Hankook Tire Malaysia recently unveiled two new products here on our shores to cater to two category of vehicles, namely the iON evo and iON evo SUV specifically designed for electric vehicles (EVs), as well as the new Ventus Prime 4 touring tyres for internal combustion cars.
Hankook iON evo, iON evo SUV
The Hankook iON evo and iON evo SUV are the latest in the company’s iON series, and the first EV-specific tyres from the South Korean tyre company to make their way into the Malaysian market. The former, for hatchbacks and sedans, will be available in four sizes ranging from 18 to 21 inches, while the latter, designed specifically for the heavier SUVs, will be offered in four sizes from 19 to 22 inches.
Hankook Tire Malaysia says that it intends to expand the iON evo’s tyre size offerings in the future, depending on the requirements of the EV market in our country.
As with all EV-specific tyres, the iON evo tyres promises lower rolling resistance and reduced rolling noise, while also tailoring to the higher load requirements of the higher weight of EVs, and not compromising on handling and wet grip performance.
The iON evo tyres make use of a new high-concentration silica compound and other eco-friendly materials to offer enhanced durability, as well as handling and grip performance, the latter particularly useful for the instant torque outputs of EVs.
Hankook’s EV Countour Technology also increases the iON evo’s lateral stiffness by 10% to enhance its cornering stability and handling performance, while an Aramid fibre-reinforced belt also enhances the tyre’s steering feel, as it maintains an optimised shape during high-speed driving.
As for the tread pattern, the Hankook Sound Absorber technology, which utilises a multi-pitch block sequencing, helps minimise the tread pattern noise to offer a quieter drive in all speed ranges. Extended outside shoulder blocks and strengthened pattern block rigidity further help maximise road contact and prevent slippages caused by the high instant torque of EVs.
Hankook Ventus Prime 4
The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 on the other hand is the more “typical” touring tyre, designed for internal combustion engine vehicles, offering a blend between performance, safety, comfort, and durability. Here in Malaysia, the Hankook Ventus Prime 4 – together with its SUV variant – is available in five sizes ranging from 15 to 19 inches.
The key improvement in the latest generation Ventus Prime tyre is its improved durability, courtesy of its new compound featuring increased silica content, vulcanised at low temperatures for twice the duration compared to regular tyres. Hankook says this enables the increased blending between molecues, bringing greater tread block rigidity, thus a lower rolling resistance with less wear.
This is further paired to a fibre stiffener for the tyre carcass, alongside the jointless full-cover reinforcement belt to further improve the tyre’s durability, particularly against external shocks. Additionally, the new tread pattern and contours of the Ventus Prime 4 are also optimised for improved contact area, delivering a “solid driving performance” alongside enhanced wet braking performance.
The Hankook Ventus Prime 4 is priced between RM232 and RM595 per piece, depending on size.
