A 4,000-mile passage to the Arctic saw a 1988 Volvo 240 GLT come face to face with some of Scandinavia’s toughest winter conditions without a single issue on Falken’s EUROWINTER HS02 tyres.
The epic route began in the UK, before crossing the English Channel into France, driving through Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Denmark before crossing into the Arctic Circle in Sweden and Norway – and back again.
Over two weeks, taking on ice-covered roads, frozen lakes and deep snowdrifts, the 37-year-old Volvo was in a support role for the inaugural Snowstorm Rally, driven by Ben Coombs – founder of Pub2Pub Adventures. The event saw 18 cars make the epic journey to the Arctic Circle, crossing the eight countries in just 16 days. With temperatures plummeting well below freezing – as low as -17oC – and roads made of little more than compacted ice, dependability was key and the Falken HS02 winter tyres proved more than a match for whatever the Scandinavian winter could throw at them.
“The conditions were as varied as they were extreme,” explains Ben Coombs. “One moment we were gliding over frozen lakes, the next we were carving through fresh snow in Swedish forests. Yet, despite the challenges, the Falken EUROWINTER HS02 winter tyres delivered incredible grip and stability. And when it came to the long motorway slogs to and from Scandinavia, they remained impressively quiet and comfortable. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Under the glow of the Northern Lights, the journey showcased not only Falken’s winter tyre technology but also its ongoing support for classic car enthusiasts. Falken remains committed to offering high-quality rubber that fits older vehicles, ensuring they can take on extreme adventures just like this.
The Falken EUROWINTER HS02 tyres’ synergistic tread pattern delivers balanced performance in all wintry conditions. Falken’s engineers optimised the inner side of the tread for safe driving in snow and slush, while the outer side is optimised for dry and wet performance. Specially shaped Miura-Ori 3D ribs guarantee reliable traction as well as safe braking performance with short stopping distances on snow-covered roads.
With the Volvo now safely back home, Ben’s thoughts are already turning to the next challenge. When the time comes, Falken will once again be the tyre of choice.
For more details on this adventure and others, visit www.planetpub2pub.com.
Download high resolution images here.
Falken Tyre Europe
Falken Tyre Europe GmbH is the European affiliate of Japanese tyre manufacturer Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. (SRI). With more than 40,000 employees, it is the fifth largest tyre manufacturer worldwide. Tyre production is distributed over 12 production facilities, with more than 116 million tyres sold per year. The Falken brand was established in Japan in 1983; in 1988 the first branch office was opened in Germany. From its location in Offenbach, Main, the company markets and sells a complete tyre portfolio for passenger cars, trucks, pick-ups and SUVs as original equipment and for the entire European retrofitting market. More than 220 people from 24 nations work for Falken Tyre Europe, and a distribution network of approx. 8,000 tyre partners across Europe handles the sale and fitting of its premium products. All Falken factories comply with the ISO 9001, IATF 16949 as well as environmental standard ISO14001.
For more information visit www.falkentyre.com
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