Test Drive Meet the Nokian MPT Agile 2 off-road tire
The most significant change is the symmetrical tread pattern of the tire.
Special requirements for tires are imposed on vehicles of defense and peacekeeping forces, rescue vehicles and off-road trucks. On-road or off-road at any speed, a tire must be extremely agile, offer good traction and, above all, not fail at a critical moment. Nokian MPT Agile 2 is a new version of the proven Nokian MPT Agile, offering several improvements over the original.
The collaboration between Nokian Tires and the Finnish Defense Forces in the development of high-performance all-terrain tires has been going on for decades. Northern conditions pose many challenges for tires with terrain ranging from snow and ice to mud, sharp rocks and other obstacles. A new generation of off-road tires is required and Nokian Tires is developing completely new tires to meet these needs.
Versatile and flexible
“The key to good off-road tires is versatility,” says Tepo Siltanen, product manager at Nokian Heavy Tires. “A tire must perform both on the road and on soft ground – or wherever the job takes you.”
As the name suggests, another important design feature of the new Nokian MPT Agile 2 is agility. Not only military equipment, but, for example, fire and other rescue equipment requires precise control, sometimes even at high speeds.
“We are very pleased with the steering response and the stability the Nokian MPT Agile 2 offers,” says Siltanen with a smile. “At the same time, we have a quiet and comfortable ride on the road.”
New and improved
“The original Nokian MPT Agile has proven its value many times over,” says Siltanen. “However, through extensive product development and rigorous field testing, we were able to make the tire even better.”
The most significant change is the symmetrical tread pattern, which works equally well regardless of the direction of rotation of the tires. But the more modern design also translates into improved vertical and lateral grip on soft surfaces, improved self-cleaning properties and better grip in winter conditions. Also, the pages already have camouflage.
“The new design has a larger footprint than the previous version, resulting in better flotation and less ground pressure – all the qualities you need in soft ground,” says Siltanen. “There is also less heat, which increases tire life.”
An important aspect in extreme winter conditions is the ability to use studs. The Nokian MPT Agile 2 comes with pre-marked studs for both military and civilian vehicles.
For civil use
The new Nokian MPT Agile 2 is expected to find applications in the military sector, but the bus's versatility doesn't end there.
“In addition to defense and peacekeeping equipment, the tire has many civilian uses,” explains Tepo Siltanen. “Heavy rescue vehicles such as airport fire trucks, off-road trucks and other off-road vehicles can benefit from the traction, reliability and good handling offered by the Nokian MPT Agile 2.”
The desire to create the best tire for off-road vehicles operating in Scandinavian conditions has resulted in a product that is widely used around the world.
“As we often say, if a tire works in Finnish forests, it works everywhere,” Siltanen laughs.
