Premium tyre manufacturer Hankook introduces the iON FlexClimate, its inaugural all-season tyre for the European market for electric passenger cars and SUVs. 

Launching in Europe in October 2023, the iON FlexClimate will initially be available in eight popular sizes for passenger cars and SUVs in the EV segment, with plans for further expansion to include standard sizes ranging from 17 to 21 inches soon.

This innovative addition complements Hankook’s existing range, including the iON evo for summer and the iON icept for winter, creating a comprehensive tyre family designed to cater to current and forthcoming generations of electric vehicles. These Hankook iON offerings, when appropriately sized, can also enhance conventional and hybrid vehicles, showcasing advantages in energy efficiency, noise reduction, sustainability, and longevity.

The iON FlexClimate employs cutting-edge technology to deliver high performance in summer and moderate winter driving conditions. Notable features include exceptional wet surface grip, a substantial reduction in rolling resistance compared to standard tyres, and a robust yet lightweight construction tailored to the specific demands of electric vehicles.

A significant technical highlight of the iON FlexClimate lies in its specialised 3D sipes embedded in the tread. These enhance the tyre’s grip on wet and dry surfaces, even on light snow. The ProGrip tread compound, utilising high-density silica and sustainable materials, optimises adhesion on wet surfaces. To excel in snowy conditions, the tread design incorporates a high sipe density and “2-in-1” sipes and additional grooves within the individual tread blocks to ensure superior traction and braking performance. The iON FlexClimate carries the M+S and 3PMSF (Three-Peak-Mountain-Snow-Flake) labels, attesting to its suitability for year-round use across many European countries.

Addressing the weight dynamics inherent to electric vehicles, Hankook fortifies the iON FlexClimate with a reinforced belt featuring incredibly durable aramid fibres. This design distributes load evenly across the tread’s width, enabling a higher load index per tyre. This effectively counters deformation forces at higher speeds, ensuring precise steering and cornering stability while reducing tread wear. Additionally, the new Grip Boost technology, combined with the aramid belt, boosts the tyre’s sidewall rigidity by 20 percent compared to standard all-season tyres, enhancing driving comfort and vehicle control.

The iON FlexClimate’s specially formulated tread mixture, rich in natural resin, delivers impressive durability and reduced abrasion compared to conventional counterparts. Its high adhesion capabilities facilitate the secure transfer of the high drive torques of electric vehicles to the road. The increased use of natural oils not only heightens sustainability but also extends the lifespan of the tread. As a result, the Hankook iON FlexClimate requires less material for the same mileage, resulting in an overall lighter tyre. This translates to lower energy consumption while driving and reduced energy usage during production.

Incorporating modern mixing techniques and Hankook’s Opti-Cure technology, the tread design of the iON FlexClimate minimises unnecessary tread movements, further lowering energy loss and rolling resistance. The Hankook iON FlexClimate contributes to an extended range per battery charge.

Given the absence of a combustion engine, electric vehicles place greater emphasis on minimising sources of noise. To address this, the iON tyre family incorporates Hankook i Sound Absorber technology and is designed for exceptional aerodynamics, resulting in markedly lower noise levels than standard tyres.

Hankook introduces a new iON technology system, enhancing efficiency in research and development, particularly for the company’s EV tyres. This comprehensive system encompasses four key technologies: i Sound Absorber (noise reduction), i Super Mileage (wear resistance), i Perfect Grip (adhesion), and i Extreme Lightness (rolling resistance). Based on approximately 58 patented technologies, including noise reduction and ProDurable compound technology, this system underpins the development of the iON tyre family.

Bridgestone is supplying Custom-engineered Alenza A/S tyre with ENLITEN Technology to select models of the 2021 Nissan Rogue as an OE supplier.

The Nissan Rogue is the first vehicle in the U.S. and Canada to feature tyre with Bridgestone’s ENLITEN Technology.

Bridgestone is supplying the Alenza Sport A/S tire with ENLITEN Technology in sizes 235/65R17, 235/60R18 and 235/55R19 for the 2021 Nissan Rogue in North America.

ENLITEN Technology contributes to improved fuel efficiency by reducing tyre weight and delivering low rolling resistance. Tyres with ENLITEN Technology also require fewer raw materials to be produced, helping to deliver environmental benefits. In addition to its sustainable advantages, ENLITEN Technology is designed for enhanced vehicle handling.

“We are continuously working to advance our products, services and solutions to deliver new value for our customers and society,” said Shannon Quinn, president, original equipment, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas. “Supplying the 2021 Nissan Rogue with our Alenza Sport A/S tyre with ENLITEN technology is a testament to our commitment to these efforts and our longstanding relationship with Nissan.”

Hankook Tire has launched the Dynapro HPX, a summer tyre designed for SUVs and all-wheel-drive vehicles. Compared to its predecessor, the Dynapro HP2, the Dynapro HPX boasts improved safety, comfort, and durability. 

The Dynapro HPX features a new material compound and an enlarged contact patch to deliver even wear and longer life. Thanks to new 3D GripControl sipes, the tyre also offers enhanced wet braking and handling. Hankook says the model brakes 15 percent faster and handles seven percent better in wet conditions than its predecessor.   

The tyremaker also focused on comfort, using knurling technology to reduce road noise. The Dynapro HPX is available in sizes ranging from 16 to 19 inches.

“With the Dynapro HPX, we are presenting the newest member of our tyre family, which is specifically designed for the different requirements of SUVs and all-wheel-drive vehicles,” says Sanghoon Lee, President and COO of Hankook Tire Europe. “We are proud to be able to offer our customers a tyre with very high mileage without any compromise on comfort and safety.”

Yokohama has started delivering tyres to the new Impreza as original equipment (OE) in North America. 
The new Impreza cars will have AVID S34 tyres (size P225/40R18 88V).

The AVID S34 belongs to the AVID series of all-season tyres for passenger cars sold in the North American market, and it features the “M+S” (mud & snow) marking on its sidewall.

The AVID S34 tyres’ wide tread ensures a larger contact area, providing stable driving performance not only on dry roads but also on snow. In addition, the tread pattern design features a large number of grooves that effectively grip the surface of snowy roads and improve the vehicle’s safety and performance in snowy conditions. The tyres’ structure also has been enhanced to reduce vehicle wobble during lane changes.

Frog Bikes, a UK-based manufacturer of premium children’s bicycles, has unveiled an innovative partnership with Norwegian tyre company reTyre. This pioneering collaboration will see Frog Bikes equipping its bikes with sustainable tyres from 2025, marking a significant step in the cycling industry's journey towards sustainability.

Jerry Lawson, Co-founder of Frog Bikes, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, “We are thrilled to collaborate with reTyre, a brand that shares our passion for innovation and sustainability. This partnership allows us to further our commitment to the environment while providing our young riders with the best possible cycling experience.”

The collaboration is a testament to Frog Bikes' unwavering commitment to sustainability. It focuses on transitioning Frog Bikes’ entire range to reTyre’s fully recyclable, bio-based pneumatic tyres, ensuring a greener future for the cycling industry.

reTyre, known for its groundbreaking approach to sustainable tyre production, utilizes recyclable bio-based materials and innovative manufacturing methods to achieve lower emissions. The company claims its tyres deliver exceptional performance while minimizing environmental impact.

Frog Bikes aims to complete the full transition to reTyre tyres across its entire product line by the end of 2025. This move aligns with growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products, particularly within the children’s goods market.

“Our tyres are made with renewable and bio-based materials that do not need to be vulcanized, meaning that we can easily reuse the material at end-of-life. Our verified Life Cycle Assessments show that we are then able to reduce emissions by 68-82 percent compared to conventional tyres”, says Ben Evans, Commercial Officer at reTyre. “It’s great to work with a brand like Frog Bikes, who embraces changes for the planet’s benefit.”

 Towards Net Zero Since embarking on their sustainability journey in 2019, Frog Bikes has cut emissions per bike by 25 percent. “We’ve achieved this by transitioning to renewable energy, redesigning our bikes to use less material, virtually eliminating plastic packaging, and moving away from air freight”, explains Anna Drew, Head of Sustainability at Frog Bikes.

 “Exploring sustainable materials, like post-consumer recycled aluminium for our frames and partnering with reTyre for lower-emitting tyres, are crucial to our commitment to halve emissions by 2030 and achieving Net Zero by 2050.” “We are excited to present the Frog bike equipped with sustainable tyres alongside our full range of sustainable tyre products at this year’s event,” Evans concludes.