Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9: the full picture
This comparison is built only from published independent tests — no manufacturer claims and no sponsored reviews. Between them, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 appear in 7 tests, though they have not yet met head-to-head in the same test. Head-to-head results carry the most weight here, because surface, weather and test car all change between events and make raw numbers from different tests hard to compare directly.
How the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV performs. It takes the win in wet, snow, noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 90/100, based on 1 test.
How the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 performs. It takes the win in dry. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 94/100, based on 6 tests.
What this means for you. Category wins matter more than the overall score when your driving is weighted toward one condition — a wet-climate commuter should follow the wet braking column, while a high-mileage driver should follow wear and rolling resistance. Also check that both tires are actually offered in your size and load rating: performance can shift between sizes, and availability differs between the European and North American markets.
Verdict
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 is the stronger all-round choice, leading in dry and Tire Lab Score. The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV still wins on wet, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.
Which one should you buy?
- You prioritise wet
- You prioritise snow
- You prioritise noise / comfort
Choose Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 if
- You prioritise dry
Test profile
| Metric | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV | Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Nordic Winter | Nordic Winter |
| Type | Winter | Winter |
| Tests used | 1 | 6 |
| Best rank | #1 | #1 |
| Avg rank | 4.4 | 5.7 |
| Latest test | 2022 | 2020 |
| Tire Lab Score | 90.1 | 93.6 |
Tire Lab Score
Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
Performance overview
Category-by-category results
| Category | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV | Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💧Wet | Avg rank 2.5 11 | Avg rank 5.5 11 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
| ☀️Dry | Avg rank 6.5 | Avg rank 6.4 1 | Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 |
| ❄️Snow | Avg rank 3.3 11 | Avg rank 5.9 111 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
| 🧊Ice | Avg rank 4.5 1 | Avg rank 4.5 331 | Tie |
| 🔇Noise / Comfort | Avg rank 4.5 | Avg rank 12.0 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
| 🔋Efficiency | Avg rank 4.0 | Avg rank 5.0 11 | Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV |
💧 Wet: Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 2.5, compared to 5.5 for the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
☀️ Dry: Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 6.5 for the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV.
❄️ Snow: Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 3.3, compared to 5.9 for the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
🧊 Ice: Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
Both tires perform similarly in ice, with average ranks of 4.5 and 4.5.
🔇 Noise / Comfort: Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 12.0 for the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
🔋 Efficiency: Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
The Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV wins this category with an average rank of 4.0, compared to 5.0 for the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better in the wet, Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV or Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9?
Across independent wet-braking tests, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV ranks higher on average than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
Which has shorter dry braking distance?
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV across the tests where both appeared.
Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?
On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV ranks better than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.
How many tests were used in this comparison?
Kumho WinterCraft WS51 SUV appears in 1 independent tests, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 in 6.
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Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →
