– Hankook Tire will be supplying its ultra-high performance summer and winter Ventus S1 evo2 and Winter i*cept evo in runflat versions to the new BMW 7 Series as original fitment
– The tires have been developed in Hankook Tire’s highest R&D intensity and are supplied to BMW directly from the company’s European high-end factory in Hungary
March 22nd, 2016 (Seoul, Korea) – Hankook Tire has been selected as one of the original equipment (OE) suppliers for the all new BMW 7 Series.
The brand new luxury limousine by the Munich-based premium car manufacturer will feature on Hankook Tire amongst others when rolled off the factory production line. Hankook Tire’s high-end premium flagship tire Ventus S1 evo2 shall be fitted in special runflat sizes 245/50R18Y*RSC (Runflat Safety Component) alongside mixed sizes 245/45R19Y*RSC for the front and 275/40R19Y*RSC for the rear axle providing ultra-high performing summer mobility. The tire company’s ultra-high performance cold weather pattern Winter i*cept evo will be supplied in size 245/50R18H*RSC on each corner ensuring superior winter performance is achieved.
The 7 Series Sedan is the seventh model by the BMW Group joins others to be fitted with Hankook Tire including the MINI, the BMW 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Series as well as the X1 and X5. This marks another important milestone in Hankook Tire’s global expansion in to the premium automotive segment as it is the first time the tire company is supplying both summer and winter tires to the BMW Group as original fitment.
“We are proud to announce the new OE supply contract for the new 7 Series as well as the first premium OE approval for winter tires”, says Seung Hwa Suh, Vice Chairman & CEO of Hankook Tire. “As Hankook Tire’s OE products completely match the high-end standards of luxury limousine of our longstanding partner, we will look forward to further expanding our global presence in premium segment by providing an array of automaker’s flagship models.”
Hankook Tire’s ultra-high performance snow tire Winter i*cept evo in size 245/50R*RSC has been designed to provide superior performance especially in severe winter conditions by optimizing wet, dry and snow performance. The tire’s inside-to-outside asymmetric groove tread delivers a high level of stylish perfection with an enhanced pitch design that guarantees the optimal driving experience which was recently also awarded with the internationally renowned Red Dot Design Award.
As the company’s flagship performance tire, Hankook Tire’s high-end Ventus S1 evo2 provides the optimal driving performance both on the wet and dry roads. Equipped with sophisticated DTM technology, it stands out for its successful combination of performance, durability, comfort and energy efficiency, delivering a stable and accurate cornering best fit for the performance vehicles. The tire’s inside-to-outside groove design provides an increased water drainage performance while dispersing friction heat. Besides, it guarantees a comfortable driving experience with reduced noise and vibration.
During the intensive trial phase the tires have proven to provide a high level of driving comfort whilst maintaining distinctively dynamic driving characteristics. The tires had to meet the highest of demands in relation to dry handling performance, rolling resistance whilst providing low interior and exterior noise. “Excellent driving and comfort features had to be combined with equally demanding wet and snow performance. This not only required the development of a special tread compound but also finding a fundamentally new balance between compound, tread design and construction”, explains Klaus Krause, Head of the Hanover-based European Technology Centre (ETC) at Hankook Tire, where the tire development for the BMW Group in Europe takes place. “Winter tire development is even more demanding, particularly for the high development objectives of reduced noise as winter tires by nature have more block edges which generally lead to increased noise levels.”
