Studded tires are hard on roads when used in warm weather, but tire manufacturer Nokian has a solution.
Icy roads, strong winds and blinding snow all contribute to harrowing winter driving conditions that call for special tires. One modification to conventional snow tires that greatly improves safety is the addition of small metal spikes, called studs, embedded in the rubber. They dig into icy roads and greatly improve traction, but they aren’t so great for the roads themselves.
A 2019 study conducted by the Alaska Department of Transportation found that studded tires reduced the lifespan of asphalt road surfaces from 15 years to 6 to 8 years while causing 287 percent more rutting than regular tires, all of which cost taxpayers over $200 million over a 20-year period. Drivers could reduce this damage by changing their studded tires to regular ones when the roads aren’t icy, but most just leave the studded tires on all winter.
In response to this problem, Finnish manufacturer Nokian has introduced a line of winter tires — the Hakkapeliitta 01 — with retractable studs. With expert help, this article explains how winter tires work and Nokian’s innovation.
What Are Winter Tires?
Winter tires have several features that distinguish them from standard all-weather tires and allow them to grip better on snowy and icy surfaces. One is a different kind of rubber. According to driving instructor Lucas Waldenbäck, winter tires are made from a softer rubber compound that stays flexible when temperatures drop below 45 degrees F (7 C). “This flexibility,” says Waldenbäck, “allows them to maintain grip even when the road surface is extremely cold.”
Winter tires also have deeper treads, and on the treads are thousands of tiny grooves called sipes. “These small cuts in the tread help the tire bite into the snow and channel away slush and water, improving traction and braking performance,” says Waldenbäck.
Studs are an additional feature added to some tires. They stick out 1/32 to 1/16 inches (1 to 1.5 mm) from the tire for extra traction. When these are included on a winter tire, there are anywhere from 80 to 120 of them.
Why They’re Bad for Roads
In terms of road impact, winter tires are not harmful by themselves. However, studded tires can gradually wear down road surfaces. “This is why,” says Waldenbäck, “some regions restrict or regulate the use of studded tires.”
How Nokian Tires Adapt
The studs in the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 01 are 0.41 inches (10. 5 mm) long, and as Austin Irwin describes in Car and Driver Magazine, they are embedded in three different layers of rubber. At the base is a 0.1-inch (2.5 mm) layer of a reactive compound that hardens at sub-zero temperatures to support the studs, but softens as the temperature warms to allow the studs to retract. Nokian closely guards the chemistry of this base compound.
On top of that is a 0.4-inch (1 mm) locking layer that controls stud movement, and on the outside is a fixative that keeps the system aligned. The studs behave differently across the tread. “The studs near the center are oriented specifically to improve traction under acceleration and braking,” explains Irwin. “Toward the shoulders, the studs are rotated 180 degrees, which Nokian claims offers better grip for steering and cornering.”
Are They Still Effective?
Good question. The tires have been tested by reviewers from several publications, including Car and Driver and Road & Track, but those reviewers traveled to Finland in the winter of 2026 and conducted the tests on icy surfaces. Their reviews have been positive, but reviews conducted in warmer weather are not yet available at the time of publication. The tires aren’t due for release until the autumn of 2026, so there’s a whole summer to conduct tests on bare roads. Check back in the fall.
Tools For Winter Driving
Snow tires are essential for safe winter driving in regions with harsh weather, but they aren’t the only tools drivers need. Here’s Waldenbäck’s list:
- Windshield scraper and snow brush;
- Tire pressure gauge so you can keep you’re tires inflated to the proper pressure. Tires tend to lose pressure in the cold and perform poorly;
- Traction aid, such as sand, cat litter or a traction mat;
- Emergency kit containing gloves, a flashlight, blankets, and water.
FAQ
When are winter tires needed?
“A good rule of thumb,” says Waldenbäck, “is to install winter tires when the temperature is consistently below 45 degrees F (7 C).” That’s when the rubber in standard tires begins to harden, which reduces grip. It’s time to take them off when the temperature consistently rises above this threshold.
When should you put winter tires on your car?
That depends on where you live. In southern regions, you probably don’t need them at all, but in regions that experience harsher winters, the time to put them on is typically late autumn, before the first major snow or ice arrives. “Waiting until the roads are already icy reduces their safety benefit,” warns Waldenbäck.
Conversely, the time to take them off is typically early spring, when the temperature rises above the 45-degree F threshold. “Driving winter tires in warm weather causes them to wear out faster, because the soft rubber compound is designed for cold conditions.”
About the Expert
- Lucas Waldenbäck is the co-founder of Zutobi, an online driver’s education platform designed to help users learn safe driving practices and pass their DMV test.
Source
- Car and Driver: Nokian’s New Studded Winter Tire Can Do Something Amazing; (2026)
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