Nokian Tyres throws down the gauntlet to prove the capabilities of their newest UHP tire.

Nokian Tyres invited a small number of tire retailers to a race track this past June in order to demonstrate the abilities of their newest UHP tire, the Surpass AS01. The Finnish tire manufacturer had room for only two journalists at this event, and we’re glad they invited us along for the ride.

Those of us who have been working in the tire industry for any number of years understand how these events go: You arrive at a racetrack, a number of vehicles are at the ready, and you drive them all, one-by-one, to see how whatever the new tires may be actually perform.

However, this was the first time any tire company has been bold enough to put their new tires on a Ferrari, hand over the keys, and allowed participants to push the vehicle as hard as they could. From straightaways to hairpin turns, and everything in between, we were told to push the two available Ferrari 458 Spiders as fast as they could go.

From winter tires to all-season performance

Nokian Tyres has long been known for their exceptional engineering of winter tires. Mention “Nokian Tyres” to any auto industry professional, and the first word to come to their mind is likely “Hakkapeliitta.” However, Nokian also makes all-season tires and all-weather tires, and they cater to the needs of car, light truck, crossover, SUV and commercial van owners.

Their newest tire, the Surpass AS01, is an ultra-high-performance (UHP) all-season tire. However, it’s not the brand’s first UHP tire. In fact, in 2017, they introduced the zLine A/S, which was marketed as a “performance all-season tire.” The Surpass AS01 is the successor to the zLine A/S, and Nokian is making an impressive effort to demonstrate just how capable this new tire is.

Making a splash

What better way to make a splash than to put your brand-new tires on a Ferrari and let it loose on a race track? If you want to show the auto industry that you’re just as serious about making all-season UHP tires as you are about making Hakkapeliitta winter tires, then this is the way to do it.

Strapped into the driver’s seat of one of the two available Ferrari 458 Spiders, participants were encouraged to go all-out on the track, with the pedal to the metal on the straightaways, and maximum lateral Gs on tight turns.

The Surpass AS01 handled these extremes with grace. The tire remained glued to the tarmac, never losing grip, and always ready to tackle the next turn, or to accelerate on demand on the next straightaway. Furthermore, even though we pushed these tires hard all day long, they didn’t look any worse for wear by the end of the event.

EVs, sports cars & beyond

As the day progressed, participants were offered the opportunity to take to the track with a number of other vehicles, including EVs, like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Polestar 2, and a number of sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The conclusion: The Surpass AS01 is a very capable all-season tire that’s right at home in a variety of UHP applications, including EVs, which are considerably heavier than their ICE counterparts.

In fact, the Surpass AS01 was engineered for a broad range of vehicles. According to Nokian Tyres, “the Surpass AS01 is built with EVs in mind. It comes with Nokian Tyres’ Electric Fit emblem, which signifies the tire is a seamless fit for electric vehicles.” It’s also made with a low-rolling-resistance compound, which means it can help maximize range for EV drivers, as well as improve fuel economy for those who drive a conventional ICE vehicle.

Pothole protection

The AS01 comes with a 90,000 km treadwear warranty, as well as Nokian Tyre’s Pothole Protection warranty. This means that Nokian will replace any tire that is damaged beyond repair by a pothole or road hazard (some conditions apply).

Furthermore, the sidewalls are infused with puncture-resistant Aramid fibres, which according to Nokian Tyres, makes the Surpass AS01 especially puncture resistant and durable.

Finally, the AS01 has been engineered to take advantage of a high-silica compound to improve handling and longevity. According to Nokian, “The Silica Sense Tread Compound is crafted to carve through hairpin turns and root the tire to the road for rapid acceleration.” Having pushed the AS01 on a track in a Ferrari, most in attendance that day would likely agree that this is a fair assessment of this new UHP tire’s strengths and capabilities. Mission accomplished!