Bridgestone Weatherpeak vs Nokian WR G4 tires

The Japanese tire giant, Bridgestone is among the top two tire manufacturers in the world and has been surprising drivers with its top-notch range of tires since 1931. Nokian, on the other hand, might not be as grand as Bridgestone, but has been able to earn respect and trust, especially for its winter and all-weather range of tires.

We will compare the two popular all-weather tires from these manufacturers, the Weatherpeak and the WR G4. These all-weather tires would be suitable for those who want to enjoy year-round driving, with an additional advantage of using the same set of tires in moderate to severe winter weather conditions.

While Bridgestone's Weatherpeak tires were launched in June 2022, Nokian's WR G4 tires were introduced in January 2018. So, technically, Bridgestone tires are comparatively new, but Nokian tires' legacy can’t be ignored, especially in winter and all-weather categories. As we mentioned, we are pitting the Weatherpeak tires against the WR G4 tires, so the comparison of these all-weather tires becomes more interesting.

Both the tires are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified and are suitable for year-round driving, including moderate to severe winter conditions. So, utilizing our proprietary tire rating system SimpleScore, let’s compare Weatherpeak vs WR G4 tires on the basis of their traction, handling, and longevity performances, and other tire buying factors.

Bridgestone Weatherpeak tires

Bridgestone Weatherpeak is a high-end all-weather tire that’s suitable for use on coupes, sedans, CUVs, and minivans. The tire offers excellent year-round performance, also ensuring confident driving in moderate to severe snow conditions because of its Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. The tire sports various advanced features and technologies to provide long-lasting tread life, outstanding grip, impressive traction, and raised ride comfort. In addition, there is a generous tread life warranty that comes with the purchase, which we will discuss in detail later in the comparison.

Overall, the Bridgestone Weatherpeak secures an outstanding 9.7 SimpleScore rating on a scale of 10, because of its superior traction, excellent tread life, and sharp handling response.

Nokian WR G4 tires

The Nokian WR G4 is designed for use on coupes and sedans and is adequately loaded with features to offer strong traction in dry, wet, and winter conditions. The tire is backed by an attractive tread life warranty and is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, which means it can be used in moderate to severe winter weather conditions. There are also many great features and technologies utilized in making the WR G4 tires that help in achieving high performance, year-round traction, reliable handling, and commanding winter grip.

Overall, the WR G4 scores a great 8.8 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its outstanding traction, exceptional handling, and long-lasting tread life.

Bridgestone Weatherpeak vs Nokian WR G4 tires on traction

Traction is one of the areas that matters a lot especially when you are planning to buy a set of all-weather tires. When we compared the traction scores, we found that the difference in their scores was minimal, which underlines there is a tough competition among the two in the traction area.

Starting with the Weatherpeak tire, the traction score is an excellent 9.8 SimpleScore, which means the tire is an outstanding performer. The tire features full-depth 3D sipes for superior performance and grip in snowy conditions and then, the grooves on the tread channel water for hydroplaning resistance, while the evolving sipes and snow vices ensure snow compaction. The open shoulder slots increase water flow in wet conditions, offering you a strong grip on wet roads. Likewise, the tread compound and unique tread pattern work in conjunction to provide an exceptional grip and year-round traction.

The Nokian WR G4 scores a 9.6 SimpleScore in traction, which means this tire is also exemplary when it comes to biting roads in diverse weather conditions. The tire features Blade Grooves that disperse rain, snow, and slush from the contact patch area. The curved, ramp-like design on the tread blocks forces water and slush out of the footprint to resist hydroplaning, while the All Weather Dual Performance along with Centipede Siping increases biting edges for solid traction performance.

There’s no doubt that the Nokian WR G4 tires are an exceptional choice, but the Weatherpeak tires are marginally better in traction than the Nokians.

ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Weatherpeak

Bridgestone Weatherpeak vs Nokian WR G4 tires on handling

Handling is another area that’s important and relates to the tire’s control and stability. It also defines how better is the tire’s lane-changing ability, cornering performance, and braking efficiency. While comparing the handling scores, we found that the competition in this area was tough!

The Bridgestone Weatherpeak tire scores an excellent 9.5 handling score. So, this means, you can expect the tire to be good in the steering response, ride control, lane change, and stability areas. The tread and rubber compound are optimized to offer improved braking performance, and likewise, the full-depth 3D sipes also help improve braking efficiency in wet and snow conditions. For a responsive steering command, the tire features open shoulder slots and grooves that optimally channel water to prevent hydroplaning. The tire tread remains flat to boost contact with the surface and offer increased stability.

On the contrary, the WR G4 scores a 9.4 SimpleScore in handling, giving a tough fight to Weatherpeak tires. Like its peer, you can expect the WR G4 tires too to offer responsive handling performance. The staggered 3-dimensional Centipede Siping improves road contact at varied turning angles to improve ride control and ensure precise handling. The patented All-Weather Dual Performance Compound of the tire provides stable handling, while the blade grooves ease water and slush dispersion for hydroplaning resistance.

ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Weatherpeak

Bridgestone Weatherpeak vs Nokian WR G4 tires on longevity

Longevity was the area where we found the biggest gap in the scores of both tires. As a tire buyer you might want to know which out of the two tires would last longer, so here’s our analysis reveals the long-lasting part a lot more in detail.

Commencing with the Bridgestone Weatherpeak, the tire scores a whopping 9.8 SimpleScore in longevity, which underlines that the tire would cover a good number of miles. It is covered by a higher 70,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty across all sizes, which reflects its extended usability. While the full-depth 3D sipes of the Weatherpeak improve wear performance, the flat contact patch prevents the tread from uneven wear. The rubber compound and tread pattern of this tire are engineered to resist driving pressures and contribute to a long-lasting tread life.

The WR G4 scores an 8.2 SimpleScore rating in longevity, indicating that it can serve for a decent period. The unique All Weather Dual Performance Compound of the tire is optimized for long-lasting tread life. The robust inner construction complements the outer construction to hold the tire’s shape and prevent uneven wear. The flat footprint also helps in improved wear performance and longer service. The WR G4 tire comes with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which confirms that it can last for a good number of miles with proper maintenance, timely rotation, and generous driving.

Nokian tires are good overall when it comes to longevity, but the Bridgestone tires are top-notch on the longevity front and last longer, which is visible from the difference in their scores.

ADVANTAGE: Bridgestone Weatherpeak

When to use each

Both, the the Weatherpeak and the WR G4 are built and designed for year-round use, and the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification makes them good for moderate to severe winter use as well. However, if you’re living in a region that witnesses continuous falls or where the temperature remains below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for a longer period, then consider buying a dedicated set of winter tires. The Weatherpeak tire is available in 15- to 22-inch rim sizes and covers a wide variety of vehicles, while the WR G4 tire is offered in 15- to 19-inch rim sizes.

Which one should you choose?

When we compared the SimpleScores of both tires, we found the Weatherpeak was much better with an overall SimpleScore rating of 9.7 against WR G4’s 8.8 overall SimpleScore rating. But, it is to be noted that both tires have their own capabilities, which must be taken into consideration before purchase.

As far as prices are concerned, the Bridgestone Weatherpeak comes at a starting price of at least $167.99, while the Nokian WR G4 is available at a starting price of at least $110.96 per tire. This means a set of four Weatherpeak tires will cost you at least $671.96, while a set of four WR G4 tires will cost you at least $443.84.

Looking at the scores, you should consider the Bridgestone Weatherpeak if you:

• Drive a luxury CUV like the Audi Q5, a compact SUV like the Jeep Cherokee, or a luxury compact car like the BMW 3 Series
• Are comfortable paying extra to buy a set of better all-weather tires
• Need a set of tires that are better in traction (9.8 vs 9.6 in traction)
• Need a set of tires that are better in handling (9.5 vs 9.4 in handling)
• Need a set of tires that are long-lasting (9.8 vs 8.2 in longevity)
• Want better tread life warranty coverage
• Need a set of tires that are compatible with rim sizes ranging between 15- to 22-inch rims

On the other hand, you should consider the WR G4 if you:

• Drive a midsize car like the Kia Optima, a minivan like the Honda Odyssey, or a CUV like the Subaru Outback
• Need a set of all-weather tires that costs less but also doesn’t disappoint with overall performance
• Need a set of all-weather tires that come with a standard tread life warranty of 60,000 miles
• Need a set of tires that are available in rim sizes ranging between 15- to 19-inch

Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.