Hankook extends van tyre line up
Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook is extending its line-up of tyres for the minivan and light truck segment by specific high-performance variants in 16 and 17 inch sizes.
The tyre models Ventus Prime² and Vantra LT are now being manufactured in original fitment versions for the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. Alongside good wet grip and precise handling, the development of the tyres, which are being manufactured at the company’s state-of-the-art production facility in Hungary, mainly focus on a high level of comfort combined with exceptional environmental properties such as low rolling resistance and a low rolling noise.
“The superior performance of both products documents our potential of being able to supply the market with Hankook state-of-the-art technology and top quality in all vehicle segments – passenger cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles or the popular light truck and minivan segment,” explains Ho-Youl Pae, Hankook’ COO for Europe. “We are especially proud of the fact that the original fitment tyres for Daimler AG are being manufactured completely in our European production facility.”
In addition to the safety aspects such as outstanding braking performance and first-class handling, which have always been important topics for tyre manufacturer Hankook, the development engineers’ specification concentrated particularly on high noise and rolling comfort and a significantly reduced rolling resistance. Hankook’s original fitment specialist Ventus Prime², which is fitted in the 17-inch version in size 225/55 R 17 101 V XL to the Mercedes-Benz V-Class for example, stood out on account of its extremely comfortable driving properties during the extensive test phase.
One of the key factors is the tyre contour of the Hankook Ventus Prime² in Multi-Tread-Radius technology, which is matched to specific application requirements. In conjunction with a high-strength steel cord material for the especially compact belt design the best possible tyre contact area is thus always guaranteed – no matter the load of the vehicle. Thanks to the use of an innovative nano-silica tread compound with a specially adapted basic mixture, the rolling resistance has been significantly reduced, while high wet grip properties have been retained at the same time. The tread profile in bionic design also guarantees high aquaplaning reserves without having a negative effect on the rolling noise.
The 16-inch tyres used on the new minivans include Hankook tyres of the type Vantra LT in size 205/65 R 16 C 101/103 H. The award-winning light truck tyre (independently tested by Auto Bild Reisemobil, April 2014, for example) was developed in view of the high demands and special requirements of regional and local passenger and commercial transport. The engineers focused on excellent wet grip and on the maximisation of tread life coupled with optimised fuel efficiency by minimising energy losses during driving, thus enhancing overall economic efficiency. Thanks to numerous new technologies such as the sidewall protect shield and optimised tread block layout and structure (“durable contact patch technology”), the Vantra LT offers both improved driving properties and safety at high speeds as well as reduced tread wear. This has allowed the tread life potential of the tyre to be increased by up to 12% compared with its predecessor.