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Head-to-head Updated

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 vs Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV — 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 12 + 2 road tests and 24 + 4 owner reviews. How we score

Too close to call: Hakkapeliitta R5 and X-Ice Snow SUV are level at 72.

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Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Tire ANokian

Hakkapeliitta R5

Winter

± 5

Tests 69 · 12 tests Owners 76 · 24 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 20 in 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test (snow handling (tester's mark))

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Tire BMichelin

X-Ice Snow SUV

Winter

± 6

Tests 68 · 2 tests Owners 76 · 4 reviews

Best test result: #1 of 8 in 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV 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. 72

    Dry

    Level
    72
    Why this score
    SourceHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 9 / 2 tests7070
    Reviews found online7474

    Hakkapeliitta R5: 60% × 70 + 40% × 74.3 = 72

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 70.3 + 40% × 73.7 = 72

  2. 62

    Wet

    X-Ice Snow SUV +5
    67
    Why this score
    SourceHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 11 / 2 tests5357
    Reviews found online7780

    Hakkapeliitta R5: 60% × 52.7 + 40% × 76.6 = 62

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 57.5 + 40% × 80.3 = 67

  3. 80

    Snow

    Hakkapeliitta R5 +4
    76
    Why this score
    SourceHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 10 / 2 tests7973
    Reviews found online8181

    Hakkapeliitta R5: 60% × 79.4 + 40% × 80.5 = 80

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 73.2 + 40% × 80.6 = 76

  4. 68

    Comfort

    X-Ice Snow SUV +6
    74
    Why this score
    SourceHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 4 / – tests52≈ 70 (est.)
    Reviews found online7977

    Hakkapeliitta R5: 40% × 52.4 + 60% × 79 = 68

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 40% × 70.4 (est.) + 60% × 76.9 = 74

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

  5. 87

    Noise

    Hakkapeliitta R5 +15
    72
    Why this score
    SourceHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 6 / 2 tests9877
    Reviews found online69≈ 66 (est.)

    Hakkapeliitta R5: 60% × 98.2 + 40% × 69.3 = 87

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 76.6 + 40% × 66.3 (est.) = 72

    No owner ratings of noise for X-Ice Snow SUV. The owner half is the owners’ average (66): owners’ noise ratings barely follow the road tests, so the tests say nothing about how owners would rate it.

  6. 69

    Treadwear

    X-Ice Snow SUV +1
    70
    Why this score
    SourceHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score)≈ 68 (est.)≈ 69 (est.)
    Reviews found online7172

    Hakkapeliitta R5: 60% × 68.2 (est.) + 40% × 71.2 = 69

    X-Ice Snow SUV: 60% × 68.6 (est.) + 40% × 72.2 = 70

    No road tests of treadwear for Hakkapeliitta R5. 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 X-Ice Snow SUV. The test half is estimated from the owner ratings, as far as owners and testers agree (correlation 0.36).

  7. 81

    Handling (owners)

    Hakkapeliitta R5 +8
    73
    Why this score
    SourceHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUV
    Reviews found online8173
  8. 84

    Efficiency

    Hakkapeliitta R5 +11
    73
    Why this score
    SourceHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUV
    Professional tests (TWG score) · 7 / 2 tests8473
Scores at a glance
CategoryNokian Hakkapeliitta R5Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Relative Score 72 72
Dry 72 72
Wet 62 67
Snow 80 76
Comfort 68 74
Noise 87 72
Treadwear 69 70
Handling (owners) 81 73
Efficiency 84 73

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
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Recomputed
Headline score
± 5

Hakkapeliitta R5

± 6

X-Ice Snow SUV

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.

DisciplineCategoryHakkapeliitta R5X-Ice Snow SUVΔHead-to-head
Dry Braking Dry 100% #1/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 93% #7/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Dry Handling (tester's mark) Dry 100% #1/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test 60% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Straight Aquaplaning Wet 71% #11/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 92% #8/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Braking Wet 88% #8/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 88% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Wet Handling Wet 98% #4/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test 96% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Handling Snow 100% #2/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 96% #4/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Ice Traction Snow 49% #8/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 99% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Handling Snow 100% #2/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 99% #5/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Snow Traction Snow 100% #1/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 99% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Noise Noise 100% #1/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test 100% #2/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Fuel Consumption Efficiency 98% #9/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test 98% #3/8 · 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Rolling Resistance Efficiency 91% #8/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 96% #4/8 · 2022 ViBilagare Nordic SUV Winter Tyre Test – Different tests
Also published by the testers (not in the score)
Overall Ranking Overall #10/18 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test #5/8 2025 Friction Winter Tyre Test – Different tests

Pros, cons & observations

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

Tire A Hakkapeliitta R5

Pros

  • Outstanding traction and braking on snow and packed ice
  • Significantly lower road noise and higher comfort than traditional studded tires
  • Good fuel efficiency and low rolling resistance

Cons

  • Reduced stability and wandering feel at high speeds on dry pavement
  • Occasional unexpected sliding or lack of confidence in heavy slush
  • Potential concerns regarding sidewall strength or vulnerability to pothole damage
All owner themes in the Hakkapeliitta R5 review

Tire B X-Ice Snow SUV

Pros

  • Outstanding traction on snow and ice
  • Remarkably low road noise for a winter tire
  • Excellent ride comfort

Cons

  • Unsuitable for year-round use due to soft compound in warm temperatures
  • Reduced handling precision compared to dedicated summer tires
All owner themes in the X-Ice Snow SUV review

Specs side by side

Attribute A · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
CategoryWinterWinter
Vehicle typePassenger Car / CrossoverSUV and 4x4
Sizes available6090
Rim diameters14″ – 20″16″ – 22″
Tread depth10.5/32″—
SidewallBlackwall—
Max pressure51 psi—
Sizes in common00

Which one should you actually buy?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV

Too close to call: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 and Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV are within 2 points overall. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 is stronger on noise, efficiency and handling. Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV is stronger on comfort and wet.

Pick tire A You want a quieter cabin

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 scores 87 vs 72 on noise.

Pick tire A You want lower fuel or energy use

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 scores 84 vs 73 on efficiency.

Pick tire A You enjoy sharp, responsive handling

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 scores 81 vs 73 on handling.

Pick tire B You want the most comfortable ride

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV scores 74 vs 68 on comfort.

Tire A · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Check price on Amazon
Tire B · Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV
Check price on Amazon

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Hakkapeliitta R5 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Which is better in the wet, Hakkapeliitta R5 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 67 vs 62 on our wet score.

Which grips better on dry roads, Hakkapeliitta R5 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 72 vs 72 on the dry score, within 3 points.

Which is better in snow, Hakkapeliitta R5 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, 80 vs 76 on our snow score.

Which is quieter, Hakkapeliitta R5 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, 87 vs 72 on our noise score.

Which is more comfortable, Hakkapeliitta R5 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Michelin X-Ice Snow SUV, 74 vs 68 on our comfort score.

Which lasts longer, Hakkapeliitta R5 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Neither, by our numbers: 69 vs 70 on the treadwear score, within 3 points.

Which rolls more easily, Hakkapeliitta R5 or X-Ice Snow SUV?

Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5, 84 vs 73 on our efficiency score.

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