Electric Cayenne With Hankook Tires Was Presented In Copenhagen
The Hankook company has presented a winter tire for the cars that will be used by the participants of the UN Climate Change Conference which is currently being held in Copenhagen.
Among the cars there will be RUF Stormster (joint product of RUF Automobile and Siemens) that has been created on the platform of Porsche Cayenne and equipped with Hankook Icebear W300A UHP winter tires that feature improved safety level and fuel consumption efficiency. The combination of these properties has made the tires the ideal choice for the conference.
All electric cars such as RUF Stormster have higher torque if to compare with cars using fossil fuels.
The right choice of tires, reduced rolling resistance, transmission that doesn’t spend time on gear changing enable further increase of hauling capability. And these conditions are ideal for the new Hankook tire. Patented SCCT (Stiffness Control Contour Theory) technology ensures more uniform distribution of pressure in the contact patch what improves traction and durability of the tire. Besides this, SCCT technology also provides uniform distribution of pressure inside the tire what increases stability and reduces rolling resistance.
Innovative asymmetric tread pattern developed exclusively for SUVs also reduces fuel consumption level without sacrificing durability and driving performance. The siping system was optimized by computer to deliver effective braking performance what is extremely important in severe winter conditions.
The state-of-the-art Hankook Silica technology is applied for the balance between low rolling resistance and wet traction.
“SCCT technology was developed to minimize the harmful influence on the environment. That was the reason for our participation in the project, -said Jin-Wook Choi. – Environmental friendliness should be as essential as safety of the tires. We are very glad that our tires will be mounted on the vehicle that will be used during the UN conference”.
RUF Stormster is equipped with classical 5-spoke alloy wheels and Hankook W300A tires (size – 295/30R 22).
Pirelli Yielded to Hankook On The European Market?
Will Hankook push out Pirelli from the top five tire manufacturers of Europe?
The market research conducted by Hankook showed that the Michelin company remains an absolute leader on the tire market (both in segments of passenger and truck tires). At the same time a new player appeared in the previously stable top five – namely Hankook.
Why did Hankook decided to publish its research now, after one of the most difficult periods in the history of the market? It can be explained by the fact that 2009 was an extremely successful year for the Korean company. The peculiar combination of factors has changed the state of affairs during last 12 months. The major question now – will Hankook be able to retain its positions in Europe in the following years?
Here is the forecast of Hankook for the end of 2009 (passenger tires market): Michelin will remain the leader with the market stake of 20%, the second place goes to Goodyear Dunlop (18%), the third – to Bridgestone (12%), Pirelli has 8%. The most interesting fact here is that Hankook holds the 7th place with 7%. It means that its lagging behind Pirelli is not so big.
What concerns truck tires the first place again goes to Michelin (32%), the second place – Goodyear Dunlop (18%), Continental holds 16% of the market, Bridgestone – 13%. According to Hankook, it performs even better in this segment and holds the 5th place thus having overtaken Pirelli.
Since December has just begun the data can be regarded only as a forecast. At the same time Hankook gives 18% to other companies what means that its research is based on the analysis of the whole market. It also cannot be the result of companies that are members of ERMC Europool because the stake of Cooper and Trelleborg would be much higher in this case. Thus, there may be doubts regarding the correctness of the data in respect of sales volumes of Cooper, Kumho, GTRadial, Nexen, Nokian, Toyo, Yokohama etc. The rise of their stake will inevitably lead to the reduction of that of the five major companies. Anyway, only time can eliminate the doubts.
Hankook Continues Cooperation With “Tune It! Safe!” Project
The fifth concept-car presented within the framework of ’safe tuning’ project sponsored by Hankook Tires became a police car BMW 1-Series by AC Schnitzer tuning studio.
“Only serious and safe tuning allows to get real pleasure from driving!” Under this motto the Association of German Tuning Companies (VDAT) presents a new concept-car every year. For 2010 BMW AG has granted BMW 123d for the project that is also supported by the German police, Federal ministry of transport, construction and road development. The official sponsor is the Hankook company. The tuning of the new concept-car was carried out by AC Schnitzer company that specializes in BMW tuning.
The tuning studio again presented a specialized police car that was named ACS1 2.3d. The engine power was increased to 241h.p., torque – to 480Nm. Now the police BMW with 6-speed manual transmission accelerates to 65mph within 6,7 seconds what “will allow the car not to lag behind even in the hottest pursuit”.
The tire uses AC Schnitzer Type IV BiColor wheels and Hankook S1 evo tires provided by the major sponsor – the Hankook company.
Hankook S1 evo was developed to deliver solid construction that allows to eliminate the risk of tread deformation at high speed and at high temperatures thus making sport driving safer.
The structure and profile of the tire also ensure optimal pressure in the contact patch for more predictable steering response at high speeds. Optimized contact patch also provides improved steering both on dry and wet surface while the tread pattern minimizes hydroplaning, reduces noise level and makes the car more stable.
ACS1 2.3d Coupe is being exhibited at Essen motor show (28 November – 6 December). “Serious and safe tuning is not only the ideology of our company but also our mission” – notes Rainer Vogel, the managing director of AC Schnitzer. – In the case of a police car such tuning with the use of components provided by reliable manufacturers can save people’s life.
Hankook Announces Its Plans For 2010 Sport Season
The Hankook Tire company has confirmed that it will continue to participate in professional drifting competitions and Time Attack races as well as again launch the bonus program for the fans of more popular kinds of sport.
In 2010 Hankook will again sponsor Papadakis Team and Dynamic Autosports team in the Formula Drift Championship. Pilots from Conrad Grunewald Racing will join the teams. The owner of the team Conrad Grunewald will participate on one of the few American muscle-cars in Formula Drift – 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS that will be equipped with Hankook Ventus R-S3 tires.
The company will also continue to sponsor Tanner Foust, twice champion of Formula Drift that pilots Rockstar/Scion tC.
In the Time Attack races the company will also sponsor a few participants – Gary Sheehan from GST Motorsport, Jonathan Bomorito from Sierra Enterprise and Chris Rado from World Racing.
All these pilots will use Hankook Ventus Z214 DOT R Compound tire with symmetric tread pattern that is distinguished by smooth surface and two circumferential grooves ensuring exceptional driving performance on dry and wet track.
“Drifting and Time Attack races are becoming more and more popular in the USA thus influencing the market of tires – noted Bill Bainbridge, marketing director of the American department of Hankook. – All these changes take place in spite of economic difficulties. Hankook remains the leading tire producer in the segment developing state-of-the-art technologies and presenting tires with unique features, such as Ventus RS-3 and Ventus Z214.
