Tested 11 times by independent publications, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 has taken 2 test wins with an average finish of 3rd. Its strongest discipline is Snow Handling, beating 89% of the field across 8 tests; its weakest is Straight Aqua, at 21% across 7 tests.
2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test P4 of 5Nordic Friction Winter Tires
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 finished fourth of the five Nordic friction tires. It is a pleasant, grippy Nordic friction tire for ice and snow, let down mainly by its aquaplaning resistance.
Where the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 finished in each measured discipline, across every test that measured it against at least two other tires. Field beaten is the share of the other tires it outranked in that measurement.
| Discipline | Tests | Avg finish | Field beaten | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | ||||
| Dry Braking | 7 | P2.9 of 7.6 | 73% | 2 |
| Dry Handling | 2 | P3 of 7 | 69% | - |
| Subj. Dry Handling | 6 | P4 of 7.5 | 56% | 1 |
| Subj. Road Score | 1 | P4 of 5 | 25% | - |
| Dry Lane Change | 1 | P4 of 5 | 25% | - |
| Wet | ||||
| Wet Braking | 7 | P5.1 of 7.6 | 39% | - |
| Wet Handling | 7 | P4 of 7.6 | 55% | - |
| Subj. Wet Handling | 5 | P1.8 of 6.6 | 87% | 2 |
| Wet Circle | 1 | P2 of 6 | 80% | - |
| Straight Aqua Weak | 7 | P5.9 of 7.1 | 21% | - |
| Curved Aquaplaning | 2 | P6.5 of 7 | 10% | - |
| Snow | ||||
| Snow Braking | 9 | P2.7 of 7.2 | 76% | 3 |
| Snow Traction | 9 | P2.4 of 7.2 | 78% | 4 |
| Snow Handling Strong | 8 | P1.8 of 7.3 | 89% | 4 |
| Subj. Snow Handling | 4 | P1.5 of 7 | 91% | 2 |
| Snow Circle | 2 | P1.5 of 7.5 | 94% | 1 |
| Snow Slalom | 1 | P5 of 7 | 33% | - |
| Ice | ||||
| Ice Braking | 7 | P3.7 of 7.9 | 60% | - |
| Ice Traction | 7 | P3.6 of 7.9 | 62% | - |
| Ice Handling | 6 | P2.2 of 8 | 84% | - |
| Subj. Ice Handling | 4 | P2 of 7 | 82% | 1 |
| Comfort | ||||
| Subj. Comfort | 4 | P3.3 of 6.3 | 56% | 2 |
| Subj. Noise | 1 | P1 of 7 | 100% | 1 |
| Noise | 5 | P3.4 of 7.6 | 61% | 2 |
| Value | ||||
| Rolling Resistance | 2 | P2 of 7.5 | 84% | - |
| Fuel Consumption | 5 | P2.6 of 7.2 | 71% | 1 |
Overall finishing position against the tires that have most often shared a test with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5. Only tires tested alongside it at least three times are listed.
| Rival | Shared tests | Ahead | Behind | Level | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Michelin X Ice Snow
8 shared: 6 ahead, 0 behind
Compare with X Ice Snow |
8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 100% |
 Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 3
8 shared: 1 ahead, 7 behind
Compare with UltraGrip Ice 3 |
8 | 1 | 7 | - | 13% |
 Continental VikingContact 8
6 shared: 0 ahead, 6 behind
Compare with VikingContact 8 |
6 | 0 | 6 | - | 0% |
 Michelin X Ice North 4
3 shared: 2 ahead, 1 behind
Compare with X Ice North 4 |
3 | 2 | 1 | - | 67% |
 Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
3 shared: 1 ahead, 2 behind
|
3 | 1 | 2 | - | 33% |
 Continental VikingContact 7
3 shared: 0 ahead, 2 behind
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0% |
The same record for the tire it replaced and the tire that replaced it.
| Tire | Tests | Wins | Avg finish | Field beaten |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Predecessor | 7 | 2 | 4th | 57% |
| Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 This tire | 11 | 2 | 3rd | 58% |
Drawn from 12 tests. Updated September 29, 2026.
Across 12 independent tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 consistently comes across as a top-tier Nordic friction winter tire when the surface turns properly wintry, regularly placing near the front of its class (average overall position 3.3) and taking a Test Winner award in the 2022/23 Tire Reviews studless winter test (1st of 9). The recurring theme is secure, high-grip performance on snow and generally strong controllability on ice: it repeatedly features at or near the top for snow handling (e.g. 1st of 8 in snow handling, 2023 Vi Bilägare; 1st of 8, 2023 Testirenkaat; 2nd of 9 at +0.1% from best, 2022/23 Tire Reviews) and is described as “easy to control on ice, offering consistent grip” (2025 Tekniikan Maailma). Efficiency and refinement also appear frequently in the write-ups, with low fuel use / rolling resistance and standout comfort noted in multiple tests (e.g. 2nd lowest rolling resistance, 2022/23 Tire Reviews; “best subjective comfort” in the tagged quotes).
The main, repeated exception is aquaplaning resistance, which is persistently weak versus the tires it is class-compared against: last in straight aquaplaning in its Nordic class in both 2025 Teknikens Värld (7/7, +12.7% from best) and 2026 Teknikens Värld (5/5, +11%), and worst for both straight and curved aquaplaning in the 2022/23 Tire Reviews test (8/8 for both, ~+28% from best). On wet and dry tarmac the picture is more mixed: it can be very competitive (Tire Reviews 2025/26: 2nd in wet handling, 2nd in wet braking; testers even called it “by far the best in the wet”), but several group tests still report mid-pack wet braking and some imprecise or nonlinear steering feel (e.g. 6/8 wet braking in 2024 Vi Bilägare, +52.5% from best; “steering is imprecise” on wet asphalt, 2025 Tekniikan Maailma).
performs well on snow, with excellent lateral grip in extreme situations- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
snow handling- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
offering the best cornering grip and proving particularly enjoyable to drive in winter conditions- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
Best control- 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test (2023)
loads of front end grip on turn in, no understeer at all and loads of traction at the rear- Nokian Outpost nAT vs Hakkapeliitta R5 vs WRG4 vs One (2023)
delivers winter grip that's almost as good as the test's best tires- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
match studded ones in many winter conditions, particularly on rough ice and snow- 2024 Studded Tire Test (2024)
excelled in both ice and snow performance- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
while maintaining strong ice and snow capabilities- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
excellent grip on snow- 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test (2023)
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 was among the best on ice and snow, joint second in ice handling- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
easy to control on ice, offering consistent grip- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
handling snow and reasonably slippery ice well- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
excelled in both ice and snow performance- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
match studded ones in many winter conditions, particularly on rough ice and snow- 2024 Studded Tire Test (2024)
it had the third-lowest fuel use in the test- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
low rolling resistance- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
Nokian has always rolled easily in terms of fuel efficiency- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
excels in comfort with low noise and rolling resistance- 2024 Studded Tire Test (2024)
the Hakkapeliitta R5 has low rolling resistance- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
best comfort levels- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
The comfort is adequate but not exceptional- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
excels in comfort with low noise and rolling resistance- 2024 Studded Tire Test (2024)
It demonstrated good stability and comfort on the road- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
best subjective comfort- 2022/23 Tire Reviews Studless Winter Tire Test (2022)
by far the best in the wet- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
showed improved performance in wet conditions compared to previous years- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
Its wet grip properties are just behind the best competitors,- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
matched it in the wet grip tests- 2022/23 Tire Reviews Studless Winter Tire Test (2022)
with full marks for snow braking- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
good snow braking- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
good braking grip- 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test (2023)
good rear-end stability- 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tire Test (2025)
It demonstrated good stability and comfort on the road- The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tires for 2024 (2024)
On asphalt, it handles evasive maneuvers well,- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
reasonable noise levels- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
excels in comfort with low noise and rolling resistance- 2024 Studded Tire Test (2024)
very low noise- 2022/23 Tire Reviews Studless Winter Tire Test (2022)
It was the slowest of the Nordic tires in the straight-line aquaplaning test- 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tire Test (2026)
Aquaplaning performance is weak- 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tire Test (2025)
weak curved aquaplaning resistance- The Best Snow Tires for 2025/26 (2025)
struggled with aquaplaning resistance- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
early aquaplaning- 2024 Studded Tire Test (2024)
soft compound gives understeery handling- 2024 Studded Tire Test (2024)
oversteers in wet conditions- 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tire Test (2023)
may find the Nokian somewhat too prone to sliding- 2023 Studless Friction Winter Tire Test (2023)
slightly inconsistent steering feel- 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tire Test (2024)
Every tester write-up on the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 (11 tests) and 14 owner reviews were tagged for the aspects they judge. Where both have spoken, this is how they line up.
Strong = top two of the field in that measurement. Weak = bottom two.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 finished fourth of the five Nordic friction tires. It is a pleasant, grippy Nordic friction tire for ice and snow, let down mainly by its aquaplaning resistance.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 delivers winter grip that's almost as good as the test's best tires, but the car becomes somewhat more unsettled with these tires - the stability isn't quite as good as the leaders. The tire provides nearly the same excellent winter grip as Continental and Goodyear's top Nordic friction offerings, handling snow and reasonably slippery ice well. However, Nokian has always rolled easily in terms of fuel efficiency, though it's no longer the lightest rolling tire in this test. Aquaplaning performance is weak, following the historical pattern where Nokian's Nordic friction tires have struggled in this area for years. The comfort is adequate but not exceptional, with reasonable noise levels but lacking the refinement of the top tires. The slightly more nervous behavior compared to the leaders means the car feels less settled and confident, particularly when pushed. For drivers who prioritize winter grip and fuel efficiency while accepting some compromises in wet weather performance and stability, this remains a solid choice, but it no longer leads the category as Nokian's offerings once did.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 would finish in second with a score weighting more towards dry and wet as it was simply in a league of its own in those conditions. Sadly, this dry and wet performance has compromised its winter ability, it was good in snow braking and snow handling, but struggled a little in snow traction, but the real issue was its smooth ice performance in the traction and braking tests were way off the group. Good comfort and a good rolling resistance round out a reasonable result for the R5, but I'd like to see some of that wet grip traded back for ice performance.
The Nokian Tires Hakkapeliitta R5 is easy to control on ice, offering consistent grip and remaining manageable even when pushed beyond its limits. It also performs well on snow, with excellent lateral grip in extreme situations. On wet asphalt, the steering is imprecise, but its overall behavior remains logical with good rear-end stability. The tire works well on dry asphalt, where its handling is certain, albeit with slightly slow steering.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 took third place, dominating the winter conditions alongside Continental. It excelled in both ice and snow performance, offering the best cornering grip and proving particularly enjoyable to drive in winter conditions. However, its clear focus on winter performance led to compromises elsewhere - it struggled with aquaplaning resistance and showed only average performance on dry and wet tarmac, with slightly inconsistent steering feel.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 friction tire proved that non-studded tires can match studded ones in many winter conditions, particularly on rough ice and snow. Its soft compound gives understeery handling and excels in comfort with low noise and rolling resistance. Main weaknesses are wet grip and early aquaplaning.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, a Nordic non-studded tire, showed improved performance in wet conditions compared to previous years while maintaining strong ice and snow capabilities. It demonstrated good stability and comfort on the road. However, the tire had relatively high rolling resistance, which negatively impacted its fuel efficiency. Despite this drawback, its overall performance, especially in winter conditions, was commendable.
Nokian's latest friction tire scores the most points of all in the snow and ice rounds. It has lively reactions and steers quickly into curves. For a soft friction tire, it is a joy to drive with a cooperative rear that suits the active driver. Conversely, those who prefer a calm and undramatic tire may find the Nokian somewhat too prone to sliding. On asphalt, it handles evasive maneuvers well, but has a somewhat nonlinear steering feel. Its wet grip properties are just behind the best competitors, as is the road noise. However, the Hakkapeliitta R5 has low rolling resistance. The Nokian tire is suitable for those who prioritize winter road properties above all and appreciate its quick cornering characteristics.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 is totally joyful tire to drive on snow, and proof that a good winter tire can make anything fun in the snow as it made the test Toyota Hilux exceptional fun! Compared to the other tires it just had more grip everywhere, loads of front end grip on turn in, no understeer at all and loads of traction at the rear and when it was sliding it was controllable. This tire is one of the kings of snow performance, and it shows.
Ice and Snow: Best control, excellent grip on snow, good braking grip; Wet Conditions: Excellent extreme situation behavior, good driving characteristics on dry surfaces, oversteers in wet conditions..
The Nokian ever so slightly edged the Michelin in the dry, matched it in the wet grip tests but was the worst in hydroplaning resistance, but then was the best in the snow overall. It had the best traction on ice, but then the Michelin had the best braking and the Continental the best handling. The Nokian was also joint quietest and had the second lowest rolling resistance overall
Owner reviews, sizes and EU label data, comparisons and the Tire Reviews score. All Nokian tires