Back in 1994, a little-known tyre brand called Hankook entered the all-season market in Europe with the Optisuper. A lot has changed for the tyre maker since then, but it is still firmly in the all-season tyre business – and has now introduced its fifth-generation tyre, the Hankook Kinergy 4S².
Look carefully for the superscript – Hankook Tire has unveiled its fifth generation of all-season tyre for Europe. It’s called the Hankook Kinergy 4S², and despite the naming similarities is a completely redeveloped product. The Kinergy 4S² comes to market in June 2018 with a launch range of 17 sizes in the 14- to 17-inch rim diameter bracket. From the second half of the year, the range will be expanded to 64 sizes for 14- to 20-inches.
A new tyre line has joined the Hankook range of bus tyres. The SmartCity AU04+ is designed for year-round urban use – it is 3PMSF and M+S marked – and is available in size 275/70R22.5.
Hankook opened its Technotrac winter tyre testing facility in Ivalo, Finland early in 2017. With facilities ready for both commercial vehicle testing and future expansion, the facility will help the manufacturer push forward its winter and all-season ranges for the European and global markets. Tyres & Accessories spoke to vice president Klaus Krause, head of the Europe Technical Center about its European Technotrac winter testing facility and the segment in general.
With a decisive snip, more than a year’s work was officially complete. Four representatives from Hankook Tire’s global and European operations, suitably rugged up for the occasion, were on hand to open a facility that extends the tyre maker’s aim of self-contained development and manufacture of tyres for European markets. The inauguration of the ‘Technotrac’ facility gives Hankook Tire a permanent home alongside one of the world’s best-known winter test grounds, something that Ho-Youl Pae is very proud of.
Competitive fare pricing has led to a surge in intercity bus passenger numbers across Europe, and operators within this segment can choose from a growing range of products specifically designed for bus and coach use. Hankook Tire has now launched its new range for this market, the SmartTouring.
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.
Ivalo is the destination of choice for many tyre makers when it comes to testing winter and cold weather products, and Hankook Tire has announced plans to establish its own European winter tyre testing facility near the Finnish village. The company recently signed a contract to build this together with Test World Oy.
Korean tyre maker Hankook Tire has gained its first Porsche original equipment fitment with the supply of two size combinations to the Macan. The Porsche deal covers 18 and 19-inch versions of the Ventus S1 evo² SUV; the Hankook tyres will be supplied in either sizes 235/60 R 18 for the front wheels and 255/55 R 18 for the rear or 235/55 R 19 front and 255/50 R 19 rear.
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