Pirelli and Nokian hold a high reputation in the domestic tire market. While the Milan, Italy-based Pirelli has been one of the best tire manufacturers with a long history of over 150 years, Nokian is based in Nokian, Finland, and has been a high-quality tire manufacturer since 1898, admired by critics for its range of tires and high-end technologies.

Their Cinturato WeatherActive and WR G4 tires are two excellent all-weather tires that offer high performance and year-round usability. The performance of these tires goes beyond all-season utility and extends further by offering solid grip and traction even in severe to moderate snowy and icy conditions. Pirelli and Nokian have both utilized cutting-edge technologies and modern-day features to make these tires perform exceptionally well in required conditions. Additionally, these tires are suitable for use on passenger cars, coupes, and sedans.

If you’re considering either of these tires for your drive, then you might want to know which out of the two would work best for your vehicle. So, utilizing our advanced tire rating system SimpleScore, we have analyzed traction, handling, and longevity in this Cinturato WeatherActive vs WR G4 tire comparison.

Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive tires

The Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive was introduced in September 2022 and is comparatively a newer all-weather tire that’s primarily made for passenger cars. The tire offers impressive performance in all seasons and also earns a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification that officially approves its utility in moderate to severe winter weather conditions. The advanced tread compound of the tire is optimized to perform in different temperatures and the manufacturer even backs the tire with an attractive tread life warranty.

Overall, the Cinturato WeatherActive scores an excellent 9.6 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its outstanding traction performance, sharp handling response, and extended service life.

Nokian WR G4 tires

The Nokian WR G4 is also an exceptional all-weather tire. Built for use on coupes and sedans, the WR G4 made its debut a few years before the Cinturato WeatherActive in 2018. With year-round versatility and Three Peak Mountain Mountain snowflake certification, it assures drivers confident driving on snow and ice, in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, alongside serving in summer and rainy conditions. The tire features an advanced symmetrical tread pattern that onboards new-age innovations to offer solid traction, steering precision, and impressive wear resistance. Like its counterpart, the WR G4 tires also come with a tread life warranty coverage.

Overall, the WR G4 earns a higher 9.1 SimpleScore rating, thanks to its top-notch traction performance, outstanding steering response, and long-lasting tread life.

Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive vs Nokian WR G4 tires on traction

To perform in varied weather conditions, when the roads are dry, wet, or covered with thick snow or ice, all-weather tires must be good at offering traction performance. When we compared the Cinturato and WR tires, we found that both tires were outstanding.

Starting with the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive, the tire scores an excellent 9.8 SimpleScore in traction, which means the tire grips and performs very well in dry, wet, and snow conditions. It features a zigzag central groove that ensures improved traction performance in wet and snow conditions. The innovative compound with a new polymer/resin system boosts wet weather performance in varying temperatures, allowing the Cinturato WeatherActive to maintain a consistent grip on snow and wet roads. The tread edges feature ‘Trumpet’ shaped lateral grooves that evacuate water and slush from the contact patch area for increased wet and snow traction.

On the other hand, the Nokian WR G4 is very close to its peer and scores an outstanding 9.7 SimpleScore rating in traction. The unique tread pattern of this all-weather tire sports blade grooves that evacuate snow, slush, and rain from contact patches for increased traction performance. Likewise, the sipes incorporated at different angles on the tread provide additional grip on snow and slick surfaces, whereas the longitudinal grooves also disperse water, slush, and snow for consistent contact with the surface. All thanks to patented Coanda Technology that prevents hydroplaning and slushplaning throughout the life of the tire. Additionally, the all-weather dual compound and Centipede Siping also contribute to enhancing traction and grip.

Both, the Cinturato WeatherActive and the WR G4 are incredibly impressive when it comes to traction performance, but it is the Pirelli all-weather tire that wins the race.

ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive

Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive vs Nokian WR G4 tires on handling

In the case of all-weather tires, handling is also a very important area during purchase consideration. The level of handling performance in the tire allows buyers to understand how well the tire responds to steering commands, its controllability, corning ability, lane-changing responsiveness, and stability at varying speeds. When we analyzed the Cinturato WeatherActive and the WR G4, we found that in this area too, the tires competed well.

With a 9.8 SimpleScore rating in handling, the Cinturato WeatherActive assures superior control in diverse weather conditions. Its zigzag central groove boosts wet handling, while the balanced footprint with increased contact patch assures superior snow performance and ensures sharp steering response and maximum stability. The deep and continuous siping also helps to improve the ride control and enhances the tire’s braking performance, especially in wet and snow conditions. The sharper edges between the blocks and compound allow the tire to maintain surefootedness to offer a confident driving experience. Likewise, the innovative compound also complements the handling factor.

Contrarily, the WR G4 tires score an outstanding 9.4 SimpleScore rating for handling, and sports features a unique Centipede Siping for precise handling performance and improved control. The all-weather dual-performance compound used in construction maintains stable handling and the jagged 3D sipes on the center rib provide an increased number of biting edges. The Coanda Technology also prevents the risk of hydroplaning, providing better control in wet weather conditions. The solid shoulder blocks on either side offer better stability while driving at higher speeds on dry surfaces.

While both all-weather tires offer excellent handling performance, it is the Cinturato WeatherActive that surpasses the WR G4.

ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive

Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive vs Nokian WR G4 tires on longevity

Long-lasting is also important for tire buyers as no one would like to buy a set of tires that wears faster. During our longevity SimpleScore analysis of these tires, we found that there was a big gap in the scores.

Starting with the Cinturato WeatherActive, the tire scores an excellent 9.2 SimpleScore in the longevity area. The tire features an innovative compound that sports a new solid polymer/resin system to control the tread wear rate. The balanced footprint of the Cinturato WeatherActive creates a narrow and elongated contact patch for uniform tread wear. The tread blocks of the tire are sturdy enough to resist premature wear and the reinforced inner structure of this Pirelli all-weather tire provides additional durability for increased wear resistance. Pirelli has backed the Cinturato tires with a 60,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which assures that the tire is built for extended use.

The Nokian WR G4, on the other hand, secures an 8.2 SimpleScore rating in longevity, which is slightly lower than the competitor but is good enough to provide a longer tread life. This tire is also offered with a 60,000-mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which assures the buyers that the tire is built and engineered for a longer service. Thanks to the All-Weather Dual Performance Compound, the WR G4 tires offer a long-lasting tread life. The tread profile features sturdy blocks that provide wear resistance and prevent unwanted damage.

Looking at the longevity scores, we found the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive was ahead of the WR G4 tires and offered a long-lasting tread life.

ADVANTAGE: Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive

When to use each

Both, the Cinturato tires and the WR G4 tires are good for use in dry and wet conditions, and since they are Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified, they can also be used in moderate to severe winter weather. If you want tires that can be used for driving on thick snow or ice in sub-freezing temperatures, then winter tires could be a great choice for your drive.

The Cinturato WeatherActive tires are good for use on vehicles that have rim sizes ranging between 18- to 20-inch, while the WR G4 tires can be mounted on vehicles with rim sizes varying between 15- to 19-inch.

Which one should you choose?

When we compared the scores, we found that the Cinturato was comparatively better with an overall SimpleScore of 9.6 compared to the WR G4’s 9.1 overall SimpleScore rating. However, it is to be noted that both tires have their strengths and they should weigh against each other to choose the right tire that meets your preferences.

Price-wise, the Pirelli Cinturato WeatherActive comes at a starting price of at least $208.55, while the Nokian WR G4 is available at a starting price of $87.96. This means a set of four Cinturato tires will cost you at least $834.2 and a set of four WR G4 tires will cost you at least $351.84.

Based on SimpleScore, you should consider the Cinturato WeatherActive if you:

• Drive a midsize luxury sedan like the BMW 5 Series, a high-rated mid-size car like the Honda Accord, or a small sedan like the Chevrolet Cruze.
• Need an all-weather tire that offers better traction (9.8 vs 9.7 in traction).
• Need a long-lasting tire (9.2 vs 8.2 in longevity)
• Need a tire that offers better handling (9.8 vs 9.4 in handling)
• Are comfortable paying extra to experience cutting-edge Italian tire technologies
• Need a tire that’s available in rim sizes varying between 18- to 20-inch rims

Contrarily, you should choose the Nokian WR G4 if you:

• Drive an attractive mid-size sedan like the Kia Optima, a hybrid like the Toyota Prius, or a CUV like the Subaru Outback.
• Need an affordable but dependable all-weather tire.
• Need a tire that offers equal warranty coverage at a lesser price.
• Need a tire that is compatible with vehicles having 15- to 19-inch rims.

At first, the Cinturato WeatherActive vs WR G4 comparison doesn’t look justified but when you look at their SimpleScore in areas like longevity, handling, and traction, and look at their overall performances, they look like the close competitors. However, your selection of tires should be made after analyzing things like your budget, vehicle type, how and where you drive, and your take on things like longevity, traction, and handling.

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.