Just like how James Bond was able to drive recklessly on ice thanks to his Aston Martin tyres with the studs for added grip, we can now very well get our hands on similar technology – if we choose to drive on ice that is. Nokian Tyres has just launched the world’s first non-studded winter tyre with studs in connection with the 80th anniversary of the winter tyre. With this revolutionary concept tyre and its unique stud technology the inventor of the winter tyre will make driving in icy conditions more tolerable. With the press of a button, the driver can bring out the studs from the inside walls of the tyres to improve the grip – and when the studs are not needed, they can be retracted back into the tyre. The idea of the combined non-studded and studded tyre is that the driver can make the switch when the conditions clearly change. Studs are not used on dry roads and stable winter conditions, but they can be activated in icy weather for extreme safety. The concept tyre of the world’s leading winter tyre specialist utilises the tread pattern and structural solutions of the newly introduced Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV studded winter tyre. The studs on all four tyres raise and lower at the same time. The body of the stud remains in place, and the moving part is the hard metal pin in the middle of the stud. This is quite an impressive launch of new tech that is being made available to the public, and it can certainly improve drive handling and control.
