- Updated: March 3, 2026
- 5 min read
Nokian Introduces Hakkapeliitta 01 Winter Tires with Adaptive Stud Technology
Skip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonThe VergeThe Verge logo.You can soon live out your James Bond fantasies with retractable stud winter tiresTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsYou can soon live out your James Bond fantasies with retractable stud winter tires Nokian’s new Hakkapeliitta 01 tires have metal studs that automatically extend and retract based on the weather.Nokian’s new Hakkapeliitta 01 tires have metal studs that automatically extend and retract based on the weather.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiMar 3, 2026, 4:55 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: NokianAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.In 1987’s The Living Daylights, James Bond presses a dashboard button to activate retractable tire studs, giving the Aston Martin V8 Vantage he’s driving more traction on a frozen lake. That tire technology is no longer limited to the movies.Later this year, Finnish tire brand Nokian is planning to launch a new snow tire with studs that automatically deploy when temperatures drop. The Hakkapeliitta 01 tire will debut in North American and Europe in a variety of sizes, with a focus on Nordic countries.Studded tires are an effective way to improve grip and handling when driving in slippery conditions caused by ice or snow. But when roads are dry those studs can result in a bumpy, noisy ride and potentially even damage paved surfaces.For drivers not wanting the inconvenience of swapping on a new set of tires when the cold weather arrives, Nokian (a company that split from cellphone maker Nokia in 1988) spent the last 12 years developing its new Hakkapeliitta 01 winter tire.The tires use a material that stiffens in the cold to push the studs outward, and gets softer when it’s warm, causing them to retract.Image: NokianThe tires feature embedded metal studs oriented in different directions based on their placement to maximize traction. However, instead of having to install a dashboard button to deploy or retract the studs, the tire is made from multiple layers, one of which has properties that change based on the temperature. When it’s cold, the material stiffens, pushing the studs outward. When it’s warmer out, the material softens and the studs retract below the outer surface of the tire.The approach isn’t perfect, there could still be plenty of times when the studs extend due to cold temperatures when there’s no ice or snow on the road. But according to a release from the company, and compared to Nokian’s Hakkapeliitta 10 tires which have metal studs that can’t retract, the Hakkapeliitta 01 tires reduce road wear “by up to 30 percent” while also improving ice grip “by up to 10 percent.”Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiCarsCloseCarsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All CarsGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechTransportationCloseTransportationPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TransportationMost PopularMost PopularInvestigating the 61-pound machine that eats plastic and spits out bricksApple announces M5 MacBook Air and updated MacBook ProAnthropic upgrades Claude’s memory to attract AI switchersApple announces the iPhone 17EHighguard is shutting down this monthThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in TechThe Pixel Watch now lets you tap to pay without opening the Wallet appGoogle brings Android’s desktop mode to Pixel devicesGoogle’s latest Pixel drop allows Gemini to order groceries for you and moreAndroid’s Find Hub adds iPhone-like luggage tracking linksYahoo is selling Engadget to Static MediaPhone makers of all sizes are feeling the RAM crunchThe Pixel Watch now lets you tap to pay without opening the Wallet appEmma RothTwo hours agoGoogle brings Android’s desktop mode to Pixel devicesEmma RothTwo hours agoGoogle’s latest Pixel drop allows Gemini to order groceries for you and moreEmma RothTwo hours agoAndroid’s Find Hub adds iPhone-like luggage tracking linksEmma RothTwo hours agoYahoo is selling Engadget to Static MediaDavid PierceTwo hours agoPhone makers of all sizes are feeling the RAM crunchAllison Johnson6:29 PM UTCAdvertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop Stories6:22 PM UTCHow the experts figure out what’s real in the age of deepfakes3:00 PM UTCWe played Pokémon Pokopia, ask us anything2:12 PM UTCApple announces M5 MacBook Air and updated MacBook ProTwo hours agoGoogle’s latest Pixel drop allows Gemini to order groceries for you and more2:30 PM UTCWhy is SpaceX going public?3:34 PM UTCThe best mobile tech announced at MWC 2026 so far
Andrii Bidochko
CTO UBOS
Andrii Bidochko is an AI entrepreneur and researcher focused on AI agents, reinforcement learning, and autonomous systems. He writes about the technologies shaping the future of machine intelligence, from frontier models and agent architectures to real-world AI applications.