Hankook are one of the tire manufacturers leading the charge developing specific ranges of EV (electric vehicle) tires, with the culmination of their work being the new iON range.

As you would expect, the new iON range of EV specific tires focus on less energy usage, enabling the driver to go further on a single charge, lower noise levels, with Hankooks sound absorber material inside the tire, all while keeping excellent performances in the dry and wet.

The new Hankook Ventus iON S and SX (for SUVs) covers the summer range and is available to buy now, with the winter Hankook Winter i*cept iON due later this year. There is also an all season tire specifically for North America, more on that in the near future.

At time of writing there has been no chance to test the new iON tire, so instead you can read the press release below, and keep an eye on the site for when Tire Reviews gets chance to get the new range of tires.

Hankook Ventus iON S: new summer tire for e-cars to join global tire family ­

• ­Greater range per battery charge and a quieter drive
• Efficient, redeveloped product available in sizes 18 to 22 inches
• TÜV SÜD* certified: conflict of objectives successfully managed­­ ­ ­

In May 2022, premium tire manufacturer Hankook launched the Ventus iON S, the first summer tire in a new product range that has been specifically designed for electric vehicles. By taking this approach, the company wants to make a decisive contribution from a tire choice perspective to advancing the mobility transition towards zero-emission vehicles. The new summer tire is a pioneer of the new, global “iON” tire family designed for premium electric vehicles, which will include the Hankook Winter i*cept iON in September 2022.

Characteristics of the new tire include reduced rolling resistance, extremely low noise rolling characteristics and high load-bearing capacity. For drivers of electric cars, this means more range per battery charge and a better driving experience compared to conventional tires. In addition, the new Hankook iON products are specially designed for the instant high torques produced by powerful electric vehicles.

Numerous measures for EV-specific requirements

The new Hankook Ventus iON S meets the demanding everyday requirements for EV tires (EV = Electric Vehicle) by providing an extensive set of technical measures. In particular, Hankook has countered the higher vehicle mass of electric vehicles – caused by the considerable weight of the drive batteries – with a higher load capacity. Among other things, ultra-resistant aramid fibres effectively counteract the deformation forces caused by the especially high torque in electric vehicles. The tread compound, which features a high proportion of natural resin, also ensures exemplary durability and reduced wear. The high silica content provides micro-level grip on wet roads by counteracting the formation of a film of water between the road surface and the tires, which can be dangerous. Another special feature of the new compound is its high proportion of natural oils. This not only makes the iON products more sustainable overall, but it also has a positive impact on the durability of the tread. This means that less material is required for consistent performance, and the savings in weight of up to one kilogram per tire improves rolling resistance.

One of the special features of the Ventus iON S is the aerodynamic optimisation so that it can exploit potential for greater levels of efficiency and range. The tire pattern is designed in such a way that air resistance is reduced, something that is even true for the lettering on the tire sidewalls.

A further development goal was to achieve the quietest possible running characteristics, especially since eliminating the noise of an internal combustion engine draws attention to this aspect. It is therefore all the more important that Hankook’s integrated Sound Absorber™ technology, together with the noise-reducing tire pattern, noticeably reduces the level of noise inside the vehicle.

TÜV SÜD certified: conflict of objectives successfully managed

Hankook engineers have brilliantly resolved the conflicting objectives of minimising rolling resistance while maintaining the same quality in other important performance criteria. This has also been certified by TÜV SÜD in an independent comparative test using competitor products from the premium segment. Mounted on common premium electric vehicles, the Hankook Ventus iON S is clearly superior, without showing weakness in other important criteria.

It also achieves the best values for wet and dry braking performance. Furthermore, it is also the quietest tire in the test.

Large potential to reduce CO2 in replacement business

Special tires for electric vehicles are also becoming increasingly important in the replacement business. According to forecasts by the information service IHS Markit, the global share of battery-powered electric automobiles in total vehicle sales will increase by 36.6% annually, from the current 6.4% market share to 29.5% by 2028. Because Hankook iON tires make it possible to drive more kilometres per battery charge compared to standard tires, they can also make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions from road traffic.

Sanghoon Lee, President of Hankook Tire Europe: “With the introduction of the Ventus iON S as the first tire in a new range, our company is increasingly taking into account the rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles and the associated need for suitable tires, also in terms of the need for replacements. With an improved range per battery charge, this new generation of tires will help to further optimise the efficiency of electric vehicles in everyday use. We are pleased to say that this has already been confirmed by independent institutions.”

Klaus Krause, Head of the Hankook Tire Europe Technical Center in Hanover: “We are particularly proud that the new Hankook Ventus iON S, for example, has achieved an A/A/A rating on the EU tire label. This corresponds to the highest performance levels in terms of rolling resistance, wet grip and tire noise.”

The Hankook Ventus iON S is available in sizes between 18 and 22 inches. The Hankook Winter i*cept iON, designed for winter months, will follow in September 2022. An all‑season version, the Hankook Ventus iON A, will also be available for the North American market. Further specific product designs are in the pipeline.

Technology exchanges between electric motorsport and road vehicles

As one of the world's leading original equipment manufacturers of electric vehicles from premium car brands, the Hankook development engineers have already documented their expertise in this demanding segment many times over. Original equipment tires from Hankook that have been optimised for electromobility are already being used by Audi, BMW, Porsche, VW and other leading brands. From the 2022/2023 season, the premium tire manufacturer will also be demonstrating the technical expertise it has acquired in the area of sustainability and high-performance mobility, as a supplier in the world of electric motorsport, as appointed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

*TÜV SÜD Tire Test 2022, Report No. 713252186-BM01, -PM01. Test period March 2022. Test of the Hankook Ventus iON S with four competitor tires, all in the dimension 245/45 ZR19 102Y XL. Test vehicles Tesla Model S 85, Tesla Model S P100D, Audi Q5 Sportback 40 TDI, VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI. Test locations: IDIADA, Papenburg, Neubiberg, Garching. Applies to all other mentions of the TÜV SÜD Tire Test.