Hankook secures OE fitment on 2018 Camry

SEOUL, South Korea — Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. has selected an 18-inch version of Hankook Tire Co. Ltd.'s Kinergy GT all-season premium grand-touring tire for OE fitment on "select" 2018 Camry models, including models sold in North America.

Hankook called the OE deal with Toyota a "successful milestone," considering that the Camry was the No. 1 selling passenger car in the U.S. in 2016.

The tire size selected is 235/45R 18V. The fitment covers the SE and XLE models, including some with hybrid drive, Hankook said.

Being selected as a supplier for the Camry "demonstrates another step in our expanding global recognition as a premium brand," said Seung Hwa Suh, vice chairman and CEO of Hankook.

"This not only proves the company's leading technology in the tire manufacturing industry, but the high level of trust from OEMs in the auto industry."

Hankook calls the Kinergy GT an ultra-high-performance tire that provides a quiet and comfortable driving experience in addition to all-season performance. Its features include wide circumferential channel grooves for water evacuation, optimized block stiffness for dry surfaces, a wide lateral groove design for snowy surfaces and an optimized pitch to reduce tire noise.

The redesigned 2018 Camry, the eighth generation of Toyota's best-selling model, is rolling into dealer showrooms in the third quarter. The new Camry uses what Toyota calls TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture), which retains Toyota's traditional quality and safety values while injecting a fun driving experience that plays on all the senses.

The Camry is available in five trim levels — L, LE, XLE, SE and XSE. The sportier SE and XSE grades wear a noticeably different body style than the entry level L and LE, Toyota said.

Toyota offers three powertrains — an all-new 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine, a new 3.5-liter V6 with fuel injection and the latest Toyota Hybrid System.