Hankook Ventus chosen as OE on Audi Q7

NEU-ISENBURG, Germany (Dec. 1, 2016) — Audi A.G. has selected Hankook Tire Co. Ltd.'s flagship tire — the Ventus S1 evo2 SUV — as the 22-inch rim diameter OE fitment for its Q7 SUV models.

The contract covers models being sold in Europe, the U.S. and Canada as well as some regions of the Middle East, Hankook said, and includes the latest addition to the Q7 lineup, the SQ7 TDI turbo-diesel version. The fitment size is 285/35 R 22 106 Y XL.

The four-door, lift-back SUV is Audi's largest vehicle, offering seating for up to seven passengers and a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds.

The tire features Hankook's noise-reducing Silent Technology, which uses a sound-absorbing polyurethane foam sheet bonded to the inside of the tire.

According to Hankook, the Ventus S1 evo2 SUV is designed to combine dynamic driving performance with a comfortable, quiet ride and reduced rolling resistance and better fuel economy. Its multiple tread radius and double-layer rayon build allows for maximum contact with the road for a safer ride in all weather conditions, Hankook claims.

The tire sports an asymmetric three-layer block design tread pattern, inspired by Hankook's racing tires used in the DTM German Touring Car series, for steady grip even as the tire wears. It also features a styrene-polymer-silica mixture and a refined cooling system, which Hankook says contributes to a longer tire life.