Nokian Tyres plc is updating its all-weather product line with the Nokian WR G4, a tire that promises reliable winter grip in snow and slush and year-round performance in heavy rain or hot, dry pavement. The WR G4 features a new all weather dual performance compound, which Nokian says features longer lasting tread life. The jagged 3D sipes on the center rib look like the legs of a centipede, and the company says they grip the surface to maximize biting edges while maintaining handling.
The tire is available in sizes for 14-inch to 19-inch wheels, and speed ratings from H to V.
The WR G4 is designed to steer precisely, like an all-season tire on dry or wet roads. In the winter, the tire provides predictable grip and the 3D locking sipes improve lateral stiffness.
“The sturdy and stiff outer shoulder of the tire ensures stable and controlled handling at higher speeds,” says Olli Seppälä, product development manager for Nokian. “You can always rely on it to bring you home safely.
“The rib also has hinges at the ends of the blocks, which reduces block movement. This lowers rolling resistance, which in turn improves fuel efficiency and wear resistance.”
The inner shoulder’s fan-like rib pattern with functional tread blocks and blade grooves move rain, snow and slush away from the contact surface. The sipes, staggered at different angles, provide longitudinal grip and acceleration grip on snow and the wide longitudinal grooves offer lateral grip. The winter grip is further improved by the block pattern that is shaped on the inner shoulder side of the center rib. It is partially equipped with hinges and sipes and the small, heavily siped tread blocks are grooved so that every other sipe is attached on the left and every other on the right. The edges of the longitudinal grooves on the Nokian WR G4, also have snow claws which the company says improve longitudinal grip especially on snow. The tread blocks are also supported by strong groove lifts, which increase stiffness and improve handling.
The tire comes equipped with new Coanda Technology which combats the risk off hydroplaning. The curved, ramp-like design of the tread blocks on the inner and outer shoulder guides and accelerates the flow of water from the longitudinal grooves into the transverse grooves. Nokian says these hydroplaning prevention properties are retained even as the tire wears.
The Nokian WR G4 features silent sidewall technology, which includes a tailored special rubber compound between the sidewall and tread which actively filters the sound and vibration originating from the driving surface, preventing the passage of sound waves through the sidewall into the rim and further into the passenger compartment. A special clinch rubber compound was also developed for the Nokian WR G4’s bead area near the tire which minimizes interior noise in the vehicle by damping the vibrations from the tire body.
