NEU-ISENBURG, Germany (July 17, 2014) — Hankook Tire Co. Inc. has gained OE fitments with BMW A.G. and Daimler A.G. for the German car makers' Mini and Mercedes-Benz C-Class models, respectively, with both standard and run-flat versions of four different tire models.
The supply contract with BMW covers five recently launched Mini models—One, One D, Cooper, Cooper D and Cooper S—and represents a continuation of a supply relationship that started in 2011.
The C-Class fitment—Ventus S1 evo2 in size 225/50R17 W—is Hankook's third OE contract with Daimler in the past year; the others are for S- and E-Class models.
The Mini fitments are:
• Kinergy EcoSummer and Optimo H426 All-Season in 175/65 R15H as the standard fitment for the Mini One and Cooper models, with 16- and 17-inch models as options;
• Optimo H426 All-Season in 195/55R16V and Ventus and Ventus Prime² in size 195/55R16W as standard fitments for the Cooper S; and
• Optimo H426 and Ventus S1 evo² in size 205/45R17V and W speed ratings as options on the S version.
The all-season fitments are intended for vehicles being exported to North America, Hankook said. The run-flat versions are the 17-inch fitments, according to the tire maker.
BMW and Hankook have selected various summer tread patterns to suit each car's respective engine power to support “sporty-direct handling.”
Byung-il Woo, vice president of Hankook's Global OE Division, called the Mercedes contract “further proof of the worldwide technological competence of the Hankook Tire brand.”
Hankook said the run-flat version of the Ventus S1 evo² is tuned for the C-Class with predictable handling and braking performance, high directional stability, low rolling noise and reduced rolling resistance. Those attributes are due, in part, to a significant weight reduction achieved by the use of a lightweight steel cord that was developed for the Hankook racing tires in the German Touring Car Championship.