Little by little, four-season tires are becoming more popular among users due to their versatility and remarkable performance in all conditions. On this occasion we tested one of the flagship products of Nokian Tires.
All new cars sold in Spain are equipped with summer tiresa type of footwear that has been specially designed for dry asphalt and hot conditions.
However, throughout a whole year, we find ourselves with very diverse situations in which we are not always going to have the best tire for each of them. And it is that, even in a dry and hot country like Spain, there are numerous areas in which rains, storms and snow appear frequently.
Offers a high level of comfort for a quiet and smooth ride
It is true that a good summer tire will offer us more than enough performance in rainy and cold conditions. But it is also true that the level of safety and performance will never be comparable to that of a winter tire. And, when the snow appears, we will be forced to circular with chains.
But, then the solution is to put some winter tires on our car? Neither, because this type of product is specifically designed for temperatures below 7 ºC, in addition to rain, snow and ice.
So which tire is best for me? In many cases, it is best to resort to the middle option: the tire 4 seasons, All Seasons or All Time. A tire that offers remarkable performance in all conditions and is becoming increasingly popular for its versatility.
Nokian Seasonproof
In order to get a better idea of what a 4-season tire is capable of offering, we decided to try one of the flagship products of Nokian Tyres, the Scandinavian company originally belonging to Nokia Corporation and of which Bridgestone holds a part of its shareholders.
Nokian is known to have been pioneer in the development of winter tiresbecause it was not in vain that it was the first to launch one of this type on the market in 1934. But let’s get to the point, the Nokian Seasonproof tire test, one of the two all-weather products of the firm based in Finland.
Season Sense Concept
As we have already mentioned, the 4 Season tire aims to offer optimal performance in all conditions that a driver may encounter during the 12 months of the year.
This means that it must be competent with extreme temperatures, both in summer and winter. In addition, it must be able to properly manage dry asphalt, rain, snow and ice.
To make this possible, Nokian has developed what it calls “Season Sense”, a technology that combines three techniques: the rubber compound, the tread pattern design and the tire laminate.
Starting at the beginning, the rubber compound has a very high level of silica to ensure good durability, as well as low rolling resistance that helps reduce fuel consumption.
The Seasonproof tread has the traditional arrow-shaped marking so characteristic of winter and 4-season tyres. But it also includes some snow claws located between the blocks, thus providing a better grip both under acceleration and braking.
Finally, the multifunctional laminatewhich Nokian has designed to achieve maximum performance and versatility throughout the year.
For all types of cars, including SUVs and electric
Nokian has two variants of the Seasonproof, one for conventional passenger cars and one specially designed for SUVs, which includes an aramid reinforcement on the flanks. In addition, Nokian states that this tire is especially suitable for electric cars. These vehicles need a product that stands out for its low rolling resistance, which allows it to increase its autonomy.
In any case, this tire is available in four speed indices, (T, H, V and W) and for 14 to 19 inch wheels. Likewise, the Nokian Seasonproof can be found in different sizes, with widths ranging from 165 to 255 and profiles from 40 to 70.
Nokian claims that the Seasonproof is the ideal tire for all seasons of the year.
Does it deliver what it promises?
We have talked a lot about the theory, but now what interests us is to check if it fulfills what it promises in real conditions.
Rolling and durability
The truth is that it is a tire with a high level of comfort that allows a quiet and smooth ride. Shooting on asphalt of all kinds is pleasant and invites progressive driving to delve into that feeling.
With an average loudness of 71.5 decibels, the Nokian Seasonproof is one of the best tires on the market in this regard, especially between 4 Season and winter tires. The rolling resistance is equally remarkable, thereby contributing to lower fuel consumption.
In this type of tire, one of the main weak points is usually durability, since it is not for nothing that softer compounds are used and the greater presence of laminate in the tread pattern also produces greater lateral inertia.
However, the Seasonproof resolves this aspect well, overcoming the barrier of 50,000 kilometers if the right conditions are met. In any case, it is not a tire that is going to present problems of premature wear if your driving is not sporty or aggressive.
dry behavior
Another aspect in which it is more difficult for a 4 Season tire to perform at an optimum level is in the dry and in the heat, when the summer tires are in their element.
This is due in part to what we have discussed in the previous section in relation to the composition of the rubber and the characteristics of the pattern. And it is that, inevitably, greater inertias are produced that cause less precision in driving.
And maybe this is the main weak point of the Seasonproof, which cannot avoid generating a tendency to understeer. Its dry maneuverability is not one of the best, while the braking efficiency is not particularly outstanding either, using an average of 41.5 meters to come to a complete stop from 100 km/h.
behavior in the wet
When the rain appears, the 4 Season tires should begin to show their qualities in relation to the dry ones, but the truth is that the Nokian Seasonproof does not particularly stand out in this regard either.
His ability to wet braking it is lower than the average for tires of the same type, needing an average of 53.5 meters to come to a complete stop from 100 km/h.
As in the dry, driving in the wet is also improvable and the tendency to understeer still present. Taking all this into account, it is not surprising that its aquaplaning tendency is also disappointing for a 4 Season tyre, although it remains average in its category.
Behavior in snow
This is the ideal element for the Nokian Seasonproof, which is shown as a clear benchmark in its segment. Not surprisingly, the Scandinavian brand is a specialist in winter tires and this seems more like a product of that type than a more versatile one.
As for snow traction, its performance is spectacular and even superior to a winter tire. If we talk about dynamic behavior and braking, excellence is still present and there is no snowy road that can resist its performance.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the Nokian Seasonproof is approved with the highest winter certification, being suitable for use without chains. The M+3 inscriptions and the official icon of 3PMSF certification (mountain with a snowflake inside) located on its flank.
Conclusions
Finishing with the average price of this tire, the truth is that it is not one of the most expensive, moving in the range of 70-100 euros per unit for the most common sizes in the Spanish market. That makes it relatively inexpensive and keeps it a good option for a certain type of user.
And what is that driver that the Nokian Seasonproof must seduce? It is clear that this 4 season tire is closer to a winter tirebecause its performance on snow is the best by far.
However, its behavior in dry and wet conditions is simply reliable and there are surely more balanced options on the market. Yes indeed, its competitive price, its durability and its ride comfort They allow it to continue to be an option to consider for calm drivers who are used to driving normally in those conditions that are less favorable for the Nokian Seasonproof.
Photos: Nokian Tires