Nokian premieres ‘AA’ rated summer range

Nokian Tyres claims membership in the exclusive ‘AA’ label club with the introduction of its new eLine summer tyre range. Sales of the eLine, a product suitable for smaller cars, will begin in spring 2013.

Upon announcing the line-up’s impending release, Nokian noted that the eLine, like all modern car tyres, contains high-end technology and over a hundred different raw materials. Describing the eLine’s development, product development manager Juha Pirhonen said “we took an entirely new approach to the development of the next-generation tyre. We noticed that rolling resistance and wet grip are not mutually exclusive. It is possible to maximise both properties at the same time, without damaging the balanced entity of the tyre. This has required entirely new structural decisions, changes in tread geometry, and applying modern rubber compound technology.”

So what qualifies the eLine for an A rating for rolling resistance and wet grip? Nokian says several technical solutions set the eLine apart from regular summer tyres. In the area of wet grip performance, the tyre maker shares that the eLine’s moment of inertia has been significantly reduced, which makes the tyre quick to respond to steering movements. Much like a rotating gyroscope resists toppling over; the moment of inertia tries to resist steering. The Nokian eLine is described as being “easy and quick to handle, even in surprising and extreme situations.” The arched tread surface and belt structure of the Nokian eLine are also said to work together “seamlessly” to produce a stable driving feel. By minimising acceleration slip at the road contact point, wet grip can be improved, reducing braking distance on rain-slick roads.

As for minimising rolling resistance, Nokian says the traditional grooves on the eLine’s outer shoulder have been replaced by sipes. The shape of the pattern blocks also differs from the norm. The pattern block was shortened longitudinally and enlarged laterally. This divides the eLine’s load across a larger area, making deformations during driving, or rolling resistance, as small as possible. The cross-section is straighter than on traditional tyre models, which reduces rolling resistance further.

“Reduced heat generation adds to both the structural integrity and the wear resistance of the tread pattern. As we have succeeded in improving the structural integrity, we have also been able to find the best possible solution in terms of rolling resistance,” Pirhonen explained.