History

History

Nokian Tyres plc was founded in 1988 and the company’s roots go back all the way to 1898, when Suomen Gummitehdas Oy, or Finnish Rubber Factory, was established. 

Nokian Tyres history timeline

1898
The Finnish Rubber Works is founded
1934
The world’s first winter tire, The Weather tire
1995
Nokian Tyres plc shares float on the Helsinki Stock Exchange
2015
The world’s first winter tire with wet grip and fuel efficiency in the EU tyre label’s best A class
2020
Nokian Tyres’ third factory started production in Dayton, US
2021
Testing began at the Nokian Tyres Spain Test Center
2022
Pure safety with Hakkapeliitta R5
2022
Decision to invest in completely new capacity in Europe

120 YEARS OF INNOVATION

The roots of the world’s northernmost tyre manufacturer go back more than one hundred years. Today, the expertise gathered over the decades can be seen in innovations that offer safe driving and peace of mind to millions of road users. Our history may be long but our story is only just beginning.  

READ MORE ABOUT OUR HISTORY

OVER 85 YEARS SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE WINTER TYRE

The world's first winter tyre, and the predecessor of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta was the Kelirengas (“Weather Tyre”) that Suomen Gummitehdas Osakeyhtiö, the company that later on became Nokian Tyres, introduced into the market in 1934. This year marks thediscovery of more than 85 years since the innovation of the first winter tyre.

Smart traffic technology and bio-based materials

If we look at driving 20 years from now, we will see revolutionary, smart traffic technology, self-driving electric cars and winter tyres made from bio-based materials.

 

Nokian Tyres history timeline


1846 
Mr. R.W.Thomson invents the pneumatic tire
1886 The first car to use a combustion engine is developed
1898 The Finnish Rubber Works is founded
1904 Factory set up in the town of Nokia, Finland
1925 Bicycle tire production starts

1932–2000

1932 Car tire production starts
1934 The world’s first winter tire for trucks, The Weather tire
1936 The Snow Hakkapeliitta - winner on snowy roads. The launching of legendary Hakkapeliitta winter tires.
1945 New tire factory built in Nokia, Finland
1959 From Suomen Gummitehdas to Suomen Kumitehdas Oy
1959 Marketing company in Sweden, Finska Gummi AB, later Nokian Däck AB
1967 Nokia Corporation established - Rubber, Cable and Paper Divisions
1968 Tire factory expansion in Nokia, Finland
1974 Production of bicycle tyres and inner tubes starts in Lieksa, Finland
1978 Marketing company in Norway, Norsk Traktorkompani A/S, later Nokian Dekk AS
1980 Marketing company in Canada, Nokia Products Ltd., Canada, later Nokian Tyres North America Ltd., USA
1981 Tire factory expansion in Nokia, Finland
1982 Marketing company in Germany, Nokia GmbH, later Nokian Reifen GmbH
1986 The world's most northern own test centre in Ivalo, Finnish Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle
1988 Nokian Tyres Limited established as a joint-venture company
1989 Marketing company in Switzerland, Nokian Reifen AG, Switzerland
1995 Nokian Tyres plc shares float on the Helsinki Stock Exchange
1996–2001 Tire factory expansions in Nokia, Finland
1998 First own retail sales outlets in Sweden and Latvia, marketing company OOO Nokian Shina in Russia
1999–2000 Own tire chain expanded to Finland and Estonia → launch of Vianor name started 

2000

2002 A new Logistics centre was established in Nokia, Finland
2003 Nokia's ownership in Nokian Tyres ended; Bridgestone Europe NV/SA became the largest shareholder
2005 Nokian Tyres' second factory started production in Vsevolozhsk, Russia
2005 Naturally Nokian Tyres. The first tire manufacturer in the world to start using only purified, low aromatic oils in its production.
2006 Marketing company in Ukraine, Nokian Shina TOV. Marketing company in Czech Republic, Nokian Tyres s.r.o.
2006 The aquaplaning indicator. In addition to the Driving Safety Indicator, the Nokian Hakka summer tires also feature the aquaplaning indicator.
2006 Nokian Forest Rider forestry tire. The first radial forestry tire for CTL (cut-to-length) forestry machines.
2007 Marketing company in Kazakhstan, TOO Nokian Tyres
2007 Nokian Hakkapeliitta Truck E. Hakkapeliitta tires also for heavyweight professional driving
2008 The lightly rolling Nokian Hakkapeliitta R non-studded winter tire
2009 The test winner Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 studded tire and the Air Claw Technology

2010

2010 Marketing company in Belarus, Nokian Shina LLC
2011 Marketing company in China, Nokian Tyres Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
2012 New factory built next to existing one in Vsevolozhsk, Russia
2012 Vianor tire chain expanded to Serbia, France, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, among others
2013 New Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and new world record for fastest car on ice, 335.713 km/h (208.602 mph) 
2013 New generation of Hakkapeliitta winter tires. Studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2.
2014 The Hakkapeliitta winter tire family grows. The studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta C3 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta CR3 van tires, 
2014 The world’s first winter tire with pop-out studs. Nokian Hakkapeliitta concept tire.
2014 New Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 for electric cars. The world's first winter tire with an A energy rating.
2015 The renewed Nokian WR winter tire family. The Nokian WR D4 – the world’s first winter tire with wet grip in the EU tire label’s best A class. 
2015 Nokian Weatherproof. The Nokian All-Weather concept ensures safe driving comfort all year long. 
2015 The world’s first winter tire with wet grip and fuel efficiency in the EU tire label’s best A class. The renewed Nokian WR SUV 3.
2016 The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2. The world’s most energy-efficient winter tire. The Tire Technology of the Year 2016 award.
2016 80th anniversary of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta. Born, raised and tested in the north.
2016 World record for the fastest side wheelie, 186.269 km/h (115.742 mph) using summer tires with Aramid Sidewall technology.
2017 New testing center for summer and winter tires being built in Santa Cruz de la Zarza, Spain
2017 New-generation studded tires, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV
2018 Celebrating 120 years as a tire industry pioneer
2018 Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV, Nokian WR SUV 4 and Nokian WR G4 introduced
2018 SnapSkan service launched
2018 The construction of the new test center in Spain starts
2018 Nokian Tyres joins the Science Based Targets initiative
2018 Nokian Wetproof and Nokian Powerproof summer tires introduced
2019 Work started on the administration building at Dayton, USA
2019 The first test tire produced at the Dayton factory, USA

2020

2020 Commercial production begins at Dayton factory (USA)
2020 The first tire company to have its greenhouse gas recuction targets approved
2020 Hakka Van and Hakka Green 3 summer tires introduced
2020 The Dayton factory (USA) receives a LEED v4 Silver certification
2020 World record set with Nokian Tyres tires: the fastest time to push a car one mile
2020 Nokian Heavy Tyres R&D center up and running
2021 Hakkapeliitta 10 studded winter tire introduced
2021 The administration building in Dayton (USA) earns LEED v4 Silver certification
2021 Testing begins at the Spain test center Hakka Ring
2021 The Visitor Center (Spain) building at Hakka Ring earns LEED v4 platinum certification
2022 Hakkapeliitta R5, Hakkapeliitta C4 and Hakkapeliitta CR 4 winter tires are introduced
2022 Green Step concept tire made with 93% of recycled or renewable materials
2022 Decision to exit Russia
2022 Decision to invest in a zero CO2 emission factory in Romania
2022 Nokian factory capacity expansion
2022 Nokian Tyres again included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and also achieved an A- score by CDP
2023 The FAST RACE, BIG CHANGE sustainable tire innovation challenge finals held in Ivalo, Finland
2023 The company proceeds with Dayton factory (USA) expansion
2023 The Nokian Tyres Outpost nAT, a made-in-USA all-terrain tire
2023 ISO 45001 certification to our North American factory in Dayton
2023 The new Nokian Tyres Snowproof family for Central European drivers
2023 Nokian Tyres announces its commitment to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to achieve the Net-Zero Standard by 2050
2023 Russia exit completed
2023 The groundbreaking for the tire industry’s first zero CO2 emission factory in Romania
2023 Nokian Tyres introduced new ELECTRIC FIT™ symbol to help the growing number of electric vehicle drivers find suitable tires for their cars
2023 Nokian Tyres Soil King VF and Nokian Tyres Float King VF with the unique Nokian Tyres Flexforce VF technology launched
2023 Nokian Tyres becomes the main partner of Cross-Country Ski Team Finland
2023 One of the science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, cutting the factories’ CO2 emissions by 52% per production ton by 2030, reached seven years ahead of schedule
2023 Nokian Tyres joins the Polestar 0 project to create the first climate-neutral car
2023 Nokian Tyres Powerproof 1 and Nokian Tyres Wetproof 1 launched
2023 Included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index – among the most sustainable listed companies in Europe
2023 Foundation laid, construction on schedule at Nokian Tyres’ Tennessee warehouse
2024 Nokian Tyres signs a purchase agreement for recovered carbon black – aiming to create even more sustainable tires and accelerating circular economy
2024 Nokian Tyres scored an A- from CDP for its actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change-related risks.