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Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 vs Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2

In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 finished ahead 2 times and the UltraGrip Ice 2 once. The Hakkapeliitta R3 was stronger in snow and ice, the UltraGrip Ice 2 in wet and value.

Performance profile

11 measurements from the 3 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.

Dry BrakingSubj. Dry HandlingWet BrakingWet HandlingSnow BrakingSnow TractionSnow HandlingIce BrakingIce TractionIce HandlingSubj. Noise

Where each is furthest ahead

Hakkapeliitta R3

UltraGrip Ice 2

Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.

In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 95%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 5 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.

Every measurement, side by side

Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Wins count the tests in which each tire did better.

Measurement Hakkapeliitta R3 Gap UltraGrip Ice 2 Wins
Dry Level
Dry Braking ft 100 0.7% 100 2-1
Subj. Dry Handling pts scored 33.3% scored 0-1
Wet UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead
Wet Braking ft 118 2.6% 114 1-2
Wet Handling s 38.26 1.7% 37.54 0-3
Subj. Wet Handling pts scored 12.5% scored 0-1
Straight Aqua mph 38.8 17.3% 45.5 0-1
Snow Hakkapeliitta R3 ahead
Snow Braking ft 124 = 124 2-1
Snow Traction s 5.95 0.9% 5.9 0-1
Snow Handling s 58.15 1.2% 58.83 2-1
Subj. Snow Handling pts scored 28.6% scored 1-0
Ice Hakkapeliitta R3 ahead
Ice Braking ft 104 1.4% 102 2-1
Ice Traction s 5.5 0.9% 5.45 1-1
Ice Handling s 58.56 4.4% 61.12 3-0
Subj. Ice Handling pts scored 14.3% scored 1-0
Comfort Level
Subj. Noise pts scored 29.2% scored 1-1
Value UltraGrip Ice 2 ahead
Rolling Resistance kg / t 6.03 1.5% 5.94 0-1

Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared.

Head to head in 3 tests, 2020 to 2021

Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.

Test Hakkapeliitta R3 Field UltraGrip Ice 2
2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test Teknikens Varld · 2021 · 205/55 R16Nordic Friction Winter Tires P3 of 6 P2 of 6
2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test Vi Bilagare · 2020 · 205/60 R16 P2 of 8 P3 of 8
2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test Test World · 2020 · 205/55 R16Nordic Friction Winter Tires P1 of 12 P4 of 12

Hakkapeliitta R3 vs UltraGrip Ice 2: your questions

Is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 or the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2 the better tire?

In the 3 independent tests that ran both tires, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 finished ahead 2 times and the UltraGrip Ice 2 once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Hakkapeliitta R3 scores 7.6 and the UltraGrip Ice 2 8.1 out of 10.

Which is better in the wet, the Hakkapeliitta R3 or the UltraGrip Ice 2?

The UltraGrip Ice 2 led 7 of the 8 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.6% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.

Which is better in the dry?

Across the shared tests the dry measurements are split 2-2 between the Hakkapeliitta R3 and the UltraGrip Ice 2.

Which is better in snow?

The Hakkapeliitta R3 led 5 of the 9 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it lapped the snow handling course 1.2% faster across 3 tests.

Which is quieter and more comfortable?

Owners rate comfort 8.7/10 for the Hakkapeliitta R3 and 8.9/10 for the UltraGrip Ice 2.

What do owners say?

Owners rate the Hakkapeliitta R3 80% from 15 reviews and the UltraGrip Ice 2 83% from 9. 92% of Hakkapeliitta R3 owners would buy it again, against 75% for the UltraGrip Ice 2.

Which is more expensive?

In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Hakkapeliitta R3 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 10.9% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.

Are they available in the same sizes?

The Hakkapeliitta R3 is made in 71 sizes (14 to 21 inch) and the UltraGrip Ice 2 in 42 (13 to 19 inch). 39 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Hakkapeliitta R3 is graded E for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the UltraGrip Ice 2 D and C.

Which is the newer tire?

The UltraGrip Ice 2 is the newer design: it reached the market in 2021, the Hakkapeliitta R3 in 2018. The Hakkapeliitta R3 replaced the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2. The UltraGrip Ice 2 replaced the Goodyear UltraGrip Ice+.

More comparisons with these tires

Run either of these?

Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.

Review the Hakkapeliitta R3 Review the UltraGrip Ice 2

Where this data comes from

Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.

About the TR Score

The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.

Who does the testing

Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.

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