Continental VikingContact 8 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Across five shared professional tests, the Continental repeatedly converts balanced, all-surface ability into overall wins (5/5), while the Nokian alternates between standout wet/dry performance in some tests and classic Nordic winter strengths in others. Expect the Continental to feel calmer and more stable with class-leading efficiency, and the Nokian to impress for wet grip and subjective snow/ice feel-though with notable aquaplaning caveats and variable ice braking/traction.
Test Results
Independent comparison tire tests are the best source of data to get tire information from, and the good news is there have been five tests which compare both tires directly!
| Tire | Test Wins | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Continental VikingContact 8 | five |
While it might look like the Continental VikingContact 8 is better than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 purely based on the higher number of test wins, tires are very complicated objects which means where one tire is better than the other can be more important in real world use.
Let's look at how the two tires compare across multiple tire test categories.
Key Strengths
- Best overall balance: 5/5 test wins with consistent top-3 results across surfaces
- Class-leading on ice (notably shorter braking and stronger traction in multiple tests)
- Very competitive snow performance with secure, calm handling
- Lowest rolling resistance and lowest external noise in key tests
- Outstanding wet grip package (shorter wet braking, faster wet handling in multiple tests)
- Strong dry-road control and high comfort scores
- Excellent subjective winter feel and lateral grip on snow/rough ice
- Good fuel economy tendencies in several tests
Dry Braking
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during two dry braking tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 stopped the vehicle in 0.69% less distance than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Dry Braking: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Dry Braking winner was calculated >>
Dry Handling [s]
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during one dry handling [s] tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was 0.68% faster around a lap than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Dry Handling [s]: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Dry Handling
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. dry handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 4.43% more points than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Subj. Dry Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Dry Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Braking
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during two wet braking tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 stopped the vehicle in 3.69% less distance than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Wet Braking: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Wet Braking winner was calculated >>
Wet Handling [s]
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during one wet handling [s] tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was 0.96% faster around a wet lap than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Wet Handling [s]: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Wet Handling
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during one subj. wet handling tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 scored 2.13% more points than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Subj. Wet Handling: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Subj. Wet Handling winner was calculated >>
Wet Circle
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during one wet circle tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was 3.13% faster around a wet circle than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Wet Circle: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Wet Circle winner was calculated >>
Straight Aqua
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during one straight aqua tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 floated at a 0.52% higher speed than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Straight Aqua: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Straight Aqua winner was calculated >>
Curved Aquaplaning
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during one curved aquaplaning tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 slipped out at a 7.36% higher speed than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Curved Aquaplaning: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Curved Aquaplaning winner was calculated >>
Snow Braking
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during three snow braking tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 stopped the vehicle in 0.64% less distance than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Snow Braking: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Snow Braking winner was calculated >>
Snow Traction
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during three snow traction tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 accelerated 2.48% faster than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Snow Traction: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Traction winner was calculated >>
Snow Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one snow handling [s] tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 0.27% faster around a lap than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Snow Handling [s]: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Snow Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 performed equally well in subj. snow handling tests.
Best In Subj. Snow Handling: Both tires performed equally well
See how the Subj. Snow Handling winner was calculated >>
Snow Slalom
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one snow slalom tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 4.13% faster through a slalom than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Snow Slalom: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Snow Slalom winner was calculated >>
Ice Braking
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two ice braking tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 stopped the vehicle 1.91% shorter than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Ice Braking: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Ice Braking winner was calculated >>
Ice Traction
Looking at data from three tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two ice traction tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 accelerated 4.72% faster than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Ice Traction: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Ice Traction winner was calculated >>
Ice Handling [s]
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one ice handling [s] tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 was 0.13% faster around a lap than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Ice Handling [s]: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Ice Handling
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. ice handling tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 7.69% more points than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Subj. Ice Handling: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Ice Handling winner was calculated >>
Subj. Comfort
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one subj. comfort tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 scored 14.71% more points than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Subj. Comfort: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Subj. Comfort winner was calculated >>
Subj. Noise
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was better during one subj. noise tests. On average the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 scored 10% more points than the Continental VikingContact 8.
Best In Subj. Noise: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
See how the Subj. Noise winner was calculated >>
Noise
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during two noise tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 measured 1.74% quieter than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Noise: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Noise winner was calculated >>
Rolling Resistance
Looking at data from one tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one rolling resistance tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 had a 2.54% lower rolling resistance than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Rolling Resistance: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Rolling Resistance winner was calculated >>
Fuel Consumption
Looking at data from two tire tests, the Continental VikingContact 8 was better during one fuel consumption tests. On average the Continental VikingContact 8 used 0.9% less fuel than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Best In Fuel Consumption: Continental VikingContact 8
See how the Fuel Consumption winner was calculated >>
Real World Driver Reviews
Tire Reviews also collects real world driver reviews for the Continental VikingContact 8 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
In total the Continental VikingContact 8 has been reviewed 5 times and drivers have given the tire 80% overall.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 has been reviewed 15 times and drivers have given the tire 85% overall.
This means in real world driving, people prefer the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5.
Conclusion
The Hakkapeliitta R5 shines when tests weight dry and especially wet grip-it can outbrake the Continental in the wet and feels engaging to drive-but it shows softer spots in smooth-ice braking/traction and aquaplaning, and stability can be a touch nervous at the limit. If your winter includes frequent heavy rain and cleared roads, the R5 is compelling; for mixed Nordic winter with frequent ice and compacted snow, the Continental is the safer, lower-risk choice. The practical takeaway: choose VC8 for all-round winter security and efficiency; pick R5 if you value class-leading wet-road confidence and comfort and accept trade-offs on ice and aquaplaning.
Key Differences
- Overall results: Continental swept 5/5 shared tests; Nokian had none
- Ice security: Continental consistently shorter ice braking/stronger traction; Nokian can lag on smooth ice
- Wet performance split: Nokian often leads wet braking/handling; Continental steadier but sometimes weaker in curved aquaplaning
- Snow profile: Continental edges traction/overall snow consistency; Nokian occasionally wins snow braking and offers engaging feel
- Stability/steering: Continental calmer, more settled at speed; Nokian can feel more nervous on the limit
- Efficiency/noise: Continental lower rolling resistance and quieter; Nokian comfort often very high but RR sometimes higher
Overall Winner: Continental VikingContact 8
Based on the tire test data and user reviews we have in our database, the Continental VikingContact 8 has demonstrated better overall performance in this comparison. However, as you can see from the spider diagram above, each tire has its own strengths which should be considered in your final tire buying choice.Similar Comparisons
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Footnote
This page has been developed using tire industry testing best practices. This means we are only comparing tests which have had both tires in the same test.
Why is this important? Tire testing is heavily affected by things like surface grip levels and surface temperature, which means you can only compare values from the same day. During a tire test external condition changes are calculated into the overall results, but it is not possible to calculate this between tire tests performed on different days or at different locations.
As a result you will see other tests on Tire Reviews which feature both the %s and %s, but as they weren't conducted on the same day, the results are not comparable.
Lots of other websites do this sort of tire comparison, Tire Reviews doesn't.