In the introduction to its 2016 summer tyre test, Auto Bild comments that the range of tyres on offer has never been as large as it is today, and this abundance of choice can be overwhelming for drivers. The publication wishes to “shed light” on the current crop of tyres on the market, and thus assigned its testers the task of evaluating no less than 50 size 205/55 R16V tyres for compact cars.
Hankook will supply runflat versions of its ultra-high performance and winter car tyres to BMW for original fitment on its new generation 7 Series. The luxury car will roll on the Ventus S1 evo2 in mixed 245/50R18 Y *RSC (Runflat Safety Component) (front) and 275/40 R19 Y*RSC (rear) sizes in summer, and the i*cept evo in size 245/50R 18 H *RSC for winter use. Both tyres were developed in the Hankook’s German-based European R&D Centre, and are supplied to BMW directly from Hankook’s European high-end factory in Hungary.
Hankook is now the exclusive tyre partner to the Campionato Italiano Turismo (Italian Touring Car Championship). The tyre maker says its partnership with the brand new championship takes effect immediately and will be maintained for the “next couple of years.” The 2016 Campionato Italiano Turismo season commences in Monza on 22 May and incorporates seven race weekends. All of the 2.0 litre, 4 cylinder turbocharged saloons racing in the series will compete on Hankook Ventus Race tyres in size 260/660 R 18.
Hankook Tire has extended its UEFA Europa League sponsorship by taking on patronage of the Europa League’s ‘Centre Circle Carrier’ pre-match ceremony. From the Round of 16 to the semi-finals, the company will provide children living in the participating clubs’ local areas the opportunity to take part in the centre circle flag-carrying ceremony held prior to kick-off.
A Jaguar F-Type, half a dozen 20-inch tyre models, and nothing much to complain about – these are the key ingredients in the latest tyre test from Auto Bild Sportscars. The German magazine’s test of premium and quality segment tyres focused on the front axle size 255/35 and rear 295/30 size. All of the six tested brands carried the ‘Y’ speed rating.
On 1 March 2016 around 100 Chinese Hankook tyre workers protested against the decision to move to a three-shift rather than a four-shift working pattern. However while some sources described this as strike action, Hankook representatives denied these claims and said production has not been affected.
A successor to Hankook’s Ventus Prime² has been launched in readiness for the European summer. No prizes will be awarded for guessing what the new tyre is called – Hankook has chosen to carry over the successful Ventus Prime name into the range’s third generation. Tyrepress.com will cover this new flagship comfort tyre in detail following a hands-on launch event early next month, however what we can tell you now is that Hankook claims the Ventus Prime³ delivers approximately eight per cent better wet braking and three per cent greater dry braking performance over the predecessor tyre, along with nine per cent more wear resistance.
Along with Nokian’s admission and apology for “mistakes” in its practices concerning tyre tests, the Finnish tyre manufacturer stated that “several operators in the field… have been suspected or evidence has been presented against them of differences between tyres in magazine tests and tyres that are for sale in stores.” After the Nokian statement’s implication of other tyre manufacturers in malpractice regarding independent tyre testing, Michelin immediately responded by stating categorically that it has “never designed or manufactured tyres specifically for tests conducted by the media, automobile associations or any other organisations.” Tyres & Accessories approached 11 more of the world’s leading manufacturers, many of whose products regularly appear in magazine tests, for their response to the question: Have you ever designed or manufactured tyres specifically for tests conducted by the media, automobile associations or any other organisations? Listed below are their responses.
Hankook Tire has relaunched its website for the UK and 11 other European markets. The reported aim of the redesigned hankooktire.com website is to cater to a growing demand for first-hand online information; in addition to providing details about products and offering a search function based on tyre size or vehicle type, the site includes an upgraded dealer locator tool that points motorists to their closest Hankook retailer by postcode or city.
Hankook is planning to extend its Ultra high- S1 evo2 SUV performance tyre for premium sports utility vehicles with a run-flat equipped line. The company hasn’t set out a firm timeframe of when we can expect this, but a spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories that the the Ventus S1 Evo2 is “one of our most popular 4×4 SUV tyres with an ever expanding tyre size range and shall eventually incorporate run-flat requirements.”
Hankook Tire has reported fourth quarter 2015 sales of KRW 1.61 trillion (£945.3 million), a decrease of 0.9 per cent compared with the fourth quarter a year earlier, and a 2.5 per cent year-on-year decline in operating profit, which amounted to KRW 238.3 billion (£139.9 million) in the final quarter of last year. The tyre maker shares that sales of its ultra-high performance (UHP) tyre segment grew 6.4 per cent year-on-year and now account for 33 per cent of the company’s overall revenue.
Hankook Tire has been appointed exclusive tyre partner to a newly-established touring car series in Germany. The three-year arrangement sees Hankook supplying tyres to all cars competing in the ADAC TCR Germany series; in 2016 the tyre of choice is the Hankook Ventus Race, which will take to the circuit in size 260/660 R 18.
The concept tyres and shoes that have so far resulted from Hankook Tire’s strategic partnership with outsole company Vibram are currently on display at the ISPO Munich show in Germany. Hankook is showing two off-road concept tyres at the sports-oriented exhibition, the DynaMIX and DynaSYNC.
Hankook Tire America Corp. (Hankook) is recalling certain Ventus S1 Noble 2 tyres I n the US because they may develop cracks in the tyre sidewall, resulting in a loss of air. The products subject to the recall are the 245/45R18 96W, manufactured 20 May 2013 to 14 February 2015; and size 245/40R19 94W and 275/35R19 96W tyres manufactured 22 May 2013 to 14 February 2015 supplied for 2015 Hyundai Genesis vehicles as well as being sold as replacement tyres.
Supply of original equipment Hankook tyres to the Mercedes-Benz Actros and Atego model ranges in the European market has been extended with the approval of a further 20 e-cube MAX AL10+ and DL10+ and SmartFlex AH31 and DH31 sizes. This expansion of its original equipment portfolio in the heavy commercial vehicle and medium duty segments is taking place as part of its existing OE agreements for Mercedes-Benz Trucks, which cover the Actros, Antos, Arocs, Econic and Atego models.
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