Nokian MPT Agile 2: Review & Rating
Nokian Tyres is a Finland-based company that specializes in producing tires of various types – such as tires for cars, trucks, buses, and heavy-duty machinery. The unique selling point of Nokian Tyres however, is its winter tires.
Nokian Tyres holds the distinction of being the only one with a permanent winter tire testing facility. Home to famous tire brands such as the Hakkapeliitta; Nokian Tyres has managed to create another excellent tire – the MPT Agile 2.
The company prides itself in creating eco-friendly and sustainable tires that offer safety and peace of mind to its users, and the MPT Agile 2 is no different. While their unique selling point remains specialized winter tires, MPT Agile 2 attempts to bridge the gap by including an all-season all-terrain design that ensures year-long operation and effectiveness.
Features
Nokian MPT Agile 2 is the successor to the Nokian MPT Agile, which was met with acclaim and success in a highly competitive market. However, the Nokian MPT Agile 2 comes with several upgrades to its predecessor, improving the overall performance.
The Nokian MPT Agile 2 is an extension of the previous collaborations between the Finnish Defense Forces and Nokian Tyres. The Nordic conditions prevalent in Scandinavia present tire manufactures with a unique set of problems and challenges. The conditions can vary from snow capped icy terrain to a muddy landscape, full of sharp rocks.
Such circumstances called for the need to manufacture a tire that can provide maximum efficiency in such diverse conditions without losing its effectiveness.
When catering to the military, vehicles require a tire that is highly adaptable to the mission locations and training exercises without losing its grip or malfunctioning at a critical time. The Nokian MPT Agile 2 ticks all of these boxes.
The distinguishing factor of the Nokian MPT Agile 2 is its unmatched versatility. Nordic conditions make it impossible for a premium OTR tire to cater to one specific terrain. Be it roads, landfills, or mud – the tire has to perform effectively wherever the job takes you.
As the name implies, agility was also one of the major upgrades in the Nokian MPT Agile 2. Catering to military and rescue operations requires steering accuracy at high speeds, which the Agile 2 does brilliantly.
The grip of the Nokian MPT Agile 2 is also one of its key features. Nokian innovated in multiple aspects of the tires to provide exclusive all-terrain grip for the Agile 2.
One of the significant changes was made to the tread pattern. Nokian MPT Agile 2 is manufactured with a symmetrical tread design, ensuring that the tyre performs up to the expectations regardless of the tires’ rotational direction.
Additionally, the modern design of the Nokian MPT Agile 2 also helps improve the vertical and lateral grip on the softer surfaces along with providing an overall increased winter grip for the winter season. In fact, the lateral grip on the Nokian MPT Agile 2 is 15% more than that of competing products.
The breaking and acceleration grip on the Nokian MPT Agile 2 was measured to be at least 10% more than that of its rivals, ensuring a better grip of the road during winter times.
The new design also results in improved self-cleaning properties of the tire, reducing the costs of maintenance which can run high for OTRs. The sidewalls are also created with a camouflage pattern to gel in with the terrain.
Nokian Tyres are committed to innovation; something the MPT Agile 2 is a testament of. The new design incorporates a larger footprint than the basic Agile version (by 5%), which results in better flotation while driving and reduced surface area pressure. It leads to lesser heat building up inside the tire, improving the tire’s lifespan and reducing the replacement costs for the user.
The wider footprint is also crucial in maintaining even pressure distribution throughout the vehicle, leading to better control and grip while driving.
Another feature added in the Nokian MPT Agile 2 is the ability to use studs. Snow capped terrains in the north, make it imperative for high-grade OTR tires to have studs attached to them. Nokian MPT Agile 2 comes with pre-marked stud locations to help users quickly and easily attach studs.
It must be noted that the Nokian MPT Agile 2 was not only designed for the Finnish Defense Forces. It is a commercially available tire which caters to users far beyond defense. Heavy rescue vehicles such as fire engines, off-road trucks operating in severe climates and OTR vehicles: all can make use of Nokian MPT Agile 2.
Technical Specifications
Nokian MPT Agile 2 comes equipped with a tread depth indicator. Additionally, it is also capable of chain-use.
The technical specifications of the Nokian MPT Agile 2 are:
• Rim – 20 inches
• Width – 400mm
• Diameter – 1270 mm
• Load Capacity – 90 km/h; 5000 kg
• Max Inflation Pressure – 760 kPa
Conclusion
Nokian adds to the success of its rich history of providing high-quality tires with the MPT Agile 2.
The tires are designed to cater to the military, guaranteeing efficient performance standards and durability. The improved tread design, along with an increased lateral and breaking grip adds to the effectiveness of the tire in the harshest of climates.
With pre-marked spaces for stud attachments, these tires are a perfect fit for the harsh winter climate and are user-friendly and hassle-free. Additionally, they are designed to perform on all terrain types and can be used worldwide, to provide a safe and seamless driving experience.