NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. will be an original equipment tire supplier for the latest Audi A.G. electric vehicle (EV) models.
Audi's Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron will be loaded with Hankook's Ventus S1 evo 3 ev tire, which is designed for EV's unique needs with low rolling resistance, low weight and high load capacities
The new Audi models join Hankook's growing portfolio of EVs for which the company supplies custom OE tires.
"As a development partner of Audi, we have implemented a number of successful projects together in recent years," Sanghoon Lee, president of Hankook Tire Europe, said. "Being able to help switch the portfolio over to electric vehicles by providing suitable tires therefore means a lot to us. In doing so, we are also making an important contribution to increasingly sustainable mobility."
EV tires must meet specific needs — they need to support battery performance and vehicle range, while at the same time safely carry the higher vehicle weight, Hankook said.
Hankook's Ventus S1 evo 3 ev has a double-layer carcass made of specially developed high-performance fiber. The tire provides high stability and a low tare weight relative to its size. The tire's tread compound has been adapted to the needs of electric mobility. Its high drive torque offers excellent grip in wet and dry conditions while optimizing rolling resistance, Hankook said.
In the 20- and 21-inch rim-diameter sizes used for the Audi vehicles, an extra steel-based reinforcement is used in the bead area due to the reduced flank height to further increase sidewall rigidity. This feature offers a precise fit as well as a sporty and immediate steering response, the company said.
The tires are equipped with Hankook Sealguard sealing material, which automatically seals any punctures of up to 3/16th-inch diameter in the tire tread surface. The technology makes it unnecessary for drivers to carry a spare, providing extra space in the vehicle, saving weight and eliminating the need for a potentially dangerous roadside wheel change, Hankook said.
Tires equipped with Sealguard have the same basic construction as tires without the material.
The Audi Q4 e-tron and Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron will carry the Ventus S1 evo 3 ev in the following dimensions:
- 235/55R19 T (VA);
- 235/50R20 T (VA);
- 255/50R19 T (HA);
- 255/45R20 T (HA); and
- 235/45R21 T and 255/40R21 T (HA) in the performance package.
