On-road performance a focus for Hankook’s Dynapro HP replacement

Hankook describes the SUV segment as “thriving”, and to cater for this class of vehicles it has released a new high performance summer product, the Dynapro HP2. The tyre maker says the HP2 has been developed primarily for on-road use, and a focus has been placed upon the three label criteria plus comfort levels. The original equipment and aftermarket range mainly covers 15 to 19-inch rim diameter sizes, and many fitments are XL marked.

Noise levels were able to be reduced by an average of four per cent compared with predecessor tyre the Dynapro HP, Hankook reports. This was achieved through the extension of kerfs in the shoulder blocks into the sidewall, a measure the manufacturer says also effects overall ride comfort positively. The tread compound used in the Dynapro HP2 is full-silica and the tread itself has been optimised in regard to blocks; Hankook says the choice compound and tread facilitate an eight per cent improvement in wet grip performance compared with the predecessor tyre, while directional control is said to be “significantly improved.”

Width also plays a role – Hankook notes that the tyre’s belt package is wide, while its contour design is extra wide. This, it explains, guarantees a “very even distribution of ground pressure,” and thus plays its role in improving dry braking properties by four per cent while optimising overall handling properties and enhancing tread life. “The high-strength casing together with the sturdy tread centre rib guarantee precise handling and very good steering feedback even at higher speeds,” the tyre maker adds.