Hankook introduces new UHP flagship tire

Portorož, Slovenia – Hankook has unveiled a new ultra-high performance (UHP) tire, the Ventus S1 evo 3 tire, for passenger cars and SUVs.

Third-generation in the company’s S1 evo range – the tire will appear on Europe’s roads in early 2019, the company said in a statement issued at a 24-26 Sept press launch.

Developed at Hankook’s European development centre in Hanover, Germany, the new tire will be made primarily at the company's plant facility in Rácalmás, Hungary.

At the press event in Portorož, company officials said the tire offered improvements in wet-grip, handling/steering and rolling resistance, while maintaining the wear properties of its predecessor.

The new Hankook flagship will initially be offered on the European market in 72 versions ranging from 17 to 22 inches from early 2019 onwards. Tread widths will range from 205 to 315 mm.

Driving characteristics of the Ventus S1 evo 3 have been “optimized” for wet and dry roads by using “high-performance natural resins” in the tread compound, said a Hankook press statement.

This, it said, “not only increases the grip level at the peak of performance output, the tire also remains at this grip level across a significantly larger range of temperatures, resulting in a very wide threshold range.”

A high-grip full-silica tread compound and a special mixing technology were used to enhance distribution of polymers and fillers in the tread compound.

“This results in a clear improvement in brake performance in the wet as well as in reducing rolling resistance,” the Korean tire maker stated.

Meanwhile, a new type of sidewall compound is said to further lower the rolling resistance of the Ventus S1 evo 3 by at least an additional 2.5%.

Driving-stability and wear properties are also enhanced via a new 0-degree cap ply made from aramid composite. This is said to reduce growth in rolling circumference at high speeds by up to 60% compared with traditional linear polyamide-based fabrics.

According to Hankook, the reinforcement technology also gives the new tire significantly better driving stability and a longer life thanks to lower heat generation.

The S1 evo 3 will also be available at market launch in an adapted version for SUVs with a two-ply rayon carcass.

A number of versions have already received OE approval from German car makers for their latest models, said Hankook.