The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 01 Canada buyers can order this fall is a studded winter tire that tries to act like two tires. In the cold, more than 200 tungsten-carbide studs stay out for ice grip. On warmer pavement, a soft rubber layer lets those studs sink back in.
Nokian calls it Double Action Stud Technology. There is no button and no motor. A 3.5 mm adaptive rubber compound firms up below freezing and softens near or above freezing. The car’s weight then pushes the studs in on bare or wet roads.
What the test showed
Driving tested the tire on a frozen lake in Finland, on all-wheel-drive Audi wagons and Porsche crossovers. The runs covered a slalom, a launch from a stop, and an ABS stop on hard-packed snow.
Nokian says the 01 improves ice grip by about 10 percent and wet grip by about 5 percent versus its current studded Hakkapeliitta. It also claims 30 percent less pavement wear and about 1 decibel less noise. Studs in the centre rib and the shoulders point different ways, which is meant to help side grip.
Early Nordic magazine tests have been mixed. One matched the old tire. One found less stud bite under newer stud rules. Treat the launch claims as a starting point, not a Canadian winter proof.
Price, sizes, and the Quebec catch
Nokian offers more than 120 sizes, from small cars up to 22-inch SUV fitments. Expect about 10 percent more than a current premium Hakka. One Canadian listing for a 215/60R18 sat near $186 a tire before install. Check your size.
The tire is on sale this autumn in Canada and the Nordic countries. It is built in Finland. It is still a studded tire. Provinces that ban studs will not allow it.
Quebec generally bans studded tires, and at least one major retailer lists the 01 as not available there. Ontario and some other provinces allow studs only in a set winter window. Confirm your province before you buy.
Who should fit them
Buy the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 01 Canada if you drive ice, your province allows studs, and you hate the roar of old studs on dry pavement. Skip them in Quebec. A good non-studded winter tire is the legal pick there.
EV owners should also check load rating. Most 01 sizes are extra load, which helps a heavy electric SUV.
See more at NextEV and our winter charging guide.