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Title: This might be the best thing to happen to cars since the invention of headlights BGR.com
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Published: Feb 22, 2014
Author: Zach Epstein
Post Date: 2014-02-22 08:55:38 by Tatarewicz
Keywords: None
Views: 136
Comments: 6
Anyone in the Northeastern United States right now (or anywhere else that might be getting hammered by snow) knows how much of a pain it can be to drive during and after a blizzard. There’s ice everywhere, mounds of snow to drive around or over, and you have to fight your way through it all while other drivers who are less careful slide around the roads. Winter tires can definitely help, but buying them and having them put on your car is a pricey proposition that many people don’t want to deal with or simply can’t afford. But what if there was a better way? Nokian Tyres — not to be confused with Nokia, which actually did manufacture car tires many decades ago — has developed a first-of-its-kind product that combines a standard tire with a studded winter tire. Using a retractible stud mechanism, the tires’ studs can be deployed or concealed on demand, even while the vehicle is in motion. So, if a driver sees that he or she is approaching an ice patch, a quick tap of a button deploys the studs for maximum traction. A few images and a video of the new tires follow below, as does Nokian’s full press release. Nokian Tyres: The world’s first non-studded winter tyre with studs Unique stud technology brings the studs out when they are needed Nokian Tyres presents the world’s first non-studded winter tyre with studs in connection with the 80th anniversary of the winter tyre. With this revolutionary concept tyre and its unique stud technology the inventor of the winter tyre gives a hint of the things to come in the future. With a press of a button, the driver can bring out the studs to improve the grip of the tyre. When the studs are not needed, they can be retracted back into the tyre. The idea of the combined non-studded and studded tyre is that the driver can make the switch when the conditions clearly change. Studs are not used on dry roads and stable winter conditions, but they can be activated in icy weather for extreme safety. The concept tyre of the world’s leading winter tyre specialist utilises the tread pattern and structural solutions of the newly introduced Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV studded winter tyre. The studs on all four tyres raise and lower at the same time. The body of the stud remains in place, and the moving part is the hard metal pin in the middle of the stud. - This new concept tyre is an amazing technological feat. The unique stud concept may indeed become a reality one day. As the pioneers of the winter tyre world, we show that it is possible to combine a studded and non-studded winter tyre, says Matti Morri, Technical Customer Service Manager for Nokian Tyres. This article was originally published on BGR.com Poster Comment: [John] Should have done some simple research. Retractable studded tires have been around since 2008 and were introduced by a U.S. company, Q. tires. They do add complexity to the tire adding a secondary air chamber controlled by a wireless signal that must be refilled after several stud activations. They are reported to cost 30% more than normal winter tires. The major problem is metal studs can do major damage to road services if deployed, for whatever reason, when the snow and ice disappear. Today all "winter" states have not approved there use!+26 [Cecil] Umm, well, they call it black ice because you cannot see it. By the time you start sliding it is too late. Nobody in the north east is going to buy a summer tire in the winter. You need traction with slush and snow. Studs will not help you. They are only effective on sheet ice. For a reporter to say this is the best invention since headlights shows you just how stupid he is. I just love it, some idiot living in Texas telling us in the north east what tires we need in the snow.+24 [Jose] I started driving when I was 14. I am now 74. I worked construction for 44 years before retiring, driving at least 100 miles a day in central and northern Ohio. I never got stuck, off the road or had an accident in all that time and only hit one deer. If you have half a brain, watch the road, slow down on ice, etc. you will have NO problem driving on snow and ice with regular tires. Everyone is in just too much of a hurry. +21 [x x] Another cool concept that's too impractical for reality. The usefulness of these tires would be quite limited as the rubber wearing down would gradually expose the studs to levels that would tear up the roads in warmer weather. What's REALLY needed are ways to make installation of conventional chains simpler, that you don't have to reach behind the inside of the tire to hook up. [CTParent] Unfortunately, this is not a novel idea. This is actually an old idea turned into a 'new' innovation by someone who hasn't done their homework. This application is bad for roads, horrible for animals who ingest the studs that fall off the tires, or become embedded in the asphalt or dirt along the roadways, and dangerous for young children for the same reasons. Could you imagine millions of these discarded metal pellets on driveways and yards across America? No thanks. I'll pay the $120 bucks to throw the snow tires on, or just remain hunkered down like Punxsutawney Phil, until Spring ;-) +6-4 [another lottery player] I see nobody ever read the cars manual anymore It has recommended tire pressure for winter and another set of tire pressure for non winter. Releasing some of the tire pressure from normal tire pressure for winter makes the tire grip the road but uses more gas. After winter, it is advisable to increase back the tire pressure to recommended tire pressure for non winter driving.+1-2 Collapse Replies (3) Reply [Fixit] Funny it doesn't say anything like that in my owners manual on either my car or my van. But here is what I do based on the facts of science for my tires... I air them up to the recommended tire pressure in the summer time and leave it alone until the next year and your tires will be fine all year round. Why ?? Because what happens to the air in your tires when it gets hot, it expands making the tire hard, and it contracts when it gets cold causing your tire to be a little low and soft that would allow you to obtain that traction that your talking about. And when the weather warms up, so does the air in your tires causing it to expand again to its regular pressure without you having to do a thing to them. Science class 101 +3-1 [robert] They must have received a government grant to design this. -3 What could possibly go wrong? Let's see: fail to deploy, partially deploy, accidentally deploy, reduce traction on dry pavement, make horrific noise, jam, corrode, come loose, damage vehicle, cause tire to become unbalanced, screw-up ABS-based TPMS, overheat tire, puncture tire, warp tire casing, fly through the windshield of following vehicle -- etc. +4-5
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#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
"If you vote in one hand and shit in the other you'll have two hands full of shit" Doug Scheidt 2-19-14
I could've used those this winter. I've been stuck eight times this year on snow over ice or just ice. I haven't been stuck that many times in my life combined. The last time was just a couple of days ago. I got stuck on wet ice in my alley. This has been the worst winter I've seen in 52 years of being here.
Godfrey Smith: Mike, I wouldn't worry. Prosperity is just around the corner. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
Might be better for tire manufacturers to come up with a studded sock or sleeve to wrap around tires when conditions warrant but would have to facilitate jacking up of wheels (under the bumper as in the old days).
You can either buy a 12VDC air compressor or a 12VDC X 120 VAC inverter to run a small 120VAC compressor, then simply deflate your drive wheels completely flat until you clear the slippery pavement. The same goes for getting out of soft sand. A 4WD Jeep with flat tires will practically climb a tree. Then you get out your tools and re-inflate your tires, at least enough to get someplace warm then finish inflating in the warm light of day. Or, you can keep a bag of OIL DRY or Kitty Litter in the trunk, and it may provide enough traction to get moving on ice.
Damn it, it's 2014 and I want the jet-powered hover car I was promised back in the 1960's!!
This might be the best thing to happen to cars
#2. To: Tatarewicz, 4um (#0)
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#3. To: noone222, 4 (#1)
the cars did interesting work -
#4. To: Esso (#2)
#5. To: Esso (#2)
I could've used those this winter. I've been stuck eight times this year on snow over ice or just ice. I haven't been stuck that many times in my life combined. The last time was just a couple of days ago. I got stuck on wet ice in my alley. This has been the worst winter I've seen in 52 years of being here.
#6. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
-Alex Kurtagic
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