Best braking performance on snow. Average braking performance on ice. Reasonably smooth ride. Worst braking performance on wet pavement. Issues with road holding ability on asphalt, issues with snow and ice handling. Average.

The new friction model from Nexen vividly demonstrates that this Korean brand is rapidly developing. The new tire from the Land of the Morning Calm surprised everyone with excellent performance when starting off and braking, both on snow and ice, where it also demonstrated the shortest stopping distance. The lateral grip is worse, with prominent understeer. Nonetheless, in terms of the points scored in the winter disciplines, the Nexen model only fell short of the leaders, Nokian and Continental. Sadly, the outstanding winter characteristics were achieved at the expense of sacrificing the tire’s dry performance. In the dry, the tire provides fuzzy steering response, and demonstrates a low road holding ability coupled with a long braking distance. On wet pavement, the WIP WH43 suddenly turns out to be prone to skidding, the rear wheels being the first to lose grip. Ultimately, scoring fifth place, the Nexen friction model becomes the best newcomer 2020.

Negative: Poor grip on ice, both longitudinal and lateral. On ice, prone to skidding both on front and rear axles. Poor grip on snow during an emergency maneuver. Long braking distance and lack of control on dry and wet pavement. Insufficient road holding ability. Increased rolling resistance.

Nexen's new studless tires show that the South Korean brand is advancing rapidly.
Positive: Has generally good grip on winter surfaces. Little road noise.
Negative: Long braking distances and poor stability on dry asphalt.

Winter/snow tires in general have weaker handling and wet- and dry-braking performance but Excellent ratings for winter traction and braking. Still, this Nexen earns a Poor rating for handling, fairing worse than the segment as a whole, even while it earns Excellent ratings for ride comfort and low noise, as well as for snow/ice handling.

Lack of balance between the longitudinal and the lateral grip, meaning, the car is OK when moving forward but can easily go into a skid while cornering. Hence a short braking distance, but a less-than-perfect handling response on ice.