Mashing the accelerator on a Mercedes C300, I fly toward the wet pavement on a racetrack in Las Vegas. I push the brake hard and whip the wheel just feet from the corner. Tires squeal and water flies as I quickly jump back on the gas, pushing the car around the tight turn and holding on for dear life.
“Go, full throttle!” yells the race instructor from the passenger seat. A huge grin spreads across my face. It’s my first time driving on a racetrack and I feel like I’m breaking every rule of driving. But no, on a racetrack, there are no speed limits.
I’m here to try a new tire from Nokian Tyres, the Surpass AS01. And while this tire isn’t exactly for the racetrack, its ability to claw at the pavement blows my mind. Which, to be fair, may be a little too easy to do.
In short: The Nokian Tyres Surpass AS01 is an ultra-high-performance tire that aims to also give drivers comfort, safety, and durability. It manages incredible traction even on a wet racetrack, yet has a 55,000-mile warranty. Nokian positions the tire as an everyday driver for high-performance vehicles and EVs at a value price. And while my test was limited, I was shocked at its ability to corner, brake, and accelerate under very aggressive driving.
- Price range: $190-420
- Available rim sizes: 16" to 21"
Pros
- Excellent traction on wet and dry surfaces
- Low rolling resistance
- Long tread life compared with competition
Cons
- Not as grippy as some UHP tires
Nokian Tyres Surpass AS01 Review
Nokian Tyres is a burgeoning brand in the U.S. Since opening a manufacturing facility in Tennessee in 2019, the Finnish company has launched several tires in North America, including the recently reviewed Nokian Outpost nAT.
European consumers know the company for its snow tire performance. Now, it’s eyeing the performance and electric car markets that value traction on wet and dry pavement, low rolling resistance, and handling.
And that market is competitive, with several models available to choose from. Nokian claims its new Surpass AS01 — an all-season, ultra-high-performance tire — offers a combination of value, durability, and longevity not seen in the market.
To be clear, I can’t validate those claims based on one track day. However, I can confirm that the Surpass AS01 offers incredible performance at speeds and driving styles far beyond what any responsible driver will see on public roads.
I reviewed the Nokian Tyres Surpass AS01 over 10 high-speed laps at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A handful of other automotive journalists and I pushed the tires into wet turns, hard braking, and aggressive acceleration aboard Toyota Supras, Polestar 2s, and Mercedes C300s.
The results were impressive.
Driving the Nokian Surpass AS01
In my short test of the Surpass AS01, I first drove the Polestar 2, a 4,500-pound, 476-horsepower all-wheel-drive EV. If anything can shred tires, it’s a beast like this with 546 pound-feet of torque.
I ripped four laps as fast as I could drive around hairpin turns, both dry and water-soaked. The car performed admirably, especially in the wet turns and the wet-to-dry transition, with a hard turn a couple of hundred yards after the flooded section.
The tires squawked in protest around hard corners, doing exactly their job. Never once did I lose traction with the heavy EV. After four laps, I opened the door to the smell of burned rubber and hot brakes with a huge smile.
Next, the highlight: two timed laps in a Toyota Supra.
The experience was sublime. With a driving instructor at my side, I pushed the car as hard as I dared, trying to punish the brake pedal before turns and flooring the accelerator coming out of apexes. This was a fully dry course and a joy. I did my best to evaluate the tires, but ultimately, it came down to, “Wow, that was intense.”
Did the tires do their job? Absolutely. And given they aren’t a track tire, it would be hard to argue they need to improve much. I felt downright naughty driving so aggressively. But driving like that on an open road would be inadvisable. The Surpass AS01 should manage any spirited road driving you can dish at it with lots of performance to spare.
Finally, I put the aforementioned Mercedes through four laps on the wet track. With less horsepower and weight, the C300 also handled the course with aplomb. I did note a little less traction on the wet corners, which I attributed to the lighter vehicle.
But it still performed well, with excellent handling at speeds far beyond realistic road driving. At this point, my confidence had also grown, so I was pushing the car as hard as I could with my admittedly novice skills.
It was awesome.
The Unknowns
If you’ve gotten this far, you’re probably interested in this tire for a high-performance vehicle of your own. And most likely, that car will take you to work, on road trips, and maybe even an occasional track day.
I can’t comment on road driving. I’ve literally never driven these tires outside of a track. But what I can confirm is that they handled a lot of laps on a racetrack with no obvious missteps. By the end of the day and a couple of hours of fast laps by a dozen drivers, I didn’t observe any significant wear or damage.
Obviously, a few track days will destroy any tire. But I suspect that your average use on roads will be well served by the Nokian Tyres Surpass AS01.
Nokian Surpass AS01 Review Conclusions
The Nokian Surpass AS01 is available in 65 sizes ranging from 16 to 21 inches, and it costs between $190 and $420 depending on size. It has a high-silica compound that the brand claims improves handling and longevity.
It carries both a 55,000-mile warranty and pothole protection. That means that if its Aramid sidewalls blow out and can’t be repaired, the brand will replace the tire for free for up to a year after purchase.
We do not yet have a test set, but GearJunkie will update this article with longer-term impressions once we do.
For now, the Surpass AS01 looks like a solid entry into the ultra-high-performance tire market for those looking for good performance married with safety and a relatively long tread life.
