Thu February 13 02:00 pm 2003 in category Product news

THE NEW NOKIAN HAKKAPELIITTA 4: SQUARE STUDS AND CANOLA OIL FOR SAFE WINTER GRIP


The target when developing the new studded Nokian winter tyre was to create a safe tyre that would behave equally reliably and consistently in all conditions throughout the cold seasons. The result was a thoroughbred winter tyre with ingenious new properties such as square studs and superbly gripping and environmentally friendly tread compound made using Finnish canola oil.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 is aimed at Nordic and Russian consumer markets.

Enhanced grip through innovative square studs

Great winter tyres have studs and tread that work in harmony. When developing the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4, special attention was paid to the stud concept. Extensive comparison tests revealed that new square studs had superior grip, were more durable and less likely to work loose from the tread than ordinary round or oval studs. According to Nokian Tyres' tests, the new square studs improved ice grip by approximately 8% from the previous model, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 2.

The square hard metal pins enhance ice grip and together with the new tread structure give the driver improved control in critical driving conditions e.g. when there is a risk of losing grip. In order to maximise the grip all studs are oriented to the angle giving the best possible grip and stud retention.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 has 14 rows of studs. The wide distribution of the studs improves grip and reduces tyre noise, while an elastic cushion underneath each stud absorbs stud impact, reduces stud noise and enhances stud durability.

The new patent-pending studding solution called the Nokian Eco Stud System 4 is also less wearing on roads than traditional studding solutions.

Wider tread for enhanced stability

Impeccable ice grip is a basic property of safe winter tyres, but harsh and varied Nordic winter conditions place far heavier demands on tyres. Drivers value stable and versatile winter tyres that give them a reliable and comfortable ride regardless of whether the road is icy, slushy, wet or dry.

The tread of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 is about 10% wider than its predecessor's. The wide and straight tread stabilises the tyre on dry roads, improves wet and ice grip and allows wider stud distribution that helps to further enhance grip.

The tyre's driving response is precise and steady on dry roads as well. Wider steel belts ensure a consistent driving response and enhanced structural durability. The modified cap and base structure of the tyre provides an improved steering response particularly on dry surfaces.

The new tyre has over 2,000 gripping, narrow sipes with sharp angles and zigzag patterns for superb ice and snow grip and particular sipe alerters on the edges of the tread to boost the effectiveness of the sipes on slippery roads.

The tread pattern of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 consists of square tread blocks that form an arrow-shaped design with open side-flaring grooves that keep the tread clean and prevent slush from blocking the contact patch.

Gripping tread rubber compound made using canola oil

In addition to being effective and high-tech, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 has an environmentally friendly tread rubber ' a significant amount of the oil used in the tread rubber is Finnish canola oil. The genuine natural produce improves winter and wet grip and enhances tear resistance.

The tread rubber only contains canola oil and low aromatic oils and does not contain any environmentally harmful high aromatic oils.

Further benefits of the sporty winter tyre

In addition to considerable structural, technological and material innovations, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 has even more benefits. The tyre has four wear indicator blocks showing the remaining tread depth clearly in millimetres. It includes a sealing rib, called mudstopper, in the bead area that prevents dirt, sand and slush from entering between the tyre and the rim. There is also a simple chart on the sidewall where you can mark the tyre position for seasonal storage.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 is also a sporty tyre with ample size ranges in low-profile 16-, 17- and 18-inch tyres. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4 is the perfect winter tyre choice for modern, high-performance cars: it is stable and safe and has precise driving qualities ' it is a tyre that does not compromise safety even in the most demanding conditions.

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]

Matti Morri, Technical Customer Support Manager, tel. +358 3 340 7621,
[email protected]