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Last updated 5/07/2024 - Originally published 5/07/2024
Written by SimpleTire
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All-weather tires tires have always been confused with all-season tires, but all-weather tires give you an extra edge during winters, so it would not be wrong to say that they are a cross between an all-season and winter tires. If you are looking for strong traction and performance in wet and dry conditions, plus better performance in winter weather you can opt for one.
General and Nokian are two names that excel in delivering great tires, especially in the all-weather category. Both organizations are renowned for their innovative strategies that not only meet but exceed customer expectations. By tailoring their products and services to meet these specific needs, they achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction. The same is visible in their tire range of the General Altimax 365AW and the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV. Both of these tires are meant for use on passengers. While both tires offer great performance, one has to be better than the other, right? Let’s compare General Altimax 365AW vs Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV tires using SimpleScore to show where each tire excels and which one might be right for you.
All-weather tires are essentially a cross between all-season and winter tires. A tire like the General Altimax 365AW, is designed for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans and offers drivers excellent traction and performance in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions plus a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty. Loaded with features like angled tread blocks and open shoulders that reduce hydroplaning, the Altimax 365AW's dense siping creates additional biting edges for a strong grip year-round.
Talking about the SimpleScore, it displays a great average score of 8.7, which is made up of individual scores like 9.0 for longevity, 8.7 for handling, and 8.7 for traction. You also get Visual Alignment Indicators that allow you to easily see if your vehicle is misaligned, and this tire is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified thanks to its ability to perform in severe winter weather conditions.
If you are looking for an alternate tire brand that is equally efficient in gripping the roads and delivering great performance all year round, look at the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV tire is designed for use on CUVs and SUVs, this all-weather tire offers drivers excellent traction and handling performance on dry, wet, and wintry roads, enhanced fuel efficiency, and a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.
Features of this all-weather tire include a directional tread pattern that improves handling capabilities on dry and wintry roads, additionally, wide grooves deliver excellent traction on wet roads. This tire combats winter well as it is a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified tire that is ideal for use in severe winter weather conditions and utilizes a low rolling resistance design that enhances fuel efficiency to help drivers save at the pumps and protect the environment from CO2 emissions. It boasts an impressive average SimpleScore of 8.5 out of 10, excelling in handling, longevity, and traction with scores of 8.7 each, respectively.
Traction plays an important role in tire performance, especially for all-weather tires. These versatile tires are meticulously crafted to deliver reliable grip across a wide range of weather conditions. Their goal is to achieve a harmonious balance between performance on dry roads, wet surfaces, and even light snowy terrain.
Comparing the above two based on traction, you will see that the General Altimax 365AW is designed with angled tread blocks, dense sipings, and open shoulders to force water, slush, and melting snow out of the tire for consistent traction in wet and wintry weather. This has helped this tire to reach an average traction SimpleScore of 8.7 which is great when it comes to performance.
The Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV, on the other hand, has a similar score of 8.7 out of 10 in traction. This is thanks to a directional tread pattern that improves handling capabilities on dry and wintry roads, and wide grooves for excellent traction on wet roads. You get considerate traction with this tire and can depend on it for your all-weather great traction performance.
When it comes to traction, the General Altimax 365AW and the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV both are at a tie.
ADVANTAGE: Tie
All-weather tires are designed to provide a balance of performance for a variety of weather conditions, including dry, wet, and light snow. The handling of a tire is improved by different elements of the tire’s tread pattern, in addition to the tire’s overall design.
The General Altimax 365AW sports a solid 8.7 SimpleScore for handling, which is largely driven by the tire’s core rib that runs continuously, allowing it to be more durable and improving its handling.
On the flip side, the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV is also equivalent to the General Altimax 365AW for handling as the tire comes in with a SimpleScore of 8.7. Featuring an innovative design that gives drivers a quiet, comfortable ride, plus an optimized footprint that allows for even wear to extend the tire's tread life.
ADVANTAGE: Tie
The longevity aspect is equally important to traction and handling when purchasing a tire. The longevity of a tire depends on several factors, including the quality of the tire, driving habits, road conditions, and maintenance. Based on SimpleScore, this was the biggest gap between the two tires.
Starting with the General Altimax 365AW, the tire offers an exceptional SimpleScore of 9 out of 10 on the longevity front. The tire’s tough, rugged rubber compound and reinforced construction work together to increase handling which allows for a longer tread life. Additionally, it has features of Visual Alignment Indicators that allow drivers to easily see if their vehicle is misaligned.
Conversely, the Nordman Solstice Directional CUV’s 8.7 SimpleScore in longevity shows that it lags behind a little bit. The Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV also features a reinforced construction, and its innovative tread design gives drivers a quiet, comfortable ride, plus even wear to extend the tire's tread life.
Here you will notice an elevated steep of progress in terms of longevity for the General Altimax 365AW over the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV.
Although both the tires perform solid when it comes to longevity, the General Altimax 365AW has an added advantage over the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV as the Altimax 365AW comes with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty against the 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty from the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV.
ADVANTAGE: General Altimax 365AW
While all-weather tires offer convenience and versatility, they tend to have a longer lifespan compared to tires designed specifically for certain weather conditions, such as winter or summer tires. This is because they are constructed with a tread compound that balances handling and performance across different seasons.
Both the General Altimax 365AW and Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV may not provide optimal performance in extreme winter weather conditions. For example, in areas with heavy snowfall, dedicated winter tires might be necessary for improved traction and safety. That said, all-season tires are an excellent choice if you live in an area that only gets light snow.
Additionally, cautious driving habits and avoiding harsh conditions can help preserve the tread and overall integrity of the tires.
So, which all-weather tire is the right option for you? When looking at SimpleScore, the General Altimax 365AW comes out slightly ahead of the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV with an overall score of 8.7 versus 8.5. As noted above, there are key differences between the two tires and these need to be weighed against each other to determine what’s best for you. Finally (and maybe, most importantly), pricing on these two tires is a bit different as General Altimax 365AW tires cost at least $112.99 per tire while Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV tires cost at least $124.96 per tire. That means a set of four General Altimax 365AW all-weather tires will cost you at least $451.96 for a set of four, while a set of four Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV tires will cost you at least $499.84.
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the General Altimax 365AW if you:
Conversely, you should choose the Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV if you:
General Altimax 365AW vs Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV tires might not seem a close comparison on the surface, but the above clearly shows that either is a great option. Remember, both of the tire brands are some of the best tire manufacturers on the market, and that tradition continues with the General Altimax 365AW and Nokian Nordman Solstice Directional CUV. At the end of the day, the decision to buy one or the other depends on your vehicle, where (and how) you drive, and what you care more about in terms of traction, handling, longevity, and price.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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