Tire studs that work on demand? You’ve seen the idea before in countless sci-fi and spy movies. Our hero is about to get caught by the baddies when they press a button, and studs pop out of the tires. Suddenly, they have the grip to escape.
It’s not exactly that, but the latest from Nokian might be the closest we’ll ever get.
Studs When It Gets Cold, Rubber When It Warms Up
The tire is the Hakkapeliitta 01, and manufacturer Nokian calls it Double Action Stud Technology. At the advice of being glared at by my editor, I’ll avoid the innuendo and stick with the tech.
The tires’ studs can engage in colder temperatures and disengage when it’s mild to reduce road wear and noise.
Nokian floated the idea as a concept back in 2014. The Bond-like tires it showed then had studs that could completely retract at the push of a button. Twelve years later, the idea works. Without the button.
Winters change more than ever before, Nokian rightly points out. Big swings between above-freezing and frigid conditions, with more snow and ice in the cold periods, are more common. The swings are also a problem for studded tires. You need studs to bite into ice on bad days, but they ruin roadways and your driving experience on warmer ones.
Is This Magic?
It’s not magic, but it’s close. Each one of the 120 studs per tire sits in a special base layer of rubber compound. At -5 degrees C (23 degrees F), the compound is hard. The studs are pushed out, and that makes them dig into the ice and snow. Nokian calls it “Stud Mode On.”
By just +5 degrees C (41 degrees F), the compound has softened enough that the studs sink into it. “Stud Mode Off” lets the studs draw back into the tire, reducing the signature click of studded tires and cutting road noise.
Nokian calls itself the inventor of the winter tire (in 1934, no less). The Finnish company is also the northernmost tire maker, and with its factory in Nokia, Finland, it knows the cold.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 01: Don’t Try to Spell It
The Hakkapeliitta 01 name is a bit of a double play on words. The company has been using the Hakkapeliitta name for years, and the main line is now at version 10. This restarts that, and the company says it’s because “it represents a revolution in winter tire technology,” so it restarts the numbers back at 01. It’s also a play on binary code, with the 0 meaning Stud Mode Off, and 1 meaning Stud Mode On.
If you want a set, get ready for next winter. The Hakkapeliitta 01 goes on sale in fall 2026, and dealers can buy it starting in May. The tire also includes Nokian’s double-stud technology with different studs for straight and curved driving, and both the Ice Grip Emblem, meaning 18% better ice braking, and the Three-peak Mountain Snowflake winter tire test indicators.
