Nokian Heavy Tyres contributes to improving winter traffic safety – braking distances tested in Pudasjärvi
Nokian Heavy Tyres participated in the SafeTrucks research project’s test event in Pudasjärvi, Finland, where the behavior of heavy-duty vehicles’ braking distances in slippery and variable winter conditions was demonstrated. The test day took place on a specially prepared track at Pudasjärvi Airport, where measurements focused on the impact of factors such as vehicle mass, speed, and road surface friction on braking distances in temperatures below –20°C
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Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.
FIND US ON
The SafeTrucks project is led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, with the goal of improving the safety of heavy-duty traffic by providing drivers with real-time, vehicle-specific warnings and road condition information. These services combine local road weather data, road surface friction measurements, the surrounding traffic environment, and each vehicle’s dynamic behavior.
Nokian Heavy Tyres was responsible for the practical execution of the test day together with the University of Oulu’s Vehicle and Work Machine Engineering research group.
The measurements included road surface friction testing with different tire types, comparisons of braking distances between unloaded and loaded vehicles, differences between rigid trucks and tractor–semitrailer combinations, the role of vehicles in collecting real-time condition data, and improvements in local road weather forecasting. The braking distance tests were supervised and coordinated by the Finnish Road Safety Council (Liikenneturva).
“Tire testing is an essential part of Nokian Tyres’ product development work, and in all our projects we aim to prioritize improvements in safety. In this project, the focus has been on developing the Intuitu smart tire for heavy-duty use,” says Teppo Siltanen, Senior Product Manager. Siltanen also appeared live on national TV in the Huomenta Suomi morning show on Thursday, where he discussed the project’s findings and highlighted the importance of heavy‑duty traffic safety and the importance of premium winter tires.
During the test day, a tire measurement trailer designed by the University of Oulu was used. The trailer measures tire force generation in real winter conditions during braking and cornering. The results are used to validate friction measurement methods, compare the performance of different tires, and support the development of vehicle dynamics models.
The Finnish‑Canadian SafeTrucks consortium brings together the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Nokian Heavy Tyres, the University of Oulu, and several transport industry partners. The project develops vehicle‑specific warnings—such as increased braking distance due to slipperiness, crosswind alerts, and trailer roll‑over risk—based on the combination of vehicle‑observed data, road weather services, and vehicle dynamics.
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