyres just before the snow came in December. Unbeleivable, can drive in anything, snow, black ice, slush. Passed Subaru Impreza on a steep snowy hill. This morning the black ice was bad, so bad you couldn't walk on it, cars strewn everywhere, but not mine, could even climb steep hills. Impressed? I'll say.
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on January 13, 2010
Given 100% while driving a Audi ALLROAD 2.5 TDI (225/55 R17 V) on a combination of roads for 200 average miles
SNOW TYRES FITTED JUST BEFORE THE RECENT WHITEOUT IN THE UK. THEY GRIP AMAZINGLY WELL ON SNOW, ICE AND SLUSH. DROVE UP ONE OF THE STEEPEST HILLS IN BRISTOL COVERED IN COMPACTED SNOW/ICE, NO OTHER VEHICLE HAD BEEN UP FOR A WEEK, DIDN'T STRUGLE FOR GRIP, BRAKED ON ICE WELL ALSO. I CAN RECOMEND THESE TYRES - A+++ AS THEY SAY ON EBAY!
Helpful 12 - tyre reviewed on January 12, 2010
Given 94% while driving a Ford Mondeo (205/55 R16 H) on mostly town for 60 average miles
Exelent! Looking for summer tires of the same make!
Helpful 10 - tyre reviewed on April 11, 2009