83
/ 100
Objective (60%)
77/100
7 professional tests
User signal (40%)
85/100
59 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
Head-to-head
Updated September 2026
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 vs Riken Snowtime B2 — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
VS
78
/ 100
Objective (60%)
–/100
No test data yet
User signal (40%)
78/100
6 owner reviews
Prices change daily — check the retailer for your size.
VerdictWinner: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Riken Snowtime B2 if snow matters most to you.
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Category breakdown
7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 10
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard Sport 2 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 87 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 86 | 78 |
| SimpleTire owners | 93 | – |
Wet
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 11
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard Sport 2 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 71 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 67 |
| SimpleTire owners | 93 | – |
Snow
Score (0–100)
Snowtime B2 leads by 14
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard Sport 2 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 78 | – |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 82 | 95 |
| SimpleTire owners | 89 | – |
Comfort
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard Sport 2 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 88 |
| SimpleTire owners | 92 | – |
Noise
Score (0–100)
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard Sport 2 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | 13 | – |
| SimpleTire owners | 84 | – |
Treadwear
Score (0–100)
Snowtime B2 leads by 1
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard Sport 2 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 87 |
| SimpleTire owners | 87 | – |
Handling
Score (0–100)
WinGuard Sport 2 leads by 23
Why this score
| Source | WinGuard Sport 2 | Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 78 | 55 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 | Riken Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 83 | 78 |
| Dry | 88 | 78 |
| Wet | 78 | 67 |
| Snow | 81 | 95 |
| Comfort | 88 | 88 |
| Noise | 42 | – |
| Treadwear | 86 | 87 |
| Handling | 78 | 55 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Recomputed
Headline score
83
/ 100
Tire A
78
/ 100
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
From owners
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 is widely regarded as a high-value, performance-oriented winter tire that excels in cold, wet, and light-to-moderate snow conditions. While it offers impressive comfort and low noise levels that rival premium brands, some users report concerns regarding long-term structural integrity and inconsistent performance on pure ice.
Pros
- Excellent value for money compared to premium winter tire brands
- High levels of ride comfort and low road noise
- Strong performance on cold, wet, and slushy pavement
- Reliable traction in light-to-moderate snow conditions
Cons
- Reports of structural 'egging' or wobbling after extended use
- Inconsistent performance on hard-packed ice or deep snow
- Potential for increased rolling resistance and minor fuel economy loss
- Vague handling feedback under aggressive driving conditions
Observations
- Users with high-performance AWD vehicles (e.g., BMW xDrive, Subaru WRX) report excellent snow mobility, though some note a 'rolly' feel in corners.
- Owners of high-torque or heavy vehicles noted that the sidewalls can feel soft, leading to less precise handling compared to dedicated summer tires.
- Some users reported that the actual tread width on specific sizes (e.g., 235/55/19) appeared narrower than the advertised specification.
The Riken Snowtime B2 is widely regarded as a competent budget-friendly winter tire that offers surprising value, particularly regarding noise levels and tread longevity. While it provides reliable traction in snow and standing water, users note that its handling limits in dry and wet conditions are lower than premium summer tires, requiring a more cautious driving style.
Pros
- Impressive noise suppression compared to both premium and budget competitors
- Strong snow and slush traction for the price point
- Excellent tread life and durability over multiple seasons
- Noticeable improvements in fuel economy for some users
Cons
- Lower handling limits in dry and wet conditions compared to summer tires
- Potential for sudden loss of grip if pushed too hard in corners
- Increased stopping distances compared to high-performance summer rubber
Observations
- Users noted that downsizing to 16-inch wheels contributed to a cumulative improvement in ride comfort and noise reduction.
- Handling characteristics were significantly influenced by vehicle suspension health, with one user noting that perceived tire instability was actually resolved by replacing rear shocks.
Specifications
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 | B · Riken Snowtime B2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter Touring tires | Winter Touring tires |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
| Sizes available | 61 | — |
| Rim diameters | 15″ – 20″ | — |
| Tread depth | 10.5/32″ | — |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | — |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | — |
Final verdict
Which one should you actually buy?
83
/ 100
Nexen
78
/ 100
Riken
Winner: Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 — better handling, wet and dry. Pick the Riken Snowtime B2 if snow matters most to you.
Pick tire A
You enjoy sharp, responsive handling
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 78 vs 55 on handling.
Pick tire B
You drive through snowy winters
Riken Snowtime B2 scores 95 vs 81 on snow.
Pick tire A
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 78 vs 67 on wet.
Pick tire A
You want the most grip on dry roads
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 scores 88 vs 78 on dry.
Tire A · Nexen WinGuard Sport 2
Tire B · Riken Snowtime B2
More comparisons
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Riken Snowtime B2 also compared with
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.