Nexen N Blue S review
The Nexen N Blue S receives mixed feedback, often praised for its quiet, comfortable ride and impressive wet-weather traction in budget-conscious applications. However, long-term durability is a significant point of contention, with several users reporting premature tread wear and structural degradation, particularly when used as an OEM fitment.
Owners rate it 14.1 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
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
86.2%By road tests
72.1%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 10 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Nexen N Blue S receives mixed feedback, often praised for its quiet, comfortable ride and impressive wet-weather traction in budget-conscious applications. However, long-term durability is a significant point of contention, with several users reporting premature tread wear and structural degradation, particularly when used as an OEM fitment.
Pros
- Excellent noise suppression and ride comfort
- Strong wet-weather traction and braking performance
- High value-for-money proposition
- Improved grip compared to some factory-standard tires
Cons
- Rapid tread wear and short service life
- Soft sidewalls leading to vague handling characteristics
- Poor shock absorption on uneven road surfaces
- Inconsistent performance longevity compared to premium competitors
Worth knowing
- Users with FWD vehicles, such as the Buick Encore, reported significant improvements in snow and rain traction compared to stock tires.
- Drivers of compact vehicles like the VW Golf 8 and Audi A3 noted that the OEM-specific versions of this tire suffer from accelerated wear and tread chunking.
1 published test appearance
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2025 Motor Low Rolling Resistance (AA) tire Test · 205/55 R16
6th of 7
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 5th of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 5th of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 5th of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 1st of 7 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2nd of 7 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th of 7 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 6th of 7 | |
| Noise | 6th of 7 |