Nokian Tyres and Valtra Set Speed Record

Breaking the record was made possible by fitting the new Valtra T234 tractor with the world’s first winter tyre for tractors, Nokian Hakkapeliitta TRI (440/80R28 151D & 540/80R38 167D).

– I have done top speed tests earlier in several cars. This was the first time with a tractor and we immediately achieved a world record! The tyres and tractor worked really well together even though the weather was challenging, says Juha Kankkunen.

Over ten years ago Nokian Tyres became the first manufacturer in the world to introduce block pattern tyres for tractors. They expanded their winter tyre range for tractors when the Hakkapeliitta TRI was launched in the spring of 2014. The Hakkapeliitta TRI block tread pattern with its large number of edges is specifically designed to grip snowy and icy driving surfaces. Driving at these speeds requires an extremely stable and smooth handling tyre.

Results, driver and location
Nokian Tyres, Valtra and Juha Kankkunen set the new World Record for the fastest tractor when they reached 130.165 km/h in challenging winter conditions.

The record took place 9 February 2015 on the emergency airfield of Vuojärvi, Finland, approximately 20 kilometres from the city of Sodankylä near Rovaniemi. The total length of the packed snow strip was approx. 2,300 metres, with a 50-metre speed trap in the centre of the strip.

The Guinness World Records organisation defines specific rules for fastest tractor. As the time for the tractor to travel through the 50-metre speed trap. The tractor took a flying start and speed is measured in both directions. The world record is an average of the two measurements.

The developers of the best winter tyres and Nordic tractor know extreme conditions

Nokia Tyres developed and manufactured the world’s first winter tyre for the winter of 1934. Two years later, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta was born in the Nordic winter; it is already a legend wherever there are true winter conditions. Their unique innovations have made Hakkapeliittas the winners of magazine tests year after year and decade after decade.

Valtra tractors, born in Finland in 1951, are famous for their performance in demanding conditions. The new world record was set by the brand new T Series which has undergone over 40,000 hours of testing in all conditions, both in the field and lab, in the Nordic cold and Southern heat. Durability, high performance and driver comfort are amongst the most important features of the new T Series, sales of which commenced in November 2014.