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Head-to-head Updated

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 — Compared

Relative Score (0–100): the weighted average of the categories below, each 60% road tests and 40% owner reviews (comfort 40/60). Based on 0 + 4 road tests and 36 + 39 owner reviews. How we score

Blizzak DM-V2 leads, 71–69 Narrow edge

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Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
Tire BNokian

Hakkapeliitta R3

Winter

± 6

Tests 70 · 4 tests Owners 68 · 39 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2018 Vi Studded Winter Tyre Test (snow traction)

Category by category

Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.

  1. 67

    Dry

    Level
    67
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 67 (est.)73
    Reviews found online6757

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 67.5 (est.) + 40% × 66.8 = 67

    Hakkapeliitta R3: 60% × 73.3 + 40% × 57.3 = 67

    No road tests of dry for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.41).

  2. 75

    Wet

    Blizzak DM-V2 +6
    69
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 74 (est.)64
    Reviews found online7776

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 74.2 (est.) + 40% × 77.1 = 75

    Hakkapeliitta R3: 60% × 64.4 + 40% × 75.8 = 69

    No road tests of wet for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.55).

  3. 79

    Snow

    Blizzak DM-V2 +2
    77
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 4 tests≈ 75 (est.)71
    Reviews found online8585

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 75.1 (est.) + 40% × 85 = 79

    Hakkapeliitta R3: 60% × 71 + 40% × 85 = 77

    No road tests of snow for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.32).

  4. 69

    Comfort

    Hakkapeliitta R3 +3
    72
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 69 (est.)≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online6974

    Blizzak DM-V2: 40% × 68.8 (est.) + 60% × 69.4 = 69

    Hakkapeliitta R3: 40% × 69.8 (est.) + 60% × 74.3 = 72

    No road tests of comfort for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

    No road tests of comfort for Hakkapeliitta R3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.20).

  5. 68

    Noise

    Hakkapeliitta R3 +1
    69
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 3 tests≈ 66 (est.)73
    Reviews found online7062

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 66.4 (est.) + 40% × 69.5 = 68

    Hakkapeliitta R3: 60% × 73 + 40% × 61.8 = 69

    No road tests of noise for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is the tested tires’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests.

  6. 61

    Treadwear

    Blizzak DM-V2 +1
    60
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 63 (est.)≈ 63 (est.)
    Reviews found online5856

    Blizzak DM-V2: 60% × 63.3 (est.) + 40% × 57.6 = 61

    Hakkapeliitta R3: 60% × 62.8 (est.) + 40% × 56.3 = 60

    No road tests of treadwear for Blizzak DM-V2. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

    No road tests of treadwear for Hakkapeliitta R3. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 75

    Handling (owners)

    Blizzak DM-V2 +8
    67
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3
    Reviews found online7567
  8. –

    Efficiency

    No comparison
    72
    Why this score
    SourceBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3
    Professional tests (TWG score) · – / 2 tests–72
Scores at a glance
CategoryBridgestone Blizzak DM-V2Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
Relative Score 71 69
Dry 67 67
Wet 75 69
Snow 79 77
Comfort 69 72
Noise 68 69
Treadwear 61 60
Handling (owners) 75 67
Efficiency – 72

Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.

Weight the categories that matter to you

Wet grip starts at “Important”. Treadwear starts at “Neutral” here: road tests measured it for at most one of the two tires, so it rests on owner reviews. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.

Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Neutral
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Less important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost
Not important
NotLessNeutralImportantMost

Only one of the two tires has a score here, so this weight changes nothing in the head-to-head.

Recomputed
Headline score
± 7

Blizzak DM-V2

± 6

Hakkapeliitta R3

Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.

The professional test results behind the scores

Per discipline: the average % of the best tire over every test both tires were in, and how many of those tests each one won. “Different tests” rows compare results from separate tests.

DisciplineCategoryBlizzak DM-V2Hakkapeliitta R3ΔHead-to-head
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #5/8 2022 Consumer Reports Winter/Snow Truck/SUV Tires #8/15 2022 Consumer Reports Winter Tires – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

Themes extracted from owner reviews found online — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.

Tire A Blizzak DM-V2

Pros

  • Exceptional grip and braking performance on snow and ice
  • High level of driver confidence in severe winter weather
  • Surprisingly quiet and comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • Faster tread wear compared to all-season tires
  • Performance degrades if left on the vehicle during warmer spring/summer months
  • Potential for reduced wet-weather grip as the tire wears down
All owner themes in the Blizzak DM-V2 review

Tire B Hakkapeliitta R3

Pros

  • Outstanding grip and acceleration on snow and ice
  • Predictable and confidence-inspiring handling in harsh winter weather
  • Quiet and comfortable ride quality

Cons

  • Soft sidewalls result in vague steering feedback and 'wandering' at highway speeds
  • Faster tread wear compared to all-season or harder-compound winter tires
  • Reduced performance and stability on dry, warm asphalt
All owner themes in the Hakkapeliitta R3 review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 B · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverPassenger Car / Crossover
Sizes available735
Rim diameters15″ – 22″17″ – 19″
Tread depth13/32″10.5/32″
SidewallBlackwallBlackwall
Max pressure44 psi51 psi
Sizes in common00

Which one should you actually buy?

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3

Narrow edge: Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 — better handling and wet. Pick the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 if comfort matters most to you.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 75 vs 67 on handling.

Pick tire A Your priority is wet-weather safety

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 scores 75 vs 69 on wet.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 scores 72 vs 69 on comfort.

Tire A · Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2
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Tire B · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3
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Blizzak DM-V2 or Hakkapeliitta R3?

Which is better in the wet, Blizzak DM-V2 or Hakkapeliitta R3?

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2, 75 vs 69 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Blizzak DM-V2 or Hakkapeliitta R3?

Neither, by our numbers: 67 vs 67 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, Blizzak DM-V2 or Hakkapeliitta R3?

Neither, by our numbers: 79 vs 77 on the snow score, within 3 points.

Which is quieter, Blizzak DM-V2 or Hakkapeliitta R3?

Neither, by our numbers: 68 vs 69 on the noise score, within 3 points.

Which is more comfortable, Blizzak DM-V2 or Hakkapeliitta R3?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3, 72 vs 69 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Blizzak DM-V2 or Hakkapeliitta R3?

Neither, by our numbers: 61 vs 60 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

How do we compare tires?

Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements), each result compared with every other tire in the same test and newer tests counting more. 40% comes from owner reviews found online, adjusted for how generously each site rates. Both use one scale: the average tested tire gets 70, the best 100. When a tire has only one of the two, the missing half is estimated from the other and the score stays closer to average; with no road test and fewer than five owner reviews it gets no score yet.

Handling is the exception: road tests measure it inside the dry and wet scores, so its own row comes from owner ratings only and starts as less important.

Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score. Full methodology