Summer tire Summer Max Performance tires Updated September 2026
Nokian PowerProof review
The Nokian PowerProof is widely regarded as a highly capable, comfort-oriented tire that excels in wet and dry grip, often outperforming premium competitors in inclement weather. While marketed as an Ultra-High Performance (UHP) tire, many users find its handling characteristics lean more toward a premium touring experience, noting a softer sidewall and less aggressive steering feedback than dedicated performance tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport series.
Relative score
76/100
tests + owners
Owner reviews
81/100
25 reviews
Road tests
78/100
19 published tests
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
81%
Would buy again
78%
Dry
Wet
Comfort
Treadwear
Handling
By road tests
78.2%By discipline (% of best in test)
From owners
What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 25 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Nokian PowerProof is widely regarded as a highly capable, comfort-oriented tire that excels in wet and dry grip, often outperforming premium competitors in inclement weather. While marketed as an Ultra-High Performance (UHP) tire, many users find its handling characteristics lean more toward a premium touring experience, noting a softer sidewall and less aggressive steering feedback than dedicated performance tires like the Michelin Pilot Sport series.
Pros
- Exceptional wet weather performance and aquaplaning resistance
- High levels of ride comfort and noise suppression
- Strong, reliable grip in both dry and wet conditions
- Excellent value for money compared to top-tier performance brands
Cons
- Handling feedback is described as 'soft' or 'spongy' by enthusiasts
- Inconsistent tread life reports, with some users experiencing premature wear or cracking
- Lack of steering precision compared to dedicated UHP competitors
- Increased noise levels once the tread wears down
Worth knowing
- Users on heavier vehicles (e.g., diesel-powered hatchbacks or SUVs) report that the tire effectively absorbs road imperfections, though proper inflation is critical to avoid a harsh ride.
- Drivers of high-performance vehicles (e.g., Megane RS) noted a lack of the sharp, direct turn-in precision expected from a true UHP tire.
Test results
19 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2022 AMS Performance Summer tire Test · 245/45 R19
6th of 10
Best: Wet Circle · 4th
Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 4th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 9th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 8th of 10 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 10th of 10 | |
| Noise | 6th of 10 | |
| Price | 4th of 10 |
2022 Auto Bild Summer tire Test · 215/55 R17
21st of 21
Best: Dry Braking · 2nd
Weakest: Value · 21st
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 9th of 21 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 21 | |
| Wet Circle | 8th of 21 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 21 | |
| Dry Handling | 14th of 21 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 15th of 21 | |
| Straight Aqua | 7th of 21 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 16th of 21 | |
| Noise | 20th of 21 | |
| Value | 21st of 21 | |
| Wear | 21st of 21 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 21st of 21 |
2022 Summer tire Market Overview · 215/55 R17
6th of 44
Best: Dry Braking · 1st
Weakest: Wet Braking · 8th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 8th of 44 | |
| Dry Braking | 1st of 44 |
2021 Auto Express Summer tire Test · 225/45 R17
7th of 10
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2021 Motor Summer tire Test · 225/55 R17
3rd of 10
Best: Noise · 1st
Weakest: Wet Handling · 7th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 3rd of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 5th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 7th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 3rd of 10 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 3rd of 10 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Noise | 1st of 10 | |
| Price | 5th of 10 |
2021 Tyre Reviews UHP Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18
11th of 14
Best: Rolling Resistance · 2nd
Weakest: Curved Aquaplaning · 13th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 11th of 14 | |
| Dry Handling | 11th of 14 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 14 | |
| Straight Aqua | 12th of 14 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 13th of 14 | |
| Noise | 9th of 14 | |
| Price | 5th of 14 |
2021 Auto Bild 19 inch Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19
12th of 15
Best: Price · 6th
Weakest: Noise · 12th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 11th of 15 | |
| Wet Handling | 11th of 15 | |
| Dry Braking | 10th of 15 | |
| Dry Handling | 11th of 15 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 10th of 15 | |
| Straight Aqua | 11th of 15 | |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 9th of 15 | |
| Noise | 12th of 15 | |
| Price | 6th of 15 |
2021 Auto Zeitung Summer UHP tire Test · 225/40 R18
6th of 10
Best: Wet Handling · 2nd
Weakest: Noise · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 7th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 6th of 10 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 6th of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 9th of 10 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 2nd of 10 | |
| Noise | 10th of 10 | |
| Price | 2nd of 10 |
2020 EVO UHP Summer tire Test · 235/35 R19
4th of 7
Best: Price · 1st
Weakest: Dry Handling · 6th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 2nd of 7 | |
| Wet Circle | 5th of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 5th of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 6th of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 4th of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 7 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 6th of 7 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd of 7 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 3rd of 7 | |
| Price | 1st of 7 |
2020 UHP, UUHP and Track Day tire Test · 245/35 R19
7th of 10
Best: Rolling Resistance · 1st
Weakest: Dry Handling · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 10 | |
| Wet Circle | 6th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 8th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 10th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 10 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 10th of 10 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 9th of 10 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 4th of 10 | |
| Noise | 6th of 10 | |
| Tyre Weight | 9th of 10 |
2020 AMS 18 Inch Summer tire Test · 225/45 R18
7th of 11
Best: Rolling Resistance · 2nd
Weakest: Straight Aqua · 11th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 5th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 7th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 6th of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 2nd of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 11th of 11 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 11th of 11 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 11th of 11 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 9th of 11 | |
| Noise | 9th of 11 | |
| Price | 7th of 11 |
2020 Auto Bild Summer tire Test · 245/45 R18
8th of 20
Best: Dry Braking · 2nd
Weakest: Noise · 18th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 3rd of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 8th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 9th of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 17th of 20 | |
| Noise | 18th of 20 | |
| Value | 14th of 20 | |
| Price | 12th of 20 | |
| Wear | 14th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 11th of 20 |
2020 ADAC 18 Inch Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18
11th of 16
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wear | 15th of 16 |
2020 tire Market Overview Braking Test · 245/45 R18
2nd of 49
Best: Dry Braking · 2nd
Weakest: Wet Braking · 3rd
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 3rd of 49 | |
| Dry Braking | 2nd of 49 |
2019 EVO Summer tire Test · 225/40 R18
5th of 7
Best: Rolling Resistance · 3rd
Weakest: Wet Handling · 6th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 4th of 7 | |
| Wet Handling | 6th of 7 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 7 | |
| Dry Handling | 6th of 7 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 7 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 7 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 6th of 7 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 4th of 7 | |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 6th of 7 |
2019 Auto Express SUV tire Test · 235/50 R18
1st of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|
2019 Auto Bild Sports Car tire Test · 245/45 R18
7th of 11
Best: Dry Braking · 5th
Weakest: Straight Aqua · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 7th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 8th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 5th of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 7th of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 5th of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 10th of 11 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 10th of 11 | |
| Noise | 9th of 11 | |
| Price | 9th of 11 |
2019 SUV 4x4 Summer tire Test · 225/55 R17
4th of 10
Best: Wet Handling · 1st
Weakest: Noise · 10th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 6th of 10 | |
| Wet Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 4th of 10 | |
| Dry Handling | 6th of 10 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 5th of 10 | |
| Noise | 10th of 10 | |
| Price | 7th of 10 | |
| Gravel Handling | 1st of 10 | |
| Gravel Traction | 8th of 10 | |
| Grass Traction | 3rd of 10 | |
| Mud Traction | 5th of 10 |
2019 Gute Fahrt Summer 18 Inch tire Test · 225/40 R18
5th of 10
Best: Price · 5th
Weakest: Straight Aqua · 8th
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 7th of 10 | |
| Dry Braking | 6th of 10 | |
| Straight Aqua | 8th of 10 | |
| Price | 5th of 10 |