Let’s face it - if you live in a place that sees a lot of ice and snow every year, chances are that all-season tires just aren’t going to get the job done for you. All-season tires can do okay if there’s an inch or two of snow on the ground, but anything more than that, and they’ll usually do a lot of spinning and sliding, with poor performance when it comes to accelerating, braking, or steering. That’s the kind of thing where only winter tires can really get you from point A to point B safely, and the Nexen Winguard Ice SUV is a great choice.

Nexen isn’t a real familiar name for a lot of drivers, but they’re one of Korea’s oldest tire manufacturers. The Winguard Ice SUV is a great example of Nexen’s commitment to quality, value, and innovation; it’s got top-quality materials and manufacturing and is loaded with features that make it an outstanding performer in tough winter conditions.

So what makes this tire from Nexen such a great winter tire? Let’s take a little closer look with this Nexen Winguard Ice SUV review.

Features and Benefits

Here’s just some of the features that enhance winter performance with the Nexen Winguard Ice SUV:

• Directional tread pattern with dual V-shaped grooves for good evacuation of water and slush from the tire’s contact patch
• Stiffer shoulder and sidewall for durability and improved handling
• Tread pitch is computer tuned to keep road noise low
• Low rolling resistance boosts fuel economy
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service
• Dense pattern of sipes adds hundreds of extra biting surfaces to dig into snow and slush
• Advanced tread formulation stays flexible at sub-freezing temperatures to boost snow traction
• Solid center rib improves straight-line stability and steering response

Pros and Cons

So, is this the right winter tire for you and your budget? Before you decide, let’s take a look at the pros and cons:

PROS:

• Low noise on the highway
• Good handling and ride quality
• Tenacious traction even in deep snow
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in severe winter weather conditions

CONS:

• Not pre-drilled for installation of studs
• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Not backed by a limited manufacturer tread life warranty

SimpleTire’s view on Nexen Winguard Ice SUV tires

The Nexen Winguard Ice SUV really lives up to its Three Peak Mountain Snowflake rating for severe winter service. The unique, sawtooth tread design and directional chevron-shaped grooves do a great job of directing water and slush away from the contact patch to resist hydroplaning, and it delivers handling and ride quality that can rival the best touring and all-season tires. The Winguard Ice SUV is durable and long-lasting with its sidewall design and rigid casing, and the low rolling resistance does make a difference in fuel economy. With shorter stopping distances and good traction and control in heavy snow and slush, the Winguard Ice SUV inspires confidence for light trucks, SUVs and crossovers.

The Cons listed above are fairly minor quibbles, really. Studded tires are designed for traction on ice where nothing else can really get the job done; in anything short of a sheet of ice, the Winguard Ice SUV is perfectly capable. As for warmer weather, tire manufacturers generally advise against using winter tires if temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees as the softer, more pliable tread formulation will wear quickly (and may void a tire warranty). When it comes to performance vs cost, we really feel that the Winguard Ice SUV from Nexen is a great value in winter tires.

Vehicles the Nexen Winguard Ice SUV is a good replacement tire for

Here’s just a few of the light trucks, SUVs and crossovers that would be a great fit for the Nexen Winguard Ice SUV:

• Audi Q7
• Buick Enclave
• Chevrolet Traverse
• Dodge Durango
• Ford Explorer
• GMC Yukon
• Honda Ridgeline
• Hyundai Veracruz
• Jeep Cherokee
• Kia Sorento
• Mazda CX-9
• Nissan Titan
• RAM 2500
• Toyota 4Runner
• Volkswagen Tiguan