UPDATE 1-N.Renkaat Q3 EBIT tops consensus, outlook tough

* Q3 EBIT 43.7 mln euros vs 34 mln avg fcast in Reuters poll

* Sees weaker Q4 op margin vs Q3

* To halt production in Finland, Russia in Q4

(Adds detail, quote)

HELSINKI, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Finnish tyre maker Nokian Renkaat (NRE1V.HE) reported a smaller-than-expected drop in third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, helped by winter tyre sales and cost cuts, but said its near-term outlook was challenging.

July-September operating profit fell 39 percent versus a year ago to 43.7 million euros ($64.6 million), topping all forecasts in a Reuters poll. Sales fell 28 percent to 204 million, in line with expectations.

Nokian said while it had seen some signs of a slow recovery in the tyre market, uncertainty continued. It said its fourth-quarter operating margin would fall versus July-September as it takes production downtime in Finland and Russia.

"The Russian market is still weak, although our customers have been showing inventory meltdown," it said. "In spite of some good signs in sales, we will still base our actions on a gradual rather than a rapid recovery." ($1=.6769 euros) (Reporting by Brett Young; Editing by Mike Nesbit)