Popular Science award for Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9

Every year for the past three decades, Popular Science has reviewed the latest innovations and recognised the pick of the bunch in its Best of What’s New awards. In 2017, the world’s largest science and technology magazine has selected the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 as an awardee. The studded tyre is one of 100 winners honoured in 11 categories.

“The Best of What’s New awards honour the innovations that shape the future,” says Joe Brown, editor-in-chief, Popular Science. “From life-saving technology to incredible space engineering to gadgets that are just breath-takingly cool, this is the best of what’s new.”

Commenting on its tyre’s receipt of an award in the Automotive category, Nokian Tyres opines that the Hakkapeliitta 9 showcases the company’s “leadership in developing the most advanced winter tyre yet.” It adds that the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 was developed “after countless miles of testing over a four-year period, and was fine-tuned to provide industry-leading safety, comfort and performance in even the most extreme winter conditions.”

Explaining the tyre’s innovative features, Nokian Tyres shares that the Hakkapeliitta 9 features an adaptive new stud technology to ensure the vehicle behaves safely and logically in severe weather. It also has a new tread pattern offering stable bare-road handling, comfortable silent riding and improved fuel economy.

“This tyre is the result of years of product development, testing and hard work by over one hundred professionals,” says Juha Pirhonen, vice-president of R&D, Nokian Tyres. “Our mission is to promote safe driving in demanding conditions and we are honoured that the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 has received the Popular Science Best of What’s New Award.”

Nokian Tyres adds that the Hakkapeliitta 9 also features a new type of eco-friendly winter tread compound that provides “impressive winter grip and durability.” The new compound contains silica, canola oil for improved tear resistance, natural rubber and the new Green Elasto Proof biomaterial that keeps the compound elastic at low temperatures. The strong and durable chemical bonds allow the tread compound to offer the best possible grip year after year, even as the miles add up.

The Hakkapeliitta 9 and other winners will be featured in the November/December issue of Popular Science.