Hankook Tire Collaborates with Prospecs to Launch Safety-Enhanced Sneakers

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Global leading tire company Hankook Tire & Technology announced on the 26th that it will release sneakers enhanced for safety on rainy and snowy roads on the 28th, in collaboration with LS Networks' sports brand ‘Prospecs’.

Hankook Tire has partnered with Prospecs to create safe sneakers. This collaboration was inspired by the fact that both tires and sneakers come into contact with the ground and play a role in ensuring safe movement. The two companies embarked on producing sneakers aimed at providing stability in various conditions such as rainy and snowy roads. To this end, Hankook Tire provided the tread pattern of the all-weather tire ‘Kinergy 4S2’, and Prospecs applied it to the outsole of the sneakers.

The Kinergy 4S2 is an all-weather segment tire that has obtained the ‘3PMSF’ certification mark, a mandatory certification for winter tires in Europe, maintaining optimal performance across a wide range of climate changes from summer rain to winter snow. It features wide grooves arranged in the center of the tread to improve water drainage performance. Additionally, a zigzag V-shaped pattern is applied to provide excellent snow driving performance and handling.

In 2020, it ranked first in the all-weather tire segment performance test by Europe’s most prestigious automotive magazine ‘Auto Bild’, and in 2021, it also took first place in the performance test by the UK’s largest automotive magazine ‘Auto Express’. Furthermore, the SUV version ‘Kinergy 4S2 X’ also achieved first place in the 2021 ‘Auto Bild’ test, gaining worldwide recognition for its performance.

‘Blade HK’ and ‘Airsky HK’, the two models born with the Kinergy 4S2 pattern and featuring Hankook Tire’s CI colors, secure excellent grip on the ground in rainy, snowy, and all weather conditions, ensuring outstanding stability. This collaboration product became an opportunity to apply the grip and drainage performance that Hankook Tire demonstrated through its tires to sneakers as well.

The two sneaker models co-developed by Hankook Tire and Prospecs were produced in a limited quantity of 6,500 pairs (6,000 pairs of Blade HK and 500 pairs of Airsky HK). The products are available at approximately 150 Prospecs offline stores nationwide, as well as online through the LSN Mall and the online fashion select shop Musinsa Store.

To commemorate the launch of the collaboration products, various promotions will be held. From January 28 to February 20, subscribing to the T’Station YouTube channel ‘T’Station TV’ will enter you into a draw to win sneakers for 50 people. On T’Station.com, during the entire month of February, customers who purchase sneakers featuring the all-weather tire ‘Kinergy’ outsole online will be entered into a draw to win sneakers for 20 people.

Additionally, Prospecs’ own shopping mall, LSN Mall, will issue 1,000 tire discount coupons for 25% off, usable on T’Station.com, to customers who purchase the collaboration products, on a first-come, first-served basis from March 1 to April 30.

This collaboration is expected to serve as an opportunity to approach the MZ generation, who find it difficult to easily access the Hankook Tire brand, in a more familiar way. Through this, it carries the meaning of providing customers with a ‘Walking Emotion’ beyond just driving.

Meanwhile, Hankook Tire is offering brand experiences through various projects to communicate with the MZ generation. Last year, it collaborated with the shoe brand ‘YASE’ to produce shoes recycled from used tires, and partnered with the racing game ‘Crazyracing KartRider’ to release kart bodies and items shaped like tires. It also held the ‘2021 Made in Korea’ event at the Peach’s Do-won street fashion brand to share design, future technology, and motorsports culture.