Concept tires were presented in honor of the anniversary — 80 years since the appearance of the first Nokian winter tires. For comparison: in 1934, they were narrow with a massive tread. Today's Nokian models look completely different, but the Finns' approach has not changed — they still introduce innovations. The latest idea is retractable studs.
The operating principle and design of the new product were shown at a specially built indoor test track that resembles a huge skating rink. Inside this hangar, an icy environment is maintained year-round, regardless of the season or weather outside.
The prototype of the all-season rubber combines features of both friction and studded tires. When needed, it can provide excellent braking and acceleration on ice, while on dry asphalt it behaves like a regular "friction tire."
The driver decides when to deploy or retract the studs — a special button is provided in the cabin for this purpose. The Finns do not disclose details of the mechanism's operation and asked not to ask unnecessary questions, so only 10 minutes were allocated for the demonstration to avoid possible espionage. We can only speculate about how such tires are actually designed. These are just our assumptions, as Nokian does not share details and emphasizes that this is only a prototype of future tires.
One likely scenario is the use of a special cable: tensioning or loosening it causes the studs to hide or extend outward. But this is just a theory, as other options are possible — pneumatics, electronics, and the Finns could have come up with anything at all. Additionally, we note: the concept is based on the new studded model Hakkapelitta 8 SUV.
