Nexen Roadian HTX2 vs Nokian WR G4 SUV

Nexen and Nokian are two very innovative tire brands that offer a diversified range of tires in America. While Nexen is based in Yangsan, South Korea, and was established in 1942, Nokian was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Nokia, Finland. Their Roadian HTX2 and the WR G4 SUV are the two great all-weather tires.

Both of these manufacturers put in efforts to provide a better value to the customers and ensure that high-quality tires are offered. Similar is the case with their Roadian and WR G4 tires which are admired by enthusiasts because of their versatile performance. When compared against each other, both the Roadian HTX2 and the WR G4 SUV tires look great, but which of these two tires is better and could be the right choice for you? Let’s find this out in this Nexen Roadian HTX2 vs Nokian WR G4 SUV tires comparison, utilizing our SimpleScore.

Nexen Roadian HTX2 tires

The highway-terrain, all-weather tire, Nexen Roadian HTX2 was introduced in 2021 and is made for use on light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. The tire is designed and engineered for long-lasting highway mileage, dependable all-weather driving performance, and is built adequately durable to withstand road pressures. The greatest highlight of the tire is the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification which allows it to perform even in severe winter weather conditions, including heavy snow, ice, and tough terrains. It offers dependable traction and handling performance year-round to let the drivers use a single set of tires in all weathers and enjoy uninterrupted journeys.

Overall, the Nexen Roadian HTX2 scores an admirable 8.6 SimpleScore rating because of its excellent tread life, better year-round traction, and great handling performance.

Nokian WR G4 SUV tires

The Nokian WR G4 SUV is another champ in the all-weather tire category that’s designed for use on SUVs and CUVs. Introduced in 2018, the WR G4 SUV is built to offer year-round traction and grip, responsive handling, and solid durability to improve puncture resistance and combat driving pressures. The tire is also made to support eco-friendly driving and saves both the environment and fuel. Like its competitor, the Nokian WR G4 SUV also earns Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification to offer dependable performance and traction in severe winter conditions, which makes it a true all-weather tire. Wet highways, rural roads, or busy urban traffic, the WR G4 SUV tire adapts to all conditions in all seasons.

Overall, the Nokian WR G4 SUV boasts an excellent 9.2 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its excellent all-weather traction, outstanding handling performance, and long-lasting tread life.

Nexen Roadian HTX2 vs Nokian WR G4 SUV on traction

All-weather tires are built for year-round use, in dry, wet, and severe winter conditions, on thick ice and snow. It is therefore essential that they achieve better traction in varied weather conditions. Fortunately, both tire manufacturers have ensured that their all-weather tires are great performers on the traction front.

The Nexen Roadian HTX2 boasts an admirable 8.4 out of 10 SimpleScore rating in traction. The tire is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, which means it is engineered not only to offer improved traction performance in dry and wet weather but also in severe winter conditions, during heavy snow, or while driving on icy surfaces. This Nexen all-weather tire features 3D sipe tread technology that offers increased snow grip as it wears. Its wider profile offers more surface contact for enhanced traction, whereas the advanced tread compound, technology, and design ensure that the tire can offer solid traction performance in any weather condition.

On the contrary, the Nokian WR G4 SUV scores a whopping 9.6 SimpleScore rating in traction and allows the drivers to confidently drive even in extreme winter because of its Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. This new-generation all-weather tire from Nokian features the innovative Centipede Siping that increases grip on snow and slush, while the Dual Performance SUV Compound utilizes more silica to offer a greater balance of winter and summer traction. The tire sports another patented Coanda Technology that forces out water from the footprint for increased traction in wet and snow conditions. Additionally, the Blade Grooves present on the tread also force out water, snow, and slush from the contact patch to provide solid grip and traction in all weathers. Whether rain, slush, snow, or shine, the WR G4 SUV tires offer confident grip and maximum traction!

While both tires were great in traction, the Nokian WR G4 SUV tire was better than the Nexen Roadian HTX2 tire.

ADVANTAGE: WR G4 SUV

Nexen Roadian HTX2 vs Nokian WR G4 SUV on handling

No doubt, traction plays a significant role in the case of all-weather tires, handling is also equally important as it is linked with the steering response, cornering, and overall stability on all-weather tires. Fortunately, both Nexen and Nokian understand the importance of handling and have armed their tires with many good features and technologies to deliver the same.

With an 8.3 SimpleScore rating for handling, the Roadian HTX2 offers great handling performance and smooth rides in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions. The tread pattern is optimized to provide enhanced handling and ride comfort year-round, while the 3D sipe tread technology ensures a better grip on snow for confident maneuvering. Nexen has utilized high-quality materials to offer solid rigidity and durability, which allows the tire to hold its original shape in the long run and offer more stable rides on the highways. The wider profile further boosts the handling performance by profile more surface contact for increased stability, confident cornering, and lane-changing. The advanced tread design and compound also help in improving the contact with the road for better ride control.

On the other hand, the Nokian WR G4 SUV scores an outstanding 9.2 SimpleScore, which is achieved because of the tire’s advanced tread compound and design that promotes all-season handling. The Centipede Siping maximizes contact surface and improves control, especially while taking turns in snowy and slushy conditions. The tire also sports Nokian Tyres Coanda Technology that removes water from the footprint for a confident grip and handling in rainy conditions, and the Blade Grooves increase grip by removing snow, water, and slush for better contact with the surface, and offer high-end handling performance in all-weathers. All thanks to the wider footprint and silica-rich compound, the tire can confidently run at high speeds with greater stability. The tread elements and various technologies incorporated in the tire also boost its braking performance in different weather conditions.

While great, the handling of the Roadian HTX2 is slightly behind the WR G4 SUV.

ADVANTAGE: WR G4 SUV

Nexen Roadian HTX2 vs Nokian WR G4 SUV on longevity

An all-weather tire is typically preferred because of its usability in different weather conditions, and longevity also becomes an important factor, because an all-weather tire that’s capable of being used in varied weather conditions also needs to serve for a longer period.

Commencing with the Roadian HTX2 first, the tire scores an exceptional 9.1 SimpleScore rating in the longevity area. The tread design and compound are optimized for longer tread wear and allow drivers to cover more miles in different weather. Both the inner and outer construction of the tire utilize sturdy materials to ensure optimum rigidity to withstand driving impacts and pressures. The wider tread of the Roadian HTX2 puts more rubber on the road for longer wear, while the advanced tread compound and design promote longevity. The sidewalls of this tire are also built strong to resist damage and offer extended use. Additionally, it comes with up to 70,000 miles limited manufacturer tread life warranty that reveals the tire’s ability to serve the drivers for a longer period.

The WR G4 SUV, on the other hand, boasts an 8.9 SimpleScore in handling as it utilizes many innovative technologies to achieve longer wear. While the patented Aramid Sidewall Technology provides solid durability and prevents cuts and chips, the Dual Performance SUV Compound increases stiffness. In addition, Nokian has ensured that the inner construction of the tire is durable enough to hold the tire in shape and offer a long-lasting service life. The wider tread profile of this tire also contributes to the longevity factor by reducing the chances of uneven wear and maintaining adequate rigidity for a slow wear rate. Nokian offers the WR G4 SUV with a 60,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty.

When we compared the longevity scores of both tires, we found that the Roadian HTX2 was slightly better than the WR G4 SUV.

ADVANTAGE: Roadian HTX2

When to use each

The Nexen tires and the Nokian tires compared here fall in the all-weather tires category, and they are engineered for use in dry, wet, and winter weather conditions. As both the tires are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, they can be confidently used in moderate to severe winter weather conditions, when the temperature is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you’re particularly looking for tires to drive in freezing winter conditions, on thick snow or ice, then you can use another set of winter tires for better performance results. Otherwise, for year-round usability, these tires would be an ideal choice.

Which one should you choose?

Out of the two all-weather tires, you would want to know which one could be the right choice for you. So, while comparing the overall SimpleScore of the Roadian HTX2 and the WR G4 SUV, we found that the WR G4 SUV was slightly better with an overall score of 9.2 versus 8.6. However, both tires are distinct in one of the other ways and have their own merits, therefore, you must compare them against each other and choose the one that aligns with your driving needs and preferences.

Coming to the most important factor, price. The Roadian HTX2 is available at a starting price of at least $137.00 per tire, while the WR G4 SUV comes at a starting price of at least $130.96 per tire. This means there is a very marginal difference in the price of both tires and a set of four Nexen tires will cost you at least $548.00, while a set of four Nokian tires will cost you at least $523.84.

Based on SimpleScore, you should consider the Roadian HTX2 if you:

• Drive a 3-row mid-size SUV like the Chevrolet Traverse, a full-size truck like the Toyota Tundra, and an SUV like the Jeep Wrangler.
• Need an all-weather tire that’s strong in longevity (9.1 vs 8.9 in longevity).
• Are okay to pay slightly more to own a dependable tire.
• Need a tire with rim sizes ranging between 16- to 22-inch rims.

Contrarily, you should choose the WR G4 SUV if you:

• Drive a mid-size CUV like the Subaru Outback, a luxury CUV like the Acura MDX, or a mid-size luxury SUV like the Porsche Cayenne.
• Need a tire that offers better traction (9.6 vs 8.4 in traction).
• Need a tire that offers better and more responsive handling performance (9.2 vs 8.3 in handling).
• Need an environment-friendly and fuel-efficient tire.
• Want a tire that offers overall better performance and costs slightly cheaper.
• Need a tire that’s compatible with CUVs and SUVs with 16- to 20-inch rims.

At first look, Roadian HTX2 vs WR G4 SUV tires don’t look like a close comparison but when you look at each other’s scores in various areas like handling, traction, and longevity, and compare their capabilities, they look like very close competitors. That being said, if you want to buy either the Nexen tires or the Nokian tires, you must take into consideration things like where and how you drive, your expectations from an all-weather tire, and your preferences over handling, traction, and longevity.

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.