Wed November 11 11:41 pm 2020 in categories Company news, Product news
Nokian Tyres made a world record possible: Car pushing is a game of skill, not brute force
A new Guinness World Record for the fastest time to push a car one mile (1.6 km) has been set in Finland. The record was set by Jussi Kallioniemi, who says that this is not a test of brute force but rather an enormous puzzle. A key piece of the performance was the low rolling resistance of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV winter tires.
13 minutes and 26 seconds. That’s how long it took Jussi Kallioniemi to push a passenger car, weighing 2,100 kilograms, for one mile (or exactly 1,609.34 meters) in order to claim the world record. This result improves on the previous record by nearly two minutes. Guinness has officially confirmed the world record for “Fastest time to push a car one mile.”
The record was set on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at the Nokian Tyres test track in Nokia, Finland. For the performance, Kallioniemi used his own car, a 2006 Saab affectionately known as “Röhkö.” Nokian Tyres Technical Customer Service Manager Matti Morri was in the driver’s seat.
“People often tell me that I don’t look like a strongman – and I’m not one,” Kallioniemi said. “This was a performance comparable to a medium-distance run, not a show of force. There are two ways to achieve the power you need: either increase your own strength or reduce resistance.”
When pushing a car, the important part is to defeat the rolling resistance, so the lower the rolling resistance of your tires is, the lighter the car will roll. Rolling resistance refers to the energy consumed by the tire’s deformation during road contact. This is also an important topic for regular drivers. A tire with low rolling resistance is a green and economical choice.
“Even older cars can roll lightly when equipped with safe and comfortable non-studded premium winter tires like the Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3,” said Morri. “Provided that the tire pressures are in check, using tires with low rolling resistance can save up to two-tenths of a gallon of fuel per 100 miles or substantially extend an electric vehicle’s range, even in the winter. At the same time, you are conserving the environment due to the lower CO2 emissions.”
Brought together by the will to develop
Kallioniemi has been training at the Nokian Tyres test track in Nokia, Finland, where the premium tire manufacturer also has its headquarters. He and the global tire company are brought together by their similar attitudes.
“Our passion for tire development is similar to Jussi’s passion for training,” Morri said. “We test our products to the extremes in all conditions. Human well-being is also very important to us. The body and mind must be in balance in order to refine our Scandinavian know-how and creativity into the world’s safest, eco-friendliest tires.”
Fact: Jussi Kallioniemi
– 47 years old, lives in Nokia, Finland with his family
– Holder of the world record for “Fastest time to push a car one mile”
– He has previously set the record for “Fastest marathon carrying a 60 lb (27.2 kg) pack”: 4 h 34 min 24s
– Increased his muscle strength and stamina especially in 2019
– About 600 km of training in car pushing during 2020
– Invented a remote control for training, has a pending patent for it
Fact: Record-setting vehicle “Röhkö”
– Saab 97-X 5.3i Arc
– Engine: 5.3 l V8, 304 hp
– Weight 2,170 kg
– More than 211,000 km (131,000 miles) on the odometer
– Runs on biogas
– Lets out a nice groan when starting (“röhkäisy” in Finnish)
Fact: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 SUV winter tire
– Nordic non-studded wintertire, winner of multiple tests
– Perfect combination of safety and driving comfort for any winter weather
– Cryo Crystal 3 grip particles in the rubber compound grip the driving surface
– Snow Claws between the tread blocks further increase grip
– Offers fuel savings and increases EV range
– Number one choice for greener driving
– Tire size used for the record: 255/55 R18
Read more:
New world record for the fastest time to push a car one mile
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