Nokian Tyres unveils temperature-responsive studded tire after decade of development

Finnish tire manufacturer Nokian Tyres has introduced a new studded winter tire that adjusts its grip based on temperature, a breakthrough the company has spent over ten years developing, Yle reports.

The innovation lies in a special rubber compound that hardens in cold conditions and softens as the tire warms. On ice and snow, the studs extend to improve traction, while on dry surfaces, they retract to reduce road wear. The design responds to stricter regulations on studded tire damage to roads, set to take effect next year.

“We’re incredibly proud of what the team has achieved,” said Mikko Liukkula, head of development at Nokian Tyres. He compared the mechanism to a cat’s claws, which extend and retract as needed. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) has already granted type approval for the new tire, alongside 11 other manufacturers’ models meeting the updated standards.

Development involved extensive testing, with material research chief Noora Kemppainen demonstrating how samples behaved differently at varying temperatures. Early attempts failed—some compounds shattered when frozen—but the team eventually discovered an “adaptive base” compound that could flexibly respond to conditions.

Production of the new Hakkapeliitta 01 tires is now underway at Nokian Tyres’ factory in Nokia, Finland, with retail availability expected this autumn. The plant, which employs around 800 workers locally and 1,700 nationwide, has historically been a major taxpayer in the town. The company has rebounded from losses tied to its exit from Russia, where it previously manufactured a significant share of its tires, and is expanding with a new factory in Romania.