Another world’s first in winter driving

Nokian Tyres is breaking new ground with the launch of the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta® 01, the world’s first winter tire designed to automatically adapt its stud grip in response to changing temperatures. This innovation marks the beginning of a new era on icy and snowy roads, promising drivers both enhanced safety and comfort like never before.

It is not the first time that the company has been at the forefront of winter driving. In 1934 Nokian Tyres invented the world’s first winter tire. It was invented for a real need, as prior to Nokian Tyres’ innovation, there were no tires suitable for driving in the harsh Finnish winter, but tires had a smooth surface and required snow chains on top of them for grip. The world’s first winter tire Kelirengas, Weather Tire, was designed for trucks, but only two years later, in 1936, Nokian Tyres brought a further improved design specifically for passenger cars to the market. That tire was the Lumi-Hakkapeliitta, Snow-Hakkapeliitta, and 90 years later, the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta® is one of the world’s best-known winter tire brands.

The newest generation of the legendary Hakkapeliitta® family changes winter driving yet again. After years of dedicated research, thousands of prototypes, and rigorous testing in diverse environments, Nokian Tyres has achieved what many thought impossible: a tire that responds to winter’s unpredictability while maintaining quiet ride and sustainability. With the new Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta® 01, the company set out to rethink what a studded winter tire can be.

As temperatures fluctuate, the studs on Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta® 01 shift seamlessly between ON and OFF modes, ensuring optimal traction whether the road is frozen or not.  The development process aimed for a tire that doesn’t compromise between superior ice grip and low road wear, which is a common trade-off in winter tire development. Instead of a compromise, a solution was developed where grip adjusts automatically to the temperature, delivering maximum safety when it’s needed, and gentler road contact when it’s not. This helps drivers account for winter weather that is less predictable than ever.

The result is a tire that reduces road wear by up to 30 percent compared to its predecessor. Ice grip improves by up to 10 percent and wet grip up to 5 percent, making the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta® 01 a victory of both safety and sustainability. At the same time, the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta® 01 reduces noise levels by as much as one decibel, leading to a quieter and more comfortable ride. With the Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta® 01 drivers no longer have to choose between superior ice grip and minimizing road wear, and it helps drivers account for winter weather that is less predictable than ever.