Here in the states, outlets like Consumer Reports would have us believe that premium studless winter tires have reached parity with studded Nordic winters. At least in the case of the Hakkapeliitta 10, this is absolutely not true. I've have the chance to directly compare these tires to lightly worn sets of the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and the Continental Vikingcontact 7. In deep snow the difference is significant. But on hard packed snow and ice the Hakkas are massively better. I can't speak to the dry/wet traction or handling as my tires will spend 90% of their life on dirt roads and snow. Noise is still a significant problem with the Hakka 10. In my poorly insulated Honda Civic, the constant racket is intrusive at all speeds on pavement. For this reason, I would not recommend these tires in any case where the car spends most of its time on paved roads. They are an absolute godsend for anyone who drives a 2wd car through the remote northern parts of the American west. I will update this review regarding wear at a later date.

Nokian Hakka 10 is an exceptional tire in the worst winter conditions. Exceptional ice cornering, braking and acceleration. Quietest studded tire I have had to date. Tires still measure at 9/32nds after 10,000 kms of winter use. Only complaint is the tire gives you very little feedback on dry/wet conditions

Echoing other people’s reviews, these tyres are phenomenal in harsh winter conditions, to the point where it almost feels like driving in summer. If you’re in the market for winter tyres that will laugh at demanding conditions, keep you safe and handle as if there’s no ice or snow at all, buy these. Winter driving is a piece of cake with these tyres. My hot hatch is again fun to drive for the cold 6 months of the year up here in the north.

The only downsides are the road noise and wet braking. The noise, which, for a studded tyre, is not exceptionally worse than average, but it’s still hard to ignore the noise on asphalt. The wet braking on asphalt is not perfect and far from being “bad”; just something to keep in mind. Definitely buying these again, but I don’t know when that will be as the wear has been almost non-existent!

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