Hankook to supply Ventus S1 evo tires as original equipment on BMW M5

Seoul, Korea — Hankook Tire is supplying the specially matched Ventus S1 evo Z UUHP (ultra ultra-high performance) tire as original equipment for the new BMW M5.

The brief for the high-performance saloon, now in its seventh model generation, was a meticulously tuned tire. The reason the tires need to meet special requirements is due to the introduction of an electrified drive system in the luxury-class model from BMW M GmbH for the first time in its 40-year history. These requirements include a high load capacity for effortless handling of the PHEV (plug-in hybrid) model. On the other hand, the excellent grip was required to transmit the system output from the V8 engine and electric machine of 535 kW/727 PS, as well as the maximum system torque of 1,000 Newton meters to the road in a controlled manner.

At the same time, Hankook engineers had to take account of one of the most defining characteristics of the BMW M5, tuning the Ventus S1 evo Z specifically to the fast and highly precise responsiveness of the steering – whether on the road or on the racetrack. The result? The mixed tires in the size 285/40 ZR20 at the front axle and 295/35 ZR21 at the rear axle are the ideal combination of lightning-fast steering response, perfect transmission of cornering forces, and driving dynamics for which the M models are known.

At the same time, the developers have been able to make a contribution to the modest fuel consumption and energy consumption through low rolling resistance. Like all tires that are explicitly approved as original equipment for BMW M and BMW vehicles, these tires also bear the ☆ mark on the sidewall and follow the strict criteria imposed by the manufacturer. The Ventus S1 evo Z premium tires are produced in Hankook Tire’s European plant in Hungary.

“We are proud of having developed the perfect tire for such a legendary vehicle as the M5 in close cooperation with BMW M,” says Klaus Krause, Vice President, and Head of Europe Technical Center at Hankook in Hanover, Germany. “Our clear objective was to transmit the unique driving dynamics of the high-performance saloon to the road without having to compromise when it comes to rolling resistance. We have achieved this over the three-year development time.”

Tires that are used exclusively on the BMW M models have to meet the highest standards with respect to all driving characteristics, whether handling, rolling resistance or long-term performance over the entire life cycle. In order to perfectly transmit the well-known M model characteristics to the road for the new BMW M5, the first step involved equipping the Ventus S1 evo Z with high-load characteristics to ensure the superior directional stability of the high-performance saloon, even when driven in a sporty style. The new tread features an especially generous contact surface and rearranged linear grooves that support fast feedback in response to steering commands, even when the vehicle is being put through its paces on a racetrack. Wide tread blocks support the agile steering behavior.

In addition, the Ventus S1 evo Z is equipped with a reinforced aramid hybrid belt for use on the BMW M5, which enhances the performance further, especially on dry surfaces. This prevents unwanted expansion of the tire due to centrifugal forces at high speed and, with the speed index (Y), indicates approval for top speeds in exceed of 300 km/h resp. 186 mph. Moreover, the dimensionally stable aramid fibers minimize the deformation of the tread due to lateral forces when changing direction, which promotes neutral handling and control at all times.

Despite the outstanding performance of the BMW M5, even when driven to its limits on the racetrack, the Hankook Ventus S1 evo Z developers also focused on maximum comfort during day-to-day driving. As a result, even long motorway journeys at moderate speed become a relaxed pleasure. They also succeeded in combining the tire’s outstanding driving dynamics with a low rolling resistance.

The tread of the Ventus S1 evo Z was designed specifically for the BMW M5 and uses an exclusive material mix that is precisely tailored to the handling characteristics of the high-performance saloon. Through the addition of various high-performance resins, it offers optimum grip across a wide range of temperatures. In addition, an innovative structure of interconnected, organic fillers ensures consistently high performance over the entire journey time.

During the development of the Ventus S1 evo Z, the Hankook engineers also relied on AI-supported algorithms to achieve the desired handling. The focus here was particularly on the optimum force distribution in the tire tread during demanding cornering maneuvers. The AI forecasts are based on Hankook’s comprehensive body of data from countless tire tests.

In order to determine the perfect combination of driving fun, safety and cornering dynamics, numerous laps were completed on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring in Germany as well as on the incomparable Nardò high-speed ring in Italy.

To ensure enjoyable driving that is safe at all times even during the winter season, the Hankook iON i*cept premium winter tire can also be ordered for the high-performance saloon. The winter tire, originally developed for all-electric cars, perfectly complements the performance characteristics of the plug-in hybrid and features the 3PMSF mark for superior winter characteristics. Just like the summer tires, the winter tires also bear the ☆ mark on the sidewall to label them as approved as original equipment for BMW M and BMW vehicles.

Tires developed exclusively for BMW M GmbH vehicles not only have to exhibit ideal handling characteristics in winter road conditions but also need to transmit the unmistakable driving dynamics of the high-performance saloon on dry and wet roads. The Hankook iON i*cept for the BMW M5, therefore, has a stiffer tread mixture than on conventional passenger car winter tires. In addition, an exclusive iON tread design helps to transmit high torque safely to the road at all times.