subject: Prepare For Winter With Nokian [print this page] Variable and demanding winter conditions are becoming more and more common in European countries, creating surprising situations all over the continent. You should be prepared for the winter, no matter where in Europe you are driving. By being prepared you can ensure traffic safety and flow, also in the wintertime.
Wintery and variable conditions require a lot from the Nokian winter tyres (in Norwegian: vinterdekk). The regulations regarding heavy vehicles winter tyres vary greatly from one European country to another. You are always required to follow the statutory regulations of each country, but you should also keep in mind that they are only the minimum requirements. You should always select the right Nokian tyres according to the conditions and intended usage, even if there are no regulations.
Nokian Winter tyres with an excellent grip in winter conditions are absolutely necessary to ensure traffic flow and safety as well as the efficiency of transportation. Therefore, you should pay attention to the properties of the tyre when selecting winter tyres to ensure the maximal safety and efficiency on wintery roads.
The Nokian winter grip of a tyre (in Norwegian: dekk) is created by the tread pattern and rubber compound. The openness of the pattern affects how well the tyre cleans itself of the snow. A high level of siping creates extra edges that grip the road and increase traction. The rubber compound especially affects the grip on icy surfaces. As the tyre wears down, both the sipes and the openness of the pattern (land/sea ratio) reduce, which causes the edges to disappear and the cleaning ability of the tyre to weaken. In the course of time, the tread rubber compound becomes harder, which also reduces the tyre's grip.
FAQ Teppo Siltanen, the Product Development Manager from Nokian Tyres answers
How should I prepare for the winter?
You should of course be prepared, so that the winter conditions don't catch you off-guard. What this means is that you should replace worn tyres with new ones early enough.
Which properties should be emphasized when selecting Nokian winter tyres and why?
The Nokian winter tyres have to be selected according to the usage. If you only drive on main roads, it's usually sufficient to use so-called All-Season tyres. But if you often drive on smaller roads, it's recommended to use actual winter tyres. It's also important to check that all tyres have the M+S (mud and snow) marking.
What should be taken into consideration when selecting Nokian, steer axle tyres, drive axles tyres or trailer tyres?
In winter conditions, the tyres should have tread models with an open pattern. Free-rolling tyres need to have sufficiently wide grooves and drive axle tyres a clear block pattern. Sipes also increase the grip.
You should also pay attention to your trailers tyres. The most important axles in regard to the behavior of a trailer are the last axle and the dolly's second axle. The tyres used on these axles affect the trailer's stability the most, especially on slippery roads.
Does the M+S marking (mud and snow) guarantee that the tyre is safe in winter conditions?
The M+S marking does not guarantee that the tyre is safe on wintery roads because there is no rule defining the M+S marking. Reliable tyre manufacturers, however, are very strict with the marking. Nokian Tyres' M+S marking is based on tested data, which means that the tyre's grip has to be better than that of similar tyres in the market on average.
When is it time to replace worn tyres with new ones?
As a general rule it could be said that when you're preparing for the winter in the fall, the tread should have at least 2/3 of the groove depth left. This means that the tyre still has a sufficient tread and edges to provide a good grip.
