Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 Review

What the reviewers like:

• Great on snow and ice
• Studded tire for cars, SUVs, minivans and light trucks

What the reviewers don't like:

• Braking poor on dry or wet pavements
• Noisy on dry pavement
• Expensive

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 review highlights

We found the best comparison tests of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 snow tire in two Swedish publications, Motorföraren and Auto Motor & Sport - but both are in Swedish only. Consumer Reports also rates winter tires based on objective testing, reviewing two other Nokian tires, including the similar Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2. We found a more detailed review of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 at Canada's Automobile Protection Association, a nonprofit organization funded by consumer memberships (rather than by manufacturers).

Reviews recommend the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 as the best studded snow tire for performance on snow and ice. Studded tires aren't allowed everywhere (since they can damage roads), and reviews of this tire find it pricey and noisy, especially on dry pavement. Tread also wears fast. Overall performance on dry or merely wet pavement isn't as good as on snow or ice. Therefore, for milder winter areas reviews recommend the less expensive Continental ContiWinterContact TS810 (*est. $75), a studless tire which performs better on dry or wet roads.

Also see full report: Snow Tires

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Motorföraren
Winter tire test 2007
Hasse Britth
May 2007

Sweden's Motorföraren praises the studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 for excellent performance on ice and snow, though braking is poor on dry or wet roads.

2. Auto Motor & Sport
>> Details/Subscribe
2007 Winter tire tests
Martin Ström

Reporting on tests of 36 winter tires by four other Scandinavian or Russian publications, this Swedish magazine gives top ranking to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 among studded tires. It tests well in snow and ice but not in braking on dry or simply wet surfaces.

3. Automobile Protection Association
Winter tire recommendations for 2007-2008
Editors of Automobile Protection Association

This Canadian nonprofit association, funded by individual membership fees rather than manufacturers, chooses the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 as one of four top picks based on testing. The review does note drawbacks: price, noise on dry pavement and tread wear.

4. Consumer Reports
>> Details/Subscribe
Winter Tires
Editors of Consumer Reports
Jan. 2008

Consumer Reports doesn't include the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 in this roundup review of 22 winter and performance winter tires. However, two other Nokian tires are tested and ranked here, including the similar Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2.

Also see full report: Snow Tires