Nokian WR First Impressions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DaveJ · #1 10-08-2003, 10:19 AM

Last week I purchased and installed 4 Nokian WR tires on my '98 E320. These tires replaced my quick wearing Bridgestone Turanza Revos. Here's my first impresions of the tires, before testing them on rain and snow.

The tires are extremely quiet, even at 60-70MPH.

The ride is very comfortable and softer than the Bridgestones, and this I prefer. It is not spongy or sloppy, as in the case of dedicated snows such as the Bridgestone Artic Alpin.

Steering effort is reduced from the Bridgestones. However, steering is a little less precise on center.

Handling is good to very good, especially given the true all weather nature of this tire.

The tires have an appealing look. The side sipes show a bit more than standard tires, but it also gives the car a slightly more aggressive appearance.

My only concern with these tires is dry and possibly wet weather traction. My former Bridgestones were extremely sticky in dry and wet conditions. I was spoiled with the traction these tires had in these conditons. Unfortunately, the Bridgestones were horrible and unsafe in any snow condition.

Driving the car with the new WRs the rear drive wheel easily loses traction upon quick acceleration from a stop. I never experienced this with the Bridgestones. I'm concerned how the braking distance is affected with these tires. The tires are inflated 28lbs front and rear, which is one pound greater than specified by Mercedes under normal load conditions.

What do others with WRs or NRVs feel about their dry/wet traction? Will traction improve over time? Have you found a more ideal inflation pressure for these tires?

I knew there would be some compromise with the WR in order to get decent snow capability, but I wasn't expecting less traction in dry conditions. Since it hasn't rained here for a week, I don't know how the tires will perform in wet conditions.

Other than that, I really think these tires are great. Thanks to all on this forum for their recommendation.

DaveJ · #2 10-10-2003, 10:58 AM

Anyone have comments on dry/wet traction with their Nokian WR or NRV tires? Thanks.

#3 10-10-2003, 01:16 PM

I've had WRs on my wife's 190D for a little over a year. There's certainly been no issue with wet/dry traction on that car. I think the tires are excellent in all conditions that we've had them in.

The 190D just got rear-ended, btw. The woman who hit my wife from behind claimed that she couldn't stop on the wet pavement, but my wife said it was just a normal stop on her part--no emergency or anything. I guess that indicates the WRs are working right.

DaveJ · #4 10-20-2003, 10:16 AM

This is an update to my original post.

I'm very happy with my Nokian WRs. After running them for almost 3 weeks, it seems as though the dry and wet traction has improved substantially to a point where I don't even notice it anymore. I don't know if this tire or all tires have a "break-in period", but the traction sure seems to have improved over time.

need2speed · #5 10-20-2003, 09:05 PM

We just put WR Nokian's all-round on the ML320, hoping for better winter performance than the stock all-season tires. Will let you know in the spring

congonatty · #6 11-09-2003, 07:12 PM

Been running NRV's for two years on 89 300e, great in dry, wet and light to moderate snow. Have not tested them in heavy snow(note these are all season tires). Unusual to get heavy snow at my location.

DaveJ · #7 11-09-2003, 09:31 PM

I was speaking with Nokian and asked them about a "break-in" period for the WR. They said what I experienced initially regarding traction was perfectly normal. I didn't quite understand everything the rep said, but she said the tire was behaving just like it should.

Apparantly the tire does break in after a short period of time (something to do with bridges and sipes) and full traction is then obtained. I no longer have any traction concern whatsover with the tire and I'm very happy with them. In 1-2 weeks I'll probably get the chance to test them in the snow.

edge · #8 11-09-2003, 11:10 PM

So I gather that y'all will be foregoing the extra set of rims + snows that snow belt MB drivers usually employ?

DaveJ · #9 11-10-2003, 10:22 AM

edge,

No snow tires or extra rims for me. Since I no longer drive this car nearly at much as I used to, I feel very confident that the WRs will easily do the job. The Nokian WR is an all weather tire designed for the harsh weather conditions of eastern Europe. It's the only four season tire certified with the Severe Service Emblem. It is not an "all season" tire that has minimal snow or ice handling capabilities.

If you're interested in the WR, do a search on Nokian in this forum and will find many strong recommendations for Nokian. You'll see a lot of comments on the NRV, which is the predecessor to the WR.

Bryan Harter · #10 11-12-2003, 10:01 AM

Nokian makes a great tire. When I lived in Wisconsin, I used to run Haaka's on my SAAB in winter. Stuck like glue to the ice! Great for rally / ice racing too.
The fwd SAAB's would clean up on most races.

Pat Greer is good friend of mine from way back, started Greer Enterprises just to keep himself in Nokian's. They are now one of the four distributors in the US. Haven't spoken with him in years but he was President of the SAAB club in Milwaukee and a decent guy.

400E · #11 11-28-2003, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveJ
If you're interested in the WR, do a search on Nokian in this forum and will find many strong recommendations for Nokian. You'll see a lot of comments on the NRV, which is the predecessor to the WR.

Just to clarify: the NRW is the predecessor to the WR. The NRV is the predecessor to the NRVi, and both are V-rated summer tires.

I use NRVs for summer use and just mounted WRs for the winter. So far I like them a lot. I have read that new tires have a release agent on the tread to help free them from the mold during manufacture, and this chemical may be responsible for the initial traction problems you encountered.

DaveJ · #12 11-28-2003, 11:23 AM

400E,

Thanks for correcting my message. You're right, it's the NRW I was referring to as the precursor to the WR.

Dave

Robert W. Roe · #13 11-30-2003, 02:41 AM

I've had Nokian WR 205/60R15's on my 1991 300TE all year, since January or so.
I do find that they wear fast in hot weather; also, above maybe 85 deg or so they don't handle as well as a good non-winter tire.
They are nowhere as bad as the Blizzaks, which handle like they are made of pencil eraser material in warm weather.
I have never lost control of my car while using these tires; breakaway is forgiving and predictable, but I wonder how much of this is the inherent stability of the W124 platform.
I do tend to drive briskly, and get on the brakes hard, sometimes just to see if I can get the ABS to kick in. (It never does, except for the occasional patch of gravel or ice.)
Snow traction is not quite what I remember with Blizzaks on a 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, although I never got close to being stuck.
The WR's make the car seem like it will get you there, but won't give you the confidence to pass everyone "poking along" on packed snow and ice that I got with the Blizzaks.
I did get the feeling that the WR's were much happier working at temperatures in the 60's and 70's than the Blizzaks.
I do find that they work better and get better road feel if they are inflated to a higher pressure level than MB recommends for a normal load.
I would experiment with the full load spec inflation pressure, and adjust from that point up or down depending on your assessment of road feel vs ride harshness.

#14 12-07-2003, 01:29 AM

Dave I just purchased (last week) some WR's for my girlfriend's car and I am looking forward to comparing them to some Michelin Apins which I am buying used from another person on this site and mounting on my 1994 E500. I also felt dissappointed driving the WR's out of the tire shop lot- they slid a lot under hard acceleration. I am hoping that they will break in soon and have more traction. I had NRW's on my 1993 300E 2.6 (those gripped amazingly well in the snow- making me no longer wishing for front wheel drive) and I thought that those had more grip than the WR's. Direct Tire has a 30 day trial period and I was considering switching to Hakka 2's on the 1994 E420 anyone have experience with the Hakka 2's vs WR?

It snowed 18 inches today and tonight- so I will see in the morning.

Robert W. Roe · #15 12-07-2003, 02:38 AM

Yes I'm not crazy about the ultimate snow traction with the WR's either. We just had a foot or so of wet, heavy snow, and I had some problems getting traction on uphill starts in the 300TE.
The SD, forget it, with the Michelin XGT H4's.
Blizzaks did better for me than the WR's, albeit on a different car.
MB's are not known for being good in snow, so they need all the help they can get...