Nordic Tyres (UK) imports Nokian passenger car winter rubber

Nokian Tyres styles itself as “the only tyre manufacturer in the world that focuses on products and services that facilitate safe transportation in Nordic conditions”, and its 2011 range reflects the company's expertise in the area, developed in variable Central European conditions. The manufacturer says its WR D3 and WR A3 tyres are “designed for different vehicles and drivers but for any winter weather”. The company calls its tyres “environmentally friendly premium products” that feature nanotechnology and canola oil, which helps to improve their reliability in the winter conditions of Central Europe. Nordic Tyres (UK) usually imports Nokian Industrial, Forestry and Agriculture, though increased demand in the last UK winter led to its decision to stock passenger car winter patterns. The UK distributor says it suggests “early contact… in order to meet expected demand before winter really bites”.

The world’s northernmost tyre manufacturer tests its products under demanding and extreme conditions at its own test facilities in Ivalo, 300km north of the Arctic Circle. At the beginning of the 1990s Nokian Tyres became the first company to develop unique slush-planing tests for winter tyres. In 2002, it introduced the Nokian WR, which was the first winter tyre designed for fast driving (M + S) in the world. This was followed in 2007 by the Nokian WR G2 that has been praised in test reports for its exemplary grip and special ability to prevent slush-planing.

Nokian developed the world’s first winter tyre in 1934 for the freezing Northern European winter conditions and has been developing, testing and patenting solutions for those conditions ever since. It says that now extreme weather-related phenomena have become increasingly common, and this has opened drivers’ eyes to appreciating the safety of high-quality winter tyres. Central Europe in particular has experienced varying types of weather last winter, from pouring rain to heavy snowfall. In response to this, the long-term product development work on the new winter tyre family has been focused on achieving better grip in all conditions and an accurate, comfortable driving response.