For the 2021-2022 winter season, the Finnish manufacturer Nokian has introduced a new product, the studded tire Hakkapeliita 10p. For the first time in their history, the Finns have created a special tire designed specifically for Russia. “Yuzhny Avtomobil” tested one of the best winter tires on the editorial Lada Granta.
The tenth Hakkapeliita in the Nokian model line is presented in several versions. If the Hakkapeliita 10 model is intended for the European and North American markets, then this tire was specially designated Hakkapeliita 10p for Russia. The letter “P” stands for Perfect and Power.
In fact, this model was created taking into account the safety requirements for the harsh winter roads of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Our tire differs from the European version in its longer studs. This is done to make the rubber even more grippy in the harsh Russian winters. In addition to the passenger car modification 10p, there are also Nokian Hakkapeliita 10p SUV tires for SUVs and Nokian Hakkapeliita 10EV – for electric cars and hybrids.
What is innovative about the tires
A special feature of the Nokian Hakkapeliita 10p model is the use of special double studding. The central and shoulder areas of the tire are equipped with studs of different shapes. This configuration allows for an ideal balance of grip on the road surface and control.
The studs in the central area effectively help with acceleration and braking, while the studs in the shoulder areas improve grip when cornering. In addition, the new tire has more studs. There are as many as 220 of them.
Thanks to the innovative stud fastening system in the tire, they can be hidden when their work is not required. The studs are fixed in the base layer, which has become more rigid and thick, but under each stud there is a layer of a softer rubber compound, which acts as a kind of cushion.
Also under the base of the stud there is a cavity with air, which acts as a kind of air shock absorber for it. This provides acoustic comfort on the asphalt. Accordingly, the lower the noise of the tires, the less fatigue the driver will experience on a long journey.
In addition, to prevent studs from getting lost and wear out less, Nokian Tyres engineers have developed the Eco Stud 10 concept. It consists of an additional thickness of the base layer and a special shock-absorbing rubber interlayer. Thanks to this technology, the air space in the middle of the lower flange softens the impact of the stud and reduces wear of both this element and the road itself.
The new directional tread design with a rigid central part is also aimed at improving control and cross-country ability. Although the shoulder areas resemble the design of the previous model, the side tread blocks received a reverse-directed sawtooth pattern of braking and acceleration amplifiers, and the tread blocks became slightly narrower, which made it possible to increase their number, and therefore the number of grip edges on each tire. Wheel wear can be monitored using the famous tread indicator, which shows the height in millimeters along with a snowflake icon. The snowflake remains visible until the tread wears down to 4 millimetres.
Driving experience
Theory is good, but in practice the Nokian Hakkapeliita 10p tyres did not let us down. They pleased with their good handling. During abrupt starts, slippage is barely noticeable, and on a trajectory with several turns, the car does not go off course under abrupt braking.
You can also confidently drive on deep snow and slush thanks to the wide grooves that squeeze the snow mass outwards, increasing the contact patch. The tread grips the road well when the car is moving, providing decent handling on clean, snowy and icy asphalt. By the way, the tires are really quiet, even though they are studded. This is especially noticeable in our editorial Lada Granta, where the factory noise insulation leaves much to be desired.
By the way, Nokian took care of the environment and fuel economy. The rubber composition includes over 30% natural materials. As, incidentally, is the basis for over 50% of all oils used in tires. This also reduces rolling resistance and, consequently, saves fuel with a concomitant reduction in harmful emissions.
In summary
Practically all Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10p tire sizes from R14 to R20 are manufactured in Russia, at the plant in Vsevolozhsk. All tires are available in speed category T (up to 190 km/h) and in most sizes are marked XL (the maximum possible load capacity in this size).
The tires have received many modern technical and technological solutions that ensure safety and comfort from driving. With these tires, you won’t be afraid of getting caught in snow or freezing rain, and the studs won’t make much noise on the asphalt.
Two types of studs and innovative studding technology provide maximum safety on snowy and icy roads. The studs in the central part of the tread improve grip during acceleration and braking, and the studs in the shoulder areas maximize grip on turns and when changing lanes.
As for the cost of Nokian Hakkapeliita, we tested the tires in the initial size 175/65 R14. The cost of one tire at the time of publication was 5870 rubles. The set will cost 23,480 rubles.
