Nokian WR A4 review
The Nokian WR A4 is widely regarded as a highly capable winter tire that excels in dry and wet conditions, often outperforming competitors in stability and noise levels. While most users praise its snow traction and longevity, a minority of drivers report issues with sidewall softness and handling precision at high speeds on specific vehicle setups.
Owners rate it 8.6 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
81%By road tests
72.4%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 23 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Nokian WR A4 is widely regarded as a highly capable winter tire that excels in dry and wet conditions, often outperforming competitors in stability and noise levels. While most users praise its snow traction and longevity, a minority of drivers report issues with sidewall softness and handling precision at high speeds on specific vehicle setups.
Pros
- Exceptional dry and wet road handling for a winter tire
- Impressive longevity and tread wear resistance
- Low road noise levels, often quieter than summer tires
- Strong traction in snow and slushy conditions
Cons
- Potential for sidewall flex or softness on certain vehicle/rim combinations
- Occasional reports of vibration or increased braking distance on dry pavement
- Mixed performance on pure ice compared to studded alternatives
Worth knowing
- Users with RWD vehicles frequently report high satisfaction with snow climbing capabilities.
- Drivers with low-profile, wide tire configurations (e.g., 19-inch rims) occasionally report handling instability or 'drifting' at highway speeds due to sidewall deflection.
3 published test appearances
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2020 Auto Bild Performance Winter tire Test · 245/45 R18
17th of 20
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 11th of 20 | |
| Wet Handling | 14th of 20 | |
| Dry Braking | 10th of 20 | |
| Dry Handling | 8th of 20 | |
| Snow Braking | 17th of 20 | |
| Snow Traction | 11th of 20 | |
| Snow Handling | 19th of 20 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 20 | |
| Straight Aqua | 18th of 20 | |
| Noise | 6th of 20 | |
| Value | 13th of 20 | |
| Wear | 17th of 20 | |
| Total Cost of Ownership | 2nd of 20 |
2020 Winter tire Market Overview - 52 tire Braking Test · 245/45 R18
12th of 48
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 12th of 48 | |
| Snow Braking | 20th of 48 |
2019 19 Inch Performance Winter tire Test · 255/35 R19
10th of 11
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Braking | 11th of 11 | |
| Wet Handling | 10th of 11 | |
| Dry Braking | 6th of 11 | |
| Dry Handling | 9th of 11 | |
| Snow Braking | 4th of 11 | |
| Snow Handling | 6th of 11 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 3rd of 11 | |
| Straight Aqua | 11th of 11 | |
| Noise | 10th of 11 | |
| Price | 8th of 11 |