THE NEW NOKIAN HAKKAPELIITTA RSi -THE SAFEST FRICTION TYRE IN THE NORTH

Nokian Tyres' latest winter product is the Nordic friction tyre Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi. An important safety asset in winter driving in the North, the tyre copes easily and securely with demanding and changeable conditions. One of the best features of the new friction tyre in the R speed category (170 km/h) is its excellent winter properties; the stable tyre holds its grip during both braking and accelerating on snowy, slushy, icy or wet roads.

The new friction tyre has been designed for drivers in the Nordic countries, Russia and North America.

Reliable without surprises

The excellent braking and accelerating grip of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi is the fruit of new technical insights. The brake booster system consists of a dense network of tooth-like sipes that significantly increase the tyre's grip surface.

Shoulder sipes play the most crucial role in braking, and their grip surface has been increased by over 40% in comparison with the previous friction tyre. During acceleration the tyre's sturdy central area ensures continuous grip. The proportion of lateral and longitudinal grip has been balanced so that the tyre performs without surprises in sudden situations, and even compensates for the driver's minor steering mistakes. The tyre offers a safe latitude in borderline situations.

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi has been designed to utilise the advanced properties of ABS brakes, traction control and stability programmes available in new cars.

Stable

Thanks to its tyre structure and wedge-shaped sipes, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi offers stable driving. Built on the principle of deep-shallow-deep, the sipe network gives the tyre extreme stability and grip. Driving stability is reinforced by the central area tread pattern being constructed of double blocks and a uniform centre rib. The tyre has a strong arrow-like pattern, which have a predefined direction of rotation.

Accurate

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi has an accurate and neutral driving response and does not oversteer unexpectedly. The straight and broad tread, and the rigid, uniform centre rib reinforce steering feel in bare conditions and improve accuracy. For the driver, safety and stability appear as quietness and a feel of control resulting from the accurate driving response.

Economical and environmentally responsible

The Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi is also economical and environmentally friendly. The new tyre rolls lightly and saves on fuel costs. The rolling resistance of the tyre is better than the rolling resistance of most summer tyres. It also wears evenly and maintains its impeccable grip when worn.

The tread has an entirely new canola oil-silica rubber compound, which gives the tyre excellent winter properties, low rolling resistance and, in the friction tyres group, a good wet grip. The tyre has been manufactured without harmful high-aromatic oils.

Silent

Silence is one of the pleasant properties of friction tyres. The pass-by noise of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi remains clearly below new EU norms.

Neat and nifty

Thanks to the new manufacturing technique, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi is stylish and particularly neat in appearance.

The tread has four Driving Safety Indicators (DSI), which indicate the depth of the main groove in millimetres.

In most sizes (> 14 inch tyres), the mudstopper, familiar from Nokian summer tyres, protects the rim against impurities by preventing dirt and gravel from entering between the rim and the tyre.

The low profile, broad tyres are usually mounted on handsome alloy wheels. All Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSi tyres with an aspect ratio of 55 or less have a rimguard, which prevents damage to the rim when parking too close to the pavement edge, for example.

The extensive size range also includes 17 and 18-inch tyres. Retail of the product will start in the autumn of 2004.

More photos of the product

For further information, please contact: Nokian Tyres plc

Product Development Manager Teppo Huovila, phone +358 3 340 7701
[email protected]

Technical Customer Service Manager Matti Morri,
phone + 358 3 340 7621, [email protected]