Bob Hepp of Nokian Tyres North America to Present at ITEC

Colchester, Vermont, September 17, 2010: Bob Hepp, a vice president at Nokian Tyres North America, will be delivering a presentation “How to sell Winter Tires vs. Snow Tires” during the ITEC (International Tire Exhibition & Conference) September 21-23 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Hepp will cover the "all-season" myth and the reasons as to why winter tires should not be sold as "snow" tires. This session will cover the advantages of winter tires over traditional all-season tires and show the dramatic increase they offer in driving safety.

In addition to reviewing the reason for the Severe Service Emblem (mountain snowflake) and highlighting what might be next, including mandatory winter tire legislation, Mr. Hepp will compare studded vs. studless winter tires and how advancements in stud technology require a rethinking of past assumptions about studded tires. He will also discuss the emerging category of all-weather-plus tires, true winter tires that can be used year-round.

“I am excited to present. There is a big opportunity for tire dealers to generate margin and do their customers a great service by selling winter tires,” said Mr. Hepp. “Even in regions with moderate winters they can make a big difference and offer better safety.”

Bob Hepp has 25 years of experience in tire distribution in northern New England and New York. He founded University Wholesalers, a business he grew into a large regional distributorship for Nokian Tyres of Finland and for Bridgestone Firestone. With over 1,300 clients, Bob has focused on the unique needs of his market and has been actively involved with providing product feedback to both companies. Every fall, Mr. Hepp travels the northeast United States training hundreds of tire retailer employees on how to sell winter tires.

Mr. Hepp’s presentation will be held in a yet-to-be announced meeting room in the Exhibition Hall from 2:30-3:00 on Thursday, September 23.

About Nokian Tyres

Nokian Tyres is the only tire manufacturer that focuses on customer needs in northern conditions. The company supplies innovative tires for cars, trucks and special heavy machinery mainly in areas with special challenges on tire performance: snow, forests and harsh driving conditions in different seasons. Nokian Tyres’ product development is consistently aiming for sustainable solutions for safety and the environment, taking into account the whole life cycle of the tire.

Nokian Tyres group also owns the tire chain Vianor and has over 600 outlets in 19 countries. In 2009, Nokian Tyres had 3,300 employees and net sales of approximately 798.5 million Euros. Nokian Tyres’ shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Further information is available at: www.nokiantyres.com.

For Further Information:
Marc Bujold
Marc.bujold(at)nokiantyres.com
Nokian Tyres, Inc.
802-488-8569