Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Tire Review and Rating

As part of Nokian’s Arctic Sense Grip Concept, there are two aspects that help the Hakkapeliitta R3 have excellent performance in the winter.

To improve ice performance, the tire has Biobased Cryo Crystal 3 particles. While the exact details of the technology are closely guarded, the goal of these particles is to help the tire have better traction on ice.

In terms of the tread design, Nokian played it safe and went with the proven V-shape of the grooves. The pattern isn’t only designed to offer grip on snow, it should also help with comfort and stability. Another area where the tread pattern should help is on wet roads, especially with aquaplaning resistance.

The Hakkapeliitta R3 also has a feature called Snow Claws. Nokian designed them to act like biting edges and are placed between the blocks and the shoulders of the tire. The goal is to offer better traction when accelerating or braking both on snow and ice.

How does it behave on dry tarmac?

For a winter tire, the Hakkapeliitta R3 performs very well on dry tarmac. When driving a winter tire, it’s essential to know that it’s a tire that cannot drive as sporty as some high-performance one. The handling isn’t too bad; the steering is decently responsive and has average feedback from the road.

During more aggressive acceleration, the tire will have a decent amount of grip, as long as you don’t overdo it. Even more powerful cars will be fine. The levels of grip are good, and you won’t feel the tire struggling to find grip in the corners. One area where the tire falls a bit short is the braking distance. They are longer than the Hakkapeliitta R3’s premium rivals, even a bit longer than Nokian’s Nordman RS2.

The tire is safe and confident on the road, but I would have like to see a bit better performance on dry tarmac.

How does it behave over wet and slippery roads?

Wet performance with the Hakkapeliitta R3 is excellent, much better than on dry roads. In terms of handling, I can safely say that it’s one of the best in the business. Not only does it have plenty of grip in the corners, but the traction is also phenomenal, and the tire offers much more than what most drivers need.

The braking distances are a tad shorter than the best performing Goodyear UltraGrip Ice 2, seal the deal and make the Hakkapeliitta R3 one of the safest tires for wet surfaces.

Thanks to the V-shaped tread pattern, aquaplaning resistance is excellent, and the tire remains stable even in deeper water patches.

How is it over snow?

Snow is what the Hakkapeliitta R3 knows and does it well. The performance is exceptional, but not perfect, as there are some areas that Nokian can improve.

The Snow Claws are doing their job, and the tire has an amazing amount of grip in the corners and traction when accelerating. A similar weakness on a wet road is also present here – the braking distances. While they are still short enough to be considered safe, they are average in the premium class.

Ice performance is also impressive, and the braking distances are a bit improved. With handling that’s one of the best in class and excellent traction and grip, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is a tire that feels like it’s specifically designed for the ice. This is thanks to the Biobased Cryo Crystal 3 particles that help improve traction. The braking distances on ice are above average but still not as good as some other premium models.

Is it comfortable and refined?

Yes, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is very comfortable and is one of the quietest winter tires out there.

The tire can cope with road imperfections without any problems, softening them up quite well. This is probably due to a slightly softer sidewall when compared with other tires. Even large potholes won’t be an issue as the tire will almost eliminate vibrations transferred to the car.

As for the noises, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is surprisingly quiet for a winter tire. It’s not the quietest tire, but among its competitors, it is very quiet, even at highway speeds.

Is it good for off-roading?

No, the Hakkapeliitta R3 would be a terrible choice for off-roading. The problem wouldn’t be in the lack of performance, but the damage you can inflict to the rubber. As a softer compound, continuous driving over shaper rocks can damage it, reducing its lifespan and performance.

Is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 ideal for sporty driving?

It’s not a terrible tire for sporty driving, but I wouldn’t recommend treating the Hakkapeliitta R3 as such. While the responsiveness and feedback aren’t the worst in the business, the tire’s primary focus is to be usable in winter conditions. If you push it too hard in a corner, the tire will have enough grip to get the job done. the problem is that you will notice the sidewall flexing, which is not something you should do too often to the tire.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Warranty

Nokian’s warranty for the Hakkapeliitta R3 is a bit weird. Unlike most of its rivals with a specific mileage limit over 5 or 6 years, things are a bit different here. The warranty on the tire is either 5 years from purchasing or 6 years from the manufacturing date, and it includes premature wear during that time.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 Pricing: Is it worth the money?

Yes, the Hakkapeliitta R3 is worth the money, even though it’s not the cheapest option. With prices starting from around $100, you won’t have to look too much to find more affordable tires. The problem with them is that the performance levels won’t be anywhere near the ones on the Hakkapeliitta R3.

Should I buy the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3?