Within the next few hours, production will recommence at Hankook Tire & Technology’s Geumsan plant in South Korea following a 48-hour pause that began on 24 July after a number of workers tested positive for Covid-19. Health authorities have set up a test centre at the plant and intend to test around 3,000 employees early this week.
Hankook Tire confirms that its tyres will be original equipment on Volkswagen’s first all-electric SUV, the ID.4. The tyre maker will supply its Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ev in numerous sizes from the vehicle’s market launch. OEM fitment on the ID.4 follows the pairing of prototype Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ev tyres with the VW study ID. Crozz, the design of which the new ID.4 is based on.
Continuing our recently-introduced series of interviews with leading figures in the UK tyre industry, Tyres & Accessories spoke with Paul Emery, UK sales director, Hankook Tyre UK.
Tyres & Accessories: How has the pandemic impacted on your business? What changes have you made in day-to-day business?
“Torque from the Top” is a regularly feature in the print edition of Tyres & Accessories magazine. Not a subscriber? No problem, click here to become one.
BMW M GmbH has selected Hankook Tire as an original equipment tyre supplier and is fitting the BMW X3 M and X4 M with the Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z; both models wear tweaked versions of the UUHP tyre in size 255/40 ZR21 102Y on the front axle and 265/40 ZR21 105Y at the rear. This is Hankook’s first partnership with BMW’s performance division, but it reports that “other tyres for M GmbH models are already in development.”
Hankook is supporting four-time British Rally champion Keith Cronin, who has returned to the series this year. The West Cork driver will contest the four gravel rounds of the 2021 British Rally Championship (BRC), beginning with the Nicky Grist Stages this weekend, plus the season-closing Today’s Ulster Rally on tarmac in November. The recent non-championship M-Sport Rally in Cumbria provided the first opportunity to test the latest Hankook competition tyres in advance of the BRC campaign, bringing a successful result of third overall and second in the Rally 2 class.
Hankook & Company Co., Ltd., the holding company of Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd., has expanded its cooperation with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) through the signing of a memorandum of understanding with its College of Engineering. This latest MoU centres on the ‘Symbiotic Transformation for AI-infused Reality (STAR) Project’ and seeks to “build a data infrastructure platform and strengthen cooperation in researches for the post-AI age.” One potential outcome of this collaboration is that data will later be used in Hankook’s tyre research and development.
Hankook Tire describes its receipt of a General Motors Supplier of the Year award as an honour. The company is one of 122 suppliers around the world, including five tyre makers, acknowledged for exceptional performance in the 2020 calendar year.
Hankook Tire has expanded its testing and development capacities in Europe with the commissioning of a new test centre in Spain. The facility, located some 40 miles southwest of Barcelona on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group, will enable the tyre maker to “build on even more efficient and state-of-the-art, fully automated test logistics for European tyre development in the future.”
While the world is still adjusting to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been no small measure of disruption in the standings of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers, according to our latest top 25 table. Six of the top 10 have changed places this time round, with the headline news being that Michelin has regained pole position after several years of having Bridgestone in first place. At the same time, Continental has stepped up into third position, leapfrogging the previous incumbent Goodyear.
In April, Goodyear shared that the new Audi e-tron GT is available factory-fitted with a 21-inch version of its Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5. Hankook Tire reports it is also supplying original equipment tyres to Audi’s electric performance saloon; the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ev will be fitted to the e-tron GT in size 225/55R19 XL 103Y on the front axle and 275/45R19 XL 108Y on the rear.
Hankook will act as main sponsor of the 2021 BBC Top Gear Global Electric Vehicle Awards, which recognise the best EVs across 12 different award categories, including EV of the Year, Best Hatchback, SUV, Estate, and Hypercar. This arrangement builds upon other EV-related engagements, such as Hankook Tire’s upcoming tyre supply to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the world’s first and only all-electric street racing Formula series.
Sumitomo Rubber Industries has begun supplying the Dunlop Enasave EC300+ to Lexus for certain versions of its first all-electric model, the UX300e. Meanwhile, Hankook Tire shares that it will equip the 2021 Honda Vezel hybrid for the Japanese market with its Kinergy Eco² tyre ex works.
This summer, Hankook Tyre UK will exhibit its growing range of truck, bus and van tyres, including the new Laufenn truck tyre range, at the Commercial Vehicle Show. The UK’s largest and most comprehensive road transport and commercial vehicle event will take place between 31 August and 2 September; Hankook can be found in Hall 5, at stand 5B50.
Hankook said it “intends” to continue its long-standing partnership with the UEFA Europa League, “in the years to come”. The comments, made as part of a press release signalling the company’s charitable activities in connection with the Europa League final, suggest Hankook wants to continue its support of purportedly the world’s biggest competition in club football for the foreseeable future.
Hankook – as part of its long-standing partnership with UEFA and this year’s UEFA Europa League Final in Gdańsk, Poland – enabled children selected by two non-profits to attend the final. Both chosen non-profit organisations are involved in football-related activities for children. Amp Futbol Polska supports children with amputations and physical disabilities who want to play football, while Fair Play Program aims to empower girls and women in football in Poland. Not only were the children able to watch the final between Villareal CF and Manchester United live, but they also received exclusive backpacks made from the original centre circle banner tarpaulin, filled with goodies to enjoy after the game. They were also allowed to take photos with Polish goalkeeping legend Jerzy Dudek, and the original UEFA Europa League Trophy before the match.
Hankook
Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels
Hankook