Nokian Encompass AW02

[road_rascal]

Just had Nokian Encompass AW02's installed on the 2018 Equinox yesterday. These replaced the all season Altimax RT43's that were on there for 5 years and about 45,000 miles. The RT43's were good tires but the tread depth was a little on the low side coming into Minnesota winters. The Nokians are much quieter and feel a bit more cushy than the RT43's during the 30 miles I put on them. I'll report back whenever we get some snow around here and see how they perform

 

[john_pifer]

What’s the tread warranty?

 

[road_rascal]

What’s the tread warranty?

Says 65,000 on the Discount Tire site.

 

[john_pifer]

Says 65,000 on the Discount Tire site.

OK, sounds like you trade a bit of warranty for better snow/ice capability compared to a standard touring all season, which, most have an 80K treadwear warranty.

 

[Blagoje]

OK, sounds like you trade a bit of warranty for better snow/ice capability compared to a standard touring all season, which, most have an 80K treadwear warranty.

Most all weather tires have a 60,000 mile warranty, some go to 65k or 70k but those are the rare exceptions. I have had several sets of Nokian tires since 2003 and all have lasted far beyond the warranty. It is unequivocally my favorite tire brand.

 

[JoelB]

Interesting to see more and more all weathers starting to use the waterfall pattern that the Cross climate is famous for. Goodyear did it too with the new Weatherready. If you can't beat em, join em.

 

[john_pifer]

Interesting to see more and more all weathers starting to use the waterfall pattern that the Cross climate is famous for. Goodyear did it too with the new Weatherready. If you can't beat em, join em.

I actually wanted that WeatherReady 2 for the Odyssey, but couldn’t justify the $400 price premium over the Conti Tour 54.

 

[duck__dodgers]

I imagine that this problem was solved by now----but watch for dry rot.

Bought 2 sets of AW01s, one got dry rot.

 

[road_rascal]

I imagine that this problem was solved by now----but watch for dry rot.

Bought 2 sets of AW01s, one got dry rot.

After how long? I had to wait a week to get in to Discount Tire because they said they were selling so many AW02's that they had to wait for another shipment.

 

[Astro14]

I’ve been really impressed with every set of Nokian tires that I’ve bought. Their “all weather“ tires do very well in the snow. Far better than a typical set of “all season“, though even their all weather tires do not do as well as a dedicated winter tire like the Hakapellitta.

They never quite last as long as the tread warranty, but then the vehicles on which I’ve installed them, my Tundra and my wife’s 2002 Volvo cross country, tend to eat every brand of tires before the tread warranty life is reached. I don’t think it’s a Nokian thing, I believe it’s a vehicle thing.

Even if it were a Nokian problem, I would still gladly pay a little bit extra for that bit of extra winter performance.

Which is a roundabout way of saying, “congratulations on your new set of tires“!

 

[sw99]

They look good! As soon as the crap treadwear 280 tires OEM tires on the Crosstrek wear out, I'll get these. I have the AW01's for the Matrix and they are great in the snow.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

They look good! As soon as the crap treadwear 280 tires OEM tires on the Crosstrek wear out, I'll get these. I have the AW01's for the Matrix and they are great in the snow.

Yoko G91? We are pushing 60K mi and just getting there. Those are good tires. Not snow tires - but gets the car up my driveway which is a ski slope and often icy. Those treadwear #s are meaningless between brands in my experience.

 

[duck__dodgers]

After how long? I had to wait a week to get in to Discount Tire because they said they were selling so many AW02's that they had to wait for another shipment.

3 years, 62,000 miles---right outside of warranty. The **severe** dry rot probably set in earlier, but I didn't notice it---cuz who examines their top-tier tires for dry rot? lmao.

(other people on forums reported similar rot on tires from the then-new Nokian USA factory)

Soured me to the entire Nokian line-up. It is what it is. and like I said, the problem probably has been long fixed by now.

The AW01s were great----but got really loud as the tread wore down.

 

[tcp71]

Interesting to see more and more all weathers starting to use the waterfall pattern that the Cross climate is famous for. Goodyear did it too with the new Weatherready. If you can't beat em, join em.

My original Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires in 2005 looked like that.

 

[BHopkins]

They never quite last as long as the tread warranty, but then the vehicles on which I’ve installed them, my Tundra and my wife’s 2002 Volvo cross country, tend to eat every brand of tires before the tread warranty life is reached. I don’t think it’s a Nokian thing, I believe it’s a vehicle thing.

Agreed. AWD cars are notorious for wearing tires out prematurely.

Fortunately for the OP, Discount Tire knocks it out of the ballpark for taking care of mileage warranty claims. As long as the tires are rotated regularly and there are no signs that the tires wore out because of a problem like bad alignment, Discount will get you warranty credit for the next set of tires, when they do wear out early.

 

[sw99]

Yoko G91? We are pushing 60K mi and just getting there. Those are good tires. Not snow tires - but gets the car up my driveway which is a ski slope and often icy. Those treadwear #s are meaningless between brands in my experience.

Yes, I believe so. That is good to hear. I was expecting them to be junk after seeing the tread wear rating number. Thanks for the info

 

[iahawk]

bought the same Nokian tires for my kids car...along with a set of wheels. Did a minus 1 on the sizing and the ride improved significantly, like night and day difference. Only had them on for a few months, waiting (not eagerly) for the first snow to come..

 

[Ranger83]

Interesting to see more and more all weathers starting to use the waterfall pattern that the Cross climate is famous for. Goodyear did it too with the new Weatherready. If you can't beat em, join em.

Like this?

This photo was taken in 2006.

Or this?

This picture was taken in 2008.

At the time the Nokian “All Weather” was the WRG2 that looked like this. The WRG5 still has an asymmetrical tread. The Encompass looks more like Nokian winter tires and has a slightly longer [65,000] treadwear warranty.

Weatherready looks distinctive to me.

Goodyear

 

[edyvw]

Continental TS770. I think this tire is almost 30yrs old:

Good Year Ultra Grip Performance have similar design as encompass. Or better, Encompass has similar design as this ultra grip is older tire:

 

[road_rascal]

Had about 5-6" of snow last night and this morning. When I left for work at 8am the snow removal crew hadn't plowed out our townhouse complex yet but the AW02's had no issues clawing through the powdery stuff. The county roads were basically plowed with a few spots of slush and the main freeways were just wet. Some of the on/off ramps were still snowpacked with pockets of slush and I never felt like the car was going to break traction. So far I'm happy with these tires.