Hankook sees Formula E as ultimate EV tire incubator

PORTLAND, Ore.—The first thing you notice at a Formula E electric vehicle race is the noise, or lack thereof, and the second is the distinctive orange- and blue-striped Hankook iON tires.

Hankook Tire & Technology Co. sees its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as the opportunity to pioneer advancements in electric-vehicle (EV) tire development.

"And honestly, for me, it's also a great opportunity for us to get our partners together. It's truly an engaging get-together at an event this closely tying into our product," Rob Williams, president of Hankook Tire America Corp., said.

The company hosted Formula E's only U.S. stop this season, the Hankook Portland E-Prix, at Portland International Raceway on June 29-30.

The all-electric Gen3 EVO race cars accelerate from 0-60 mph in 1.82 seconds and can reach speeds of over 200mph during a race. It's a surreal scene as the vehicle engines are silent, but the passing cars make a noise like the "pew-pew" of a child playing with a toy laser gun.

Formula E qualifying and races are held in one day, and two races are often held over a weekend. Qualifying features duals in a bracket style, followed—after a charging period—by the final race.

The race duration is short. The second race in Portland, for example, took just over 36 minutes.

@tire.business We were recently with @Hankook Tire Official at the #portland ♬ original sound - Tire Business

Sustainability plays a large part in the purpose of Formula E, and the iON race tire is designed to be used on any surface and in any condition—and for longer. Teams get two sets of tires for each event—three sets if two races are being held in one weekend.

The tires feature orange and blue stripes in the grooves of the tire tread pattern, which aside from looking cool, draw attention to the tire's tread, which unlike traditional racing slicks looks more like an all-season tire.

Mike Choi, Formula E tire development project manager, said the tire uses "multi-section compounds with inner and outer layers for dry and wet performance." And that's only one of many considerations that went into the tire's construction.

"During the development phase, we not only take care to enhance the performance, but (we) also factor in sustainability, rolling resistance and noise levels."

How the tire will ultimately be recycled at end of life also is part of the design, he said. After races, Hankook collects, studies and recycles race tires.

"The development of a race tire means that you really have to learn how to do it at the highest level," Brooklyn Emery, brand communications manager, Hankook Tire America Corp., said. "Of course, that development then trickles down to the street product."

The first iON EV replacement tire launched in 2022. Today, the portfolio includes six models: the iON EVO and EVO SUV, iON EVO AS (all season) and AS SUV, and the iON i*cept and i*cept SUV winter tires.

"The response has been incredible. We're confident (tire dealers) have a product they can sell to their consumer and achieve all the goals that most EV consumers really want out of a tire," Williams said.

"We put all the elements into the product that they know their consumers need, whether it be the low rolling resistance to make sure the battery life is extended or the tread compounding for longer wear. And to still be able to keep the wet and dry traction capabilities intact, and of course keeping the tire as quiet as possible."

Williams said the North American Hankook team has really stepped up its dealer training and, along with its many partners, have pushed initiatives across several levels to help educate tire dealers and give them the tools to better sell tires.

"The quality of our product is second to none," he said. "And as a result, it's easy to formulate a strong partnership and then work with their dealer network to provide as much education on their products as we can.

"For us it's about product development, product awareness and working close with the dealers both digitally—on our learning platform—as well as in person."

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Antonio Felix DaCosta celebrates back-to-back wins in Portland.

♬ Trendsetter - Connor Price & Haviah Mighty

The Formula E season wraps up with the final two races of the year, July 20-21, at the Hankook London E-Prix. Next season, in addition to Portland, a second U.S. race will be added, in Miami.