Hankook Tire & Technology (hereinafter Hankook Tire) announced on the 11th that it will participate in the 2023 cross-country tour project in the United States with Volkswagen's pure electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) model 'ID.4'.
The project, which started on the 23rd of last month, begins in Homer, Alaska, the northernmost region of the United States. The route passes through Dead Horse, a city located at the end of the Dalton Highway on Alaska's northern coast, and arrives at Key West, Florida, the southernmost point of the United States. Guinness World Record-holding driver Rainer Zietlow and photographer Derek Collins plan to drive a total of 13,679 km in the ID.4 by May 6.
The ID.4 is equipped with Hankook Tire's electric vehicle dedicated tire brand 'iON' seasonal tires: the all-season tire ‘iON evo AS SUV’ and the winter tire 'iON iCEPT SUV', tailored for the route passing through the northernmost and southernmost points of the United States.
Hankook Tire's ‘iON’ offers the world's first full lineup of electric vehicle dedicated tires, including summer, all-season, and winter tires. It was developed from the initial design stage targeting high-performance electric vehicles. The ‘next-generation material compound’, which combines high-performance polymers, eco-friendly materials, and high-concentration silica, delivers optimal performance in various environments.
In particular, considering the weight of the battery built into electric vehicles, the tires feature a stiffness profile optimized for high loads that evenly distributes road contact pressure. The structure is designed to extend tire life through stable tread wear.
Additionally, the latest vulcanization technology reduces rolling resistance to improve energy efficiency. Hankook Tire's noise reduction technology, ‘Sound Observer Technology’, reduces specific frequency noises generated during driving, providing a quiet ride.
Hankook Tire has strengthened its strategic partnership with Volkswagen by supplying tires for new electric vehicles as well as collaborating on various electric vehicle projects. It showcases top-level electric vehicle technology by supplying original equipment tires for Volkswagen's first pure electric SUV model ‘ID.4’ and electric commercial vehicle models such as the minivan ‘ID. Buzz’ and ‘ID. Buzz Cargo’.
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