Nokian Hakkapeliitta tyres turn 90 years old
Nokian Tyres is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its winter tyre line Hakkapeliitta, which in 2026 welcomed a new tyre, the Hakkapeliitta 01, featuring retractable studs, with official sales beginning in September.
“The Hakkapeliitta family is an iconic part of our heritage and remains central to our development strategy today,” said Nokian President and CEO Paolo Pompei. “To become a market leader in winter tyres and maintain our position, continuous investment is essential. The new Hakkapeliitta 01 model clearly demonstrates that we continue with this approach, combining our long-standing expertise with the latest technological advancements.”
The first Hakkapeliitta model was introduced in 1936, just two years after the world’s first winter tyre appeared on the market. Named Lumi-Hakkapeliitta, its key feature was a tread pattern with widely spaced transverse grooves and “suction cups,” which represented a breakthrough in winter grip. It was also the first winter tyre specifically designed for passenger cars.
Since then, the product line has continuously evolved. In the 1950s and 1960s, Haka-Hakkapeliitta tyres gained widespread popularity thanks to their densely packed tread blocks with sipes, enhancing grip on ice and compacted snow. In the 1960s, the family also introduced its first studded tyre, named Kometa-Hakkapeliitta.
Over the past nine decades, Nokian has expanded its presence in the global market. The company states that its winter tyres gained international recognition during the 1950s and 1960s by demonstrating their capabilities in the Monte Carlo Rally, which “established our reputation as a manufacturer of tyres for extreme weather conditions.” Forty years ago, in 1986, the company opened its test track in Ivalo, famously known as the “White Hell”—a multifunctional winter tyre testing facility where temperature fluctuations can reach up to 40 degrees within a single week.
In the new millennium, Nokian has continued introducing innovations. Since 2009, all Hakkapeliitta tyres have featured the DSI (Driving Safety Indicator), allowing drivers to quickly assess remaining tread life. The company also developed square studs, “bear claws” (protrusions in front of the studs that help secure them in place during braking), and double stud technology. Additionally, microscopic hard particles (Arctic Grip Crystals) have been added to the rubber compound to enhance grip on icy roads.
Today, the company produces studded and friction tyres under the Hakkapeliitta name for a wide range of vehicles—from passenger cars and SUVs to commercial and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as tractors and other specialized equipment. Models such as the Hakkapeliitta 10 and R5 have repeatedly won independent tyre tests.
The latest addition to the family, the Hakkapeliitta 01, features On-Demand Grip technology. On ice and snow, adaptive material beneath the studs pushes them outward. Meanwhile, when driving on dry or wet asphalt, the studs retract deeper into the tread, reducing road wear. To emphasize the significance of this innovation, the company changed the naming convention of its winter tyres for only the second time in its history—this model is named 01, despite succeeding the 10th-generation model.
According to the manufacturer, thanks to its retractable studs, the new tyre reduces road surface wear by 30% compared to the Hakkapeliitta 10, while grip on ice and wet asphalt has improved by 10% and 5% respectively. Additionally, reduced noise levels mean the new model simultaneously enhances both safety and comfort, the company claims.
The new tyre is not officially supplied to Russia; its key markets are Northern Europe and North America. Paolo Pompei noted that following its premiere in March 2026, pre-launch sales to dealers were exceptionally high, positively impacting the company’s financial performance in the first half of the year.
“Adaptability makes them popular among dealers, and they will be an excellent choice for drivers who face challenging winter weather conditions,” he added.