At around minus five degrees the studs are out; at around plus five they sit sunk into the tread. Those are the reference points that The Drive recorded at the press demonstration, and that temperature threshold is the whole story of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 01. The rest of the tyre is largely inherited from its predecessor, the Hakkapeliitta 10: the same platform, a similar tread pattern. The segment has not changed either - a studded winter tyre for passenger cars, crossovers and SUVs. What is new is what sits underneath the tread.
That is where Nokian has placed a temperature-sensitive base layer, in which the lower part of each stud sits. In the cold it hardens and pushes the studs outwards; in the warmth it softens and lets them sink in. There are no electronics or sensors in the system - it all happens in the rubber itself. The manufacturer calls this Double Action Stud Technology, and the name comes from the same principle: the zero denotes the mode with the studs sunk in, the one the mode with them extended. A single tyre has around 120 studs depending on the size, and their layout (Double Stud Technology) is carried over from the predecessor: the centre studs work for braking and acceleration, the shoulder studs for lateral grip in corners.
The tread remains directional, with deep Snow Grooves in the shoulder area and self-locking 3D sipes that interlock under load and stop the blocks from losing their shape. The rubber compound partly uses renewable materials: natural rubber, bio-based resins and bio-oils derived from pine resin and rapeseed oil. In selected sizes the tyre has aramid-reinforced sidewalls (Aramid Strong Sidewalls) against pothole and kerb damage, as well as SilentDrive Technology - a sound-absorbing foam layer inside the tyre. Both features are available only in some of the sizes, so it is worth checking your own size before buying.
According to the manufacturer's figures, grip on ice has been improved by up to 10% over the Hakkapeliitta 10, and wet grip by 5%. The noise level is promised to drop by up to one decibel. Separately, Nokian mentions up to 30% less wear to the road surface from the studs, but that refers to the asphalt, not to the service life of the tyre itself. All of these figures come from the manufacturer's own measurements, and the tyre has not been through any independent comparative tests so far. It is suitable for electric vehicles and hybrids - the Nokian Electric Fit certification confirms this.
The EU tyre label classes are empty for this tyre, and that is not a mistake: Regulation (EU) 2020/740 excludes tyres fitted with additional devices to improve traction, and therefore studded tyres too, from labelling. The 3PMSF and Ice Grip markings on the sidewall are the guide to go by instead. The tyre is made at Nokian's factory in Nokia, Finland. Dealer orders opened in May 2026, while the tyre reaches buyers more widely in the autumn 2026 season. At the Rīgas Riepas shop it is available in 72 sizes with wheel diameter from R14 to R22 inches.
