The tire industry has advanced a lot technologically since the pneumatic rubber tire was invented in the late 19th century, even though the basic concept of an air-filled tire has remained vastly the same.
Key advancements along the way include tubeless technology that replaced the inner tube, radial construction that replaced old bias-ply tires, synthetic rubber and compounding that reduced reliance on natural rubber, run-flat tires, and airless tires, to name only the most important developments.
A Major Technological Breakthrough for the Tire Industry
You can now add another technological breakthrough for the tire industry, courtesy of Finnish manufacturer Nokian Tyres. The company that invented the winter tire in 1934 has launched the Hakkapeliitta 01, billed as “the world’s first winter tire with on-demand grip.”
In plain English, it’s the first production studded winter tire that automatically adjusts to changes in temperature by extending or retracting its studs. Basically, this eliminates the need to compromise between superior ice grip and low road wear, as the new tire offers the best of both worlds: maximum grip on ice-covered roads, and minimum road wear on clear roads.
This is a very significant development that Nokian Tyres has chased for more than a decade and now it finally managed to make it happen.
The new studded tire will also help improve safety and convenience for many drivers during winter, as they won’t have to fit studded tires to their cars when the road is covered with ice, only to remove them once the road is cleared. The tire will adapt to the road conditions automatically for them.
So How Does It Work?
So how exactly does the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 01 winter tire work? As temperatures change, the studs, which have been developed specifically for this tire, adjust automatically between on and off modes. In cold temperatures, the studs engage for instant traction, while in milder conditions they disengage for smooth driving and accurate handling.
Nokian says it has worked on this technology since 2014, when it introduced a winter tire concept featuring retractable studs. Since then, its engineers have been working around the clock to make the technology a reality, testing thousands of prototype tires in a wide array of conditions, from indoor labs and urban areas to the company’s Arctic test center in Ivalo, Finland, and Hakka Ring test facility in Spain.
“The new Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 01 represents one of our company’s biggest innovations since we introduced the first winter tire more than 90 years ago,” said Nokian Tyres President and CEO Paolo Pompei.
“This new winter tire achieves what was previously thought impossible: a studded tire that responds to temperature changes to deliver ultimate safety while protecting the road.”
Arriving This Autumn in North America
The new studded winter tire is designed for passenger cars, crossovers and sports utility vehicles, and it is certified with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake and Ice Grip symbols.
Nokian claims the new model reduces road wear by up to 30% compared to its predecessor, while ice grip improves by up to 10% and wet grip by up to 5%. At the same time, the Hakkapeliitta 01 is said to reduce noise levels by as much as one decibel.
The tire’s tread compound consists partly of renewable materials, such as natural rubber, bio resin and bio-based oils, including materials derived from pine resin and canola oil.
The new studded winter tire will be available to consumers this autumn, with the main markets targeted by Nokian being the Nordic countries and North America. Prices haven’t been announced yet.
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