R&D investment aids quality and technology within Hankook range

Hankook reports that five per cent of its annual revenue is directed towards research and development, an investment it says allows the development and production of the very latest in market-specific tyre solutions. Such investment is considered by the Korean manufacturer as key to ensuring optimum quality and technology within its high performance portfolio – a range it says is specifically designed to suit all types of motorists.

“Like many things in life, we all want what’s best for us, and this is often also applied to our vehicles,” comments Mark Grace, product and pricing manager at Hankook Tyre UK Ltd. “Many motorists choose to fit performance tyres to their vehicles to ensure they maintain the integrity and handling associated with OE equipment that they are accustomed to, whilst also retaining value for money. This is why Hankook offers a selection of high performance tyres to suit everyone.”

Two products at the core of Hankook’s high performance range are the comfort and luxury segment Ventus Prime2 and the Kinergy Eco for drivers oriented towards eco-friendliness. The first of this pair is described by Hankook as a premium comfort tyre for frequent drivers who have a high safety awareness and maximum demands. The Ventus Prime2 is fitted as original equipment on the Mini and, as of last December, several BMW 1 Series models; the tyre is fitted to the 116i, 118i, 116d and 118d versions of the compact BMW in size 195/55 R16V. The current top of the range 120d is also fitted with the Ventus Prime2 ex-works, in size 205/55 R16W.

Although the previous generation Ventus notched up sales of more than ten million units in Europe, Hankook says the Prime2 has nothing to fear from its predecessor. Indeed, the tyre maker says the Ventus Prime2 stands as the “evolution of the elegant and superior driving experience that Ventus Prime drivers have known for many years and grown to love.” 

Compared with the previous model, the Ventus Prime2 has a 20 per cent shorter stopping distance, and Hankook says cornering stability in both wet and dry conditions has been “significantly improved” courtesy of the predatory cat-inspired block edge design of the outer tread ridges. The tyre’s tread contour is also said to be in line with what Hankook calls Multi-Tread Radius Technology. What this means is that six (three on each side) different tread width radii guarantee a balanced distribution of pressure on the ground, and therefore maximum road contact in all conditions. As for the compound, Hankook says a full-silica compound, containing nano particles and optimised molecule chains, has been used – providing high braking power, a low road resistance and a high operational performance.

Kinergy Eco

The Kinergy Eco line is promoted as a tyre range that combines Hankook’s technology in the areas of safety, handling and comfort, together with environmental consciousness. Kinergy is short for Kinetic Energy, the energy an object possesses due to its motion. Hankook notes this is equivalent to the amount of work required to accelerate from a state of rest to a state of motion.

In the case of this particular tyre, Hankook says that amount is considerably lower than with conventional tyres in its class. The Korean manufacturer says the Kinergy Eco “successfully brings off an impressive balancing act.” Specifically, by combining the very latest materials, such as silica nanoparticles – which Hankook notes are still uncommon in this segment – and cutting-edge compound technologies, Hankook reports it has been able to reduce the Kinergy Eco’s rolling resistance by 12 per cent compared to conventional tyres currently available on the market. At the same time, the manufacturer reports the tyre performs well in safety-related disciplines, such as wet braking, and offers a stopping distance that is some eight per cent shorter than other tyres in its class. 

The balanced, asymmetrical tread is said to significantly enhance the tyre’s handling, while at the same time Hankook shares that it makes driving more comfortable and quieter. The tread’s wide longitudinal grooves are designed to offer effective protection from hydroplaning, while self-sharpening tread block edges are intended to ensure the necessary grip on both wet and dry surfaces. Wider shoulder blocks and an enlarged contact area are there to improve traction and stability in dry-surface curves, even at high speeds.