Nokian Tyres has begun retail sales of the Hakkapeliitta 01, six months after unveiling its new flagship studded winter tyre at the Ivalo Test Center. The launch moves the company’s temperature-responsive stud concept from development into series production, using a passive compound-based system rather than electronic or driver-controlled actuation.
Nokian Tyres confirmed on 15 September that the Hakkapeliitta 01 is now available through tyre retailers, following its public debut at Ivalo in March.
The tyre is aimed at passenger cars, crossovers and SUVs. Nokian identifies Finland, Sweden, Norway, the United States, Canada and Japan as its main markets, while separately stating that Hakkapeliitta products including the 01 will be available across the Nordics, North America and Central Europe during the autumn.
The commercial launch is significant because the Hakkapeliitta 01 takes an adaptive-stud idea into production without relying on electronics or an active control system.
At the centre of the tyre is Nokian’s patented Double Action Stud Technology, marketed as On-Demand Grip.
On ice and snow, an adaptive compound beneath the tread stiffens and supports greater engagement of the studs with the road surface. On bare or wet roads, the compound softens, allowing the studs to recede further into the tread and reducing their contact with the road.
Nokian claims the system reduces road wear by up to 30% compared with the Hakkapeliitta 10, while improving ice grip by up to 10% and wet grip by up to 5%. The company also claims a noise reduction of as much as one decibel. These remain manufacturer figures rather than independently verified performance results.
The combination addresses a familiar engineering compromise for studded tyres. Greater stud engagement can improve performance on ice, but stud contact also contributes to road wear and noise when conditions are clear. The Hakkapeliitta 01 attempts to vary that engagement automatically as conditions change rather than fixing the stud behaviour around a single compromise.
“We are very pleased about the development of the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 01, which delivered good pre-sales in recent months. Its ability to adapt to changing winter conditions makes it popular with tyre dealers and an excellent choice for consumers who face challenging winter weather.” Paolo Pompei, President and CEO, Nokian Tyres
The principle also has a longer history within Nokian.
In 2014, the company demonstrated a Hakkapeliitta concept tyre in which the driver could raise or retract stud pins at the press of a button. The tyre never entered consumer production in that form, but Nokian has linked the concept directly to development of the Hakkapeliitta 01.
The production solution is substantially different. Instead of requiring the driver to activate a mechanical system, the Hakkapeliitta 01 uses changes in the supporting compound to alter how strongly its studs engage with the surface.
Nokian says dealer pre-sales exceeded its expectations ahead of the retail introduction. Its published January-June 2026 financial report was less specific, stating only that initial customer response to the tyre had been positive. The company has not disclosed Hakkapeliitta 01 order volumes or a percentage comparison with its pre-sales target.
For tyre retailers and product specialists in studded winter markets, the autumn launch therefore marks the point at which an adaptive-stud concept first shown by Nokian more than a decade ago becomes a commercially available product, with its claimed grip, wear and noise benefits now facing use beyond the company’s own test programme.
Tags: Nokian Tyres, Hakkapeliitta 01, winter tyres, studded tyres, adaptive studs, Double Action Stud Technology, On-Demand Grip, tyre technology, ice grip, winter tyre retail
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