Hankook launches UHP tire for luxury SUVs

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Hankook Tire America Corp. has added an ultra-high-performance (UHP) all-season tire designed for SUVs to its Ventus product line.

The Ventus S1 evo Z AS X provides improved handling at high speeds, Hankook said, as well offering traction in all-season conditions and riding comfort for luxury SUVs. The tire features enhanced rigidity and traction to provide better grip performance for maximum road contact in dry, wet and light snow conditions.

The tire is created with motorsport technology and offers improved handling at high-speeds with a reinforcement belt mixed with aramid fiber, Hankook said, noting that aramid is four to five times stronger than steel and heat resistant, enabling improved steering performance and an optimized shape during high-speed driving.

"The application of motorsport technology to the development of our new Ventus tire is an exciting one for the market and drivers alike," Hankook Tire America President Rob Williams said.

"The Ventus S1 evo Z AS X delivers in all road conditions with improved grip and low noise for the ultimate in comfort and performance, even at high speeds. As we continue to look for new and innovating approaches to tire design, the Ventus S1 evo Z AS X is a perfect example of how we can continue to optimize high-performance driving benchmarks."

Additional features include beveled edges that minimize impact between tread blocks for a quieter and more comfortable ride. Lateral grooves, designed to be narrower on the inside and wider on the outside, maximize drainage performance, prevent hydroplaning on wet roads and provide overall better grip in all seasons.

The tire is available now in nine sizes covering 18 to 22 inches in rim diameter, with 10 additional sizes to come later in 2023.

Pricing information was not disclosed.