Nexen Tires Review: Are Nexen Tires Good?

Nexen is known as one of Korea's first tire brands. It may not be manufactured in the US; however, the combination of reasonable quality and low cost can make this tire well worth your consideration.

After a long time of experiencing many Nexen tires, I offer the detailed Nexen tires review as a reliable reference to help you choose the suitable one.

Nexen Tires Overview

If you are interested in this mid-range tire brand and its quality products, do not miss the review section below. Before learning about Nexen's most prominent tire models, let's look at some of the unique features of this Korean brand.

Who makes Nexen tires?

Nexen Tires' predecessor is the Heung-A company, established in 1942.

Heung A is Korea's first tire company, headquartered in Yangsan. In 2000, this company changed its name to Nexen, the new century's tire manufacturer.

This name has partly shown the direction of the company. They aim for durable tires with futuristic technology that will last many years.

The year 2005 marked a new development step for Nexen when this manufacturer had its first branch in the US. Since 2012, this brand gradually asserted its position when global sales reached more than 2 billion dollars and won many awards. Some prominent mentions are IDEA, G-Mark, and Dot Design.

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Where are Nexen tires made?

Nexen has its headquarters in Yangsan and many factories scattered across the country as a Korean company. In 2000, after changing its development strategy and gaining specific achievements, the company expanded its production scale by opening several factories in China.

In addition to specialized factories, Nexen also opened several mixed production plants in several countries, including the United States. With a developed factory system, Nexen has produced millions of quality tires at affordable prices.

Are Nexen tires good?

You can't doubt the quality of a brand with tire sales of over two billion dollars a year, like Nexen. This Korean company's tire will be a worthy choice for any sedan, SUV, or truck with a series of advantages below: 

  • Excellent warranty 

The best warranty in the segment is one of the reasons why I always trust the quality of Nexen. In addition to the standard tread distance warranty, the manufacturer also offers protection tire failures caused by the build quality.

Thanks to this advantage, my family and I feel more secure when traveling on all types of roads and weather conditions.

  • Advanced technology

True to its name, Nexen is a leading brand researching, developing, and applying advanced technology to tires. Some of the brand's exclusive technologies are V-oriented and Green Hive tires.

  • Impressive design

Nexen tires stand out more than any other option in the same segment. The designs of this tire company have even received top awards worldwide. 

I have always been pleased and delighted with the aesthetics of Nexen tires.

Most Popular Nexen Tires

Whether you own an SUV, a performance car, or a truck, you can find Nexen tires that can meet your needs. Here are the best options from this famous tire.

1. Touring All-Season Tires

Nexen Tire N Priz AH5

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The Nexen N Priz AH5 fulfills all my requirements for a standard all-season touring tire.
Despite its affordable price, the manufacturer still equips it with longitudinal grooves, a dual design to increase rigidity, and a 50,000-mile warranty.

After many miles of driving with these tires on my 2016 Ford Fusion, I see that the tire is excellent on wet roads. It drains quickly, always maintaining a bond with the pavement.

The tires give good feedback when cornering or sharply braking on slippery roads.

I also appreciate its performance on dry roads. This model offers reliable grip and handling, satisfying my everyday driving needs.

In addition, they provide quite a quiet and comfortable ride whether I'm driving in the city or on the highway.

I will definitely buy these tires again and will probably buy them for my wife's 2018 Subaru Forester in the near future.

Pros:

  • Affordable price
  • Excellent on wet roads
  • Enough grip on dry roads
  • Robust design, high durability
  • 50,000-mile warranty service

Cons:

  • Poor handling of snow and ice

Nexen N Priz AH8

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Unlike the AH5, the Nexen N Priz AH8 can operate all year round, even with light snowfall.
On dry roads, the tires provide a reasonably comfortable driving experience. It also handles pretty well, delivering the performance I demand.

On wet roads, they performed quite well on wet surfaces as I drove at medium speeds on the street.

However, when driving on the highway at more than 60 mph, I feel as though I am not in complete control of the vehicle, it easily loses traction in the rain if I drive at a higher speed. And the braking distance is quite limited.

On light snow, the traction is good. However, in deep snow they are really bad. I almost got stuck in about 4 inches of snow while driving on my way home.

So I wouldn't recommend this tire to you if you live in an area with harsh winter conditions.

Despite its good year-round performance, the N Priz AH8 has some drawbacks. In particular, the concerning issue of the tire is the quality of the ride. On flat roads, it operates relatively smoothly compared to my expectations.

But, on rough roads, the tires are very noisy and transmit quite a bit of vibration to the cabin.

Pros:

  • Affordable price
  • Impressive dry performance
  • Good for light snow
  • Highway driving experience is comfortable

Cons:

  • Traction is reduced when driving in the rain at high speed
  • Noisy and uncomfortable on impact
  • Not good in deep snow and ice

Nexen Tire Aria AH7

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If you are looking for a tire that meets your daily driving needs, the Nexen Tire Aria AH7 is a good choice.

This all-season touring tire works well on various surfaces, from dry to wet and snowy with traction is great. In particular, I greatly appreciated the tire's handling in light snow.

Although it cannot be compared with specialized winter models, the experience that Aria AH7 brings quite well met my expectations.

Ride quality is also quite commendable. Even when traveling at high speed on the highway, the Aria AH7 is not too noisy.

After more than 9,000 miles so far, tire wear is still as I expected. Perhaps this is what I am so impressed with with tires that are affordable but deliver pretty good overall performance.

Pros:

  • Quiet and comfortable ride
  • Good traction and handling on dry roads
  • Handles well in the rain
  • Handle well on light snow
  • Suitable for daily driving needs
  • Good overall performance
  • Warranty mileage is up to 80,000 miles

Cons:

  • Poor performance on heavy snow and ice

2. Highway All-Season Tires

Nexen Roadian HTX RH5

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I had these tires on my 2015 Ram 3500. I usually use my truck for towing trailers. I've done 15,000 miles so far and the tires are still in good working order. As far as I can see, tire wear is good.

And the Nexen Roadian HTX RH5 had an excellent performance on the highway with excellent traction on dry surfaces, at the same time provide quite quiet and comfortable ride. I am really impressed with this. And the braking distance is also impressive for a budget tire.

I also appreciate the wet performance of this model. I am even more confident in making tricky turns on wet roads than on dry roads.

On slippery terrain, the Roadian HTX RH5 cooperative provides an impressive cornering grip.

The snow performance of this tire is not as excellent as the performance on the wet road. Handling and traction on light snow is not an issue. But if you live in an area with harsh winter conditions then this tire is not for you.

This highway tire model has a pretty good all-season performance. However, it didn't respond too impressively to me. It's not overly responsive or responsive to input. It is also the only drawback of this tire model.

Pros:

  • Excellent on the highway
  • Handle well on light snow
  • Impressive wet cornering
  • Good grip on dry roads
  • Short braking distance
  • Quiet and comfortable ride

Cons:

  • The response is not so good

Nexen Roadian CT8 HL

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As a tire model to meet the needs of commercial travel, Nexen focuses on improving the durability of the Roadian CT8 HL.

And this series of efforts by the manufacturer has been quite successful. This tire has the necessary rigidity and a durable compound for an impressive lifespan.

After about 12,000 miles of driving and I rotated these tires 2 times, every 5,000 miles, it has not worn abnormally, and the tread depth is still at a commendable level.

But durability is not the only advantage of this highway tire. Roadian CT8 HL also conquered me with a reasonably smooth ride, year-round traction, and impressive wet handling.

I would not recommend using the Roadian CT8 HL for an area with severe winters. While the grooves provide decent traction, they are unreliable enough to navigate through heavy snow or hard ice.

Pros:

  • Durable
  • Smooth trip
  • Dry and wet handling is pretty good
  • Suitable for daily driving needs

Cons:

  • Not suitable for harsh winters

3. Summer Tires

Nexen Tire NFERA SU1

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Similar to N Fera Sur 4, N Fera Su1 is also a performance tire that can work well in hot summer conditions. Even at the highest temperatures, the tire compound of the Nexen N'Fera SU1 remains relatively stable, providing the necessary grip.

When the weather changes, this tire model still handles quite well. I am pretty satisfied with the experience in wet weather conditions that the tire brings.

In the end, I was also quite satisfied with the ride quality of the Nexen summer tires. It is pretty quiet even when traveling at high speed.

Despite possessing many advantages, N Fera SU 1 still has to improve quite a lot.

One of the downsides of this tire model that needs to be changed is that the performance handling is not so impressive.

Pros:

  • Durable
  • Stable grip
  • Good ride quality
  • Handle well on wet roads
  • 25,000-mile tire tread warranty

Cons:

  • Not the best performance driving option

Nexen Tire NFERA SUR4

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I was impressed with N’Fera SUR4's stability at high speeds. With precise steering, it made me feel more secure than ever when accelerating on the highway.

Its braking performance also surprised me, it was not difficult to quickly stop the car while traveling at high speed.

The tires provide very good handling and traction on dry and wet road. Besides, I'm also impressed with the tire noise. It's reasonably quiet for a summer tire.

However, like many other summer tire models, N’Fera SUR4 is not so durable. If you're looking for performance tires with impressive tire life, the N’Fera SUR4 might disappoint you.

I did not experience this tire in the snow, and you probably shouldn't either, as it is a summer tire, and you shouldn't risk using it in the harsh winter.

Pros:

  • Short stopping distance
  • Excellent dry and wet performance
  • Stable when moving at high speed
  • Fit for performance driving
  • Work well in the summer

Cons:

  • Not as durable as expected

4. All-Terrain Tires

Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8

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I've been with the Nexen Roadian AT Pro RA8 through quite rough terrain, such as shallow mud, dirt and gravel. To this day, it is still Nexen's best cheap all-terrain tire.

This powerful tire model handles quite stably on dry roads when I drive on the streets and highways.

Tires also have no trouble moving on wet surface. The heavy rains I encountered did not cause the tires to lose grip. I am still very confident in my Toyota Tacoma 4wd in slippery road conditions.

I regularly drive on the trails around Idaho and the tires have done their job well. They offer very good grip and traction. However, I have no experience in deep mud and larger rocky terrain.

In the snow, the Roadian AT Pro RA8 is also quite excellent. It has received the three-peak snowflake emblem, demonstrating its ability to operate safely in winter.

The Roadian AT Pro RA8 conquered me with its impressive off-road performance. But, there are still some points that make me not too satisfied. And its most significant drawback is loud noise and less comfortable ride quality.

Pros:

Cons:

  • The ride quality is less than comfortable

5. Winter Tires

Nexen Winguard Sport 2

Nexen Winguard Sport 2

I have tested quite a few models of performance winter tires. But not many options in the segment offer an experience as impressive as the Nexen Winguard Sport 2.

Its snow and ice performance is unquestionable. A V-shaped spike design increases stability. Meanwhile, exclusive 3D Winter kerf technology increases traction on snow and improves driving dynamics.

All of the above items are at full power in my actual testing. The tire's snow handling is even better than some of the expensive options.

In addition to its power on ice, this tire also impressed me with its powerful performance. Right in the first test drive, the tire impressed me with the feeling of driving quite sporty.

It also responds quite well compared to the traditional winter models available.

The Winguard Sport 2 is an option worth considering if you want a performance driving experience. However, its wet handling is not so good. In my opinion, its hydroplaning resistance is just average.

Pros:

  • Good responsiveness
  • Sporty driving feel
  • Excellent snow handling
  • It can operate in harsh winters
  • The balance between ice handling and performance

Cons:

  • Poor wet handling

Nexen Winguard Ice Plus

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Due to their design characteristics, winter tires often do not have an impressive ride quality. However, the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus is an exception.

Even on the first test drive, I was pretty surprised with the ride comfort that the tire brought. Its experience cannot be compared to tourist tires. However, Nexen's noise and vibration are significantly lower than my expectations.

As a winter tire, the Winguard Ice Plus impresses with good performance on the ice. Its dual V-shaped 3D block provides traction on slippery surfaces.

Meanwhile, the central and semi-small grooves effectively remove water and snow from the surface.

There is a pretty impressive performance in the snow, but the Winguard Ice Plus is not so great on ice. I expected its on-ice performance to be as remarkable as the name suggests. However, this tire needs more effort in practice to improve performance on the ice.

Pros:

  • Unique tire design
  • Quiet ride, less vibration
  • Provide grip on wet, slippery terrain
  • Performance on snow is quite impressive
  • Remove water and snow from the surface

Cons:

  • Not so great on ice

Nexen Winguard Winspike 3

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The Nexen Winguard Winspike 3 is the best responsive winter tire I've ever used.

It assisted with relatively accurate and stable feedback to help me drive confidently in the snow.

Its snow and ice performance is also quite outstanding. It has enough biting edges to maintain a grip on surfaces, even frost. The winter-flexible compound keeps me moving with confidence even when the temperature plummets.

Despite its impressive wet and snow performance, the Winguard Winspike 3 is not so great on dry roads. In my reviews, its dry performance is just average.

Pros:

  • Maintain grip on ice
  • Good grip in heavy rain
  • Flexible winter tire compound
  • Accurate and responsive response
  • Remove snow and water from the surface

Cons:

  • Average dry performance

Pros And Cons of Nexen Tires

After consulting the above suggestions, are you still wondering about the actual quality of Nexen tires? Let's check out some products' pros and cons.

Pros:

  • Beautiful design
  • Reliable warranty service
  • The choice of many big brands
  • Compatible with many different brands
  • Diverse tire designs to meet all needs

Cons:

  • It can't be similar to the most premium models in each category

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about Nexen tires. If you are interested, don't skip any of the answers:

  • Are Nexen tires made in China?

Nexen has a manufacturing plant in China. Most of the tire models distributed in Asia come from this country. If you shop in Europe, you can find options made in the Czech factory.

  • Are Nexen tires good in the rain?

Nexen tires have quite impressive wet performance. It has a stable grip, good resistance to hydroplaning, and works great even under heavy rain. 

  • Are Nexen all-season tires good in snow?

Nexen all-season tires can operate on light snow. However, it will not be reliable enough to travel in areas with harsh winters.

  • How many miles do Nexen tires last?

The average lifespan of Nexen tires ranges from 50,000-60,000 miles.

  • Do Nexen manufacture run-flat tires?

Nexen produces run-flat tires, applying a lot of new technologies. And in the future, the brand will continue to optimize its run-flat tires.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a tire that meets your daily driving needs, Nexen Tire N Priz AH5 will not disappoint you.

The Nexen Tire NFERA SU1 meets the needs of performance driving in the summer, while the Nexen Winguard Sport 2 offers a sporty driving feeling in the winter.

Nexen has a full range of tire models to meet your diverse needs. Hopefully, through the Nexen tires review above, you can understand more about this brand and make the best choice. Thank you for reading!

1 thought on “Nexen Tires Review: Are Nexen Tires Good?”

  1. Worst tires i’ve ever had. These came stock on my Kia Sorrento that I bought exactly a year ago. To begin — after using Michelin and Goodyear, the traction and feel is terrible on these. Multiple times it was almost dangerous getting onto the highway on wet pavement.

    Then I go in for my 10k checkin and the Authorized Kia dealership tells me that all 4 tires are bulging and defective. I submit a warranty claim, no one answers.

    Then I reach out to the customer service line, and some person tells me that they responded with a rejection of my claim. There is no response to my submission in my inbox, spam, anywhere. They said that “The bubble/bulging damage is indicative of road hazard impact, such as potholes, curbs, or speed bumps. OE tires do not come with road hazard warranty.”

    I asked for a supervisor. Chris L in California hopped on and was arrogant and smug from the get go. He hit me with the “first of all…”, and proceeded to tell me that based on my pictures that it’s impact damage from curbs or train tracks etc and not defective tires. Mind you, i’ve driven these only on the highway and residential roads.

    This guy spoke over me, doubled down on his assumption and kept telling me that Kia’s opinion doesn’t matter (Kia uses them for their new vehicles). Worst customer service experience in my entire life. Terrible product, terrible employees, and they pull a fast one on you with the warranty by unjustly denying claims. I will be reaching out to my lawyer given that i’m driving unsafe tires (under warranty) and they are unwilling to help me.

    Reply

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