Hankook announces UHP Ventus S1 evo² SUV tyre

Hankook has become the latest tyre manufacturer to tune a new product to the lucrative ultra-high performance sports utility vehicle segment, with a newly developed SUV version of its flagship Ventus S1 evo2. The new tyre will be brought to the European market in spring 2014, and will be available in 30 sizes between 17 and 22 inches. The Ventus S1 evo2 SUV will be manufactured mainly in the company's state-of-the-art factory in Hungary, Hankook added.

“Our flagship in the high-performance SUV model is also fully loaded with innovative technologies and design features, which we have been able to develop on the basis of our expertise as an exclusive tyre partner of the DTM team, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz”, says Jin-Wook Choi, Hankook president and head of Hankook Europe. “Our premium tyres provide a direct sports-like driving experience combined with safety and comfort while being environmentally friendly at the same time.  This makes the Ventus S1 evo2 SUV another outstanding example for Kontrol Technology, our philosophy of combining technology, top performance and safety in all of our products.” 

Discussing the tyre’s performance characteristics, Hankook said the concept behind the Ventus S1 evo2 was – like the version for high-end performance cars – was to provide a fitment for high performance, dynamic SUVs. It is targeting drivers demanding sporty performance, but – given their choice of vehicle – who wish not to compromise on features like suspension comfort, noise and low rolling resistance. The manufacturer believes its involvement as exclusive tyre partner of the international touring car racing series, DTM, has helped it to develop a tyre with the particularly sophisticated technology required to achieve this blend of features.

The Ventus S1 evo2 SUV has a multiple tread radius and double-layer rayon carcass to provide an increased tyre contact area, helping to improve aquaplaning characteristics balanced with dry performance. Driving control and safety at high speeds are also significantly improved, according to Hankook. The DTM inspired three-layer block design, with its special staircase arrangement of the outer rib blocks, provides this improved contact area as tyre wear progresses, thereby giving more effective traction performance across the entire life cycle of the tyre.

The tyre’s silica compound is designed to optimise a cross-linking system that improves wet traction, wear characteristics and thermal aging resistance, Hankook continues. The high traction styrene polymer formula enables improved wet performance while rolling resistance is reduced. A refined cooling system with surface enlarging fins anchored to the base of the tread grooves and micro-turbulence generating dimples arranged on the outer edges of the shoulder block enable faster heat dissipation for more stable handling characteristics and longer tyre durability. In order to make the driving experience even more comfortable the Hankook UHP flagship is equipped with an aerodynamic shaped wing that further reduces tyre noise and highlights the sports-look of the tyre.

Adding the ‘K’ from kinetic to control, Hankook Tire Kontrol Technology stands for the manufacturer’s improved controllability of the interaction between the driver, the vehicle and the road by the tyres during the journey. The company says its Kontrol Technology has been developed in order to provide the vehicle driver with all currently available benefits of the latest Hankook tyre technology in terms of safety, driving characteristics, comfort and environmental compatibility.