Tire Cologne 2022: World & European Premier for Hankook Tyres

Hankook is attending the top international trade fair for the tyre industry, Tire Cologne, where it is presenting three premiering products.

– Ventus iON: Specially developed line-up for electric vehicles
– Winter i*cept RS3: High-traction winter tyres
– i-Flex: European premiere for pre-production, airless concept tyres

The exhibition will be held live again for the first time in three years and is taking place this week in Cologne. Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook is launching iON, its first family of tyres specially designed for electric vehicles, under the memorable name iON (pronounced /ai’on/). By taking this approach, the company is making a decisive contribution, from a tyre choice perspective, to advancing the transition of mobility towards zero-emission vehicles.

The Winter i*cept RS3, the new winter tyre for drivers who spend a lot of time on the road, was developed as an improved version of the award-winning Winter i*cept RS2. In addition to other improvements, tyre mileage has been increased by 10% compared to the previous model. The tyre also offers improved braking performance on wet roads.

This is the first time the latest design of the i-Flex airless concept tyre has been presented in Europe. The tyre made its debut at the start of the year at the industry-leading CES (Consumer Electronics Show) trade fair in Las Vegas, USA.

The Hankook iON is the first family of tyres to be developed especially for electric vehicles: greater range, quieter to drive

Reducing rolling resistance was a key development objective for the global iON tyre family. Compared to conventional tyres, for drivers of electric cars this means more miles per battery charge. An extensive set of technical measures ensures the tyres meet the ultra-demanding everyday requirements for EV tyres (EV = Electric Vehicle).

In particular, Hankook has countered the higher vehicle mass of electric vehicles – caused by the considerable weight of the drive batteries – with a higher load capacity. Furthermore, ultra-resistant aramid fibres effectively counteract the deformation forces caused by the especially high torque in electric vehicles.

The engineers also wanted to create a tyre that makes as little noise as possible. iON products include Hankook’s integrated Sound Absorber™ technology, which – in connection with the unique tyre pattern – noticeably reduces the level of noise inside the car. The tread compound, which features a high proportion of natural resin, also ensures exemplary durability and reduced wear.

Another special feature of the new compound is its high proportion of natural oils. This not only makes the iON products more sustainable overall, but also has a positive effect on the mileage of the tyres.

iON products will initially be available in three designs at the market launch, in sizes from 18 to 22 inches: in Europe from May 2022 as the Hankook Ventus iON S summer tyre pattern, and from September 2022 for the winter as the Hankook Winter i*cept iON.

Overview of a modern product portfolio

Other products also on show at the Hankook trade stand Tire Cologne in Hall 8.1 – include the Ultra-Ultra-High-Performance Ventus S1 evo Z tyre and selected products from the modern truck and trailer tyre segment namely the SmartFlex AH51 and SmartFlex DH51 which made their debut last year, along with fully retreaded Alphatread tyre patterns.

For more industry news from leading brands like Hankook, visit the blog on Watling Tyres.