- The Hakkapeliitta 01 tire can automatically release spikes
- Temperature-sensing technology adds grip in freezing conditions
- The tire technology has been under development for 12 years
Finnish brand Nokian (not to be confused with the Scandi phone company) has just released details of a new tire technology that can automatically detect frost conditions and use metal studs to improve grip on ice and snow.
According to the company, the technology underpinning the new Hakkapeliitta 01 tire has been 12 years in the making, developing its initial research into an implementation system that required a trigger for something where the driver doesn’t have to lift a finger.
The on-demand grip technology is made possible through the brand’s Adaptive Base Construction, which sees the inner layer of the tire harden in low temperatures to push the studs out over the tire’s surface.
Look at
At higher temperatures, this layer softens and the studs retract, meaning owners don’t have to change tires between seasons or worry about fitting snow chains when traversing snowy passes. 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 percent compared to its predecessor. Ice grip is improved by up to 10 percent and wet grip by up to 5 percent, while the noise level is drastically reduced for greater driving comfort.
In addition to the smart stud technology, Nokian has also included an optimized tread pattern for better traction on ice, aramid sidewalls for impact protection and a rubber compound that is partly made up of renewable materials, such as natural rubber, bioresin and bio-based oils, including materials derived from pine resin and rapeseed oil.
Although Nokian has not revealed the price of the tire yet, it has said that it will go on sale in the autumn of this year (so sometime between September and November) and will be primarily available in the Nordic countries and North America in a wide range of sizes.
The announcement comes at a time when tire technology in general is getting smarter, with Pirelli’s ‘Cyber Tire’, for example, including tiny chips embedded in the tread surface so it can analyze its own state of health.
In addition to this, 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.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
