EmailBest Reviewed
Snow Tires
- Best winter tire Michelin X-Ice Xi2 *Est. $95
- Budget snow tire General Altimax Arctic *Est. $65
- Studded snow tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 *Est. $145
- Mild-winter performance tire Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 *Est. $145
- SUV/Light truck winter tire Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 *Est. $135
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- Low rolling resistance means better gas mileage
- Secure on ice and snow
- Unimpressive on wet and dry roads
- Still trails Michelin X-Ice Xi2 on ice or snow
Winter tires have traditionally contributed to poor gas mileage because their softer, grippier rubber compounds create high rolling resistance. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R is designed to change that. Nokian claims its newest winter tire uses less gas than a standard all-season tire -- up to .21 gallons less over 100 miles. The Hakkapeliitta R does indeed display one of the lowest rolling resistances in independent winter tire tests, although it shares that honor with the Yokohama Ice Guard iG20 (*Est. $140) and the top-ranked (and less expensive) Michelin X-Ice Xi2 (*Est. $95). Testers say the Hakkapeliitta R is impressively agile and secure on ice and snow, but it gets lower marks for wet- and dry-road grip.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R has been thoroughly tested by all of the top review organizations. Scandinavian experts put it through its paces on every winter road surface -- icy, snowy, wet and dry -- at the auto magazines Teknikens Värld, Motor, Auto Motor & Sport and Aftonbladet. In the U.S., ConsumerReports.org's test is just as comprehensive. Two other Swedish auto magazines' reviews aren't as complete; Motorföraren tests winter tires only on ice, and Vi Bilägare includes less description than the other reviews.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R is ranked against 16 other winter tires for passenger cars, based on expert testing. ConsumerReports.org evaluates each tire's performance on snow, ice and dry and wet roads, along with comfort, noise and rolling resistance.
Review: Winter Tires, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, As of Nov. 2009
2. Teknikens VarldDetails/Subscribe
This Swedish publication runs an exhaustive test of 17 winter tires on its own test track. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R finishes sixth, with "even performance" except for a tendency to hydroplane.
Review: Winter Tire Test 2009, Linus Pröjtz and Ruben Börjesson, Oct. 2009
3. Motor
This magazine for members of the Norges Automobil Forbund (Norwegian Automobile Federation) publishes its top picks from a comprehensive, multi-publication tire test. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R displays great traction on snow and ice, but poor grip on bare pavement. It takes second place among studless tires behind the Michelin X-Ice Xi2.
Review: Winter Tire Test 2009, Jukka Antila and Rune Pareja
4. Auto Motor & SportDetails/Subscribe
This Swedish magazine participates in the same huge tire test as Motor magazine. It likewise praises the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R's performance on snow and ice, but not on bare asphalt. The tire finishes third in a field of eight studless severe winter tires.
Review: Tire Test: Eight Studless Winter Tires, Kjell Magne Aalbergsjø, Oct. 2009
5. Aftonbladet.seDetails/Subscribe
This is yet another Swedish auto magazine that participates in the same big winter tire test as Motor magazine. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R finishes second in the studless category, but Aftonbladet says it's "a much worse choice than the Michelin."
Review: Sweden's Biggest Winter Tire Test, Robert Collin, Oct. 2009
6. Motorforaren
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R lands at the bottom of this Swedish auto magazine's tire ratings, along with all of the other studless tires in the test. Motorföraren concludes that only studded tires are really good on ice.
Review: We Test: Winter Tires 2009, Hasse Britth and Arne Winerdal, Oct. 2009
7. Vi Bilagare
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R leads the ratings at this Swedish auto magazine. Testers say it's the best out of eight studless tires, but a studded comparison tire from Nokian outshines them all on ice.
Review: Winter Tire Review, Erik Rönnblom, Oct. 7, 2009
Snow Tires Runners Up:
3 picks including: Canadian Driver, Automobile Protection Association…
2 picks including: Aftonbladet.se, Auto Motor & Sport…
2 picks including: Aftonbladet.se, Auto Motor & Sport…
2 picks including: Automobile Protection Association, 1010Tires.com…
2 picks including: Automobile Protection Association…
2 picks including: Automobile Protection Association, 1010Tires.com…
2 picks including: Automobile Protection Association, 1010Tires.com…
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