History

History

Nokian Tyres plc was founded in 1988 and the company’s roots go back all the way to 1898, when Suomen Gummitehdas Oy, or Finnish Rubber Factory, was established.

Nokian Tyres history timeline

1898
The Finnish Rubber Works is founded
1934
The world’s first winter tire, The Weather tire
1995
Nokian Tyres plc shares float on the Helsinki Stock Exchange
2015
The world’s first winter tire with wet grip and fuel efficiency in the EU tyre label’s best A class
2020
Nokian Tyres’ third factory started production in Dayton, US
2021
Testing began at the Nokian Tyres Spain Test Center
2022
Pure safety with Hakkapeliitta R5
2022
Decision to invest in completely new capacity in Europe

120 YEARS OF INNOVATION

The roots of the world’s northernmost tyre manufacturer go back more than one hundred years. Today, the expertise gathered over the decades can be seen in innovations that offer safe driving and peace of mind to millions of road users. Our history may be long but our story is only just beginning.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR HISTORY

OVER 85 YEARS SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE WINTER TYRE

The world's first winter tyre, and the predecessor of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta was the Kelirengas (“Weather Tyre”) that Suomen Gummitehdas Osakeyhtiö, the company that later on became Nokian Tyres, introduced into the market in 1934.This year marks thediscovery ofmore than 85years since the innovation of the firstwinter tyre.

Smart traffic technology and bio-based materials

If we look at driving 20 years from now, we will see revolutionary, smart traffic technology, self-driving electric cars and winter tyres made from bio-based materials.

Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 history timeline


1846
Mr. R.W.Thomson invents the pneumatic tire
1886The first car to use a combustion engine is developed
1898The Finnish Rubber Works is founded
1904Factory set up in the town of Nokia
1925Bicycle tire production starts

1932-2000

1932Car tire production starts
1934The world’s first winter tire for trucks, The Weather tire
1936The Snow Hakkapeliitta - winner on snowy roads. The launching of legendary Hakkapeliitta winter tires.
1945New tire factory built in Nokia
1959From Suomen Gummitehdas to Suomen Kumitehdas Oy
1959Marketing company in Sweden, Finska Gummi AB, later Nokian Däck AB
1967Nokia Corporation established - Rubber, Cable and Paper Divisions
1968Tire factory expansion
1974Production of bicycle tyres and inner tubes starts in Lieksa
1978Marketing company in Norway, Norsk Traktorkompani A/S, later Nokian Dekk AS
1980Marketing company in Canada, Nokia Products Ltd., Canada, later Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 North America Ltd., USA)
1981Tire factory expansion
1982Marketing company in Germany, Nokia GmbH, later Nokian Reifen GmbH
1986The world's most northern own test centre in Ivalo, Finnish Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle.
1988Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 Limited established as a joint-venture company
1989Marketing company in Switzerland, Nokian Reifen AG, Switzerland
1995Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 plc shares float on the Helsinki Stock Exchange
1996-2001Tire factory expansions
1998First own retail sales outlets in Sweden and Latvia, marketing company OOO Nokian Shina in Russia
1999-2000Own tire chain expanded to Finland and Estonia → launch of Vianor name started

2000

2002A new Logistics centre was established in Nokia
2003Nokia's ownership in Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 ended; Bridgestone Europe NV/SA became the largest shareholder.
2005Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 ' second factory started production in Vsevolozhsk, Russia.
2005Naturally Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 . The first tire manufacturer in the world to start using only purified, low aromatic oils in its production.
2006Marketing company in Ukraine, Nokian Shina TOV. Marketing company in Czech Republic, Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 s.r.o.
2006The aquaplaning indicator. In addition to the Driving Safety Indicator, the Nokian Hakka summer
tires also feature the aquaplaning indicator.
2006Nokian Forest Rider forestry tire. The first radial forestry tire for CTL (cut-to-length) forestry machines.
2007Marketing company in Kazakhstan, TOO Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端
2007Nokian Hakkapeliitta Truck E. Hakkapeliitta tires also for heavyweight professional driving.
2008The lightly rolling Nokian Hakkapeliitta R non-studded winter tire.
2009The test winner Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 studded tire and the Air Claw Technology.

2010

2010Marketing company in Belarus, Nokian Shina LLC
2011Marketing company in China, Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
2012New factory built next to existing one in Vsevolozhsk, Russia
2012Vianor tire chain expanded to Serbia, France, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, among others
2013New Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and new world record for fastest car on ice, 335.713 km/h (208.602 mph)
2013New generation of Hakkapeliitta winter tires. Studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 and non-studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2.
2014The Hakkapeliitta winter tire family grows. The studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 8 SUV and the Nokian Hakkapeliitta C3 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta CR3 van tires
2014世界上第一个冬季轮胎辅以注解钉。Nokian Hakkapeliitta concept tire.
2014New Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 for electric cars. The world's first winter tire with an A energy rating.
2015The renewed Nokian WR winter tire family. The Nokian WR D4 – the world’s first winter tire with wet grip in the EU tire label’s best A class.
2015Nokian Weatherproof. The Nokian All-Weather concept ensures safe driving comfort all year long.
2015The world’s first winter tire with wet grip and fuel efficiency in the EU tire label’s best A class. The renewed Nokian WR SUV 3.
2016The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2. The world’s most energy-efficient winter tire. The Tire Technology of the Year 2016 award.
201680th anniversary of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta. Born, raised and tested in the north.
2016World record for the fastest side wheelie, 186.269 km/h (115.742 mph) using summer tires with Aramid Sidewall technology.
2017新测试工程师ting center for summer and winter tires being built in Santa Cruz de la Zarza, Spain.
2017New-generation studded tires, Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 and Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 SUV.
2018Celebrating 120 years as a tire industry pioneer
2018Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3, Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV, Nokian WR SUV 4 and Nokian WR G4 introduced
2018SnapSkan service launched
2018The construction of the new test center in Spain starts
2018Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 joins the Science Based Targets initiative
2018Nokian Wetproof and Nokian Powerproof summer tires introduced
2019Work started on the administration building at Dayton
2019The first test tire produced at the Dayton factory

2020

2020Commercial production begins at Dayton factory
2020The first tire company to have its greenhouse gas recuction targets approved
2020Hakka Van and Hakka Green 3 summer tires introduced
2020The Dayton factory receives a LEED v4 Silver certification
2020World record set with Nokian ios万博ManBetX客户端 tires: the fastest time to push a car one mile
2020Nokian Heavy ios万博ManBetX客户端 R&D center up and running
2021Hakkapeliitta 10 studded winter tire introduced
2021The administration building in Dayton earns LEED v4 Silver certification
2021Testing begins at the Spain test center Hakka Ring
2021The Visitor Center building at Hakka Ring earns LEED v4 platinum certification
2022Hakkapeliitta R5, Hakkapeliitta C4 and Hakkapeliitta CR 4 winter tires are introduced
2022Green Step concept tire made with 93% of recycled or renewable materials
2022A controlled exit from Russia initiated