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James Bond-style deployable studded tyres could be a reality

18 Feb, 2014 10:09am

You could soon be able to buy winter tyres with metal studs that deploy at the push of a button

Nokian tyres has created a concept winter tyre which allows the driver to deploy studs at the push of a button.

The concept tyres are reminiscent of the 1987 James Bond film, "The Living Daylights," wherein Timothy Dalton deploys tyre spikes in the midst of an icy car chase.

The retractable studs can be deployed on all four wheels at the same time. While the body of the stud remains in place, a hard metal pin in the middle is pushed out to provide extra grip on snow and ice.

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Previously, the problem with studded tyres was that they can only really be used in extreme icey or snowy conditions. Otherwise, they're capable of damaging the surface of dry roads.

But if Nokian's push-button studded tyres ever make production, this problem will be solved entirely.

Watch the video below of James Bond's Aston Martin Vantage Volante complete with retractable studded tyres (skip to 3:00).