Nokian's Winter Tire Testing Center Turns 40

Nokian Tyres is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Ivalo Test Center, which Nokian calls the largest "winter tire testing environment in the world."

Frigid winter conditions enable Nokian Tyres to operate in Ivalo for approximately 180 days each year, according to Nokian officials.

The company tests 5,000 passenger and other tires at the facility, which is located 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle and spans 1,700 acres, on an annual basis.

"The Ivalo Test Center is at the core of our expertise – the place where our practical knowledge of extreme winter conditions originates and evolves,” says Nokian President and CEO Paolo Pompei.

Tires tested at the center are sold in a variety of markets, including North America.