New flagship product from Nokian Tyres

Nokian Tyres has announced the Hakkapeliitta 9 for passenger cars and Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV as its newest flagship product

Available for the fall of this year, Nokian Tyres called the Hakkapeliitta 9 the “most advanced winter tire” in a new release. It features the “new adaptive Nokian Tyres functional stud concept, which features two designs of studs on the tire for use during specific driving conditions, such as braking or accelerating and cornering, ensuring optimal traction in all winter conditions.”

This will provide “excellent longitudinal and lateral grip on icy and snowy driving surfaces, and behaves in a controlled and logical manner,” the company said. Its tread pattern will offer stable bare-road handling, a comfortably silent ride and rolls lighter than previous Hakkapeliitta generations resulting in improved fuel economy.”

Pointing to the dangers of driving through ice and snow in winter, Tommi Heinonen, president of Nokian Tyres North America said that his company “developed the safest, most comfortable winter tire that we can’t wait to bring to drivers throughout North America.”

It took four years to develop the Hakkapeliitta 9, the company said, and was “fine-tuned” north of the Arctic Circle at Nokian Tyres’ White Hell testing center in Ivalo, Finland.

“One of our starting points was to develop a completely new studded tire that combines balanced longitudinal and lateral grip with eco-friendliness,” said Juha Pirhonen, vice president of research and development at Nokian Tyres. “Unique to the Hakkapeliitta 9, the new stud technology features a dedicated, tailored stud for the center of the tread and a separate stud for the shoulder areas.”

The announcement said that “the Hakkapeliitta 9 is designed for small family cars and sporty vehicles alike, and covers 52 sizes from 14 to 20 inches. Most are marked XL for the highest possible load capacity in that particular size.”

As for the Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV, it will come in 51 sizes from 16 to 21 inches and features. Several products will be offered “that employ Flat Run technology or that are marked XL for the highest possible load capacity.”