Snow tires - Nokian WRG3s are worthless

[KillerCharlie]

A year or two ago I got Nokian wrg3 tires for my 2009 Forester. I have less than 30k miles on them and there is a lot of tread left. Of all the vehicles I've ever driven in snow, these tires are the worst. I've had better performance in bald summer tires. Did they get damaged somehow? Their reviews are pretty good. It doesn't get very hot here (Seattle), so I don't think they got damaged by hot roads. They also slide all over the place in the rain.

Any guesses as to why these are so terrible for me? Did I drive too aggressively in the summer and damage the rubber? Regardless, I won't be buying these again. I think I'll get a second set of wheels/tires for winter and keep using these for summer.

 

[HarryLui]

Nokian WRG3 are all season tires, not snow tires.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Yes, I know that, but they are supposed to be better in snow than other all season tires, and I clearly stated they performed worse...

 

[dave_the_nerd]

How are you quantifying "worse?"

And you how did you get tires two years ago for a 2016 car? Have you even had these in the snow before this year? Seattle doesn't normally get a lot of snow - in fact, I just googled it, and last year, they got 0.0 inches. So... I'm thinking you probably just don't really know how this car/tire combo can handle in inclement weather. Also, your car's traction control may be acting funny.

I had heard that the WRG3s weren't as good as the WRG2s they replaced (which I loved), and I know Nokian prioritized snow traction over wet-weather. (But I live in friggin' Hoth, so... yeah. Snow.) But if you're having trouble on Nokians in the snow, I call BS. You're probably driving like a numbskull.

Also, they do wear out fast, so double check your tread depth. I was lucky to get 45k out of a pair of WRG2s. 30k is about when tire salesmen would look at the tread wear and try to sell me another set.

 

[herm0016]

And on a Subaru you should be replacing all 4 because it's all wheel drive all the time. You are probably wearing out the clutches in the transmission.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Typo- it's a 09 Forester. I drive to the snowiest place on Earth once a week - Mt Baker (1140 inches - 95 feet - in one season). I'm also from Minnesota... I am very experienced driving in snow.

I got stuck in the parking lot (2" of compact snow) and barely got out. There is definitely something wrong with these tires, I'm just trying to figure out why. I do know that the Nokians effectiveness in snow degrades before the entire tread does. I think there's a wear bar just for the snow effectiveness - I'll have to check them when I get home. I'm just shocked the degradation was so dramatic. I still suspect that the tread got damaged from summer driving somehow.

I'm going to order some Ice-X tires with steel wheels.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

My bad, never mind then. 7 years should be enough time to get used to a car.

If you're stuck in a parking lot, there's definitely something wrong. And yeah, the tires could just be worn out. Do you rotate your tires regularly?

Anecdote time: my brother's first "car" was a '92 RWD F-150. It seemed to drive okay, but the minute he took it on a gravel road or parked it on grass at our parents' house, the thing would get stuck. I don't remember the details, whys and wherefores, but I do remember that it ended up being bad rear brakes - the wheels weren't getting spinning at the same time, so that whole "traction" thing didn't work so well. (So... moral of the story is get your mechanicals checked too.)

 

[Zivic]

Typo- it's a 09 Forester. I drive to the snowiest place on Earth once a week - Mt Baker (1140 inches - 95 feet - in one season). I'm also from Minnesota... I am very experienced driving in snow.

I got stuck in the parking lot (2" of compact snow) and barely got out. There is definitely something wrong with these tires, I'm just trying to figure out why. I do know that the Nokians effectiveness in snow degrades before the entire tread does. I think there's a wear bar just for the snow effectiveness - I'll have to check them when I get home. I'm just shocked the degradation was so dramatic. I still suspect that the tread got damaged from summer driving somehow.

I'm going to order some Ice-X tires with steel wheels.

All seasons = No seasons

You want snow tires, get snow tires

 

[KillerCharlie]

I already clearly stated that I know that. Does anyone actually read posts anymore? It's like people just post here to show off instead of providing thoughtful advice.

I'm trying to figure out why these tires, which are supposed to be better in snow than regular all-seasons, are much worse.

 

[Zivic]

I already clearly stated that I know that. Does anyone actually read posts anymore? It's like people just post here to show off instead of providing thoughtful advice.

I'm trying to figure out why these tires, which are supposed to be better in snow than regular all-seasons, are much worse.

you complained about an off brand of all seasons with a fair amount miles on them not being good in the snow... I read the post. kind of like complaining your jordans don't help your on ice hockey game much

 

[Torn Mind]

Could be aging. Dry rot or hardening. It happens.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Could be aging. Dry rot or hardening. It happens.

^ This. I had a set of Michellin Xi2s with pristine tread, but they couldn't grip for sh*t in winter after 4-5 years.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

you complained about an off brand of all seasons with a fair amount miles on them not being good in the snow... I read the post. kind of like complaining your jordans don't help your on ice hockey game much

"Off brand?"

Google more.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Nokian WRG3s are not normal "all season" no season tires.
They are winter tires, but, they are usable year round, or at least that is their claim to fame.

However, like winter tires, they tend to wear very quickly in warm/hot weather.

I was tempted to buy a set when I last bought tires on my 08 fozzy, but, I instead went for some ecopia no-season tires as they were like 2/3 the price, and should last 2x as long.

It seems like the reviews, while generally very favorable, are a bit mixed, and early wear seems like the common problem.
https://www.nokiantires.com/winter-tires/nokian-wrg3/user-opinions/

 

[BurnItDwn]

you complained about an off brand of all seasons with a fair amount miles on them not being good in the snow... I read the post. kind of like complaining your jordans don't help your on ice hockey game much

These are Nokians, more or less the best brand for winter tires in the world. (Their Hakkapeliittas pretty much dominate the X-ICE and Blizzaks in every test by every publication)

Now, about the WRG tires. They are not "all season" tires, they are marketed as "all weather" tires, but, in actuality, they are winter tires with a slightly harder compound in order to not be useless and melt away during the summer. They meet all the winter tire standards (mountain/snowflake symbol.)

To the OP, I suggest you countact Nokian to see about warranty service, it's possible they way offer to swap your tires out with new ones, though they likely will want to charge you 1/2 to 2/3 the price of a new set.

 

[SearchMaster]

I've had better performance in bald summer tires

Is this true or hyperbole? I live in the south so we get very little snow, but the one time I drove in a tiny bit of snow on bald summer tires (it had melted on all the roads but a friend's shady driveway had a half inch or so left), there's no way I could have gotten anywhere on a real road. And certainly no way I could have driven at the snowiest place on earth.

You said you got them a year or two ago...did you drive on them much at first in snow and is there a very noticeable difference between then and now in either rain or snow?

 

[Zivic]

"Off brand?"

Google more.

spent a few minutes googling... not finding rave reviews of the tire.

These are Nokians, more or less the best brand for winter tires in the world. (Their Hakkapeliittas pretty much dominate the X-ICE and Blizzaks in every test by every publication)

Now, about the WRG tires. They are not "all season" tires, they are marketed as "all weather" tires, but, in actuality, they are winter tires with a slightly harder compound in order to not be useless and melt away during the summer. They meet all the winter tire standards (mountain/snowflake symbol.)

To the OP, I suggest you countact Nokian to see about warranty service, it's possible they way offer to swap your tires out with new ones, though they likely will want to charge you 1/2 to 2/3 the price of a new set.

Sooooo, they are an all season/all weather tire.

if they were a winter/snow tire, they wouldn't have a "slightly harder compound"

 

[BurnItDwn]

if they were a winter/snow tire, they wouldn't have a "slightly harder compound"

Except that they are winter tires as they are rated as such.

 

[pauldun170]

spent a few minutes googling... not finding rave reviews of the tire.





Sooooo, they are an all season/all weather tire.

if they were a winter/snow tire, they wouldn't have a "slightly harder compound"

They are calling them "all weather" instead of all season for marketing reasons.
These aren't winter tires
Based on what I've been seeing in some quick googling, these are along the lines of a Continental Extremecontact DWS tires. All season tires with a tread pattern that handles snow ok for an allseason tire.
Winter tires are more than tread pattern. They are also temperature sensitive.
I can't think of any true winter tire that would survive very long during warmer months.

Nokian WRG3 are all season tires. Not Winter tires.
Reviews seem to indicate they go to shit around 30K-40K which would match OP experience.

 

[jlee]

A year or two ago I got Nokian wrg3 tires for my 2009 Forester. I have less than 30k miles on them and there is a lot of tread left. Of all the vehicles I've ever driven in snow, these tires are the worst. I've had better performance in bald summer tires. Did they get damaged somehow? Their reviews are pretty good. It doesn't get very hot here (Seattle), so I don't think they got damaged by hot roads. They also slide all over the place in the rain.

Any guesses as to why these are so terrible for me? Did I drive too aggressively in the summer and damage the rubber? Regardless, I won't be buying these again. I think I'll get a second set of wheels/tires for winter and keep using these for summer.

Have you worn them down past the snowflake symbol embedded in the tread?

 

[Zivic]

Except that they are winter tires as they are rated as such.

as paul posted, they are NOT winter tires. an all season like the DWS conti tires, can be driven in snow, and may be marketed as such (DryWetSnow), but they aren't a true winter/snow tire. They would not have a "slightly harder compound" if they were. based on what jlee just posted, they must be exactly like the DWS conti tires. they are getting their "snow rating" due to tread pattern/depth, not from the compound.

 

[ChronoReverse]

They're winter tires. The compound is softer and stays pliable in the cold. I just drove a couple weeks ago in -20 degrees Celsius snow (and snowfall) on the highway in my Jetta with WRG3's up and down Big White from Vancouver (which is near Seattle incidentally); they have the grip of snow tires. However, because they're really snow tires, their dry weather grip is only reasonable while wet grip is mediocre.

Still, I'd check the wear on the treads for the tires. The WRG3's wear out faster than all-seasons because the rubber compound is softer. By the time the tread is half-way down, it'll no longer be really suitable for snow anymore.


I'm taking this part back because you said you're from Minnesota where you have to have had great snow experience, huh.

In any case, if your all-wheel drive Forrester with WRG3's can't move in snow, I suspect that it's likely your snow-driving technique. No offense but Seattle drivers are likely similar to the Vancouver drivers in my city who simply don't get enough practice with snow driving since we average 1 snowfall a year. Not that you're a bad driver but you may have forgotten how suddenly one can lose traction especially if under the illusion of safety AWD gives.

 

[pauldun170]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...ther-tires-a-good-compromise/article16190526/
http://www.tractionnews.com/toyo-nokian-all-weather-test/

Its not a true winter tire
Its between an all season and a winter tire and they are being marketed as such.

 

[ChronoReverse]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...ther-tires-a-good-compromise/article16190526/
http://www.tractionnews.com/toyo-nokian-all-weather-test/

Its not a true winter tire
Its between an all season and a winter tire and they are being marketed as such.

No, what they're actually not is a top-tier winter tire. The WRG3's will never match Blizzak or X-Ice tires for example; it simply isn't as soft nor does it have as chunky treads. But then, if you were comparing the latest Nokian Hakkapeliitta tires to the original Blizzak tires, would you then consider the Blizzak's to be "not a winter tire" rather than simply "not nearly as good"?


The key factor that makes a WRG3 a low-level winter tire is that its rubber compound is designed to stay soft below 4 degrees Celsius (and indeed still soft enough to be usable in -20 C in my experience) and a tread pattern more optimized for snow/slush than rain/dry. The Nordman WR's, as the tire is known as in its native Europe, are only marketed as "all-weather" in North America but is a winter tire in its home markets.

 

[desura]

My Nokians were made in Russia, interestingly enough.