Nokian Tyres Unveils Hakkapeliitta 01 with Adaptive Stud Technology

• Hakkapeliitta 01 automatically adjusts stud size based on temperature conditions.

• Road wear reduced up to 30% versus previous generation.

• Production begins in Finland, with autumn 2026 market arrival planned.

Nokian Tyres has introduced what it describes as the first studded winter tire capable of automatically responding to temperature changes. The new Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 01 is scheduled to reach consumers in autumn 2026.

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The product is nothing short of another milestone for a company that developed the first winter tire in 1934 and launched the Hakkapeliitta name two years later. 90 years after that debut, the latest generation integrates temperature-sensitive stud functionality designed to balance ice traction and pavement preservation.

Central to the design is Double Action Stud Technology, branded as On-Demand Grip. As ambient conditions drop, the studs activate to deliver maximum traction on ice and snow. When temperatures rise, the studs retract into an OFF mode to reduce direct road contact. The system operates automatically, without driver input.

According to company data, the new tire lowers road wear by a considerable 30% compared with its predecessor. Ice grip improves by up to 10%, while wet grip increases by up to 5%. Noise levels fall by as much as 1 dB through revised stud geometry and SilentDrive Technology, improving ride comfort in passenger vehicles.

The Hakkapeliitta 01 carries both the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake certification and the Ice Grip symbol. It is engineered for passenger cars, crossovers, and sport utility vehicles. The tread compound incorporates renewable materials, including natural rubber, bio-resins, and bio-based oils derived from pine resin and canola sources.

Development traces back to a 2014 concept featuring retractable studs. Since then, Nokian Tyres has conducted validation programs across laboratory facilities, urban test environments, and extreme winter conditions. Cold-weather testing took place at the company’s Arctic centre in Ivalo, Finland, alongside evaluations at its Hakka Ring facility in Spain.

Production of the Hakkapeliitta 01 will occur at the company’s manufacturing plant in Nokia, Finland. Canadian pricing and detailed size availability have not yet been announced.

The launch enables Nokian Tyres to address evolving regulatory attention on road-surface wear while maintaining traction standards expected in severe winter regions. With climate variability increasing in northern markets such as Canada, the adaptive-stud approach introduces a new engineering pathway in the studded tire segment.