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Nokian Encompass AW02
  • Nokian Encompass AW02
  • Nokian Encompass AW02
Tire Rack Test

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The Encompass AW02 is Nokian Tyres' Grand Touring All-Season tire engineered for drivers of sedans, CUVs, and SUVs looking for a versatile platform able to adapt to a variety of conditions. The Encompass AW02 meets industry severe snow service requirements for the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol and as an all-weather tire, is designed to be a single tire solution for drivers in environments that experience all four seasons, but don't receive sufficient snowfall to require a dedicated winter tire.

The directional tread design of the Encompass AW02 is molded from an advanced all-season compound engineered to balance grip in slippery conditions with consistent dry traction and tread life. The shoulder blocks feature sawtooth edges for stronger braking in adverse weather conditions and their broad design helps to support the tread elements for increased stiffness and enhanced cornering characteristics under load. The tire's twin circumferential grooves, in conjunction with wide lateral channels to displace water, work to increase hydroplaning resistance and control in rain and slush. Lateral and horizontal siping throughout the pattern create biting edges for grip in slippery conditions on snowy roads, while the numerous lateral notches and zig-zag circumferential grooves help retain snow, generating the winter traction required to earn the 3PMSF symbol.

The Encompass AW02's internal construction features Aramid Sidewall Technology which utilizes an exceptionally strong fiber material to help protect against punctures and impact damage from road hazards. A two-ply polyester casing supports two steel belts augmented with a polyamide reinforcement ply for enhanced high-speed stability and performance.

Note: While non-winter tires featuring the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol may provide additional longitudinal snow traction beyond what all-season (M+S) tires not bearing the symbol can deliver, they do not match the capability of a true winter tire in all adverse weather conditions.

Tire Rack Test Results Nokian Encompass AW02

The Unsung Heroes of the Daily Driver - 2025 Test 2 (28:11)

For the second test of 2025, we took eleven more touring tires, seven carrying the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, and put them through their paces on our Toyota Camry. Four of these tires are brand-new products just hitting the market. What are you waiting for? Press play to see how these tires compare and where they stack up amongst the tires from our two touring tests in 2024 in the updated 31-tire chart!

Read the Full Test Report

Ratings Charts & Reviews Nokian Encompass AW02

Tire Category: Grand Touring All-Season

Tire Rack Projection

 
Best in Category
Miles Reported
Recommended
Treadwear
Tire Rack Projection
Nokian Encompass AW02
Excellent
No Data
No Data
N/A
9.2 - Excellent
Excellent Hydroplaning Resistance
Excellent Wet Traction
9.0 - Excellent
Excellent Corner Stability
Excellent Dry Traction
Excellent Steering Response
8.8 - Excellent
Excellent Light Snow Traction
Excellent Deep Snow Traction
Excellent Ice Traction
8.9 - Excellent
Excellent Ride Quality
Excellent Noise
9.0 - Excellent

Customers Say

Owners report excellent dry traction and confident wet performance, with many highlighting responsive handling and a comfortable ride. Scores in the 9-10 range dominate for dry and wet conditions, aligning with the tire's summer-focused design. Comfort receives consistent praise for smoothness and low noise. However, treadwear shows mixed results-some note rapid wear, particularly with aggressive driving, though others report satisfactory longevity when used as intended. Overall, the Pilot Sport 4S excels in its performance categories, with most concerns centered on tread life rather than dynamic capabilities.

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Customers Like:

789 customers mention "Wet Traction"

  • 749 positive
  • 40 negative

Customers overwhelmingly rate the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's wet traction as excellent, with most scores between 9-10. High marks highlight confident grip and hydroplaning resistance, delivering precise handling in wet conditions as expected from a max performance summer tire.

September 08, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

4.3 out of 5 Star Rating
4.3 out of 5

Very good wet and dry traction...

Very good wet and dry traction. Quieter on road than OEM tires. Good tire when doing autocross as well.

Vehicle: 2014 Porsche Cayman S
Miles Driven on Tires: 1,000
Driving Conditions: Track/Autocross
Location: PARRISH, FL
Driving Style: Spirited
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June 18, 2025 (Verified Purchase)

3.9 out of 5 Star Rating
3.9 out of 5

...The track had puddles, small streams running across the track and damp spots. There were moments of down pour rain, steady drizzle and sun all in the same session and the PS4S performed consistently and I felt confedient carring speed on the straight away and corners with these tires...

I bought these tires for a wet track day. I also had these tires on my 2020 M2 Comp on a wet track day. These tires performed better than expected the 1st time I had a wet track day in my M2. So when I had a wet track day in my 2022 GT4 there was no question what tires I needed to use for that day. The track had puddles, small streams running across the track and damp spots. There were moments of down pour rain, steady drizzle and sun all in the same session and the PS4S performed consistently and I felt confedient carring speed on the straight away and corners with these tires. I would recomend these for wet driving conditions on track.

Vehicle: 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4
Miles Driven on Tires: 300
Driving Conditions: Track/Autocross
Location: BEVERLY, MA
Driving Style: Spirited
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July 13, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

4.9 out of 5 Star Rating
4.9 out of 5

...They have impeccable wet and dry traction, even in torrential downpours we often get here in FL...

These tires have been great thus far. They have impeccable wet and dry traction, even in our torrential downpours we often get here in FL. Steering response in very positive and tight, and when they've been pushed to their limit they break away easily and predictably which is surprisingly hard to get them to do even in this big SUV. Warm-up time is quick and they're performing great long before the engine oil is up to temp and the vehicle is ready for fun.
Tread wear so far is a little better than what I expected. At about 6k miles they are showing little overall wear despite handling 650hp/700ftlbs in a 4500lb SUV that is driven very spirited through corners often. They seem quiet on the highway, but it's hard to tell as my 958 has the extra NVH package so its basically silent inside no matter what. Sidewalls seem stiff and perky as you'd want from a tire like this, and ride quality is stiff and composed but not overly harsh compared to whatever trash tires were on this when I bought it.

Overall these are amazing tires for a spirited street driver like myself that might see occasional track time. The 20k mileage warranty on a performance tire this size is also an amazing and unusual bonus. I'll definitely be putting these back on when replacement time comes.

Vehicle: 2012 Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Miles Driven on Tires: 6,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: LADY LAKE, FL
Driving Style: Spirited
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974 customers mention "Dry Traction"

  • 966 positive
  • 8 negative

Customers overwhelmingly rate dry traction as excellent, with most scoring 9s and 10s. The Pilot Sport 4S delivers exceptional grip and responsive handling in dry conditions, living up to its Max Performance Summer design.

July 16, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

4.9 out of 5 Star Rating
4.9 out of 5

...Dry traction is one of the best for daily driving and wanting to get into some fun!...

One of the best tires I've ever put on my WRX! Corner grip and handling is predicable and precise. Wet traction has never missed a beat even till 4/32" tread. Dry traction is one of the best for daily driving and wanting to get into some fun! Comfort is pretty good for this category and noise is quite quiet for this type of tire. As the tire aged you do start to notice some tire noise but it's really faint. Michelin makes a really good product. I will consider this as the king of Max Perf. Summer tires.

Vehicle: 2019 Subaru WRX
Miles Driven on Tires: 27,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: PHILADELPHIA, PA
Driving Style: Spirited
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June 26, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
4.7 out of 5

...Vast improvement over OEM tires; grip, responsiveness to steering input, braking distance much reduced... Much more capable and predictable at the limit, better feel/feedback through steering wheel. Able to carry more speed on entry, mid-corner, and apply throttle sooner on exit...

Excellent tires which permit somewhat more than „spirited“ for daily driving. Vast improvement over OEM tires; grip, responsiveness to steering input, braking distance much reduced. Went to 18“ for better ride compliance. Much more capable and predictable at the limit, better feel/feedback through steering wheel. Able to carry more speed on entry, mid-corner, and apply throttle sooner on exit. Ride on mixed surfaces is excellent; road noise not an issue for me. True heavy wet weather performance remains unknown. However, limited opportunities to drive in moderately wet conditions demonstrates excellent traction that exceeds that of OEM; inspires far more confidence when pushing hard on slick/sketchy pavement.

Overall, very pleased with this set of tires for this vehicle.

Vehicle: 2017 Volkswagen Golf R
Miles Driven on Tires: 5,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: ORO VALLEY, AZ
Driving Style: Spirited
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January 17, 2024 (Verified Purchase)

4.5 out of 5 Star Rating
4.5 out of 5

Dry Traction is Insane. They feel very planted and take demanding curves with ease...

Dry Traction is Insane. They feel very planted and take demanding curves with ease. Wet traction is very good and they maintain good contact with the road in heavy rain. Not so great in the light snow but they are Summer Tires! Be sure to have a winter set of tires if you live in a region that gets snow and save these tires for fun times when it's warm out. :)

Vehicle: 2024 Acura Integra Type S
Miles Driven on Tires: 4,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: SPRINGFIELD, VA
Driving Style: Spirited
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978 customers mention "Ride Quality"

  • 916 positive
  • 62 negative

Customers rate the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S's comfort highly, with most scoring 9s and 10s for ride quality and noise levels. High marks emphasize its smooth, refined feel, delivering excellent comfort in summer driving conditions as intended for max performance tires.

September 09, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

4.4 out of 5 Star Rating
4.4 out of 5

..."This is my second set; and this is the tire I am installing on all my future vehicles" Note: There are no phrases related to comfort performance in this text to bold according to the given criteria...

This is my second set; and this is the tire I am installing on all my future vehicles

Vehicle: 2014 Honda Accord Sedan Sport
Miles Driven on Tires: 5,000
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: TAMPA, FL
Driving Style: Spirited
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December 13, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

4.7 out of 5 Star Rating
4.7 out of 5

...These are incredible in any category: dry-grip: insane • wet grip: insane • highway noise: very quiet • turn-in: instant • cornering grip: more than my 50+ year old body is willing to test • comfort: smooth as other tires...

The N0 Porsche rating is not a joke...

In early 2020 tried a set of PS4S that were not available in the N0 rating and ended up returning them for a set of Pilot SuperSports. These "non N0" rated tires made my 911 feel like a mini-van and were terrible - they didn't even feel safe. Obviously I was very apprehensive ordering PS4S's this time around, but since they are now N0 rated, and the fact that Pilot SuperSports are no longer offered, I took the chance and ordered them.

These are incredible in any category: dry-grip: insane • wet grip: insane • highway noise: very quiet • turn-in: instant • cornering grip: more than my 50+ year old body is willing to test • comfort: I can drive with the suspension set Sport and it's as smooth as other tires when set to normal stiffness.

I can't say anything about wear yet; but I suspect these will wear similar to the Pilot SuperSports; where they are great until about 12k miles and then start to fall off.

Summary: buy these, you'll love them!

Vehicle: 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S Coupe
Miles Driven on Tires: 875
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: MOUNT DORA, FL
Driving Style: Average
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September 10, 2023 (Verified Purchase)

4.5 out of 5 Star Rating
4.5 out of 5

Tremendous upgrade over Dunlops Runflats that came on the car...

Tremendous upgrade over Dunlops Runflats that came on the car. 👍👍

Vehicle: 2021 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 RWD Runflat
Miles Driven on Tires: 2,000
Driving Conditions: Mostly Highway
Location: PLANO, TX
Driving Style: Spirited
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764 customers mention "Treadwear"

  • 610 positive
  • 154 negative

Most customers rate treadwear highly, with scores of 9s and 10s, highlighting excellent longevity for a Max Performance Summer tire. While some note quicker wear, the majority praise lasting performance in dry and wet conditions.

July 07, 2024 (Verified Purchase)

4.3 out of 5 Star Rating
4.3 out of 5

...Tread-wear has been normal. For 30K mile tires, I'm about 1/2 way there for tread wear...

From all the tires I've bought in the past Forty years, these tires by far out-shined them all. Even during under-steering, there's still under control. Ride comfort is awesome. Noise level is very low compare to my previous, Continental Pro Contacts , Michelin Pilot All Season or Michelin A/S 3+. During heavy rain, I can slice through the water at a comfortable speed of 75MPH. Tread-wear has been normal. For 30K mile tires, I'm abut 1/2 way there for tread wear. Hope this helps.

Vehicle: 2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon
Miles Driven on Tires: 15,500
Driving Conditions: Combined Highway/City
Location: LA CRESCENTA, CA
Driving Style: Spirited
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January 23, 2024 (Verified Purchase)

4.8 out of 5 Star Rating
4.8 out of 5

Great tire, extra sticky, handle like a dream.

Great tire,extra sticky,handle like a dream.

Vehicle: 2013 BMW 550i Sedan M Sport Package
Miles Driven on Tires: 24,000
Driving Conditions: All Highway
Location: BEAR, DE
Driving Style: Average
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Consumer Reviews

Media Gallery

The Unsung Heroes of the Daily Driver - 2025 Test 2 (28:11)

For the second test of 2025, we took eleven more touring tires, seven carrying the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol, and put them through their paces on our Toyota Camry. Four of these tires are brand-new products just hitting the market. What are you waiting for? Press play to see how these tires compare and where they stack up amongst the tires from our two touring tests in 2024 in the updated 31-tire chart!

Read the Full Test Report

Experience the Nokian Encompass AW02 (01:08)

The Nokian Encompass AW02 is a Grand Touring All-Season tire designed for sedans, CUVs, and SUVs. It offers versatility across varied conditions and meets the severe snow service requirements, carrying the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol.

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