Hankook Tire recently announced its continued original equipment portfolio expansion in the premium segment of German automobile manufacturers, as the company will now supply ultra-high-performance (UHP) tires for the new third-generation of BMW X5.
As of its market launch, the trendsetter from the Munich-based automobile manufacturer in the field of luxury sports activity vehicles will be factory-equipped with Hankook Tire’s top performing tires for the first time. The all-new Ventus S1 evo² SUV tire will be applied with a completely newly developed construction with sports-dynamic genes especially for this vehicle category. It will also be available on the replacement market as of spring 2014 in sizes from 17 to 22 inches covering aspect ratios 60 to 30 with the tread widths from 225 to 315.
Following on from the MINI, BMW 1-, 3- and 5-series, the BMW X5 is the fifth model from the BMW Group that Hankook Tire will supply original equipment for. “This new addition to our existing OE portfolio, particularly in the luxury SUV segment, represents a significant value to our business at Hankook Tire, given the flourishing, sharp growth this segment is experiencing in the global automotive market,” says Mr. Seung Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hankook Tire. He adds, “Starting with the supply of our high-performance tires to BMW X5, Hankook Tire will continuously expand our presence in the global SUV market as a premium tire supplier.”
The particularly sophisticated technology of the Ventus S1 evo2 SUV with its multiple tread radius and double-layer rayon carcass provides a maximum tire contact area under all conditions. The tire impresses not only with outstanding aquaplaning abilities but also with optimum road contact for perfect balance under both wet and dry conditions. Driving control and safety at high speeds are also significantly improved. The innovative DTM-inspired 3-layer block design with its special staircase arrangement of the outer rib blocks, provides an improved tire contact area as tire wear progresses thereby guaranteeing more effective traction performance across the entire life cycle of the tire.
The Ventus S1 evo2 SUV is equipped with the newest generation of highly developed silica compound with an optimized cross-linking system that improves wet traction, wear characteristics and thermal ageing resistance. The high traction styrene polymer formula enables improved wet performance while rolling resistance is reduced for maximized environmental excellence. A refined cooling system with surface enlarging fins anchored to the base of the tread grooves and micro-turbulence generating dimples arranged on the outer edges of the shoulder block enable faster heat dissipation for more stable handling characteristics and longer tire durability. In order to make the driving experience even more comfortable, the new Hankook Tire’s UHP flagship is equipped with a particularly aerodynamic sidewall that further reduces tire noise and also highlights the sports-look of the tire. The Ventus S1 evo2 SUV is manufactured mainly in the company's state-of-the-art factory in Hungary.
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