- Secures dedicated certification testing environment, capability to meet European winter tire regulations entirely through in-house facilities and test tracks
- Enhances development speed and performance completeness by connecting snow and ice testing with virtual simulation technologies
SEOUL, South Korea, February 13, 2026 – NEXEN TIRE, a leading global tire manufacturer, announced the official opening of the Purple Snow Ivalo Center, its dedicated testing facility for winter and all-weather tires located in Ivalo, Finland. The event was attended by Jong Myung Kim, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of NEXEN TIRE, along with representatives from European automotive media outlets. Guests had the opportunity to participate in a winter tire test-driving program and take an excursion at UTAC’s indoor and outdoor testing facilities, experiencing firsthand the advanced testing capabilities of the center.
To strengthen its winter tire development capabilities, NEXEN TIRE has established in-house research facilities, including a dedicated laboratory for studying the surface characteristics of winter roads. The company has also secured a long-term lease for its newly designed proving ground, which features snow handling tracks of varying gradients and curves, including a large-scale flat track.
The testing center is located within the Union Technique de l'Automobile, du Motocycle et du Cycle (UTAC) proving ground in Ivalo, Finland, near the Arctic Circle in Northern Europe. UTAC, Europe’s largest automotive testing organization, operates comprehensive indoor and outdoor testing infrastructure capable of replicating extreme winter road conditions.
By operating this new testing center in Finland, NEXEN TIRE expects to further strengthen its competitiveness in the key European market, which accounts for more than 40% of its total revenue. Major European countries such as Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and Sweden, now require the use of certified winter tires with the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) marking during winter, making winter tire development capabilities increasingly important.
Notably, NEXEN TIRE has secured a dedicated test track for evaluating the durability of studded tires, which are designed for icy road conditions in extremely cold regions such as Northern Europe. This will enable the company to respond more strategically to the growing demand for winter tires in the European market.
The center also serves as a link between NEXEN TIRE’s virtual development processes and real-world vehicle testing. The company introduced the Korean automotive industry's first high-dynamic driving simulator last year, and its performance predictions can now be immediately cross-validated through on-snow driving tests.
Through this approach, NEXEN TIRE plans to further advance its AI-backed virtual development technologies, generate new opportunities to participate in original equipment (OE) projects, and strengthen its foundation for developing high-performance tires.
The new testing center is only one part of NEXEN TIRE’s multi-faceted approach to the winter tire market. On the product front, the company launched the WINGUARD Sport 3 model in the European market last year and has continued to expand the sales size lineup of the N’BLUE 4Season 2, an all-weather tire that meets winter tire requirements.
“This testing center brings together a uniquely favorable northern European location with a long winter season and the operational expertise of a leading testing specialist. It will serve as a key hub for advancing our research and development capabilities for winter and all-weather tires,” said John Bosco (Hyeon Suk) Kim, CEO of NEXEN TIRE. “Based on this foundation, we will continue to enhance our testing and research capabilities in line with the requirements of the European and global markets, and further strengthen our competitive position.”
