The hot season of "re-shoes" of cars for the summer season of 2015 has already practically begun and the Finnish company Nokian has timely pleased its regular customers with two new models of summer tires. True, both new items are intended for crossovers and SUVs, and for the time being, car owners will have to be content with only the best models of last year, which we will also talk about.
But let's start all the same with new products. The first on this list are tires Nokian Hakka Blue SUVavailable for wheels with a diameter of 15 to 18 inches.
This novelty, announced back in winter, received a high-tech rubber compound with the addition of polymer fillers and aramid fibers, which significantly increases the service life of the tires. Unlike the passenger car that hit the market last year, the Hakka Blue SUV has reinforced sidewalls and a modified tread for better wet traction. The tread pattern of the Hakka Blue SUV has an asymmetrical profile with four longitudinal drainage channels, which, together with three rigid ribs, form a central zone that guarantees maximum contact patch area. The shoulder zones are equipped with rectangular blocks, from the outside, smoothly turning into lugs, creating the necessary rowing power on light off-road conditions. It should be added that the drainage grooves of the Nokian Hakka Blue SUV tires received a special scattering shape of the walls, which allows to reduce the level of acoustic noise when driving on small irregularities, and a new rubber compound with a more elastic top layer guarantees a shorter braking distance even on wet asphalt.
The second novelty of the summer season 2015 - tires Nokian Rotiiva A / T Plus, which are an improved version of last year's model.
Unlike the above-described novelty, Rotiiva A / T Plus tires are focused on crossovers and SUVs that are actively used outside the city. In addition, this rubber is perfect for all-wheel drive station wagons. As part of the modernization, the Rotiiva A / T Plus tires have a more durable rubber compound with an increased content of silicon-containing components and the addition of aramid fibers in the sidewall area. In addition, the tread height of these tires has grown by 2 mm, which, as before, has an aggressive pattern with multifaceted blocks that have received sharp corners and gripping edges. It is also worth noting that the tread of the Nokian Rotiiva A / T Plus tires is equipped with Stone Ejector technology, which prevents stones from getting stuck in the drainage channels. In turn, the drainage channels received a polished surface, which facilitates faster removal of water and dirt from the contact patch. In general, the Rotiiva A / T Plus tires are quite balanced and do an excellent job both in the city and off-road, including on sandy surfaces.
Now let's talk about the two top models designed for passenger cars.
For connoisseurs of sports cars and just cars with a sporty character, the Finns offer tires Nokian zLine.
This model is available in more than 30 sizes for rims from 16 to 21 inches. The zLine tires are based on a special elastic rubber compound that provides optimal grip on the road, and a thoughtful asymmetric tread pattern, the main task of which is to provide the required contact patch both when driving in a straight line and during various maneuvers. In addition, taking into account the specifics of operation, zLine tires received reinforced sidewalls that prevent tire deformation during sharp turns at high speed, which allows maintaining the stability of the car and steering precision. The drainage system of the Nokian zLine tires is focused on the rapid removal of water from the contact patch zone, for which it received drainage channels of a special deepened shape with a polished surface of the walls. The same technology contributes to a noticeable reduction in acoustic noise, making zLine tires one of the quietest in their class on the Russian market.
We conclude our review with summer tires for mid-size passenger cars and business class cars. It's about the model Nokian Hakka Blackavailable in 28 sizes for 16 - 20-inch rims.
Like its predecessors, Hakka Black tires boast a high-tech rubber compound that guarantees good traction and long life. Hakka Black received a multi-layer tread with an asymmetric directional pattern, which has three differently structured central ribs and two shoulder zones with different types of blocks. The drainage system of the Nokian Hakka Black tires is equipped with four longitudinal channels with a polished surface, as well as a large number of side channels with additional elliptical slots, which increase the performance of the drainage system. Note that Hakka Black tires are highly resistant to aquaplaning even when driving at high speeds, have low rolling resistance, demonstrate good acoustic comfort and provide reliable braking even on wet road surfaces.
