Hankook iON: the new global tyre family for EVs
Earlier this year Hankook introduced its iON range of electric vehicle (EV) tyres to the world. Here, the global tyre maker gives us a unique insight into the company’s ground-breaking range.
Earlier this year Hankook introduced its iON range of electric vehicle (EV) tyres to the world. Here, the global tyre maker gives us a unique insight into the company’s ground-breaking range.
The iON name is one we’ve recently become acquainted with on Hankook car tyres. With the launch of the iON Evo and iON winter, Hankook Tire has a range of summer and winter tyres specifically aimed at electric vehicles. The South Korean tyre maker is now launching a series of iON truck and bus tyres in its domestic market, and this is worth noting as Hankook says some of these products are being developed with European markets in mind.
Having introduced its iON range of electric vehicle tyres – along with the company’s philosophy of specialist tyres for electric vehicle applications – back in May, Hankook has now formally introduced its iON winter tyre line, which is available in a range of 18 to 22 inch sizes. Following on from the iON evo, Hankook’s summer tyre, the new Hankook iON winter is the second member of the new, global “iON” tyre family for premium electric vehicles.
In the run-up to the launch of its first Vredestein tyre developed specifically for electric vehicles (EV), Apollo Tyres asked 1,000 motorists if they were aware that such products even exist. The response wasn’t encouraging, with the results suggesting that 82 per cent of UK motorists are unaware it is possible to purchase specifically-developed EV tyres.
Recreating a historic motoring exploit, the 3,600-mile challenge will visit 15 countries in just 120 hours. Kumho’s Ecsta PS71 EV tyre is an original fit on the Kia EV6 and it is this specialist product in 235/55R19 size that the challenge car will be equipped with throughout the trial.
During The Tire Cologne show, which took place in May, we spotted the Landsail Qirin EV concept tyre on the stand of wholesaler Inter-Sprint. It is a concept no longer, as Qingdao Sentury Tire officially debuted the tyre yesterday.
Michelin is parting ways with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship following the 2021/22 season finale. With Hankook limbering up and ready to take over next year, the French tyre maker has looked back on its eight years with the championship, convinced that its work has “made a concrete contribution to the success enjoyed by Formula E today.”
Prinx Chengshan and leading Chinese e-commerce firm JD.com have reached a strategic cooperation agreement. The deal will see JD.com’s automotive department distribute Prinx brand electric vehicle tyres, a new product launched by Prinx Chengshan in 2022, amongst other things.
When Prinx Chengshan presented its flagship Prinx tyre brand at The Tire Cologne in May, talk was of its introduction in European markets later in 2022. The tyre maker also displayed a pair of Prinx tyres scheduled for launch in China ahead of the brand’s arrival here. These tyres have now hit the market in the People’s Republic and signal the brand’s repositioning as a range “born for the electric age.” Prinx Chengshan will show them off the China International Tire & Wheel Fair in Qingdao this week.
With Apollo Tyres launching a new Vredestein tyre specifically developed for electric vehicles (EVs) later this year, the debut of the tyre maker’s first EV-specific products in India is particularly interesting. Yesterday, Apollo introduced new ranges for cars and two-wheelers.
The Davanti Vantoura 4-Seasons is available in a range of light commercial vehicle fitments now, after the tyre received its public unveiling at the CV Show in 2021. The tyre is the UK tyre brand’s answer for transport operators looking for ways to ensure their fleets remain on the road and are as economical as possible. Davanti notes that the rising cost of living, and particularly fuel prices are making proper fleet maintenance even more important. One aspect that can help is checking tyres are fit for purpose. Selecting the right tyre, for the right van, for the right application, is one way to improve efficiency and reliability of commercial vehicles. With a vast range of options available to van fleets, Davanti says it is important to address the requirement of fit-for-purpose commercial tyres. Its Vantoura 4-Seasons represents the brand’s versatile solution for the segment.
Whether a van is powered by internal combustion or electricity, the demands placed on its tyres remain consistent. Therefore rather than developing specific electric light commercial tyres, Falken is improving the efficiency and durability of its van tyres to enable its range to support ongoing ICE vehicle utilisation and the transition to electric-powered models alike. Andreas Giese, senior manager, corporate and product planning, Falken Tyre Europe answered Tyres & Accessories’ questions about tyres and the electrification of the fleet.
Hankook Tire has expanded the portfolio of original equipment products it supplies to electric vehicles with tyres for two new Audi models, the Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron. These compact SUVs will leave the factory on Hankook Ventus S1 evo 3 ev tyres. Depending on model and equipment level, Audi will fit the Hankook tyre in 19- to 21-inch dimensions.
When Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles began manufacturing the ID. Buzz at its Hannover plant in Germany last month, it described the production start as a “milestone in the brand’s electrification.” VW intends to build up to 130,000 units a year, and Continental has already ‘outed’ itself as original equipment tyre supplier. But despite the German manufacturer’s long history of equipping VW campervans, the EcoContact 6 Q is presumably not the only tyre being supplied to VW production lines for the ID. Buzz.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Michelin and Hyundai Motor Group will facilitate the development of a new generation of tyres optimised for electric vehicles (EVs). The three-year agreement, a follow-up to the partnership of November 2017 that resulted in an exclusive Michelin tyre for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, covers joint work on tyres containing an increased level of eco-friendly materials, tyres optimised for next-generation EVs as well as a real-time tyre monitoring system for autonomous vehicles.
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