Are your old wheel tires worn out? It's time to change them for Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. Reviews, test results and a description of the characteristics of this brand of tires collected in this article will help make the right choice.
Tire manufacturer
The world-famous Finnish company Nokian is the flagship in the tire market. The huge tire division of the huge corporation became the first winter tire manufacturer in the world.
The Finnish manufacturer first launched its products on the market in 1932. And from its very foundation, the concern has been focused on the inhabitants of the northern regions of the planet. Four years after the start of production, the first winter tires appeared. There is only one laboratory for testing winter tires on the planet, and it belongs to this particular company. Probably, such a production direction was due to the geographical location of Finland. Both options - summer and winter - Nokian tires have proven their worth (especially the market novelty - Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV), which is confirmed by the words of millions of car owners, including in our country.
Tire factories in Russia
The huge popularity of the company's products on the Russian market has led Finnish entrepreneurs to open the production of automotive rubber in our country.
The plant, built in the city of Vsevolzhsk (Leningrad region), produces 11 million tires per year. The popularity of the products was determined by the construction of the second Russian plant with a production capacity of 6 million tires per year. It is characteristic that it was located in the same city.
Which rubber is better
The manufacturer and international experts claim that the quality of tires made in Russia is in no way inferior to products from Finland. How true this is, you can find out from the owners who operate tires that came from different plants. However, their assessment may be subjective, because the operation is carried out in different road and climatic conditions, and each driver has his own driving style. This criterion of difference is the most important. One driver can use a set of winter tires for 4-5 seasons, while another driver will require replacement by the end of the second winter. And this despite the fact that they will have the same mileage.
The production capacities of Nokian Tires in Russia exceed the Finnish ones. The main quality indicator is the fact that products from Vsevolzhsk can be found on sale in the cities of Germany, Sweden, Norway and, most of all, in Finland.
We can assure you that the design features of the same model of wheel tires are the same in all concerns of the plant, wherever they are. In addition, production technology is similar in all factories. It should also be borne in mind that the plant in Russia is a fully automated production. Product quality control is carried out by Finnish experts.
Winter tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
All car owners are familiar with the buzzing noise that winter tires make. The tread design developed for the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 (winter) allowed for acoustic comfort. Noisy this rubber can not be called. At the same time, the key features of this rubber are not at all reduced:
- a positive impact on the directional stability of the car and handling;
- lack of increase in fuel consumption;
- excellent grip in winter conditions.
The tread pattern is directional, and thanks to a larger number of checkers, the stud can be spaced across the entire width of the wheel. This allows you to increase grip, wear resistance and reduce wheel noise. The heating of the latter is also reduced. As a result, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 winter tires have a longer mileage than previous models of this brand.
Run Flat Technology
The new interior tire architecture used in the Nokian Hakkapeliitta-8 Run Flat design offers unprecedented opportunities for car enthusiasts. Run Flat in Russian means "flat tire". Everyone knows that with a loss of pressure in the tires, the wheel loses its shape, and it is not possible to move further on the car without permanently damaging the tire.
According to this technology, the tire has a significant reinforcement of the sidewall and the entire tire carcass. As a result of pressure loss (puncture), such a tire does not lose its working form. At the same time, the on-board safety systems with which modern cars are equipped will continue to operate normally and will not block the possibility of movement. The resource of such a tire in a deflated state is quite enough to get to the nearest tire shop. It varies in the range from 80 to 150 km depending on the workload of the car.
There is one peculiarity of using the tires we are considering, especially the low-profile Nokian Hakkapeliitta-8 205/55 / R17: in the absence of a tire pressure sensor in the vehicle’s security system, the driver may simply not pay attention to the puncture (not notice) and continue driving without speed limits. The maximum speed allowed to ride on a flat tire Run Flat is 80 km / h.
Otherwise, these tires are quite ordinary - they are installed on the same disks using conventional tire fitting equipment. In the event of a puncture, only the tread area may be repaired. In case of lateral damage, such a tire cannot be repaired and must be disposed of.
The cost of this variety is on average one third more expensive than ordinary tires. Their use allows you to save space in the trunk (there is no need for a spare wheel). But even with a spare wheel, in case of damage to the second wheel, you can continue to move. This is especially true for cars with a modern security system. A direct confirmation of this is the statements of drivers who came out of a difficult and dangerous situation thanks to Run Flat technology in Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires.
Reviews are full of gratitude to the manufacturer and engineers who developed such a product. In the cold, staying motionless on the highway, far from settlements - a dangerous prospect. If the fuel runs out (and help may not be in time), then a lot of time will not be required to freeze. There are many such tragic situations. And if you also have children on the trip? In general, according to car owners, the modern Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 Run Flat winter tires can rightly be considered real rescuers that did not allow to feel even the slightest threat on the road.
Tread Features
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV tread is a complex two-layer, paired design. Due to this, when braking, the adhesion of tires to the road surface increases. The rubber compound inside the tread has increased strength. The spike placed on the treadmill, sit, as molded, and does not hang out. A positive aspect of this feature is uniform tire wear and stabilization of movement.
The basis of the tread is cryosilane of the second generation. Thanks to this revolutionary material, the ambient temperature (frost) does not affect the adhesion quality. Coarse oil (the main component) maintains the necessary elasticity of the tread in any frost. This property increases the wear resistance of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. Reviews from car owners, among other things, indicate a significant reduction in fuel consumption on the winter road.
In addition, the perfect location of the tread blocks makes it self-cleaning from dirt and ice porridge. These key components of autumn-winter thaw are removed from the tire contact patch with lightning speed, which improves traction. It turns out that the design of the tread behaves like Velcro, not allowing the wheel to "float" on water or ice porridge, and clearing its way to a more or less hard coating.
The volumetric lamellas located in the center of the tread make it stiffer, making the tire responsive to steering movements. The self-locking architecture of these elements ensures high vehicle handling on a winter road.
Present in the tread pattern and braking amplifiers. Toothed design increases coverage and improves traction during braking. The test conducted with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta-8 showed amazing results on a snowy track.
The manufacturer takes care of the consumer, which can be traced even in such trifles as measuring the tread depth. In the center of the tire is a DSI marker - a tire wear indicator showing the remaining tread height.
Do I need a spike in the city
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV has an anchor type spike made using the latest Nokian Eco Stud 8. The flange shape provides minimal spike deflection in the seat. The Eco Stud cushion pad located under it, made of special shock-absorbing and soft rubber, allows you to soften the stud's contact with the road surface and significantly improves its functionality.
The wheel has 190 such elements, which led to a gross violation of EU regulations, limiting their number on one wheel to hundreds of pieces. Technologists of the company were able to prove to bureaucrats that, thanks to modern design and materials, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 rubber causes minimal environmental damage and spoils the road surface no more than a conventional tire.
The tenacity of the spike installation is such that, with a load of 48 N, it flies out of the seat. The Continental ContiIce Contact studded wheel has much greater durability - it can withstand loads up to 232 H. Therefore, in a city winter, with Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires, the spike will quickly fail (it will simply fly out). Even a large number of spikes can not help in this situation. In this regard, it seems inappropriate to use Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 studded tires in a city.
The reviews of citizens who decided to purchase this rubber for trips mainly within the boundaries of the village confirm its inconsistency with city conditions. The behavior of spikes on bare asphalt leads to an increase in braking distance. Wet road surface is also not quite suitable for this rubber model - the handling of the car suffers. Therefore, if you do not go outside the city in the winter, you do not need to purchase studded tires. In this case, you can buy simple winter tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, on which there is no studding.
But for those drivers who usually drive on the highway, the tires mentioned above have become a real find. Snow and ice on the highway allows you to fully realize all the features of the tire of the Finnish manufacturer.
Driving a car on Nokian tires
One of the important selection criteria is the car's handling in winter conditions . Testing Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 XL, which was conducted by ordinary buyers, showed the strengths of this tire:
- on a snowy road, an excellent response to acceleration and change in the trajectory of movement;
- handling on the track is one of the best among many winter tires, good acceleration dynamics;
- minimum braking distance on dry road surfaces.
Of course, there are other impressions of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. Reviews shared by some owners of crossovers or SUVs contain information about the disadvantages of this tire.
This once again confirms that the rubber was designed to work in the extreme conditions of a snowy winter, and not for trips on dry asphalt or slush. Here are some common causes of discontent:
- wet grip is poor (after all, spikes);
- noisiness
- long braking distance on wet pavement.
It turns out that when you purchase Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV tires for your SUV or crossover, you choose the best product in the world of car tires. Do you disagree? Then, as expert reviews show, your negative opinion about this rubber has developed as a result of its use for other purposes. In this situation, no tires are able to cope with the mistakes that a person who is driving can make.
What do the owners say
Since the first presentation of Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, tire quality reviews left by satisfied owners have been replenished with new comments. Released in 2013, the rubber has proven itself on the positive side. A small number of negative characteristics only confirms the high quality and properties of the car tires we are considering.
It is characteristic that in the year when the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 winter tires were released, a world record for tire speeds on ice was set - the 335 km / h mark was overcome by cars shod in tires produced by a Finnish manufacturer.
The main reason for bad reviews
The basis of poor grades, as a rule, is a gross violation of operating conditions and the lack of proper tire break-in (compliance with speed limits, rules for moving away, etc. road rules recommended by the manufacturer in the first thousand run). Violation of the running-in recommendations leads to the fact that during operation the tire does not fully show its features.
In addition, improper storage of the tire in the warehouse of the seller or in the garage of the owner has a great influence on the quality of the tire. Rubber should not stand. Proper storage means being in a horizontal position without any pressure from above. Tires located one on top of another harm the lowest in the stack, as well as vertical storage. It is best to use a shelf or hanging shelf under the garage ceiling for off-season safety. In this case, the rubber must be cleaned of dirt, dried and packaged in a plastic bag for tires.
Do not neglect the opportunity to purchase non-original tires. This is not surprising - in our capitalist age, many enterprising people do not disdain to earn on someone else's fame and reputation for quality.
Objective assessment
A lot of motorists who used previously studded tires from other manufacturers note a quieter wheel, especially for tires with a larger radius. This is explained by the fact that with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta-8 XL tire these tread elements protrude less, have sharp edges, and when it comes into contact with the road surface, the shock-absorbing cushion softens the pressure on the stud. Statements by the owners that the tires are very noisy are unfounded. If you continue the conversation, as a rule, it turns out that there was an operation for other purposes. In this case, urban residents “shoe” their car based on the following considerations:
- an expensive car needs expensive rubber;
- my car should have the latest tire model from the best manufacturer in the world;
- I must have all the best and the most modern.
With detailed criticism, such arguments fall apart like a house of cards, and cost nothing.
Those drivers who know what and why are buying are very satisfied with the driving characteristics of this model. Reliable contact with the road, maneuverability and good braking characteristics are noted. The car is moving steadily even on a snowy track. Also, the owners noticed that on this rubber the car behaves better off the track.
Here are just a small number of characteristics that give drivers who have tested this rubber in the difficult conditions of a winter road, or rather, off-road:
- dressed and forgot that winter is on the street;
- you cease to understand how you can stall somewhere;
- in a 20 degree frost, the rubber is as soft as it was;
- traveled 17 thousand km. (three seasons) - not a single spike flew out;
- the best of the entire Nokian winter line;
- in a snowless winter, he lost only 4-5 spikes;
- well rakes in the snow, on ice - as on clean asphalt;
- in rural areas, rubber has never failed.
Test tests
Before starting the serial production of the new tire, long before the field test races, the engineers of the design bureau conducted many technical tests of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8.
The test allows you to identify shortcomings of new products, invisible at first glance. Thanks to this approach and Finnish attention to detail, Nokian Tires products have won leadership in the international tire market.
Only after painstaking and comprehensive research on special stands simulating the harshest winter realities, can new tires be tested by the consumer. According to reviews, the Finnish manufacturer launches a highly effective product on the market, perfectly showing itself on winter roads.
Cost Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8
The price of products of the Finnish manufacturer allows us to conclude that this product belongs to the expensive segment. The cost may seem overpriced, but not to those who prefer Nokian Tires products from year to year. People usually do not spend money on the wind. In this situation, it will be appropriate to recall one popular wisdom: "The avaricious pays twice." If you have firmly decided that for you on a winter road, the safety of the car, its driver and passengers is more important, then, like millions of other car owners, you will choose Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 products.
The price of a tire, according to consumers, is highly dependent on its size. By purchasing a wheel with R 13, you will pay 3.3 thousand rubles for one tire (average cost in Russia). Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 r16 already costs significantly more - 7.5 thousand rubles. A tire on 255/45 R 18 will cost the new owner 16 thousand rubles. The prices shown vary depending on the season and region of sales, but not significantly. Tire options with Run Flat technology will cost accordingly:
- R 16 - 10.5 thousand rubles;
- R 17 - 15 thousand rubles;
- R 18 - 20.5 thousand rubles.
The most expensive is Nokian Hakkapeliitta-8 285/30 R 22 tires. Today, for one such tire, 26 thousand rubles will be required.
As is customary in our world, you have to pay for everything. Including for high-quality rubber. It is up to you to decide how important safety for you on the winter road is to you.