Are Kapsen Tires Any Good?
Our guide · 2026
Kapsen is our house brand and the centre of our winter tire range. Here is who makes it, what it is rated for, and why it offers such strong value.
The short answer
Yes. Kapsen winter tires are certified for severe snow and rated for grip on ice. They come from an established tire manufacturer with a clean recall record, and they are backed by a 3-year / 80,000 km manufacturing warranty.
They deliver dependable winter performance at a price well below most name brands, which makes them an easy choice for city and highway driving in Ottawa.
Who makes Kapsen?
Kapsen is made by Shandong Huasheng Rubber Co. in Dongying, Shandong, China. The same group makes Habilead and Durun. The RW501 is also sold as the Habilead RW501.
The factory is registered with the US road-safety agency (NHTSA), with plant code 1AC. That code is part of the DOT number moulded into every tire's sidewall.
The China Rubber Industry Association ranks Huasheng among the top 25 tire makers in China by sales.
The winter tires: RW501 and AW33
The IceMax RW501 is a studless winter tire and the core of our winter range.
The SnowShoes AW33 is also a studless winter tire. It covers sizes the RW501 does not, such as 205/55R16.
Both carry two symbols on their EU label:
- —The three-peak mountain snowflake: the tire has passed the standard test for traction in severe snow.
- —The ice-grip symbol: the tire has passed the EU test for grip on ice.
We checked the labels on tires in our shop, not only the registry. Below are the RW501 in 195/65R15 and the AW33 in 205/55R16, with both symbols at the bottom of each label:
A clean recall record
We searched the recall records of NHTSA and Transport Canada. Neither lists any recall for Kapsen, Habilead or Huasheng.
The EU product registry (EPREL), NHTSA's plant and recall records, Transport Canada's recall database, and the labels on tires in our shop. Checked October 10, 2026.
Backed by a manufacturing warranty
Kapsen tires purchased from Techtire carry a manufacturing warranty of 3 years or 80,000 km, whichever comes first. It covers defects in how the tire was made, including:
- —Tread separation.
- —A tire that cannot be balanced properly after three attempts.
- —Bulges across the tire caused by a fault in manufacturing.
A covered tire is replaced free within its first 2/32″ of tread wear, and pro-rated after that, so you pay only for the tread you have used. Mounting and balancing on the replacement are charged separately.
Road-hazard damage is not covered. A single bulge on the sidewall is almost always caused by a pothole or curb impact, not by a defect. To make a claim, bring the tire and your original Techtire invoice, and we inspect it at the shop. Read the full manufacturing warranty.
Why drivers choose Kapsen
- —Certified winter performance: severe-snow and ice-grip rated.
- —Strong value: a full winter tire at a price well below most name brands.
- —Peace of mind: a 3-year / 80,000 km manufacturing warranty.
- —Installed locally: mounted and balanced by our team at 447 Catherine St.
The RW501 starts at $100 per tire, mounted and balanced. See all sizes and prices for the RW501 and the AW33.
Get ready for winter.
Choose your size and book online. We mount and balance at 447 Catherine St.