Nokian rolls out 'next-generation' all-weather, winter tires

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo.—Nokian Tyres P.LC. used an appropriate setting—the snowy, scenic mountains of the Colorado Rockies—to debut three products designed to perform well in wintery conditions.

The new products are the WR G4, the fourth generation of its all-weather line, and the Hakkapeliitta R3 and R3 SUV, third generations of its winter passenger line.

Selected Nokian dealers were invited the week of Feb. 11 to the Copper Mountain resort—operated by Nokian's official tire partner, POWD'R Adventure Corp.—to test the tires while driving on tracks in snow- and ice-covered conditions.

"These tires perform extremely well in the worst conditions," said Steve Bourassa, business manager for passenger and light truck products, for Nokian Tyres Inc., the Finnish tire maker's North American subsidiary.

"We think our dealers—and ultimately our tire customers—will love the improvements we've made."

The WR G4, which is ready to ship, offers a reliable winter grip, officials said, performing well in snow, slush, heavy rain or sunny asphalt. The tire has the mountain snowflake severe service emblem designation for driving in winter.

The tire will come in 42 sizes ranging from 14 to 19 inches in rim diameter, including two run-flat versions, and speed ratings from H to V. It is being produced at Nokian plants in Nokia, Finland, and Vsevolozhsk, Russia, but Nokian plans to shift production almost exclusively to the plant being built in Dayton, Tenn., once that factory is in operation.

The tire comes with a 60,000-mile limited treadwear warranty and is made with a new all-weather dual performance compound, giving the WR G4 a longer tread life.

It features an asymmetrical tread pattern with "Centipede Siping"—jagged 3D sipes on the center rib that resemble the legs of a centipede—which the company said grips the surface to maximize biting edges while maintaining handling.

The center area of the WR G4's tread has a longitudinal rib consisting of tread blocks, while the staggered siping works well at different turning angles, the company said, increasing grip on snow and slush and improving control.

The inner shoulder has a fan-like rib pattern with functional tread blocks and blade grooves that route rain, snow and slush away from the contact surface. The sipes are staggered at different angles to provide longitudinal grip and acceleration grip on snow, while the wide longitudinal grooves offer lateral grip.

The block pattern shaped on the inner shoulder side of the center rib enhances winter grip, the company said. The tread blocks are grooved so that every other sipe is attached on the left and every other on the right.

The WR G4 features the firm's "Coanda" technology, which Nokian said combats hydroplaning. According to the company, the curved design of the tread blocks on the inner and outer shoulder guides and accelerates water from the longitudinal grooves into the transverse grooves. Hydroplaning prevention properties are retained as the tire wears.

Meanwhile, Nokian said the Hakkapeliitta R3 and Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV represent significant improvements over the previous generations, offering exceptional grip without studs. The tires will be available for order in March and for shipment this summer.

Both tires come with the Cryo Crystal 3 technology. Small microscopic bio-material particles in the new-generation rubber are released, acting like built-in studs to create sharp, tough grip edges inside the rubber.

The new lines offer up to 5-percent reduced rolling resistance vs. the Hakkapeliitta R2.

The passenger/light truck line will come in 68 sizes, including 10 run-flat versions, in rim diameters ranging from 14 to 21 inches.

The Hakkapeliitta R2 SUV is reinforced with Nokian's aramid sidewall technology, which the company said provides added strength and durability to the tire's sidewalls. It will be available in in 64 sizes, from 16 to 21 inches, including five run-flat sizes.

The tires, which will be marketed globally, will be made at the plants in Finland and Russia.