When the forecast calls for a messy mix of rain, slush, and the occasional unseasonable snow, many drivers find themselves in a tough spot. Dedicated winter tires are overkill, but standard all-seasons leave you feeling vulnerable. This is the exact gap the Nokian Encompass AW01 aims to fill, and in my testing, it does so with impressive confidence. The core promise of this Nokian Encompass AW01 Review: The All-Season Tire For Winter – The Tire Reviews is to examine a tire designed for those who face moderate winter conditions but need a capable, year-round performer that doesn’t compromise on dry road manners.
The main benefit you’ll get is a significant boost in cold-weather security without the need for a seasonal tire swap. I found it to be a true “all-weather” tire in the modern sense, built with compounds and technologies that remain pliable and effective as temperatures plummet. For drivers in regions with milder but still challenging winters, this tire could be the perfect single-set solution, offering peace of mind from November through March while remaining quiet and composed the rest of the year.
Nokian Encompass AW01 Review: The All-Season Tire For Winter – The Tire Reviews Review – Quick Verdict
After putting the Nokian Encompass AW01 through its paces on wet, dry, and lightly snow-covered roads, my overall assessment is highly positive. It delivers exactly what it promises: superior all-season performance with a legitimate winter bias. The tire feels planted and secure in cold rain and slush, areas where many traditional all-seasons begin to falter. Dry handling is predictable and comfortable, with a noise level that is commendably low for a tire with such aggressive siping. For someone who wants one set of tires to handle four seasons in a climate with genuine winter weather, this is a top contender.
Pros
- Excellent traction in wet and slushy conditions
- Confident handling in light to moderate snow
- Comfortable and quiet ride for an all-weather tire
- Strong dry road stability and braking
Cons
- Not a substitute for dedicated winter tires in severe, deep snow or on ice
- Treadwear longevity may be less than a standard touring all-season
- Can feel slightly less responsive in summer heat compared to a pure summer tire
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Nokian Encompass AW01 Review: The All-Season Tire For Winter – The Tire Reviews Overview
The Nokian Encompass AW01 is an all-weather tire, a distinct category that sits between a conventional all-season and a dedicated winter tire. Its main purpose is to provide safe, reliable performance year-round, with a specific engineering focus on maintaining grip and control in cold, wet, and wintry conditions. Unlike a standard all-season tire marked with the M+S (Mud and Snow) symbol, the Encompass AW01 carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. This certification means it has passed specific winter traction tests, making it a legal requirement in some regions during winter months, where standard all-seasons are not sufficient.
This product is designed for the practical driver who experiences all four seasons but wants to avoid the hassle and cost of changing tires twice a year. It’s ideal for sedan, coupe, and minivan owners in places like the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic, or parts of the Midwest, where winters are real but not consistently extreme. Key specifications include its advanced silica-rich tread compound that stays flexible in freezing temperatures, deep lateral and longitudinal grooves for water evacuation, and a symmetric tread pattern designed to balance noise, comfort, and traction. In my experience, it feels like a tire built by a company from a snowy climate—because it is. Nokian’s heritage in winter tire technology is evident in its design philosophy.
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Key Features & Performance
Driving on the Encompass AW01 reveals a tire that is thoughtfully engineered. It doesn’t excel in just one area but provides a very competent, well-rounded performance profile that leans confidently into winter capability. Here’s a breakdown of the key features and how they translated to real-world driving in my tests.
3PMSF Certification & Cold-Weather Tread Compound
This is the cornerstone of the tire’s identity. The Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake symbol isn’t just a marketing badge; it’s a regulated performance standard. To earn it, the Encompass AW01 uses a specialized tread compound infused with silica and other additives to resist hardening in sub-freezing temperatures. On a cold morning with frost on the ground, I noticed the difference immediately. The tire felt supple and grippy from the first turn of the wheel, whereas some all-seasons can feel wooden and slick until they warm up. This compound is the secret to its reliable cold-weather braking and acceleration.
Aquaplaning Resistance & Wet Traction
Wet roads are a constant hazard in shoulder seasons and winter. The Encompass AW01 features wide circumferential grooves and angled lateral grooves that work like channels to swiftly pump water out from under the tread. During heavy rain, the tire maintained impressive composure. Steering feedback remained clear, and I never experienced that unsettling feeling of hydroplaning, even through standing water at highway speeds. The numerous sipes—the small cuts in the tread blocks—also bite into the thin film of water on wet pavement, providing an extra layer of micro-traction that inspires confidence.
Light Snow & Slush Performance
This is where it truly separates itself from the all-season pack. The tread pattern is more aggressive, with interlocking sipes and block edges designed to pack and hold snow. Why is snow-on-snow traction good? Because snow sticks best to itself, providing a natural grip. In several inches of fresh snow and on packed snow roads, the Encompass AW01 tracked straight and provided predictable power delivery and braking. It handled slushy, melting snow on highways with remarkable stability, cutting through the mess rather than floating on top. It’s important to note: for deep snow or severe ice storms, a dedicated studless winter tire is still superior. But for the common winter conditions many face, this tire is more than adequate.
Year-Round Refinement
Nokian didn’t sacrifice everyday drivability for winter prowess. The symmetric tread design and variable pitch sequence of the tread blocks help reduce road noise. On long highway drives, the cabin remained quiet, rivaling many standard touring tires. The ride quality is compliant, absorbing smaller bumps and road imperfections without being overly soft. In dry summer conditions, the steering response is direct and the handling is secure, though I observed that in very hot weather, the tread compound can feel a touch less sharp than a max-performance summer tire—a fair trade-off for its winter abilities.
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Final Verdict
The Nokian Encompass AW01 makes a compelling case for itself as a primary tire for a huge number of drivers. It successfully bridges the gap between compromise and capability. After my evaluation, I can confidently recommend it to anyone whose winter involves regular encounters with cold rain, sleet, slush, and plowed roads, but who doesn’t want or need the extreme performance of a dedicated winter tire.
Pros
- Legitimate Winter Capability: The 3PMSF rating and effective snow traction provide real security in common winter scenarios.
- Superb Wet Weather Performance: Exceptional resistance to hydroplaning and strong grip on rain-slicked roads.
- Comfortable Daily Driver: It manages to be quiet and absorbent, making it a pleasant tire for commuting and road trips.
- Strong Dry Handling: Offers stable, predictable manners on dry pavement in cool to warm temperatures.
- Convenience: Eliminates the need for seasonal tire changes for many drivers.
Cons
- Not for Extreme Winter: Drivers in areas with heavy, persistent snow and ice should still opt for dedicated winter tires.
- Tread Life Consideration: The softer winter-optimized compound may wear faster than a hard, long-lasting touring all-season tire, especially in hot summer driving.
- Summer Performance Trade-off: While perfectly safe, it lacks the ultimate grip and steering feel of a high-performance summer tire during very hot weather.
You should buy the Nokian Encompass AW01 if you live in a region with distinct, moderate winters and desire a single set of tires that offers serious cold-weather competence without sacrificing year-round comfort. It’s an excellent choice for the practical, safety-conscious driver.
You should look at other options if you face absolutely brutal winters with deep snow and ice for months on end, or if you live in a predominantly hot climate and want maximum summer performance. In those cases, a dedicated tire set is still the optimal solution.
Overall, the Encompass AW01 is a thoughtfully engineered, highly capable tire that delivers on its promise of being a true all-weather companion. It provides a valuable upgrade in safety and confidence for the months where standard tires often feel lacking.