Nokian Ground Kare – new excavator and backhoe loader tire for meadows, roads and railways

Nokian Heavy Tyres, Nokia, Finland, 22 May 2019 – In the field of excavator tires, one solution is seldom optimal for all purposes. That is why Nokian Tyres wants to offer a full range of tires with emphasis on different surfaces and stability demands. The latest addition to our selection is Nokian Ground Kare, a special excavator tire with some unique features.

The recent trends in earthmoving include big, multi-function machines with heavy work attachments requiring bigger load-bearing capacity from a tire. Another change is towards faster and longer road transports, which means the tires must offer good road handling properties and withstand the wear and tear of paved roads. The third trend is the need to be gentle to the soil and enable accurate working – essential features when excavating city parks and private yards. Nokian Ground Kare tire was designed from ground up with these requirements in mind.

“Of course, there is more than that”, says Eva-Leena Varpe, Product Manager at Nokian Tyres. “Grip and stability on site are also the two defining tire features.”

Right tire for each site

Excavating sites are different. For applications demanding absolutely the best stability, the block-patterned Nokian Armor Gard 2 tires can be used in dual configuration. For very soft surfaces, the wide, lug-patterned Nokian Excavator tire is often preferred for its grip. Striking a good compromise between the two, the all-new block-patterned Nokian Ground Kare tire has a good grip on soft surfaces, low surface pressure for little impact on soil as well as excellent stability and on-road properties.

“The Nokian Ground Kare tires feature a purpose-built new tread design for good endurance and low ground pressure”, Varpe sums it up. “To bring the important stability for safe and accurate excavating work, the tires have a special rubber compound that absorbs swings and shocks as well as a very sturdy carcass that allows high operating pressure.”

The user experience from the field confirms that the improved stability has a positive effect on work efficiency. “The tires’ stability is better, as well as the damping of the carcass”, Nokian Ground Kare user Mr. Mark Geurts from the Netherlands says. “This saves time, as every stroke in grading is right the first time.”

What’s more, Mr. Mark Geurts is impressed by Nokian Ground Kare tires’ friendliness to the soil. “This tread does not move sand side wards”, he says. “It saves me the time-consuming levelling of my track”.

All-round ruggedness is also important on rocky excavation sites. Nokian Ground Kare tire has a steel belts against cuts and cracks. What’s more, its load-bearing capacity of up to 7500 kg / tire is top-notch.

“Heavy auxiliary equipment on multi-function machines can really put tires to the test”, Eva-Leena Varpe says. “Nokian Ground Kare tires give you more margin, and the tire tread wears slowly and evenly for economical use.”

Mr. Mark Geurts has also noted the slow tire wear. “The tire performs very well, and it promises a good lifetime in working hours”, he says. “The tire’s self-cleaning is better than expected and the comfort and low noise on the road is a true joy”.

Nokian Ground Kare semi-slick for railroads

The Nokian Ground Kare tire sizes are selected with both wheeled excavators and backhoe loaders in mind. The latter have also one special application worth its own special tire variant – the first of its kind in the world.

“In railroad use, a special backhoe loader is driven on tracks”, Eva-Leena Varpe reminds. “The other half of the tire runs on steel, causing uneven tire wear. Nokian Ground Kare tire is available as a special semi-slick version to counteract this and increase the tire service life”

Sizes and availability

Nokian Ground Kare tires will be available from June 2019 onwards in sizes 650/45-22.5 for excavators and 620/60B34 for backhoe loaders. The special railroad variant 620/60B34 Nokian Ground Kare semi-slick tire will be available from December 2019.                  

More information and photos:

Photos and press materials: www.nokiantyres.com/groundkarePR 
Product website: www.nokiantyres.com/groundkare 
Company website: www.nokiantyres.com/heavy

Toni Silfverberg, Head of Sales & Marketing, Nokian Heavy Tyres Ltd, toni.silfverberg@nokiantyres.com, tel. +358 10 401 7854

Tuomas Färlin, Business Line Director OTR, Nokian Heavy Tyres Ltd, tuomas.farlin@nokiantyres.com, tel. +358 50 317 4095

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Nokian Tyres develops and manufactures premium tires for people who value safety and sustainability. Inspired by our Scandinavian heritage, we craft innovative products for passenger cars, trucks and heavy machinery that give you peace of mind in all driving conditions. Our Vianor chain provides tire and car services. In 2018, the company’s net sales were EUR 1.6 billion and it employed some 4,800 people. Nokian Tyres is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Further information: www.nokiantyres.com

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