Nokian Powerproof review

Finnish tyre maker Nokian tops a tightly packed group with Pirelli and Avon, where there’s precious little to choose between the three manufacturers. 

Nokian has also seen its performance drop, because the Powerproof won our 2019 SUV tyre test. It was the clear wet-weather star then, making a clean sweep of handling, cornering and braking. But the competition has moved on and there was to be no repeat in this car size, with the Powerproof taking fifth in the wet evaluations. A podium in the closely matched cornering test was its highlight. 

There was a general lack of grip from the front, which gave a stable rear but required lower entry speeds and less throttle through the turns. It was safe but not quick, and not what we felt when we drove the bigger SUV size. The same shortage of grip was present on the dry handling track, where it felt soft and required more lock than its rivals, yet this only translated into a few tenths off the best. It fared better in braking, and was less than a metre behind the winning Michelin. 

It was also good for cabin noise, yet fuel economy was a concern – even ignoring the Bridgestone, it was towards the bottom of the chasing pack here.

We say...

The Powerproof was developed to take on the premium makers of summer tyres, but more work is needed if it is to match the big names.

Blackcircles.com says…

"At the time of writing, Blackcircles.com does not stock this tyre, meaning we are unable to provide any insight into the Nokian’s popularity or performance with our buyers."

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