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Nokian Tyres has announced the development of a winter tire with retractable studs. If you’re driving and suddenly see a patch of snowy road, just press a button and the studs come out. Then you can retract them again once you’re clear. An incredibly good idea which will save both lives and reduce the tear on roads.

Full press release below



Unique stud technology brings the studs out when they are needed

Nokian Tyres presents 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 gives a hint of the things to come in the future. With a press of a button, the driver can bring out the studs to improve the grip of the tyre. 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 new concept tyre is an amazing technological feat. The unique stud concept may indeed become a reality one day. As the pioneers of the winter tyre world, we show that it is possible to combine a studded and non-studded winter tyre, says Matti Morri, Technical Customer Service Manager for Nokian Tyres.

Nokian Tyres developed and manufactured the world’s first winter tyre to match the Northern frost in 1934. Two years later, the engineers at the tyre factory came up with an improved solution for passenger car drivers struggling with the slippery winter roads, and they called it the Snow-Hakkapeliitta. Nowadays, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta is one of the world’s best-known winter tyre brands.