Nokian Tyres , the specialist in the world’s most demanding winter conditions, is introducing a new studded tyre for Northern conditions in the autumn of 2013. Due to its supreme grip properties, the studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 masters all the elements of winter. Unique stud technology from the inventor of winter tyres brings grip like never before for ice and snow. The forerunner in safety masters extreme situations, is surprisingly quiet, and rolls lighter than before, thereby saving fuel and reducing road wear.
The comprehensive and extensive size selection of the new champion of Northern roads covers 59 sizes, from 13 inches up to 20 inches, and is suitable for both smaller family cars and sportier vehicles. The modern selection also contains special products that utilise Flat Run technology or are labelled “XL”, which is the highest possible load-bearing capacity. The new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 will be available to consumers during the winter tyre season of autumn 2013. The key markets for the latest Hakkapeliitta winter tyre are the Nordic countries and Russia.
Extreme winter safety, softer road contact
According to a study made in the Nordic countries, good grip on ice and snow is the drivers’ number one priority in regards to winter tyres. Extremely reliable grip and safe and smooth driving in varying winter conditions are standard properties of Hakkapeliitta winter tyres. The design of this next-generation studded Hakkapeliitta tyre is based on the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 which was introduced in 2009. This multiple test winner holds a world record in its field: over 30 test wins in car magazines from 2009 through 2012.
The development and methodical testing of a new winter tyre is a fast-paced creation process that lasts nearly four years. Like its predecessor, the new Hakkapeliitta 8 has a directional tread pattern and, therefore, a fixed rolling direction. Thousands of winter tests tell the same story: A directional, symmetrical tread model is the optimal choice for studded winter tyres, since it supports the wide spacing of studs in order to optimise grip and reduce driving noise.
Our ideology is that a genuine winter tyre needs to work optimally under real winter conditions, e.g. driving on ice, snow, or slush. As the pioneers in the industry, we want to ensure exceptional driving comfort in addition to relentless grip. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 ushers in a new era that combines extreme winter safety with low road wear, says Juha Pirhonen , Product Development Manager for Nokian Tyres, as he ponders the starting points for the challenging development work.
New Eco Stud 8 Concept brings never before seen winter grip
Developing the world’s best studded tyres requires a perfect combination of stud technology, tyre structure, tread pattern, and rubber compounds. They also need to be tested relentlessly in real-life environments. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8’s behaviour under extreme conditions has been fine-tuned at the Nokian Tyres Ivalo testing centre to the north of the Arctic Circle.
The new product’s supreme winter grip and gentle road contact on all surfaces is maximised by the revolutionary stud concept that corresponds to the new Nordic legislation. The law applies to studded winter tyres manufactured on 1 July or thereafter.
The new Eco Stud 8 Concept from the inventor of the winter tyre improves safety under extreme conditions and controlled behaviour. It includes a new-generation anchor stud, a flange design that reduces stud impact, and the Eco Stud cushion that is already used on previous Hakkapeliitta winter tyres, which improves the operation of the stud and further softens road contact.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 studded tyre has unprecedented longitudinal and lateral grip on ice. The placement of each stud in the unique stud distribution has been computer optimised. The studs are not placed in rows, and the stud distribution proceeds evenly across the entire tread surface. This means that no stud is behind another, ensuring the best possible grip under all conditions.
The longitudinal and lateral grip on ice is very well balanced, allowing for predictable behaviour under very slippery and icy conditions. When the studs are properly cushioned, they last longer and the driving noise also remains surprisingly low, says Pirhonen.
The new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 is also gentle on the road surface. The road wear effect of this lightly rolling new tyre is over 12% lower than the limit defined in the Nordic stud legislation, a level which many manufacturers will struggle to meet.
Peace of mind for extreme situations
The sturdy stud placement further improves the top-notch braking grip. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 has a new cap & base structure . The especially tough rubber compound below the surface compound firmly locks the stud in the tread block, stabilises driving on dry roads, and ensures an even wear pattern.
Many different innovations can be felt and seen every day by the winter drivers. The ground-breaking stud distribution and the Eco Stud 8 concept create fantastic winter properties: supreme grip during braking and acceleration, better wear resistance, and peace of mind through driving comfort.
All of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tyres are sold with studs installed at the factory; this ensures the quality and functionality of the studs.
More tread blocks, more precision and grip
A significant innovation contributing to first-class winter grip, wear resistance, and noise level is the significant increase of tread blocks in the symmetrical tread model. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 has more tread blocks than the legendary ice and snow road champion, Hakkapeliitta 7.
More tread blocks increases the number of grooves and the number of gripping edges that contact the ice and snow as the tyre touches the road surface. A large number of tread blocks also ensures more precise and wider stud placement. As the tread blocks are smaller in size, they also reduce heat generation, which results in a longer lifetime through improved wear resistance. This innovation also emphasises the fuel-efficient nature of the Hakkapeliitta 8 by reducing rolling resistance.
The tread blocks in the centre area have been merged together to make the tyre more rigid and enhance stability. The heavily grooved surface and the open block gaps in the shoulder area have excellent self-cleaning characteristics in snow and slush.
Braking grip is improved further by means of Brake Boosters that are located at the back of the tread block. The serrated pattern of the brake boosters increases their surface area and improves traction, especially on snowy surfaces.
Driving pleasure and stability on asphalt
The bare-road handling of the Hakkapeliitta 8 has been improved with a new tread pattern design. The Diagonal 3D support sipes in the centre area stiffen the structure, making movements more stable. Thanks to diagonal sipes, steering response is quicker and more precise. The Self-locking 3D sipes on the outside shoulder lock the tread blocks together on road contact, improving handling in turns and during evasive maneuvers.
The new stiffer belt package keeps its shape regardless of the bumps on the road. The new, quieter component and material choices on the sidewall work towards more stable and quieter driving comfort, as they effectively damp the tyre noise carried inside the vehicle.
Unique tread compound
The tread compound of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, tailored for Northern conditions, is the result of an immense development effort. The main ingredients of the entirely new Hakkapeliitta Cryo-silane Gen 2 winter compound are silica, canola oil, and natural rubber.
Canola oil acts as the catalyst in the cryogenic silane compound developed for low temperatures; it excites the interaction between silica and natural rubber, and improves the tear strength of the tread compound. The larger percentage of natural rubber is a key factor to ensure extreme winter grip under tricky Northern conditions. Natural rubber is stable over an extended temperature range, and works especially well in temperatures near zero as well as extremely cold weather.
Due to the high silica content and the entirely new tread pattern, the Hakkapeliitta 8 has extremely low rolling resistance – nearly 5% lower than the lightly rolling Hakkapeliitta 7. The exemplary green nature of the new product means further reductions to fuel consumption and harmful vehicle emissions.
Driving Safety Indicator increases winter safety
As before, the tread has the Driving Safety Indicator (DSI) that is patented by Nokian Tyres. The numbers on the centre surface of the tyre indicate how much of the main groove depth remains on the tread. The snowflake symbol Winter Safety Indicator (WSI) remains visible to a groove depth of four millimetres. Once the snowflake has worn out, the driver should purchase new winter tyres to ensure sufficient safety.
The location and pressure indicators on the sidewall information area of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 improve safety. The information area allows for recording the correct inflation pressure and installation location during tyre changes. Comfort and safety are further improved by a new section that can be used to record the tightening torque of bolts for alloy rims.
Hakkapeliitta winter tyres and Hakka – a special Northern concept
- Brake Booster. Better braking grip. The brake boosters on the rear parts of the tread blocks improve braking grip on snow. The serrated pattern of the brake boosters increases their surface area and improves traction, especially on snowy surfaces.
- Diagonal 3D support sipes. Quicker steering response. The diagonal 3D support sipes in the centre area stiffen the structure. Steering response is quicker, ensuring safe and precise handling.
- Self-locking 3D sipes. More driving precision. The self-locking 3D sipes on the outside shoulder lock the tread blocks together on road contact, improving handling in turns and evasive maneuvers.
Nokian Tyres developed the world’s first winter tyre for the extreme conditions in 1934. Two years later, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta was born in the Nordic winter; currently, it is one of the most well-known winter tyre brands in the world.
The Nokian winter tyres are developed for the North, ensuring safe driving under all weather and road conditions. The buyer of a set of Nokian Hakkapeliitta tyres will also receive the unique Hakka Guarantee and Hakka Roadside assistance services. If a tyre that has been used appropriately and installed correctly is accidentally broken beyond repair in normal use, the consumer will be provided with a new, corresponding product free of charge. If the tyre is broken while on the road, a phone call is sufficient; the road assistance service will be dispatched to assist. The Hakka Guarantee is in use in the Nordic countries, in Russia, in Ukraine, in Kazakstan and in Belarus. It is valid for one year from the date of purchase, or to a groove depth of 4 millimetres.
Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 – Ruler of the North
- Winter grip like never before
- Uniquely green by nature: lower fuel consumption, quieter, and less wear on the road
- Stable and precise handling
Main innovations:
Eco Stud 8 Concept. Extreme winter safety and softer road contact. More winter grip, driving comfort, and durability. Unique stud technology. A new-generation, eco-friendly anchor stud: a flange design that reduces stud impact, and the Eco Stud cushion that improves the operation of the stud and further softens road contact. The placement of each stud in the unique stud distribution has been computer optimised. The studs are not placed in rows, and the stud distribution proceeds evenly across the entire tread surface. This means that no stud is behind another, ensuring the best possible grip under all conditions.
Hakkapeliitta Cryo-silane Gen 2 tread compound . Excellent winter grip under all temperatures, excellent wear resistance, lower fuel consumption and quicker steering response. Canola oil acts as the catalyst in the cryogenic silane compound developed for low temperatures; it excites the interaction between silica and natural rubber. The tread compound remains flexible under all conditions. The sipes on the tread blocks work actively regardless of variations in grip level and temperature. Canola oil brings tear strength to the tyre and improves grip on snow and ice.