Hankook secures OEM double for Volkswagen
Hankook is supplying the Ventus evo SUV as original equipment for the Tiguan and Tayron Volkswagen models.
A total of six different tyre sizes ranging from 17- to 20-inches are available for various model versions of the Tiguan.
Five sizes are available for the Tayron, a crossover SUV that comes in a choice of five or seven-seater versions. The tyre development, in which Volkswagen was closely involved, not only targeted balanced handling combining comfort and performance, but also as low a noise level as possible.
Other features of the Hankook Ventus evo SUV include a tread design that is carefully tailored to the needs of the segment and an innovative material mix that enables high mileage and excellent handling, without compromising on safety.
“The provision of original equipment for the two SUV models Tiguan and Tayron is further proof that the Volkswagen Group considers Hankook one of its top development partners in the tyre sector,” said Klaus Krause, vice president and head of Europe Technical Center at Hankook.
“We have succeeded in perfectly matching our premium summer tyre, Ventus evo SUV, in every tyre size to the driving characteristics of the two models and achieved our goal of combining the requirements for high comfort over long distances with a sporty character.”
The Hankook tyres selected as original equipment for the Tiguan and Tayron can be recognised by their special label: a plus sign in a circle on the tyre sidewall. This signifies that the tyres have been developed to the exact specifications of Volkswagen and approved for delivery on new vehicles.
The development and fine-tuning of the Ventus evo SUV tyres took place in the Hankook Technology Center in Hanover, while the tyres are produced in Hankook’s European plant in Rácalmás, Hungary.
For the highly popular Tiguan and the new Tayron, the development phase focused on the comfort-oriented driving characteristics of the Ventus evo SUV. At the same time, the tyre engineers attached great importance to a low noise level. Both the careful tread design and the specially tailored mix of tread materials contribute to the low rolling noise.
With a noise level of less than 66 decibels, the Ventus evo SUV remains within the Volkswagen specifications and thus makes a significant contribution to the maximum overall noise level of 68 decibels for the two SUV models.
Other hallmarks of the Hankook premium tyres for the Tiguan and Tayron are the Opti Pitch technology, which focuses on the size and positioning of the tread blocks, and the Kerf design, which also has a noise-reducing effect. The Dual Pitch technology ensures the optimum number of blocks on the inside and outside of the tread for maximum steering precision when cornering. It also lowers the rolling noise.
Additionally, the development engineers adjusted the tread height to reduce noise without compromising traction, braking behaviour, cornering stability or maximum mileage.
Hankook not only tested the Ventus evo SUV tyres for the two Volkswagen models under laboratory conditions on the test bed but also subjected them to tough conditions on the test track. The various tyre sizes had to demonstrate their qualities both on the vibrating track and on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The engineers designed the 17-, 18- and 19-inch sizes of the Ventus evo SUV for maximum driving comfort, while the 20-inch tyres have a much sportier character.