Nordic Traction is a leading manufacturer of traction aid chains, with almost 100 years of experience manufacturing traction aid chains for the Finnish Defense Forces.
We base our expertise on Arctic ‘snow-how’, a long tradition of manufacturing snow chains to keep military vehicles moving in the most demanding winter conditions of the Nordic countries.
Traction aid chains for military wheeled vehicles
Speed and mobility are of utmost importance for defence applications, and our selection of snow chains aim to keep wheeled vehicles moving and troops safe and operational.
Suitable applications range from ultra-light tactical vehicles to armoured personnel carriers, heavy-duty tactical trucks, and heavy tactical vehicles.
Our customers include the Finnish Defense Forces, Swedish Armed Forces, Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as the DLA / USMC. We also deliver non-skid snow and traction chains for agriculture, construction, snow cleaning, forestry and transportation applications.
We have the manufacture capacity for tens of thousands of pairs of chains annually and have extensive experience of producing durable chain with excellent traction for practically any wheeled vehicle.
With our dedicated engineering and design department, it is also possible to tailor the chains for new applications and tire sizes.
Long history of chain manufacturing in Finland
Nordic Traction has produced chain products for professional use since 1903. All our products are manufactured from start to finish in Finland using special boron steel as our raw material.
All chains have been case-hardened in a special process, which makes the chain extremely durable with high surface hardness and provides the chain with excellent fatigue strength and a resilient core. Our impeccable expertise, polished manufacturing methods, and ISO 9001 certified quality management system ensure that our products endure even the harshest conditions.
Proven and reliable chain products for defence applications
Grip 5 chain
The ‘Grip 5’ chain was specially designed together with the Finnish Armed Forces for ultra-light tactical vehicles and joint light tactical vehicles operating in muddy, icy and snowy conditions.
This unique wear chain pattern greatly improves traction and maneuverability, allowing vehicles to operate with much faster driving speeds in challenging on-road and off-road conditions.
The lightweight Grip 5 chain is quick and easy to mount on the tire and all the needed joining components are attached on chain. No additional tools are needed when installing the chain.
Grip 5’s unique diamond pattern provides simultaneously superior traction to the driving wheel and greatly improves vehicle steering with lateral grip compared to the old ladder-type chains commonly used.
The continuous diamond pattern on the tire thread ensures that there is always chain links providing tractions between tire thread and terrain. Continuous chain line on tire surface also makes the chain act more stable on tire allowing greater driving speed and lateral grip for steering and slopes.
RS Army 9
The RS Army 9 is traction chain has been designed for the Finnish Armed Forces for different heavy tactical vehicles, APCs, as well as midsize and heavy-duty off-road trucks to be used in muddy, icy and snowy conditions.
This chain model has proven its performance in varying Arctic conditions and virgin deep snow, with applications ranging from from JLTV and APC up to HEMTT vehicles in artillery and logistic use.
A diamond patterned 9mm wear chain with 10mm standing spikes provides optimal grip from on-road driving to cross-county virgin snow. The diamond pattern on the tire thread ensures that there are always chain links providing traction between tire thread and terrain. Continues chain line on tire surface also makes the chain act more stable on tire, allowing greater driving speed and lateral grip for steering and slopes.
Tapio-NK 9
The Tapio-NK 9 model is the unstudded traction chain option for midsize or heavy vehicles and midsize loaders operating mainly in icy and snowy tarmac or gravel terrains.
Hexagonal chain pattern made from unstudded 9mm D-profile links provide effective grip to heavy vehicles operating in snowy and icy condition.
The weight of the vehicle helps the angular outer edge of the chain link to dig into hard ice. Low profile chain links combined with continuous chain line on tire thread provides smooth driving characteristics.
