Get a grip this world-first winter tyre can automatically deploy studs when it detects freezing road conditions

Date:
Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Description:
Nokian's new tire tech can automatically deploy studs when the mercury drops below freezing for improved traction without the fuss of swapping rubber.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get the TechRadar Newsletter Sign up for
breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter The Hakkapeliitta 01 tire can automatically deploy studs Temperature sensing technology adds grip in freezing conditions The tire tech has been 12 years
in the making Finnish brand Nokian (not to be confused with the Scandi phone company) has just released details of a new tire technology that can automatically sense freezing conditions and deploy metal studs to improve
grip on ice and in snow.

According to the company, the technology that underpins the new Hakkapeliitta 01 tire has been 12 years in the making, progressing its initial research
into a deployment system that required a trigger to something where the
driver doesnt have to lift a finger. The on-demand grip technology is made possible through the brands Adaptive Base Construction, which sees the innermost layer of the tire stiffen in low temperatures to push the studs beyond the tires surface. You may like These are the top 10 hardiest EVs, according to a brutal winter test Honda and Mercedes-Benz declare war on potholes with clever innovations The world's first EV with a sodium-ion battery has just landed in China Nokian Tyres Hakkapeliitta 01: This is how
we did it - YouTube Watch On At higher temperatures, this layer softens and the studs retract, which means owners dont have to change tires between the seasons, or worry about having to fit snow chains when traversing snowy passes. You can see how the company did it in the short video above.
Analysis: Tires are getting smarter (Image credit: Nokian) According to the company, the Hakkapeliitta 01 tire reduces road wear by up to 30 percent compared to its predecessor. Ice grip improves by up to 10 percent and wet grip up to 5 percent, while noise levels are drastically reduced for greater driving comfort.

In addition to the clever stud technology, Nokian has also included an optimized tread pattern for better traction on ice, Aramid sidewalls for impact protection and a rubber compound that consists partly of renewable materials, such as natural rubber, bio resin and bio-based oils, including materials derived from pine resin and canola oil.

Although Nokian hasnt revealed pricing of the tire just yet, it has said that it will go on sale in the Fall of this year (so sometime between September
and November) and will mainly be available in Nordic countries and North America in a wide variety of sizes. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals,
and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The announcement comes at a time when tire technology is generally getting smarter, with Pirelli's 'Cyber Tire', for example, that includes tiny chips embedded into the tread surface so it can analyze its own state of health.

In addition to this, the constant flow of data from the tire to the car can also create a more sensitive ABS, ESP and traction control system, according to Top Gear . Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/get-a-grip-thi s-world-first-winter-tyre-can-automatically-deploy-studs-when-it-detects-freez ing-road-conditions


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