Just like shoes for a person, tires are chosen not only by season but also for specific tasks. After all, no one wears flip-flops to a formal dinner or runs in boots in the morning. And quality plays a significant role – it's better to buy expensive shoes once than to change several cheap pairs in a season. The Finns claim that their winter tires are wear-resistant and, importantly, increase the level of safety in difficult weather conditions.
Autoportal has already been to Finland more than once for Nokian tire tests. But one thing is Finland with its high-quality and well-maintained roads, and quite another is Ukraine. In this material, we decided to talk about our impressions of the Hakkapeliitta R2 model, tested on our roads and in our weather conditions. And this winter they were very, very diverse.
Technologies in action
The foundation of safety for these models is the innovative rubber compound formula with Nokian Cryo Crystal technology.
Microparticles, shaped like crystals, act like built-in studs, "biting" into the ice- or snow-covered road surface, providing reliable grip.
As the tire wears, these microparticles do not "wear away," allowing the tires to "hold" the road excellently even with a minimum remaining tread depth (4 mm). By the way, why tread wear is important and how it affects safety – watch our video report. It clearly shows why Nokian tires have a tread wear indicator (DSI) – the numbers wear off one by one as the tire wears.
The patented pump sipes in the shoulder area of the tread really do a good job with slush on swollen dirt roads or on roads "forgotten" by utility services. Quickly pumping out the water film from the tire's contact patch with the road, they guarantee stable and reliable grip during thaws. If we talk about specific numbers, even when driving through a puddle at a speed of about 70-80 km/h, the tires maintain the set course and minimize the risk of aquaplaning. How and under what conditions Nokian winter tires are tested – watch our video report:
It is worth noting that experts from different parts of the world have recognized the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 as the best in 26 independent tests. The latest tests by the magazine "Za Rulem" also confirmed the leadership – all members of the test group awarded first place to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 tire. Among its advantages were noted the best grip on ice, high grip on snow; clear and logical handling, precise course tracking. In addition, the R2 was recognized as the most economical among all participants in the "Za Rulem" tests. We'll talk about savings separately…
As for braking efficiency, we won't be verbose here, but will simply provide specific numbers. The braking distance on ice from 35 km/h for the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 is 24.1 m. To make it clearer, for studded (!) tires Gislaved Nord Frost 100 and Michelin X-Ice North 2, these figures are 24.0 m and 23.8 m, respectively.
Tire efficiency
Two years ago, using the example of Nokian Hakka Blue summer tires, we were shown how far the same car could coast when fitted with these and other tires.
If we talk about the winter R2 tires, among competitors it also stands out for its low coefficient. If you delve into the study of rolling resistance, it becomes clear why many tire buyers in Europe are interested in this parameter. The answer is simple: Europeans have already calculated that easy rotation not only reduces CO2 emissions but also leads to lower fuel consumption. How much? It all depends on the type of car and engine, but even if the engine displacement does not exceed 2 liters, by installing tires with low rolling resistance, you can reduce average consumption by up to 1-1.5 liters! And this is per 100 kilometers. If you calculate the distance over a season, the savings will be significant.
By the way, it was Nokian Tyres that created the most energy-efficient winter tire model for electric vehicles. This is exactly the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 in size 155/70R19 84Q, which was specially developed for the unique electric car BMW i3. According to tests, the new Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 tire helps reduce rolling resistance by almost 30%, increasing the electric vehicle's range without recharging.
Brake
Verdict
As our experience has shown, the Hakkapeliitta R2 is a quiet and economical tire. In addition, it can rightfully be considered one of the best friction tires in terms of handling in a wide variety of conditions. How wear-resistant is it? For this, you need three or four seasons to get the full picture.
But we note that thanks to the special compound, the Finns guarantee a long service life. Moreover, they annually give their tires to local taxi drivers – so that they draw their conclusions and pass them on to specialists. Based on this data, the Finns call the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 one of the best in its class in terms of wear resistance. After all, the Finns not only test their tires but also compare them with competitors' tires. But that's just between us.
Finally, we note that the R2 model is available in 56 sizes from 13 to 20 inches. The speed index of the new product is 170 km/h. Specifically for crossovers and SUVs, there is a reinforced model of the R2 tire with the SUV index.
The tread of the SUV tire is reinforced with jagged protrusions between the blocks. This solution significantly increases the grip resource on ice and snow, especially during acceleration and braking. But now the Finns are trying another method of creating ideal tires – they are working on retractable studs:
