Tests 69 · 12 tests Owners 73 · 22 reviews
Best test result: #1 of 14 in 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Head-to-head
Updated
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 vs Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP — Compared
Relative Score (0–100): 60% professional tests, 40% owner reviews.
Too close to call: Hakkapeliitta R5 and Observe GSi-6 HP are level at 71.
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Tests 69 · 2 tests Owners 75 · 14 reviews
Best test result: #5 of 20 in 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test (dry braking)
Category by category
Relative Score per category, 0–100. Open “Why this score” for the tests and owner ratings behind it.
-
71
Dry
Observe GSi-6 HP +475Why this score
Source Hakkapeliitta R5 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) 70 73 Reviews found online 71 79 Dry Braking (% of best) 100% 97% -
61
Wet
Observe GSi-6 HP +1475Why this score
Source Hakkapeliitta R5 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) 53 71 Reviews found online 74 81 Wet Braking (% of best) 91% 81% Wet Handling (% of best) 70% 97% -
79
Snow
Hakkapeliitta R5 +1366Why this score
Source Hakkapeliitta R5 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) 79 60 Reviews found online 78 75 Snow Braking (% of best) 98% 99% Snow Handling (% of best) 99% 98% Snow Traction (% of best) 100% 95% -
62
Comfort
Observe GSi-6 HP +1577Why this score
Source Hakkapeliitta R5 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) 52 77 Reviews found online 76 77 -
86
Noise
Hakkapeliitta R5 +1670Why this score
Source Hakkapeliitta R5 Observe GSi-6 HP Professional tests (TWG score) 98 72 Reviews found online 68 – -
67
Treadwear
Hakkapeliitta R5 +265Why this score
Source Hakkapeliitta R5 Observe GSi-6 HP Reviews found online 68 65 -
79
Handling
Hakkapeliitta R5 +277Why this score
Source Hakkapeliitta R5 Observe GSi-6 HP Reviews found online 79 77
Scores at a glance
| Category | Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 | Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 71 | 71 |
| Dry | 71 | 75 |
| Wet | 61 | 75 |
| Snow | 79 | 66 |
| Comfort | 62 | 77 |
| Noise | 86 | 70 |
| Treadwear | 67 | 65 |
| Handling | 79 | 77 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
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Headline score
71
/ 100
Hakkapeliitta R5
71
/ 100
Observe GSi-6 HP
The professional test results behind the scores
Each result is shown as % of the best tire in that test. “Same test” rows are the strictest comparison: both tires were measured side by side.
| Discipline | Category | Hakkapeliitta R5 | Observe GSi-6 HP | Δ | Both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Braking | Dry | 100% #1/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 97% #5/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +2.7 | Different tests |
| Fuel Consumption | Fuel | 99% #2/8 · 2024 Nordic Friction Winter Tyre Test | 96% #10/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +2.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Braking | Ice | 91% #2/7 · 2025 NAF Motor Studless Winter Tire Test R17 | 79% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +12.8 | Different tests |
| Ice Handling | Ice | 70% #8/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 85% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −15.1 | Different tests |
| Ice Traction | Ice | 49% #8/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 57% #18/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −8.0 | Different tests |
| Overall Ranking | Overall | 10% #10/17 · The Best Studded / Friction Winter Tyres for 2024 | 8% #12/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +1.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Braking | Snow | 98% #2/8 · 2023 Studless vs Studded Snow Tyre Test | 99% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −0.7 | Different tests |
| Snow Handling | Snow | 99% #3/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 98% #12/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +1.4 | Different tests |
| Snow Traction | Snow | 100% #1/8 · 2024 Studded Tyre Test | 95% #16/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +4.8 | Different tests |
| Straight Aqua | Straight | 71% #11/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | 83% #9/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −11.6 | Different tests |
| Subj. Comfort | Subj | 40% #8/6 · 2025 NAF Motor Studded Winter Tire Test R17 | 80% #6/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | −40.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Ice Handling | Subj | 70% #7/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | 40% #15/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +30.0 | Same test |
| Subj. Noise | Subj | 100% #2/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 89% #10/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +11.1 | Different tests |
| Subj. Snow Handling | Subj | 90% #10/18 · 2026 Teknikens Värld Studded, Nordic and Central European Winter Tyre Test | 70% #13/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +20.0 | Different tests |
| Subj. Wet Handling | Subj | 89% #2/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 60% #6/20 · 2025 Studded, Friction and European Winter Tyre Test | +28.9 | Different tests |
| Wet Braking | Wet | 91% #4/14 · 2025 Friction and Studded Winter Tyre Test | 81% #7/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | +9.4 | Different tests |
| Wet Handling | Wet | 70% #7/17 · 2023 UTAC Large Winter Tire Test R16 | 97% #8/20 · 2020 Nordic and Studded Winter Tyre Test | −26.8 | 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
Tire B Observe GSi-6 HP
Pros
- Exceptional traction and stability in snow and slush
- Impressive wet-weather performance and hydroplaning resistance
- Remarkably quiet ride quality for a winter tire
Cons
- Inconsistent tread life reports, with some users experiencing premature wear
- Occasional reports of structural failure or tread separation
- Slightly vague steering feel at lower speeds
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 | B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter | Winter |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | — |
| Sizes available | 60 | 39 |
| Rim diameters | 14″ – 20″ | 16″ – 21″ |
| Tread depth | 10.5/32″ | 11 - 12/32″ |
| Sidewall | Blackwall | Black Side Wall |
| Max pressure | 51 psi | 50 - 51 psi |
Which one should you actually buy?
71
/ 100
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
71
/ 100
Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
Too close to call: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 and Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP are within 2 points overall. Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 is stronger on noise and snow. Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP is stronger on comfort, wet and dry.
Pick tire A
You want a quieter cabin
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 scores 86 vs 70 on noise.
Pick tire B
You want the most comfortable ride
Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 77 vs 62 on comfort.
Pick tire B
Your priority is wet-weather safety
Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP scores 75 vs 61 on wet.
Pick tire A
You drive through snowy winters
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5 scores 79 vs 66 on snow.
Tire A · Nokian Hakkapeliitta R5
Tire B · Toyo Observe GSi-6 HP
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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.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.