Nokian Seasonproof 2 vs Sunny NC501
- TR Score
- 9.1/10
- Owners say
- 80% · 21
- TR Score
- 7.2/10
- Owners say
- -
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nokian Seasonproof 2 finished ahead 3 times and the NC501 not once. The Seasonproof 2 stopped 19.3% shorter in the wet.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose the Nokian Seasonproof 2 for dependable year-round driving, especially where rain is common. Consider the Sunny NC501 only if its purchase price is substantially lower and you are willing to accept a pronounced wet-weather performance trade-off.
Where the Seasonproof 2 is stronger
- Consistently shorter wet braking distances across the shared tests
- Stronger wet handling and straight-line aquaplaning resistance
- Better snow handling, with a small snow-braking advantage
Where the NC501 is stronger
- Dry braking nearly matches the Nokian in every shared test
- Marginally quicker dry-handling laps in the 2025 results
- Slightly quicker snow traction in the test that measured it
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Seasonproof 2 vs NC501 at a glance
| Category | Seasonproof 2 | Gap | NC501 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won3 shared tests | 3 | 0 | |
| Dry5 measurements | 2 | Level between the two. | 2 |
| Wet6 measurements | 6 | The Seasonproof 2 stopped 19.3% shorter in the wet (3 tests) | 0 |
| Snow5 measurements | 4 | The Seasonproof 2 lapped the snow handling course 5.1% faster (2 tests) | 1 |
| Comfort1 measurement | 1 | 0 | |
| Value1 measurement | 0 | 1 | |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.1/10 | The Seasonproof 2 by 1.9 | 7.2/10 |
| Pricein the 2 tests that listed prices | +32.8% | The Seasonproof 2 was dearer in 2 of 2 | Cheaper |
| Sizes madeEU label registrations | 60 | 53 sizes made in both | 94 |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 3 tests, 2025 to 2026
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Seasonproof 2 | Field | NC501 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 All Season Tire Braking Test - 30 Sets | P10 of 30 | P24 of 30 | |
| 2025 Motor All Season Tire Test | P1 of 7 | P7 of 7 | |
| 2025 Mid Range All Season Tire Test | P1 of 6 | P6 of 6 |
Performance profile
6 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Seasonproof 2
NC501
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 92%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 4 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Seasonproof 2
NC501
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Seasonproof 2 | Gap | NC501 | Wins | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134 | 0.2% | 134 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 113.6 | 0.2% | 113.4 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||
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| 112 | 19.3% | 139 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 74 | 5.8% | 78.55 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 57.3 | 24.4% | 46 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 53 | 1.8% | 54 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 5.8 | 3.4% | 5.6 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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| 86.85 | 5.1% | 91.55 | 2-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 69.4 | 1.4 dB | 70.8 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||
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| 8.03 | 1.6% | 7.9 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Seasonproof 2 scores 9.1 and the NC501 7.2 out of 10.
| Seasonproof 2 | Category | NC501 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Dry | 69 | ||
| 97 | Wet | 18 | ||
| 62 | Comfort | 48 | ||
| 54 | Value | 29 | ||
| 63 | Snow | 65 | ||
| 28 | Ice | - | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Seasonproof 2 | Category | NC501 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.7 | Dry Grip | - | ||
| 8.7 | Wet Grip | - | ||
| 7.7 | Road Feedback | - | ||
| 7.8 | Handling | - | ||
| 8.3 | Wear | - | ||
| 8.8 | Comfort | - | ||
| 8.8 | Snow Grip | - | ||
| 8.2 | Ice Grip | - | ||
Owners rate the Seasonproof 2 80% from 21 reviews; the NC501 has no owner reviews yet. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Nokian Seasonproof 2
- 80%from 21 reviews
- 76%would buy again
- 80,950 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners generally rate the Nokian Seasonproof 2 highly, most often praising its strong wet grip and reassuring all-round safety, alongside a quiet, comfortable ride. Snow traction is also frequently highlighted as impressively winter-like for an all-season tire, with dry-road grip getting positive mentions too. A meaningful minority report mixed feelings about steering precision and stability at higher speeds, and around one in five owners mention fuel economy/rolling resistance not being as good as hoped.
- Strong wet grip and confidence in rain
- Low road noise (quiet motorway and around town)
- Comfortable, compliant ride quality
- Very capable traction in snow for an all-season tire
- Steering feel can be a bit vague or not very direct
- Mixed stability at higher speeds (some report nervousness)
- Fuel economy/rolling resistance can be disappointing
Summarised by AI from 21 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 21 Seasonproof 2 reviewsAfter installing the Seasonproof 1 and being happy with it, I decided to put on the Seasonproof 2 and it has improved a lot... good performance in water, they provide safety and are very comfortable... they are not sports tires, but in water they provide safety... I don't know how they perform in snow... silent just like the Seasonproof 1... happy ☺ so far good wear.
Sunny NC501
No owner reviews yet. Be the first to review it →
Sizes, EU label and lineage
From the EU label registrations for each tire: 60 sizes of the Seasonproof 2 and 94 of the NC501, 53 of them made in both.
| Category | Seasonproof 2 | NC501 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | All Season | All Season |
| Sizes made | 60 sizes, 15 to 20 inch | 94 sizes, 13 to 20 inch |
| Made in both | 53 sizes 175/65 R15185/55 R15185/60 R15185/65 R15195/60 R15195/65 R15195/55 R16205/55 R16205/60 R16215/55 R16215/60 R16215/65 R16and 41 more | |
| EU label wet grip | A83%B17% | C87%D13% |
| EU label rolling resistance | B90%C10% | C63%D20%B18% |
| EU label noise | 68-72 dB B69%A31% | 67-72 dB B59%A41% |
| Severe snow (3PMSF) sizes | 78 of 78 | 203 of 203 |
| On the market since | - | 2018 |
| Replaced | Nokian SeasonProof (2020) | - |
| Awards | Winner: All-Season Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2026/27) Winner: All-Season SUV Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2025) Winner: All-Season Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2025) | - |
| Price in the shared tests | The Seasonproof 2 was the dearer tire in 2 of the 2 tests that listed prices, by 32.8% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Label grades are shown as the share of registered sizes carrying each grade, so "B (88%), C (12%)" means most sizes are B. Grades vary by size; check the label for yours.
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
The Nokian Seasonproof 2 and Sunny NC501 are passenger-car all-season tires with different priorities: the Nokian aims for balanced performance, while the Sunny is a budget option. Their dry braking results are remarkably close, so this comparison turns less on ordinary dry-road driving and more on what happens when conditions deteriorate.
Across three shared test listings, the Seasonproof 2 finishes ahead every time. The clearest separation is in rain: it stops substantially sooner on wet roads and performs better in wet handling. The two 2025 listings report closely related results, so they should not be treated as three wholly independent demonstrations of the same gap.
Conclusion
The Seasonproof 2 is the stronger all-season choice. Its wet braking distances are 6.4-11.6 meters shorter than the NC501's across the reported tests, a difference with direct implications for emergency stops. It also leads in wet handling and snow handling, while the 2025 Motor test records much stronger straight-line aquaplaning resistance and lower noise.
The Sunny is more competitive than the overall rankings suggest on dry roads: braking is virtually identical, and it is marginally quicker in the measured dry-handling laps. It also has a small snow-traction and rolling-resistance advantage in one test. Those gains do not offset its consistent wet-weather deficit. Although it is positioned as a budget tire, the supplied test commentary questions whether its price offers enough saving to justify that compromise. For a tire intended to stay on the car through changing seasons, the Nokian's rain performance is the difference that matters most.
Seasonproof 2 vs NC501: your questions
Is the Nokian Seasonproof 2 or the Sunny NC501 the better tire?
In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nokian Seasonproof 2 finished ahead 3 times and the NC501 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Seasonproof 2 scores 9.1 and the NC501 7.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Seasonproof 2 or the NC501?
The Seasonproof 2 led 6 of the 6 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 19.3% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Seasonproof 2 and the NC501.
Which is better in snow?
The Seasonproof 2 led 4 of the 5 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it lapped the snow handling course 5.1% faster across 2 tests.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Seasonproof 2 80% from 21 reviews; the NC501 has no owner reviews yet.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Seasonproof 2 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 32.8% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Seasonproof 2 is made in 60 sizes (15 to 20 inch) and the NC501 in 94 (13 to 20 inch). 53 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Seasonproof 2 is graded A for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the NC501 C and C.
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Run either of these?
Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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