Nokian Tyres launches retractable‑stud winter tire with strong pre‑orders in Europe and North America

Nokian Tyres introduced a new winter tyre, the Hakkapeliitta 01, that automatically exposes studs when temperatures drop and retracts them when the road warms. The innovation relies on a rubber compound that stiffens in the cold, pushing the studs out, and softens in milder conditions, pulling them back in.

CEO Paolo Pompei told Talousaamu that pre‑orders are "very strong" across Europe and North America, adding that the product gives drivers who have hesitated about studded tyres a reliable option when a friction tyre may not suffice. He also noted that many authorities are concerned about road wear, and the new tyre "significantly reduces" that wear. The tyre is being pursued for approval in North‑American cities where traditional studded tyres are banned. Its price is expected to be about five percent higher than existing premium models, which Pompei described as "still very reasonable for our customers".