Nokian W+

The Nokian W Plus is a High Performance Winter tyre designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

Dry Grip 77%
Wet Grip 70%
Road Feedback 69%
Handling 68%
Wear 86%
Comfort 82%
Buy again 66%
Snow Grip 55%
Ice Grip 43%

Tyre review data from 15 tyre reviews averaging 68% over 144,900 miles driven.

The W+ is ranked 44th of 60 Winter High Performance tyres.

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Top 3 Nokian W Plus Reviews

Given 40% while driving a Renault Laguna II (205/55 R16 H) on a combination of roads for 0 average miles
Poor at wet roads especialy on turns. Will never buy again, i had few really unpleasynt situations I've never had with other brands.
Helpful 31 - tyre reviewed on September 11, 2020
Given 69% while driving a Suzuki Swift (165/70 R14 T) on mostly town for 43,400 average miles
I originally got this tire for Suzuki Swift. It is a bit loud and tends to shake on dry roads. The car is consuming a bit of fuel. It adheres very well on wet and snowy roads and is easy to handle with the icy road. The tires wear slowly. I wouldn't buy it again, but I would recommend it to everyone because it is an excellent winter tire.
Helpful 34 - tyre reviewed on April 5, 2019
Given 70% while driving a Saab Automobile 9 3 Vector 1.8 (225/45 R17 H) on a combination of roads for 0 average miles
It's my first time every driving in snow, bought a car with these already on so I gave it a chance. Well in sweden we got a lot of snow and ice, I don't feel comfort at all in the snow-muddy curves or on straight lines because u feel the tires lose its grip on mud. One day I came behind a snow plow truck and went uphill, when the plower drove off and I could gas up a little - the f*cking tires wouldn't get a grip so my fiance had to push the car up until I got a grip on the road.. I know I drove a bit slow up but still . Well maybe I need other tires or maybe it's normal when it's a lot of snow, I have to experience more winters with different tires to know. But when the road is dry I do feel a real comfort and safety in the tires because then you really feel the grip on the road, just a bit noisy on the highway but maybe just my car :-) and it's not the pattern that is bad, actually the look brand new.
Saab 9-3 2008
Helpful 26 - tyre reviewed on February 4, 2019
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Latest Nokian W Plus Reviews

Given 74% while driving a Volvo S40 (195/60 R15) on mostly town for 4,000 easy going miles
Previously had Nokian WR for four winter seasons and they were excellent. Last autumn bought W+ since they were significantly cheaper. Unfortunately, the difference is also significant. In wet conditions traction on W+ is poor, and they just don't give you enough confidence for driving in winter conditions. In snow they were good, but not excellent. (Not that it should matter a lot, tyres were made in Russia - something I noticed after I bought them.)
Helpful 21 - tyre reviewed on May 5, 2015
Given 81% while driving a Opel Astra H GTC (205/55 R16 T) on a combination of roads for 2,000 average miles
I've had these tyres for almost a season during which I took a trip to Austria and I gotta say, the tyres performed very well in snow/ice conditions. I didn't pushed them to the limit in the wet, but the overall feedback was ok.
Helpful 17 - tyre reviewed on February 18, 2015
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Given 89% while driving a Audi A3 Sportback (195/65 R15 T) on a combination of roads for 32,000 average miles
I've just removed these tyres after using them for the fourth winter in succession - they are a great winter tyre that doesn't fall away in performance when the ambient temperature rises. I've been just as happy this winter with its warm wet weather (and recent dry spell) as in previous winters where freezing temps and snow was more common in the Brecon Beacons. I've now completed over 32k miles in total on them and they still show 4mm of tread - maybe not ideal for another extreme winter but I'll refit them come November for the added security the compound and tread pattern give on greasy leave strewn roads and frosty mornings. My fuel economy is consistently 10% better on these tyres than my normal (wider) summer wheel set so they've probably paid for themselves in fuel savings, never mind the reduced wear on the more expensive summer performance tyres.
Helpful 25 - tyre reviewed on May 6, 2014
Given 40% while driving a SEAT Cordoba Vario 1.4MPI 60HP (165/70 R13) on mostly town for 3,500 easy going miles
I experience a lot of under steering with this tires. This winter we didn`t have a lot of snow here in Bulgaria. You probably know when it is foggy outside how the roads get wet. On this wet roads those tires are pure garbage.
Last weekend I almost hit a tree while cornering with less than 40 km/h. The temperature was 9 degrees C , so it was not icy.
Would not recommend even to my worst enemy!
Helpful 38 - tyre reviewed on February 11, 2014
Given 76% while driving a Renault Scenic (185/65 R15 T) on a combination of roads for 3,000 easy going miles
Since 2009 winter (december) I had Nokian all WRG2s as winter tyres. They performed very very well. As I live near baltic sea, eastern Europe I managed to drive into very different winter conditions: snow, mud, ice, wet, dry cold.. All separate and sometimes combined. Unfortunately one tyre got flat because of damage I made for it in August of 2012. So I got a pair of W+ the last autumn to put on front because. Two WRG2s are made softer than W+ so I left them in the back as those still had 5mm of pattern. From first drives I felt the difference between W+ and G2. As the government rules says that we are ought to drive winter tyres since November 10th I did a lot kms on dry and wet and felt that W+ slips when starting more agressively, on wet it performs well, but it feels irresponsive. You can feel some hysteresis between wheel turn and car movement. This isn't an issue with summer(Michelin energy saver) or G2 tyres. But since December 2012 we had a lot of snow till April 2013 and I drove a lot in outlying roads with a lot snow and a lot of compressed snow. And there W+ performed impressively well. I was very comfortable to drive with them as I felt the traction and stability all the time. As those tyres are made from harder rub than G2 they still have 8mm mark on them (I haven't changed W+ to summer tyres yet. They are still mounted on car). I remember that WRG2s didn't have the 8mm mark after using them the first winter. I assume that wear of W+ will be great.
So, I wouldn't recommend these tyres as winter tyres for moderate or low (wet, dry) winter regions as you could find better performing tyres. But if you have a lot of snow, precipitation and you are not agressive driver you should definately go for W+ as they are cheap and perform very well on snow, as I assume they were designed for. If you prefer to spend more for tyres or you want assurance in every driving condition you should look for WR D3 or WR G2. Those are better. Though wear is worse because of softness.
Helpful 24 - tyre reviewed on April 17, 2013
Given 87% while driving a Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (195/65 R15 T) on a combination of roads for 18,000 average miles
Thought I'd add another review since this is my third winter on the Nokian W+ in my Golf - they've now covered a total of 18,000 miles and continue to impress with their ability to just get on with. I rotate tyres back to front every year so the fronts are on the driven wheels for their second time. they still show 6mm+ of tread depth so will easily do this winter and next winter when ont he rear axle. Whilst snow and icy cold conditions haven't been prevelant so far this winter for me, I know I'm prepared. These tyres are still ca £65 each fitted which is the price I paid back in November 2010, so even more of a bargain given the way prices have risen generally.

Would recommend these to anyone with small/medium sized cars who wants a set of winter tyres that get on with the job and can more than cater with the fluctuating winter temperatures of the UK
Helpful 21 - tyre reviewed on January 16, 2013
Given 91% while driving a Renault Megane Sports Tourer (195/65 R15 T) on a combination of roads for 5,000 average miles
This (2011-12) is the second winter this set of Nokians have been fitted to my Megane Sport Tourer dCi Dynamique Tom-Tom. The 195/65-15 Nokian tyres - on steel rims - were put on in place of the normal 205/55-16 Michelin-shod alloys for the winter season in early November expecting the usual harsh winter conditions... and nothing yet!
But last winter (2010-11) both car and tyres excelled in conditions that even had 4X4s and Audi quattro-equipped cars struggling for grip and traction!
Wear has been negligible after approximately 5,000 miles covered in two winters.
Noise levels are lower, and ride comfort is somewhat better than the original tyres... but this may, in part, be due to the deeper sidewalls of the Nokians over the Michelins.
Dry road grip isn't to the very high standards of the Michelins though... the Megane's traction control does occasionally have to kick-in on a particularly twisting hilly section of road on my daily travels.
That apart, I have no problem in recommending the Nokian W+ as a great winter tyre for central European-type winter driving conditions.
Helpful 22 - tyre reviewed on November 23, 2011
Given 69% while driving a Citroën C4 (205/55 R16 T) on a combination of roads for 3,000 average miles
Solid tyre, i have expected more from it. Not excellent on snow when you start agressively.
Helpful 22 - tyre reviewed on October 26, 2011
Given 86% while driving a Volkswagen Golf Mk6 (195/65 R15 T) on a combination of roads for 7,000 average miles
Have had these fitted to steel rims of my Mk6 Golf since November, having now covered almost 7k miles. They've been excellent in most conditions through winter, only the very warmest of winter days (10-11'C) have seen them feeling a little less grippy and a bit soft. I've driven in 8" of snow easily thsi winter, whereas last winter i was almost stranded in an inch with the original 225/45/17 Bridgestone RE050s (brand new at the time). Even whent he snow was compacted and iced over with -15'C tenmperatures the tyres didn't struggle at all, i haven't seen the traction control light once this year, last winter the system actually threw an error as it was working so hard to get me nowhere !
Comfort has been very good, but then moving back to 15" tryes with a high sidewall is bound to improve things over a 17" wheel with an inch less wall height.
Handling has been fine, winter conditions aren't great for sporty driving and these tyres have no claims to be sporty - driven in normal manner they've ahd all the grip thats been required and a fair safety margin left.
Noise - for such a blocky pattern with very deep tread (about 9.5mm when new) they've been remarkably quiet, long curve at speed such as motorway intersections produce a little extra noise, but hardly noticeable (even in a car as quiet as the Golf)
Wear - after 7k miles, the built in tread indicators show exactly 8mm on the front and over 8mm on the rear (first wear indicator is at 8mm). By rotating the tyres the wear would average out at about 1mm every 7k miles, which would give a life (down to 4mm) of around 40k miles in winter use, and a further 14k miles of potential warm weather use to see them wear down to 2mm.
Value for money - absolutely. For £50 a corner you can't go wrong as a winter tyre set, extra security and mobility in winter alone make then a good buy. No idea what they'd wear like in summer temperatures, but even if they wear faster they are still capable of great mileage for the money.
Will i buy again - I will always run winter and summer tyre sets going forward and when these wear out, probably after another 3 winters !, i'll look again at Nokian and compare the prices to the big brands ike Dunlop and continental. No doubt i'll go with Nokian again.
Helpful 20 - tyre reviewed on February 25, 2011
Given 83% while driving a Skoda Fabia 1.4 (185/65 R14 T) on mostly town for 6,000 easy going miles
These tyres are an experiment which so far has been very successful. The OEM firestone F590s were OK in dry and warm, and acceptable wet and warm but as soon as temperatures dropped the grip dropped markedly, and in winter conditions the car was almost not driveable with any degree of confidence.
Thus the experiment to fir central European winter tyres and run them all year as the mileage is low, and the car is low powered and driven quite gently by the regular driver.

The comment by that driver, who has never had experience of winter tyres before, is that the vehicle has been transformed in the 2009/2010 winter and they no longer dread the journey to/from work.

My comments as I have been using winter tyres for many years is that these relatively inexpensive tyres have performed beyond all expectations, and on a cost/benefit measurement are even more outstanding.

Typical of winter tyres, for the first couple of hundred miles on clear tarmac especially warm and damp then the grip is very low. Once the tyres have been bedded in then the grip is in all ways amazing. On cold dry 0C tarmac the grip is such that I know my more expensive Michelins would have let go earlier. Even more so on cold wet tarmac.

On the snow, the tyres are still good, perhaps not quite as good as a dedicated ice and snow tyre but still good enough to drive about, go, stop and corner on snow, rutted ice, slush. Smooth ice results in much reduced grip as with any studless tyre, but even so the car remanined very driveable on roads which were not gritted for weeks and with polished ice on the corners. The OEM Firestones even if they had got to the icy corners would certainly not got round it at anyting over 1 or 2 mph.

The tyres are still on the car after the summer. The fronts have worn very little by measurement, and the rears there is no measurable wear. The edges of the block s still seem sharp and it will be interesting to see a second winter season and how they cope.

Good tyres for a low performance runabout, fully recommended.

Helpful 24 - tyre reviewed on October 7, 2010