Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 review
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.
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
84.6%By road tests
76.9%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 59 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
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
Worth knowing
- 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.
8 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2023 Winter tire Test 54 Set Braking Test · 225/45 R18
27th of 54
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 30th of 54 | |
| Snow Braking | 22nd of 54 |
2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter tire Test · 245/40 R18
10th of 13
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 12th of 13 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 13 | |
| Dry Braking | 12th of 13 | |
| Dry Handling | 5th of 13 | |
| Snow Braking | 10th of 13 | |
| Snow Traction | 10th of 13 | |
| Snow Handling | 10th of 13 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 8th of 13 | |
| Straight Aqua | 8th of 13 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 13 | |
| Price | 1st of 13 |
2021 ADAC 17 Inch Winter tire Test · 225/50 R17
7th of 18
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18
23rd of 48
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 26th of 48 | |
| Snow Braking | 15th of 48 |
2019 19 Inch Performance Winter tire Test · 255/35 R19
9th of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 8th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 8th of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 6th of 11 | |
| Snow Braking | 9th of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 8th of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 7th of 11 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 11 | |
| Price | 2nd of 11 |
2019 Auto Bild Winter 17 inch tire Test · 225/45 R17
11th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 17th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 9th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 18th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 6th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 13th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 10th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 19th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 14th of 20 | |
| Noise | 1st of 20 | |
| Value | 3rd of 20 | |
| Price | 3rd of 20 | |
| Wear | 10th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 17th of 20 |
2019 Winter tire Test Market Overview · 225/45 R17
15th of 45
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 19th of 45 | |
| Snow Braking | 13th of 45 |
2018 Autobild UHP Winter tire Test · 195/65 R15
9th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 7th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Snow Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Snow Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 10th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 9th of 10 | |
| Noise | 1st of 10 | |
| Price | 2nd of 10 |
Nexen WinGuard Sport 2 specs & sizes
Prices vary by size, so each one links out separately.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Tread depth | 10.5/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall |
| Max pressure | 51 psi |
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