From High-Performance Cars to Sports and Supercars... The Reason Behind Using Hankook Tire

Supplying New Car Tires to Porsche, BMW, Audi, and More
Product Development Through Various Tests Under Extreme Conditions

Tires may seem like simple components at first glance, but the number and scope of tests conducted in research labs for a single product's development are beyond imagination. Tires for high-performance vehicles undergo even more rigorous processes. Since the driving conditions are harsh, the tires must endure extreme conditions as well.

Tires installed on high-performance supercars like Lamborghini and Ferrari go through a process of testing and data collection by fitting them on vehicles with the same or higher performance levels. Based on the technology accumulated through these real high-performance vehicle tests, global top-tier tire companies develop ultra-high-performance tires suitable for high-performance vehicles. Hankook Tire & Technology (hereafter Hankook Tire) continuously develops core technologies and, based on numerous tests, has been introducing high-performance car tires that receive love calls from major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brands.

New tires from Hankook Tire equipped on the Porsche electric vehicle Taycan

Hankook Tire’s products deliver the power generated by the vehicle’s powertrain directly to the road surface while providing a quiet ride. They enhance driver satisfaction through grip, durability, and low-noise tire technologies. Thanks to this background, Hankook Tire products are fitted on high-performance models and new cars from renowned global OEM brands such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Tesla, and Lamborghini.

Sports car brand Porsche has been working with Hankook Tire since 2015. Hankook Tire conducted continuous real-vehicle tests to meet Porsche’s strict requirements. Currently, Hankook Tire is used on the 4-door sports sedan Panamera, the 718 Boxster, and SUVs Macan and Cayenne. Hankook Tire also supplied its high-performance tires dedicated to electric vehicles as original equipment tires for Porsche’s first pure electric sports car, the Taycan.

Hankook Tire has decided to exclusively supply racing tires for the Super Trofeo series hosted by the Italian luxury brand Lamborghini.

Hankook Tire’s original equipment tires are also fitted on some models of Audi’s high-performance RS lineup and BMW’s high-performance M lineup. Hankook Tire products are widely used on electric vehicles, which are often hundreds of kilograms heavier than similarly sized internal combustion engine vehicles due to batteries. They supply original equipment tires for electric vehicles such as Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 6, as well as Volkswagen and Toyota.

Among global tire companies, Hankook Tire is targeting the supply of original equipment tires for high-end supercars, which have traditionally been supplied mainly by top-tier companies. To this end, they proactively test tires through real-vehicle tests of top-spec supercars and motorsport events organized by supercar brands. As a first step, this year they signed a contract to supply racing tires for the Super Trofeo series organized by the Italian supercar brand Lamborghini. Starting next month, all Lamborghini Hurac?n Super Trofeo EVO2 cars participating in the 2023 season will be equipped with Hankook Tire’s Ventus racing tires.