New OE Deal Cements Hankook’s High Performance Credentials

From February of this year, Hankook tyres are being fitted to the fifth generation Golf. The Volkswagen Golf has been the single best-selling model of car in Western Europe since the first generation debuted in 1974. Hankook will supply the high performance Ventus Prime K105 205/55R 16. Furthermore since Hankook moved into its purpose built warehouse complex, high performance stockholding has more than doubled, company representatives told Tyres & Accessories.

The Ventus Prime combines performance with greater levels of comfort. The range comprises of 23 sizes, in speed ratings from T through to W, and Hankook’s high performance credentials are well founded as the Ventus Prime 205/55 R16 H&V is also supplied as original equipment to the Ford Mondeo.

According to Hankook, the Ventus S1 evo caused quite a stir when it made its debut at the Essen Motor Show in 2004 and has been winning customers since its introduction into the UK last year. It is manufactured in 16 sizes, 11 of which will be available in the UK. It is Y-rated (300 km/h) and is available in 17 to 22-inch sizes and aspect ratios from 45 series down to an ultra-low profile 25 series. As a flagship product, the Ventus S1 evo is available through any Hankook dealer.

The target vehicles for the Ventus S1 evo are sports cars and luxury, high performance saloons, which is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the UK car parc. The tyre boasts the latest technology in both construction and design, including a new profile pattern for improved footprint contact and an all-new silica compound that reduces tyre wear and lowers fuel consumption through enhanced rolling resistance.

While the Ventus S1 evo is the most recent premium addition to the Hankook uhp portfolio, it is the latest in a long of performance products. In total, there are over 170 different Hankook uhp patterns and sizes, ranging from 16-inch rims for smaller, sporty cars to tyres for 24-inch rims, as fitted on the latest generation of high performance SUVs.

One of Hankook’s most popular uhp tyres is the Ventus K104, which is available in 35 different sizes. The Ventus K104 is Y-speed rated and has aspect ratios down to 30 series. Those who require a tyre designed for out-and-out sporty performance can opt for the Ventus R-S2 (Z212) – a street version of Hankook’s racing tyre, available in 17 W and Y-rated sizes which are expected to be popular with trackday drivers. The Ventus R-S2 is available through a number of selected high performance dealers.

Finally, there is the high performance SUV sector, catered for by Hankook’s Ventus ST tyre, incorporating 20 sizes with V,W and Y speed ratings.