Hankook has expanded its UHP winter tyre line-up with the new Winter i*cept evo 3 for cars and the Winter i*cept evo 3 X for SUVs.

This new development focuses not only on the changing weather conditions in Europe, but also on the requirements of hybrid and electric vehicles, as manufacturers which will be fitted with the Winter i*cept evo 3 as “ev” version ex works in future. For the first time, the company’s development engineers opted for a directional tread pattern on their new flagship winter tyres. This not only provides excellent grip on snow, but also helps to effectively reduce the risk of aquaplaning.

“With the Winter i*cept evo 3 and Winter i*cept evo 3 X, our development engineers have created two lines of winter tyres with a wide range of product features that are able to respond particularly well to the changing and increasingly demanding winter weather conditions,” says Sanghoon Lee, President of Hankook Tire Europe. “We are therefore confident that these new tread patterns will meet our customers’ high expectations.

“European winters have changed as a result of climate change – mild temperatures alternate with sudden onsets of winter that bring frost and snow, and dry days are unexpectedly interrupted by heavy rainfall,” says Klaus Krause, head of the ETC European Research and Development Center in Hanover, Germany. Even wet leaves on the road surface can quickly spell dangerous road conditions. This makes it all the more important for responsible drivers to use the right tyres during the cold season, and ensure they are well equipped for all winter weather conditions. “A highlight of the third i*cept evo series is hidden in the tread compound. In addition to natural resins, special additives are also used here to ensure the tyre stays flexible at all times, especially at low temperatures, while at the same time achieving significant improvements in grip on wet surfaces,” Krause continues.

This is also confirmed by the latest winter tyre test from Europe's leading automobile magazine. The magazine Auto Bild tested a total of 56 tyres in the size 245/45 R 18 100 V on a BMW 5 Series. The result: only six treads could be recommended without reservation and awarded the highest rating "Exemplary", among them the new Hankook Winter i*cept evo 3.

The tyres are highly adapted to winter conditions thanks to technical innovations, particularly in terms of the compounds used and the tread pattern itself. The use of natural pine resins ensures the necessary flexibility at a very wide range of temperatures, prevents hardening and thus helping to improve grip on winter and wet roads due to increased elasticity of the tyre’s contact surface. In combination with the directional tread pattern, grip on snow and wet surfaces is optimised even further. The particularly efficient displacement and drainage of water (or slush) via the two main drainage grooves, which are 20% wider in the V-shaped tread pattern, play an important role in further reducing the risk of aquaplaning. The braking distance on wet roads has also been reduced by 7%, and on snowy roads by as much as 10% compared to previous tread patterns. In addition to the natural resins, a highly dispersible nano-silica compound is used, supplemented by other traction-enhancing additives. Along with the further optimised ratio of positive to negative elements in the tread pattern, this makes the Winter i*cept evo 3 very well equipped for the highly varied road conditions created by the European winter.

In addition to the high-grip tread compound, the further optimised arrangement of 3D sipes in conjunction with the directional tread pattern ensures reliable traction and lateral driving stability on snowy roads. The snow traction performance is supported by an increased number of ice-axe shaped tread block edges that grip the snow effectively.

The minimisation of block movements, achieved by the further optimised arrangement and design of the 3D sipes, has a positive effect on abrasion, as well as ensuring a high level of driving stability. The maximised edge effects also improve the general handling properties.

The new Winter i*cept evo 3 series was developed especially for use on powerful vehicles with a lot of torque. A reinforced carcass structure ensures high driving stability and a high-strength bead core maintains optimised positioning on the rim. In combination with the wide tyre shoulder and the optimised block design, this ensures more precise steering response and improved grip when cornering, as well as optimised handling even on dry roads. The shoulder area of the new Hankook UHP winter tyre, with wide interlocking shoulder blocks, also provides the tread’s necessary block stiffness, thereby increasing cornering stability even at higher speeds.

Both tread patterns are mainly manufactured in Hankook’s modern European production facility in Hungary. When it comes to market, the Winter i*cept evo 3 tread pattern for cars will be available in 50 sizes from 17 to 21 inches with tread widths from 195 to 295 mm and aspect ratios from 30 to 60 in the speed indices from H to W. The SUV version, the Winter i*cept evo 3 X, is currently available in 45 sizes from 17 to 22 inches with tread widths from 215 to 315 mm and aspect ratios from 30 to 65 in speed indices H to W. Over the course of next year the line-up will be further expanded, and the predecessor gradually replaced.

Bridgestone will supply tailored-made tyres for Lamborghini’s Huracán STO, which will be launched in 2021.

Bridgestone ensured the high-performance tyre can maximise the Huracán STO’s traction, handling, control, and extreme overall performance.

Key to the tyre’s success in maximising the super sports car’s performance is the combination of pattern and cavity design. The Potenza tyres apply an asymmetric tread design for enhanced steering response and cornering stability, and an internal crown structure that distributes footprint pressure evenly when cornering.

As well as the road-focused, custom-developed Potenza fitment, Bridgestone will also be providing a track-oriented, road-homologated version of the tyre that applies “race” technologies to maximise the vehicle’s track performance, especially in dry conditions.

Steven De Bock, VP Consumer Replacement and OE at Bridgestone EMIA, said, “It’s been a pleasure for our team to work so closely with Lamborghini for the first time, and on such an exciting project. The Huracán STO is an incredible piece of engineering that deserves a custom tyre that can fulfill its full potential. I can proudly say that Bridgestone has delivered such a high-performance tyre. It has been fantastic for the team to have worked on a project that is at the forefront of technology in so many ways.”

Hankook, one of the major global tyre brands, has started testing and development operations at its new ultra modern facility in Spain.

The testing facility has been set up on the premises of the Applus+ IDIADA Group and can also cater to European premium car manufacturers that have their own demanding tyre tests. The facility is completely automated and will host a 20-member team from the Spanish testing centre, which is affiliated to the Hankook Europe Technical Centre.

Klaus Krause, Head of European Research and Development Centre, said, "With the further expansion of our testing capacities in Spain, we are reaching the next level together with our local partner Applus+ IDIADA."

He also added, "We are confident that the newly installed testing facilities in particular will significantly improve our efforts to provide the best tyre testing conditions and services to our employees and customers. In addition, we will also be able to conduct significantly more tests on site." (TT)

ASCENSO introduced a construction tyre - BLB 730- which is used for boom lift vehicles used in construction and other industries. It comes with several features that cater to the unique needs of aerial lifting equipment.

The BLB 730 tyre is available in different sizes to fit various boom lift vehicles. This range of sizes provides versatility and compatibility with different types of aerial lift work platforms.

“ASCENSO's BLB 730 tyre is a significant advancement in specialised equipment for the construction industry. It focuses on load capacity, stability, traction, and durability to improve the performance and safety of boom lift vehicles. Whether working at heights or manoeuvring on tough terrains, this tyre offers reliability and durability for efficient operations,” said the company in a statement.

The BLB 730 tyre is built to handle heavy loads and stabilise boom lift vehicles. It has solid lugs and a more extended shoulder design, which ensures good traction and prevents slipping during operation. This is important for safely carrying heavy weights at high elevations. ASCENSO has used a special rubber compound in making the BLB 730 tyre, making it durable and long-lasting, resulting in less downtime and more productivity on construction sites.

To make the tyre even better, the company has optimised its inner volume to reduce tyre fill consumption, reducing the risk of tyre punctures, minimising the need for maintenance, and keep the vehicles running smoothly.

Falken Tyre Europe is an official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 partner for the upcoming tournament, the company has announced. The tournament is taking place at nine venues in Sweden and Poland from 11-29 January, 2023. Falken Tyre claims that the partnership was organised by the sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE. SPORTFIVE is responsible for exclusive marketing and media rights for all IHF World Championships until 2031.

Falken Tyre claims that this is its second agreement with the International Handball Federation. In addition to title and logo rights (Official IHF Men's World Championship 2023 Partner), the company has also secured advertising rights, including the Falken logo in each goal and centre circle of the courts, as well as the presence of Falken branding in the official tournament social media communications and print materials. According to Falken Tyre, this is complemented by 30-second video ads that will be shown on the big screens in the nine sports halls before the start of each match and at half-time.

Sharing his views, Robert Müller von Vultejus, Chief Growth Officer at SPORTFIVE, said, “With Falken, the IHF World Handball Championships have secured a great partner who is positioned with far-reaching influence in the relevant core markets. We are delighted to have been able to bring two global partners together for one of the most exciting sporting events of next year.”

Markus Bögner, COO and President of Falken Tyre Europe GmbH, explained, “Handball isn’t just of great importance in Europe, but all over the world, which has led us to partake in this top-level tournament once again. The fact that the international tournament is taking place in countries that are among our core markets is another great reason for our involvement. We can also look back on a long partnership with our colleagues at SPORTFIVE, who always offers us excellent opportunities that are an excellent fit for the Falken brand, which stands for enthusiasm, performance and achievement.”