After most of the world’s tire brands left Russia, our drivers had a rather modest choice of tires. The market was flooded with Chinese, but in addition to the variety of Chinese brands, you can still buy high-quality European tires called Ikon Autograph Aqua 3 SUV, which Yuzhny Avtomobil decided to test on the editorial Toyota RAV4 crossover.
The fact is that after foreign companies left Russia in 2022, many brands underwent rebranding. One of the most notable examples is the Finnish Nokian, which is now called Ikon. Unlike other Western companies, Nokian left the Russian market quite wisely. In Russia, they did not simply close the plant, but found a new owner – the oil company Tatneft. Production in Vsevolozhsk continued to operate with the same equipment, technology and team. Even the top managers remained in their positions.
The only change is that the Nokian brand can no longer be used, so the premium Nokian Hakka tires have become Ikon Autograph. The franchise network of tire centers has also been preserved, but has changed its name to Ivanor. About 400 former Nokian partners have re-registered their cooperation agreements with Ikon Tyres. Previously, new tire models were developed in Finland, and the plant in Vsevolozhsk did not have a full-fledged engineering department. Now the company has to develop independently: Ikon has assembled a team of its specialists and employees of other Russian tire plants left without work after the departure of Western owners. In fact, only the name has changed. All processes and technologies, tire recipes, automated production and 200% quality control of each tire have been preserved. Every buyer of an Ikon Tyres tyre receives a quality product with the same consumer properties as before.
The Ikon Autograph Aqua 3 tyre has characteristics similar to the Nokian Hakka Blue 3 model. The new name with a “water” accent even more accurately reflects the main features of this model: it is maximally adapted to prevent aquaplaning and improve grip on wet surfaces. The central ribs of the tread are equipped with special grooves that facilitate rapid drainage of water. Internal notches in these grooves reduce noise, and the SUV version is additionally equipped with lugs for removing stones. The tyre is available in sizes from 16 to 19 inches. The Ikon Autograph Aqua 3 SUV tyres are equipped with a specially developed tread that provides confident grip on the road in both dry and wet conditions. Thanks to wide longitudinal and transverse channels, water is effectively drained, which reduces the risk of aquaplaning.
The reinforced sidewall of the tire increases its resistance to lateral impacts and loads. Additional protective elements on the side surface prevent damage from cuts and scratches.
Thanks to the optimized design of the tread blocks and the use of modern rubber compounds, the tires demonstrate low noise and vibration levels. In addition, reduced rolling resistance helps save fuel and reduce CO₂ emissions.
The Ikon Autograph Aqua 3 SUV has a long service life due to its wear-resistant compound and even tread wear. The presence of wear indicators makes it easy to determine when to replace the tires. The SUV version, which has the word SUV added to its name, features a reinforced sidewall and a reduced speed index of V (240 km/h).
This tire model has an impressive set of technological solutions: a multi-layer structure with a double steel breaker, special hydrocone grooves with a polished surface for effective water drainage from the contact area with the road and much more.
Ikon Autograph Aqua 3 SUV tires are a suitable option for owners of SUVs and crossovers who value reliability, safety and comfort when driving. The model has a number of advantages, including:
- confident grip
- reinforced sidewalls for extra strength
- reduced noise and vibration
- reduced rolling resistance
- extended service life
- affordable price
Many car owners leave positive reviews about the Ikon Autograph Aqua 3 SUV tires, noting their stable operation and good performance. These tires can be a worthy choice for the summer season.
