Hankook launches new winter tyre ranges

The new generation of Hankook’s winter high performance tyre is now out, and this time the tyre maker has developed two versions – the Winter i*cept evo² for passenger cars and the Winter i*cept evo2 SUV for the popular sports utility vehicle category.

Hankook says the Winter i*cept evo² features a new nano-sized, high dispersible silica compound for improved grip on wintery and wet roads, while the tyre’s contact patch has been enlarged for better snow and wet performance along with greater resistance to hydroplaning. The outside of the tyre’s asymmetric tread pattern focuses on optimised snow handling and traction performance, while the inside pattern is dedicated to enhanced braking performance on snow, slush and wet roads. An increased number of pitches further supports the snow traction performance by effectively ‘biting’ the snow, while 3D sipes applied throughout the tyre tread address driving stability in wintery conditions by minimising block movement, abrasion and enhancing the overall handling performance by maximising edge effects.

The Winter i*cept evo² is available in over 80 sizes that cover 16 to 20-inch rim diameters, tread widths of 195 to 27 mm and aspect ratios from 35 to 60 series, with H, V and W speed ratings. The Winter i*cept evo² SUV is available in 16 to 21-inch sizes, 215 to 295mm tread widths 35 to 70 series aspect ratios, and T and V speed ratings.

Sitting below the Winter i*cept evo² in Hankook’s winter tyre performance hierarchy is the Winter i*cept RS², a “general performance tyre” with a unidirectional tread pattern. Hankook states that the tyre’s technologies provide best-in-class winter performance for cars ranging from small city vehicles, compact and medium-sized saloons to estates and people movers.

The V-shaped tread design used on the i*cept RS² features 28 per cent more pitches as well as increased groove and block edge length. This results, says Hankook, in enhanced traction on snow covered surfaces. Moreover, the corrugated 3D sipes applied throughout the tread increase traction and braking performance on all smooth surfaces while improving driving stability in wintery conditions by minimising block movement, abrasion and enhancing the overall handling performance through maximised edge effects. The Winter i*cept RS2 is available in sizes for 14 to 17-inch rim diameters, tread widths of 165 to 225 mm and aspect ratios from 45 to 70 series. H and T speed rated versions are available.