Outside the gates of the Nokian testing ground in the polar Ivalo, three new products were waiting for me: studded Hakkapeliitta tires 8 and two models of so-called friction (that is, without studs) winter tires - Hakkapeliitta R2 and Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV. And if friction tires are, rather, a product of “moderate progress within the framework of legality,” then serious passions flared up around studded tires - not so much in connection with progress, but with legality: there were more studs than in the tread of the predecessor tires Hakkapeliitta 7. And this contradicts the new European rule, which strictly limits the number of studs per linear meter! Or does it not contradict?

On the one hand, it is obvious that the more studs in a tire, the more reliable the movement on ice. Of course, taking into account the fact that such tires are used not only on snow and ice, the “density” of the studs should have reasonable limits. In addition, spikes cause enormous damage to asphalt concrete pavements. That is why in most European countries Spikes are prohibited altogether, and in those Northern European countries where spikes are allowed, their number, weight and size are strictly regulated. So, on 14- or 15-inch tires a maximum of 110 studs are allowed, on 16-inch tires - 130. And from July 1, 2013, an even stricter rule is introduced: no more than 50 studs per linear meter of tread! This means that the "density" of the studs should be reduced by about a quarter. If, for example, the popular Gislaved Nord Frost 5 model in size 205/55 R16 had 130 studs, now there should be 96 of them.

From July 1, 2013, tires with more than 50 studs per linear meter of tread can be sold in Scandinavian countries only if they successfully pass a special test proving that these tires are harmless for road surfaces. The procedure is as follows: pre-washed, dried and weighed granite tiles are placed into a square cut out of asphalt. After 400 passes (200 cycles on each side) of the car along the “tared” area at a speed of 100 km/h, the tiles are again sent to the scales - the weight loss should not exceed the loss after the same tests of reference tires with 50 studs per linear meter

Tire manufacturers learn about such innovations in advance, so they usually have enough time to develop models taking into account new requirements. For example, this year’s new product, Michelin X-Ice North 3 studded tires: the number of studs here has already been reduced by a quarter! And suddenly I find out that the new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires of the same size 205/55 R16 now have not 130 studs, but... One and a half times more, 190 pieces!

Studded tires are the basis of Nokian Tires' success: they account for 75% of global winter tire sales. Now the bet is not just on studded, but on heavily studded tires - the tread of Hakkapeliitta 8 tires has as many as 190 studs versus 130 for Hakkapeliitta 7 tires of the same size

It turns out that the new European regulation still left a loophole, which, to the poorly concealed irritation of other manufacturers, was taken advantage of by Nokian Tires. If the manufacturer proves that exceeding the standard number of studs will not lead to an increased destructive effect on the road compared to the reference tire, the number of studs in which complies with the new regulations, then - please! Naturally, a procedure for such tests is also provided. But there are some juicy details. This procedure was also developed by Finns - specialists from the independent testing center Test World, and the tests of the Hakkapeliitta 8 tires were carried out by specialists from Nokian Tires at their “home” test site in the city of Nokia under the supervision of an official representative of the Finnish traffic safety agency TraFi. Based on the results of these tests, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires were found suitable for use in Scandinavian countries. And, of course, in Russia and Ukraine, where there are still no rules regulating the number of spikes.

Reducing the harmful impact on the road surface has been achieved thanks to the Eco Stud 8 concept! - Matti Morri, leading technical expert at Nokian Tyres, comments proudly.

The stud itself retained the hexagonal cross-section already familiar from the Hakkapeliitta7 tires, but became 0.5 mm shorter and 20% lighter - it now weighs 0.8 grams. In addition, a small cavity has appeared in the support flange: when the stud comes into contact with the road, the base of the flange presses on the rubber pad, forcing it not only to compress, but also to go deeper into the cavity, that is, the air in the cavity acts like a pneumatic spring.

Eco Stud 8 concept: a lightweight stud and an enlarged rubber cushion underneath, which, compressing and partially filling the cavity in the support flange, softens the impact of the block on the road

Along the way, as Matti assures, it was possible to reduce the noise level: they say, the spring pad turned out to be an effective “muffler”, which made it possible to abandon the drop-shaped holes in front of the studs, which helped reduce the noise of the predecessor tire.

During a short run behind the wheel of the Golf along the surrounding roads, I really did not experience any acoustic discomfort and still clearly heard when the asphalt under the wheels gave way to compacted snow. And I regretted that they didn’t let me ride on the predecessor tires: maybe the new tires are not as quiet as Matti claims?

I also regretted this on the special tracks of the training ground. Not only were there no Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tires, but also competing tires from other manufacturers. And the set of driving exercises seemed bland: a prosaic “snake” and a “moose test” with a short acceleration straight that did not allow us to approach the entrance corridor faster than 50 km/h. In both cases, the Ford Focus I got allowed me to do everything cleanly.

This Audi A4 station wagon drives... without a driver. A robot car with a rather cumbersome control system (photo on the right) is used for simple but monotonous tests - acceleration, braking on a straight line. And also to check the influence of Hakkapeliitta 8 tires on the road surface. However, now the robot is being trained to perform more complex exercises - “rearranging”, moving in a circle and even along a winding track!

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One silver lining: I then drove three laps around the icy track in a 420-horsepower Audi RS4. Liked! Good grip, good feeling of the car... But with questions about how these bristling tires are better or worse than their competitors, contact Oleg Rastegaev. He has already carried out a comparative test of twenty winter tires, including the new one, and according to first impressions, the “re-studded” Hakkapeliitta 8 really outperforms its competitors on ice, although the advantage is not overwhelming - and certainly not proportional to the number of studs. By the way, other new tires also took part in these comparative tests, Pirelli Ice Zero, which also successfully passed the testing procedure at the Test World test site and received approval for sale in Scandinavian countries, despite the presence of 130 studs in 16-inch tires. Who is next?

The effectiveness of the crystals in the composition rubber compound The Hakkapeliitta R2 and Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV tires should be at their best on ice, where they should work like microspikes

And with studless, friction winter tires, as I already said, everything is calmer. The tread pattern has been changed (a denser network of lamellas of increased width has appeared), and solid microparticles in the form of multifaceted crystals are now introduced into the rubber mixture. These are something like microspikes: by “biting” into the road, they increase traction on ice and even on slippery asphalt. Something similar has already been seen on Japanese tires from Toyo and Bridgestone.

What are Finnish “microspikes” made of and what is their structure?

Secret,” Matti smiles. - Details will be available after the technology is patented.

It is important that the crystals in the Hakkapeliitta R2 and Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV tires are evenly distributed throughout the tread thickness, that is, they will work throughout the entire service life of the tire.

Production of all three models has already started at Nokian factories in Finland and Russia, and mass sales will begin in the fall. The range of standard sizes is traditionally wide: for Hakkapeliitta tires there are 8 as many as 59 positions - from 175/70 R13 to 255/35 R20, of which six are with the speed index H (210 km/h), and the rest have the index T (190 km/h) . There will also be “puncture-resistant” run flat tires in nine standard sizes (with a seat diameter from 16 to 18 inches). But the Finns promise to bring the version of the G8 with the SUV index intended for crossovers and SUVs to the market next year.

The range of studless tires Hakkapeliitta R2 is only slightly more modest - 55 sizes (from 13 to 20 inches). The “initial” Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV has dimensions of 215/70 R16, and in total there are 38 standard sizes on the list, including Run Flat 255/50 R19 for the BMW X5. All friction "erks", both passenger cars and off-road ones, are assigned a speed index R (up to 170 km/h).

It's no secret that Nokian winter tires are the most expensive on the market, and new models will become even more expensive: studded ones - by an average of 10%, non-studded ones - by 3%. Let's wait for the results comparative tests to find out how justified this approach to pricing is.

The tread blocks of the new Hakkapeliitta R tires (with index 2) have decreased in size, and reinforcements have appeared between them, designed to increase directional stability during acceleration and braking. It is curious that in the previous generation of Eroks the treads of the “passenger” and “off-road” versions were identical, and the current Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV (pictured on the right) acquired its own pattern with a distinct central rib

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Test winner

Excellent traction during braking and acceleration. Easy to operate even in difficult situations. Calm and predictable behavior in the snow. No surprises.

Test winner

Auto Motor & Sport 21/2016

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Safe and predictable in winter road conditions. Impressive Features on dry asphalt. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 received maximum scores in all tests on snow and dry asphalt, they are recognized the best tire on snow and ice.

Test winner

Norway

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 received the highest rating in all positions on the ice. There is no doubt that the 190 studs help on slippery roads.

Test winner

AutoReview 18/2016

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 185/65R15

An excellent tire in icy conditions: the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 dominates all tests carried out on ice. Better than other tires in deep snow. An essential tire on slippery roads.

Test winner

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 195/65R15

Excellent lateral grip on ice, best acceleration on snowy roads and excellent maneuverability. Very low fuel consumption.

Test winner

AutoReview 18/2015

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

The tires dominated the test on all winter surfaces, especially ice. The shortest braking distance and the best acceleration on ice. Excellent traction on ice and snow.

Test winner

Za Rulem 10/2015

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Better braking and lateral grip on ice. First-class grip on snow. Excellent maneuverability in deep snow. Precise steering feel on winter roads and excellent stability on dry asphalt. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires perform well in all winter conditions and help save fuel.

Test winner

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 175/65R14

Better grip on ice. Logical handling on winter roads. Low fuel consumption.

Test winner

Tuulilasi 12/2016

Finland

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Best test result (shared 1st place)

Tekniikan Maailma 17/2016

Finland

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Excellent performance on ice and good handling in extreme situations. Short braking distances on all surfaces and very good driving performance in all winter conditions.

Test winner

Tuulilasi 12/2015

Finland

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

The best studded tires on ice and snow. Excellent grip on ice. Lowest fuel consumption.

Test winner

Tekniikan Maailma 17/2015

Finland

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Easy to control also in extreme circumstances. Confident grip and steering response. Very low rolling resistance.

Test winner

Vi Bilägare 14/2016

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 performs best in difficult conditions. Braking on ice is incomparably better than that of competitors, braking and acceleration on snowy roads is also at an excellent level. The tire is easy to control in extreme conditions, low fuel consumption.

Test winner

Motorföraren 7/2015

Excellent results on ice and snow. Top scores in six out of 12 tests. Lowest rolling resistance and fuel consumption.

Test winner

Auto Motor & Sport 22/2015

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 225/45R17

Good characteristics on snow. Good lateral grip. Balanced under hard braking. Accurate steering reactions on ice. Easy to control on wet asphalt. Fast reactions on dry asphalt.

Test winner

Aftonbladet 10/7/2015

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires showed outstanding results on ice, short braking distances and very good lateral grip make the tire easy to drive on ice. The more slippery the road, the more outstanding the tires perform. Quiet tires with low rolling resistance.

Test winner

Vi Bilägare 13/2015

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Champion tire on ice and snow. Very good on ice, excellent grip when cornering. Lowest rolling resistance in the test.

Test winner

Auto Motor og Sport 10/2015

Norway

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 225/45R17

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires showed good results on snow. Good lateral grip. Tires give a feeling of safe driving. Stable tires even during emergency braking. The tires respond precisely to steering on ice. Good balance on wet asphalt, easy to control. Fast steering response on dry asphalt.

Test winner

Norway

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 205/55R16

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires are the tires that perform best in the most difficult conditions. The tires showed the best results in all tests on ice. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires also provide a better driving experience on snow.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 is a premium studded winter tire with a directional tread pattern for passenger cars. The model also has crossover and SUV models.

Country of origin: Russia, Finland.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 test from the Finnish Test World, conducted in 2016

In 2016, experts from the Finnish organization Test World tested the Nokian Hakapelita 8 winter studded tire in size 205/55 R16 and compared it with twenty-one budget, mid-range and premium tires.

To illustrate the results, the test used similar studded tires, friction tires and one high-speed tire for European mild winters.

Test results

According to the test results, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 shared first place in the overall standings with the German Continental.

As expected, the tire revealed its best qualities in winter disciplines: it has one of the best results on ice and very good behavior on snow. On asphalt, the Nokian behaves less confidently than its competitors, but overall it provides a sufficient level of grip and is slightly behind the leaders in results. The only serious drawback of the tire is high level noise.

Discipline		Place	A comment
	Braking on dry asphalt	13-14	a) with the leader of the test (European type tire) - 4.4 meters longer; b) with better friction tires - 1.1 meters longer; c) with the best studded tire - 0.6 meters longer.
	Braking on wet asphalt	10	Length difference braking distance: a) with the test leader (European type tire) - 10.3 meters longer; b) with better friction tires - 1.3 meters longer; c) with the best studded tire - 3.2 meters longer.
	Handling on wet asphalt	9-10	a) with the leader of the test (European type tire) - 4.6 seconds longer; c) with a better studded tire - 1.9 seconds longer.
	Braking on snow	6	Difference in braking distance: a) with a similar studded tire - 2.5 meters longer; b) with better friction tires - 0.3 meters shorter; c) with a European type tire - 8.2 meters shorter.
	Handling on snow	4-5	Lap time difference: a) with the test leader (studded tire) - 1.6 seconds longer; b) with a better friction tire - 0.5 seconds longer; c) with a European type tire - faster by 4.8 seconds.
	Acceleration in the snow	4-7	Difference in acceleration time to 35 km/h: a) with a studded tire - 0.2 seconds longer; b) with a better friction tire - 0.2 seconds longer; c) with a European type tire - 1 second faster.
	Braking on ice	1	Best result. Difference in braking distance: a) with the best studded tire - 0.5 meters shorter; b) with better friction tires - 16 meters shorter; c) with a European type tire - 38.2 meters shorter.
	Handling on ice	3	Lap time difference: a) with the test leader (studded tire) - 1.4 seconds longer; b) with a better friction tire - 2 seconds faster; c) with a European type tire - faster by 20.3 seconds.
	Acceleration on ice	2-3	Difference in acceleration time from 5 to 20 km/h: a) with the test leader (studded tire) - 0.1 sec longer; b) with a better friction tire - 3.3 seconds faster; c) with a European type tire - faster by 6.7 seconds.
	Noisiness	19-22	Worst result. Subjective assessment of noise level - 5 points.
	Economical	15-17	Compared to the test leader, fuel consumption is 2.1% more.

New studded tire for difficult climatic conditions

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 – excellent grip, easy rotation

In 2013, Nokian Tyres, the expert in tires for difficult climate conditions, introduces the new studded winter tire Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8. Thanks to its excellent grip, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 copes with all weather conditions. The unique stud technology from the company that created winter tires provides unprecedented traction on ice and snow. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 performs well in extreme situations, is characterized by acoustic comfort, rotates easily, saves fuel consumption and reduces impact on the road surface.

Full range of tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, the new “Lady of the North” includes 59 standard sizes with wheel diameters from 13 to 20 inches. The range includes tires for small family car, and for a large luxury sports car. The lineup includes tires made using Flat Run technology and reinforced XL tires with an increased load-bearing capacity index. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires will be available to consumers in autumn 2013 before the start of the winter season. The key markets for the new member of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta family are Scandinavian countries, Finland and Russia.

Unprecedented winter safety, soft touch on the road

A study conducted in the Nordic countries showed that drivers value winter tires primarily for their good grip on snow and ice. Reliable grip, safety, and a generally pleasant driving experience in changeable winter weather – these are the constant properties of Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tires. The basis for the development of the new generation Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded tire was the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 tire, presented in 2009. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 is a multiple test winner and has set a kind of world record in this field: more than 30 won tests in automobile magazines during 2009 – 2012.

Development of a new winter tires and its thorough testing is the fruit of almost four years of work and creative effort. The new Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, like its predecessor, has a directional symmetrical tread pattern, that is, it has a certain direction of rotation. Thousands winter tests confirm: the directional and symmetrical tread pattern is the ideal choice for studded tires, it allows the studs to be widely spaced, which in turn optimizes grip and acoustic performance.

– According to our idea, a real winter tire should work optimally in any climatic conditions, be it driving on ice, snow or slush. As pioneers in the tire industry, we wanted to prove that uncompromising grip and driving pleasure go together. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 opens a new era that combines absolute winter safety with minimal impact on the road surface, says Juha Pirhonen, Head of Product Development at Nokian Tyres.

New studding concept Nokian Eco Stud 8 – excellent grip in winter

Developing the world's best studded tires involves the perfect combination of studding, tire construction, tread design and rubber compound. Tires must also undergo extensive testing under real-life operating conditions. The performance of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires was tested under extreme conditions at the Nokian Tires test site in Ivalo, above the Arctic Circle.

The revolutionary studding concept of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 maximizes excellent grip and reduces impact on all types of road surfaces. The studding is carried out in accordance with the new legislation introduced in Europe. The law applies to studded tires manufactured after July 1, 2013.

New studding conceptNokianEco Stud 8 from the company that created winter tires improves the safety and handling of winter tires in extreme situations. Concept NokianEco Stud 8 includes a new generation anchor stud, the shape of the flange reduces stud deflection, and a softening “pad” under the stud – Eco Stud, made from a special soft rubber compound. This layer improves the performance of the stud and softens contact with the road. This innovation has already been used in other Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tires, but in the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 the thickness of the “pad” has been increased.

The studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tire has unprecedented grip on ice in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The location of each spike is optimized using computer modeling. The studs are distributed evenly over the entire tread surface. Thus, none of the spikes overlaps the other, ensuring best grip with the road in any situation.

– Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 has very well balanced longitudinal and lateral grip on ice, due to this the tire behavior is predictable on slippery roads and ice. Good shock absorption extends the life of the studs and also reduces the noise level, explains Juha Pirhonen.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 is gentle on the road surface.
The tire's impact on the road surface is on average 12% less than required by studding laws in the Nordic countries. This is a level that many manufacturers are just aspiring to.

Peace of mind even in extreme situations

Reliable fastening of the stud improves the quality of traction when braking. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 has updated two-layer tread structure (cap & base). The especially durable rubber compound inside the tread reliably blocks the stud in the block, stabilizes the movement of the tire on dry roads and ensures uniform tire wear.

Various innovations can be felt by drivers every day when driving in winter. The progressive studs and Eco Stud 8 concept create fantastic winter driving qualities: excellent grip when braking and accelerating, better wear resistance and therefore peace of mind for the driver.

All Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tires are studded at the manufacturer; this guarantees the quality and performance of the studs.

More tread blocks, more definition and grip

First-class winter grip, wear resistance and low level noise is ensured by a symmetrical tread pattern with an increased number of tread blocks. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta has 8 more tires than its legendary predecessor, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 winter tire.

A larger number of blocks improves traction, and thanks to the increased number of grooves in the tread, the edges of the sipes better cling to snow and ice when touching the road surface. The increased number of tread blocks makes it possible to place the studs in the tread as accurately and widely as possible. The small size of the tread blocks reduces the heat generated by the tire, which results in increased mileage and increased wear resistance of the tire. This innovation also emphasizes the environmental friendliness of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 by reducing fuel consumption and increasing wear resistance.

The central tread blocks are firmly connected to each other, which improves the tire's rigidity and increases stability. The tread with deep grooves and open shoulder areas are excellent for self-cleaning from snow and slush.

Braking efficiency is ensured brake boosters, which are located at the rear of the tread blocks. The serrated pattern of the brake boosters increases the grip area and improves traction, especially on snowy surfaces.

Comfort and stability on asphalt

The performance of the new studded tire from the legendary Hakkapeliitta family on clean asphalt has been improved thanks to a new tread design. Diagonal closed support 3 D lamellas in the central part of the tread the structure is reinforced, which makes movement more reliable. Thanks to the diagonal sipes, the tires respond quickly and precisely to steering movements. In the outer part of the shoulder areas when touching the road 3D blocking slats fix checker blocks, connecting them into one whole, which improves maneuverability in turns and maneuvers on the highway.

New hard breaker package allows the tire to maintain its shape despite road unevenness. A more comfortable driving experience is enhanced by impact-absorbing sidewall components and a choice of materials that effectively reduce cabin noise levels.

Unique rubber compound

A special rubber compound was created for the tread of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 tire, designed for difficult climatic conditions. It was the result of long and painstaking work. The main components in the winter rubber compound based on second generation cryosilane Hakkapeliitta Cryo-silaneGen 2 are silica, rapeseed (a type of rapeseed) oil and natural rubber.

Rapeseed oil serves as a catalyst to combine the mixture when low temperatures; it stimulates the interaction of silica and natural rubber, and improves the tensile strength of the rubber compound. A larger amount of natural rubber in the mixture has a key effect on grip properties in extreme conditions on winter roads. Natural rubber is a kind of stabilizer over a wide temperature range, and has an excellent effect on the behavior of the mixture when the temperature is close to zero degrees or freezing cold.

further reduction of vehicle fuel consumption and harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Tread wear indicator improves winter safety

Visible on the tread of the new item tread wear indicator(DSI – Driving Safety Indicator), patented by Nokian Tyres. It is located in the central part of the tread and shows the remaining tread groove depth in millimeters. As the tire is used, the numbers are erased in descending order. The winter snowflake wear indicator remains as long as the tread groove is at least 4mm deep. Once the snowflakes have cleared, tires are considered unsafe for winter use and replacement is recommended.

On the sidewall of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 there is an information area where, during the seasonal tire change, you can make notes about the recommended tire pressure and their location. For the convenience and safety of users, the information area now has an additional zone, in which you can enter the tightening torque of the bolts for fastening the wheel rims.

Winter tires Hakkapeliitta and Hakka –

special concept for difficult climatic conditions

Nokian Tires developed the world's first winter tire back in 1934. Two years later, Nokian Hakkapeliitta was born, and to this day this brand remains one of the most famous winter tires in the world.

Nokian winter tires are produced to ensure safe driving in all weather and road conditions for countries with difficult climatic conditions. When purchasing tires from the Nokian Hakkapeliitta series, the buyer has the opportunity to use the Hakka Guarantee or. Under the warranty, if a tire is used and damage is detected, Nokian Tires undertakes to make one free repair (in case of repairability) and one free replacement (in case of non-repairability) of the purchased tire. The Hakka guarantee is valid for one year from the date of purchase of the product, provided residual depth grooves of at least 4 mm.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 – Lady of the North

• Unprecedented winter grip
• Environmentally friendly by nature: low fuel consumption, acoustic comfort and reduced road damage
• Directional stability and steering sensitivity

Key innovations:

OshipovkaNokianEcoStud 8. Increased safety in winter and a soft touch on the road surface. Improved winter grip, comfort and durability. Unique tucking technology. A more environmentally friendly new generation anchor stud, a stud flange that reduces stud swing, Eco Stud - a softening layer of a rubber compound that absorbs and softens the impact of the stud on the road. The distribution of studs along the tread is optimized using computer modeling. The studs do not stand in rows, but are evenly spaced over the entire tread area. Neither stud overlaps the other, which ensures the best grip in all driving situations.

Tread compound HakkapeliittaCryo-silaneGen2 based on second generation cryosilane. Excellent winter grip at any temperature, wear resistance and lower fuel consumption. At low temperatures, rapeseed oil (a type of rapeseed) enhances the interaction between silica and natural rubber. The rubber compound of the tread remains elastic under all conditions. The tread block sipes are active and maintain a good level of grip when the temperature changes. Rapeseed oil improves the tensile strength properties of the rubber compound, and also improves grip on icy and snowy surfaces.

Brake boosters. Improved grip when braking. Grip when braking on snow is improved thanks to braking boosters at the rear of the tread blocks. The serrated pattern of the brake boosters increases the grip area and improves traction, especially on snowy road surfaces.

Diagonal 3D support slats in the central part of the tread the tread is reinforced. The tire responds quickly and sensitively to steering wheel maneuvers, improving driving confidence and responsive handling.

Self-locking 3D slats. More precise handling. 3D lamellas located in the outer part of the shoulder zones, when touching the road, fix the checker blocks, connecting them into one whole, which improves the movement properties and controllability when moving in an arc and maneuvering on the highway.

Video: Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 – Lady of the North: http://youtu.be/LH2Xn3qeuVI

Testing under extreme conditions: http://youtu.be/f4TSgk_1TQU

About the history of Hakkapeliitta winter tires: https://www.nokiantires.com/first-winter-tyres

Nokian Hakkapeliitta tire test winners:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkQotSMzSfs&feature=share&list=UUv-VDEjbdBkuZ-eSvYOn0FA

Additional Information.

Nokian Tires products are not cheap, but in Russia they are found even on shabby foreign cars and Ladas. Having got acquainted with the new Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV winter tires, we found out why buyers are willing to overpay for the Finnish brand

Photo: Nokian Tires

As you draw, so will it go

It is noteworthy that this year Nokian Tires celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Finnish company's creation of the world's first winter tire. The path of any tire from sketch to consumer is not easy and thorny. And winter tires last even longer. The test program for prototypes of any tire manufacturer includes not only tests on snow and ice, but also tests at summer testing grounds, where tires are tested on dry and wet asphalt, their resistance to aquaplaning and their performance in slush are examined. Now about the new product in more detail. The tread pattern of the Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV is similar to the design of the Hakkapeliitta 8 passenger tire - according to Nokian Tires developers, a directional symmetrical pattern is the safest option for winter conditions. Not so long ago, on the pages of our magazine, the head of the technical support department for Nokian Tires customers, Matti Morri, conducted a kind of “educational education”, where he said that repairing the sidewall of a tire if it is damaged is a futile task. Therefore, the Nokian Tires laboratories worked especially carefully with the design of the sidewall of the new product. The strength of the sidewall of the Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV is ensured by an innovative solution: crushed aramid fibers are added to the rubber mixture immediately before the mixing process. This aromatic polyamide, very durable and lightweight, is used in both aviation and the military industry, in particular in the construction of body armor.

To make it catchy

The number of studs on a tire is a parameter strictly regulated by Scandinavian legislation. But if the manufacturing company proves by testing that the increased number of studs does not cause more damage to the road surface, such a tire will be certified. Nokian Tires engineers followed this path when they developed the Eco Stud 8 technology: under the base of the stud there is an air cushion that acts as a shock absorber at the moment the stud contacts the road surface. This solution allows us to reduce both the negative impact on the road surface and the noise level emitted by the tire. The changes also affected the stud itself - compared to what was used in Hakkapeliitta 8, it became longer, and in addition, the stud flange was modified. The introduction of innovations has made it possible to significantly increase the number of studs in the tire: for example, a tire in size 235/65R17 has 190 studs, which is 50% more than in the tires of previous Hakkapeliitta models. “As for competitors,” says Matti Morri, “their tires of the same size use between 90 and 120 studs.” As for the stability of the studs, this quality is largely ensured by the structure of the tire itself, which has a base and top tread layer - a more rigid base layer reliably holds the stud in the tire.

A new approach to legislation defining the number of studs per linear meter has allowed the Hakkapeliit ta 8 SUV tire to significantly increase their number

Accelerate, turn, brake...

Handling on a winter road is an extremely important point. For this purpose, 3D lamellas are used in the design of the Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV different types. In the central part of the tread, long sipes are used, and in the shoulder area, where the design should provide greater rigidity, the sipes are shorter. The design of the shoulder sipes is such that when they come into contact with the road, they compress and fix the tread blocks, ensuring stable behavior of the tire in the turning arc. In addition, in this part of the tire, a denser rubber compound is used between the tread blocks, which ensures better stability of the blocks themselves and, accordingly, more stable behavior of the tire on snow. As for the braking properties, the developers of Nokian Tires, even on the Hakkapeliitta R 2 model, provided so-called “braking boosters” with a toothed pattern in the rear part of the tread blocks. And further. An important point in winter operating conditions is significant temperature changes. The tread layer of the Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV model uses a second-generation rubber compound based on cryosilane with an increased amount of natural rubber. This compound allows the tire tread to maintain elasticity both at zero temperature and in low temperature conditions.

The Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV tire is available in 47 sizes with diameters from 16 to 21 inches, including flat run tires and reinforced XL tires. The recommended price for Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV tires (size 225/65 R 17) is 13,230 rubles.

On top is the structure of a regular rubber compound, on the bottom is a mixture with aramid fibers

Eco Stud 8 technology ensures optimized road loading

Combination

It was like a magic trick: the driver inside the car presses a button, and the studs in the tire “crawl” into the tread layer, turning the studded version into a friction one. But this is by no means a trick - the developers of the Nokian Tires company demonstrated a concept tire with retractable studs at the Ivalo test site. The idea of ​​such a combination tire is that the driver can select the appropriate operating mode for the tire when changing road and weather conditions. On dry asphalt you can use the friction mode, and when driving on ice you can activate the studs. At the same time, the body of the spike itself remains motionless - only the steel core located inside the spike extends.