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Last updated 10/13/2023 - Originally published 10/13/2023
Written by SimpleTire
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If you know about winter tires, you must have surely heard about Nokian and GT Radial tires as these are two of the most common tire manufacturers that make economic and driver friendly tires.
You will see innovative designs blended with aggressive tread patterns that deliver optimal traction during winter weather in both the tires. The GT Radial Champiro IcePro SUV and Nokian Nordman 9 SUV are both meant for use on SUVs and light trucks, and are built to perform in the worst ice, slush, and snow. While both tires offer great performance, you can only home down to one, when it comes to installation, right? Let’s compare GT Radial Champiro IcePro SUV vs Nokian Nordman 9 SUV tires using SimpleScore to show where each tire excels and which one might be right for you.
The Nokian Nordman 9 SUV is a studless winter tire that’s designed to be used on light trucks and SUVs and offers drivers shorter stopping distances on icy and snowy roads.
The Nordman 9 SUV is built with an innovative tread pattern with deep grooves for excellent grip on snow and ice. You also get optimal tread depth for enhanced stability and handling in winter conditions. With Silent Sidewall Technology you experience reduced road noise for a quiet and comfortable ride. Additionally, Snow Claws provide stronger grip on slippery surfaces for improved control. On average, the Nordman 9 SUV also shows a great SimpleScore of 8.5 thanks to its handling, longevity, and traction.
The GT Radial Champiro IcePro SUV is a studdable winter tire that’s designed for use on SUVs and offers drivers enhanced grip and traction in winter weather conditions. With a silica based rubber compound for better traction and performance, this tire also features wide grooves to quickly remove slush and ice. It is also a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified tire that means s certified to perform in severe snow conditions. Additionally, the Champiro IcePro SUV’s can be pinned with studs to further enhance traction and performance in severe winter weather conditions.
On average, the Champiro IcePro SUV offers a great SimpleScore of 8.5 thanks to its solid handling, longevity, and traction.
Winter weather makes it hard for normal all-season tires to perform to their best. With ice, slush, snow, and colder temperatures, maintaining a grip on the road becomes the most significant feature to look for in a tire. Fortunately, winter tires are engineered to perform in these conditions to help prevent drivers from losing traction.
While comparing both the tires on the basis of traction, you will find that a score of 8.1 out of 10. The Champiro IcePro SUV comes with a silica based rubber compound that keeps the tire flexible for better traction and performance in ice and snow, and the Champiro IcePro SUV's wide grooves quickly remove slush and ice from the tire to further boost traction. Additionally, the winter tread design and innovative grooves pack snow into the tire for snow on snow contact, which actually further increases traction. You get enhanced traction as this tire can be pinned with studs for extra traction and grip in severe winter weather conditions. The Nordman 9 SUV, on the other hand, also has a score of 8.1 out of 10 in traction. This is thanks to an innovative tread pattern and optimal tread depth design that enhances grip for shorter stopping distances on icy and snowy roads. Built with a special winter tread compound that helps the tire to remain flexible at lower temperatures.
When it comes to winter weather traction, the Champiro IcePro SUV and Nordman 9 SUV both perform at a similar level. That being said, the Champiro IcePro SUV can offer slightly better traction thanks to the tire being studdable.
ADVANTAGE: GT Radial Champiro IcePro SUV, thanks to the tire’s ability to be studded (where permitted) to provide extra traction.
Handling is important for light trucks and SUVs that are often used to carry heavier loads, and that doesn’t stop in winter weather. You will see that these two tires are catering to both the requirements. The Champiro IcePro SUV sports a great 8 SimpleScore for handling, which is largely driven by the tire’s silica based tread that helps the Champiro IcePro SUV to withstand higher loads that tend to come with trucks. Additionally, the Champiro IcePro SUV’s reinforced construction further boosts load carrying capacity while, also, helping to prevent irregular wear.
On the flip side, the Nordman 9 SUV is also standing neck to neck with the Champiro IcePro SUV for handling as the tire comes in with a SimpleScore of 8. Featuring an innovative tread pattern and reinforced construction the tire is more than capable of hauling heavy loads.
ADVANTAGE: Tie
The longevity aspect is equally important to traction and durability while purchasing a tire. Based on SimpleScore, this was also a neck to neck comparison between the two tires.
Starting with the Champiro IcePro SUV, the tire offers an excellent SimpleScore of 9.5 out of 10 on the longevity front. The tire’s tough, rugged rubber compound and reinforced construction work together to increase durability which allows for a longer tread life. Outside of that, the tire’s optimized design and tied shoulders put more rubber on the road which prevents irregular wear by evenly distributing road forces (in addition to boosting handling).
Likewise, the Nordman 9 SUV’s 9.5 SimpleScore in longevity shows that it's as excellent as the Champiro IcePro SUV. This tire features a reinforced construction, but the Silent Sidewall and Aramid sidewall Technology you experience enhances durability and puncture resistance.
These GT Radial and Nokian tires might be equal in traction, and durability, but when it comes to longevity, the Nordman 9 SUV is the stronger of the two tires because of its sidewall technologies.
ADVANTAGE: Nordman 9 SUV thanks to its Aramid sidewall technology
Winter tires come with limited temperature usage, and both the Champiro IcePro SUV and Nordman 9 SUV are not intended for use when temperatures are consistently above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason for this is because winter tires use a flexible rubber compound that will quickly wear when temperatures are above that threshold.
So, which winter tire is the right option for you? When looking at SimpleScore, the GT Radial Champiro IcePro SUV actually comes across the same, but infusion of technologies and being able to stud a tire during icy roads really helps draw the difference. Additionally, for the drivers who deal in heavy loads, load index and load range also plays an important role in deciding the right tire for them.
These key differences between the two tires need to be weighed against each other to determine what’s best for you. Finally (and maybe, most importantly), pricing on these two tires is close as Champiro IcePro SUV tires cost at least $106 per tire while Nordman 9 SUV tires cost at least $136 per tire. That means a set of four GT Radial Champiro IcePro SUV snow tires will cost you at least $424 for a set of four, while a set of four Nordman 9 SUV tires will cost you at least $544.
Based on SimpleScore, you should choose the GT Radial Champiro IcePro SUV if you:
Conversely, you should choose the Nokian Nordman 9 SUV if you:
Champiro IcePro SUV vs Nordman 9 SUV tires might seem a close comparison on the surface, but the above clearly shows that either is a great option. Remember, both of the tire brands individually have performed way better and are some of the best tire manufacturers on the market, and that tradition continues with the Champiro IcePro SUV and Nordman 9 SUV. At the end of the day, the decision to buy one or the other depends on your vehicle, where (and how) you drive, and what you care more about in terms of traction, durability, longevity, and price.
Still not sure which tire to buy? Fortunately, SimpleTire is here to help as our helpful agents are more than happy to assist you in selecting the right tire for your ride and budget.
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