- Ultimate snow and slush performance
- Snow Claws provide firmest grip on snow
Nokian Tyres is introducing the rugged, high-performance Nokian WR SUV 3 winter tyre for varied use on sports utility vehicles. The Nokian WR SUV feels at home in the varying European winter conditions, and it has excellent winter grip and driving response. Its Snow Claws cling firmly into the snow. The Nokian SUV winter tyre resists effectively slush planing and aquaplaning and reliably masters all of the surprises that winter has in store. It rolls lightly and retains its balance on snow, slush, and dry roads alike.
The new symmetric and directional tread pattern of the Nokian WR SUV 3, heavy siping, and the winter silica compound tailored for high-powered SUVs ensure an exceptionally stable driving feel and relentless grip even at high speeds. New innovations like the Snow Claws take grip on snow and ice to a new level; this was a special objective during the tyre’s development. The unique tread pattern design and polished transverse grooves help prevent dangerous slush planing and aquaplaning.
The Nokian WR SUV 3, which is designed for demanding SUV use that has continued to increase in Europe over the past few years, represents the core competence of Nokian Tyres from Finland: the world’s leading expertise in winter tyres. The comprehensive selection of 37 products includes rim sizes from 15 inches to 21 inches, covering both smaller and larger SUVs. Most of the tyres in the modern selection are also XL marked, meaning that they have the highest possible load capacity. The new Nokian WR SUV 3 will be available at tyre retailers in the autumn of 2013. The wide market area for the new tyre covers Europe, Russia, and Ukraine.
Unique tread pattern design – excellent handling, effective slush planing prevention
The symmetrical and directional tread pattern (with a fixed rotation direction) developed for high-performance SUVs both optimises the fantastic handling and ensures safe aquaplaning and slush planing characteristics. The longitudinal centre rib stabilises the irresistible movement of the Nokian WR SUV 3 on all surfaces, especially at high speeds. In addition to the logical and balanced handling, the Nokian WR SUV 3 stops precisely and rolls lightly, saving fuel and preserving the environment.
The Groove Lifts on the tread blocks adjacent to the centre rib and the longitudinal ribs provide additional rigidity for the demanding and varying SUV use. This added support for the symmetrical tread model combines the best features of longitudinally ribbed and arrow-patterned winter tyres. The Groove Lifts on the tread blocks improve handling on dry roads, making it stable and controlled. The Groove Lifts also prevent small rocks from wedging in the grooves.
The 3D Lock Sipes that stretch from shoulder to shoulder improve handling in corners and during evasions. In contrast to a straight sipe, the 3D Lock Sipes also support the tread block when the sipe opens; this is due to the locking mechanism built into the sipe. This technology improves the durability and wear resistance of the tyre, especially under poor road conditions.
Nokian Tyres is known as a pioneer in slush planing tests. The Nokian WR SUV 3 also takes maximum advantage of this know-how. The deep transverse grooves, a strong, arrow-shaped directional tread pattern, and the polished main grooves effectively remove water and slush, thereby preventing dangerous aquaplaning and slush planing.
New Snow Claws innovation – optimal grip on snow
Snow Claws were shaped on the longitudinal and diagonal grooves of the tread blocks to provide much-needed grip on winter roads. They grip the surface relentlessly on soft snow and in soft terrain. The heavy siping on the tread blocks provides grip reserves for a rainy day.
The WR SUV 3 responds quickly to steering and is easy to handle on bare and wet roads, but it is also reliable in quick turns and sudden lane changes on an icy road.
The versatile winter characteristics of this new SUV product from the world’s northernmost tyre manufacturer were fine-tuned at the European high-speed test tracks in Papenburg, Germany and Idiada, Spain. The demanding snow and ice handling tests were performed at Nokian Tyres’ unique Ivalo Testing Center White Hell, in the extreme conditions of Finnish Lapland.
The sporty Nokian WR SUV 3 has a precise and responsive driving feel under all conditions. Handling remains safe and logical even when operating at the grip limits under extreme conditions. The grip limits are gradual and no sudden loss of road contact occurs. This is made possible by the balanced ratio of the lateral and longitudinal grip, a feature that the drivers of tall and massive SUVs will especially appreciate. This high-performance winter tyre is a maestro on the snow and ice, and has clearly better grip properties than its predecessor, the Nokian WR G2 SUV.
Tailored tread compound maximises grip and durability
The rigid SUV winter silica compound, tailored for varying conditions and high speeds, ensures excellent winter grip and wear resistance at all temperatures. Wet grip is optimised by the high silica content of the tread compound that reliably responds to the rise and fall of the temperature.
The rapeseed oil that is added to the rubber compound emphasises the eco-friendly nature of the Nokian WR SUV 3. The eco-friendly rapeseed oil maximises tear strength, making this new-generation winter product more durable and increasing ice and snow grip under extreme conditions. Relentless development has resulted in the new product having lower rolling resistance, better fuel economy, and lower hazardous emissions than its traditional competitors.
The EU tyre label values for this genuine winter tyre are in the demanding class B for fuel economy and class C for wet grip, varying by tyre size.
New info area adds to winter safety and user comfort
The tread surface is equipped with the Driving Safety Indicator (DSI) that is patented by Nokian Tyres and improves winter safety. The numbers on the centre rib of the tyre indicate the depth of the main grooves in millimetres. The numbers wear out as the tyre wears down. The snowflake symbol of the Winter Safety Indicator (WSI) remains visible to a groove depth of four millimetres. When the symbol wears out, the possibility of slush planing, for example, increases substantially and, therefore, the motorist should purchase new winter tyres to ensure safety.
The location and pressure indicators on the sidewall information area improve safety. The information area allows for recording the correct inflation pressure and installation location during tyre change. Correct tyre pressure makes the car’s steering more precise, reduces tyre damage, and saves on fuel costs.
Comfort and safety are improved further by a new section that can be used to record the tightening torque of bolts for alloy rims.
Nokian winter tyres win the 2012 winter tyre tests by the German car magazines “Auto Bild”, “auto motor sport” and “AUTOStraßenverkehr”
Nokian winter tyres are the test winners in the 2012 winter tyre tests conducted by the German car magazines “Auto Bild”, “auto motor sport” and “AUTOStraßenverkehr”, earning top ratings of “exemplary”, “highly recommendable” and “very good”. In more than 20 winter tyre tests carried out by car magazines in Germany and other European countries this winter, Nokian tyres came out on top. The Finnish tyres were awarded the top rating “good” by the German automobile club ADAC and the consumer protection organisation “test Stiftung Warentest”.
“Auto Bild” praises the Nokian WR A3: “Strengths: exemplary handling qualities on snowy, wet and dry surfaces, stable directional control and precise steering response, shortest wet and dry braking distances, low fuel consumption”. The “auto motor sport” assessment for the Nokian WR D3 is: “Outstanding performance on snow, short braking distance on dry surfaces, balanced handling”. Awarding it the “best in the test AUTO” seal of quality, “AUTOStraßenverkehr” praises its “outstanding performance in snow” in its headline.
Nokian is the test winner for the German company car magazine Firmenauto (11/2012) too. “Highly recommended” is also the assessment of the Nokian tyre in the 2012 winter tyre tests carried out by the German car magazine Auto Zeitung, Auto Club Europa ACE, GTÜ, ÖAMTC, TCS and ARBÖ as well as “very good” in the tests conducted by the German car magazines promobil, Firmenauto Transporter and lastauto omnibus Transporter. It also wins the gute fahrt recommendation for “the best tyres” from the German car magazine gute fahrt.
Standard Nokian winter tyres achieved a new Guinness World Record with a top speed of 335.713 km/h on ice with a car and are the fastest.
Nokian tyres are available from local tyre service companies at favourable prices and as complete wheels on rims.
Nokian WR SUV 3 – main innovations:
Tread pattern design. Stable driving feel, effective slush planing prevention. The symmetrical and directional tread model (with a fixed rotation direction) optimises the stable handling and ensures safe aquaplaning and slush planing characteristics. Strong sipes on the tread blocks provide a grip reserve.
Snow Claws. Maximum grip on snow. Snow Claws were shaped on the longitudinal and diagonal grooves of the tread blocks to provide much-needed grip on winter roads. They grip the surface effectively on soft snow and in soft terrain.
Groove Lifts. Controlled, sturdy handling. Groove Lifts on the tread blocks next to the centre rib and longitudinal ribs of the symmetrical tread model improve handling on dry roads, making it stable and controlled. The Groove Lifts also prevent small rocks from wedging in the grooves.
3D Lock Sipe. Better handling, more durability. The 3D Lock Sipes that stretch from shoulder to shoulder improve handling in corners and during evasions. In contrast to a straight sipe, the 3D Lock Sipes also support the tread block when the sipe opens; this is due to the locking mechanism built into the sipe.
Polished grooves. Stylish functionality: slush and water flow easily and efficiently off the slick and polished main grooves, and the lateral grooves open to the sides.
Nokian WR SUV 3 – Ultimate snow and slush performance
- Effectively prevents slush planing and aquaplaning
- Excellent handling on snowy and dry surfaces
- Extreme wet performance
