South Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen Tire Corporation announced it has established a new dedicated winter tyre test centre at the UTAC proving ground in Ivalo, Finland. The facility will be the main winter tyre performance testing and research and development (R&D) centre for the company.

Nexen said the new centre will allow it to step up the development and performance testing of winter tyres, which are required to perform consistently on snowy and icy road conditions that can be up to eight times more slippery than normal road conditions. As rubber hardens at low temperatures, limiting its grip, winter tyres use specialized rubber compounds and customized tread patterns to maintain performance. The tyres must be tested in specialized facilities at low temperatures.

Nexen confirmed that until now it has used the UTAC testing facility under short-term contracts. But rising demand for winter tyre testing from other global manufacturers has made it harder to reserve time at the facility, prompting the company to establish its own dedicated on-site facilities.

As a result, Nexen has extended its winter tyre testing season from one month to up to four months. The company also plans to establish additional dedicated test tracks in the areas.

Nexen’s CEO, Travis Kang, said in a statement: “As winter tyre standards continue to strengthen, this investment is a crucial step to secure our technological competitiveness. The testing centre will not only reduce our development periods but also enhance the performance of our winter tyres through core technology research, reinforcing our presence in key markets while laying the groundwork for future growth in global markets."