- The Hakkapeliitta 01 tire can automatically deploy the studs
- Temperature-sensing technology adds grip in icy conditions
- Tire technology has been in development for 12 years
Finnish brand Nokian (not to be confused with the Scandinavian phone company) has just released details of a new tire technology that can automatically detect freezing conditions and deploy metal studs to improve grip on ice and snow.
According to the company, the technology behind the new Hakkapeliitta 01 tire has been in development for 12 years, progressing its initial research towards a deployment system that required a trigger so the driver didn’t have to lift a finger.
The grip-on-demand technology is made possible thanks to the brand’s adaptive core construction, which sees the innermost layer of the tire stiffen at low temperatures to push the studs beyond the surface of the tire.
Look on it
At higher temperatures, this layer softens and the studs retract, meaning owners don’t have to change tires between seasons, or worry about having to install snow chains during snowy passages. You can see how the company did it in the short video above.
Analysis: Tires are getting smarter
According to the company, the Hakkapeliitta 01 tire reduces road wear by up to 30% compared to its predecessor. Grip on ice improves by up to 10 percent and wet grip by up to 5 percent, while noise levels are significantly reduced for greater driving comfort.
In addition to the smart stud technology, Nokian has also included an optimized tread for improved traction on ice, aramid sidewalls for impact protection and a rubber compound made in part from renewable materials, such as natural rubber, bio-resin and bio-based oils, including materials derived from pine resin and canola oil.
Although Nokian has not yet revealed the price of the tire, it has announced that it will go on sale in the fall of this year (so between September and November) and that it will be available mainly in the Nordic countries and North America in a wide variety of sizes.
The announcement comes at a time when tire technology is generally becoming smarter, with for example Pirelli’s ‘Cyber Tire’, which includes tiny chips embedded in the surface of the tread so it can analyze its own health.
On top of that, the constant flow of data from the tire to the car can also create a more sensitive ABS, ESP and traction control system, according to Top Gear.
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