These new winter tires have studs that retract as it warms up

Clever polymer science and a little robotic precision created the Hakkapeliitta 01.

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[fidget42]

The problem with studs, and why they are not allowed on many roads, is that they damage roads that are dry, not when it is warm. It is interesting, but I don't think that it is addressing the problem.

 

[42Kodiak42]

The problem with studs, and why they are not allowed on many roads, is that they damage roads that are dry, not when it is warm. It is interesting, but I don't think that it is addressing the problem.

From what it looks like, many jurisdictions allow studded tires during the colder months but not during the warmer months. It's not a perfect, "only comes out when there's ice to grip" solution, but it might be good enough for local authorities. These probably do need to be cleared with said authorities first.

 

[ZenBeam]

The problem with studs, and why they are not allowed on many roads, is that they damage roads that are dry, not when it is warm. It is interesting, but I don't think that it is addressing the problem.

Yeah, you'd want something selectable. Maybe increase the air pressure to make them pop out, and decrease it when you don't need them anymore.

 

[huskcummerbund]

Finally, a new feature I can get behind. If I ever move back to a northern climate, I might buy a set instead of my normal blizzaks

 

[numerobis]

The problem with studs, and why they are not allowed on many roads, is that they damage roads that are dry, not when it is warm. It is interesting, but I don't think that it is addressing the problem.

And conversely, the tire being above freezing didn’t mean there’s no ice. The worst ice I face is in the spring thaw: melt during the day, freeze slick at night, repeat a few times.

 

[numerobis]

From what it looks like, many jurisdictions allow studded tires during the colder months but not during the warmer months. It's not a perfect, "only comes out when there's ice to grip" solution, but it might be good enough for local authorities. These probably do need to be cleared with said authorities first.

You change tires. You don’t want winter tires on when it’s warm.

 

[huskcummerbund]

Yeah, you'd want something selectable. Maybe increase the air pressure to make them pop out, and decrease it when you don't need them anymore.

Not sure about that, since lower air pressures tend to improve traction in snow and on ice, but maybe the studs would more than compensate. Still, interesting idea.

 

[black_box]

So it seems that the studs still protrude from the tire, it's just that they're held in place axially by the flexible layer and, at the face of the tire, laterally by the lock layer. The flexible layer lets the studs be pressed inwards a bit by the road surface, reducing the stress on the road. I suppose the inward movement still needs to overcome the tire pressure. Interesting concept.

 

[AusPeter]

The problem with studs, and why they are not allowed on many roads, is that they damage roads that are dry, not when it is warm. It is interesting, but I don't think that it is addressing the problem.

The flip side being that 2 years ago, when I was driving up the perfectly ploughed road to go skiing, I saw that someone had stopped and put on chains - 2 miles before the snow even started - and were slowly going clunk, clunk, clunk up the dry road.

(And on the way back down, someone coming up had stopped where the actual snow was, to put on chains - but had simply stopped in the middle of the road to do so, and caused a backup of traffic behind them. But where they stopped was right in front of a pullout designated as the place to put on chains.)

Edit: Fixed damn auto correct.

 

[Yeay right]

When tires start to cost over $1000 a set, are we not getting a bit out of control

With 20+ year old used cars, the set of new tires being more expensive than vehicle itself is already quite common.

 

[huskcummerbund]

When tires start to cost over $1000 a set, are we not getting a bit out of control ;-) I'm just guessing, but even normal tires today are getting expensive.

As I live in the Southeast US, studded tires would not be a thing, but even if I was back up where I started in Upper State NY, I would not buy snow tires. Chains are a cost effective and practical manner of getting around in snow. Best practice for many, don't go out till roads are plowed well enough for decent driving and for gods sake...slow the fuck down.

I mean, cool idea, amazing technology, but what consumer level are they marketing too? Not the <= Middle Class

Unfortunately, I'm already used to spending ~$300 per tire after mount and balance. And my rear tires only last about 8,000 miles. Motorcycles go through tires disturbingly quickly. Probably going to need to replace the tires soon on the 25yo car I just bought, and they probably will not be cheap either. Good tires are just expensive, but cheap tires aren't worth the money saved.

 

[huskcummerbund]

Those disclaimers at the top of this kind of article are so unnecessary - I know Ars does not accept paid editorial content, but I also know that it accepts expensive press trips to exotic locations to plug various products.

If they didn't do it, your evil twin would be in the comments saying the exact opposite thing.

 

[fidget42]

From what it looks like, many jurisdictions allow studded tires during the colder months but not during the warmer months. It's not a perfect, "only comes out when there's ice to grip" solution, but it might be good enough for local authorities. These probably do need to be cleared with said authorities first.

Where I live, studded show tires were legal during the winter months, but the damage that they were doing to the roads during those months caused them to be outlawed. This was way back in the 1970s.

 

[Tech-Space-Cars]

Not sure about that, since lower air pressures tend to improve traction in snow and on ice, but maybe the studs would more than compensate. Still, interesting idea.

A separate air bladder containing just the studs?

 

[siliconaddict]

Moot point as even here in Minnesota they are illegal...with a few exceptions.

 

[MMarsh]

Moot point as even here in Minnesota they are illegal...with a few exceptions.

Quebec allows studs from Oct 15 to May 1 and mandates winter tires from Dec 1 to Mar 15.
Ontario allows them from Sept 1 to May 31 provided that the car's plates are registered to a Northern Ontario address. (Fitting them to a vehicle registered in Southern Ontario is flat-out illegal.
BC allows them from Oct 1 to Apr 30 but requires that you used matched sets – fitting studs to the front only, without also fitting them to the back, is illegal.
Alberta allows them without restriction but also allows the government to fine you for any damage your studs or chains do to public roads.
Vermont and New Hampshire seem to have no restrictions.
And so on.

Studded tires do have some value if you are in a genuinely cold icy region. But you need to be very careful about local law. And the benefit of studs over normal winter tires has shrunk considerably as winter rubber technology has improved.

 

[pa-ta]

The problem with studs, and why they are not allowed on many roads, is that they damage roads that are dry, not when it is warm. It is interesting, but I don't think that it is addressing the problem.

It’s said that no matter the weather is cold the studs still retract as the tire itself (the adaptive layer supporting studs) warms up when driven on bare asphalt as studs beat hard surface several times per second. And, as major Finnish newspaper Helsigin Sanomat puts it; that happen fast within seconds not minutes.

Helsingin Sanomat/Ennenkuulumaton suomalaiskeksintö julki: rengas, jonka nastat menevät välillä piiloon

 

[rallyordie]

In the 80's & 90's I had a pro-rally spec Dodge Omni. I kept a set of studded Hakkapeliittas on it in the winter. I could drive in the worst ice. Ohio winters aren't what they used to be, so now I just drive my comfortable Volvo XC70. I sure miss the delights of driving that rally car past the Ohio state troopers closing the highways during the worst storms. They would just smile & wave, figuring that they would find me in a ditch later!

 

[Unimportant]

It can warm up suddenly even in northern winters. I wonder how these tires perform when it’s 50 degrees and someone is driving fast for several hours (heating the tire up even more).

That’s a use case for all snow tires. They all wear faster than regular tires when it’s warm.

Also, I wonder about tire life.

I guess you don’t have to look for tread depth - just look for steel spikes sticking out on warm days.

 

[Wulven]

Quebec allows studs from Oct 15 to May 1 and mandates winter tires from Dec 1 to Mar 15.
Ontario allows them from Sept 1 to May 31 provided that the car's plates are registered to a Northern Ontario address. (Fitting them to a vehicle registered in Southern Ontario is flat-out illegal.
BC allows them from Oct 1 to Apr 30 but requires that you used matched sets – fitting studs to the front only, without also fitting them to the back, is illegal.
Alberta allows them without restriction but also allows the government to fine you for any damage your studs or chains do to public roads.
Vermont and New Hampshire seem to have no restrictions.
And so on.

Studded tires do have some value if you are in a genuinely cold icy region. But you need to be very careful about local law. And the benefit of studs over normal winter tires has shrunk considerably as winter rubber technology has improved.

I was in Sudbury about 3 weeks ago, and I was actually shocked to see multiple cars with Studded tires, I didn't know until I looked it up that Northern Ontario had different rules for studded tires than Southern Ontario. Makes sense, just looked odd.

 

[flasholight]

When I lived in the Portland, OR, metro area, I was surprised to see how many vehicles used studded tires given it rarely gets below freezing there. And to allow them from Nov 1 - Mar 31 is way too wide a window. Must’ve been at least 40-50% of commuters on I-5 I’d see using them; not only are they annoyingly loud but the increase in ambient road noise from the torn up road surfaces sucks.

Apparently the local winter warriors/esses have enough political sway to tear up the highways for 5 months of the year so they can get up and back to Mt Hood to ski/snowboard during the weekends without having to inconvenience themselves too much… don’t know why they can’t just put chains when they get to the mountain instead of running all over town w studded tires when 95% of the time they don’t need em.

This new design would be a welcome change in similar areas

 

[RemoteSensor]

Seems like a really interesting solution, but I wonder about tire longevity. As the winter tires wear over time, the studs might not be able to fully retract during warmer conditions. I have to imagine Nokian has accounted for this, but I would like to be able to get 5 seasons out of my snows if I can. And regardless, I’d probably just look for a good deal on used tires anyway.

 

[Purpleivan]

From what it looks like, many jurisdictions allow studded tires during the colder months but not during the warmer months. It's not a perfect, "only comes out when there's ice to grip" solution, but it might be good enough for local authorities. These probably do need to be cleared with said authorities first.

In Norway, you're required to have winter tires on your car from 1st November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday (yep, I know... Easter date changes year to year), whether that be studded, or unstudded ones.

However, some municiplaities, e.g. Oslo, charge drivers entering the city a charge, if their car has studded tires.

When I lived over there, my first car had studded tires when I bought it, which was reasuring, as where I was from (the UK) it mostly doesn't get a lot of snow and ice. That being said, I soon found out about the issues with road damage, as well as dust (with possible health issues), due to them grinding away at the tarmac. So when it came time to replace the tires, I chose unstudded winter ones.

 

[freaq]

One's studded tires destroy everyone's road. This technological solution doesn't change that, only alleviate it.
However, there's a simple solution: don't drive in an ice storm. Stay home, call sick, whatever. You save tire money, you save the public good, and transit was going to be hell anyway.

Great lets have the amulance drivers and snowplow guys and police and firemen/women do that.

Oh right… thats not always an option.
Infact what if your supermarket deliveries don’t come for a while?

shocking amounts of jobs are required to not cause massive chaos.

And icy conditions don’t just happen during snowstorms, its actually usually surprise black ice that gets people.

 

[numerobis]

yep, I know... Easter date changes year to year

Little known fact: the gods of rain and thunder check the catholic calendar when determining what kind of precipitation to unleash on you.

 

[Zizy]

A sensible solution for a region where these tires are relevant... but they are relevant essentially only in Scandinavia, Russia and Canada, plus villages up in the mountains.

I wonder how they handle a very common case of "sunny (and dry) road until you hit the turn where you enter the shade ... and possibly ice". I hope they are at least on par with ordinary winter tires, that they don't rely only on studs to get the job done.

Sure, like some already mentioned, I would also prefer to see some active mechanism for "turning the studs on/off" than a thermal effect... but I imagine such mechanism would require car support, something I doubt (m)any manufacturers would bother to do given the size of the market.

 

[numerobis]

Great lets have the amulance drivers and snowplow guys and police and firemen/women do that.

Oh right… thats not always an option.
Infact what if your supermarket deliveries don’t come for a while?

shocking amounts of jobs are required to not cause massive chaos.

And icy conditions don’t just happen during snowstorms, its actually usually surprise black ice that gets people.

Or, you know, everyone all winter long.

 

[PsychoArs]

Those disclaimers at the top of this kind of article are so unnecessary - I know Ars does not accept paid editorial content, but I also know that it accepts expensive press trips to exotic locations to plug various products.

You know that because of those disclaimers.

 

[freaq]

What i do want to know is…
It can be clean salted roads at -15
Or it can be icy chaos at -3

Can i control it?
Does it use the difference in hardness between pavement and ice to only penetrate the ice but not cause damage to roads (as much)

What as the rubber wears?

 

[Nora Lenderbee]

With 20+ year old used cars, the set of new tires being more expensive than vehicle itself is already quite common.

Before long it will be the price of a set of wiper blades. Those things too are getting out of hand.

 

[morlamweb]

The problem with studs, and why they are not allowed on many roads, is that they damage roads that are dry, not when it is warm. It is interesting, but I don't think that it is addressing the problem.

My state, and neighboring states, allow studs on motor vehicles only during the winter months. Roughly three months out the year when ice is likely to be on roads.