Hankook supplying OE tyres to Audi RS Q8

Hankook Tire is delivering original equipment tyres for the Audi RS Q8. The 600 hp SUV will thus roll off the production line fitted with the Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV in 295/40 ZR22 112Y XL AO. To ensure safe driving in the colder months, Audi customers can additionally order the Hankook Winter i*cept evo 2 in sizes 275/40 R22 107V XL AO or 295/35 R23 108W XL AO.

“Hankook has already built up a long tradition of original equipment at Audi. The RS models in particular have long been supplied with Hankook tyres,” says Sanghoon Lee, president of Hankook Tire Europe. “Of course, it’s always a great honour for our development engineers when Hankook summer and winter tyres are also used on top models.”

“The tyre design for a very sporty – and at the same time majestic – vehicle like the Audi RS Q8 is particularly demanding. As with the other large models in the Q series, higher load capacities generally apply, which must be guaranteed at high speeds,” explains Klaus Krause, head of Hankook’s European research and development centre. “That is why the resilience of the tyre construction was of particular importance. We have also paid special attention to the performance characteristics of our tyres in both wet and dry conditions.”

Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV

Hankook has significantly increased the sidewall strength of the Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV compared to standard products through ‘bead packing’, the use of a nylon material in the sidewall area. A two-layer casing and the presence of an aramid composite material reduce the unwanted expansion of the rolling circumference at high speeds by up to 60 per cent compared to previous profiles. The manufacturer says these qualities give the tyre very high driving stability and steering precision as well as increased durability due to lower overall heat development. In addition the tread compound is, thanks to high-performance natural resins, more sporty and dynamic on both dry and wet roads. “As a result, the Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV achieves a consistently high level of performance across a wide range of temperatures and conditions,” says Hankook.

Winter i*cept evo 2

The optional Hankook Winter i*cept evo 2 has an asymmetrical tread design. The outer side of the tread with its wide block tread pattern provides improved handling characteristics and precise lateral guidance, especially in dry conditions, while the inner side of the tread with its increased number of tread block edges and sipes ensures excellent braking and traction performance on snow, slush and wet roads.