Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Tire Review and Rating

All-season tires are not a replacement for winter tires, so today, I’ll talk about a specific winter tire. Nokian is a Finish brand known for making premium winter tires. Later in the review, we’ll see if that’s true.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta offers plenty of tires, and the one I’ll be reviewing today is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3. This non-studded winter tire should provide safety and comfort without sacrificing performance.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 has features?

With the Hakkapeliitta R3, the rubber compound and tread design are the main focus. A softer compound is used in winter tires to prevent them from becoming too hard in colder temperatures. Nokian used its winter rubber compound to ensure it doesn’t underperform.

Two aspects of Nokian’s Arctic Sense Grip Concept help the Hakkapeliitta R3 perform well in the winter.

The tire has Biobased Cryo Crystal 3 particles to improve ice performance. The technology behind these particles is closely guarded, but the goal is to improve tire traction on ice.

Nokian went with the proven V-shape of the grooves for the tread design. Along with providing grip on snow, the pattern should also provide comfort and stability. On wet roads, the tread pattern should help prevent aquaplaning, especially on wet surfaces.

Snow Claws are also a feature of the Hakkapeliitta R3. Nokian designed them to act as biting edges and place them between the blocks and the tire shoulders. Both snow and ice should offer better traction when accelerating or braking.

What is the behavior of the vehicle on dry tarmac?

On dry tarmac, the Hakkapeliitta R3 performs well for a winter tire. Winter tires cannot drive as sporty as some high-performance tires, which is essential to understand when driving them. Handling isn’t too bad; steering is decently responsive, and road feedback is average.

So long as you don’t overdo it, the tire will have decent grip during aggressive acceleration. It won’t matter if the car is powerful or not.

You won’t feel the tire struggling to find grip in the corners because the grip levels are good. In terms of braking distance, the tire falls a bit short. Even Nokian’s Nordman RS2 is a bit longer than the Hakkapeliitta R3’s premium rivals.

While the tire is safe and reliable on the road, I would have liked to see a bit better performance on dry tarmac.

What is its behavior on slippery and wet roads?

The Hakkapeliitta R3 performs excellently in the wet, much better than on dry roads. When it comes to handling, I can safely say that it’s one of the best.

In addition to having plenty of grip in corners, this tire offers phenomenal traction, which is much more than most drivers need.

A tad shorter braking distance than Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, seals the deal and makes the Hakkapeliitta R3 one of the safest tires for wet conditions.

Even in deeper water patches, the tire remains stable thanks to its V-shaped tread pattern.

What is its behavior on snow?

Hakkapeliitta R3 excels at snow. As Nokian can improve in some areas, the performance is exceptional, but not perfect.

Snow Claws are doing their job and the tire has amazing cornering grip and acceleration traction. On a wet road, the braking distances are also a weakness. Though they are still short enough to be considered safe, they are average for premium cars.

Additionally, the ice performance is impressive, and the braking distances are a bit shorter. Hakkapeliitta R3 tires have excellent traction and grip on ice, making them one of the best tires in their class.

As a result of the Biobased Cryo Crystal 3 particles, traction is improved. On ice, the braking distances are above average, but still not as good as some other premium models.

Does it feel refined and comfortable ?

The Hakkapeliitta R3 is a very comfortable and quiet winter tire.

There is no problem with the tire coping with road imperfections, as it softens them up quite well. It is probably due to a slightly softer sidewall compared to other tires.

The tire will almost eliminate vibrations transferred to the car even from large potholes.

For a winter tire, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is surprisingly quiet. It’s not the quietest tire, but it’s very quiet compared to its competitors.

What is the performance on off-road?

Hakkapeliitta R3 is not suitable for off-roading. The problem wouldn’t be the lack of performance, but the damage you could do to the rubber. Continuously driving over shaper rocks can damage this softer compound, reducing its lifespan and performance.

Can the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 handle sporty driving?

The Hakkapeliitta R3 is not a terrible tire for sporty driving, but I wouldn’t recommend it. While the tire’s responsiveness and feedback aren’t the worst in the business, it is designed primarily for winter use.

It will have enough grip to get the job done if you push it too hard in a corner. There is a problem with the sidewall flexing, which isn’t something you should do too often to your tires.

Warranty for Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3

Nokian’s warranty for the Hakkapeliitta R3 is strange. In contrast to most of its rivals with a specific mileage limit over 5 or 6 years, things are a bit different here. A tire’s warranty is either 5 years or 6 years from the date of purchase, and it covers premature wear.

What is the price of Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3?

Even though it’s not the cheapest option, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is worth the money. More affordable tires can be found for around $100, so you won’t have to look too far. Performance levels on them won’t even come close to those on the Hakkapeliitta R3.

Is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 worth buying?

Hakkapeliitta R3 tires are perfect for areas with harsh winters. For the price, you do get a lot of performance.

In dry weather, the tire is not the best, but still performs well. A good grip and traction will get you moving or around a corner.

For a winter tire, it’s responsive enough, and the steering wheel provides some feedback. Even in warmer weather, the tire remains drivable.

We sometimes get warmer days in winter, at which point the Hakkapeliitta R3 tire remains perfectly safe to drive. Braking distances are slightly longer, but that’s the only downside

In the wet, performance is much better, with excellent grip and traction levels. Even at high speeds, the tire won’t be upset when going around corners.

Combined with excellent aquaplaning resistance and short braking distances, you get a tire with one of the best wet performances on the market.

In almost every scenario, snow and ice performance is equally impressive. Even spirited drivers or more powerful cars won’t have a problem with grip and traction, and the handling is among the best in class.

While the braking distances on snow and ice are not class-leading, they are still short enough to ensure a safe driving experience.

While the comfort isn’t surprising, the low noise levels are. No matter how fast the car was going, the Hakkapeliitta R3 was very quiet as a winter tire.

It’s kind of weird that the warranty isn’t based on mileage. You should get a replacement if the product wears prematurely within 5 years of purchase or 6 years of production.

Despite some minor drawbacks, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is among the best winter tires currently available.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Fit with these Vehicles?

• Nissan Altima, Micra, Qashqai, Juke
• Suzuki Swift, Vitara, SX4
• Toyota Corolla, Camry, CH-R, Rav4
• Hyundai i30, Elantra, Santa Fe, Tucson
• Audi A3, A4, A6, Q3, Q5
• BMW 1, 3, 5 series, X3, X5
• Honda Civic, Accord, Jazz, Odyssey, CR-V
• Ford Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, C-Max, Kuga, Escape
• Lexus ES, IS, NX, RX
• Mazda 2, 3, CX-3,

The following is a sample list of cars that will fit the Hakkapeliitta R3. Since the tire can fit anything from a small hatchback to a big SUV, making a complete list is impossible.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 tire sizes

14″ tire size

• 175/65R14
• 185/65R14

17″ tire size

• 225/55R17
• 215/45R17
• 205/50R17
• 225/50R17
• 225/45R17
• 215/55R17
• 205/55R17
• 235/45R17
• 215/50R17
• 235/50R17

20″ tire size

• 285/40R20
• 235/35R20
• 195/55R20
• 255/35R20
• 245/40R20
• 275/35R20
• 245/45R20
• 215/45R20

21″ tire size

• 265/35R21
• 245/35R21

19″ tire size

• 245/45R19
• 225/45R19
• 215/50R19
• 255/35R19
• 235/40R19
• 155/70R19
• 255/40R19
• 245/40R19
• 235/45R19
• 225/40R19
• 255/45R19
• 275/35R19
• 275/40R19

15″ tire size

• 195/55R15
• 165/60R15
• 195/60R15
• 185/55R15
• 175/65R15
• 205/65R15
• 185/60R15
• 195/65R15
• 185/65R15

18″ tire size

• 255/35R18
• 225/40R18
• 255/40R18
• 245/50R18
• 245/45R18
• 235/40R18
• 235/45R18
• 275/40R18
• 225/50R18
• 225/45R18
• 245/40R18
• 265/35R18
• 215/50R18
• 255/45R18

16″ tire size

• 215/60R16
• 205/60R16
• 225/60R16
• 195/60R16
• 195/50R16
• 215/55R16
• 205/55R16
• 225/55R16
• 205/65R16
• 195/55R16

References and Resources:

https://www.vauxhall.co.uk/

https://suzuki.com/

https://www.mazda.com/

https://www.jeep.com/

Video Review of Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Tire