During the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany, Hankook UK sales director Barrie Horrocks shared with Tyres & Accessories that the tyre maker plans on launching its own bead-to-bead retreads in the first quarter of 2013, and the UK has been chosen as the pilot market for the new range. The retreaded products will be marketed under the ‘Hankook Alphatread’ name and will be initially available in three sizes that mirror new tyre patterns.
A further development of Hankook’s e-cube range is currently on display at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany. The new tyres are promoted as e-cube Max products, and Hankook Tyre UK sales director Barrie Horrocks told Tyres & Accessories that the e-cube Max will eventually replace Hankook’s current e-cube line-up.
Several new Chrysler models in the US will be fitted with Hankook tyres as original equipment; the tyre maker says it will supply Chrysler Group with its Optimo H725 touring all-season tyre as original equipment for the 2013 Chrysler 300 AWD models and 2013 Dodge Charger SXT, SXT Plus, and R/T AWD models. The tyres supplied will be for the Pentastar V-6 and V-8 versions of these Chrysler and Dodge AWD flagship saloons in size P235/55R19H.
Following the preview of AA-labeled and close-to-production prototypes of Hankook’s core products, the Ventus S1 evo² and the Kinergy Eco, the manufacturer reports that both AA-labelled versions are to be launched in 2013.
Hankook is intent on meeting labelling legislation head-on with its latest winter tyre, the Winter i*cept RS. The tyre, designed for small city vehicles up to MPVs is optimised for the moderate climate of Central and Western Europe, the manufacturer says, designed for wet, snowy, slushy and also dry roads. The directional, V-shaped five-rib tread features 14 per cent more kerfs (otherwise known as sipes), which are arranged at lateral angles between 0° in the centre-tread and 15° in the shoulder for greater traction. The tread is wider compared to the previous model, increasing the contact patch. Grip on snow and slush is improved by blocks in a staggered arrangement along the middle of the tread, while corrugated 3D kerfs increase traction and braking performance on all smooth surfaces.
Last year’s IAA show in Frankfurt, Germany drew tens of thousands to view the latest cars and automotive technology. This year the IAA focuses on commercial vehicles, and at the 2012 exhibition – which takes place in Hannover between 20 and 27 September – several leading tyre makers will show off their latest products and developments. At Hankook’s exhibition space, in Hall 16, Stand A30, the Korean manufacturer will hold the world premiere for the latest additions to its ‘e-cube’ concept. These new products, says Hankook, take “into account the current spirit of the times” and thus the range has “correspondingly been developed further in regard to the increasing demands in the area of environmental friendliness.”
Hankook has expressed its delight at the start of a new partnership with the UEFA Europa League, which “kicked off” on 3 September. Representatives from the tyre maker and the football league celebrated the arrangement at a ceremony prior to the official 2012/13 UEFA Europa League Group Stage draw at the Monegasque Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Reporting the occasion, Hankook said the new partnership represents “yet another milestone in the company’s European marketing approach to sustainably increase brand awareness in one of the tyre manufacturer’s most important markets and reinforces Hankook’s long-standing engagement in European football.”
When Rhys Millen finished his journey through the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb course in a record time of 9:46, he ran on Hankook tyres – and these tyres were wrapped around HRE Performance Wheels. In congratulating Millen on his win, the German wheel manufacturer notes that he and his team have ”been relying upon HRE Performance Wheels as their trusted partner of choice for years.”
A Hankook-commissioned fuel consumption test comparing the Korean tyre maker’s e-cube truck range with the Michelin X Energy and its own standard truck tyre range has delivered favourable results for the e-cube. The test, carried out by DEKRA’s Automobil Test Center in Klettwitz, Germany, pitted identical Scania G420 4×2’ tractor units and Schmitz Cargobull trailers against each other; these were respectively fitted with Hankook e-cube AL10, Michelin XZA 2 and Hankook AL02 on the steering axle, e-cube DL10, XDA 2+ and DL02 on the drive axle – all size 315/80 R 22 – and e-cube TL10, XTA 2+ and TH02 in size 385/65 R 22.5 on the trailer.
Bridgestone staff raised more than £700 for Acorns Children’s Hospice at the company’s recent Olympic-themed sports day. The fundraiser saw staff at the company offices in Leamington Spa competing in events such as rowing, cycling and archery. Local paralympian Anna Turney, who is currently being sponsored by Bridgestone, was invited to award prizes for each individual discipline, as well as an overall team winner.
The victor in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb conquered the 'Race To The Clouds' in record time – and this is good news for Hankook Tire, as the protagonist responsible for this feat was none other than Hankook-sponsored driver Rhys Millen. The New Zealander’s Hyundai Genesis Coupe – fitted with Ventus F200 racing slicks – reached the summit with an overall time of 9:46:164 to claim victory over a field of almost 200 cars and motorcyclists. Millen’s Hyundai is the same car that his professional racer father Rod Millen drove to a world record time in the Time Attack 2WD class at last year's running of the race.
The Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER) is, according to the Straits Times newspaper, the biggest endurance race in Asia and the 13th MMER will take place between Aug 29-Sept 2.
Hankook Tire reports higher revenues and operating profit for the second quarter of 2012. The Korean tyre maker’s revenues rose 18.5 per cent year-on-year to KRW 1.84 trillion (£1.03 billion) in the three months to 30 June and operating profit jumped 112.1 per cent to KRW 215.5 billion (£121.15 million).
Hankook has confirmed its new status as an official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League. The sponsorship agreement signed between the tyre maker and UEFA Events SA covers the period from 2012 to 2015 and gives Hankook brand exposure through perimeter board advertising in the stadiums and through media backdrops during flash interviews and official UEFA press conferences. Hankook says the new deal demonstrates another milestone in its European marketing approach, through which it aims to sustainably increase brand awareness in this, the company’s largest regional market.
Two Hankook Tyre UK employees, product and pricing analyst Mike Olsen and customer service advisor Ben Thompson, have completed the Cycle Madagascar Challenge, and in doing so raised £6,600 for the international development charity, Transaid. Mike and Ben returned from Madagascar – the island off the coast of Africa, not the animated film – after completing a gruelling cycle of almost 500 kilometres across the country’s varied landscapes.
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