Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 5 April 2023 – “Very good” for the Hankook iON evo: The premium tyre specially designed for electric vehicles secured the test victory in the current Auto Bild “Reifencheck” tyre test (issue 14 from April 5). The trade journal compared three summer tyres in size 245/45 R 19 102 Y. They assessed whether top performance and excellent safety properties can be reconciled with the requirements for the lowest possible rolling resistance while also achieving maximum range. The positive conclusion according to Auto Bild: “With the iON evo from Hankook, which is specially designed for electric vehicles, we don’t have to choose between safety/driving pleasure on the one hand and range/environment on the other. The balancing act between these very different requirements succeeds convincingly.”

In the new “Reifencheck” test format, the Auto Bild team carefully examined the required properties of tyres for electric vehicles. EVs react differently to driving commands and dynamics than conventional combustion engines due to the immediately available torque and their higher dead weight. In a direct comparison, the premium tyre iON evo was particularly convincing in the braking tests on dry and wet roads, topping the standings in both. The Hankook tyre particularly impressed in the wet, taking the lead and bringing the test vehicle to a standstill almost four metres earlier than the runner-up. The iON evo also took the top spot on the podium when it came to handling on wet surfaces and, thanks to the “Hankook Sound Absorber™”, also had the lowest pass-by noise. Finally, the Hankook iON evo combines the outstanding safety-relevant qualities with a significantly lower rolling resistance of just 6.21 kg/t. This was the lowest in the test, almost 1.5 kg/t lower than the closest competitor. For comparison: a rolling resistance reduced by one kg/t increases the range by around four percent – in the specific Auto Bild test this translates to around 30 kilometres further driving distance.

With the development of the new iON tyre family, Hankook is reacting to the mobility transition towards emission-free vehicles. The iON combines reduced rolling resistance, particularly low-noise rolling behaviour and excellent driving dynamics qualities. When compared to conventional tyres, this means more range per battery charge, maximum safety and a better driving experience for EV drivers.

“The Hankook iON is our tailor-made answer to the rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles and the associated need for suitable tyres,” said Klaus Krause, Head of the Hankook Europe Technical Centre (ETC). “The very good result in the Auto Bild test proves that with our products we offer drivers of electric vehicles a great advantage over conventional tyres.”