Having already given its sites for South Korea and North America the treatment, Hankook Tire is continuing the renewal of its official websites in a further 26 countries. It says the new sites aim to “strengthen the platform’s function as a sales hub” and will “provide users with a more user-friendly, interactive digital experience.”
The 2022 DTM Trophy gets underway this weekend at the Lausitzring, with Hankook supplying its high-end Ventus Race tyres, as it has since the series’ inception in 2020. The “talent factory” for touring car racing will feature seven rounds. Hankook says the series continues its commitment to youth development, an important element of its motorsport commitments. Drivers from 11 countries will compete in 20 production-based GT sports cars from the opening round of the 2022 DTM Trophy in Lower Lusatia (20-22 May). Manufacturers include Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche and Toyota. Among the racers is sole female entrant, Sophie Hofmann from Waldenburg; the 23-year-old made her DTM Trophy debut last year. Hankook also supplies the single-seater all-female W Series.
Hankook Networks is the IT and logistics engineering arm of Hankook & Company and is tasked with enhancing the group’s competitiveness by utilising and applying its latest IT and digital technologies to other affiliate companies, including Hankook Tire & Technology. As of 2 May 2022, the business is being led by a new chief executive officer, Youngmin Cho.
Hankook Tire is unveiling three products at The Tire Cologne later this month, including its first tyre family designed for electric vehicles. Other newcomers include the latest winter tyre range as well as an airless concept tyre. The tyre maker invites visitors to the show to view these and other products at its booth in Hall 8.1, aisle C040/aisle D049.
Hankook Tire has launched its official global Instagram account with a goal to tap into the Millennials and Generation Z, a demographic it collectively calls the ‘MZ Generation’. The Instagram channel will provide MZs with a “new brand experience” and will specifically feature its new iON family of electric vehicle tyres.
The BMW i4 Gran Coupé will be sold with Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 tyres as original equipment. Hankook Tire is supplying its ultra-high-performance tyres in 18- and 19-inch dimensions, including mixed and all all-position sizes as well as a run-flat option.
It is the ‘MO’ label on the sidewall that Hankook Tire is particularly proud of. The two letters stand for ‘Mercedes Original’, and only tyres that match strict quality criteria are approved as original equipment for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. These letters appear on the sides of three Hankook tyre models that Mercedes-Benz fits on the S-Class, continuing a supply arrangement that began almost a decade ago.
Following a successful pilot scheme, Kwik Fit is increasing product availability for customers who want to buy tyres that support sustainable rubber production and help protect the rainforests of Indonesia. The company is now offering three brands of tyre that tick these boxes.
Road Transport Expo is a new commercial vehicle trade show that will take place at the NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire between 30 June and 2 July. More than 90 exhibitors have signed up, including Hankook Tyre UK, which plans to showcase its portfolio of commercial tyres including the new SmartFlex AH51 and SmartFlexDH51. Visitors can find Hankook at Stand F4.
Hankook has been certified S&P Global Gold Class in S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook 2022, making the tyre manufacturer one of the top companies in the US financial services provider’s ranking. Based on the S&P Dow Jones World Sustainability Index, the yearbook is regarded as one of the world’s foremost sustainability indices. Of the 7,554 companies evaluated for the 2022 yearbook, 75 received gold, 89 silver, and 106 bronze awards for outstanding achievement. Hankook president and CEO Sooil Lee said, “The award is a testament to our commitment to a more sustainable future. To further drive our growth as a global acting tyre company, we plan to strengthen our social, environmental and financial activities globally.”
Hankook has won three more original equipment tyre fitments from the Volkswagen Group. It is supplying its ultra-high performance Ventus S1 evo 3 to the Golf GTI und Golf R, while the Tiguan R will roll on either the Ventus S1 evo 2 SUV or evo 3 SUV. The sporty variants of each VW model will benefit from the tyre manufacturer’s flagship UHP tyre technologies, with the Golfs running on 235/35R19 91Y tyres, and the Tiguan R SUV rolling on either the 255/40R20 101Y XL S1 evo 2 SUV, or the 255/35R21 98Y XL S1 evo 3 SUV variants.
Hankook will launch a new line of speciality electric vehicle tyres in May 2022. The line of Hankook iON tyres is developed to offer reduced rolling resistance and therefore an increase in range, lower tyre noise for more comfort, and higher resilience to deal with the higher torque of electric vehicles. The Korean manufacturer said that it is launching the iON line as a contribution to the transition towards zero emission vehicles. The iON line will be available initially in three designs for summer, winter, and all-season applications – the latter in North America, but with European seasonal fitments – in sizes between 18 and 22 inches. The tyres will respectively be launched as the Hankook Ventus iON S summer tyre pattern, the Hankook Winter i*cept iON (from September 2022), and the Hankook Ventus iON A. In addition to supplying its tyres to EV manufacturers and launching an EV tyre line in its domestic South Korean market, Hankook has recently aligned itself with a range of electric mobility projects, such as its title sponsorship of the inaugural Top Gear EV Awards in 2021. Hankook adds that further specific product designs are in the pipeline.
Hankook will supply its Ventus Race tyre to the W Series for the third season in 2022, beginning 6-8 May in Miami, USA. The world’s only all-female single-seater series will race on Hankook tyres at eight Formula 1 weekends. The tyre manufacturer has partnered the series since its inaugural season in 2019. Hankook says the series demonstrates its motorsport philosophy of providing targeted support to motor racing drivers – in the case of W Series, this means the opportunity for female racers to gather experience in a professional environment at some historic circuits. It says the consistency and predictability of the Ventus Race, as well as its own support, are a key factor in drivers’ development processes.
The latest incarnation of the Hankook Ventus Prime is now available and takes over from a predecessor that has sold more than 20 million units since 2015, is original equipment on several vehicles and has racked up a number of tyre test honours, including two wins in the renowned Auto Bild summer test. Hankook says the new Ventus Prime 4 offers generational improvements “in practically all relevant points,” including further optimised handling, rolling resistance and mileage.
Hankook
Hankook
Hankook
Hankook
Drew Gibson