Hankook, Kumho tires earn Red Dot awards

ESSEN, Germany—The organizers of the annual "Red Dot" design awards have bestowed Red Dot honors on South Korean tire makers Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. and Kumho Tire Co. Inc.

Organized by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen of Germany since 1955, the Red Dot Design Award honors winners in the three categories of the product, communication and concept.

DZNW selected three Hankook-brand products—Dynapro AT2 and Dynapro MT2 light truck and I*Pike RS2 winter tires—and Kumho's Solus 4S HA32 all-weather performance tire for Red Dot honors in the in the transportation category.

Winners are selected based on comprehensive evaluation of high design quality, including degree of innovation, functionality, durability and ecological compatibility, Hankook said.

The Dynapro AT2 is an an all-terrain tire featuring multi-directional grooves and sipes to deliver a superior blend of comfort on road and off-road performance;

The Dynapro MT2 is designed for extreme off-road conditions with an integrated shoulder tread pattern and "Terrain Strike" tread design for enthusiasts; and

I*Pike RS2 is a European specified product, equipped with a multi-directional studded tread pattern that delivers "enhanced" traction in extreme winter conditions.

"We are thrilled and honored to be recognized with these awards. Technological advancements have helped solidify our commitment to innovation and design quality in our tires," said Jimmy Kwon, vice president of Hankook's brand lab. "With this honorable global recognition, we will continue to lead design advancements for tires through our innovative technologies."

Kumho's Solus 4S HA32 features a specially formulated winter compound to provide improved traction on ice and snow, as well as grip and braking on wet or dry pavement, stemming from a stronger interlocking structure and directional tread design, Kumho said.

The tire features a sidewall decorated with holograms that change depending on the angle of light.

"Being recognized by the Red Dot Award is an honor for the entire company," said Jung Il-taik, head of the R&D division at Kumho Tire. "We are striving to provide quality products, and we believe the HA32 offers a unique value beyond alternatives in its market positioning."

According to DZNW, the Red Dot was given to just 1.2 percent of products entered into the competition.