Highly Interlocking Scale Sipe System

Excellent winter grip plus improved dry handling: The HISS-System

In order to be able to improve both handling stability and winter grip, Gislaved engineers developed the patented HISS-System (Highly Interlocking Scale Sipe System) which is used in the middle rib of SoftFrost 2. Its effect, either interlocking or scale, depends on the direction of the force transmission, i.e. the rolling direction of the tyre. 

Due to varying lengths of the sipe edges the sipe elements in the strong centre rib interlock, enabling increased side force to be transmitted during dry handling. This ensures improved steering response and dry handling performance also on heavy vehicles.

When driving on winter roads, the scale effect comes into effect as peaks in the sipes of the middle rib create additional snow pockets and grip edges resulting in improved traction on snow.

During braking the tyre runs in the opposite direction. Braking forces result in small grip edges in the middle rib. These edges bite through the liquid layer resulting in improved braking on ice.