Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 vs Continental VikingContact 7
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental VikingContact 7 finished ahead 2 times and the Hakkapeliitta R3 once, with one level. The Hakkapeliitta R3 was stronger in dry, wet and value, the VikingContact 7 in snow, ice and comfort.
Performance profile
11 measurements from the 4 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Hakkapeliitta R3
VikingContact 7
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 92%: 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.
Where each scores higher
Hakkapeliitta R3
VikingContact 7
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Hakkapeliitta R3
VikingContact 7
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Hakkapeliitta R3 80% from 15 reviews and the VikingContact 7 74% from 25. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
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 | VikingContact 7 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Hakkapeliitta R3 ahead | ||||
| Dry Braking ft | 100 | 0.6% | 100 | 2-1 |
| Subj. Dry Handling pts | scored | 9.5% | scored | 1-1 |
| Wet Hakkapeliitta R3 ahead | ||||
| Wet Braking ft | 118 | 2.9% | 121 | 3-0 |
| Wet Handling s | 38.26 | 0.4% | 38.43 | 3-0 |
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 38.8 | 2.6% | 39.8 | 0-1 |
| Snow VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Snow Braking ft | 124 | 0.9% | 123 | 1-2 |
| Snow Traction s | 5.95 | 1.6% | 5.85 | 0-1 |
| Snow Handling s | 58.15 | 0.7% | 57.75 | 0-3 |
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Ice VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Ice Braking ft | 104 | 4.6% | 101 | 1-2 |
| Ice Traction s | 5.5 | 3.6% | 5.3 | 1-1 |
| Ice Handling s | 58.56 | 0.5% | 58.27 | 1-2 |
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Comfort VikingContact 7 ahead | ||||
| Subj. Noise pts | scored | 53.7% | scored | 0-2 |
| Value Hakkapeliitta R3 ahead | ||||
| Rolling Resistance kg / t | 6.03 | 0.3% | 6.05 | 1-0 |
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 4 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 | VikingContact 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Studless and Studded Winter Tire Test | P3 of 6 | P1 of 6 | |
| 2020 Vi Bilagare Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test | P2 of 8 | P1 of 8 | |
| The Best Winter Tires for 2020 | P1 of 19 | P1 of 19 | |
| 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tire Test | P1 of 12 | P2 of 12 |
Hakkapeliitta R3 vs VikingContact 7: your questions
Is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 or the Continental VikingContact 7 the better tire?
In the 4 independent tests that ran both tires, the Continental VikingContact 7 finished ahead 2 times and the Hakkapeliitta R3 once, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Hakkapeliitta R3 scores 7.6 and the VikingContact 7 8.6 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Hakkapeliitta R3 or the VikingContact 7?
The Hakkapeliitta R3 led 6 of the 8 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 2.9% shorter in the wet across 3 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Hakkapeliitta R3 led 3 of the 5 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 0.6% shorter in the dry across 3 tests.
Which is better in snow?
The VikingContact 7 led 6 of the 9 snow measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it was 1.6% quicker in the snow traction test across 2 tests.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.7/10 for the Hakkapeliitta R3 and 8.5/10 for the VikingContact 7.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Hakkapeliitta R3 80% from 15 reviews and the VikingContact 7 74% from 25. 92% of Hakkapeliitta R3 owners would buy it again, against 64% for the VikingContact 7.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the VikingContact 7 was the dearer tire in 2 of them, by 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 VikingContact 7 in 134 (14 to 22 inch). 63 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 VikingContact 7 D and C.
More comparisons with these tires
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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.
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.