Summer tire for SUVs Nokian Hakka Black SUV is one of the innovations from the popular Finnish manufacturer. It risks being much more successful than its predecessors, thanks to better adaptability to operation in high temperatures. In addition, Finnish tire makers have managed to significantly improve the coupling properties on a wet road, braking efficiency, as well as fuel economy. This required the use of advanced technologies and the latest materials, which will be discussed below.
Special compound for sidewalls
The rubber mixture of the sidewalls differs significantly in composition from the compound from which the tread is made. Its feature is the presence of aramid fibers. This material has a very high resistance to aggressive mechanical stress, despite its extremely small weight. These properties have been fully transferred to the tire sidewalls, which are resistant to punctures and cuts, as well as to external impacts. In this regard, it is impossible not to mention the design of the breaker. For maximum reliability, it contains several layers of steel cord.
Precise and predictable handling at any speed
Like previous models, the Nokian Hakka Black SUV tire is equipped with a tread with an asymmetric arrangement of elements. Its key difference is the presence of large and very rigid blocks in both shoulder zones, as well as wide ribs in the central part. All these elements have excellent resistance to dynamic deformation, which ensures the stability of the geometric parameters of the contact patch, regardless of the mode of movement, road surface characteristics, and external load. In real operating conditions, these features give the tire excellent directional stability at any speed, stable coupling properties, and precise and predictable handling.
Low noise level
In addition to its main function, the drainage grooves of this tire's tread perform several tasks that are not typical for them. One of them is to reduce the noise generated by the passage of air through them at high speed. This is achieved through special hemispherical depressions located on the side walls of the drainage grooves. They prevent the formation of vortices in air flows, which reduces the level of noise generated by them. This technology is called Silent Groove Design.
Increased resistance to aquaplaning
According to the representatives of the Finnish manufacturer, work on this model lasted for 4 years. A significant part of this time was devoted to the development of the drainage system, as a result of which it has many original technical solutions. First of all, these are special feather-like grooves cut in the longitudinal ribs in the central part of the tread. The principle of their operation is similar to that of windshield wipers. They "sweep away" water from under the contact patch in the same way, directing it into one of the nearby longitudinal grooves.
A similar highly effective solution was used in the shoulder zones. They contain transverse grooves that expand towards the center of the tread. This shape significantly increases the throughput of these elements of the drainage system, and therefore the resistance to aquaplaning. This technology is called Trumpet Grooves.
Rubber compound optimized for high-speed driving
Previous summer models from Nokian were not distinguished by good wear resistance during operation in the conditions of a hot southern summer. This model is completely devoid of this drawback, thanks to the unique properties of the Black Coral Silica rubber compound. The distinctive feature of its composition is not an increased amount of silica, but the use of several functional polymers in it. At the molecular level, they give the compound a coral-like structure. Thanks to this, the tread has become both very elastic and resistant to tears. At the same time, these properties remain unchanged over a very wide temperature range, which allows the tread to maintain its integrity even under very intense thermal influence.
Main features of the Nokian Hakka Black SUV tire
- aramid fibers in the composition of the tire's sidewall rubber mixture increase protection against punctures and cuts;
- an asymmetric tread pattern with very massive and rigid tread blocks and ribs allows the tire to maintain stability at high speed, provides stable and reliable coupling properties, as well as sporty handling;
- special hemispherical depressions on the side walls of the drainage grooves reduce high-frequency noise;
- feather-like grooves in the central part and expanding drainage grooves in the shoulder zones of the tread significantly increase the tire's resistance to aquaplaning;
- the Black Coral Silica rubber compound, optimized for high-speed operation, in addition to excellent coupling, ensures the integrity of the tread under intense thermal influence.