Nokian’s cLine provides options for light and heavy van loads

Finnish tyre maker Nokian Tyres develops tailor-made products for the three main regions where it is present, Europe, the Nordic countries and Russia. It recently introduced a new van range for the Nordic and Russian regions, the Nokian Hakka C2, and for customers here in European markets it has also now released a new range, the Nokian cLine. Nokian calls this new summer tyre an “excellent choice for professional drivers and their modern delivery trucks and vans.”

The tyre maker says the cLine offers “stability, durability, and safety for demanding use on European roads.” The cLine portfolio is made up of two distinct products, the cLine Cargo and cLine Van. The first of these features a non-directional tread and structure said to be similar to those found in truck tyres, and thus it can carry the higher wheel loads of delivery and transport vehicles. The cLine Van, on the other hand, is said to be “perfectly suited” for lighter loads and passenger transport.

cLine Cargo (l) and cLine Van

The tread used in the cLine Cargo range features something that Nokian calls ‘Triangular Supports’, and these protrusions into the circumferential grooves are intended to increase lateral stiffness in the tyre’s shoulder area, a particularly important quality when carrying heavy loads. Nokian says the Triangular Supports slow the rate of wear and reduce distortion to the tyre’s shape, while this sturdiness in the shoulder combines with a high sidewall angle to ensure good stability.

The cLine Van tread pattern is asymmetrical, and Nokian says this configuration increases driving comfort and makes the tyre easy to steer. The centre groove has a so-called ‘Wave Support’ that improves the tyre’s lateral stiffness, which in turn helps it to maintain shape and resist wear. Nokian shares that Wave Support significantly reduces the danger of aquaplaning, while the optimised block distribution and tailored structure reduce interior noise and external rolling noise.

Nokian reports that the compound used in the cLine “offers excellent durability and wet grip.” In addition, the clinch rubber compound employed in the bead area malleably presses against the wheel flange, avoiding potential abrasion under heavy use. This compound innovation is said to improve durability while helping tyre fitment. The innovation also effectively minimises interior noise as it dampens vibrations from the tyre body, preventing them from passing into the tyre and further inside the vehicle.

An extra safety feature built into the cLine is Nokian’s patented Driving Safety Indicator on the tyre’s central rib; this clearly indicates the remaining groove depth in millimetres.

The Nokian cLine range covers 23 sizes for 14 to 17-inch rim diameters. The line-up will be available in the European market from spring 2015.