Hankook’s comprehensive car tyre range demonstrates cross-segment strength

The manufacturer’s products have received acclaim from testers and tyre influencers in all car tyre segments, including the first look at its EV range

Hankook’s comprehensive range of summer, all-season and winter car tyres has received excellent reviews from testers and tyre review platforms over the past year. This acclaim extends to the iON tyre family specially developed to meet the demanding requirements of electric vehicles. The core summer collection comprises Ventus S1 evo Z, Ventus S1 evo 3, Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV, Ventus Prime 4, Kinergy ECO 2, iON evo and iON ST AS both for cars and SUVs. The all-season range includes, the Kinergy 4S2, Kinergy 4S2 X for SUV’s and the iON FlexClimate for cars and SUVs. The core winter collection comprises the Winter i*cept evo 3, Winter i*cept evo 3 X, Winter i*cept RS 3 and the iON i*cept for cars and SUVs.

In the summer tyre range from Hankook the UUHP (ultra-ultra-high performance) tyre Ventus S1 evo Z marks a new era in the high-end-tyre portfolio streamlined for highly demanding sports cars that need the extra bit of grip and cornering qualities, without compromising durability and safety. The tyre properties include a new silica enriched compound, asymmetrically designed tread pattern and an aramid composite material in a double-layer compound for precision handling, particularly for sporty driving in dry conditions. It is original equipment on BMW X3M and X4M, MINI John Cooper Works GP and Porsche Panamera and while being extra sporty, this high performance tyre is suitably comfortable.

The Ventus S1 evo 3 summer tyre along with the SUV version has been developed with the needs of the premium, luxury performance vehicles in mind, delivering a superior handling performance without compromising the mileage capabilities and ride comfort. In 2023 the UHP (Ultra High Performance) tyre Ventus S1 evo 3 was Recommended by Tyre Reviews and in the same year the Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV received a Commendation from the Auto Express Product Awards.

The Ventus Prime 4 is the latest tyre in Hankook’s summer tyre series. It features improved properties across key performance criteria compared to its predecessor, Ventus Prime 3. The ‘high mileage compound technology’ has increased durability of the tyre by around 20 per cent, Hankook states, and the handling and rolling resistance has been further optimised through an innovative combination of materials and rounded edges. The tyre’s Zigzag 3D Trend Technology also improved dry driving behaviour as it increases the frictional force of the block in accordance with its deformation. In 2023 Hankook’s Ventus Prime 4 was Winner of the WhatTyre Summer Tyre of the Year and for the second successive year Hankook’s Ventus Prime 4 was awarded the Auto Bild ‘Exemplary’ summer tyre test rating.

Hankook Kinergy 4S 2 all-season tyre (Photo: Hankook)

For small, compact and mid-range vehicles Hankook’s Kinergy Eco2 is an exceptionally eco-friendly and economical summer tyre, also suitable for electric vehicles. The tyre has a high-grip silica tread compound for optimum wet braking performance and reduced rolling resistance plus improved tread stiffness and massive outer tyre shoulder for driving stability and optimum dry performance. The zigzag pattern in the centre of the tread produces low rolling noise.

Hankook’s iON tyres are specifically designed for electric vehicles to deliver more range per battery charge with reduced rolling resistance, particularly low-noise rolling behaviour and high resilience. In 2023 the iON evo tyre was Highly Recommended in the WhatTyre Electric Car of the Year category and rated Very Good in the AutoBild Summer tyre test.

Hankook also offers an award-winning all-season range for passenger cars and SUVs – the Kinergy 4S 2 named winner of the Auto Express 2023 All-Season Product Awards and rated Highly Recommended by Tyre Reviews in its 2023 all season test. The Kinergy 4S 2 X for SUVs was named winner of the 2023 Auto Bild Allrad all-season tyre test. The V-shaped tread pattern and ultra-modern tread compound, which comprise natural oil components, ensure stable driving and braking behaviour throughout the year across the various temperature ranges that regularly occur in the UK.

In 2023 Hankook introduced the iON FlexClimate, the first all-season tyre in the European market specifically designed for electric vehicles (passenger cars and SUVs). A key technical feature of the new iON FlexClimate, are special 3D sipes in the tread. They give the tyre outstanding grip on both wet and dry surfaces, and even in light snow. At the same time, the new ProGrip tread mixture ensures optimised adhesion on wet surfaces through a combination of high-density silica and other sustainable raw materials.

Hankook’s winter ultra-high performance tread, the Winter i*cept evo 3, is specifically designed for vehicles ranging from upper mid-size cars to sports cars and is factory fitted by many European premium vehicle manufacturers. The Winter i*cept evo 3 and Winter

i*cept evo 3 X for SUVs are in Hankook’s UHP winter range and feature a directional design tread pattern that not only provides excellent and safe grip in wet and snowy conditions but also helps to effectively reduce the risk of aquaplaning. During independent testing the Winter i*cept evo 3 was Highly Recommended in the 2023 Tyre Reviews SUV Winter Test. The tyre was also named test winner in the 2023 Auto Bild Sportscars, one of Europe’s leading automotive magazines for high-performance sports cars and Highly Recommended in the TyreReviews 2023 Winter Test.

Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 SUV (Photo: Hankook)

Hankook’s Winter i*cept RS 3 is the enhanced successor to the multiple award-winning Winter i*cept RS2 and through a combination of improvements in tread design and mix of material delivers shorter braking distances on snow-covered roads and improved handling on icy and wet roads. Inverted V-treads, sawtooth 3D sipes and new micro edges minimise block movement, improve grip and braking performance and increase the shoulder area of the Winter i*cept RS3, thereby improving both traction and lateral grip when cornering on snow. In 2023 Hankook’s Winter i*cept RS3 received two awards from AutoExpress, Winter Tyre Test Recommended and Winter Tyre Product Award Commended’.

Finally, iON i*cept is Hankook’s winter tyre for electric vehicles and has a specially developed tread compound that ensures the lowest possible rolling resistance without sacrificing performance on wet and snow-covered roads.