Nitto Motivo Tire Review and Ratings
Dry Conditions – 80%
Wet Conditions – 70%
Snow – 60%
Comfort – 60%
Noise Reduction – 80%
Durability – 90%
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The tire industry has been around for a long time, but the one we’re interested in is about a century and a half old. During that time, it grew from an industry with a handful of manufacturers and a few models to the one we have today.
As the demand for tires increased, the industry began seeing more manufacturers. At a certain point, having multiple types of vehicles meant that there was a need for multiple types of tires. Even though the touring ones are still among the more popular and common choices, there are plenty of others, including the UHP tires.
The ability to deliver excellent performance is what some people are after, and they’re ready to make some sacrifices. Today’s tire choice claims to have that sorted, meaning that you can have the performance without the compromised refinement.
Nitto is a brand owned by Toyo, so in a way, they are competitors despite being related. The tire in question is the Motivo, a model which seems to deliver a lot. In reality, I’m sure that it won’t be as good as what it says on the brochure, but let’s dive in and see what it can do.
Pros
- Solid performance on dry roads
- The noise levels are pretty low
- 60,000-mile treadwear warranty
- The handling is dynamic
Cons
- Wet performance is noticeably behind many of its rivals
- The tire is a bit unpredictable once you start to reach its limits
The Features of the Nitto Motivo
The Motivo is an all-season UHP tire that can offer a quiet and comfortable ride. In essence, Nitto claims that this is a combination of a performance and touring tire.
On the performance side of things, Nitto designed a pattern that should help in multiple areas. The central rib should help with stability in a straight line and improve handling. It’s molded from a silica compound aimed at helping with performance in multiple conditions.
Naturally, since we’re talking about an all-season tire, the Motivo features a rubber compound that handles colder weather. As a result, it should deliver performance throughout the year.
For wet performance, the pattern features 4 circumferential grooves that work with the lateral ones to evacuate water efficiently. As part of the design, the sipes across the pattern should improve traction on damp surfaces.
On the refinement side of things, the Motivo is made using Nitto’s advanced manufacturing technologies, aimed at providing a comfortable ride. For noise, the tread pattern is designed with a specific block arrangement, which should help with road noise.
Nitto Motivo in Dry Conditions
As a UHP tire, you’d expect the Motivo to deliver excellent performance in dry conditions, and it does, up to a point.
Let’s say you want a daily driving tire with some sportiness. The Motivo will deliver. You’ll have enough grip and traction for driving around town or on the highway. There’s no slip, and the tire will comply with everything you ask of it. The braking distances are pretty solid for a mid-range model, so I don’t have too many complaints here.
The tire begins to show its age and weaknesses once you start to push it. Yes, you have some headroom to have some fun, but the levels aren’t as high as some of its rivals. At a certain point near the limit, the tire becomes unpredictable and can be a handful to control.
One positive side is the handling. The Motivo is a very responsive tire that will provide plenty of feedback through the steering wheel. In this regard, I’d say that my only complaint is that the steering isn’t as linear as I want it to be. The progressiveness is just a bit more pronounced for my liking.
Nitto Motivo on Wet or Slippery Roads
Wet roads aren’t ideal, so you’ll see many tires struggling in these conditions. Unfortunately, this also applies to the Motivo, at least in certain situations.
If the roads are damp and you’re not driving aggressively, the Motivo will be fine. There’s enough grip and traction to keep you out of trouble. It will accelerate or go around a corner without too much fuss, so it’s a decent daily driver. Unfortunately, the tire doesn’t deal with aggressive driving in wet conditions.
It’s more or less the same story as it was in dry conditions. You can push it a bit, but you’ll reach the limits quite quickly if you get carried away, which will reveal the unpredictable nature of the tire. You may need to brake if you get carried away, and the Motivo doesn’t deliver on this front. I wouldn’t call it unsafe, but the braking distances are noticeably longer than many of its rivals.
One area the Motivo does well is the aquaplaning resistance. The tread pattern channels water excellently, making the tire stable even when driving in harsh rain at higher speeds.
Nitto Motivo in Snow
The all-season properties of Motivo should offer usable performance in winter conditions, but that’s not the case here. While there is some performance on the table, it’s behind even some of its mid-range rivals.
In lighter conditions, the Motivo’s tread pattern does an acceptably good job of delivering traction. The tire will slip, there’s no denying that, so you’ll need to drive cautiously to avoid any issues. It’s the same story with the cornering grip. The tire will understeer or oversteer more than what most people are comfortable with.
You don’t get high-performance levels, at least not on the same level as some of the other all-season UHP tires. As a result, you’ll be at the limit before you blink and be greeted with more unpredictability.
Nitto Motivo Off-Roading
UHP tires are made for driving on paved roads. Considering that the Motivo is an all-season UHP tire, you should take it off-roading. You won’t get the performance you’ll need, and you’re increasing the risk of extensive damage. A dirt road may be fine, but I’d still recommend against using it in these conditions.
Nitto Motivo for Sporty Driving
I want to say no, but I cannot deny some parts of the Motivo that make it a good choice. This tire has two sides – the sporty one and the one that disappoints.
The positive side of this tire’s sporty characteristics is the handling. It’s responsive and offers plenty of feedback, something that some mid-range models struggle with. Unfortunately, that’s not backed by the performance. While the tire does a pretty good job of offering performance for daily driving, it’s not an ideal choice for sporty driving. The biggest problem is that it’s unpredictable at the limit, something you’d want to avoid in aggressive scenarios.
Does the Nitto Motivo Ride Comfortably?
Nitto claims to have made a UHP tire that’s well refined, and it delivered, at least partially. The Motivo isn’t the worst tire, but I have some complaints.
Surprisingly, the Motivo does a pretty good job of keeping the noise levels low. It’s not a touring tire, so I wasn’t expecting it to be as quiet as the Turanza QuietTrack, but it’s pretty good. You’ll hear it, especially over rougher surfaces, which is to be expected. With that said, there are some more expensive models that aren’t as quiet as this one.
On the other hand, the comfort levels aren’t as impressive. To be fair, I was kind of expecting this as soon as I noticed how dynamic the handling is. The stiffer sidewall means the ride is bumpy, which is especially noticeable when driving on bad roads.
Nitto Motivo Warranty
As a tire from the mid-range segment, one thing I cannot fault the Motivo about is the warranty. Nitto offers the tire with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is more than what some of the premium rivals offer. To be fair, this is within the grand touring segment, which is a big plus.
Nitto Motivo Pricing: Is It Worth the Price?
The Motivo is a tire from the mid-range segment, meaning the main selling point is the price. For a 17-inch tire, you’re looking at a price well below $150, which is still cheaper than some more affordable premium tires.
Should I Buy the Nitto Motivo?
My problem with the Motivo is that while it does some things right, I wouldn’t call it an excellent tire. The model is well over a decade old, so many of its newer mid-range rivals are doing a much better job.
As decent as the performance is, it’s still behind many modern tires, making it only good for daily driving. It’s not a tire that you’d feel comfortable pushing, especially knowing that it can be unpredictable at times. The tire makes up a bit with the handling and the noise levels, but it’s still behind its competitors.
In my opinion, the Motivo should be compared with some tires from the grand touring segment. The performance is more or less similar, with slightly more dynamic handling. Overall, the tire is okay, and you can consider it as long as you manage to find it at a massive discount. At regular prices, it’s not one that screams “bargain.”
What Vehicles Will the Nitto Motivo Fit?
Here’s a sample list of cars that the Nitto Motivo will fit:
- Audi A3, A4, Q5
- BMW 3, 5 Series, X5
- Chevrolet Malibu, Traverse
- Ford Focus, Explorer
- Honda Civic, Accord, CR-V
- Lexus IS, ES, GS
- Mazda 3, 6
- Nissan Juke, Maxima, Altima
- Subaru Impreza, Legacy
- Toyota Corolla, Camry, Rav4
- Volkswagen Passat, Tuareg
- Volvo S60, S90
Tire Sizes of the Nitto Motivo
16″
- 205/55R16 91H
- 205/60R16 92V
- 205/65R16 95H
- 215/55R16 97H XL
- 215/60R16 95V
- 215/65R16 98V
17″
- 215/45R17 87V
- 215/50R17 95V XL
- 215/55R17 94V
- 215/60R17 96H
- 225/45R17 91V
- 225/50R17 94V
- 225/55R17 97V
- 225/60R17 99H
- 225/65R17 102H
- 235/55R17 99H
- 235/60R17 102H
- 235/65R17 104H
- 245/45R17 99V XL
18″
- 215/55R18 95H
- 225/45R18 95V XL
- 225/50R18 95V
- 225/55R18 98V
- 225/60R18 100H
- 235/45R18 94V
- 235/50R18 97V
- 235/55R18 100V
- 235/60R18 103V
- 235/65R18 106V
- 245/45R18 100V XL
- 245/60R18 105V
19″
- 225/55R19 99V
- 235/40R19 96V XL
- 235/45R19 95H
- 235/50R19 99V
- 235/55R19 101V
- 245/55R19 103V
- 255/40R19 100V XL
- 255/50R19 107V XL
20″
- 235/55R20 102V
- 245/50R20 102V
- 255/45R20 105V XL
- 255/50R20 109V XL
- 255/55R20 107H