A NATURAL RECIPE: WINTER TREAD COMPOUND MADE WITH CANOLA OIL

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 has a unique tread compound: it contains Finnish canola oil, which not only improves the tyre's cold weather properties and enhances its tear resistance but also improves the tyre's environmental friendliness.

Nokian Tyres purchases canola oil as cold-pressed crude oil and refines it for tread manufacturing. The new environmentally friendly canola oil-based tread rubber does not contain environmentally harmful HA-oils with PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).

Pressed from seeds of the canola plant, which is a member of the cabbage family, canola oil is a biodegradable and renewable natural resource that is an environmental alternative to non-renewable petroleum-based oils.

In its efforts to find more environmentally friendly materials, the R & D department at Nokian Tyres carefully researched and tested the properties and possible uses of canola oil. Tests and measurements showed that canola oil is particularly suitable for Nordic winter tyres as it improves both grip and tear resistance without any drawbacks on other properties.

Exact formulas for the new canola tread rubber compounds as well as mixing procedures are business secrets. The new rubber compound used in the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 is tailor-made to achieve the optimum effect together with the new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 tread pattern and construction.

Photos of Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 product presentation

Further information: Nokian Tyres plc

Teppo Huovila, R & D Manager, tel. +358 3 340 7701
[email protected]