New Nokian WR SUV 3 winter tyre is the test winner in the 2013 winter tyre test of German SUV magazine „OFF ROAD“

"Unbeatable on ice and snow"

Snow claws provide firmest grip on snow

New Nokian WR SUV 3 high performance winter tyre is the test winner in the big SUV winter tyre test 2013 by German SUV magazine "OFF ROAD", with the top rating "highly recommended". Its "strength: The performance on snow and ice is outstanding, on asphalt very convincing." High praise from the leading four-wheel drive, off-road and SUV magazine: "Nokian: Unbeatable on snow and ice" and "very neutral". The Nokian achieved the best scores of all the tyres in the test, in all the test disciplines: "Snow 2+, ice 1-, wet surfaces 2+, dry surfaces 2+. Overall rating: 2+." In the German school grading system, grade 1 stands for “very good”, grade 2 for “good” and 2+ is slightly better than a 2. The Nokian WR SUV "is not only outstanding in all the scores, it is also comparatively low-cost", writes OFF ROAD as "Our conclusion". The magazine tested six size 235/65 R 17 SUV winter tyres on a VW Touareg.

The rugged Nokian WR SUV 3 from Finland is especially tailored for harsh winter conditions and the widely varied usage on SUVs. It feels at home in the changeable European winter and offers excellent winter grip and outstanding handling. Its snow claws cling firmly into the snow.

Excellent handling on snow and slush

The Nokian SUV winter tyre guards against aquaplaning in the wet and on slush, and reliably masters all of the surprises that winter has in store. It rolls lightly and retains its balance on snow, slush, and dry roads alike.
The new symmetric and directional tread pattern of the Nokian WR SUV 3, heavy siping, and the winter silica compound tailored for high-powered SUVs ensure an exceptionally stable driving feel and relentless grip even at high speeds. New innovations like the Snow Claws take grip on snow and ice to a new level; this was a special objective during the tyre's development. The unique tread pattern design and polished transverse grooves help prevent dangerous slush planing and aquaplaning.

The Nokian WR SUV 3, which is designed for demanding SUV use that has continued to increase in Europe over the past few years, represents the core competence of Nokian Tyres from Finland: the world’s leading expertise in winter tyres. The comprehensive selection of 39 products includes rim sizes from 15 inches to 21 inches, covering both smaller and larger SUVs. Most of the tyres in the modern selection are also XL marked, meaning that they have the highest possible load capacity. The new Nokian WR SUV 3 is already available at tyre retailers. The wide market area for the new tyre covers Europe, Russia, and Ukraine.

Unique tread pattern design – outstanding handling, effective slush planing prevention

The symmetrical and directional tread pattern (with a fixed rotation direction) developed for high-performance SUVs both optimises the fantastic handling and ensures safe aquaplaning and slush planing characteristics. The longitudinal centre rib stabilises the irresistible movement of the Nokian WR SUV 3 on all surfaces, especially at high speeds. In addition to the logical and balanced handling, the Nokian WR SUV 3 stops precisely and rolls lightly, saving fuel and preserving the environment.

The Groove Lifts on the tread blocks adjacent to the centre rib and the longitudinal ribs provide additional rigidity for the demanding and varying SUV use. This added support for the symmetrical tread model combines the best features of longitudinally ribbed and arrow-patterned winter tyres. The Groove Lifts on the tread blocks improve handling on dry roads, making it stable and controlled. The Groove Lifts also prevent small rocks from wedging in the grooves.

The 3D Lock Sipes that stretch from shoulder to shoulder improve handling in corners and during evasions. In contrast to a straight sipe, the 3D Lock Sipes also support the tread block when the sipe opens; this is due to the locking mechanism built into the sipe. This technology improves the durability and wear resistance of the tyre, especially under poor road conditions.

Nokian Tyres is known as a pioneer in slush planing tests. The Nokian WR SUV 3 also takes maximum advantage of this know-how. The deep transverse grooves, a strong, arrow-shaped directional tread pattern, and the polished main grooves effectively remove water and slush, thereby preventing dangerous aquaplaning and slush planing.

New Snow Claws innovation – optimal grip on snow

Snow Claws were shaped on the longitudinal and diagonal grooves of the tread blocks to provide much-needed grip on winter roads. They grip the surface relentlessly on soft snow and in soft terrain. The heavy siping on the tread blocks provides grip reserves for a rainy day. The WR SUV 3 responds quickly to steering and is easy to handle on bare and wet roads, but it is also reliable in quick turns and sudden lane changes on an icy road.

The versatile winter characteristics of this new SUV product from the world’s northernmost tyre manufacturer were fine-tuned at the European high-speed test tracks in Papenburg, Germany and Idiada, Spain. The demanding snow and ice handling tests were performed at Nokian Tyres' unique Ivalo Testing Center White Hell, in the extreme conditions of Finnish Lapland.

The sporty Nokian WR SUV 3 has a precise and responsive driving feel under all conditions. Handling remains safe and logical even when operating at the grip limits under extreme conditions. The grip limits are gradual and no sudden loss of road contact occurs. This is made possible by the balanced ratio of the lateral and longitudinal grip, a feature that the drivers of tall and massive SUVs will especially appreciate. This high-performance winter tyre is a maestro on the snow and ice, and has clearly better grip properties than its predecessor, the Nokian WR G2 SUV.

Tailored tread compound maximises grip and durability

The rigid SUV winter silica compound, tailored for varying conditions and high speeds, ensures excellent winter grip and wear resistance at all temperatures. Wet grip is optimised by the high silica content of the tread compound that reliably responds to the rise and fall of the temperature.

The rapeseed oil that is added to the rubber compound emphasises the eco-friendly nature of the Nokian WR SUV 3. The eco-friendly rapeseed oil maximises tear strength, making this new-generation winter product more durable and increasing ice and snow grip under extreme conditions. Relentless development has resulted in the new product having lower rolling resistance, better fuel economy, and lower hazardous emissions than its traditional competitors.

The EU tyre label values for this genuine winter tyre are in the demanding class B for fuel economy and class C for wet grip, varying by tyre size.

New info area adds to winter safety and user comfort

The tread surface is equipped with the Driving Safety Indicator (DSI) that is patented by Nokian Tyres and improves winter safety. The numbers on the centre rib of the tyre indicate the depth of the main grooves in millimetres. The numbers wear out as the tyre wears down. The snowflake symbol of the Winter Safety Indicator (WSI) remains visible to a groove depth of four millimetres. When the symbol wears out, the possibility of slush planing, for example, increases substantially and, therefore, the motorist should purchase new winter tyres to ensure safety.

The location and pressure indicators on the sidewall information area improve safety. The information area allows for recording the correct inflation pressure and installation location during tyre change. Correct tyre pressure makes the car's steering more precise, reduces tyre damage, and saves on fuel costs.

Comfort and safety are improved further by a new section that can be used to record the tightening torque of bolts for alloy rims.

Nokian winter tyres win the 2012 winter tyre tests by the German car magazines “Auto Bild”, “auto motor sport” and “AUTOStraßenverkehr”

Nokian winter tyres are the test winners in the 2012 winter tyre tests conducted by the German car magazines “Auto Bild”, “auto motor sport” and “AUTOStraßenverkehr”, earning top ratings of “exemplary”, “highly recommendable” and “very good”. In more than 20 winter tyre tests carried out by car magazines in Germany and other European countries this winter, Nokian tyres came out on top. The Finnish tyres were awarded the top rating “good” by the German automobile club ADAC and the consumer protection organisation “test Stiftung Warentest”.

“Auto Bild” praises the Nokian WR A3: “Strengths: exemplary handling qualities on snowy, wet and dry surfaces, stable directional control and precise steering response, shortest wet and dry braking distances, low fuel consumption”. The “auto motor sport” assessment for the Nokian WR D3 is: “Outstanding performance on snow, short braking distance on dry surfaces, balanced handling”. Awarding it the “best in the test AUTO” seal of quality, “AUTOStraßenverkehr” praises its “outstanding performance in snow” in its headline.

Nokian is the test winner for the German company car magazine Firmenauto (11/2012) too. “Highly recommended” is also the assessment of the Nokian tyre in the 2012 winter tyre tests carried out by the German car magazine Auto Zeitung, Auto Club Europa ACE, GTÜ, ÖAMTC, TCS and ARBÖ as well as “very good” in the tests conducted by the German car magazines promobil, Firmenauto Transporter and lastauto omnibus Transporter. It also wins the gute fahrt recommendation for “the best tyres” from the German car magazine gute fahrt.

Standard Nokian winter tyres achieved a new Guinness World Record with a top speed of 335.713 km/h on ice with a car and are the fastest.
Nokian tyres are available from local tyre service companies at favourable prices and as complete wheels on rims.

Nokian WR SUV 3 - main innovations:

Tread pattern design. Stable driving feel, effective slush planing prevention. The symmetrical and directional tread model (with a fixed rotation direction) optimises the stable handling and ensures safe aquaplaning and slush planing characteristics. Strong sipes on the tread blocks provide a grip reserve.

Snow Claws. Maximum grip on snow. Snow Claws were shaped on the longitudinal and diagonal grooves of the tread blocks to provide much-needed grip on winter roads. They grip the surface effectively on soft snow and in soft terrain.

Groove Lifts. Controlled, sturdy handling. Groove Lifts on the tread blocks next to the centre rib and longitudinal ribs of the symmetrical tread model improve handling on dry roads, making it stable and controlled. The Groove Lifts also prevent small rocks from wedging in the grooves.

3D Lock Sipe. Better handling, more durability. The 3D Lock Sipes that stretch from shoulder to shoulder improve handling in corners and during evasions. In contrast to a straight sipe, the 3D Lock Sipes also support the tread block when the sipe opens; this is due to the locking mechanism built into the sipe.

Polished grooves. Stylish functionality: slush and water flow easily and efficiently off the slick and polished main grooves, and the lateral grooves open to the sides.

Nokian WR SUV 3 – Ultimate snow and slush performance

• Effectively prevents slush planing and aquaplaning
• Excellent handling on snowy and dry surfaces
• Extreme wet performance

www.nokiantyres.com
Vianor tyre and car-service chain of Nokian Tyres:
http://vianor.com

Nokian winter tyres

Photos Nokian WR SUV 3
www.nokiantyres.com/NokianWRSUV3

Video download testing under extreme conditions: Nokian Tyres Ivalo Testing Center White Hell:
http://youtu.be/f4TSgk_1TQU

Nokian Tyres Fastest on Ice: New Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 sets New World Record 335.713 km/h!
www.nokiantyres.com/Fastest-On-Ice

Photos, videos, downloads Nokian WR winter tyres:
www.nokiantyres.com/NewNokianWR

Video Download Nokian WR winter tyres:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxhC-xT_uLo&feature=relmfu

The world’s first winter tyre in 1934:
https://www.nokiantyres.com/first-winter-tyres

Hakkapeliitta winter tyres:
www.nokiantyres.com/hakkapeliitta75

Story of the Hakkapeliitta winter tyres:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA-YfJDKvwE&feature=share&list=PL1BE04B7BAC224A97

Test winner, Nokian Hakkapeliitta:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkQotSMzSfs&feature=share&list=UUv-VDEjbdBkuZ-eSvYOn0FA

Hakkapeliitta Winter Driving School:
https://www.nokiantyres.com/winter-driving-school

Nokian summer tyres

Nokian Tyres introduces three brand new summer tyres:
https://www.nokiantyres.com/company/news-article/nokian-tyres-introduces-three-brand-new-summer-tyres/

Nokian tyres – test success:
www.nokiantyres.com/test-success

Sources:

OFF ROAD, Issue 10, 2013

Nokian Tyres is the world's leading winter tyre specialist, a multiple test winner, and a premium brand

As the world's leading winter tyre specialist, a multiple test winner, and a premium brand, Nokian Tyres offers the safest tyres for northern conditions. Innovative Nokian tyres from Finland for cars, trucks, and heavy machinery demonstrate their high quality particularly well in snow, tough climates, and demanding driving situations, and deliver sustainable added value. In addition, Nokian produces tyres especially developed for European weather and the higher speeds on European motorways. Nokian tyres deliver excellent safety, save fuel, and are the forerunner of environmental friendliness. The company is number 1 in terms of brand recognition and appreciation in Scandinavia and Russia and has a positive, exceptional image.

Nokian is the developer of the winter tyre

Nokian has been designing, testing, and patenting innovative tyres for more than 75 years and is the inventor of the winter tyre. The world's first winter tyre was developed and manufactured in the midst of icy winds and bitter cold in 1934. Two years later, Nokian Hakkapeliitta, created for harsh northern winters and today one of the best-known winter tyre brands, was born. The world's fastest winter tyre with a top speed of 270 km/h, the Nokian WR, was launched by the Finns in 2002. In 2007, the Nokian WR G2 was introduced, it was rated as "highly recommended" and "good" in tests for its outstanding grip and unique protection against slush planing.

Nokian winter tyres are the test winners in the 2012 winter tyre tests

Its success story continues with the safe and economical Nokian WR D3 for the compact and middle-sized class and small cars, as well as with the safe and sporty WR A3 for large, fast cars: Nokian winter tyres are the test winners in the 2012 winter tyre tests conducted by the German car magazines Auto Bild, auto motor sport and AUTOStraßenverkehr earning top ratings of “exemplary”, “highly recommended” and “very good”. In more than 20 winter tyre tests carried out by car magazines in Germany and other European countries this winter, Nokian tyres came out on top. The Finnish tyres are given the top rating of “good” by the German automobile club ADAC and consumer protection organisation test Stiftung Warentest.
Auto Bild praises the Nokian WR A3: “Strengths: exemplary handling qualities on snowy, wet and dry surfaces, stable directional control and precise steering response, shortest wet and dry braking distances, low fuel consumption”. The “auto motor sport” assessment for the Nokian WR D3 is: “Outstanding performance on snow, short braking distance on dry surfaces, balanced handling”.
Nokian is the test winner for the German company car magazine Firmenauto (11/2012) too. “Highly recommended” is also the assessment of the Nokian tyre in the 2012 winter tyre tests carried out by the German car magazine Auto Zeitung, Auto Club Europa ACE, GTÜ, ÖAMTC, TCS and ARBÖ as well as “very good” in the tests conducted by the German car magazines promobil, Firmenauto Transporter and lastauto omnibus Transporter. It also wins the gute fahrt recommendation for “the best tyres” from the German car magazine gute fahrt.
In the 2011 winter tyre tests Nokian winter tyres were also test winners.
For SUVs there is the new Nokian WR SUV 3 with excellent handling on snow and slush, which is the winner of the big "OFF ROAD" winter tyre test 2013.
Standard Nokian winter tyres achieved a new Guinness World Record with a top speed of 335.713 km/h on ice with a car and are the fastest.

Three brand new Nokian summer tyres from 2013 on

Nokian Tyres introduces three brand new summer tyres from 2013 on. Sporty Ultra High Performance summer tyre Nokian zLine as cool top product provides a precise, excellent and safe driving feel for fast driving. With firm grip, Nokian Line High Performance summer tyre for compact and upper midrange cars drives safely on wet roads under changing European weather conditions. Utilising future technology, Nokian eLine for smaller cars achieves the top AA rating on the EU’s new tyre label for fuel efficiency and wet grip.

Nokian tyre is test winner of the 2013 summer tyre test in German car magazines "Auto Bild" and “auto TEST”

The summer tyres from Nokian are also multiple test winners, offering high levels of safety and saving fuel. The Nokian tyres are test winners in the 2013 summer tyre tests in the German car magazine "Auto Bild" scoring the top rating of "exemplary" and in German car magazine auto TEST with the top rating “auto TEST test winner”, too.
The Nokian Line tyre is test winner of the 2013 summer tyre test in German car magazine Auto Bild, scoring the top rating of "exemplary", and in German car magazine auto TEST with the top rating “auto TEST test winner”, too. The Nokian tyre is awarded the top rating "good" by the German automobile club ADAC and the consumer protection organisation test Stiftung Warentest. The Finnish tyre is runner-up in the test of auto motor sport with the top rating “especially recommended“, in the car magazine Auto with „Very good“ and in Firmenauto with „especially recommended“. A total of 17 very good and good test results were achieved by Nokian tyres in the 2013 summer tyre tests in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
In the 2012 summer tyre tests, Nokian tyres were also test winners in the German car magazine “Auto Bild” and with eight wins Nokian won more tests than any other brand.
In 97 test reports from autumn 2011 to spring 2013, Nokian tyres were test winners 54 times of all and were rated "good" 43 times.

Increased safety through innovations: Winter Safety Indicator with snowflake and Driving Safety Indicator (DSI) with aquaplaning warning

The Nokian Driving Safety Indicator (DSI) with the unique snowflake symbol, the Winter Safety Indicator, on the Nokian WR winter tyre clearly shows the driver the groove depth as a number from 8 to 4 millimetres. The snowflake remains visible down to 4 millimetres. When it disappears, the risk increases and the winter tyres should be replaced. The grooves must be a minimum of 4 millimetres deep in order to prevent slush planing and aquaplaning on winter and summer tyres. The Driving Safety Indicator on the Nokian summer tyres shows the driver the tread depth as a simple figure from 8 to 3. An aquaplaning alert within this warns of the danger of aquaplaning with a drop symbol. It disappears when there are only four millimetres of remaining tread, alerting the driver of the increased risk. No other tyre manufacturer has these innovations.

Nokian Tyres achieved a 1.612 billion euro turnover in 2012

Nokian Tyres achieved a turnover of 1.612 billion euro in 2012 and had over 4,000 employees. In Central Europe, Nokian Tyres operates with own sales companies in ten countries. The company also owns the Vianor tyre and car-service chain that comprises 1121 outlets in 26 countries. The Nokian Tyres stock is listed on the NASDAQ OMX in Helsinki.
www.nokiantyres.com
Vianor tyre and car-service chain of Nokian Tyres:
http://vianor.com

Press contact:
Dr Falk Köhler PR
Dr Falk Köhler
Tel. +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
E-mail: dieter.koppner(at)nokiantyres.com

Product Development Manager Sven Dittmann, Dipl.-Ing., Tel.: +49 8143 444 850
E-Mail: sven.dittmann(at)nokiantyres.com

Marketing Manager Lukáš Líbal, Tel.: +420 222 507 759
E-mail: lukas.libal(at)nokiantyres.com

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

Technical Customer Service Manager Matti Morri, Tel.: +358 10 401 7621
E-Mail: matti.morri(at)nokiantyres.com