Korea-based tire manufacturer, Nexen Tire, was established in 1942 and forayed into the US in 2005. It has been manufacturing great tires under various categories such as all-season, all-terrain, all-weather, UHP, all-terrain, winter, and mud-terrain for a variety of vehicles such as passenger cars, CUVs, minivans, SUVs, and light trucks. Of late, the winter tire lines of Nexen are receiving good responses due to their enhanced grip, solid traction, handling, stability, longevity, and affordable pricing.

Designed for use on passenger cars, the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus offers a dual V-shaped winter tread pattern and stiff shoulder improves durability, and provides solid grip and traction. The longitudinal and lateral grooves help flush water, snow, and slush quickly from the tread to resist the risk of hydroplaning.

The presence of 3D blocks aids in limiting uneven wear and preventing abnormal wear. It features a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake Certification that assures its improved performance in severe winter weather conditions. The Winguard Ice Plus offers a quiet and comfortable ride thanks to the optimized tread pattern and flexible sidewall design. With T-speed rated, the Nexen tire covers a wide range of sizes from 14 to 19 inches.

So, do the features really help the tire return the performance it claims? Let’s find out the answer in this Nexen Winguard Ice Plus tire review. Keep reading.

Features and Benefits

Winter tires are engineered to perform in slush, snow, and ice. They offer incredible grip on slippery surfaces thanks to their directional tread pattern which also boosts longevity. The Nexen tire checks most of the right boxes to qualify for a good winter tire. Let’s see how it does that.

• Solid winter performance – The dual V-shaped tread design improves grip and traction on wet and snowy surfaces even at moderate speeds. The large, deep grooves offer enhanced capacity to flush out water, snow, and slush quickly and provide consistent traction by avoiding the risk of hydroplaning. The aggressive shoulder pattern not only aids in improving grip but also helps infuse confidence while cornering.
• Improved handling and comfort levels – The directional tread pattern of the Winguard Ice Plus provides superior grip and solid handling attributes. The shoulders and large blocks also ensure maximum road contact that results in improved handling and better stability. The optimized tread pattern not only makes the ride quieter but also increases the comfort level compared to other value brands.
• Extra durability, longer life – The presence of 3D blocks and a stiff shoulder design resist abnormal wearing of tread. The special rubber compound provides extra strength to the already robust tread and promotes even wear. The studless winter tire bears extreme temperatures without any complaints thanks to the innovative construction materials used.

Pros and Cons

Well, every tire has its share of advantages and disadvantages; the Nexen, too, follows suit. Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of the tire before having our final say.

Pros

• Stiff shoulders and 3D sipes resist uneven wear
• Dual, V-shaped tread design for improved braking and handling
• Large grooves quickly flush water, slush, and snow to avoid hydroplaning
• Winter rubber compound for enhanced performance in near-freezing temperatures
• Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification for its ability to perform in severe snow conditions
• Roadside assistance for 36 months
• High-strength sidewall design for longer service life

Cons

• Cannot be used when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• It doesn’t come with a manufacturer tread life warranty
• Should not be used off-road

SimpleTire’s view on Nexen Winguard Ice Plus tires

To sum up, the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus (starts around $88) tire impresses in most areas such as handling, traction, stability, durability, and longevity. Given its aggressive pricing, the tire seems to be a good option for a budget-constraint buyer.

It competes with the likes of Toyo Observe G3-Ice (starts around $92), Petlas Explero Winter W671 (starts around $104), and Laufenn I FIT ICE LW71 (starts around $81).

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

The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus is a great replacement option for passenger cars such as Chevrolet Spark, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, and several more.