Nokian Renkaat - Company Announcement

80 years since the invention of the winter tyre: The inventor of the world's first winter tyre introduces new Hakkapeliitta winter tyres for SUVs and vans

Nokia, Finland, 2014-01-22 09:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nokian Tyres plc 
Stock Exchange Release  22.1.2014 10:00 

80 years since the invention of the winter tyre: The inventor of the world's
first winter tyre introduces new Hakkapeliitta winter tyres for SUVs and vans 

Nokian Tyres strengthens its winter tyre selection for Northern conditions by
introducing three new products in its Hakkapeliitta winter tyre range which is
intended for the company's core markets. Together with the product launch, the
world's northernmost tyre manufacturer is celebrating the 80th anniversary of
the winter tyre. 

Nokian Tyres developed and manufactured the world's first winter tyre to match
the Northern winter frost in 1934. Kelirengas (“Weather Tyre”), the first
winter tyre, was designed for trucks. Two years later, the engineers at the
tyre factory came up with a new solution for drivers of early passenger cars:
the Snow-Hakkapeliitta, a true innovation that increased safety on slippery
winter roads. Nowadays, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta is one of the best-known
winter tyre brands wherever true winter is experienced. 

New generation of Hakkapeliittas revolutionises winter safety

The studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV, tailor-made for the ever-growing sports
utility vehicle segment, and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta C3 and Nokian
Hakkapeliitta CR3, developed for use on vans and delivery vehicles, continue
the advance of the latest generation of Hakkapeliittas. 

- We are extremely happy about the enthusiasm that consumers have shown our new
generation of Hakkapeliittas, which offers winter safety like never before. Our
success in magazine tests was also astounding. Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 passenger
car tyre has won all but one of the magazine tests in the Nordic countries and
Russia. The new products being introduced now utilise the same state of the art
technology. These new winter products are the most modern in their fields, and
their entire ranges will be available to new user groups during the autumn
season of 2014, says Kim Gran, President and CEO for Nokian Tyres. 

The sporty Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV studded tyre brings grip and durability
like never before to winter roads.  The Nokian Eco Stud 8 concept, first used
in the test-winning Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8, provides grip like never before on
ice and snow. Materials which are also used by the aerospace and defence
industries optimise its durability. The supreme grip and durability provide
maximum peace of mind for drivers who can now completely enjoy the performance
of their SUV. 

The sturdy Nokian Hakkapeliitta C3 studded tyre makes everyday life easier for
heavyweight professionals. This durable studded tyre has supreme mobility in
harsh winter conditions, and in addition to the Hakkapeliitta-like, balanced
winter grip, it also offers stable driving feel to its professional users. 

The new Nokian Hakkapeliitta CR3 Nordic non-studded winter tyre offers
excellent winter grip and driving comfort. This lightly rolling non-studded
tyre saves fuel and uses the Nokian Cryo Crystal concept, which is already
employed in the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 passenger car tyre, to provide a
sizeable increase in winter grip. 

New products will start shipping to retailers at the beginning of the year

In addition to the Nokian Hakkapeliittas, the champions of the world's most
demanding winter weather, Nokian Tyres is also supplementing its Nokian Nordman
family and introducing the durable Nokian Nordman 5 and Nokian Nordman 5 SUV
studded tyres for the B market segment. 

Nokian Tyres is introducing the new Hakkapeliitta products to its most
important interest groups at its own testing centre in Ivalo in the coming
weeks. In addition to the launch in Ivalo, the Nordic countries and Russia will
have their own promotional tours. All of the Hakkapeliitta products are aimed
at the company's core markets in the Nordic countries and Russia. The tyres
will start shipping to retailers in early 2014. 

The exact product information for the new products will be published in early
February. 

Nokian Tyres plc

Antti-Jussi Tähtinen
Vice President, Marketing and Communications

Distribution: NASDAQ OMX, media and www.nokiantyres.com

Further information:
Product Development Manager Juha Pirhonen, tel. +358 10 401 7708
juha.pirhonen@nokiantyres.com