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Winter tire Winter Touring tires Updated May 2026

Nexen WinGuard review

The Nexen WinGuard is generally regarded as a capable budget-friendly winter tire that provides a significant performance upgrade over summer tires in cold and snowy conditions. While most users report reliable traction and confidence-inspiring handling in winter environments, some reviewers note that its performance on ice and in warmer temperatures is limited compared to premium alternatives.

Relative score
74/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
73/100
6 reviews
Nexen WinGuard
Scores

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%
Would buy again 70%
Dry
Overall dry
67%
Corner stability
60%
Dry traction
67%
Steering response
65%
Wet
Overall wet
65%
Wet traction
65%
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
100%
Ice
80%
Comfort
Overall comfort
72%
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
80%
Handling
Overall handling
60%
From owners

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 6 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.

The Nexen WinGuard is generally regarded as a capable budget-friendly winter tire that provides a significant performance upgrade over summer tires in cold and snowy conditions. While most users report reliable traction and confidence-inspiring handling in winter environments, some reviewers note that its performance on ice and in warmer temperatures is limited compared to premium alternatives.

Pros

  • Strong traction and handling in snow-covered conditions
  • Noticeable improvement in grip over summer tires in cold weather
  • Confidence-inspiring braking performance on mountain passes
  • High value-for-money proposition

Cons

  • Mediocre performance on ice
  • Poor dry-weather handling when temperatures exceed 10°C
  • Occasional difficulty with uphill starts in deep snow

Worth knowing

  • Users report that the tire performs best when temperatures remain consistently below 4°C.
  • Performance is noted to be highly effective for mountain driving and steep inclines, though traction can be inconsistent during initial acceleration from a standstill.
Head-to-head

Nexen WinGuard compared

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