Nokian Tyres, Arctic Trucks develop Hakkapeliitta 44

Arctic Trucks, the Icelandic company that helped the Top Gear team drive to the North Pole in a Toyota Hilux ten years ago, has teamed up with Nokian Tyres to produce a new tyre for extreme winter conditions, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 44. Production of the size LT475/70 R17 tyre will begin in the next few months, and it will be exclusively available through Arctic Trucks.

The Hakkapeliitta 44 is especially tailored for Arctic Trucks’ special expedition vehicles, and Nokian tyres says it excels in grip and durability. The tyre weighs approximately 70 kilogrammes and is over one metre in diameter. “Despite its robust size, the tyre moves through deep snow with ease,” comments Nokian Tyres. Kalle Kaivonen, R&D manager at Nokian Heavy Tyres, adds that the middle section of the tyre’s tread pattern features “very sharp V-shaped angles that are optimised for cleaning the grooves from snow and slush. The width of the tread as well as the tyre’s maximal airspace both guarantee that the tyre moves efficiently even on a soft surface.” Kaivonen exclaims that snow “poses no challenge” to the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 44.

The tyre’s enforced shoulder blocks are designed to balance handling in sudden situations, and the centre rib to ensure a precise feel of the road. According to the manufacturer, its ‘Polar Expedition’ tread compound “combines first class winter grip with durability excelling in extreme cold weather.” The Nokian Hakkapeliitta 44 can be studded (there are 172 stud holes on the tyre), however it is primarily intended for studless use.

“Nokian Hakkapeliitta 44 is the tyre we have been waiting for,” comments Herjolfur Gudbjartsson, managing director at Arctic Trucks. “Arctic Trucks offers a wide range of solutions and products for 4×4 vehicles, and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 44 enables us to continue to make excellent expedition vehicles. Our vehicles are used in the harshest environments of the world: among glaciers, Antarctica and northern part of Eurasia. The cooperation with Nokian Tyres has resulted in excellent outcome and we have high expectations for this new tyre.”

Arctic Trucks has modified 4×4 and SUV vehicles since 1990. The tyre maker and the vehicle conversion specialist have long collaborated on a commercial level, and worked together to produce the Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT2 AT35, a winter tyre for large 4×4 vehicles that came to market in 2014.