Nokian Tyres’ Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT2 light truck/SUV winter tire combines grip and durability for on the road and at the work site.
The tire will initially cover 12 models with tire sizes from 16- to 18-inch.
This heavyweight tire’s construction has been optimized for the large wheel loads of SUVs, pickup-type light trucks and vans alike. In addition, it accommodates the requirements of heavy axle loads. The tailored steel belt package is reinforced in the shoulder area, and it has over 60% more steel than normal passenger car tires, the company says.
Its tread compound is tear- and cut-resistant and abrasion protection on the sidewalls increase the tire’s reliability. Stable handling and grip comes from an aggressive tread pattern in the center area.
”The accentuated siping of the optimized tread pattern improves grip on snow. The wide grooving actively removes water and slush from between the tire and the road surface,” says product development manager Juha Pirhonen.
The massive and long tread blocks, which extend to the side from the center area, improve handling and stability on bare roads. The large number of tread blocks with sharp edges also improves the snow grip of the tire. The sipe activators on the tread guarantee safe driving under rapidly changing conditions.
The Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT2 winter tire employs the same innovations and technical solutions as the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 passenger car tire. The integration of oriented steel studs and the droplet-shaped ”Air Claw Technology” air shock absorbers on the front edges of the tread blocks provide winter grip and soft road contact. The air cushion technology also reduces road wear and tire noise, and improves stud durability.
Eight rows of studs in the shoulder areas contribute to the firm longitudinal and lateral grip. The studs have several edges for maximizing the area of contact, in turn improving the grip of the studs on slippery surfaces.
For added safety and better visibility, the tire has the Driving Safety Indicator (DSI) and the snowflake symbol (WSI) located side by side. The Driving Safety Indicator is standard equipment on all Nokian tires. The percentages on the center surface of the tire present in plain terms how much of the main groove depth remains on the tread. The numbers wear out as the tire wears down.
The snowflake symbol (WSI) also indicates the tire’s viability in terms of winter safety. The symbol remains visible until 40% of the groove depth is left. Once the snowflake has worn out, the motorist should purchase new winter tires to ensure sufficient safety.
