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Nokian Powerproof 2 review

The Nokian combines excellent aquaplaning resistance with capable handling

Finnish tyre maker Nokian has restructured production and is back after a three-year hiatus due to the invasion of Ukraine. The Powerproof 2 is promoted as a tyre designed to perform in the wet and it was excellent in the deep-water aquaplaning tests, finishing second to the Firestone in both the curved and straight-line tests. 

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It was seventh in wet cornering and straight- line wet braking (2.7 metres off the best), which doesn’t look great, and on the wet track it was sixth, but it was one of five mid-field tyres that were covered by just one second. Around the tricky wet lap it felt really good. It needed a moment to settle into some of the corners but otherwise it was superb, with strong mid-corner grip and confidence-inspiring precision. 

Its fourth place in the dry straight-line braking test was less than 1.5 metres off the best, and in dry handling it was equal sixth, but it was a close contest. While the Nokian wasn’t the sharpest in terms of steering, it was still neat and predictable. But it was seventh for tyre noise and returned a mid-pack rolling resistance result, contributing to a competent rather than an inspiring overall performance.

Blackcircles says

“Blackcircles.com is unable to provide any insight into the tyre’s popularity or performance with our customers at present.”

Results

Nokian Powerproof 2  
Overall97.00% 
Price£68.74 
Wet braking90.37th
Wet handling98.26th
Wet cornering84.57th
Straight aquaplaning97.82nd
Curved aquaplaning98.72nd
Dry braking96.24th
Dry handling98.6= 6th
Noise & refinement97.4= 7th
Rolling resistance86.85th

Buy the Nokian Powerproof 2 from Blackcircles.com…

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