Nokian is based in Finland (yes, it’s the same parent company that makes Nokia phones) and if there’s one thing people know about in Finland, it’s winter weather. The world’s northernmost tire manufacturer knows that the only thing that can get you through deep snow, slush and ice is a dedicated winter tire, and that type of tire has long been a specialty at Nokian.

All-season tires are great and they’re a good compromise of long wear, good handling and road manners, low noise, forgiving ride quality and wet or dry weather traction. However, if you’ve ever tried to drive through snow that’s six inches deep with all-season tires, you know that in most cases they are just not going to be able to get the job done. What you need is a tire that has the right rubber formulation, the right type of tread pattern, the right sipe design and maybe even studs to dig into ice and claw your way through severe winter conditions.

That’s where the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV excels. The Hakkapeliitta 9 is a true winter warrior, designed to confidently get you through your winter commute and errands even in a complete blizzard. The name might be a little hard to spell, but this is a tire that’s designed to make winter driving easy and safe. When the temperatures are below 40-45 degrees F and you need a tire for your light truck or SUV that will get you from point A to point B and back again without a side trip to the ditch, the Hakkapeliitta 9 is that tire. But what is it about the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 that makes it such a great option? Let’s jump in with both feet and take a closer look with this product line review.

Features and Benefits

Here’s just some of what you can look for in the Hakkapeliitta 9 from Nokian:

• Aramid fiber-reinforced sidewalls boost durability, load capacity, sidewall stiffness for enhanced handling and cornering
• Specialty tread compound is canola oil-enriched and engineered to stay pliable at subfreezing temperatures for great winter traction
• Directional tread pattern with sweeping, angled, tapered grooves that effectively evacuate water and slush from the tire’s contact patch
• Interlocking sipes, solid center rib and large shoulder blocks all kick in for positive control and traction on wet or dry roads
• Sawtooth pattern on tread blocks for improved traction on soft or packed snow
• Fitted with two separate types of studs for traction in straight-line driving or on curves
• 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake rated for severe winter service

Pros and Cons

PROS:

• Tenacious traction even in the worst winter conditions
• Durable
• Innovative design and materials

CONS:

• Clumsy handling on dry pavement
• No treadwear warranty
• Noisy

SimpleTire’s view on Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV tires

At SimpleTire, we’ve been fans of Nokian tires for quite some time. We feel that they put out a product that’s hard to beat, especially when it comes to the winter tires they specialize in. The Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV is top of the game when it comes to their winter tire lineup, with short braking distances and good hookup and acceleration. Cornering and negotiating curves is surefooted and neutral, with little oversteer or understeer even in the nastiest weather. The studs give an edge in icy conditions that you just can’t get with a non-studded tire, but that comes with the reminder that studs aren’t legal in all states and are only acceptable during certain months in states where they are legal. Check state laws before purchasing.

As for the cons…the Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV is designed for snow and ice and not dry roads. Nokian, like all manufacturers, recommends that this tire not be used if temperatures are above 45 degrees F, as the softer tread formulation will wear quickly in warmer weather. Studded tires are just about always noisy just by their nature, and most winter tires do not come with treadwear coverage (although Nokian does offer great warranty protection other than tread mileage). The bottom line is that if you live in a place that has hard winters with lots of ice and snow and you need to get around in those kinds of conditions, the Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV from Nokian is a tire that’s not going to let you down.

Vehicles the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV is a good replacement tire for

• Subaru Outback
• Subaru Forester
• Dodge Durango
• Dodge Nitro
• RAM 1500/2500
• Ford F150/F250
• Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban
• Chevrolet Trailblazer
• Chevrolet Trax
• Chevrolet Equinox
• GMC Acadian
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500/2500
• Ford Explorer
• Ford Freestyle
• Ford Escape
• Buick Rainier
• Buick Avenir
• Buick Essence
• Toyota 4Runner
• Honda Pilot
• Honda CR-V
• Toyota RAV4
• Toyota Tundra
• Toyota Tacoma
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Hyundai Tucson
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Kia Telluride
• Kia Sportage
• Kia Sorento