The new One: Nokian unveils all-season passenger tire

DAYTON, Tenn.—Less than a year after releasing an all-season tire for the burgeoning light truck and SUV markets, Nokian Tyres P.L.C. has completed the portfolio by releasing a similar all-season project for the passenger vehicle market, engineered specifically for North American drivers.

Three Nokian executives held a virtual tire rollout for the trade press Tuesday afternoon to introduce the Nokian Tyres One, the complement to the Nokian Tyres One HT, the light-truck, SUV all-season product that was released 10 months ago. With 70-plus new sizes covering rim diameters from 14 to 20 inches, the products will cover more than 91 percent of sizes in their segments, including select cargo fitments.

The new lineup eventually will replace Nokian's all-season eNTYRE and eNTYRE 2.0 in the Nokia, Finland-based tire maker's portfolio.

According to Steve Bourassa, Nokian's Canadian-based director of products, the product line "is engineered to provide peace of mind in the moments North American drivers need it the most. SUV and light truck drivers have loved this tire, and now we're pleased to offer it for passenger cars, too, along with a Pothole Protection warranty that shows how confident we are in the tire's durability."

Reinforced with Nokian's proprietary Aramid sidewall technology—heat-resistant synthetic fiber is embedded in the sidewalls to reinforce the tire—the tires will be replaced free by Nokian should one become damaged beyond repair by rough roads, potholes or curbs. The fiber, used by Nokian in a passenger tire for the first time, is used to reinforce bulletproof vests and spacecraft landing cushions.

The tires have a treadwear warranty of 80,000 miles or 130,000 kilometers.

"Research tells us that as many as of one-third of major U.S. roads are in poor condition, which results in annual vehicle maintenance costs of about $600 per driver," Bourassa said. "We engineered the Nokian Tyres One to withstand the toll rough roads can take, while delivering a comfortable driving experience."

The line will be manufactured at all three Nokian plants, including its newest facility in Dayton, Tenn. The factory there, now with around 150 employees, is LEED v4 Silver-certified, which Nokian said makes it the first and only tire factory to receive such a designation.

According to Nokian, the new all-season tire has improved wet braking and wet handling performance over Nokian Tyres' previous all-season products, the result of a balanced tread pattern that provides stability in wet and dry weather.

The symmetrical, non-directional tread pattern results in more even wear, the company said, a tread shape similar to North American all-season products.

Zig-zag siping in the center rib and shoulder blocks bolsters the tire's handling, while grip enhancers in circumferential grooves provide increased traction on soft surfaces such as snow, sand and mud.

Nokian Tyres One's three-dimensional block supports in the middle ribs grip the road in winter, while water pockets throughout the tire resist hydroplaning.

Touting the tire's safety, durability and sustainability, Nokian said the compound used minimizes rolling resistance, making the tire more fuel efficient. Nokian claims it has reduced CO2 emissions from its production processes by 44 percent in the last six years.

The tires also feature a driving safety indicator, which shows a numerical indicator of how much tread remains.