Nankang SV2 review
The Nankang SV2 is widely regarded as a high-value budget winter tire that punches above its weight class in snow and ice traction. While users frequently praise its affordability and impressive cold-weather performance, the consensus notes a trade-off in handling precision, with many reporting a 'wooly' or loose steering feel in dry or warmer conditions.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
73%By road tests
69.1%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 30 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Nankang SV2 is widely regarded as a high-value budget winter tire that punches above its weight class in snow and ice traction. While users frequently praise its affordability and impressive cold-weather performance, the consensus notes a trade-off in handling precision, with many reporting a 'wooly' or loose steering feel in dry or warmer conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional value for the price point
- Strong traction and confidence in deep snow and ice
- High durability and long tread life
- Quiet ride quality compared to many summer alternatives
Cons
- Wooly or vague steering response and handling
- Noticeable performance drop-off in wet conditions
- Soft sidewalls leading to a loose or 'sloppy' feel at highway speeds
- Significant loss of grip and increased wear when used in temperatures above 7°C
Worth knowing
- Drivers of high-horsepower vehicles (200hp+) noted that while the tires provide good traction, they can feel unstable or 'loose' during spirited cornering.
- Users fitting these to vans and heavier vehicles reported excellent longevity and reliable performance in adverse weather.
- Some users noted that the tire's performance is highly sensitive to correct inflation, with improper pressure leading to uneven edge wear.
4 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter tire Test · 245/40 R18
12th of 13
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 13th of 13 | |
| Wet Handling | 13th of 13 | |
| Dry Braking | 10th of 13 | |
| Dry Handling | 9th of 13 | |
| Snow Braking | 13th of 13 | |
| Snow Traction | 12th of 13 | |
| Snow Handling | 12th of 13 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 13 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 13 | |
| Noise | 4th of 13 | |
| Price | 2nd of 13 |
2019 19 Inch Performance Winter tire Test · 255/35 R19
11th of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 10th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 11th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 9th of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 11 | |
| Snow Braking | 11th of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 11th of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 11 | |
| Noise | 1st of 11 | |
| Price | 1st of 11 |
2018 51 Winter tire Shootout · 195/65 R15
40th of 51
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2017 ADAC SUV Winter tire Test - 215/65 R16
16th of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 10th of 16 | |
| Wet Braking | 10th of 16 | |
| Side G-Force on Wet surface | 10th of 16 | |
| Snow Braking | 10th of 16 | |
| Snow Traction | 10th of 16 | |
| Snow Handling | 10th of 16 | |
| Ice Braking | 3rd of 16 | |
| Ice Handling | 3rd of 16 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 16 | |
| Inside Noise level | 2nd of 16 | |
| Wear | 3rd of 16 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 10th of 16 | |
| Straight Aquaplaning | 10th of 16 | |
| Dry Braking | 5th of 16 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 5th of 16 | |
| Dry Handling | 5th of 16 |