Where Nordman tires are made. Where Nordman tires are made On ice and snow

A sophisticated buyer of automotive rubber, seeing the Nokian Nordman 4 winter tire on sale, will immediately notice that it looks very similar to the very famous and long-discontinued Hakkapelita 4 tire.

In this article, you will learn:

In fact, it is, these two models of a well-known Finnish manufacturer are absolutely identical.

New bus or change of name

The 4th generation Hakkapelita model (right) was so successful that after the end of official sales and release in 2006, buyers were still interested in these tires in stores.

Such popularity of the 4th generation tires did not go without saying. During the development of these tires, Finnish engineers have spent many years on all kinds of research in a special center of the tire division of the Nokian company.

These researches allowed to release to the market a qualitatively new tire for its time, the driving characteristics of which on snow and ice cover were carefully calculated.

Looking at the high demand for the 4th generation tire even after the release of the next model, the management of the Finnish company decided not to discontinue the production of the old model, but to continue it, changing the name of the tire.

The tire changed its niche to economy class and is very successfully sold to this day under the name Nokian Nordman 4.

New-old tire construction

Why is the Hakkapelita 4 model so successful that its twin has been on sale for several years after the prototype was discontinued?

There are enough reasons for this. Finnish engineers did a very good job at one time and actually created a very high quality and thoughtful tire for their time. Almost everything was innovative in the model.

First, the tire used a three-layer structure, which at that time was used only by individual tire manufacturers.

The top layer was tough and gave the tire durability and excellent handling.

The middle layer was soft for excellent grip on any surface, and the bottom layer served as a "cushion" for the studs, helping to dampen the sound from them when the car was moving.

The tires provided excellent drainage of water and snow slurry from under the wheel, due to which the car was perfectly controlled on any surface.

The excellent stability and controllability of the tire on ice was facilitated by the spikes of a round shape with a square core, which was new for that time - they perfectly bite into the ice.

Similarities and differences

Before launching the new-old model Nokian Nordman 4, the Finns made small changes to the design.

Secondly, the tire was equipped with a special indicator showing the degree of tire wear. Nowadays, no modern tire can do without such an indicator.

Apparently, the model had a very long life - the demand for it is still stable, although more than 10 years have passed since the development of its "parent".

The Finnish, in accordance with the somewhat outdated design of the tire, transferred it to the economy class and sells it much cheaper than the main flagship models of Hakkapelita.

However, the design of the model is so successful that it will be able to maintain the constant interest of buyers in it for a long time.

For the majority of drivers, in fact, it is not so important how long ago the tire was developed, it is important for them how well it can drive on winter roads.

The new-old model does it even by today's 4+ standards. Therefore, with such a tangible difference with the flagship models, the constant interest of buyers in it will be ensured.

The Nordman 4 winter tire is characterized by stable behavior under all road conditions. Excellent grip and low noise level are achieved thanks to the wide distribution of the studs over the entire surface of the tire.

A special elastic cushion located under the base of the cleat softens the contact of the cleat with the road, thereby reducing noise levels and increasing the strength of the cleat. The four-sided cleat design provides excellent grip in all four directions. In addition, such a cleat is more durable and stable in the tire.

The arrow-shaped tread pattern of the Nordman 4 winter tire and the lateral grooves effectively remove slush and sludge from the contact patch. The wide tread and reinforced steel belt ensure stable tire behavior even in severe rumbling conditions.

Between the tread blocks in the shoulder area there are sipe reinforcements, thanks to which Nordman 4 winter tires demonstrate excellent performance on any slippery surface.

For greater usability, the Nordman 4 winter tire has a wear indicator on the center rib. A series of numbers can be used to determine the remaining tread depth in millimeters. As the tire wears down, the indicator digits disappear one by one.

Between the tread blocks in the shoulder area there are sipe reinforcements, thanks to which Nordman 4 winter tires demonstrate excellent performance on any slippery surface.

Choosing among a large number of offers, have you ever thought about having "Nordman 4" winter tires on your car? Feedback on operation in various road conditions, expressed by many motorists, will help to make the right choice and purchase a proven and reliable product that can perform its task reliably and efficiently for more than one year.

Quality is everything

Positive reviews about "Nordman 4" tires (winter) are confirmation not only of the successful design of the tire, but also the high quality of its production. For consumers of the domestic market, this model is produced at a tire plant located in the city of Vsevolozhsk.

Concern Nokian has implemented in this tire all the technical features of the popular model of winter tires Nokian Hakkapeliitta 4. We can say that the main difference between these models is the place of manufacture. The promoted and popular brand is produced at a factory located in Finland.

Rubber "Nordman 4", reviews of the quality and properties of which are not inferior to the eminent brand, is produced in Russia. All production operations, raw materials, adherence to manufacturing technology are directly under the strict control of specialists from Finland. Owners using the products of the Russian plant can confirm the high characteristics of rubber, which are not inferior to imported analogues.

The ratio of price and quality plays in favor of domestic products, which makes this model of automobile rubber popular and in demand among consumers.

Tread pattern

Rubber "Nordman 4", reviews of which you can read in this article, has an orientation, which significantly increases and stabilizes the directional stability of the car. This allows you to feel the road with confidence even at high speeds. Ribs located along the inner and outer edges increase the stability of the tread during various maneuvers.

The presence of a large number of drainage channels on the side ribs, together with the very design of the ribs themselves, allows you to confidently maneuver on difficult road sections, completely forgetting that the car can go into a skid. This is true not only for a snowy road. Wet asphalt or mushy ice, which is often found on city roads in winter, does not adversely affect driving if the wheels are equipped with Nokian Nordman 4 winter tires.

Reviews of motorists who use these tires for more than one season confirm the excellent tread qualities. While driving, the car behaves predictably, regardless of the road and speed limit. In addition, when assessing the quality of this rubber, car owners note the low noise of the tread. The developers managed to achieve this effect using a special order of alternation of protrusions and its optimal ratio to

Features of winter tires

"Nordman 4" has a Shore hardness of 51 units. This value determines the high wear resistance of the tire. The tread depth is 9 mm, which allows this rubber to be used on snowy roads for more than one season. Depending on the mileage, you can safely skate 4-5 winter seasons on it, which immediately makes the purchase of these tires a bargain.

Numerous reviews of Nordman 4 winter tires confirm that the driver feels confident behind the wheel of a car whose wheel rims are shod with tires of the described model.

Despite the fact that traditionally winter tires increase fuel consumption, this does not apply to Nordman tires. In addition to high adhesion qualities, exceeding the average level, the use of rubber of this model provides moderate fuel consumption, which is especially noticeable during long journeys on highways. The secret lies not only in the tread design, but also in the absence of constant slipping on an icy or snowy road surface.

Do you need thorns

When choosing car tires with spikes, first of all, one should be guided by the conditions in which the operation will take place. If you are a city dweller who does not travel outside the city limits, then it is not at all necessary to take a studded wheel. Much, of course, depends on the city's utilities. If in your city there are problems with street cleaning from snow, then there is no reason to expect the situation to improve in the coming winter - in this case it is better not to save money.

The wheel spike is made in the factory and is 100 spikes on one tire. This guarantees excellent grip on winter roads with rolling snow and icy surfaces. The spread of the studs across the width of the wheel increases stability and makes them quieter. A special shock-absorbing lining located at the base of the cleat makes it soft, which also reduces noise.

With aggressive (but reasonable) driving style, you can lose no more than 10 studs per drive wheel in one season. This indicator depends not only on driving style, but also on correct operation (this will be discussed in the corresponding section).

If you keep the tire pressure a little higher than normal, you can truly learn what the Nokian Nordman 4 winter tires are.

Feedback from drivers using this method of operation report an increase in the predictability of the car's behavior on the road, there is no need to constantly "steer", there are no shallow yawing and sideways movements.

A slightly inflated wheel, of course, wears more in the center of the tread. However, this wear will be noticeable only at the end of its service life (after 4-5 years), which once again underlines the high wear-resistant qualities that the Nokian Nordman 4 rubber possesses.

Feedback on correct operation

Not only the service life, but also the quality characteristics of the tire depends on how correctly the "Nordman 4" tires will be put into operation (the owners' reviews speak of the great importance of this action). The discs on which you are going to put tires must be smooth (without traces of deformation of the rim), free from cracks and chips. The wheel assembly must be balanced. This factor has a very large effect on the tread, especially at high speed.

Possible complaints about the increased noise of this rubber can be caused by the absence or poor quality of wheel balancing. This problem is especially common on large diameter tires (R-16, R-17).

The main reason, as it turns out later, of increased wear and noise from the wheel is rim defects and unsatisfactory balancing. Much depends on the equipment of the tire shop. The balancing apparatus, like all mechanisms, gradually loses the accuracy of its measurements from operation. When changing your car into winter tires, consider this nuance - it is better to visit a specialized service station, where the equipment is usually of higher quality and modern.

Also, don't underestimate a preparatory process like running in. Thanks to the correct behavior on the road in the first one and a half to two thousand kilometers, you can maximize the tire life, which ultimately will save you money. You should not break the car into a slip, brake urgently (unless absolutely necessary) and start up a controlled skid. It is not recommended to exceed a speed of more than 80 km / h when running in. Do not forget to keep an eye out; it is better to systematically check it every 300-400 km. All these recommendations will allow you to use the rubber of this model much longer.

Entering corners

The studded wheel holds the car very well on slippery or rolled roads. Some reviews of winter tires "Nokian Nordman 4" contain the experience of cornering in winter at speeds that cause confusion. Yes, it is possible that the drivers describing their "exploits" on the winter road unnecessarily put themselves and passengers at risk. As they themselves say, after several hundred kilometers of trips on this rubber, the feeling of fear of ice has completely atrophied, the tire holds the road so tenaciously.

The car enters a turn without any skidding or slipping. Even if the car does demolish, then it happens quite moderately and completely under the control of the driver: a slight decrease in speed (releasing the gas pedal without braking) immediately adds confident cross-country ability. The car goes through turns covered with snow no less confidently than on a cleaned track.

Such reviews of "Nordman 4" tires are not an exception to the rule, but, on the contrary, are massive. On the basis of these statements, a general positive characteristic of the high performance of the tires of this model is formed.

Studded rubber behavior on bare asphalt

Analyzing numerous reviews about the Nordman 4 rubber and its behavior on bare asphalt, we can say the following:

braking distance is longer than on a snowy road;
it is better to enter the turns carefully, without recklessness;
there is an increased wear of the tire tread;
the percentage of spikes when driving on clean asphalt by the end of the season can exceed 25 percent.

These statements are nothing more than an indirect confirmation of the excellent driving performance of rubber on the winter road, for which, in fact, they were designed.

Weather conditions can change many times, winter can be warm and with a minimum amount of snow. In such conditions, the owners have to either put up with increased wear and tear and use the rubber as carefully as possible, or have a spare set of ordinary tires. The shown prudence will guarantee that "Nordman 4" (reviews of many drivers can confirm this) will serve you much longer.

Over ice and snow

These road conditions are such in which the "Nordman 4" rubber (feedback from the owners on the behavior of tires in these conditions will be given below) shows all of its qualities incorporated by the manufacturer into the design. The directional pattern and its configuration maximize the evacuation of snow, ice slurry and water from the "patch" of contact of the tread with the road. This increases traction and directional stability many times over.

In turn, the spikes, due to their design and location, reliably "bite" into the ice crust, not allowing the wheel to slip into slipping. Of course, not everything depends on rubber. If the driver cannot correctly and adequately react to road conditions, no high-tech tire will help him.

There are reviews about tires telling about bad experiences on the road, when drivers cannot get out of the snow captivity on their own. A careful study of all aspects of these stories, as a rule, it turns out that the driver simply lost control in a difficult situation, which was created by his actions. The road does not forgive mistakes, so a careless attitude should be absent in the driver's actions a priori, especially on a winter road.

Testing

A manufacturer, before starting serial production, always conducts repeated tests and tests of its products. This is all the more true for the Nokian concern, which values its hard-earned reputation. In addition, journalists also conduct their own testing of market novelties. Many motorists trust the results of such studies more, considering the approach of independent specialists to be more objective and truthful.

The "Nokia Nordman 4" tires have also passed such testing. Reviews and measurements of the main indicators (under different road conditions) allow us to say with confidence that this rubber is one of the best in the domestic market, not only in terms of its characteristics, but also in terms of price.

Preparation and proper storage of rubber

With the onset of spring, the time comes when the car should be replaced with summer tires, and winter tires "Nordman 4" (reviews of the owners on the storage rules are presented below) will wait for the next winter in the garage. If you want to extend the life of your winter tires, follow these simple off-season storage guidelines.

It is recommended to wash the rubber, remove debris in the form of small stones from the tread, inspect the sides of the tires for cuts and cracks. After the tire dries out, it will not be superfluous to process it from the outside or with silicone - this will protect it from drying out in the summer heat. After that, pack the wheel in a special bag (available from the tire shop) and place it on a rack or hanging shelf under the garage roof. If you are storing the rubber on the rim, it is advisable to relieve the internal pressure so that the tire "rests".

There is no need to store the rubber in a standing position or lying one on one - this method leads to deformation of the cord, which causes rapid wear.

In our article, we have reviewed numerous reviews of "Nordman 4" tires left by those who have already made their choice in favor of this tire model. We hope that someone else's experience, which you learned about from this article, will help you make the right decision and choose a worthy winter "shoe" for your car.

The Nokian Nordman 4 tire is designed for passenger cars. It is a winter tire with a factory studded stud for reliable traction in difficult weather conditions.

Features of the Nordman 4 model

The Finnish manufacturer Nokian created the Nordman 4 as a budget analogue of the well-known Hakkapeliitta 4. It equipped the tires with the same tread pattern and stud arrangement, so the driving performance is not fundamentally different from its more expensive analogue.

Winter tires Nordman 4 have the following properties:

stable behavior in winter weather conditions;
effective drainage of water from the contact surface;
a large number of lamellas providing reliable grip;
widely spaced anti-slip spikes;
soft rubber compound does not lose its properties even at temperatures of - 45 ° C;
prevention of damage with a special protective layer between the rim and the bead of the tire.

Tire markings and their main characteristics

Information on the design of the tire, its size and other parameters can be found on the markings on the side of the wheel. Let's consider an example of its decryption.

Take a tire with the following designations: NOKIAN NORDMAN 225/60 R16 102T XLM + S, snowflake

Nokian Nordman 4 diamond stud

For the best grip on ice surfaces, the Nordman 4 has been fitted with a diamond-shaped, sharp-cornered core. While driving, it interacts with the road from all four sides and provides not only high cross-country ability, but also the lateral stability of the vehicle.
Each stud is equipped with a shock-absorbing pad located in the depth of the tread. It softens the impact of metal on the ground, reduces tire noise and makes the ride smooth.
The proprietary technology "bear's claw" was used in the creation of the spike. It prevents the tenon from tilting in the socket, improves grip and prevents metal elements from falling out of the seats.
The arrangement of the studs, which are mounted only at the factory, also has its own characteristics. Steel parts are widely dispersed on the work surface. They effectively cling to the road, prevent slipping and skid when cornering.

Shipovka

Wear indicators - original solution of Nokian tire developers

Special indicators of the degree of wear are present on all products of the Finnish manufacturer. They represent the numbers 4, 6 and 8, which have different depths. The number 8 is erased first. This means that the tread depth is less than 8 mm. Next comes 6, etc. When the number 4 becomes invisible, the tires become unsafe to drive.

In addition, there is a snowflake on the tread, the abrasion of which indicates that the wheel cannot be used in winter.

Features of the Nordman 4 tread

The tread of winter tires Nokian Nordman 4 are distinguished by the following:

symmetrical directional pattern, which is the most optimal for winter conditions;
blocks connected in the central part evenly distribute snow on the sides of the wheel;
large rectangular checkers are located at the edges of the working surface. They are located across the course of the car and improve passability on difficult road sections;
special grooves in the shoulder areas capture snow and help the car move on freshly fallen and compacted cover;
a large number of curved lamellas are responsible for contact with a smooth ice surface;
An additional protective ring between the rim and the wheel disc prevents dust and sand from entering the wheel.

Tread

Drainage of water from the work surface

Drainage system Nordman 4 effectively removes water and melted snow from the contact patch with the roadway. Deep grooves (9 mm) are located throughout the tread. They have a special "opening" shape and during movement quickly remove moisture, which prevents skidding.

This design excludes the possibility of "hydroplaning", during which the car slides on a wet surface and becomes uncontrollable.

Multicomponent rubber compound

Elasticity at low temperatures, impact resistance, durability and driving safety largely depend on the qualitative composition of the rubber compound from which the tire is made.

The composition of Nordman 4 includes the following main components:

natural rubber;
artificial rubber;
silica (silicon dioxide);
sulfur;
rapeseed oil;
chemical additives.

Each component is responsible for certain properties of the rubber. For example, oil makes tires more resistant to tearing, rubber provides elasticity to the product, and sulfur provides strength. Various chemical additives stabilize the composition and improve the interaction of its components.

Pros and cons of Nokian Nordman 4

Dignity	Flaws
Good permeability on snow cover	High noise
Softness of rubber at negative temperatures	Rapid drop of thorns
Controllability and directional stability in icy conditions	Long braking distances and poor handling on wet pavement
Low cost (from $ 48 per wheel) *	Poorly balancing
Wear resistance	Tendency to the appearance of "hernias" in the lateral part

* The price is valid on 08.11.2018

The cost of tires in different retail outlets

* Prices are valid as of 08.11.2018

The cost of Nordman 4 tires may differ in different stores and on the Internet. It depends on the region, sales volumes and the popularity of the outlet.

In addition to the price, when buying, it is important to pay attention to the following nuances:

the seller has a quality certificate;
warranty obligations;
delivery terms if it is an online store.

How not to fall for a fake?

The Nokian brand is popular with buyers, and cheap Chinese fakes, although rare, are found.

You can determine the originality of a product using several signs:

the presence of the original logo;
wheel marking with indication of seasonality, standard size, technical indexes;
wear indicator on the working surface;
information areas in the form of circles on the side of the wheel.

Nordman 4 in the snow

Service life of Nordman 4 rubber

The manufacturer does not indicate a specific service life for Nordman 4 tires. Tire wear depends on many conditions:

driving style;
the quality of the road surface;
climatic conditions;
storage conditions in the summer;
timely change of rubber with the onset of the warm period, and more.

According to the owners of Nordman 4, on average, this model lasts about 5 years.