Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 review
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 is widely regarded as a premier studded winter tire, offering class-leading traction and confidence on ice and deep snow. While its performance on bare pavement is compromised by the high stud count, users consistently praise its durability and reliability in extreme Nordic and arctic winter conditions.
Owners rate it 21.9 points higher than the instrumented road tests do — see the two score breakdowns below for where they disagree.
Two scoring systems, side by side
Owner scores come from reviews on retailer and review sites; road-test scores come from instrumented tests. Where they disagree, it is usually a discipline owners rarely push to the limit.
By owner reviews
88%By road tests
66.1%What owners like and dislike
Themes extracted from 7 owner reviews across retailers and review sites.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 is widely regarded as a premier studded winter tire, offering class-leading traction and confidence on ice and deep snow. While its performance on bare pavement is compromised by the high stud count, users consistently praise its durability and reliability in extreme Nordic and arctic winter conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional grip and control on ice and packed snow
- Outstanding stud retention and overall tread durability
- Predictable handling in extreme sub-zero temperatures
- High level of driver confidence in harsh winter climates
Cons
- Reduced handling precision and stability on dry or wet tarmac
- Noticeable decline in ice/snow performance after the second or third season
- Increased road noise and vibration typical of high-density studded tires
Worth knowing
- Users report excellent performance on performance-oriented vehicles like the Audi S3 in severe cold climates.
- The tire demonstrates high durability even on older vehicles lacking modern electronic aids like ABS or traction control.
1 published test appearance
Placement within each field. Open a test for the discipline-by-discipline result.
2023 Studded tire Test · 225/45 R17
8th of 8
| Discipline | Placement | Field position |
|---|---|---|
| Wet Handling | 7th of 8 | |
| Snow Traction | 3rd of 8 | |
| Snow Handling | 8th of 8 | |
| Ice Handling | 7th of 8 | |
| Rolling Resistance | 1st of 8 | |
| Straight Aqua | 4th of 8 | |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 3rd of 8 | |
| Subj. Comfort | 3rd of 8 | |
| Noise | 2nd of 8 | |
| Ice Traction | 8th of 8 |