Hankook Weatherflex GT gets grip on growing segment

JOLIET, Ill. — The Weatherflex GT, Hankook Tire America Corp.'s answer to growing all-weather tire demand in North America, is the culmination of 17 years of innovation.

Hankook recently launched the Weatherflex GT, an all-weather tire designed for "year-round control and confidence, especially during harsh weather."

The Weatherflex GT — as in grand touring — features a tread compound that incorporates higher levels of silica and resin to enhance wet and dry grip and increase durability, the company said. It also carries the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) symbol and comes with a limited 70,000-mile treadwear warranty.

The new tire, which debuted at the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, hit the market in January with around 34 sizes for 15- to 22-inch rim diameter wheels — from a large Ford Expedition to the small Kia Forte and most SUVs, light trucks, CUVs and sedans in-between.

While Hankook created the Weatherflex product line to stake its claim in the fast-growing all-weather segment, it has been developing the technology for nearly 20 years.

The Weatherflex GT could be described as a fourth-generation product. Hankook's previous all-weather tires included the Optimo 4S (launched in 2008), Kinergy 4S (2015) and the Kinergy 4S2, which launched in 2018 and is still part of the Kinergy portfolio.

Additionally, the company already has developed all-weather products for Europe, which has been faster to adopt the segment than North America.

In 2023, 10 million all-weather tires were sold in the U.S., an increase of 19% compared to 2022, according to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association. For comparison, European countries bought 40 million all-weather tires in 2023, according to Europool.

The segment is expanding so fast, the company decided to create the new product line — as opposed to adding an all-weather product to an existing line — so it has room to expand.

Hankook believes the all-weather segment bridges the gap between summer and all-season tires in colder weather (under 45 degrees) and heavy snow. It also replaces the need for season-specific tires.

Robert Nasca, Hankook America product training manager, said the segment appeals to consumers who want a tire that performs in any weather but who isn't really going to be traveling in heavy snow.

"Many regions are getting cold weather, but accumulation has decreased. … And, cities are better able to handle the removing of the snow," Nasca told media during a ride-and-drive event in Joliet in November.

"It's going to be cold, you might have a little ice, so you might not necessarily need a true winter tire. What you need is an all-weather," he said. "Snow, slush, ice … and not just the wet, but the dry performance, too."

Moonki Cho, product manager at Hankook Tire America, said Weatherflex is an example of how much the company is evolving.

"To make a new product brand is a very big investment from the company side, but it's really important to this market," Cho said. "With the big benefits we can give to the end user with this kind of the product — the 3PMS and the safety for the winter season — is kind of the game changer for this market."

The Weatherflex GT has an asymmetrical tread design. While traditional winter tires often utilize a directional pattern to increase performance, this design allows for better aesthetics and better ride comfort. Cho said the tire's compound and structure make up the difference in performance.

As a one-tire solution, the Weatherflex GT provides consumers with greater flexibility and convenience without the need to switch between season-specific tire products.

The tire was designed at the Hankook Technodome in Daejeon, South Korea. Depending on the size, the product is being built in plants in Korea and Indonesia.

Nasca said three keys for dealers to take away is the size range, asymmetrical tread pattern and warranty.