Hankook Tire presents innovative works at 2018 Essen Motor Show

Display of new high-end tire Ventus S1 evo 3 alongside other European premières

Including winners of the 2018 Design Innovation project, the Aeroflow, Hexonic, and HLS 23

November 30, 2018 (Seoul, Korea) - Taking part in the Essen Motor Show for the 14th time in succession, Hankook Tire will be showcasing its new ultra-high-performance tyre Ventus S1 evo 3 and futuristic concept tires in the 2018 Essen Motor Show.

A major highlight at this year’s Essen Motor Show is the new high-end S1 evo 3 tyre for passenger cars and SUVs. It offers a very safe and sporting-yet-comfortable driving experience in both dry and wet conditions. A new generation of innovative materials has been used for the Ventus S1 evo 3. By using high-performance natural resins in the tread compound, the grip level at the peak of performance output was increased. A high-grip full-silica tread compound and a special mixing technology for a significantly better distribution of polymers and filler material are used in the tread compound. This results in a clear improvement in brake performance in the wet as well as in reducing rolling resistance.

Another attraction are the winners of the 2018 Design Innovation project. Hankook Tire has been holding a Design Innovation Project every two years in collaboration with prestigious schools. This year’s project was held under the theme of ‘Extending Future Life beyond Mobility’ in association with UK’s Royal College of Art. Participants of the project were asked to create a new tire concept using autonomous driving technology, proposing a whole new experience to future driving life. The entries were thoroughly evaluated based on empathy towards end user, attractiveness, implementation of persuasive engineering principles and such; as a result three, the Aeroflow, HLS 23, and Hexonic, were selected as winning works.

The Aeroflow is a racing tire with maximum downforce. The fact that downforce was the main focus during the development of the idea is what makes this tire unique, since downforce was only traditionally studied in relation to the body of a car.

Hexonic is a smart tire for shared autonomous vehicles. The participant viewed fully-autonomous cars to be the norm for future cities and developed a tire for shared cars. As autonomous cars do not have a driver, comfortability is the key to driving experience. Hexonic helps the vehicle achieve the best performance by scanning the road real time with seven sensors that are on the tire tread.

In terms of commercial service, a logistics transport system for the future was developed. Named HLS 23, these tires can support unmanned transport carriers. With sensors on each side, the tires monitor the location of another HLS 23, maintaining a consistent distance while delivering a cargo. Depending on the size and weight of the deliverables, the tires can operate individually or in assembled groups.

“We are happy to be able to present such brilliant works, both for the present and of the future,” says Klaus Krause, “Hankook Tire will continue to develop new tires that can better complement automobiles and seek new visions that go far beyond the limitations of the tires and mobility that we know today.”