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Winter tire Updated October 2026

Nankang SV2 review

This tire appears to be discontinued and may no longer be available.
± 7

Relative score 60% tests + 40% owners

Better than 17% of the winter tires we score.

Owners 65 · 30 reviews analysed Road tests 53 · 3 tests

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Nankang SV2 has a Relative Score of 60 out of 100 among winter tires. In 14 road tests with an overall ranking it finished first 0 times and in the top three 0 times. Testers rate it best for noise (84) and weakest for snow (31). 30 owner reviews rate it 65 out of 100. 76% would buy it again.

  • Weak point: Wet 55 — 11th of 11 (2019 19 Inch Performance Winter tire Test), 13th of 13 (2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter tire Test)
  • Weak point: Snow 31 — 10th of 10 (2017 Sport Auto Winter tire Test), 11th of 11 (2019 19 Inch Performance Winter tire Test)

Owners rate it 12 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.

Nankang SV2

Two scoring systems, side by side

Owner scores come from reviews found online; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.

How scores work
Relative score
0–100. Blends road tests (60%) and owner reviews (40%) category by category, the same way on every TireWheelGuide page. With only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from it, so the score stays closer to average. It needs at least one road test or five owner reviews.
Road tests
0–100 per score, from published tests, newer tests counting more. Each result is compared with every other tire in the same test, so a win against a strong field counts for more. The average tested tire gets 70, the best 100; with only one or two tests a tire stays nearer 70. The discipline rows show % of the best tire in that test.
Owner reviews
0–100 from the owner reviews we found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates and scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70. With only a few reviews a tire stays near the average.

Full methodology

By owner reviews

65/100

From 30 owner reviews analysed, scaled like the road tests: the average tested tire gets 70.

Would buy again 76%
Dry
Overall dry
64
Wet
Overall wet
68
Snow & ice
Overall snow & ice
59
Comfort
Overall comfort
60
Treadwear
Overall treadwear
70
Handling
Overall handling
63

Own these tires? Write a review →

By road tests

53/100

Scaled across every tested tire: the average gets 70, the best 100.

Dry
66
Wet
55
Snow
31
Noise
84
Efficiency
72
By discipline (% of best in test)
Dry Braking
51%
Dry Handling
47%
Subj. Dry Handling
75%
Wet Braking
31%
Wet Handling
26%
Straight Aquaplaning
49%
Curved Aquaplaning
44%
Side G-Force on Wet surface
44%
Snow Braking
26%
Snow Handling
26%
Snow Traction
44%
Ice Braking
88%
Ice Handling
88%
Inside Noise level
97%
Rolling Resistance
86%
Price
100%
Wear
88%

What owners like and dislike

Themes extracted from 30 owner reviews found online.

The Nankang SV2 is widely regarded as a high-value budget winter tire that punches above its weight class in snow and ice traction. While users frequently praise its affordability and impressive cold-weather performance, the consensus notes a trade-off in handling precision, with many reporting a 'wooly' or loose steering feel in dry or warmer conditions.

Pros

  • Exceptional value for the price point
  • Strong traction and confidence in deep snow and ice
  • High durability and long tread life
  • Quiet ride quality compared to many summer alternatives

Cons

  • Wooly or vague steering response and handling
  • Noticeable performance drop-off in wet conditions
  • Soft sidewalls leading to a loose or 'sloppy' feel at highway speeds
  • Significant loss of grip and increased wear when used in temperatures above 7°C

Worth knowing

  • Drivers of high-horsepower vehicles (200hp+) noted that while the tires provide good traction, they can feel unstable or 'loose' during spirited cornering.
  • Users fitting these to vans and heavier vehicles reported excellent longevity and reliable performance in adverse weather.
  • Some users noted that the tire's performance is highly sensitive to correct inflation, with improper pressure leading to uneven edge wear.

14 published test appearances (3 in the score)

Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.

2021 Auto Bild Sports Car Winter tire Test · 245/40 R18

12th of 13
Best: Noise · 4th Weakest: Wet Braking · 13th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking13th of 13
Wet Handling13th of 13
Dry Braking10th of 13
Dry Handling9th of 13
Snow Braking13th of 13
Snow Traction12th of 13
Snow Handling12th of 13
Rolling Resistance9th of 13
Straight Aquaplaning5th of 13
Noise4th of 13
Price2nd of 13

Source: Auto Bild Sportscars

2019 19 Inch Performance Winter tire Test · 255/35 R19

11th of 11
Best: Noise · 1st Weakest: Wet Handling · 11th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking10th of 11
Wet Handling11th of 11
Dry Braking9th of 11
Dry Handling10th of 11
Snow Braking11th of 11
Snow Handling11th of 11
Rolling Resistance2nd of 11
Straight Aquaplaning6th of 11
Noise1st of 11
Price1st of 11

Source: Auto Bild Sportscars

2018 51 Winter tire Shootout · 195/65 R15

40th of 52

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2017 Sport Auto Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18

9th of 10
Best: Dry Braking · 1st Weakest: Snow Braking · 10th
DisciplinePlacementField position
Wet Braking9th of 10
Wet Handling9th of 10
Dry Braking1st of 10
Dry Handling9th of 10
Snow Braking10th of 10
Snow Handling10th of 10

Source: Sport Auto

2017 ADAC SUV Winter tire Test - 215/65 R16 · 215/65 R16

16th of 16

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: ADAC

2016 Winter tire Market Overview · 205/55 R16

33rd of 43

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2015 Winter tire Market Overview · 185/60R15

46th of 51

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2014 50 Winter tire Braking Overview · 225/50 R17

22nd of 48

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2013 Toroleo SUV / 4x4 Winter tire Test · 235/65 R17

6th of 6

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2013 Winter tire Overview - Braking · 195/65 R15

29th of 50

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

2012 Auto Bild Sports Winter tire Test · 225/40 R18

6th of 6

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Bild

2012 Auto Bild 42 Winter tire Braking Test · 205/55 R16

30th of 43

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Bild

2011 EVO Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

8th of 10

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: evo

2011 Auto Express Winter tire Test · 225/45 R17

8th of 9

Only the final ranking was published for this test, not the results per discipline.

Source: Auto Express

Reviews from our readers

Drivers who have these tires on their car, in their own words. We check every review before it goes live.

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