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Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2

Premium Touring Winter

Replaced by the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Replaces the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 is a Premium Touring Winter tire designed to be fitted to Passenger Cars.

The quick answer

Owners say 88% from 4 owner reviews Read the reviews
Tests say 7th average finish across 1 independent tests Latest: P7 of 8 · 2023 See every test
Strengths & weaknesses Value, Dry Comfort, Wet Relative to its rivals across every test we hold

Built from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold for this tire - the evidence is all further down the page. Data updated January 2025.

  • 4owner reviews
  • 26,000miles driven
  • 1professional tests
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 1 photos

Tire Reviews Score

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2

3.0/10

Better than 9% of Nordic winter tires

  • Limited Confidence
  • 1 test
  • 4 owner reviews
Scores of the 44 Nordic winter tires we have tested

How this score is built

Better than Weight
Independent tests1 test · 1 publication · 2023 9% 100%
Owner reviewsFewer than 5 reviews, so they do not count yet – 0%
Combined 9% 3.0

A fixed curve turns the combined figure into the 0 to 10 score, so roughly the top 10% of a group score 9 or more.

Category by category

How it compares with other Nordic winter tires in each area, and how much each area counts. 50 is the middle of the group.

Category Better than Weight Tests
SnowBraking, traction and handling on snow 16% 31% 1
IceBraking, traction and handling on ice 9% 30% 1
WetBraking, handling and aquaplaning in the wet 0% 18% 1
DryBraking and handling on dry roads 91% 9% 1
ValueWear, efficiency and cost 99% 7% 1
ComfortNoise and ride comfort 6% 5% 1

Faded bars rest on one or two tests.

By discipline

The same results grouped by what the tire was doing. They are not counted a second time.

BrakingEvery braking test, on any surface 26% 1
TractionEvery traction test, on any surface 5% 1
HandlingEvery handling test, on any surface 5% 1

Confidence

  1. Limited
  2. Medium
  3. High

Its own test results decide 80% of the test figure. The other 20% is the average for its group, and it shrinks as more tests arrive.

High needs at least 3 tests, with its own results deciding 90% or more. Medium needs 2 tests and 70%. Anything less is Limited: expect the number to move as tests arrive.

The tests behind it

  1. 2023 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test Vi Bilagare · 225/45 R17 P7 / 8
All Tests
View Test Results
1 Tests
0 Test Wins
7th Average
7th Best
7th Worst
The latest test

2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test P7 of 8

The used tire, a Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2, was a test winner when it was new in 2015. Now, it is eight years old with about six millimeters of tread depth and harder rubber. There is a noticeable deterioration on ice and snow compared to the new top tires, but it still keeps pace with the brand-new Triangle tire in the winter rounds. The R2 is actually more manageable in curves as it is well-balanced and warns early when the grip limit is approaching. On asphalt, the lower tread depth provides an advantage in terms of braking and consumption, but it causes problems with aquaplaning instead. High wear on the outer part of the front tires results in poor cornering grip. It is concluded that new tires offer a clear increase in safety – but only if you purchase the best ones.

Strong: Dry Braking, Fuel Consumption Weak: Subj. Dry Handling, Wet Handling, Straight Aqua, Snow Braking, Snow Traction, Snow Handling, Ice Braking, Ice Traction, Ice Handling, Noise Winner: Continental VikingContact 7

YearTestResultAward
20232023 Studless Friction Winter Tire TestVi Bilagare · 225/45 R17P7 / 8
Alternative Tires
View All
GoodyearGoodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
9.4/1079% 4 reviews
Dry54Wet81Comfort94Snow91Test scores
 Compare 1 shared test
ContinentalContinental VikingContact 8
Continental VikingContact 8
9.2/1083% 8 reviews
Dry77Wet47Comfort92Snow81Test scores
PirelliPirelli Ice Friction
Pirelli Ice Friction
9.2/1097% 4 reviews
Dry86Wet84Comfort58Snow93Test scores
NokianNokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
8.7/1085% 17 reviews
Dry56Wet33Comfort28Snow88Test scores
 Compare 1 shared test
ContinentalContinental VikingContact 7
Continental VikingContact 7
8.6/1073% 25 reviews
Dry58Wet49Comfort56Snow86Test scores
 Compare 1 shared test
BridgestoneBridgestone Blizzak IcePeak
Bridgestone Blizzak IcePeak
8.5/10
Dry44Wet30Comfort83Snow100Test scores
BridgestoneBridgestone Blizzak WS90
Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
8.5/1079% 6 reviews
Dry100Wet58Comfort22Snow95Test scores
MichelinMichelin X Ice Snow+
Michelin X Ice Snow+
8.5/10
Dry72Wet65Comfort61Snow67Test scores
MichelinMichelin X Ice Snow
Michelin X Ice Snow
7.9/1084% 19 reviews
Dry23Wet28Comfort53Snow61Test scores
 Compare 1 shared test
Frequently Asked Questions
How good is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 in the wet?
Across the 1 wet-braking test it has featured in, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 stops 2.5% longer than premium rivals, 1.5% longer than mid-range rivals and 3.1% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews wet score of 0/100, and owners rate it 9.5/10 in the wet from 4 reviews.
How good is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 in the dry?
Across the 1 dry-braking test it has featured in, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 stops 4.9% shorter than premium rivals, 4.6% shorter than mid-range rivals and 3.8% shorter than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews dry score of 91/100, and owners rate it 8.3/10 in the dry from 4 reviews.
How good is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 in the snow?
Across the 1 snow-braking test it has featured in, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 stops 3% longer than premium rivals, 1.7% longer than mid-range rivals and 1.7% longer than budget rivals. Across the 1 snow-traction test, it is 1.6% worse than premium rivals, 0.7% worse than mid-range rivals and 1.7% better than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews snow score of 16/100, and owners rate it 10/10 in the snow from 4 reviews.
How good is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 on ice?
Across the 1 ice-braking test it has featured in, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 stops 9.8% longer than premium rivals, 12.4% longer than mid-range rivals and 0.8% longer than budget rivals. Across the 1 ice-traction test, it is 31.8% worse than premium rivals, 42.3% worse than mid-range rivals and 16.7% worse than budget rivals. It has a Tire Reviews ice score of 9/100, and owners rate it 9/10 on ice from 4 reviews.
What does the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 replace?
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 is the successor to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R in Nokian's range.
More questions about the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 (1)
Has the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 been replaced?
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 has been replaced by the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3.
Owner Questions
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Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 Owner Reviews

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What owners say

Across 4 owner ratings the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 averages 88%. Owners rate Wear highest at 10 out of 10 and Handling lowest at 5.5. 2 of those reviews come from owners past 10,000 miles.

Owner ratings averaged from 4 ratings

  • Owner score 88%
  • Wear 100%
  • Comfort 100%
  • Snow Grip 100%
  • Wet Grip 95%
  • Ice Grip 90%
  • Dry Grip 83%
  • Road Feedback 77%
  • Handling 55%

All 4 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 reviews

Score spread across 4 written reviews
75%
Member
Living in one of the colder parts of Norway there were only 2 studless wintertires that were recommended. The Nokian Hakkapilitta R2 and the Continental VikingContact. I bought the Nokian for my 1997 Vw Transporter and i would buy them again. The soft compount makes it really comfortabel and much more silence than the summer tire. Grip on snow and ice is as good as it can get with studless winter tires. But i think that the Continental is a little better on the ice while the Nokian is better in deep snow.
With a tire like this you dont need 4WD in Norway :D
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 3
  • Wet Grip 8
  • Road Feedback 5
  • Handling 6
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 9
  • Snow Grip 10
  • Ice Grip 9
Helpful 997
100%
Member
I love these tires. Had them on my volvo s70 1999 this winter. They were perfect all around.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 10
  • Handling 10
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 625
89%
Member
Perfect winter tires. Good grip on dry roads, even better on wet roads, excellent traction on snow, handles slush well. Good on ice, too, but looses grip suddenly, not gradually like the predecessor Hakkapeliitta R.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Road Feedback 8
  • Handling 6
  • Wear 10
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 8
Helpful 650

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697 reviews submitted this month Earn your Contributor badge No account needed
100%
Member
North Dakota Winter last year convinced me to invest in dedicated snow tires. After thorough research, I chose these, and I am very pleased. Amazing tires. Great ride, very quiet at highway speed, and insane grip in slush, on glare pack snow. When cruising through snow drifts, there is no lateral pull, just a straight charge through. I only have a thousand miles on them but I loved them so much I installed a set on my Mazda. I have not yet had a chance to get them into an empty parking lot and really put them through their paces, but I can definitely suggest these tires. I chose the SUV version for the Subaru, but I definitely appreciate the stiffer sidewall in corners. It is a heavy car to begin with, it sees a majority of highway mileage, and lots of hauling. I am very excited to have these on my family wagon. Highly recommend.
This owner's scores
  • Dry Grip 10
  • Wet Grip 10
  • Comfort 10
  • Buy again 10
Helpful 630
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