Nokian’s Latest UHP Tyre

The newest addition to the Nokian range of summer tyres is the Z G2; a W and Y speed rated uhp tyre, designed for sporty cars and fast driving. It is available in a number of sizes, for wheels from 16″ to 20″ diameter. The Nokian Z G2 has been developed and tested on fast European tracks, as well as on rough-surfaced roads, over several years. Special attention was paid to wet grip and the prevention of aquaplaning. Wear resistance was developed by means of thorough laboratory testing and driving hard durability tests on harsh asphalt surfaces. The tyre is targeted at demanding consumers, and its top-of-the-range performance has been achieved with the help of the latest development and production technology.

“The key innovations that make the Nokian Z G2 unique are the multi-layer surface structure, the nanosilica compound and new surface geometry. These new innovations form the so-called Nokian Cool Zone Concept,” says Product Manager Petri Niemi.
The lowest layer in the multi-layer surface structure is a thin rubber layer that reduces heat emission and rolling resistance. The middle layer’s compound features the latest nanotechnology, where the flexible nanosilica compound provides quicker response to steering movements than traditional rubber compounds, resulting in sensitive and precise contact with the road. Despite its elasticity, the new nanosilica compound strengthens the tyre structure.
The outer layer of the Nokian Z G2 features a new silica compound, Nokian Cool UHP Silica, which ensures excellent wet grip in all temperatures. It also efficiently dampens noise generated when driving on asphalt – the tyre is quiet and pleasant to drive.

In terms of appearance, the Nokian Z G2 has an asymmetric inside-outside tread pattern. The open centre tread design has proven to be the best technical solution, especially in high-speed tyres.
A safety feature is the Driving Safety Indicator (DSI) on the centre rib, which indicates the depth of the main grooves. Nokian recommends that the main grooves should be at least 4 mm deep in order to be able to avoid aquaplaning.

Other new tyres

Also on show at Essen were other new Nokian tyres, including the WR G2 SUV; a high-performance winter tyres for SUVs.
Nokian called on all its considerable Nordic know-how in designing this tyre, which performs immaculately in the wet, the snow and especially in dangerous, slushy conditions. The compound combines silica and canola oil – a plant-based substance – which improves wet grip and reduces rolling resistance.
Combined with a slightly asymmetric tread design, these features make the WR G2 SUV the ideal winter tyre for today’s high-powered SUVs.
For passenger cars, Nokian has introduced the Nokian WR G2, which was developed to meet the needs of Central European consumers. It is a very high-performance winter tyre, and winter experts from Nokian Tyres focused on meeting consumer needs during its development. The aim was to offer drivers a tyre that can handle complex, variable winter weather conditions. Special attention was paid to the tyre’s ability to resist slush planing.
Nokian Tyres tests its products under demanding and extreme conditions, and at the beginning of the 1990s it became the first company in the world to develop unique slush planing tests for winter tyres. During these 15 years the company has gained outstanding understanding and competence regarding slush planing. Efficient testing methods have helped make Nokian WR G2 a unique product; the most important competitor tyres are more than 10 per cent poorer in terms of slush properties. An ultra-modern asymmetrical tread pattern was designed for the Nokian WR G2, which further aids winter performance.
In 2006, about 67 million passenger car winter tyres (M+S designated tyres) were sold on the European car tyre replacement market. Sales of winter tyres are growing rapidly: 12 per cent from 2005 to 2006. Factors influencing the increased demand for winter tyres include a growing desire for safety, a better standard of living (particularly in Eastern Europe), traffic and driving regulations, and varying, unstable weather conditions.