Hankook Tire equips the Volkswagen Tiguan with Ventus evo SUV

Seoul, Korea  — Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) equips the Volkswagen Tiguan with the new Ventus evo SUV. The high-quality summer tire is the original equipment for the third generation of compact SUV and is available in five different sizes from 18 to 20 inches, all of which are precisely matched to the respective model. While the focus during the development of the 18-inch and 19-inch variants was primarily on excellent driving comfort, the top-of-the-range 20-inch variant is characterized by a particularly sporty design. All tires bear the ‘+’ symbol for Volkswagen’s original equipment on the sidewall and will also be available from replacement dealers.

“The close and trusting collaboration with Volkswagen in the tire development for the new VW Tiguan has paid off. We have achieved the optimum match for each tire size and are able to contribute to the unique driving characteristics of the popular Volkswagen model,” says Klaus Krause, Vice President and Head of Europe Technical Center at Hankook.

Hankook engineers worked intensively during the two-year development time to combine the excellent driving characteristics of the Ventus evo SUV with a particularly low noise level. The careful tread design and the balanced mix of tread materials contributed to a noise level of less than 66 decibels, which is even lower than the specification requirements and meets the overall vehicle limit of 68 decibels. The Opti Pitch technology focused on the ideal size and positioning of the tread blocks, and the Kerf design was aimed at minimizing noise levels. The Dual Pitch technology ensures the optimum number of blocks on the inside and outside of the tread for maximum steering precision when cornering, but it also takes into account the requirements for a low-noise tread pattern. Additionally, the tread height was adjusted to reduce noise without compromising traction, braking behavior, cornering stability, or maximum mileage.

The Hankook premium tires were designed with different features to match the varying Tiguan model versions based on engine power. While the 18-inch and 19-inch versions of the Ventus evo SUV offer maximum driving comfort, the Hankook engineers gave the tires for the Tiguan R-Line a sportier configuration to emphasize its dynamic character. A 20-inch sports version is also available with a special tread compound that has been tried and tested on the racetrack and subjected to demanding driving tests by the developers on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

In keeping with the character of the VW Tiguan, which is also available as a hybrid, the Hankook developers applied their expertise into achieving the lowest possible rolling resistance. The new Ventus evo SUV is produced exclusively at the company’s ultra-modern European site at Rácalmás, Hungary.

All sizes of the Ventus evo SUV are available worldwide for the Volkswagen Tiguan, evidencing the versatility of the high-quality, all-rounder from Hankook.