The Snow Tyre Bulletin # 2
Paul February 2nd, 2006
This is the second of a series of bulletins to be issued by snowtyres.com.au to communicate issues and safety information to vehicle operators involved in the snow and alpine areas of Australia. These new information bulletins are being mailed on a regular basis to users of snow tyres and to our industry friends and colleagues. We welcome your feedback and we would be pleased to receive any information or testimonials on your experience with snow tyres that we could share with others receiving the bulletins.
CONTENTS
- Background
- Nokian product range
- Winter tyre test conducted in New Zealand using VW Touareg V8 AWD
- Winter tyre performance reduces with tread wear
- Breaking-in new winter tyres
Background
Since 1985 the Camberwell store of Roof Carrier Systems Pty Ltd has become well known as a supplier of quality roof carrier systems and RUD snow chains. During the 2004 ski season Roof Carrier Systems expanded the business to include Nokian snow tyres from Finland. Because safety is a paramount consideration for many operators Nokian snow tyres are now being used on vehicles based at Mt Buller, Falls Creek, Mt Hotham, Mansfield and Bright in Victoria and at Thredbo, Perisher and Jindabyne in NSW.
There are images of many of these vehicles on our gallery page.
For further information of how you can improve the safety and the effective operations of your fleet vehicles with Nokian snow tyres please contact Richard Townley at Roof Carrier Systems Pty Ltd on 03 9822 9539 or 0418 324 052. We can discuss your requirements for snow tyres for the 2006 snow season and provide you with details of pricing and availability.
Nokian product range
The Nokian range includes snow tyres for cars, 4WDs, AWDs as well as buses, vans and light trucks. There are five different tread patterns, all with different load and different speed ratings.
- Nokian WR the severe service winter tyre for cars & compact AWDs that can be used all year
- Nokian RSi severe service winter tyre for cars and compact AWDs
- Nokian WR SUV the severe service winter AWD tyre that can be used all year
- Nokian Hakka SUV severe service winter tyre for 4WDs
- Nokian Hakka LT severe service winter tyre for light trucks and buses
- Nokian Hakka CS severe service winter tyre for light commercial vehicles and mini buses
All Nokian snow tyre specifications are on our web site www.snowtyres.com.au
Always remember that no matter how many safety features your vehicle has it is the tyres that determines how it drives and handles on snow and ice.
Winter tyre test conducted in New Zealand using VW Touareg V8 AWD
Tyre size 255/55R18 comparison with Nokian WR SUV winter tyre and Bridgestone Turanza ER30 summer tyre (OE fitment)
This series of tests were conducted at the Waiorau Snow Farm winter testing facility at Wanaka in New Zealand. The test highlights the extremely long braking distances of high speed rated summer performance tyres (Bridgestone ER30) compared with Nokian WR SUV winter tyres.
| Action | Nokian WR SUV 109V | Bridgestone Turanza ER30 109Y | % Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traction - snow | 4517 newtons | 911 newtons | -79.8 % |
| Braking from 50 km/h - snow | 22.5 metres | 54.8 metres | +143.5 % |
| Handling - snow | 50.0 km/h | 31.9 km/h | -36.2 % |
| Braking from 100 km/h - wet | 55.3 metres | 52.0 metres | -6.3 % |
| Handling - wet | 89.8 km/h | 85.5 km/h | -4.8 % |
| Braking from 100 km/h - dry | 45.1 metres | 38.9 metres | -13.7 % |
| Handling - dry | 98.0 km/h | 101.8 km/h | +3.9 % |
These standardised tests are conducted using a calibrated winch system to measure take off torque (traction), a braking test from 50km/h and a handling or cornering test based on a 25 metre radius test track.
Reprinted from the German 4WD magazine AutoBild AllesAllrad November 2005
You would be aware that in resort areas there will be increasing problems for pedestrians, skiers and other road users because there are more and more AWD vehicles fitted with high speed rated summer performance tyres being driven and being issued permits to drive within the village areas of resorts. A simple hard braking test on a steep icy internal village road will highlight the risks involved in trying to stop a 4WD vehicle in the shortest possible distance.
A similar situation is in trying stop quickly to avoid a child or a skier crossing the road in front of you. This test will also show how the ABS system will help keep you from locking up your tyres, but the ABS doesn’t actually improve your tyre’s traction. ABS simply limits your vehicles braking to the traction level of your tyres. The only way to reduce the stopping distance and to maximize the vehicle’s winter performance and safety is to provide the ABS brakes with more grip to work with by using tyres specifically designed for winter snow and ice driving conditions.
The ER30 tyre is also fitted as standard to the Holden Adventra range of vehicles.
Winter tyre performance reduces with tread wear
When your vehicle is fitted with winter tyres you will always need to keep a check on the tread wear as the performance of these tyres will be reduced as the tread wears. This will effect the traction as well as the braking performance, especially in icy conditions.
Nokian tyres feature DSI - Driving Safety Indicator. The DSI marking is a tread wear indicator feature that is incorporated into the tyre tread. This indicator is on the centre or the tyre tread and the numbers show the safety level as it shows the remaining tread depth … 8…6…4 mm.
| Tyre type and tread depth | Traction | Braking |
|---|---|---|
| A) Winter tyre with 8 mm tread - new |
100 % | 100 % |
| B) Winter tyre with 6 mm tread - 2 mm of tread wear |
78 % | 94 % |
| C) Winter tyre with 4 mm tread - 4 mm of tread wear |
72 % | 82 % |
| D) Winter tyre with 2 mm tread - 6 mm of tread wear |
66 % | 70 % |
| E) Summer tyre with 8 mm tread - new |
44 % | 53 % |
To maximize the tyre life and to maintain the maximum winter performance we suggest that your snow tyres be rotated every 5-6000 kilometres and the air pressure be checked regularly.
Reprinted from the German magazine AutoBild 18th November 2005 issue #46
Breaking-in new winter tyres
Tyres are comprised of many layers of rubber, steel and fabric that require a break-in period to assure they achieve their maximum performance and your maximum satisfaction. A few hundred kilometers of easy acceleration, cornering and braking…at no more than legal speeds will allow all of those components time to get used to working together while the mold release lubricant wears off.
Whenever installing winter tyres, drivers should recognize that the personality and handling traits of winter tyres will feel different than the summer or all-season tyres being replaced. Since winter tyres are dedicated to providing more traction in snow and on ice, extra care should be taken by drivers to familiarize themselves with their vehicle’s traction and handling characteristics.
New winter tyres begin with deeper tread depths and more open tread designs than the tyres used during the rest of the year. While the extra tread depth allows new winter tyres to provide more traction in deep snow, it also contributes to more tread squirm and drivers may notice a reduction in handling responsiveness.
Winter tyres also feature softer tread compounds that remain pliable in extreme cold temperatures. Winter tyres may also feature speed ratings indicating a maximum speed that is typically lower than the speed rating of the tires fitted to the car for the rest of the year. Regardless of the winter tyre’s speed rating, the speed at which the vehicle is driven cannot exceed the speed rating of the winter tyre used.
Before tyres are cured, a release lubricant is often applied to prevent the tyres from sticking in the mold. Unfortunately, some of the lubricant stays on the surface of the tyres, and traction is reduced until it is worn away.
TOPICS IN NEXT ISSUES OF THE SNOW TYRE BULLETIN
- Traction comparisons - tyres with & without snow chains
- Snow chain tests - 12 chains tested in Sweden
- Winter driving tips
- Tyre speed warning label
- Nokian snow tyre users in Australia
For further information of how you can improve the safety and the effective operations of your fleet vehicles with Nokian snow tyres and with Rud snow chains please contact Richard Townley at Roof Carrier Systems Pty Ltd
Phone 03 9822 9539
Mobile 0418 324 052
All Nokian snow tyre specifications are on our web site www.snowtyres.com.au
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