2021 Nordic Studded Winter Tire Test

Test Publication:
Moottori
Test Size: 205/55 R16
Tires Tested: 8 tires
Test Categories:
5 categories (10 tests)
Similar Tests
Test Category Best Performer Worst Performer Difference
Dry (1 tests)
Dry Braking ▲ BFGoodrich G Force Stud: 30.77 M▼ Continental IceContact 3: 33.65 M2.9 M (8.6%)
Wet (2 tests)
Wet Braking ▲ Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2: 35.86 M▼ Nokian Nordman 8: 38.81 M3.0 M (7.6%)
Wet Handling ▲ Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2: 41.87 s▼ Michelin X Ice North 4: 43.11 s1.2 s (2.9%)
Snow (3 tests)
Snow Braking ▲ BFGoodrich G Force Stud: 14.89 M▼ Sava Eskimo Stud: 15.65 M0.8 M (4.9%)
Snow Traction ▲ Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10: 4.65 s▼ Sava Eskimo Stud: 5.08 s0.4 s (8.5%)
Snow Handling ▲ Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10: 84.6 s▼ Sava Eskimo Stud: 87.36 s2.8 s (3.2%)
Ice (3 tests)
Ice Braking ▲ Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2: 12.22 M▼ BFGoodrich G Force Stud: 18.37 M6.2 M (33.5%)
Ice Traction ▲ Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10: 4.17 s▼ Sava Eskimo Stud: 7.6 s3.4 s (45.1%)
Ice Handling ▲ Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10: 61.54 s▼ Sava Eskimo Stud: 71.81 s10.3 s (14.3%)
Comfort (1 tests)
Noise ▲ BFGoodrich G Force Stud: 67.5 dB▼ Michelin X Ice North 4: 70.3 dB2.8 dB (4.0%)
We're a little late posting this so there won't be much commentary, but hopefully someone will find it useful in 2022! In 2021, Moottori performed an excellent studded tire test, and included 8 of the best studded winter tires, including the new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 which goes on to win the test, with the Michelin X-Ice North 4 also performing really well. 

If you spend some time analysing the data, you'll see the winner of the test actually might not be the best tire for you. The test winning tires are all the best tires in the snow and ice, the trade off is dry and wet performance, so If you live in a "milder" extreme winter climate, think carefully about what you want from the tire.

As always, tires are a trade off, and extreme winter performance nearly always hurts how a tire grips in the dry, so think about how you use the studded winter tire before picking the right tire for you.

Here's the data. Enjoy!

Dry

Wet

Snow

Ice

Environment

Results

1st: Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking4th32.57 M30.77 M+1.8 M94.47%
Wet Braking5th37.21 M35.86 M+1.35 M96.37%
Wet Handling5th42.57 s41.87 s+0.7 s98.36%
Snow Braking6th15.26 M14.89 M+0.37 M97.58%
Snow Traction1st4.65 s100%
Snow Handling1st84.6 s100%
Ice Braking2nd12.51 M12.22 M+0.29 M97.68%
Ice Traction1st4.17 s100%
Ice Handling1st61.54 s100%
Noise5th70.1 dB67.5 dB+2.6 dB96.29%
Overall rating 9.2. Features on ice and snow- Excellent traction and braking grip- Excellent bow grip in curves- Entertaining driving characteristics. Properties on asphalt- Safest in extreme situations- Logical driving behavior

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2nd: Michelin X Ice North 4

Michelin X Ice North 4
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking5th32.79 M30.77 M+2.02 M93.84%
Wet Braking7th38.54 M35.86 M+2.68 M93.05%
Wet Handling8th43.11 s41.87 s+1.24 s97.12%
Snow Braking2nd15.11 M14.89 M+0.22 M98.54%
Snow Traction2nd4.77 s4.65 s+0.12 s97.48%
Snow Handling2nd84.73 s84.6 s+0.13 s99.85%
Ice Braking3rd12.82 M12.22 M+0.6 M95.32%
Ice Traction2nd4.39 s4.17 s+0.22 s94.99%
Ice Handling2nd62.7 s61.54 s+1.16 s98.15%
Noise8th70.3 dB67.5 dB+2.8 dB96.02%
Overall rating 9.0. Features on ice and snow- Easy manageability in all conditions- Excellent snow and ice grip- Logical driving behavior on snow and ice. Properties on asphalt- Long braking distances in the wet- Poor lateral grip when wet

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3rd: Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2

Goodyear UltraGrip Arctic 2
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking7th32.91 M30.77 M+2.14 M93.5%
Wet Braking1st35.86 M100%
Wet Handling1st41.87 s100%
Snow Braking5th15.23 M14.89 M+0.34 M97.77%
Snow Traction4th4.83 s4.65 s+0.18 s96.27%
Snow Handling4th85.38 s84.6 s+0.78 s99.09%
Ice Braking1st12.22 M100%
Ice Traction4th5 s4.17 s+0.83 s83.4%
Ice Handling3rd63.73 s61.54 s+2.19 s96.56%
Noise4th69.6 dB67.5 dB+2.1 dB96.98%
Overall rating 8.9. Features on ice and snow- Best braking on ice- Good snow grip- Variable driving behavior. Properties on asphalt- Excellent lateral grip on wet- Shortest braking distances in the wet- Precise and conscientious

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4th: Nokian Nordman 8

Nokian Nordman 8
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking6th32.86 M30.77 M+2.09 M93.64%
Wet Braking8th38.81 M35.86 M+2.95 M92.4%
Wet Handling5th42.57 s41.87 s+0.7 s98.36%
Snow Braking4th15.18 M14.89 M+0.29 M98.09%
Snow Traction3rd4.8 s4.65 s+0.15 s96.88%
Snow Handling6th85.86 s84.6 s+1.26 s98.53%
Ice Braking4th13.16 M12.22 M+0.94 M92.86%
Ice Traction3rd4.78 s4.17 s+0.61 s87.24%
Ice Handling6th67.51 s61.54 s+5.97 s91.16%
Noise7th70.2 dB67.5 dB+2.7 dB96.15%
Overall rating 8.6. Features on ice and snow- Good longitudinal grip on ice- Good longitudinal grip on snow- Overdrive basic operation. Properties on asphalt- Poor wet grip- Moderate lateral grip on wet- Good lateral dry grip

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5th: Continental IceContact 3

Continental IceContact 3
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking8th33.65 M30.77 M+2.88 M91.44%
Wet Braking4th37.1 M35.86 M+1.24 M96.66%
Wet Handling2nd41.89 s41.87 s+0.02 s99.95%
Snow Braking3rd15.12 M14.89 M+0.23 M98.48%
Snow Traction7th4.96 s4.65 s+0.31 s93.75%
Snow Handling3rd85.23 s84.6 s+0.63 s99.26%
Ice Braking5th15.42 M12.22 M+3.2 M79.25%
Ice Traction6th5.89 s4.17 s+1.72 s70.8%
Ice Handling7th68.12 s61.54 s+6.58 s90.34%
Noise2nd68.6 dB67.5 dB+1.1 dB98.4%
Overall rating 8.4. Features on ice and snow- Safe driving on snow- Stops effectively on snow- Moderate ice grip. Properties on asphalt- Excellent lateral grip on wet- Weakest dry grip- Weakest extreme behavior

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6th: Gislaved Nord Frost 200

Gislaved Nord Frost 200
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking2nd31.3 M30.77 M+0.53 M98.31%
Wet Braking6th37.76 M35.86 M+1.9 M94.97%
Wet Handling3rd42.12 s41.87 s+0.25 s99.41%
Snow Braking6th15.26 M14.89 M+0.37 M97.58%
Snow Traction6th4.94 s4.65 s+0.29 s94.13%
Snow Handling7th86.37 s84.6 s+1.77 s97.95%
Ice Braking6th16.56 M12.22 M+4.34 M73.79%
Ice Traction5th5.86 s4.17 s+1.69 s71.16%
Ice Handling5th66.88 s61.54 s+5.34 s92.02%
Noise3rd68.7 dB67.5 dB+1.2 dB98.25%
Overall rating 8.3. Features on ice and snow- Good traction and braking on snow- Medium traction and braking on ice- Basic behavior of logical sub-control. Properties on asphalt- Very good lateral wet grip- Poor wet grip- Good longitudinal dry grip

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7th: BFGoodrich G Force Stud

BFGoodrich G Force Stud
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking1st30.77 M100%
Wet Braking3rd36.77 M35.86 M+0.91 M97.53%
Wet Handling4th42.47 s41.87 s+0.6 s98.59%
Snow Braking1st14.89 M100%
Snow Traction5th4.88 s4.65 s+0.23 s95.29%
Snow Handling5th85.83 s84.6 s+1.23 s98.57%
Ice Braking8th18.37 M12.22 M+6.15 M66.52%
Ice Traction7th7.02 s4.17 s+2.85 s59.4%
Ice Handling4th66.54 s61.54 s+5 s92.49%
Noise1st67.5 dB100%
Overall rating 8.2. Features on ice and snow- Excellent braking performance on snow- Poor longitudinal grip on ice- Good lateral grip on ice. Properties on asphalt- Logical driving behavior in wet conditions- Shortest dry braking

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8th: Sava Eskimo Stud

Sava Eskimo Stud
  • 205/55 R16
  • 3PMSF: no
Test#ResultBestDifference%
Dry Braking3rd31.86 M30.77 M+1.09 M96.58%
Wet Braking2nd36.31 M35.86 M+0.45 M98.76%
Wet Handling7th42.66 s41.87 s+0.79 s98.15%
Snow Braking8th15.65 M14.89 M+0.76 M95.14%
Snow Traction8th5.08 s4.65 s+0.43 s91.54%
Snow Handling8th87.36 s84.6 s+2.76 s96.84%
Ice Braking7th18.13 M12.22 M+5.91 M67.4%
Ice Traction8th7.6 s4.17 s+3.43 s54.87%
Ice Handling8th71.81 s61.54 s+10.27 s85.7%
Noise5th70.1 dB67.5 dB+2.6 dB96.29%
Overall rating 7.5. Features on ice and snow- Poor ice grip- Steep grip limit, leaves surprisingly slipping- High understeer behavior. Properties on asphalt- Short braking distances in the wet- Short dry braking distances- Slippery cornering in wet conditions

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