Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 vs Continental VikingContact 8: Which tire should you choose — the ultimate studded or the finest studless? In this epic winter showdown, the legendary Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10, king of studded grip, faces the all-new Continental VikingContact 8, the latest and most advanced studless soft-compound tire. It’s a battle to decide it all — raw studded traction versus refined Nordic technology.
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Results: Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 vs Continental VikingContact 8
Results below were taken from 2025 Tekniikan Maailma Studded & Studless Tire Test with a total of 7 studded & 7 studless tires tested. While the ice & snow handling data comes from TyreReview’s 2025 Best Snow Tire Test. The graph below shows the comparison between Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 vs Continental VikingContact 8 based on the relevant performance category. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 was set as a reference hence at the 100% mark.
Note that for subjective ratings, 1 point is equivalent to 5%. So if tire A has a 4 point rating & tire B has a 3 point rating, tire A is better than tire B by 5%. The tire size of interest is a 205/55R16 which is a common tire size for Honda Civic and BMW 3 series. The testing vehicle is a Volkswagen Golf.
Ice
Studded tires have always been dominant on ice, crushing through the frozen surface to create real grip. In Ice braking, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 stops in 33.9 m compared to the Continental VikingContact 8’s 47.1 m — a massive 13.2 m difference, about 28 % shorter braking distance. In ice traction, the Nokian accelerates to speed in 4.8 s while the Continental takes 6.3 s, roughly 24 % slower. Yet in ice handling, the studless VikingContact 8 completes the lap in 54.99 s versus Nokian’s 58.77 s, nearly 3.8 s faster or about 7 %.
In short, the Hakkapeliitta 10 dominates straight-line grip and braking, while the VikingContact 8 counters with smoother, faster cornering — the new studless champion proving that raw studs aren’t the only path to ice mastery.
VikingContact 8 :
- -28% in ice braking
- -24% in ice traction
- +7% in ice handling
Snow
What about the snow duel? In snow braking, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 stops in 50.3 m, while the Continental VikingContact 8 needs 49.6 m — a slim 0.7 m advantage, or about 1 % shorter braking distance for the Continental. In snow traction, the studless VikingContact 8 also accelerates quicker, reaching speed in 5.8 s versus 6.0 s for the Nokian, roughly 3 % faster. And in snow handling, it completes the lap in 80.2 s compared to Nokian’s 81.44 s, about 1.2 s quicker or 2 % faster overall.
In short, the VikingContact 8 edges out the Hakkapeliitta 10 in every snow metric — proving that its new-generation studless compound delivers true Nordic mastery even without metal studs.
VikingContact 8 :
- +1% in snow braking
- +3% in snow traction
- +2% in snow handling
Wet
The studded tires here are tested without their metal studs, so this isn’t a true reflection of their full wet performance. Even so, in wet braking the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 stops in 37.3 m, about 2.2 m shorter than the Continental VikingContact 8’s 39.5 m — roughly a 6 % advantage in braking. In wet handling, however, the VikingContact 8 completes the lap in 40.3 s versus 41.5 s for the Nokian, making it 1.2 s faster, or about 3 % better. Subjectively, both are rated equally at 8 points, showing balanced driver confidence.
VikingContact 8 :
- -6% in wet braking
- +3% in wet handling (lap time)
- 0% in wet handling (subjective)
Dry
As with the wet test, the studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 was evaluated without its studs, so its dry performance doesn’t represent its true road behavior. In dry braking, the Continental VikingContact 8 stops in 31.4 m, about 1.0 m shorter than the Nokian’s 32.4 m, giving it a 3 % advantage. In subjective dry handling, the VikingContact 8 also scores higher with 9 points versus 8 points for the Nokian, reflecting better steering precision and stability.
VikingContact 8 :
- +3% in dry braking
- +5% in dry handling (subjective)
Noise
Noise is the biggest drawback of studded tires, and this test makes it clear. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 scores 7 points, while the Continental VikingContact 8 earns 9 points, a 10 % higher rating in comfort. The reason is simple — metal studs striking the road surface create constant vibration and drumming, especially on dry or wet pavement. The VikingContact 8, with its soft studless compound and flexible tread blocks, absorbs these impacts quietly, delivering a smoother and calmer ride.
VikingContact 8 :
- +10% in subjective noise
Price
Surprisingly, the price trend is reversed here. The studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 costs €147, while the studless Continental VikingContact 8 is €156 — about 6 % higher. Normally, studs add cost, but the VikingContact 8’s advanced soft-compound tech now carries the premium, showing how far modern studless tires have evolved.
Tire size: 205/55R16
- VikingContact 8 : € 156
Difference: +6% more expensive for VikingContact 8
Conclusion
From a tire expert’s point of view, this is a classic case of studded versus studless — raw traction against refined balance. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 remains unbeatable on pure ice grip and straight-line control, where its studded edges bite into frozen surfaces with authority. But the Continental VikingContact 8, with its soft studless compound, strikes back in snow, wet, and dry — stopping shorter, handling quicker, and running far quieter.
If you drive on frozen lakes or extreme northern roads, the studded Hakkapeliitta 10 is still king. For everyone else, the studless VikingContact 8 proves that technology can now match — and often surpass — metal in real-world winter driving.
Dr Edwin Pang