Retractable Stud Winter Tires: Drive Like James Bond
▼ Summary
– Nokian is launching a new snow tire, the Hakkapeliitta 01, with automatically deploying studs in North America and Europe later this year.
– The tire’s studs extend for grip in cold conditions and retract in warmer weather to reduce noise and road damage.
– This automatic function uses a special material layer that stiffens when cold to push studs out and softens when warm to pull them in.
– While effective, the studs may still deploy on cold, dry roads, but they improve ice grip by up to 10% compared to non-retracting models.
– The new design also reduces road wear by up to 30% compared to the company’s previous studded tires.
For drivers navigating icy roads, the promise of enhanced safety without the typical drawbacks of studded tires is now a reality. A new innovation from Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian brings a concept once seen only in spy films to the consumer market. The upcoming Hakkapeliitta 01 tire features retractable studs that deploy automatically in cold conditions, aiming to deliver superior traction on ice while minimizing noise and road wear when the pavement is dry.
This technology addresses a long-standing compromise with traditional studded winter tires. While metal studs dramatically improve grip on ice and packed snow, they create a harsh, noisy ride on dry asphalt and can damage road surfaces. Nokian’s solution lies in a sophisticated multi-layer tire construction. One critical layer is made from a specialized material that physically changes with the temperature. When the mercury drops, this material stiffens, mechanically pushing the embedded metal studs outward to bite into icy surfaces. As temperatures rise, the material softens, allowing the studs to retract safely below the tire’s tread.
The system is designed to be entirely passive, requiring no input from the driver, no dashboard button is needed. The studs are strategically oriented in various directions across the tread to maximize traction when deployed. Nokian reports that compared to their non-retracting studded model, the Hakkapeliitta 10, this new design can reduce road wear by as much as thirty percent and simultaneously boost ice grip by up to ten percent.
It’s important to note the technology reacts solely to ambient temperature, not road conditions. This means the studs will extend during any cold snap, even if the roads are clear and dry. However, the significant reduction in road wear compared to fixed studs is a major engineering advancement. The tires are the result of over a decade of development and are slated for release in North America and Europe later this year, with a focus on markets in Nordic regions where winter driving demands are most severe.
(Source: The Verge)