Nokian focusses on slush performance

ERJ staff report (DS)

Nokia, Finloand -- Nokian Tyres said it has developed special tyre models like the green Nokian WR G2 for Central European winters with rapidly changing weather and warmer temperatures as well as higher speeds than in Scandinavia. "These tyre models provide especially high safety on slush, snow, ice, in the wet and in the dry,” said Teppo Huovila, Vice President R & D of Nokian Tyres.

Slush means danger and is a frequent situation. Slush planing is imminent because the tyre loses contact with the road and you can not steer the car anymore. On slush the risk of fatal accidents is 4.9 times higher than on dry roads, a study of Tampere University of Technology of 2008 shows.

Especially last winter with heavy snowfall in Europe demonstrated that snow covered roads and rapidly changing conditions become more usual and cause many accidents. These were toughest demands for the tyres, which not all met. The consequence: an enormous traffic chaos, mile long jams on the motorways, complete closures, severe accidents with numerous casualties.

“As the pioneer of slush tests Nokian Tyres has carried out slush planing tests for 15 years and owns as the one tyre manufacturer a unique proving ground for slush planing tests longitudinal as well as lateral,” knows Matti Morri, Technical Customer Service Manager. “Our engineers have developed exact test methods for slush planing testing. Although we are already the forerunner of the branch we can improve our tyres more and more every year.”

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Press release from Nokian