Audi expands original equipment with Hankook Tyres: A3 models rolling off assembly lines with Ventus S1 evo

• Ultra-high performance: Audi relies on Hankook Ventus S1 evo in the 17-inch size for its A3
  
  

• Expansion of partnership: Hankook Tire now Audi's tyre partner in Europe as well

Neu-Isenburg/Germany, 4 June 2009 – The Audi models A3, A3 Sportback and A3 Cabrio will in future roll off the assembly lines on Hankook tyres also. The high-performance Ventus S1 evo tyres from Hankook Tire, which have garnered numerous awards in independent product tests by the international automotive trade press1), have been tested by Audi and will now come factory-installed in the dimensions 225/45 ZR 17 on the A3, A3 Sportback and A3 Cabrio.

With their newly finalised original equipment agreement, Audi and Hankook Tire are extending their successful partnership to the European market as well. Hankook Tire, currently the world's seventh largest tyre manufacturer, has been equipping various Audi models for the Chinese market since 2008.

With its agreement to equip the A3 series in production, Hankook Tire is now also supplying tyres for the first time directly to the vehicle manufacturer's main plant in Germany, in the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt.

Jin-Wook Choi, Executive Vice-President and head of Hankook Tire in Europe, says: “We are proud that we will now be able to supply Audi with our top product here in Europe as well. Around the world, the Audi name stands for first class technical performance and superior quality standards. That applies especially to Germany - Audi's home market.

German drivers' place the highest requirements on a cars perfect set-up and handling, this comes as a direct result of the cars interaction with its tyres. It is precisely this interplay that we perfected by using our Kontrol Technology2) development philosophy, an approach that played a key role in the development of our flagship product, the Ventus S1 evo.”

During the extensive testing phase, the Ventus S1 evo highlighted its dynamic handling characteristics, while maintaining its overall feel of comfort. With its optimized rolling resistance and low-noise design, the tyre also scored points in terms of environmental compatibility.

And of course the Ventus S1 evo already bears the sound label of the European Union, certifying its low noise road operation. The label will become mandatory for all tyres in this category in the future.

The new agreement with Audi marks another milestone in the tyre manufacturer's successful original equipment strategy. In addition to Audi, Hankook Tire's clientele also includes Europe's largest automotive manufacturer, Volkswagen, which has relied on Hankook tyres for years. The year 2009 has brought substantial growth in this partnership as well.

The engineers at VW chose Hankook Tire once again, both for the original equipment of the T5 lines Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan and California in Europe and for the tyres of the Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and New Beetle for the American market. With the existing partnership for the Polo, Golf, Tiguan, Caddy and Caddy Maxi, that brings the current total to nine different VW models that are factory-equipped with Hankook tyres.

In addition to Audi and Volkswagen, other manufacturers, including Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Opel and Renault trust in Hankook tyres for their original equipment.

Hankook Tire's ultra-high-performance Ventus S1 evo tyre was specially developed for high-end sports cars and fast or tuned luxury cars. As in past years, the high-end wide-base tyre was given the highest rating, “highly recommended,” in the summer tyre tests performed by the well-known trade magazine sport auto (issue 04/2009). The test drivers were especially impressed with how the Ventus S1 evo performed during dry handling, the most prestigious item in the sport auto test series.

In this area, testers concluded, the Hankook flagship product “is at the top of the game.” In the “wet braking” category, which is highly relevant in terms of safety, the high-end wide-based tyre also delivered top scores, as always. Further test criteria included steering precision and handling on dry and wet surfaces. The high-performance tyre from Hankook took top marks in each of these areas, too. As the sport auto testers summed it up, the Ventus S1 evo is “smooth” and makes “driving dynamics a pleasure.”

The test editors of Auto Bild sportscars agreed. The market leader in the German-language sports car magazine segment recently named the S1 evo the clear winner in its summer tyre tests. Thanks to its “optimally executed dynamics and perfect balance” both under wet conditions and on a dry surface, along with its unrivalled low noise levels, the sporty “whisper tyre” shot ahead of the competition.

In addition, the testers at Auto Bild sportscars say, the tyre is not only easy on the ears for people in surrounding areas, but even delivers up to three percent better fuel economy than the other test candidates. On the test vehicle, this averaged out to savings of 0.29 litres of fuel, or 6.9 g CO2, for 100 kilometres.

The concept for the Hankook Ventus S1 evo is aimed at owners and drivers of high-performance and fast to very fast vehicles. These drivers demand uncompromising sports car performance from their tyres across the board, without sacrificing attributes such as suspension comfort or low rolling noise.

Hankook Tire's development team focused as usual on the safety criteria of traction and braking performance. Special attention was thus paid to the development of the HDSC (Highly Dispersible Silica Compound) tyre tread compound, which is being used for the first time for the Ventus S1 evo. By employing a new compounding process, developers were able to achieve a markedly higher proportion of silica in the tyre tread compound as well as improved distribution of this filling material, which is especially important when it comes to grip on wet surfaces.

Its asymmetrical tread design, with the characteristic massive circumferential profile rib in the area of the outer half of the tread profile ensures not only high stability on the straightaways, but also direct implementation of steering commands, making for extremely precise handling even at very high speeds.

The closed design of the tyre's outboard shoulder, in conjunction with the special sidewall design, ensures very high transfer of force in curves and precise steering feedback. Wide circumferential grooves, some with a wave pattern, effectively channels water out of the tread profile, enhancing driving safety even on wet surfaces. Extremely even distribution of pressure on the contact surface and transfer of force both contribute to precise handling and excellent braking performance.

This is achieved through the Ventus S1 evo's stable steel belt package, equipped with two zero-degree nylon spiral cap plies, in connection with its rugged yet light rayon tyre carcass. The contour used on the S1 evo, which is based on SCCT (Stiffness Control Contour Theory), also ensures added traction and lower wear on the tyres. This technology, patented by Hankook Tire, supports both the abrasion properties and handling of the tyres by distributing tension optimally within the tyre carcass.

The Hankook Ventus S1 evo in independent tests by the automotive trade press in 2008/2009: