Hankook to spend €12.5 million annually on 'green tyre' research

Ney-Isenburg, Germany -- Hankook Tire is investing sustainable future technology for tyre manufacturing: The Korean company said it will invest at least €12.5 million annually in research and development (R&D) of eco-friendly tyres featuring low rolling resistance and fuel saving efficiency. The increase of research funds boosts the annual research budget by 350 percent to approximately 0.5 percent of the company's global annual revenue, specifically for environmentally-friendly tyres.

With this investment, Hankook Tire is responding to the increasing ecological sensitization and a growing demand for environmental-friendly products on the part of car makers, regulators and consumers. The increased investment in environmental technology is part of Hankook Tire's consistent commitment to invest 5 percent of its annual revenue in R&D

Hankook's new enfren tyre combines a number of technologies including a special silica compound and structural design efficiencies. It also attests to production facility technologies that enhance the tyre's rolling resistance performance, helping to reduce both energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. According to Hankook Tire tests, fuel consumption decreases 16 percent at a speed of 110km/h,. Currently, the new tyre is only available in Korea. The international market launch is in planning.