Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 vs Pirelli Ice Friction
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Ice Friction finished ahead 2 times and the Hakkapeliitta R5 not once. The Hakkapeliitta R5 was stronger in value, the Ice Friction in dry, wet and comfort.
Performance profile
6 measurements from the 2 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Hakkapeliitta R5
Ice Friction
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 85%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 2 measurements recorded in only one shared test are left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Hakkapeliitta R5
Ice Friction
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 R5
Not ahead in any category
Ice Friction
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Hakkapeliitta R5 86% from 17 reviews and the Ice Friction 97% from 4. 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 R5 | Gap | Ice Friction | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Ice Friction ahead | ||||
| Subj. Road Score pts | scored | 20% | scored | 0-1 |
| Dry Lane Change mph | 42.9 | 2.9% | 44.1 | 0-1 |
| Wet Ice Friction ahead | ||||
| Subj. Wet Handling pts | scored | 10% | scored | 1-0 |
| Straight Aqua mph | 34.1 | 10.4% | 37.7 | 0-2 |
| Snow Level | ||||
| Subj. Snow Handling pts | scored | = | scored | 0-0 |
| Ice Level | ||||
| Subj. Ice Handling pts | scored | 0.9% | scored | 1-1 |
| Comfort Ice Friction ahead | ||||
| Subj. Comfort pts | scored | 32.1% | scored | 0-2 |
| Value Hakkapeliitta R5 ahead | ||||
| Fuel Consumption l/100km | 5.84 | 1.9% | 5.95 | 2-0 |
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 2 tests, 2025 to 2026
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 R5 | Field | Ice Friction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test | P4 of 5 | P3 of 5 | |
| 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test | P4 of 7 | P2 of 7 |
Hakkapeliitta R5 vs Ice Friction: your questions
Is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 or the Pirelli Ice Friction the better tire?
In the 2 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pirelli Ice Friction finished ahead 2 times and the Hakkapeliitta R5 not once. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Hakkapeliitta R5 scores 8.7 and the Ice Friction 9.2 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Hakkapeliitta R5 or the Ice Friction?
The Ice Friction led 2 of the 4 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it resisted straight aquaplaning at a 10.4% higher speed across 2 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The Ice Friction led 2 of the 2 dry measurements the shared tests recorded.
Which is better in snow?
Across the shared tests the snow measurements are split 0-0 between the Hakkapeliitta R5 and the Ice Friction.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Hakkapeliitta R5 used 1.9% less fuel (2 tests). Owners rate wear 8.3/10 for the Hakkapeliitta R5 and 10/10 for the Ice Friction.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
Owners rate comfort 8.9/10 for the Hakkapeliitta R5 and 9.5/10 for the Ice Friction.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Hakkapeliitta R5 86% from 17 reviews and the Ice Friction 97% from 4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 2 tests that listed prices, the Ice Friction was the dearer tire in 1 of them, by 2.8% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
Are they available in the same sizes?
The Hakkapeliitta R5 is made in 60 sizes (14 to 20 inch) and the Ice Friction in 51 (15 to 20 inch). 16 sizes are available in both. On the EU label the Hakkapeliitta R5 is graded D for wet grip and B for rolling resistance in most sizes; the Ice Friction C and C.
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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.
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.