In order to achieve our vision, “Contribute to Advancement in Driving,” we are constantly refining our designs to include future-oriented dynamism and elegance.
Design Innovation is a project that realizes the infinite possibilities of a tire resulting from a serious discussion to creative and realistic alternative to future driving. The 2016 theme is “Connect to the Connected world.” It predicts mobility changes in future mega cities and presents a vision of future mobility through tires.
In the era of car sharing, autonomous driving and connected cars, we have predicted vehicle and driving environment changes. We have constructed comprehensive scenarios(general roads, alleys and stairs. etc) in future mega cities such as autonomous vehicles and emergency cars, and suggested tires in various concepts.
Five futuristic concept tires were created by combining unique ideas of the University of Cincinnati and global technology of Hankook Tire. We have combined design, technology, and a new culture at the same time as a design outcome of Discovery for Future Driving through tires.
The Magfloat, which uses magnetic field extension and rotation principle, is a single user mobility that can move freely at a low speed of 20km / h or less and can be used indoors.
Flexup makes it possible to move freely even when the stairs are encountered while driving on the road through a principle of divided treads that expand or contract. It is a futuristic single user mobility that can freely turn corner on the flat ground by using the tilting principle when skiing.
Two wheel mobility maximizes the efficiency and cornering in the urban car sharing system. Flexible suspension structure minimizes the volume during the standby mode. It is a single user mobility that can realize an optimum performance even at high speed and cornering by changes of the wheel angle.
In cities that are becoming increasingly sophisticated and dense, we have built tires for police cars that are agile and easy to drive. A tire that allows strong cornering and fast lane change through block shifting of skating principle pushing outwards.
It is an autonomous bus concept in which the body is expanded and contracted while the tires are automatically attached and detached according to the number of passengers. This is an intelligent tire that detects the weight of the car and attaches itself to the bus body.
Hankook Tire and Vibram®, the two brands which lead their respective markets, have created a ‘uniquely enjoyable experience of driving’as a result of collaboration. Vibram® is also the world’s number one outsole brand from Italy.
The innovative synthesis between Hankook Tire’s technology and Vibram®’s unique style has produced a new vision of each brand under the design theme of “Tires go fashionable”and“Shoes embrace dynamic high-end technology”
These tires are inspired by the flexible blocks of hikingbootoutsole treads and layer structure, allowing flexibility of shoe movement and diversity of style.
The multi-directional geometric 3D design protects the tire from road shock and increases safety.
The ultra-light 3D cocoon technology is applied to the design of the sidewall, featuring tight-knitted serration and block surfaces at various angles, which also protects the tire from shock.
The honeycomb-shape layered structure not only prevents drilling caused by pebbles or small rocks on road, but also absorbs shock from off-road environments.
Vibram®’s iconic design is used to create tread patterns, which allows more traction in mountainous areas.
The color compound featureenables young drivers to choose the color of tire that matches their vehicle’s body color, providing amore enjoyable driving experience.
From the inspiration behind the two concept tires, DynaMIX and DynaSYNC, these shoes attempt to embrace a new concept and function-oriented design that has never been tried before.
This is a new shoe design that conforms to the ergonomics of the foot by optimizing the tire’sfunctionalityon a variety of ground surfaces. Itsfunctional structure and dynamic appearance adds fashion.
Design Innovation is a project that recognizes the unlimited possibility and capability of tires through deep thoughts on creative, yet realistic, alternatives for future driving.
The main theme of 2014 was “A Great Challenge for a Great Change”. This presented the vision of future driving through new tires and considered what special role a tire can undertake amidst severe climate change due to global warming.
The project approaches driving not only from the perspective on vehicles, but also from the fundamental concept of driving whilst keeping its slogan “Discovery for Future Driving” in mind.
Amidst environmental changes that are difficult to anticipate, the project considered how a tire can achieve the best driving performance while resolving issues on its own.
Tires, unlike vehicles, are the core elements that directly connect the driver to the road meaning they are influenced by the conditions of the road. To respond to the geographical issues caused by abnormal climates, three concept tires were developed especially for desert terrain, heavy rain and heavy snow.
The three future-oriented concept tires, Boostrac, Alpike and Hyblade, are the products of futuristic ideas from the Graduate School of Pforzheim students in Germany together developed with the world-class technology of Hankook. The concept tires successfully combined design, technology and new culture.
Applying a variable tread block structure to this tire produces enormous drive force. The tread block expands in all directions, which enables a dimensional grip that is highly effective in desert terrain. The additional ground clearance produced by the tire also achieves outstanding rough terrain driving performance.
Hankook and University of Cincinnati joined together to create a project with the theme ‘new tires for the future’.
Motiv
Tiltread provides dynamic cornering by tilting through the non-pneumatic tires without unnecessary tread wear and prevents blowouts.
High speed and maximum grip on the straightaway.
Resilient polyurethane airless tire prevents blowouts.
Adjusts speed of each tire when cornering.
A maximized contact ratio and dispersion of surface tension occurs through a tilting system which provides dynamic but stable cornering.
Motiv is the most flexible tire to run in extreme conditions and blowouts are not a concern.
Flexible polyurethane blocks move separately according to surface shape.
Provides ultimate grip from the flexible chamber and expanding tread.
eMembrance provides not only fuel efficiency but also excellent grip for high speed.
Mag-trac is a smart tire that breaks the frame of a tire.
Empty spaces through magnetic fields allow cars to move comfortably and quietly.
During the SEMA Show 2012 in Las Vegas, Hankook showcased the innovative future tire design mockups from its ‘The Way to the Future’ Design Collaboration with UC.