Check your tyres before holiday trip

Drive safely and save fuel with Nokian eco tyres

For safe and fuel saving driving check the air pressure and condition of your tyres. Every second car is on the road with the wrong tyre pressure, warns tyre manufacturer Nokian Tyres. This may have serious consequences. High summer temperatures, heavy luggage and high speed put the tyres under stress. 143 215 punctures only in Germany are documented in German automobile association ADAC break-down statistics 2010, a rise of 6.8 per cent. 1359 accidents with bodily injury again only in Germany were caused by tyre equipment in 2010, more than twice more than by brakes with 602 accidents, states the Federal Statistical Office of Germany.

If the tyre pressure of one front wheel is 1 bar too low the braking distance is extended by ten per cent on wet roads, as the ADAC proved in driving tests. It becomes dangerous in the curve, too. If all tyres have an inflation pressure of 1 bar too low, the lateral grip of the tyres is reduced to nearly half (55 per cent). Then the driver can lose control over his car, the vehicle can start skidding and skid off the road, Nokian argues. The risk is even greater with heavy load.

Nokian eco tyres save half a litre of fuel on 100 kilometres

Tyres being too low on pressure also increase fuel consumption. With 0.4 bar lower pressure a car consumes two per cent more fuel in the average, and the wear of the tyre is 30 per cent bigger. Especially on long holiday trips and regarding high fuel prices in the holiday season eco tyres pay off.

“Low rolling resistance eco tyres like Nokian H and Nokian V for compact cars or even ultra high performance tyres with relatively low rolling resistance like Nokian Z G2 can save even half a litre of fuel per 100 kilometres”, recommends Nokian Tyres Development Manager Juha Pirhonen. “A rolling resistance lowered by 40 per cent saves six per cent fuel. This is just under 300 Euros less over a normal driving distance of 40000 kilometres. Furthermore these tyres produce less CO2 emissions.”

Nokian eco tyres are test winners in the tyre tests of the German car magazines „auto motor und sport“ and „Auto“

Nokian eco tyres are test winners, evaluated „very recommendable“ in the tyre test 2011 of the German car magazine „auto motor und sport, and again test winner in the German car magazine „Auto“ with the judgement „very recommendable“. Assessed „good“, they received the best judgement with the German automobile association ADAC and the German consumer organization „Stiftung Warentest“, in 2010 these organizations rated Nokian eco tyres „very recommendable“. In 2011, they were assessed “very recommendable” by the German car magazine “Auto Zeitung”. These summer tyre tests demonstrate that Nokian eco tyres not only save quite a lot of fuel, but also provide high safety in the wet. Unifying both qualities in an excellent way is the unique strength of the Finnish premium eco tyres as fuel saving tyres often have too little grip on wet roads. And here it becomes dangerous.

If tyres have too little air pressure, they can even tear because of the bigger flexing work. But also damages like cracks, cuts or bulges can lead to blow-outs. Too high pressure reduces the safety, too, as then the contact area is smaller, fewer grip can be transformed, and the tyre wears only in the middle.

DSI Driving Safety Indicator and aquaplaning indicator warn of too little tyre profile and aquaplaning danger

Safety also depends on the tyre profile. The DSI Driving Safety Indicator on the Nokian tyres shows the groove depth as a number between 8 and 2. An aquaplaning indicator warns of aquaplaning with a water drop symbol. It fades when the remaining profile is only four millimetres, pointing to a higher risk. To avoid aquaplaning and to have a short enough braking distance in the wet the main grooves must have a minimum depth of four millimetres. DSI Driving Safety Indicator showing the groove depths as a number and aquaplaning indicator with the water drop symbol are patented innovations by Nokian Tyres which no other tyre manufacturer has. Erased spots in the profile may indicate defective shock absorbers which should be replaced.

The tyres of Nokian Tyres are developed, tested and manufactured in the demanding conditions of the north. They offer the best possible performance even in the most extreme conditions. The specialist from Finland even offers the DSI satisfaction: If a buyer is not satisfied by any reason with his new summer tyres bought at an authorized Nokian contract dealer, he is allowed to exchange them there for another set of tyres within 14 days. Mounting and balancing are free of charge.

Check the air pressure always with cold tyres, a higher pressure is necessary with heavy load. You find the correct inflation pressures at the fuel filler flap or in the instruction manual. The driver should check in due time, it would be best some days before the holiday trip in order to have still enough time for changing tyres if necessary. Nokian tyres are available on good terms at local tyre dealers, as well with rims.

Nokian Tyres s.r.o
Phone +420 222 507 761
Fax +420 241 940 635
dieter.koppner(at)nokiantyres.com
V Parku 2336/22
148 00 Praha 4
Czech Republic

Photo and video download
https://www.nokiantyres.com/company/news-article/how-to-optimise-your-tyres-increase-safety-and-save-money/

Further information about Nokian summer tyres
https://www.nokiantyres.com/tyres/passenger-car/summer-tyres/

Sources:
„143 215 punctures only in Germany are documented in German automobile association ADAC break-down statistics 2010, a rise of 6.8 per cent”:
http://www.adac.de/infotestrat/unfall-schaeden-und-panne/pannenstatistik/default.aspx

„1359 accidents with bodily injury again only in Germany were caused by tyre equipment in 2010, more than twice more than by brakes with 602 accidents, states the Federal Statistical Office of Germany”:
http://www.destatis.de/

“If the tyre pressure of one front wheel is 1 bar too low the braking distance is extended by ten per cent on wet roads, as the ADAC proved in driving tests. It becomes dangerous in the curve, too. If all tyres have an inflation pressure of 1 bar too low, the lateral grip of the tyres is reduced to nearly half (55 per cent).”:

All other figures: Nokian Tyres Research & Development

Press contact:
Dr. Falk Köhler PR
Dr. Falk Köhler
Phone: +49 40 54 73 12 12
Fax: +49 40 54 73 12 22
E-mail: Dr.Falk.Koehler(at)Dr-Falk-Koehler.de
Ödenweg 59
22397 Hamburg
Germany

Further information:
Nokian Tyres s.r.o
Business Director Central Europe Dieter Köppner, Phone: +420 222 507 761 dieter.koppner(at)nokiantyres.com
Product Development Manager Central Europe Sven Dittmann Dipl.-Ing., Phone: +49 8143 / 444 850, sven.dittmann(at)nokiantyres.com

Nokian Tyres plc
Development Manager Juha Pirhonen, Tel.: +358 10 401 7708
E-Mail: juha.pirhonen(at)nokiantyres.com