Hankook Tire will launch iON, designed for premium electric vehicles, in May 2022. The company said it wants to make a mobility transition towards zero-emission vehicles.Hankook Tire will launch iON, designed for premium electric vehicles, in May 2022. The company said it wants to make a mobility transition towards zero-emission vehicles.

Characteristics of the new iON tyre development include further reduced rolling resistance, notably lower rolling-noise characteristics and high resilience, the company said in a statement.

It claimed that the new Hankook iON products are particularly designed for the instant high torques produced by powerful electric vehicles.

The iON products will initially be available in three designs at the market launch, in sizes between 18 and 22 inches: in Europe from May 2022 as the Hankook Ventus iON S summer tyre pattern, and from September 2022 for the winter as the Hankook Winter i*cept iON. The Hankook Ventus iON A tyre will be available as an all-season version for the North American market.

Sooil Lee, CEO and President, Hankook Tire & Technology, said, “With the introduction of this new iON tyre family, our company is increasingly considering the rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles and the associated need for suitable tyres, also in terms of the need for replacements. With an improved range per battery charge, this new generation of tyres will help to further optimize the efficiency of electric vehicles in everyday use.”

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 percent annually, from the current 6.4 percent market share to 29.5 percent by 2028.

The company said its new iON tyres meet the demanding everyday requirements for EV tyres thanks to 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 fibers 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. 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 also has a positive effect on the mileage of the tyres, it pointed out.

Another development goal was to make tyres that would operate as quietly as possible. The Hankook Sound absorber in combination with the specific pattern design integrated into the company’s iON products reduces the interior noise significantly, it claimed.

Bonhee Ku, Executive Vice President and CTO, Hankook Tire, said, “We are particularly proud that the new Hankook iON summer tire, for example, has achieved an A/A/A rating on the EU tire label. This corresponds to the highest performance in terms of rolling resistance, wet grip and tire noise.” (TT)

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Continental has secured original equipment approval for the new all-electric Volkswagen ID. Polo, marking a significant supply agreement with the Wolfsburg-based automaker. The compact model will come factory-fitted with the German manufacturer’s EcoContact 7 summer tyre, with Volkswagen officially sanctioning the 17-inch and 18-inch sizes for standard production.

The EcoContact 7 summer tyre prioritises energy efficiency through a specialised material blend that minimises internal friction, thereby lowering rolling resistance and reducing electricity consumption. Its Aerodimple sidewall technology, modelled after golf ball surface textures, cuts air turbulence to further decrease drag, while the Silent Pattern tread design optimises block spacing and angles to suppress urban driving noise frequencies.

For cold-weather performance, Volkswagen has endorsed the WinterContact TS 870 P, whose tread layout and advanced sipe structure deliver dependable traction on snow and ice. The compound stays pliable in freezing temperatures to ensure short stopping distances and secure handling on wet, frigid or slippery roads.

As a year-round alternative, the AllSeasonContact 2 has been recommended by the automaker in 18-inch dimensions. This Continental tire provides balanced capability across warm summer conditions and wet winter environments, offering drivers a single-set solution without compromising seasonal safety or performance.

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Dunlop’s Blue Response TG has been named ‘Tyre of the Year’ for 2026–27 by WhatTyre, a European tyre news and comparison site, marking a strong debut for the company’s latest premium product line.

The tyre also secured two category awards, being named ‘Summer Tyre of the Year’ and ‘SUV Tyre of the Year’. Dunlop received a further two awards, with the Dunlop All Season 2 winning ‘All Season Tyre of the Year’ and the Dunlop Winter range taking the ‘Winter Tyre of the Year’ accolade.

The Blue Response TG, launched earlier this year, is the first tyre developed independently by Dunlop since its acquisition by Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 2025.

Andrew Bogie, editor at WhatTyre, comments: “The DUNLOP BLUE RESPONSE TG represents the triumphant rejuvenation of a premium brand. Targeting the mass market, it combines low noise, increased tread life, dynamic handling, superb safety characteristics and reasonable fuel and energy-efficiency, including extended range for EVs. These capabilities were achieved in a very tight 12-month development cycle using a suite of new technologies. SRI wants the tyre to capture significant market share quickly to re-establish the brand, and the BLUE RESPONSE TG could scarcely have made a more convincing entrance.”

The award follows a series of positive assessments since the tyre’s launch. In March 2026, it received an ‘Outstanding’ rating in a comparison test by Auto Motor und Sport, one of Germany’s leading automotive publications. It was only the fourth tyre in 10 years to achieve that rating. The product has also received favourable reviews from other independent testers and automotive media.

Markus Bögner, managing director and president of Dunlop Tyre Europe GmbH, said: “As we look to re-establish the DUNLOP brand in Europe, we’re proud to see the first tyre of our own design leaving such a positive mark. We have strong ambitions for DUNLOP in Europe as we return to the premium segment, and this success in the WhatTyre awards highlights that our strategy is already bearing fruit.”

The Blue Response TG is positioned as a premium summer tyre designed to balance performance, comfort and braking in both wet and dry conditions. Developed for passenger cars and SUVs, including electric vehicles, it focuses on mileage and ride comfort across a broad range of driving conditions.

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Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) has introduced the new Bridgestone Potenza Race R, a semi-slick track tyre engineered for extreme dry performance. The tyre made its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2026, mounted on the newly unveiled 2026 Lamborghini Revuelto SV (Super Veloce). This particular variant was developed as a bespoke fitment specifically for the Italian marque’s latest supercar.

Engineered as an evolution of the standard Potenza Race, the Race R variant incorporates a motorsport-derived compound and an aggressive new tread pattern to maximise dry grip and handling. The tyre is designed for rapid warm-up and consistent lap times from the first circuit to the last, fully complementing the Revuelto SV’s high-performance capabilities. Despite its track-focused nature, the Potenza Race R remains fully homologated for legal road use.

As Lamborghini’s Official Technical Partner and exclusive tyre supplier, Bridgestone has crafted a comprehensive tyre lineup for the V12 hybrid Revuelto SV, which boasts a top speed exceeding 215 mph and a 0–60 mph time of just 2.4 seconds. Beyond the track-focused Potenza Race R, the package includes the ultra-high-performance Potenza Sport for road driving, available with Run Flat Technology for post-puncture safety. A bespoke Blizzak LM005 winter fitment completes the range, ensuring year-round capability.

All four custom fitments feature the exclusive Lamborghini marking and are offered in 20-inch front and 21-inch rear sizes. Developed and manufactured in Italy, the tyres were created using Bridgestone’s proprietary Virtual Tyre Development technology. This digital approach significantly enhances efficiency and sustainability, potentially reducing raw material usage and CO2 emissions during the development phase by up to 60 percent.

The Revuelto SV represents the second Bridgestone-Lamborghini collaboration announced in 2026, following the historic Fenomeno Roadster. This latest milestone extends a six-year partnership that began with the Huracán STO in 2021 and has since encompassed flagship models including the Revuelto, Temerario, and Fenomeno, solidifying the alliance between the tyre manufacturer and the supercar brand.

Adrien Thormann, Director of OE Sales at Bridgestone EMEA, said, “The Lamborghini Revuelto SV is the perfect vehicle to introduce our new, bespoke Bridgestone Potenza Race R and showcase what it can do. And Lamborghini has been a brilliant partner in helping bring our vision to life. In 2023, Lamborghini chose Bridgestone as the exclusive tyre partner for the Revuelto, its first-ever super sports V12 HPEV. Three years later, the incredible Revuelto SV launches with Bridgestone as sole tyre partner once again.”

Alessandro Farmeschi, Automobili Lamborghini Revuelto Product Line Director, said, “At Lamborghini, Super Veloce signifies extreme performance, which is perfectly embodied by the new Revuelto SV. Every detail has been optimised – from aerodynamics and power delivery to the bespoke Bridgestone tyre lineup that matches the vehicle’s extraordinary capabilities. The pairing of the Revuelto SV and the new Bridgestone Potenza Race R reflects our shared commitment to engineering for cutting edge performance.”

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Westlake will present a new range of commercial truck tyres at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, as it expands its Gen II portfolio for European fleets.

The company said it would introduce new products developed to improve rolling resistance, fuel efficiency and mileage performance, in collaboration with Interpneu and Pneuhage Fleet Solution .

The latest developments focus on two product lines: the Long Run series, designed to reduce rolling resistance, and the PRO series, aimed at high-mileage applications.

The Long Run range includes the WSL2 steer tyre, WDL2+ drive tyre and WTL2 trailer tyre. Westlake said the WSL2 and WDL2+ achieve EU Tyre Label Class A for rolling resistance. The tyres are designed for long-haul operations, with an emphasis on fuel efficiency and extended service life.

The WSL2 steer tyre is designed to support stable handling and high mileage, using a tread design and compound aimed at reducing heat generation and rolling resistance. The WDL2+ drive tyre focuses on mileage, traction and efficiency, incorporating a wider tread design and low rolling resistance compound.

The WTL2 trailer tyre is intended to provide durability and stability in trailer applications, combining a low rolling resistance compound with a tread design aimed at extending service life.

Alongside the Long Run series, Westlake will showcase its PRO series, developed for fleet operations where durability and mileage are priorities. The WTR PRO trailer tyre features a wider tread design and wear-resistant compound, aimed at improving mileage and ensuring consistent wear.

The four new tyres — WSL2, WDL2+, WTL2 and WTR PRO — will be available for order during the event.

Westlake said it would also present selected Gen II commercial tyres as part of its broader portfolio for European fleet applications.

IAA Transportation 2026 will be held from 15 to 20 September in Hannover, Germany.

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