The Barum Norpolaris studded winter tires have been on our market for quite a few years. However, even today, this tire remains quite relevant in terms of its consumer and operational characteristics. This model replaced the very successful OR 60 S, surpassing it in most technical specifications.
Czech tire engineers preferred to use the classic V-shaped symmetrical directional tread pattern, which has long proven its high efficiency, primarily on winter road surfaces. However, even here, there was room for a number of interesting technical solutions that ultimately ensured excellent characteristics.
First of all, it is worth noting the still relevant five-rib design of the tread. The large number of functional zones ensures a more even distribution of external pressure on the contact patch, which not only gave the handling stability but also reduced the likelihood of uneven wear. Another advantage of the five-rib design of the Barum Norpolaris tire is the ability to provide almost ideal balance of operational characteristics, since each rib performs a strictly defined task.
This is especially true for the central double longitudinal rib, which is characterized by high structural rigidity. This technical solution allowed to significantly improve the directional stability, especially on snowy roads.
The rest of the tread pattern, including both shoulder zones, consists of four rows of separate blocks. Each of these tread elements has a quadrangular shape and massive dimensions, which make them more rigid. Thanks to this structure, the tire demonstrates excellent handling on dry asphalt, as well as high efficiency of acceleration and braking on snow.
Main features of the Barum Norpolaris model
- Excellent performance on slippery surfaces, thanks to the optimized design of the directional V-shaped tread pattern;
- A large number of tread blocks provides excellent traction and coupling characteristics on snow;
- The combination of durable steel studs and a multitude of S-shaped lamellas, arranged in different directions, made it possible to achieve confident and reliable behavior on ice;
- Double central rib, which ensures good directional stability on snowy roads.
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