Best tires

10 best new tire releases of 2022

Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires
Last updated 12/19/2022 - Originally published 12/19/2022
Written by SimpleTire

The 2020s have been an interesting decade, and 2022 was no different. The year started with worldwide COVID-19 cases passing 300 million in January, then was followed up with Norway securing the most medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Russia invaded Ukraine in a conflict that’s still going on, Apple became the first publicly traded company to be worth $3 trillion, scientists captured an image of a black hole in the Milky Way and made a breakthrough in nuclear fusion, Queen Elizabeth II passed away, and the World Cup was held in Qatar.

2022 was a roller coaster, but the tire industry saw continued growth and continued to release brand new tires to meet the ever changing demands of drivers. It’s not possible to highlight all of the amazing tires that were introduced to the market this year, but SimpleTire did want to highlight 10, in no particular order, that really caught our eyes this year.

Bridgestone Weatherpeak

Bridgestone-Weatherpeak-tires

Headquartered in Japan, Bridgestone is one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers and has over 90 years of experience in the tire industry. With all of that experience, Bridgestone has a long history of crafting best-in-class tires for a wide variety of needs, and the Weatherpeak is the brand’s first entrance into the all-weather market.

Why we chose it

All-weather tires are a rapidly growing segment within the tire industry thanks to their ability to provide better winter performance than all-season tires without sacrificing year-round use. The Weatherpeak follows suit here by utilizing full depth 3D siping and strategically engineered grooves, and open shoulders that strengthen traction in dry, wet, and light winter weather conditions. Additionally, the Weatherpeak is backed by a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty, which means that drivers should expect anywhere from 5 to 7 years worth of tread depending on their driving style and maintenance habits.

Who it’s for

Drivers of passenger vehicles, such as the Audi Q5, BMW 3 Series, Honda Accord, Jeep Cherokee, Toyota RAV4, and the Volkswagen Golf.

Cool features

The biggest innovation for the Weatherpeak is its use of evolving sipes, which continually increase traction and grip year-round by creating additional biting edges, even as the tire wears down. Like winter tires, the Weatherpeak is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in moderate to severe winter weather conditions. This means that the Weatherpeak can confidently handle any weather condition that’s thrown at it.

Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02

Continental-ExtremeContact-Sport-02-vehicle-lineup

Founded in 1871, Continental is a multinational company that manufactures safe, efficient, and performance-oriented tires for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and two-wheelers. They are one of the leaders in tire technology and tire production, with a broad product range suitable for various applications. And through continuous investment, research and development, Continental offers excellent tires that are cost-effective and ecologically friendly.

Why we chose it

The Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02 tire is a popular choice for drivers seeking a quality performance tire. With innovative tread blocks that provide strong gripping power, this tire ensures you stay safe on the road. In addition, its grooved tread design gives users peace of mind while driving on wet roads. Not to mention, the ExtremeContact Sport 02's Tuned Performance Indicators allow drivers to visually see when their tires are no longer optimized for maximum performance, giving it added value and efficiency. So whether you're crossing town or on a road trip, this tire is designed to ride smoothly and offer an extended tread life—the perfect combination for enjoying life on the open road.

Who it’s for

The Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02 is a summer tire designed for use on sports, luxury performance, and muscle cars. Ideal for spirited drives and long-distance cruises alike, this tire offers a stable ride with improved cornering and braking power to help you take on the open road with ease. If you're looking for a reliable performance tire without breaking the bank, the Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02 is a really solid option. So whether you're an experienced driver or just getting into the game, the Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02 tire has something to offer everyone.

Cool features

The Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 is a fantastic tire with a lot of features designed to make your driving experience smoother and more enjoyable. Its most notable features are the optimized asymmetric tread pattern and grooved tread design, which offers drivers faster acceleration and handling. This creates the perfect balance between stability on dry roads and superior traction in wet conditions. And as we previously mentioned, the ExtremeContact Sport 02's Tuned Performance Indicators allow drivers to see when it's time for a new set. All in all, the ExtremeContact Sport 02 was designed to give you exceptional performance along with peace of mind wherever your journey may take you.

Falken Azenis FK460 A/S

Falken-Azenis-FK460-AS-tires

Falken Tires has been a trusted favorite for 35 years and counting. They have supplied the world with all-terrain, all-season, winter, ultra-high-performance, and commercial tires, and their success in professional motorsports helps them continually improve their tire design and development. With a deep commitment to quality, it's no surprise that Falken continues making waves within the industry!

Why we chose it

The Falken AZENIS FK460 A/S is an all-season, ultra-high-performance tire that has an advanced tread design that offers superior traction and grip, giving you exceptional control and handling. You'll have peace of mind knowing that your tires will keep you safe on the road, regardless of weather or season. On top of all this, Falken's tread life warranty gives you a worry-free driving experience—the more miles you drive, the more confident you can be about your tires! That's why we believe Falken AZENIS FK460 A/S is an excellent option.

Who it’s for

The Falken AZENIS FK460 A/S is designed for use on performance-oriented sports cars and SUVs. Because of its innovative design and advanced technology, the AZENIS FK460 A/S offers these vehicles exceptional braking and cornering performance. Plus, it provides increased responsiveness throughout multiple road conditions, including snow. Sport and performance car drivers will love what these tires can offer all year round.

Cool features

The Falken AZENIS FK460 A/S comes packed with all the goodies you could ever want from a quality set of wheels. For starters, its Advanced 4D Nano Technology and asymmetric tread pattern give you exceptional grip in wet or dry conditions. Not to mention their interlocking sipes, which help add extra grip and stability to each turn. Plus, the emerging grooves along the tread provide a smooth ride without the annoying vibrations. As a result, the Falken AZENIS FK460 A/S tire perfectly balances performance and comfort. Basically, it provides the best of both worlds!

General Altimax RT45

General-Altimax-RT45-tires

A member of the Continental family of brands, General Tire was founded in 1915 in Akron, OH. In 2013, they released the Altimax RT43, which is an all-season touring tire that’s consistently been viewed as one of the best tires in its segment. Almost 10 years later, General is back with the Altimax RT45, which built on the many successes of its predecessor.

Why we chose it

Most drivers use all-season tires thanks to their ability to perform well year-round, and that’s the case with the Altimax RT45 thanks to its dense siping and wide grooves that bite into the road and funnel water, slush, and melting snow out of the tread for consistent traction. The Altimax RT45 also offers drivers an insanely quiet ride thanks to its optimized design that lowers road noises and vibrations. Add in a 75,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for T- and H-speed rated sizes, and a 65,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for V-rated sizes, and the Altimax RT45 provides superb performance year-round, an incredibly quiet ride, and 4 to 7 years worth of tread.

Who it’s for

Drivers of coupes, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, and minivans such as the Chevrolet Malibu, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Edge, Honda Accord, Jeep Compass, Kia Optima, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Outback, and Toyota Camry.

Cool features

General has two excellent technologies that make it easier for customers to see how their tires are wearing, and both of them are present on the Altimax RT45. First, General added “REPLACEMENT TIRE MONITOR” down the center of the tire that will gradually wear away as the tire’s tread depth wears down. Eventually, the center of the Altimax RT45 will say “REPLACE TIRE,” which means that it’s time for the driver to purchase a new set of tires. Additionally, General added their Visual Alignment Indicators to the shoulders of the Altimax RT45. These allow drivers to quickly see if their tires are wearing unevenly on one side or the other, which gives drivers the opportunity to correct their alignment in hopes of hitting at least 65,000 or 75,000 miles with their purchase.

Kumho Road Venture AT52

Kumho-Road-Venture-AT52-tires-tread

For over 60 years, Kuhmo has dedicated their time to producing innovative tire designs with environmental preservation in mind. As one of the world's leading tire manufacturers, Kumho Tire USA is committed to ensuring its customers experience an exceptional driving feel and confidence in their tires.

Why we chose it

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 is a true wonder of modern tire technology. Incorporating a robust design with superior traction, this all-terrain tire enables drivers to conquer even the most challenging terrains with ease and comfort. Additionally, its tread design provides a quieter ride on asphalt while still providing ample grip on various surfaces, such as mud, dirt, and winter's insidious snow. Built to last too, these tires come backed with a solid warranty and Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. The Kumho Road Venture AT52s is an obvious Best Of 2022 Simple tire choice for an all-terrain tire because you can experience the freedom of off-road travel without worrying!

Who it’s for

The Kumho Road Venture AT52 tire is the perfect solution for any light truck driver looking for a reliable tire. It's equipped with an advanced all-terrain tread pattern, so it's rugged enough to withstand even your most adventurous off-roading trips! Not only that, but it also offers remarkable all-season capabilities. On top of its superior traction and stability in dry, wet, and even icy conditions, the tread depth also ensures long life and exceptional durability. Plus, it's backed by a 55,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty and a Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certification. So if you're searching for an all-around quality tire that will take you wherever the roads may lead, look no further than the Kumho Road Venture AT52!

Cool features

Shopping for tires can be daunting, but thankfully there are great options out there that make it easier. The Kumho Road Venture AT52 tire is one of those options! With its all-terrain tread design and balanced void ratio, this tire offers the best of both worlds - good performance on any terrain and a longer tread life. It also has reduced road noise for a more comfortable ride, giving peace of mind to anyone who needs to drive long distances on paved roads. And because it's made by Kumho, you know you're getting a reliable, quality product that won't let you down.

What our customers say

... about the Road Venture AT52.

I have now put a couple thousand miles on my new set of Kumbo's and am very happy with their performance. Most of my driving so far has been on pavement with it split between city and highway driving. Their ride is definitely a little stiffer than the stock Firestone's were, but it is not annoying. The traction is impressive, even on the highway because they will track very confidently when you apply steering inputs. I haven't done any serious off-roading yet, but have been on dirt and gravel surfaces without any concerns or issues. I expect they will do everything I desire or can expect out of my Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk which is trail rates 3 or less. I am pleased and can recommend these tires to anyone who is looking for a multipurpose tires that spends most of its time on pavement. Dan, who drives a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhakw Elite

Nexen Roadian HTX2

Nexen-Roadian-HTX2-tires-sidewall

Nexen is a Korean tire maker who has over 70 years of experience in the tire industry. Their Roadian family of tires are well-known by drivers of light trucks and SUVs for their strong performance and durability. Their newest tire, the Roadian HTX2, continues on this tradition while also offering improved winter traction.

Why we chose it

Highway tires are similar to all-season tires in the sense that they provide year-round traction and performance for larger vehicles. The Roadian HTX2 takes this concept a step further because it’s an all-weather, highway terrain tire that’s Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in moderate to severe ice, slush, and snow. Add in wide grooves, open shoulders, angled tread blocks, and dense siping, and the Roadian HTX2 is engineered to handle any weather condition, year-round.

In addition to offering superb traction and grip year-round, the Roadian HTX2 also utilizes a computer optimized design that fends off uneven wear and lowers rolling resistance to improve fuel efficiency. Thanks to this optimized design, Nexen backed the Roadian HTX2 with a 70,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for P-metric sizes, and a 50,000 mile limited manufacturer tread life warranty for LT sizes.

Who it’s for

The Roadian HTX2 is designed for use on light trucks and SUVs such as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford Expedition, GMC Yukon, Honda Passport, Kia Telluride, Nissan Armada, RAM 1500, Toyota Tundra, and Volkswagen Atlas.

Cool features

As mentioned above, the Roadian HTX2 is Three Peak Mountain Snowflake certified for use in moderate to severe winter weather conditions while still allowing for year-round use. Three Peak typically isn’t found on highway terrain focused tires, and the Roadian HTX2 is one of the first in the industry to give light trucks and large SUVs enhanced traction and durability year-round.

Nitto Nomad Grappler

Nitt-Nomad-Grappler-tires

Nitto Tire is one of the leaders in the automotive enthusiast world. They have been outfitting cars and motorcycles with specially designed tires for over 70 years. From all-terrain to ultra-high-performance tires and everything in between - Nitto has it covered. So whether you are a 4x4 off-roader, drag racer, dirt track racer, drift car, sport touring car, or vintage collector car enthusiast, Nitto has the perfect tire for you. Besides unparalleled performance and durability, their unique approach combines the style and practicality that set them apart from the competition.

Why we chose it

When searching for a tire that can do it all, the Nitto Nomad Grappler is a great choice. Whether you're out on the trail or want to upgrade your everyday commute, there's no better option than this tire. The Nomad Grappler provides more than just the ordinary; it features superior off-road performance, solid reliability with on-road traction and grip, and impressive handling. That's not all – its reinforced circumferential stepped grooves ensure durability and max traction. This tire was a no-brainer for Simple Tire's top 10 tires of 2022. So whether it's an all-out adventure or a simple getaway, the Nitto Nomad Grappler has everything you need!

Who it’s for

Nitto's Nomad Grappler is an all-terrain tire that will take your ride to the next level. Whether you're driving a CUV or an SUV, this tire's specialized tread design and robust construction offer superior performance in any terrain. They're built to last and made for adventure, so get ready to conquer rain, mud, and snow with confidence. Plus, Nitto's Nomad Grappler keeps your vehicle running smooth and quiet on the highway - no more noisy rides over rough terrain. Not only will you experience superior performance, but you can sport the stylish pattern everywhere, from daily errands to epic off-roading excursions.

Cool features

The Nitto Nomad Grappler tire doesn't mess around - it is a quality tire that's designed to withstand whatever you throw at it. It's perfect for handling various terrains with ease! Not only does it offer Nitto's classic great traction and durability, but it also has some cool features like a dual sidewall design and a double shoulder edge. The Nomad Grappler improves vehicle stability, allowing for excellent on- or off-road performance. It has triangular-shaped sipes and staggered lugs that deliver extreme grip even in deep sand and soil, so you don't need to worry when off the beaten path. With Nitto's Nomad Grappler, you can depend on reliable performance for any journey.

Nokian Outpost AT

Nokian-Outpost-AT-tires

Finland based Nokian is the world’s northernmost tire manufacturer, but being located close to the Arctic Circle doesn’t mean they only make winter tires (though, they do make some of the best winter tires on the market today). Nokian has continuously expanded into the all-season, all-weather, and all-terrain segments and their newest tire, the Outpost AT, builds upon the successes of the Rotiiva AT Plus while also incorporating technologies from their passenger lines.

Why we chose it

All-terrain tires are typically used on larger vehicles and need to offer extra strength and durability, and Nokian solved this dilemma by adding their Aramid Tough Shield technology to the Outpost AT’s sidewall. Aramid is the same material that’s used in bulletproof materials, so the technology is more than capable of withstanding damage from cuts, chips, abrasions, and tears. Gravel Guards within the Outpost AT also force rocks, stones, and other debris out of the tread to protect the casing from damage and to boost traction.

Speaking of traction, the Outpost AT utilizes Summit Sidewalls for soft surface grip, Canyon Cuts for traction on rocks, and an aggressive tread pattern that allows for consistent performance on- and off-road.

Ride comfort is also important, and that’s typically an area where all-terrain tires struggle due to their aggressive tread patterns. Fortunately, the Outpost AT is engineered with a Triple Pitch design that lowers road noises and vibrations on- and off-road. This allows for a quiet, comfortable ride so that drivers aren’t hearing their Outpost AT tires when heading down the highway.

Who it’s for

The Outpost AT is built for use on light trucks and SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Honda Ridgeline, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Armada, RAM 1500, and Toyota Sequoia.

Cool features

Backed by Nokian’s Pothole Protection Warranty, which replaces the tire at no cost if a road hazard damages the tire beyond repair.

What our customers say

... about the Outpost AT.

These are amazing. First these are so quiet and smooth on all road surfaces, so now I have found my truck rattles and squeaks. These are that quiet. Second they are performance tires disguised with deep tread. Cornering is tight and predictable, just point and go with confidence. Third the weather handling is phenomenal. North Texas just had a typical winter day, rain, freezing rain, sleet, and then snow. No issues with any of these. Even helped pull others out ditches. Not to shame other companies but they just lost my business. These tires are so good even my wife is impressed. Christopher, who drives a 2018 Nissan Titan PRO-4X

Pirelli P4 Persist AS Plus

Pirelli-P4-Persist-AS-Plus-tires

Founded two centuries ago in Milan, Pirelli has undoubtedly come a long way. Today, the global brand is known for its innovative technologies that bring state-of-the-art production excellence and passion for breaking boundaries. Even though its products are now triumphant worldwide, Pirelli still holds to its Italian roots - captivating hearts with the well-renowned 'Made in Italy' culture. For almost 40 years, Pirelli has emphasized creating high-value tires that bring out the best in the automobile industry. With a thirst for success and excellence, it's no wonder why Pirelli is considered an industry leader!

Why we chose it

When choosing a tire, the Pirelli P4 Persist AS Plus is an excellent choice because this highly reliable tire provides superior handling characteristics and impressive levels of grip, making it perfect for long hours on the road. In addition, the unique tread pattern helps keep the footprint clear of rain or slush - meaning your ride will be smooth and comfortable in any weather condition. As a bonus, this great-looking tire compliments almost any vehicle. In short, if you’re looking for a tire that can take you from A to B reliably and in style, we recommend checking out the Pirelli P4 Persist AS Plus.

Who it’s for

Pirelli's P4 Persist AS Plus is perfect for those who want one tire to use year-round. Equally comfortable in humid summers or icy winters, this all-season tire provides a smooth and reliable ride no matter the conditions. And no need to worry if your car of choice is a coupe, sedan, CUV, or minivan because this tire has you covered! Offering improved steering precision and cornering stability, plus optimal performance on dry roads - not to mention excellent snow grip - you're guaranteed an awesome driving experience every time.

Cool features

Pirelli's P4 Persist AS Plus tires offer a great blend of comfort, safety, and performance. Featuring advanced tread compounds and technology, the tire has a unique combination of rubber components for improved durability, better grip, and wet-weather traction. Combined with the asymmetrical design of the tread, this makes the Pirelli P4 Persist AS Plus perfect for different road conditions. Additionally, the tire features wide grooves to help disperse water away from contact zones while also providing less vibration in the steering wheel than average tires - making it a great choice for commuters and everyday driving.

SimpleTire is here for your tire needs!

If you're in the market for a new set of tires, we hope this list has helped make your decision easier. While there are many options on the market, these ten stand out for their value, performance, and features. And whether you're looking for a budget-friendly option or want the best of the best, we're confident there's a model on this list that will suit your needs. If you're looking for the perfect set of tires, definitely don't pass these options up. And if you're looking for something that's not on this list, Simple Tire has over 2,000,000 tires from 300+ brands to choose from.

10 best new tire releases of 2021

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