Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z for BMW M5

Hankook is supplying the specially matched Ventus S1 evo Z UUHP (ultra ultra-high performance) tyre as original equipment for the new BMW M5.

The brief for the high-performance saloon, now in its seventh model generation, was a meticulously tuned tyre. The reason the tyres need to meet special requirements is due to the introduction of an electrified drive system in the luxury-class model from BMW’s M division for the first time in its 40-year history.

These requirements include a high load capacity for effortless handling of the PHEV (plug-in hybrid) model. On the other hand, Hankook says excellent grip was required to transmit the system output from the V8 engine and electric machine of 535 kW/727 PS as well as the maximum system torque of 1,000 Newton metres to the road in a controlled manner.

At the same time, Hankook engineers had to take account of one of the most defining characteristics of the BMW M5, tuning the Ventus S1 evo Z specifically to the fast and highly precise responsiveness of the steering – whether on the road or on the race track.

The result, according to Hankook, is mixed tyres in size 285/40 ZR20 at the front axle and 295/35 ZR21 at the rear axle to form the ideal combination of lightning-fast steering response, perfect transmission of cornering forces, and driving dynamics for which the M models are known.

At the same time, the developers have been able to make a contribution to the modest fuel consumption and energy consumption through a low rolling resistance. Like all tyres that are explicitly approved as original equipment for BMW M and BMW vehicles, these tyres also bear the ‘Star’ mark on the sidewall and follow the strict criteria imposed by the manufacturer. The Ventus S1 evo Z tyres are produced in Hankook’s European plant in Hungary.

“We are proud of having developed the perfect tyre for such a legendary vehicle as the M5 in close cooperation with BMW M,” said Klaus Krause, vice president and head of Europe Technical Center at Hankook in Hanover.

“Our clear objective was to transmit the unique driving dynamics of the high-performance saloon to the road without having to compromise when it comes to rolling resistance. We have achieved this over the three-year development time.”