TopTire Review

    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

    2026 test data · 8 independent tests · 1 head-to-head

    → See full Nexen vs Nokian brand comparison

    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 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 Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 appear in 8 tests, 1 of which put both tires on the same track on the same day. 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 Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 performs. It takes the win in noise / comfort, efficiency. Its overall Tire Lab Score is 92/100, based on 2 tests.

    How the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 performs. It takes the win in wet, dry, snow, ice. 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 wet and Tire Lab Score. The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 still wins on noise / comfort, making it the right pick if that matters most to you.

    Which one should you buy?

    Choose Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 if

    • You prioritise noise / comfort
    • You prioritise efficiency

    Choose Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 if

    Overall winner
    • You prioritise wet
    • You prioritise dry
    • You prioritise snow

    Test profile

    MetricNexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
    SegmentNordic WinterNordic Winter
    TypeWinterWinter
    Tests used26
    Best rank#1#1
    Avg rank8.85.7
    Latest test20202020
    Tire Lab Score9293.6

    Tire Lab Score

    92
    Excellent · Nordic Winter
    93.6
    Excellent · Nordic Winter

    Performance overview

    Category-by-category results

    CategoryNexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9Winner
    💧Wet
    Avg rank 10.2
    1
    Avg rank 5.5
    11
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
    ☀️Dry
    Avg rank 11.0
    Avg rank 6.4
    1
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
    ❄️Snow
    Avg rank 8.5
    11
    Avg rank 5.9
    111
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
    🧊Ice
    Avg rank 8.6
    1
    Avg rank 4.5
    331
    Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
    🔇Noise / Comfort
    Avg rank 8.5
    Avg rank 12.0
    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43
    🔋Efficiency
    Avg rank 2.0
    1
    Avg rank 5.0
    11
    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43

    Tests used in this comparison

    Both tires were measured head-to-head in these 1 independent test:

    💧 Wet: Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

    The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 wins this category with an average rank of 5.5, compared to 10.2 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    ☀️ Dry: Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

    The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 wins this category with an average rank of 6.4, compared to 11.0 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    ❄️ Snow: Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

    The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 wins this category with an average rank of 5.9, compared to 8.5 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🧊 Ice: Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

    The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 wins this category with an average rank of 4.5, compared to 8.6 for the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    🔇 Noise / Comfort: Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

    The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 wins this category with an average rank of 8.5, compared to 12.0 for the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.

    🔋 Efficiency: Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 vs Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

    The Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 wins this category with an average rank of 2.0, compared to 5.0 for the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.

    Frequently asked questions

    Which is better in the wet, Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 or Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9?

    Across independent wet-braking tests, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 ranks higher on average than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43.

    Which has shorter dry braking distance?

    The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 averages a better dry-braking rank than the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 across the tests where both appeared.

    Which tire is quieter and more comfortable?

    On combined noise and comfort metrics, the Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 ranks better than the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9.

    How many tests were used in this comparison?

    Nexen Winguard Ice Plus WH43 appears in 2 independent tests, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 in 6, with 1 head-to-head tests where both were measured.

    Also compare

    Data aggregated from independent testing organizations including ADAC, Auto Bild, TCS, and Auto Motor und Sport. Read our methodology →