Initially, winter tires only had a snowflake on the sidewall, then the three-pointed snowflake (3PMSF) symbol was also introduced. Such tires bearing the symbol mean that they have been tested for acceleration in medium-packed snow, where the 3PMSF tire is verified to accelerate with at least 110 percent of the grip of a reference all-season tire. Now there is a braking test, and this time for braking on ice. Tires approved for such braking are marked with another special symbol on the sidewall.
The new ice grip symbol on winter tires is a triangle or peak covered in ice and separates what provides traction during acceleration in snow from what provides traction during deceleration on ice. Tire industry experts concluded that a new identifier was needed to help distinguish special winter tires from the proliferation of three peaks and a mountain snowflake - a sign that even some all-season tires are now branded with.
The new rating, approved by a technical committee at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), means that winter tires now have an internationally approved test for traction on icy surfaces in terms of braking. So far, this new emblem has only appeared on the sidewall of the latest generation Nokian Hakkapeliitta 10 studded and Hakkapeliitta R5s non-studded.
Wes Bolling from Nokian told us that they used a variety of front-wheel drive vehicles during this specific test, including a Volkswagen Golf. He also pointed out that the rubber and resins in these specific ice-rated tires perform better in extremely cold temperatures, lower than typical winter tires. We expect this pictogram to start appearing on more tires as companies release new and updated products.